Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

RECIPES

WE HAVE SOME STUNNING FOOD AT QUILTING THAT IS BROUGHT BY THOSE BRINGING THE REFRESHMENTS



MIRANDA'S SIMPLE SCONES


3 cups self raising flour
1 cup cream

1 cup lemonade (sprite, 7up)


PREHEAT OVEN AT 250 C

1. Lightly mix all ingredients by lifting into the air and dropping back into the bowl until thoroughly combined.

2. Add milk and gently mix through with hands (not squeezing) it to combine.

3. All dough should come off sides and bottom of
bowl and not stick to your hands. If more flour or milk needed, add a little at
a time.

4. Dust working bench with flour. Using
palms of your hand GENTLY shape till it’s an inch high. And cut using scone
cutter or inverted beer glass. These scones are better a bit larger than normal
scones.

5. Place on a tray lined with aluminium
foil and dusted with flour in a circle so that each scone abuts the next. (this
helps them rise)

6. Cook till light brown, then
take out of the oven and quickly separate the circle giving the side of the
scone opportunity to dry out.

7. Cook for a
further 10 minutes or until golden brown.



MIRANDA’S “MADE UP” SAVOURY SCONES

350 grams (12 oz) Self-raising flour
85 grams (3 oz) butter, softened (or if
hard grated)
I packet dried soup mix (I used French onion soup. Try
Mushroom or cream of chicken etc)
I cup
milk

Optional:
Herbs or spring onions for scone mixture
(depending on flavour soup mix used)
Parmesan or other grated cheese for
top.


PREHEAT OVEN AT 250 C

1. Lightly mix first 3 ingredients by lifting into the air and dropping back into the bowl until thoroughly combined.

2. Add milk and gently mix through with hands (not squeezing) it to combine.

3. All dough should come off sides and bottom of bowl and not stick to your hands. If more flour or milk needed, add a little at a time.

4. Dust working bench with flour. Using palms of your hand GENTLY shape till it’s an inch high. And cut using scone cutter or inverted beer glass. These scones are better larger than normal scones.

5. Dip scones into grated cheese.

6. Place on a tray lined with aluminium foil and dusted with flour in a circle so that each scone abuts the next. (this helps them rise)

7. Cook till light brown, then take out of the oven and quickly separate the circle giving the side of the scone opportunity to dry out.

8. Cook for a further 10 minutes or until golden brown.


This recipe can be used to make ordinary scones by omitting the cheese and soup mix.






ALISON'S ASIAN RICE SALAD



1 cup brown rice (uncooked)
1 bunch spring/green onions, chopped
1 red
capsicum/red pepper, diced
1/2 cup currants
2 tablespoons parsley,
chopped
4 tablespoons sunflower seeds, toasted
60g cashew
nuts

Cook rice, mix everything together (except
nuts)

Dressing

1/2 cup sunflower oil
1 tablespoon
lemon juice
1 clove crushed garlic
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon
sesame oil
salt & pepper

Mix dressing ingredients and add,
with cashew nuts, just before serving.

Note: Recipe says 1/2
cup oil. I find this is a lot and you can halve it.
I sometimes use
light olive oil - virgin oil seemed to overpower the Asian
flavours.




ANNABEL'S CHICKPEA & ROASTED NUT DIP



1/2 cup roasted salted cashew or almonds (i used cashews)
400g can chick
peas/garbanzo beans, reserve 5 tablespoons of brine
2 tsps lemon juice
1/3
cup chopped fresh coriander
salt & pepper
olive oil for
serving
chopped cashews for garnish

Place cashews, chick peas,
reserved brine, lemon juice and coriander in a food processor and puree until
smooth.
Season to taste with S & P
Spoon into serving dish, drizzle
with a little olive oil and sprinkle with extra chopped cashews.



ELLEN'S PIMENTO CHEESE:




4 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1 X 2 oz. jar pimiento, diced
10
olives, chopped
mayonnaise
assorted crackers
celery

Lightly mix all the ingredients together, by hand, in a mixing bowl. The
mixture should be spreadable but not smooth. Serve with assorted crackers and
celery Sticks to dip.
"I use already grated cheese. Any grateable will do. A mixture
of cheeses gives even more flavour."



SANDRA S's MUFFIN RECIPES :

SAVOURYPASTRAMI AND PESTO MUFFINS:






Combine Dry:
2 cups flour and 2 teaspoons baking powder (or 2 cups
self-raising flour)
175 grams grated cheese100 grams pastrami
Mix Wet
together:
2 eggs
1+1/4 milk
salt and pepper
Combine mixed wet and
mixed dry imgredients. Cook for 10-12 minutes in muffin trays @ 200c




SWEET MUFFIN RECIPE:



Combine Dry:
2 + 1/2 Self raising flour
1/2 cup caster sugar
Mix
Wet together
1 egg
1+2/3 milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2
cup oil
Mix wet and dry together. Place in muffin trays and bake for 20
minutes @ 190Celcius. Options: add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips or 1 cup mixed
frozen berries (don't thaw)

Monday, June 16, 2008

****JUNE NEWSLETTER*****

Hello Everyone,


This is our first newsletter for simply ages.


Everyone is encouraged to contribute.I really happy to facilitate the placement of your entries onto the blog. Just send your material (ha-ha) to me by normal email. I've spoken with Janice and we may even be able to bring in Show and Tell pictures into the blog with the ability to explain, describe or discuss the quilts.


WHERE VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED WE'LL BE HIGHLIGHTING THE NOTICE IN RED. Does anyone want to help with editing the newsletter? I often write late in the night /early morning and am so tired that I make more typos than usual. It's not a huge job, just someone with a good eye for mistakes, to point them out to me to be changed.I thought the anzaquilters.blog.com would be easy for everyone to remember and access.June has been a very busy time with comings and goings, so let's start there.



MEMBERSHIP


WELCOME TO NEWCOMERS: Our group is quite active and there are a lot of things going on, so please make yourself known to me and if it's ok with you, I'll feature your picture here and some personal snippets. Elizabeth and Carmen have recently joined our group and as soon as I can, I hope to introduce them to all.

COMINGS (AND GOINGS):





  • Maggie is temporarily in France celebrating her daughter's wedding. Congratulations and best wishes Maggie...


  • Janice will be away for the (European) summer and asks "Is there anyone who can take the photos for Show and Tell?"

  • Miranda returned after some months in Australia caring for her mum with terminal cancer. "After my mother passed away in May I've now returned FOR ANOTHER SHORT STINT before going back to Australia for the 40 day memorial for a week (starting 26th June). My thanks to the group for the condolence card sent from the group by Janice."




FAREWELL:

Courtney wrote to members to advise that they are moving back to Brisbane and she'll be making one more visit to our group before leaving Singapore. Courtney wrote,”I have loved the quilting group in Singapore and have valued the friendships and support that I have received during my stay. I will be able to attend one more group before heading off (Tuesday 24th June) for a final quilt session and chit chat, I look forward to seeing those who can make it that day."


NEWS FROM PAST MEMBERS:
Betty, who won the Singapore Challenge, last year, with her fabulous quilt of Steve Irwin has exhibited her amazing colourwash quilt of some (5,000 x 1 inch blocks) in the Sydney Quilt show and it was featured in Patchwork and Quilting Magazine. Well done Betty. She is exhibiting her quilt at several of the Australian quilt shows. INTERESTING FACT: She is not able to enter it in the competitions as the quilting was not done by an Australian quilting guild member. So if you're thinking of exhibiting you may wish to speak to Betty to learn about her experience. Sandra has returned to life in Sydney and has just received her shipment which has reunited her with her computer and sewing machine! She has settled back very well.


OUT AND ABOUT




CAMBODIA ORPHANAGE TRIP: Janice, Maggie, Kathy, Anne and a non quilting friend have returned from their exciting time in the orphanage in Cambodia. They taught 19 nannies how to use machines donated by World Vision. The orphanage is about 2 hours outside of Phnom Penh and there are 50 children, 39 of which are babies and toddlers. They wanted the nannies to be taught how to use the machines they had been given, as a way of making their daily lives more interesting.Reminder: On this subject....Anyone upgrading their machines can contact World Vision to donate their old sewing machines - if in Australia Spotlight collects them. (Someone said Spotlight here does too, can anyone confirm??)








JAPAN TOUR: Having taken in both the Yokohama and the Tokyo International quilt shows with friends from Anza Quilting in previous years, I'm researching the possibility of running another one in November 2008 so I'm going up in July to investigate some more features to add on. This time I'm going to try and incorporate lessons on sashiko and other Japanese crafts in a beautiful traditional town called Hida Takayama. It can only be added to the November Yokohama show as the January Tokyo show is in the heart of winter and "snowing-in" has been known to happen. Please let me know if you are even slightly interested - Betty, Sandra and Janice really enjoyed being on the tour last time where we had a good combination of quilt show, sightseeing and shopping (both general and Quilting supplies - especially materials - WHICH HAVE FEATURED HEAVILY IN OUR QUILTS AND BAGS SINCE).





SYDNEY QUILT SHOW: Sandra will be sending us photos of the show. Her comment was the quality was really much better than other years. We look forward to seeing some.



RESOURCES

SEWING MACHINES:
For those who have not been able to bring their sewing machines to Singapore, Miranda has two spare ones used for her handbag workshops, but are not in use all the time, so is happy to lend them.


MAGAZINES AND BOOKS:

If you have recently bought any books or magazines that you would like to share, please let the group know through this newsletter.


SINGAPORE SUPPLIERS:

Have you found any new suppliers? Please let us add it on to an on-going list which we'll start as of next month. This will be a great resource for newcomers - instant list, instant quilting supplies!
Please put name of company: contact: address; phone number: directions.



DID YOU KNOW?

Eucalyptus oil takes off those nasty sticky labels off plastic containers. It is brilliant for old sticky tape that has "set" on wood or glass - especially if oil is put on cotton wool to soak and left on sticky stains for a few minutes. Here are some more uses for our National Oil...please go to the link: http://www.simplyoz.com/moreinfo.php?8056:0




SURF THE SITES:

TO VIEW THESE WEB SITES, EITHER CLICK ON THE UNDERLINED ADDRESS HERE, OR COPY (HIGHLIGHT THE COMPLETE ADDRESS AND PRESS CONTROL C SIMULTANEOUSLY) AND PASTE (HIGHLIGHT THE COMPLETE ADDRESS AND PRESS CONTROL V WHERE YOU LOOK AT WEB SITES).


How to fold quilts on the bias to prevent material damage over time: http://whipup.net/2006/11/13/know-when-and-how-to-fold-em/
How to care for quilts long term:
http://www.lostquilt.com/Storage.html


SOME IDEAS FOR FUTURE ISSUES:

Opinions Welcome...

Would we like to feature our group in the Australian Down Under Magazine/Patchwork and Quilting or Patchwork and Stitches?? - Magazines in Australia often feature groups from around the nation and I'm really happy to follow up and get them to meet some of Australia's Diaspora in Singapore. As well as highlighting that ANZA is made up of people from many countries around the world.I think our sensational charity quilt would make a wonderful visual. An article could also draw attention to potential members who are might be moving to Singapore in the future. I'm happy to follow up but need group discussion/approval.



SOCIAL LUNCHEON FOR ANZA QUILTERS??

When we all get back later in the year would we like to have a social get together? I've discovered a very pretty place in Singapore - Seletar Country Club that has a very informal restaurant overlooking the golf course and Seletar Reservoir. It's Greeeeeeeeen as far as your eye can see.... It's a good break away from the city - 5 minutes away from our home. The prices are very reasonable and the food (choice of Asian or Western) is consistently good. Anyone interested before the "silly" season is upon us and the year has gone?



PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS:

Do you have any quilting photos to add to our blog?


SUPPLIERS IN SINGAPORE - not just the usual ones. A comprehensive list of sewing, material and quilting suppliers in Singapore for newcomers and those of us who are happy to explore wider.


LOST, FOUND, BUY, SELL, SHARE, LEND OR RECOMMEND
Be it quilting or non-quilting itmes...Anything to buy or sell, A spot to ask if anyone know where to find......


WORKSHOP IDEAS

Some months ago we discussed having a "shared workshop" - where everyone tips in their techniques for doing mitres on a patchwork block and for borders/quilt finishings. There are so many different ways being practiced and many of us still struggling. Yet those who have mastered their particular style swear by how easy it is.



FEEDBACK

Please feel free to make constructive comments and offer any help you can if you'd like this format of communication to continue in this or some similar form.....
Hi everyone, Welcome to our new blog. It is another method we can communicate and see photos, share information and notices.




THIS GROUP BLOG IS A TRIAL TO SEE HOW WE LIKE IT, AND IF WE DO, IT CAN BE AN ONGOING NEWSLETTER TOO.

If your emails get jammed with large files etc or you've been receiving spam, this blog should solve the problem. As the information is not sent to you, you can look at the blog as often as you need and nothing gets permanently downloaded on to your computer.Each one of us can add to the blog, just send me the information and I'll post it for you. To do this just email me at my current email address and make the heading "FOR THE BLOG".

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.... THANKS FOR READING AND NOW BACK
TO QUILTING.....

Best wishes for health and happiness,

Miranda Rowlands

OUR NEW BLOG, who what when where and how

Hi everyone,

Welcome to our new blog.

WHO:

This blog is to be used by current and ex-members of the ANZA quilt group in Singapore.

Each one of us can add to the blog. I am just the facilitator to help all members access and contribute to the blog.


WHAT:
It is another method we can communicate and see photos, share information and notices.


THIS IS A TRIAL TO SEE HOW WE LIKE IT AND IF WE DO IT CAN BE AN ONGOING NEWSLETTER TOO.


If your emails get jammed with large files etc or you've been receiving spam, this blog should solve the problem. The blog is not sent to you, you log on to the blog as often as you need and nothing gets permanently downloaded on to your computer.


WHEN:
Depending on interest and contributions, we will publish when we have news.

WHERE:
This site can be accessed from anywhere around the world, you can be on a Mac or a PC , all you have to remember is the address which is our group's name and then the words .blogspot.com all without any spaces.

HOW:
Just send me any information, news, articles or photos in a normal email and I'll post it for you. To do this just email to Miranda's current email address (as per our membership list) and mark the heading "FOR THE BLOG."


Please remember blogs are accessible to the public so please do NOT write any full names, addresses, phone numbers or email addresses nor anything that can compromise the privacy of any group member. Although it's extremely unlikely anyone without an interest in the Group would read it anyway as there are now millions of blogs around the world. Thank you...