Yvette's Twistedvines

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Giving…

Published by Yvette

We all have dreams. We all create these dreams within our minds, the things we hope for, we strive for, we fight for, we inspire to.

Each and everyone of us has a passion within us.

Expressing it is sometimes the hardest thing.

We often concern ourselves with our emotional barriers..what will my readers think, what image of myself do I give, should I share every bit of information, should I really write that. . Or do I really write from my inner self and heart.

I’ve chosen the later. I write from my inner voice, I try to capture the world around me,the beauty of nature and her changing seasons. The love of fresh and seasonal produce, interpreting colour, balance and textures on a plate.The love of collective objects which truly expresses my love of many era’s, Victoriana in particular.

The love of a single rose, the intricacy of a wooden frame, a silver platter or a linen tablecloth.

“ All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them”.Walt Disney

A plate of food for me presents a palette of edible art and I love designing the presentation that goes with it.

Food should trigger all of our senses, visually to our eyes, tingling of taste buds, perfume and aromas, texture to our fork and spoon and an indulgence of subtle harmonics to our ears .Presentation is everything to me .

And don’t let anyone take that passion away from you.

“All successful people, men and women, are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose”

Brian Tracy

We all have a gift to share, be through the lens of a camera, kitchen antics, poetic words, parenthood, whatever your passion.We share these gifts within the world of blogging, and with our encouragement by sharing our comments and words that we leave after reading another blog, we open someone else’s gift that they’ve given to us and share their passion and dream.

With the everyday busy routines of life I find the time to express my passion of food, photography and life within this blog. My blog name has never really been explained until now. Yvette’s Twistedvines came about as a combination of a meeting of two cultures that of Australia and Italy.Two lives that I live, that I might say are completely different. Two different worlds when it comes to climate, food, culture and life style. Twistedvines is a combination of two worlds I love and an expression of how I have come accustomed to both of them.

You could only imagine my happiness when this morning I received and opened a gift from a fellow blogger, she had nominated me for a “Stylish Blogger Award”

Now, although a lot of you don’t acknowledge these awards, In appreciation of this gift, I give to you a sharing of those other bloggers with dreams and passions…a share of those highly talented and passionate people.

Those who dedicate time each day, or week to express their passions …Thank you to Yankee, Midwestern Exposure who

nominated me for this award. She certainly is passionate about culinary delights, learning to live her transitional lifestyle from urban northeast to the farmlands of the Midwest, Iowa.Check out her recipe for Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes.

The following bloggers are all so passionate and inspiring and there’s nothing better than a little recognition for

their time and love for their talents.

Mandy @ The Complete Cook Book

Celia @ Fig Tree and Lime Cordial

Brydie @ City hippy farmgirl

Amanda @ Buttercup600’s Blog

Cindy @ Life in a Recipe

Carol Ann @ Cah4el’s Blog

Mary @ Home is where the boat is

Cindy @ the only cin

Alita @ Alita Jewel’s Treasures

Amy @ World Plates

Jackie @ My Wooden Spoons

Sarah @ this heavenly life

Hyacynth @ Undercover Mother

Sam @ Learn.Create.Do

Amanda @ Tea and Two Biscuits

So to those that I have nominated I congratulate you, and in doing so by all means share this gift by

nominating other bloggers and enhance this blogging community with other passionate and talented bloggers.

There are a couple of things to do :

Thank the person who nominated you, and again ( Thanks Yankee )

Share 7 things about yourself

Recognize and nominate 15 other bloggers

Thank you to all of you who visit and leave comments on my blog,

Have a good Sunday and a great week ahead.

Yvette….x

Chocolate Apricot Delights

Published by Yvette

I’ve never really been a biscuit/cookie baker. Except maybe for the traditional Italian biscotti. However since spending time with my niece and nephew, the week begins with a bake off between biscuits and slices, thin enough and bite size enough to fit into the school lunch boxes.

So I started the challenge of finding some new, fruity cookie recipes to bake. Interesting enough the list is infinite and the stack of cookbooks even higher. With a large variety of ingredients to choose from, I settled for apricots. As they’re on the hit list of my niece and nephews taste buds.

These delicious ( if I don’t say so myself ) cookies are easy, easy as child’s play.

No fancy formats, all in a bowl, easily made and cooked within 20 minutes.

I found this recipe in Biscuits and Slices ( Murdoch Books)…In this book you’ll find a collection of Biscuits and Slices, you’ll find tempting treats to suit all tastes. There are savory biscuits, perfect for morning tea. Tempting home made melting moments, chocolate chip cookies, brandy snaps, coconut slice, crunchy muesli slice and the list for chocoholics is irresistible.

A great easy step by step cookbook with no fail recipes. My sister has tried many recipes in this book and I hope to try a few more for her and the family. A real treasure chest of sweet surprises.

Chocolate Apricot Delights

Recipe:

1/2 cup (80g) finely chopped dried apricots

1/3 cup orange juice

20g unsalted butter

3/4 cup self-raising flour

1/2 cup plain flour

60g unsalted butter, chopped

1/4 cup caster sugar

2 egg yolks

1/2 cup (70g) grated milk chocolate

150g white chocolate melts

Preheat oven to moderate 180°c. Line a biscuit tray with baking paper.

Combine apricots, juice and butter in small pan. Stir over low heat 5 minutes, remove from heat and leave to cool.

Sift flours into large mixing bowl, add butter and sugar. Using finger tips, rub butter into flour for 2 minutes until mixture is fine and crumbly. Add yolks, grated chocolate and cooled apricot mixture.

Press mixture together to form a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface, knead for 2 minutes until smooth. Roll 2 level teaspoons of mixture at a time into balls. Place on tray and with a lightly floured fork press mixture down. Making cookie shape. Bake 15 /20 minutes or until lightly browned.

Transfer to wire rack to cool. Melt chocolate melts over low heat, dip half of the cookie of spread the melted chocolate as I did over the top adding extra white chocolate melts for decoration.

A great cookie for grown ups, and the well deserved morning tea break.

Enjoy!

Join in with The Kings Court IV, What’s cooking Wednesday.

Take a break my friends… you deserve it!

Yvette…x

St. Valentines Day

Published by Yvette

Happy St. Valentines Day to you all.

Cherished memories of those we love and care for. A special day to show how we’re feeling towards the person we love and adore. Any token big or small is welcomed today. Special charms, roses, flowers, cards, candlelit dinners, kisses, hugs even a smile. What did you do today for that special someone?

It’s the time of the year, to celebrate with red.

Today I showed a little love by sharing these cute cupcakes.

The simplest of ingredients with fine detailing of hearts.

And to my special someone…

I wrote your name in the sand,

but the waves washed it away.

I wrote your name in the sky,

but the wind blew it away.

I wrote it in my heart

and that’s where it will stay….

All my love,

… have a wonderful day friends,

Yvette…x

A Sunny Summer Salad

Published by Yvette

What better way to brighten up your dinner with this Summer Salad. Easy entertaining!

All the freshest ingredients with an Asian Dressing and an extra twist of chilli…

Read on for the recipe…

It’s a Party

Published by Yvette

Can you remember your 10th Birthday?

Grade Five where were you? Those innocent days of calling girlfriends talking for hours, swapping magazines ( Dolly!!), Pony tails and pig tails, laughter, giggling. What joy!

My nieces sleepover beach party was organized last week..and what a week. Invitations were sent out the first day back at school.

We had such fun creating things for her Beach theme party, using a mix of bright c o l o u r s from the decorations to the food. Crafty things,party games, movies and sleepovers. We had a lot to prepare…

Read on and see what fun we did have…

How they look…

Published by Yvette

Joy of Love #2

Happy messengers.

Even as we’re having sweltering weather outside 40+ degrees. It’s another school day, and you can always almost depend on a child to turn any day after the afternoon school bell rings into a colour of sunshine. Children seem to instinctively know when a hug or kiss and smile is needed.

“Hi Zia” ( Zia:Italian for Aunty) what did you do today? Not boring them with my daytime chores. “And what did you do today at school?”

A continuous melody of words, giggles,faces and laughter fill the next 10 minutes.These little messengers of magic genius let me forget the outside world and capture my time for 10 minutes to see the glimpses of their playground imagination. And even more smiles with an afternoon icy pole treat.

“A world without children is a world without newness,regeneration,color and vigor”.

Dr. James Dobson

This is part of Joy of Love hosted by Willette Design you can join and share here

Stuck on the roof of your mouth!

Published by Yvette

You’re in control!!.

Stuck on the roof of your mouth. Chocolate chip flavour. Cocoa boosted.A crunchy baked outside coating but wait….

…an irresistible melting soft fudgy centre.It’s a tongue

twisting, deliciously breathtaking experience, of pure indulgence, all combined to make this mouthwatering chocolate chip cookie

one of the best I have ever tried.

I’m having some quality time with my sister and her family. I’m experiencing a world I have never ventured into. The world of motherhood. Can it really be this exhausting! I’m loving every minute of it. Every day is a new adventure into the world of 6 and 8 year olds.Can there be this much competition at a young age!

A wonderland of play, a kaleidoscope of colours…

Making and baking things have strung a new string in my creative mind.

What to make for the first day of school, lunch box treats?

The shiny new lunch box is filled with fruit,crackers,cheese,sandwiches(healthy) and of course that energy boosting sugar plus delight.

Here’s the favourite of my niece and nephews taste buds….

Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Read on for this recipe,it’s childs play …

A special time…

Published by Yvette

Joy of Love #1

Can you remember your school days? The school uniforms, the golden rules on entering the school and the behaviour after school. The new revolution of long socks and shoes in Summer and pig tails and hats.

This is a photo of my niece, in her school uniform…

A fine little young lady…

I’m excited about joining in the joy of LOVE…for the month of February, taking photo’s of those thing’s and who we love and care about. What better way to capture the feeling of LOVE for the month of Love and St, Valentines.

Share the love here

Yvette…x