Serendipitous Moments of a Daydreamer

Go Bake yourself! Bread Making Party

Fri, 13 May 2011 01:51:00 GMT

Is planning a Bread Making Party on Tuesday 31st May! Im so excited for this event I
just wanted share the details with all my fans so that I can take you on my little journey too.

In future posts I will give you all the details of how to host your very own Bread making
Party at Home too along with recipes, shopping lists, invitations and planning.
Tehe!
I think I might do some Bread Making Practice today!
Pip xo

Princess High Tea Party!

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 09:21:00 GMT

An outbreak of Royal Wedding Fever was upon us with the anticipation for
Will and Kate's Big Day!
My girlfriends and I decided in light of the fairy tale wedding approaching a
celebrate was in order!
What could be more English than High Tea? So it was decided. The Princess
High Tea Party was a GO. And before you could sing Long Live the Queen
my good friend Sandradee set up a Facebook event for the Party!

I arrived at Sandra's on Friday evening with "The Princess Box of Delights"
in hand filled with a big plate of English Tea sandwiches,

12 little Classic English Scones with Danish butter, freshly whipped cream
and Strawberry Jam,

a selection of T2 Teas including Strawberries&Cream, Creme Brulee and
Monk Pear.

And what would a Princess Tea Party be without Tiaras! So i had 5 little pink
diamond incrusted Tiaras in there too.

My box of treats was a HUGE success! We watched as Catherine entered
the Church in her beautiful gown and was in awe of the spectacular "fairy tale
forest"
theme inside the Church.
By the end of the night there was pretty much nothing left of my princess
treats.
A happily ever ending to a great night.

Love Pip xo

Listed below all my recipes I created for our Princess Party for you to try at
home too!

Traditional English Scones
Makes 8-12 scones
Time to prepare: less than 30 minutes
Time to cook: 10 to 30 minutes

Ingredients
55g/2oz butter
225g/8oz self-raising flour
a pinch of salt
25g/1oz caster sugar
150ml/5fl oz milk

English Scone Recipe
Instructions

Firstly heat the oven to 220C. Next sift flour then add salt and caster sugar.
Using your fingertips rub the butter into the dry ingredients until it forms
"crumbs". Slowly add the milk and mix together until you get soft dough.
Turn the dough onto a floured work area and knead lightly. Pat to a round
2cm/¾ inch thick. Using a 5cm/2in cutter, stamp out the rounds and place
them on a lightly greased baking sheet. Knead together the rest of the dough
and stamp out more scones to use up all of the mix. Brush the tops of the
scones with a little milk. Bake for 12-15 minutes until well risen and golden.

Cool on a wire rack and serve with butter, jam & freshly whipped cream.

English Tea Sandwiches

Serves: 6 people

~2 loves of bread (1 light 1 dark)
~Approx. . 350 g of Pumpkin thinly sliced (about 5 mm) and grilled in a
grill pan with olive oil and sea salt (make sure you cool before preparing
your sandwiches)
~1 hand full of washed baby spinach
~Olive oil
~Parmesan Cheese
~Caramelized onions. (2 onions finely sliced + 2 tsp of brown sugar
+ 1 Tbsp balsamic (I used a barrel aged balsamic I got at Rocks
Farmers Market) Saute you're your Onion, sugar and balsamic in a pan
with olive oil on medium heat for about 15-20mins until onions are dark and soft.
(make sure you cool before preparing your sandwiches)
~Gorgonzola (I use brand IGOR you can find at Coles. My Italian friend
told me about it. Its the best!)
~1 small Fennel bulb
~Cream Cheese
~1 Lebanese cucumber peeled and finely sliced
~Butter at Room temperature
~Salt + Pepper

Grilled Pumpkin, Spinach, parmesan and caramelized onion sandwich

Brush 6 slices bread slices with olive oil, place 3 or 4 spinach leaves on each
side of your bread. On 1/2 of the bread slices place a layer of Pumpkin , then
1 Tbs. of the onion topped with 4-5 shavings of Parmesan cheese salt and pepper.
Put your sandwiches together, cut crusts off and cut into 3 pieces.

Caramelized Onion, Gorgonzola and fennel sandwiches

Brush 6 slices of your bread with olive oil. (I bought a beautiful Aniseed Myrtle Oil
at the Rocks Foodies Markets which worked beautifully) Place 2-3 Tbs of your
Caramelized onion mixture over 1/2 the bread slices. Top with a thin layer of finely
sliced Fennel topped with a light grating of Gorgonzola. Put your sandwiches together,
cut crusts off and cut into 3 pieces.

Cucumber sandwiches

Spread you're finely sliced cucumbers onto a plate covered with kitchen paper.
Lightly salt them and leave for 10mins for the water to be drawn out. Blot with
kitchen paper.
Butter 6 slices of bread. Spread about 2 tsp of cream cheese on each slice. Place
your sliced cucumbers over the bread. Season with cracked pepper and a light sprinkle of salt. Put your sandwiches together, cut crusts off and cut into 3 pieces.

Display your little finger sandwiches on tired cake stands for the perfect addition to your very own High Tea Party!

High Tea at The Tea Parlour~Musings of a 21st Century Domestic Goddess

Fri, 13 May 2011 01:51:00 GMT

"High Tea at The Tea Parlor"~Musings of a 21st Century Domestic Goddess

My name is Jenny, I’m nineteen years old, I work in Pretty In Pink’s Newtown Shoppe and I am studying at UTS to be a librarian. Through my posts you will come to know me as a tea lover, baker, and vintage fashion enthusiast.
My future posts will feature classic vintage styling, hair and make-up tips, vintage-inspired DIY sewing projects, recipes, as well as reviews of vintage markets, festivals and vintage-inspired businesses.

High Tea at The Tea Parlor

How did you all cope with the past weekend’s dreary weather? For me, it was the perfect weather to sit inside with a cup of tea! But feeling that wasn’t a very social activity, I went to meet my friend Luella at a more social venue where we could enjoy our tea: Redfern’s very own Tea Parlour.

My friend Amelia opened this cosy little haven about seven months ago, it’s filled with vintage furniture and everything is served on vintage dinnerware and a selection of tea cups and tea pots she spent months collecting. I absolutely love it there, and upon arriving Luella remarked that she would love to have a house just like the Tea Parlour.

Since my favorite spot on the big comfy lounge by the window was occupied when we arrived, Luella and I sat at a little table overshadowed by the big Stag’s head and ordered rose tea and scones, costing us $8 each. In the short few minutes it took for our tea to brew and the cream to be whipped, the lounge was vacated and we were able to enjoy our tea in complete homely comfort.

Unfortunately Amelia had such a busy day that she had sold out of all but one serve of scones, so Luella and I had a scone each and a few little cakes and strawberries instead. What a perfect way to spend a rainy day!

The Tea Parlour is number 569 Elizabeth Street, Redfern (just near where it intersects Cleveland St), it is open Thursday and Friday from 5pm-9pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 12pm-8pm. High Tea for two will set you back a mere $20, tea and scones or sandwiches is $8; Amelia Ruby also hosts functions- wouldn’t you love to have a high tea party for your next birthday?! (p.s, I just heard her Tea Parlour is in this month’s Frankie Magazine; check it out for a cute picture of her holding the tea pot I gave her!)

To celebrate our excitement for Amelia’s New Tea Parlour we are RUNNING A COMPETITION for
TWO Lucky Ladies to WIN High Tea for Two! Simply write a comment below telling us why you
love high tea!

Love Tea?? Don’t forget to check out our new Tea Lovers additions in-store & on-line to create your very own High Tea Party at Home!

Miss Pip's Favourite Places in Sydney

Fri, 13 May 2011 01:52:00 GMT

Bourke St Bakery
One of my little Cafe Joys in Sydney.
I frequently go to their Alexandria store, but there is also a quaint little outlet in Surry Hills too.
I would have to say my favorites are the Pizzas and the chocolate+Raspberry Tarts which are irresistible. Perfect with a freshly brewed Chai or Peppermint Tea... Of course!
If I am visiting alone, I always make sure that I order one of their delicious Rhubarb Tarts to take home to my Hunni. They are his favorite.

Check em out Ladies. You wont be disappointed.
Pip xo

ps: Dont forget to take home your weekly Loaf Lovelies! :)

633 Bourke St, Surry Hills
474 Gardeners Rd, Alexandria

Check out Burke St Bakery's website here.