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join us at mass

April 11, 2011 By corrie 28 Comments

OK, so it turns out that you can now experience 35 seconds of Sunday mass with us right here. All thanks to Finn. I gave him my iphone to keep the peace yesterday at church since his daddy wasn’t there for entertainment. I thought Finnie boy was playing angry birds, scrolling through itunes and maybe taking a few photos but last night he started playing this and turns out he was doing a lot more than angry birds..

And doesn’t mummy look like the silly and noisy one compared to the twins……………they do make me laugh!

Filed Under: catholic, iphone, sundays

knitting weather

April 9, 2011 By corrie 17 Comments

mornings and evenings are getting cooler here so I’ve been trawling through ravelry trying to find what to make now that knitting weather is approaching. I’m setting myself a rather ambitious goal of making each of my four little ones a cardigan/jumper for winter. I really had to stop myself from ordering enough wool to make my own February Lady Sweater when I realised there was no way I could finish 5 winter woollies this season. I also realised I don’t know how I survived before ravelry. I just love ~~wasting time~~ searching out the most popular projects, the latest projects, new designers, what substitutes I can use and best of all – looking back over what I’ve made.

February Baby Sweater

cute legwarmies modelled by Keira

Debbie Bliss baby socks modelled by Tillie

I’ve also realised how much I miss knitting and how it’s really taken a back seat in the past year. So watch out blog! Knitting is coming back at retro mummy and in a big way.

Filed Under: knitting, ravelry

Potato Chip Tortilla

April 7, 2011 By corrie 10 Comments

Potato what tortilla. I bet that is what you are saying. Or maybe you are saying why does she have another recipe on her blog today. I have to admit that I really am enjoying having a bit more time to cook at the moment. When I first read this recipe, I thought oh cool they must mean potato chips as in the hot chip variety. No, they are talking about potato chips (you might call them crisps) straight out of the bag. This could quite possibly be a new family favourite BUT in the interests of healthy eating and moderation will be a special treat food.

You have to try this. I found the recipe in Around my French Table which is a cookbook I bought when Elodie was born and am loving for the simple, family friendly, french recipes. I’ve made this recipe metric and added more eggs to make it a bit more substantial. It is delicious cold and is my new party food recipe.

Potato Chip Tortilla adapted from Dorie Greenspan’s Around my French Table

175g bag potato chips ( I used a large bag of ‘Thins’)
8 eggs
handful of flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 brown onion, finely diced
2 Tbsp oil (I used sunflower)

Scrunch up potato chips a little in a bowl using your hands but don’t eat too many! In a separate bowl whisk eggs and add in diced parsley and onion and then pour over chips. Season well. Heat oil in small frypan and pour in mixture. I like to run a spatula around the edge several times making it easy to turn. Once the bottom has cooked and after about 5 minutes you have 2 options. You can put your frypan under the grill to cook the top for a further 5 minutes or what I like to do is get a dinner plate, slide out the tortilla onto it, put your frypan on top of the plate and tip the tortilla back in so the uncooked side is now on the bottom. I also add a dash more oil to the pan before I put the tortilla back in there. Put back on the heat for a further 5 or so minutes to cook and then slide onto a plate. Leave to cool slightly then slice and serve.

because I know you want to see the inside!

Verdict – yum. Lots of yums. One happy mummy and one happy retro daddy who ate half in one sitting! A little tip is to make this as soon as you buy the chips – we went through 2 bags of chips before I made this because a big bag of chips in our pantry is a special occasion in itself!

Filed Under: around my french table, recipe

Quiche Maraîchère

April 6, 2011 By corrie 15 Comments

On Tuesday night I made my third quiche in a week. I am just loving that with retro daddy at home (he was such a darling and took a week off work to be at home and help me out on the homefront) that I have had the time to make quiches from scratch. It’s been a long time since I’ve made quiche.

I’ve always known that there really is no comparison between a gorgeous homemade quiche with buttery pastry and one from the frozen or fridge section of the supermarket. First up we had Gerard’s Mustard Tart last week full of carrots, leeks and 2 types of french mustard. Delicious. It was a winner and I had to write out the recipe for grandma betty and her friend. Then I made a spinach and bacon quiche for my Dad who tells me he ate half in one go. I’d say that is a result although I’m sure my mum would have wanted him to eat the salad kit I gave him too.

And this one is called quiche maraichere and packed full of diced carrots, leek, celery and a red capsicum. It was delicious and the little ones ate it all up – and that is saying something considering all of those vegetables were in there. A generous serving of quiche and green salad is pretty much my perfect meal. But since I’m proudly wearing my skinny jeans at the moment I might need to limit my quiche and love of eating buttery pastry to once a week or that buttery pastry might end up on my deriere.

And when I say buttery pastry I do mean eating all those leftover bits of uncooked pastry. I love pastry! I love butter. And I really must admit that the family are L-O-V-I-N-G my homemade quiches and it’s been worth the effort. Even if I have to stop making pastry or a step of the quiche to make up a bottle, change a nappy, press play on a dvd, open a door and so on.

Quiche Maraichere from Dorie Greenspan’s ‘Around my French Table’

1Tbsp unsalted butter (I used olive oil because I wasn’t reading the recipe)
2 celery stalks, diced
1 leek, white and light green part only, diced (recipe calls for 2 slender leeks – couldn’t find any!)
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 red capsicum, deseeded and diced
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 large egg and 1 egg yolk
2/3 cup grated gruyere (I used vintage cheddar which is what I had in my fridge)
1 partially baked tart shell (9-9 1/2 inch you can find Dorie’s pastry recipe here)

Prepare all of your vegetables. Me, I just chucked all of my peeled vegetables in my cordless mini chopper. Then saute vegetables in the butter or olive oil for 10 minutes and set aside to cool. I added a tsp of sugar and salt to my vegies as they were a tad bitter. Place vegetable mixture in the tart shell then whisk egg, yolk and cream, season and pour over vegetables. You might not need all of the egg mixture but let the mixture settle around the vegetables.

Bake in 180 degree oven for 20 minutes, top with grated cheese and bake for another 10 minutes until golden brown all over. Remove from tray, cool slightly on cooling rack and serve with green salad. I highly doubt that there will be any leftovers.

Filed Under: around my french table, baking, cooking, quiche maraichere, recipe

Tetra Pak Kids

April 4, 2011 By corrie 13 Comments

Sponsored by Nuffnang

After the week I’ve had, an invitation to attend a Tetra Pak Kids event in Sydney was just what we needed to get us out of the house. Yes Tetra Pak, the company that makes food packaging. They have a new healthy living initiative for children all about getting active and eating healthy food. You can find out more and join their facebook page here. So we headed out to Blacktown PCYC for a spot of exercise and cooking on Saturday afternoon. Secretly, I think retro daddy just wanted to meet the big fella (aka Wendell Sailor) and take the new VW for a cruise out on the motorway.

Wendell Sailor the former NRL star put lots of kids through their paces with some fun exercises he demonstrates for Tetrak Pak Kids. You can find the exercises here on the Tetra Pak Kids website and while they are designed for 6- 10 year olds they really are fun for the whole family. This game involved doing sit ups and press ups on rubber chickens that squeak and racing through a jumping castle. These are definitely all about fun rather than just asking kids to do a sit up or a press up. Each exercise on the website has a written description and fun video that the kids can watch and my favourite has to be Parent Trap .

And let me tell you that Wendell IS the star. Kids (ok, and adults) were having their photo taken with him and getting his autograph but what I loved was how he was just having so much fun. He took the time to talk to everyone and told me he loves getting involved in these sort of activities with kids. And let me tell you that the kids idolise him. And the mothers too.

He had previously done school visits when he was a rugby league player and told me he would talk to kids and ask them what they had for breakfast and the kids would tell them chips or soft drinks or nothing at all. As a mum myself, who loves to cook and give my family a balanced diet, I just take it for granted that is how you raise your children. I couldn’t imagine giving my kids chips or nothing for breakfast so I think an initiative that gets kids moving and eating better AND educates families has to be a good thing.

Celebrity chef Darren Simpson (The Best in Australia and Ready Steady Cook fame) has endorsed yummy recipes that the kids can make for the family. And that they will eat. He made these delicious rice paper rolls with steamed chicken and fresh vegetables while we were there. The kids got involved making them too and enjoying them afterwards which was lots of fun for everyone. You can find more recipes here on the Tetra Pak Kids website.

The Sydney events like the one we attended are designed to launch the new website http://www.tetrapakkids.com.au/ and I may or may not have suggested that they come up to the northern beaches for a day because I think every family should have a bit of fun on a Saturday afternoon. But don’t worry, there are 3 more events in Sydney (Marrickville, Penrith and Campbelltown) during the month of April that you can attend. Just go here to find the times and addresses. And if you don’t live in Sydney just check out the website.

You and your family can meet Wendell and Darren, have some fun, have some food, get a healthy goody bag and learn something too. I really liked that the event is run from 12-4pm and you just drop in whenever you like and stay as long as you like. Oh and it’s free! And for Sydney, well you just have to love something for the family that is fun and free.

oh yes and here is the obligatory Wendell shot for the footy fans out there…..now I thought retro daddy was a big strong guy but Wendell really is the big fella in this shot!!! I’m his newest fan!

So thanks Tetra Pak Kids for a great afternoon out and a great initiative for families. We had a ball and Keira will be making us rice paper rolls this week for dinner.

Filed Under: tetrapak kids

accessorising

April 3, 2011 By corrie 17 Comments

After buying THE perfect little black dress yesterday I thought I should find some pretty earrings to wear with it to the funeral this week. But then I saw this and knew that it would be the most perfect little bracelet to wear.

It didn’t cost much but is so sweet and special with the little eiffel tower. My mum loved everything to do with Paris and loved little eiffel tower keepsakes. Keira was so sweet and asked me ‘mummy will you wear this for special celebrations?’. Yes.

Filed Under: my beautiful mum

knitting for the soul

April 3, 2011 By corrie 30 Comments

I know I’m probably preaching to the converted here, but knitting and craft in general can be so good for the soul. I decided to take a new knitting book, Retro Babes by Patons, to the hospital last Sunday with a ball of wool and some needles.

It helped to pass the time when we had to step out or while I was sitting on the other side of the room or when I was there late at night. And the more I knit the calmer I became and the more I thought about my mum and the good times.

I’ve only finished the back so far but I’m already calling this ‘grandmummy’s cardigan’ and it will have very special memories for me. Each little knit and purl stitch on this cardigan took my mind somewhere else. I actually plan to do a spot of knitting in the next week or two and with the weather getting cooler and school holidays coming up, well I might just get my wish. I think it’s knitting season here at retro mummy.

Filed Under: bendigo woollen mills, knitting, patons

Baking for the soul

April 2, 2011 By corrie Leave a Comment

These days I never seem to have enough time for baking but it really is one of my loves. It makes me happy and also makes a perfect gift. And so I thought it would be lovely to give my Dad a homemade quiche and salad kit for his dinner this week. I decided to pull out a brand new cookbook from the bookshelf and decided that Gerard’s mustard quiche would be perfect for him. But then I realised he doesn’t like leeks, a quick text to him confirmed that yes he doesn’t like leek so I discovered the spinach and bacon quiche and thought that was perfect man food….and I made the mustard quiche for our dinner.

Making the pastry by hand gave me time to think, reflect and without realising it knowing that my Mum would have loved to have seen me looking after my Dad. And he loved the quiche and ate half in one go he tells me. I’d say that is a result! And the mustard quiche was received very well here as well. My quiche is looking very rustic since I ran out of pastry, had some serious shrinkage on the sides and I chopped my vegetables rather than finely slicing them into batons (aka laziness)- and since I couldn’t find slim leeks I cut mine then sauteed them in a little olive oil with the rosemary and salt.

But it was simply delicious. So delicious that there were 3 generous slices left in a tupperware container overnight but I woke up to find an empty container in the sink. I think I need to put quiche on the menu here more often.

Filed Under: baking, cooking, retro daddy

Baking for the soul

April 2, 2011 By corrie Leave a Comment

These days I never seem to have enough time for baking but it really is one of my loves. It makes me happy and is a perfect way to show someone you care. And so I thought it would be lovely to give my Dad a homemade quiche and salad kit for his dinner this week. I decided to pull out a brand new cookbook from the bookshelf and decided that Gerard’s mustard quiche would be perfect for him. But then I realised he doesn’t like leeks, a quick text to him confirmed that yes he doesn’t like leek so I discovered the spinach and bacon quiche and thought that was perfect man food….and I made the mustard quiche for our dinner.

Making the pastry by hand gave me time to think, reflect and without realising it knowing that my Mum would have loved to have seen me looking after my Dad. And he loved the quiche and ate half in one go he tells me. I’d say that is a result! And the mustard quiche was received very well here as well. My quiche is looking very rustic since I ran out of pastry, then had it shrink a little on the sides and I chopped my vegetables rather than finely slicing them into batons – and since I couldn’t find slim leeks I sauteed mine in a little olive oil with the rosemary and salt.

But it was simply delicious. So delicious that there were 3 generous slices left in a tupperware container overnight but I woke up to find an empty container in the sink. I think it’s a sign I need to put homemade quiche on the menu here more often. Next recipe for my dad might have to be PW’s meatloaf with creamy mash – could there be anything more comforting and topped off with her tomato sauce. Perfect!

Filed Under: baking

the memories

April 1, 2011 By corrie 45 Comments

Growing up I always knew how beautiful my mum was. I was always so proud of her as she always made so much effort to dress well ** and would rarely be seen without makeup or her hair done nicely. She set a high standard for us to follow.

I just love this picture of her taken in the 1970’s in England. It has always taken pride of place in her home and I think it has a Jackie Onassis quality to it. I will definitely be adding this to my collection of photos in my dining room.

** On closer recollection, there were times in high school during very cold Canberra winters when she totally embarrassed my sister and I by wearing our school tracksuit pants to drop us off or pick us up from ballet or school activities. We’d tell her to stay in the car and to not ever be seen in them. I laugh at these memories now – she could be a total dag sometimes but she was probably thinking ‘heh I fit into my teenage daughters tracksuit pants!’

Filed Under: my beautiful mum

still here

March 31, 2011 By corrie 53 Comments

Thank you for your sweet comments and messages. They are just like getting a little hug from each of you everytime I read them. And I do read them. I’m still here but just finding it hard to be my normally happy cheery self. I don’t normally have sad days or days where there is something wrong with me so these past few days have been really tough.

It’s just like I have this permanent sad feeling dotted with moments of smiling and being happy for the little ones. When I run into someone who doesn’t know and they ask how I am it really hurts to have to tell them about my Mum. I wear my emotions on my sleeve and kind of wish everyone knew so I didn’t have to explain what has happened and why I’m not my smiley self.

But I’m still here. A bit of baking, a bit of knitting, a bit of TV, a bit of housework (ok, I actually caught up on folding a weeks worth of laundry AND put it away) and giving lots and lots of cuddles and kisses to my little ones reminding me of my job here.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and let you know that I’m ok.

Filed Under: cancer, moving on, my beautiful mum

in loving memory

March 29, 2011 By corrie 312 Comments

Evelyn Elizabeth Swinnerton

1949-2011

It’s been an emotional weekend and I should have known that my dear mum would would fight till the very end. Late last night she went back to God. We have spent days and nights at the hospital and she was surrounded by so much love the entire time. But I just can’t quite believe that she has gone and I keep wishing we had more time. It just seems so sudden. She had been doing so well and was talking so clearly last week that we all thought we had more time. It just took one week.

I wish she was still here with us but I need to think that she has left us for a better place. I’ve also had a quiet word with God to have the best of everything ready for her. Champagne, lobster, french shoes, clothes, french music and movies and lots of books. All of the things that she loves. And only the best will do. She was a special lady and left this world too early.

Death is Nothing at All

Death is nothing at all.

I have only slipped away to the next room.

I am I and you are you.

Whatever we were to each other,

That, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.

Speak to me in the easy way

which you always used.

Put no difference into your tone.

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed

at the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household word

that it always was.

Let it be spoken without effect.

Without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.

It is the same that it ever was.

There is absolute unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind

because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you.

For an interval.

Somewhere. Very near.

Just around the corner.

All is well.

Henry Scott Holland

Filed Under: cancer, my beautiful mum

letting go

March 26, 2011 By corrie 184 Comments

What a day. I woke up early for Mathilda’s but by the time I reached the bathroom I remembered my mum and the night before. Oh. For almost a minute I was having a good morning. At the market I put on my brave face. Tried to smile, keep happy and not let on where my head and heart was. When Di and Di, two lovely quilters came up to talk and ask how my mum was going I briefly let my guard down. Thank you for those sweet words ladies, they kept me going. My dad had texted me just a little earlier to tell me that it wasn’t good. My mum had taken a little breakfast and was given some morpheine to help her sleep. Friends and family were called in to come and see her, to say their goodbyes.

She hasn’t been able to wake up since about 10ish but she looks so peaceful and is sleeping comfortably. In case you didn’t know I have a direct line to God. Well, no I don’t but I did send a quick email to the lovely Sr Josie at our church asking to have our priest come out and say a little blessing over her. He was there not long after (see, direct line) and his words were so calming, so peaceful and just what was needed in that room. We prayed, he said some beautiful words, we joined together to say the Our Father and Hail Mary and he placed oil on her – in his words to prepare her for the journey. He held her hand and there were lots of tears and shaking shoulders in that room. I don’t think you need to be a person of faith to feel the comfort of those words.

She is unlikely to wake up again but we are grateful that she has no pain, is sleeping and is surrounded by our love. I also feel your love and comforting words and thoughts. They mean so much to me when my heart is breaking right now. My phone will stay next to my bed tonight as the hospital will call us when it is time to say our last goodbyes. And one of my favourite songs on the radio right now is just perfect for where we’re at. Letting go.

Just updating to let you know that she is still with us but the end is very near. I never thought we would get to Tuesday but she’s still with us for a little while longer. We’ve all been keeping a bedside vigil and holding her hand and just being near her. I don’t think she has been left alone in that room since saturday. Thank you again xxxx

Filed Under: cancer, my beautiful mum

my mum

March 25, 2011 By corrie 62 Comments

I know a lot of you have been asking about my mum. Since her last treatment, she had been trotting along nicely under the care of my dad at our family home in canberra. She had been having good and bad days but was happy and still talking. The last time we had a conversation was Tuesday but my dad had warned me she hadn’t had such a good day, by Wednesday she wasn’t doing well and needed to see a doctor, by Thursday my dad brought her back to Sydney to see her doctors and for a scan to see what was going on. Unfortunately, she was in such a bad way this morning that she couldn’t have the scan. She was taken to a private hospital near us to try to stabilise her. There is no timeline the doctors can give us. Just keeping her comfortable, seeing what happens over the next few days and the Doctors will talk to my Dad on Monday about what is going on.

me and my gorgeous mum a la 1970’s. Would you believe she was in her late 20’s!

Seeing her tonight was probably one of the hardest things I’ve had to do……………..ever. I stood at the doorway with little Elodie in my arms but it was as if I wasn’t there. There was no smile, no recognition, it was as if the doorway was empty. I panicked because of course your own mother knows who you are. I sat and talked and tried to keep the conversation light and cheery. She can’t talk or smile but can hear us. Oh can I just turn back the clock. To a time before her diagnosis. When I thought melanoma was just a bad mole you had cut out and went on your merry way again.

And thank you for your sweet and kind words. I know each of us has experienced this time with a loved one and it is never easy. No one has the answers, or the right words or a magic pill to make it all go away. You can’t think further ahead than the next day and need to put your brave face on.

Filed Under: cancer, my beautiful mum

last minute preparations

March 24, 2011 By corrie 17 Comments

Well thank you for all of the sweet words yesterday! It feels great to get that off my chest. Now, like I said earlier in the week, I do my best work at the last minute. As I write I am sorting fabrics into baskets by colour and will pop them in my huger than huge ikea bags to load up into the car. And I might load up the car later tonight because market day also means getting all 6 of us out of the house bright and early for a 7am set up!

Now normally I would wrap each fat quarter in plastic. But with so many new fat quarters to bring with me, well that would take me a day in itself. So I had a brainwave – cute deco tape. And thanks to my lovely friend Francine we cut, we folded and we taped – in between coffee and biscuits. So glad the biscuit police weren’t out in force because I realised later on that I skipped breakfast and ate biscuits for lunch! Oops.

I have a great spot inside the hall on Saturday and as soon as you walk in the door and turn right – I’m there. Stall number 1 to be exact. So I decided a new tablecloth was in order to freshen things up and how about 7m of lilac gingham from spotlight for oh I don’t know…………………….$13.93!!!!!

So I’ll be back here over the weekend for a full debrief and hope customers remember to stop by and also that I don’t forget to vote!

Filed Under: japanese fabrics