Bzzzy Bees!

So um, I got home yesterday and there they were. The tree they're on is right at the main gate, so I decided to take a picture. My dad seems to think they're good luck, so we shouldn't get rid of them...I don't know. I can still remember my first bee sting ordeal. I was nine, I think and I stepped on a dead one; *the horror!*. The next encounters after that are pretty similar and as painful.

Anywho, I'm not here to talk about my unfriendly encounters with bees. I would like to talk about them metaphorically, or comparing them to real life; my life (duh!). I don't know; my knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and behaviour of bees is quite limited. The last time I studied bees specifically I was probably in junior secondary. But from what I know; there are bees which are captured for honey and those that roam around freely. Since it's winter time here, it's bee season and it comes as no surprise that I'd find a swarm perched on my tree.

Bees are really busy creatures. Looking at it like a 'Plain Jane', you'd know that their main goals are to protect the queen and make honey. Every second, they're serving a purpose. So I asked myself today; what purposeful thing did I manage to do to day? 'Something, for someone else?' What should I do, for someone else? I know it's not really the same thing; protecting a queen (just one being), and my question. Either way, the queen is being protected because she's producing more bees (Okay, that didn't help either). Anyhowz I'm just going to use it.

I've not done anything, in a while that would benefit another person who needs it. So, I'm going to think of something to do, and I'll tell you what I did in the next coming blog posts...one of them. I'm going to do something that'll help protect another human being, selflessly and guilt free...just because I saw a swarm of bees at my gate. It pretty much makes sense to me.

'Till next time...c ya! (Wait, are you still scratching you head?)

Happy Birthday Brian May!

If you have no idea who he is, Brian May is the lead guitarist of my favourite band, Queen. I'll just like to take this time or post, to express my gratitude to all the inspiration I've obtained from just listening to him play guitar. I think out of all the guitarists I've heard play in my life, he's style is the most intelligent. It's like, I want to go out and integrate or do some maths...figuratively speaking of course. It's like I'm on a rocket, travelling to another galaxy (Hey, I call it like I see it). Please press play on the vid above and witness an amazing solo by him.

Happy Birthday, Brian May :)

'Till next time...

Ziggie Makes: Apple Pie and Cornish Pasties

This time, it was all about working with shortcrust pastry. Which is why I made the savoury and the sweet versions.

Apple Pie

Off the record, I still can't believe I made an apple pie. This may sound weird, strange...weird, but I have an awesome kind of feeling at the pit of my stomach; I've conquered apple pie! :)

Ingredients

Crust

-2 cups white flour

-75g butter

-75g fat or lard

-1 teaspoon salt

-10 to 12 tablespoons of ice water

Procedure

1. Mix the salt and flour.

2. Make sure your butter and fat are soft. If not, microwave until soft; however, do not melt. Rub the butter and fat into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

3. Add water and mix until a doughy mixture is formed. You can add more water if it's still too dry (teaspoon), but make sure you don't pour too much

4. Wrap dough in cling wrap and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes

Filling

Meanwhile, you make the filling.

Ingredients

-5 green tart apples 

-1 cup sugar

- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

-1 tablespoon vinegar

-1/4 teaspoon salt

-2 tablespoons flour

-1 tablespoon lemon juice

Procedure

1. Peel and slice apples (thin slices). Soak them in a large bowl filled with water and the lemon juice (this will prevent them from browning while you work)

2. In another container, mix the sugar, cinnamon, vinegar, salt and flour.

3. Once you've done that, drain and add the apples to the mixture. Mix until evenly coated with the sugar mixture.

4. Now that you're done with the filling, remove the dough from the fridge and roll out using a rolling pin. Part of the dough which is used for the base should be about 2mm thick. Roll it out onto a pie dish which should be no more than 9 inches in length.

5. Pour in the apples and level. Before covering the filling, place some butter (about 15g) cut into cubes on top. 

6. Cover over the top with another batch of rolled out dough and press on the sides to close it up (use thumbs of back of knife)

7. Bake for 40-50 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius.

8. For glossiness, brush with egg white after removing from oven.

Then it's ready to enjoy!

My dad loved it! I liked the sweet and sour in it; especially from the apples.

Cornish Pasties

These are proudly British; well at least that's what I was told.

Ingredients
-Short crust pastry (Refer to "Crust" at Apple Pie)
-Stewing beef
-1 large potato
-1/2 onion finely chopped
-salt and pepper to taste
-Butter
-1 Egg beaten.
-Ice water

Procedure
1. Cook beef in water until tender.

2. Grate potato and mix with chopped onion. Mix together with the cooked stewing beef

3. Add the salt and pepper to taste

4. Roll out pastry with a rolling pin on a chopping board.

5. Use a saucer (diameter about 5cm) to cut circles into the dough (pastry)

6. Place the filling (meat mixture) in the middle of each circle. Place a small cube of butter (unsalted) onto the filling before closing.

7. Use a little ice water to dampen the edges of the dough and close the circles. (Refer to finished product above to see how it looks like closed).

8. Brush some egg onto the pasty and place each on a baking tray lined with baking sheet

9. Bake at 220 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes, then reduce your heat to 180 degrees Celsius and bake for a further 30minutes.

10. Remove from oven and serve hot or cold.

My sister said, "Hmmm! I feel like I'm about to chew my lips off. It's so smooth and just plain delicious. May I have another?"  I don't need to add more to that.

So there you have it. The "Crusty-mania", I had in my kitchen. Personally from both recipes, the crust was the best part. I loved the neutral butter-ish taste it had.

So try them out or just glare at the pics...

'Till next time :)

My New Obsession: Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)

Hello Zigglets!

I think I may have found someone to look up to in the literature part of my life; Virginia Woolf! As for those who know me really well, I'm sort of obsessed with Freddie Mercury and everything he's touched in his musical career. When it comes to music or an kind of conversation I may have with anyone concerning music, he always seems to pop up out of nowhere. (There I go again).

Anywho, this post is not about Freddie Mercury; it's about Virginia Woolf and how I'm suddenly fascinated by her life and her contributions to literature alike. I'm yet to read one her books because well, we just met. But reading her biographies on various sites in a matter of 48hours, I've come to appreciate her more than you can imagine. As an aspiring writer, I find my head flooding with all sorts of inspirations from all corners of my imagination. What I've read so far about her passion and dedication to her stories, I just feel so inspired to write with a renewed level of vigour in my passion.

All this was fuelled by a movie I watched a few days ago, The Hours starring Nicole Kidman. It was not the first time I'd watched it. The first time I saw it, I think I was 14, and I knew nothing then. If you haven't yet, you should watch it.

So when the new semester starts at school this August, I'll be in the city with a bookstore at my disposal. That's where I'm going to focus my interests, and I'm so excited, I just can't wait.

Other than that, I'm doing just fine. It's been rather cold in my area. As I write, I'm wrapped in a purple fleece blanket that I got for my birthday, with Kings of Leon playing in the background. You see, nothing's changed!

That's for this week! Enjoy the weekend ;)

O-Town

Members
-Erik-Michael Estrada
-Dan Miller
-Trevor Penick
-Jacob Underwood

-Ashley Parker Angel

What happened to O-Town? That's a good question. If you don't really know them, I don't blame you. They had only three hits, according to my musical knowledge. They were not as popular as other boybands of their time, like *Nsync and the Backstreet Boys. Anyway, O-Town was formed through a competition called "Making the Band". This was the first season of the program, and yes, I watched it. The funny thing is, after O-Town released their début single, I had no idea it was the guys from "Making the Band"...until someone told me.

The band's biggest hit, and my favourite song was "All or Nothing" (video). I literally used to wait for this song on music channels and radio stations just to hear it. Although I personally feel that it was deprived airtime, I waited! I was around eleven or twelve, I think.

They dissembled in 2003 and apparently they are reuniting this year; I don't know. But hey, we'll see.

'Till next time ;)

Ziggie Makes: Borscht (Version 1)

This is beetroot soup!

I decided to make 2 versions of this soup; one without meat and one with meat (tomorrow).

Ingredients:
*3 medium beetroots
*1.250L of water
*1/2 large onion finely chopped
*1/4 tsp pepper
*1 tsp salt
*1/4 pint sour cream
*1 1/2 tblsp flour
*1/2 cup milk
*1 tsp vinegar to taste

Procedure
Wash beetroot thoroughly and cook in water until tender. Remove beet from heat; peel and grate them. Keep the water you cooked them in because you're still going to use it. Add chopped onion, beet, pepper and salt into the beet water. Meanwhile, add sour cream, flour, milk and vinegar together, and mix until smooth. Add the sour cream mixture into beet mixture and stir. Place it back onto heat but make sure it does not boil.
Serve with mashed potatoes.

Then it's ready to enjoy!


So my sister thought it tasted good, or at least she pretended to. I thought it was just plain disgusting. I'll see what the meaty one tastes like tomorrow.

See ya laters!

I Don't Know What To Call This One

Hey,

I know I've neglected this blog in the month of June and I've no excuse. I'm just one big procrastinator who spends the whole day in her pyjamas, reading people's histories on Wikipedia!

I had my 21st birthday party last Saturday, and the red shoes in the picture...yes, I was wearing 'em. I can't post pics of the event because in all honesty, they don't look good. I was wearing makeup for the very first time and I didn't like the way I looked...story of my life. As for how the party was, I'll let those who attended be the judge!

Anywho, since it's the 1st, I'm actually going to give you a conclusion to my list of things to do in the month of June. It was just terrible sticking to the list, but I think I accomplished 90% of it. It's not that bad. I think I'll make another for the month of July.

From the last time I posted on Random Ramblings, I just have one piece of advice to give: Don't leave commitments until the last minute. I always do that at school with my essays and lab reports, but this week I learnt the hard way by messing up a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm still quite depressed, actually.

Today's my little sister's birthday, it's also a national holiday....
Happy birthday, Sebotha!

'Till I post again, see ya!