| Baking is a feminist issue |
[May. 28th, 2012|01:54 pm] |
I was in Sainsbury's earlier and happened to walk down the aisle with the baking supplies. Among the cake decorating items were a pink and a blue box next to each other.
The blue box was labelled, "Eric's Biscuit Decorating Kit" and showed a cartoon boy with iced biscuits shaped like boats, spaceships and stars.
The pink box was "Erica's Biscuit Decorating Kit" and showed a girl with heart, butterfly and flower-shaped biscuits.
Because yes, even biscuit decorating has to be gendered. I suppose I should feel thankful there was a boys' kit at all...
(I would have taken a picture but my phone wasn't having it...) |
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| From field to front door |
[May. 10th, 2012|12:54 pm] |
Got flyered for Hubbub outside Herne Hill Station this morning. Sadly they don't seem to deliver to my area yet but it looks like a great idea. Basically it's a shopping service from local, independent shops. They collect all your shopping from local butchers, delis, bakeries etc and deliver it exactly like a supermarket delivery company might.
Not sure if I'd use it really though. I do the majority of my produce shopping at Brixton Market, and then use the Morrisons in Streatham for dry goods, household products etc, and the Coop near my flat for top-up shops of perishables - milk, bread etc.
It could be very good for people who want to use more independent shops and have more choice, but perhaps find supermarket deliveries easier because of health/mobility problems or because they have small children who get fractious being dragged in and out of lots of little shops. |
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| Half the pleasure's in the anticipation |
[May. 8th, 2012|06:53 pm] |
My favourite foodie time of year is almost here. The first British strawberries, asparagus and Jersey Royal potatoes have started appearing in the shops. All at exorbitant prices for the time being, of course, but in a couple of weeks there'll be a glut and sheer springtime pleasure will be mine for the price of a pint.
Oh what feasts await! Tiny, earthy potatoes tossed still warm from the pan into a mustardy vinaigrette with spring onions and fresh parsley. Achingly sweet, fresh strawberries spiked with crushed pink peppercorns, or mushed with cream and vanilla sugar and chilled into a granita. And most decadently of all, asparagus steamed to a perfect tender green, to be dunked through the blistered rind of a baked Camembert into the unctuous, sinful ooze within.
I know I can be a terrible bore about the whole seasonal food thing, but really, isn't that worth waiting for? |
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| Time on my hands |
[Feb. 29th, 2012|04:34 pm] |
Hmm, I seem to have a largely free weekend (other than Friday night).
What should I do with it? Anyone want to see me?
Comments screened, will unscreen if you say it's OK. |
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| I appear to be a bit fragile |
[Feb. 23rd, 2012|03:48 pm] |
If you see me over the next few weeks, and ask how I am, it's entirely possible I may simply burst into tears and run away.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, because it's nice to know that people care how I am, but I may just be too wobbly to formulate any answer that won't leave me in a sobbing heap.
It's nothing serious, really, just work stress and vague illness and generally feeling down after a long winter. Normal service, such as it is, will be resumed shortly. |
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| Oh crafty/dressmaking people! |
[Feb. 18th, 2012|02:03 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  busy | ] |
Can anyone give me some advice on dyeing synthetic fabric?
I recently acquired a second-hand wedding dress on eBay. If you don't want to click through, it's a Victorian riding-habit style with a black velvet bodice and full ivory-coloured skirt.
I had rather been hoping that the skirt would be made of silk or another natural fibre, but unfortunately it seems to be some sort of synthetic (I snipped a bit off from a hem and held a lighter to it, and it melted rather than burning).
Dyeing natural fibres I know about (good old Dylon machine dye!) but I'm less sure about dyeing synthetics, particularly large amounts of synthetics. Most of the products I've found seem to be designed for dyeing small quantities i.e. amounts small enough to go in a pan on the hob, which clearly will not be possible with an enormous floofy wedding dress!
Anyone got any suggestions?
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| My love is like a red, red wine |
[Feb. 14th, 2012|07:34 pm] |
Bored and home alone for Valentine's Day evening. I plan on eating my legendary bolognese (once it's cooked), drinking Californian Shiraz and listening to Ten New Songs on repeat, with possible interludes of watching repeats of Doctor Who, and checking for updated filth on LJ Valentine's Darkroom. Who says romance is dead? |
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valkyriekaren's journal
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