thursday bookshelf

I am thinking I would like to try to have a shelf of my top 100 favourite books.  Not really sure about whether 100 is the right number or not, maybe it is too many, probably not enough, but I figure if I set a goal that is a start.  It is something I can modify later.  What I want to do is read through my collection of books and if i think a book belongs in my top 100 I will give it shelf space and make it a new, hand crafted jacket.  if a book doesn't make it to the top 100 it can be filed if it might be useful eg shakespeare, given away to someone else or if it is a total waste of paper and shames the trees it was made of I will endeavour to make it into something else.  How about that for a noble cause?  I already partly started this project as it have been kicking around in my head for a couple of years now.  They first book on my shelf will be Diamond Age or A young ladies illustrated primer by Neal Stephenson.   I have recently re read it (still love it, even better a decade on) and just need to make it a new cover - it really needs one, Ella tried to eat it.  I am thinking something lovely and steampunk to reflect its marvelous content.

scottish shortbread from old fashioned favorites

This was a pretty straightforward recipe.

• it was easy to make with not too many ingredients
• there were plenty of jobs for Charlie - sifting, spooning flour into the bowl and pricking the biscuits
• tastes good

bad things - it is a bit crumbly but that might be different if it cooked for the length of time expected ( I did it at 150 c in indented head oven but it took much longer than the stated 30 minutes).

3 out of 5 - would make again

Wednesday test kitchen

Hey I've decided to test kitchen some of the multitude of cook books we have before keeping and chucking them. Some are already keepers because they are beautiful and we use them regularly. Some - not so sure about. So my first test kitchen book will but The Australian Women's Weekly Old-fashioned Sweet favorites. Sounds great doesn't it. Not really Julia Childs but hey - who the hell cares?