RaeAllen.net

Year: 2005

  • Apple and Walnut Muffins

    Ingredients:

    2 apples, peeled (I prefer Granny Smiths)
    1 cup caster sugar
    1 1/2 cups self-raising flour
    1 teaspoon allspice
    1 teaspoon cinnamon
    1 cup chopped walnuts
    1 egg
    125g. canola spread (soft)
    1 tablespoon olive oil

    Recipe

    1. Pre-heat oven to 180deg.C. Put muffin cases in a 12 cup muffin tin

    2. Dice apples into small pieces (cut around the core) and mix in a bowl with the caster sugar. Let the bowl sit, covered, for about 30 minutes.

    3. Mix flour and spices into a large bowl and add the walnuts. Add canola spread, egg and apples and mix together.

    4. Spoon into muffin cases.

    5. Place pan in oven and bake for about 15 minutes for the large muffins, less time for the smaller size.

    6. Test with a skewer then turn onto a wire rack to cool.

  • Coconut kisses


    DSC03461 – coconut kisses
    Originally uploaded by RaeA.

    Ingredients:

    • 2 cups of dessicated coconut
    • 200ml sweetened condensed milk
    • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
    • 1/2 teaspoon almond essence

    Method:

    1. Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl
    2. pre- heat oven to 160°C
    3. place aluminium foil over a flat baking tray and grease lightly

      4. Place teaspoons of the mixture on the foil teasing the tops into a peak (the kiss)

    4. place the tray in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until they start to turn a golden colour
    5. remove tray and allow the kisses to firm up by cooling on the tray for half an hour.

    Keeping quality:
    The kisses keep very well particularly in a sealed container, however don’t expect them to last 🙂

  • Corinne Maier’s manifesto

    No. 1
    You are a modern day slave. There is no scope for personal fulfilment. You work for your pay-check at the end of the month, full stop.

    No. 2
    It’s pointless to try to change the system. Opposing it simply makes it stronger.

    No. 3
    What you do is pointless. You can be replaced from one day to the next by any cretin sitting next to you. So work as little as possible and spend time (not too much, if you can help it) cultivating your personal network so that you’re untouchable when the next restructuring comes around.

    No. 4
    You’re not judged on merit, but on whether you look and sound the part. Speak lots of leaden jargon: people will suspect you have an inside track

    No. 5
    Never accept a position of responsibility for any reason. You’ll only have to work harder for what amounts to peanuts.

    No. 6
    Make a beeline for the most useless positions, (research, strategy and business development), where it is impossible to assess your ‘contribution to the wealth of the firm’. Avoid ‘on the ground’ operational roles like the plague.

    No. 7
    Once you’ve found one of these plum jobs, never move. It is only the most exposed who get fired.

    No. 8
    Learn to identify kindred spirits who, like you, believe the system is absurd through discreet signs (quirks in clothing, peculiar jokes, warm smiles).

    No. 9
    Be nice to people on short-term contracts. They are the only people who do any real work.

    No. 10
    Tell yourself that the absurd ideology underpinning this corporate bullshit cannot last for ever. It will go the same way as the dialectical materialism of the communist system. The problem is knowing when …

  • History of “The Backyard”

    History of the Backyard

    backyard poster
    Poster from launch of Backyard in 1999
    The Backyard story is one of people, place and communication.

    It began in the mid to late 90s when Local Radio staff started dabbling with emerging technology. At that time it was a cottage industry and most of the dabblers learnt web production in their own time and in their own way.
    (more…)

  • The shearer


    DSC03331 – shearer
    Originally uploaded by RaeA.

    Traditional Aussie song

    Click Go The Shears

    Out on the board
    The old shearer stands,
    Grasping his shears
    In his thin bony hands;
    Fixed is his gaze on
    A bare-bellied yoe,
    Glory if he gets her,
    Won’t he make the ringer go.

    Chorus:
    Click go the shears boys,
    Click, click click,
    Wide is his blow
    And his hands move quick,
    The ringer looks around
    And is beaten by a blow,
    And curses the old snagger
    With the bare-bellied yoe.
    Chorus:

    In the middle of the floor
    In his cane bottomed chair
    Sits the boss of the board
    With his eyes everywhere,
    Notes well each fleece as
    It comes to the screen,
    Paying strict attention
    That it’s taken off clean.

    Chorus:

    The colonial experience man,
    He is there of course,
    With his shiny leggin’s on.,
    Just got off his horse,
    Gazes all around him like
    A real connoisseur,
    Scented soap and brilliantine
    And smelling like a whore,

    Chorus:

  • Savoury muffins

    These muffins are great for breakfast or a light dinner. The kids can also take them for lunch. You don’t need all the ingredients and can change the mix using things like sweet corn, sun-dried tomates, bacon etc.

    You need:

    • 1 1/2 cups self-raising flour
    • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
    • 2 eggs
    • 1/2 cup milk
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 3 or 4 cherry tomatoes
    • fresh herbs (parsley, oregano, basil, chives)
    • ham

    Method:

    1. Mix flour, cheese, eggs, milk, herbs, ham and salt and pepper together in large bowl.
    2. Slice the cherry tomatoes and fold into the mixture
    3. Place large spoonfuls into greased muffin tins.
    4. Bake 210 C for 10 mins.
    5. Remove from oven an allow to stand

    Makes 12 medium muffins
    Serve with sour cream for best effect.

  • Tunnel of Love


    DSC03180 – tunnel
    Originally uploaded by RaeA.

    Getting crazy on the waltzers but it’s the life that i choose
    Sing about the sixblade sing about the switchback and a torture tattoo
    And I been riding on a ghost train where the cars they scream and slam
    And I don’t know where I’ll be tonight but I’d always tell you where I am

    In a screaming ring of faces I seen her standing in the light
    she had a ticket for the races just like me she was a victim of the night
    i put a hand upon the lever said let it rock and let it roll
    i had the one arm bandit fever there was an arrow through my heart and my
    soul

    and the big wheel keep on turning neon burning up above
    and i’m just high on the world
    come on and take a low ride with me girl
    on the tunnel of love

    it’s just the danger when you’re riding at your own risk
    she said you are the perfect stranger she said baby let’s keep it like this
    it’s just a cake walk twisting baby step right up and say
    hey mister give me two give me two cos any two can play

    and the big wheel keep on turning neon burning up above
    and i’m just high on the world
    come on and take a low ride with me girl
    on the tunnel of love

    well it’s been money for muscle another whirligig
    money for muscle and another girl i dig
    another hustle just to make it big
    and rockaway rockaway

    and girl it looks so pretty to me just like it always did
    like the spanish city to me when we were kids
    oh girl it looks so pretty to me just like it always did
    like the spanish city to me when we were kids

    she took off a silver locket she said remember me by this
    she put her hand in my pocket i got a keepsake and a kiss
    and in the roar of the dust and diesel i stood and watched her walk away
    i could have caught up with her easy enough but something must have made me
    stay

    and the big wheel keep on turning neon burning up above
    and i’m just high on the world
    come on and take a low ride with me girl
    on the tunnel of love

    and now i’m searching through these carousels and the carnival arcades
    searching everywhere from steeplechase to palisades
    in any shooting gallery where promises are made
    to rockaway rockaway from cullercoats and whitley bay out to rockaway

    and girl it looks so pretty to me like it always did
    like the spanish city to me when we were kids
    girl it looks so pretty to me like it always did
    like the spanish city to me when we were kids

    – Dire Straits

  • Cherry Bomb

    Well I lived on the outskirts of town
    In an eight room farmhouse, baby
    When my brothers and friends were around
    There was always somethin´ doin´
    had me a couple of real nice girlfriends
    Stopped by to see me every once in a while
    When I think back about those days
    All I can do is sit and smile

    Chorus:
    That´s when sport was a sport
    And groovin´ was groovin´
    and dancin´ meant everything
    We were young and we were improvin´
    laughtin´ laughtin´ with our friends
    Holding hands meant somethin´ baby
    Outside the club cherry bomb
    Where our hearts were really thumpin´
    say yeah yeah yeah
    Say yeah yeah yeah

    The winter days they last forever
    And the weekends went by so quick
    We ridin´ around this little country town
    We were goin´ nuts, girl, out in the stick
    One night me with my big mouth
    A couple guys had to put me in my place
    When I see those guys these days
    We just laugh and say
    Remember when

    Chorus:
    That´s when sport was a sport
    And groovin´ was groovin´
    and dancin´ meant everything
    We were young and we were improvin´
    laughtin´ laughtin´ with our friends
    Holding hands meant somethin´ baby
    Outside the club cherry bomb
    Where our hearts were really thumpin´
    say yeah yeah yeah
    Say yeah yeah yeah

    Seventeen has turned thirty-five
    I´m surprised that we´re still livin´
    if we´ve done any wrong
    I hope that we´re forgiven
    Got a few kids on my own
    And some days I still don´t know
    What to do
    I hope that they´re not laughtin´ too
    Loud, when they hear me talkin´ like this to you

    Chorus:
    That´s when sport was a sport
    And groovin´ was groovin´
    and dancin´ meant everything
    We were young and we were improvin´
    laughtin´ laughtin´ with our friends
    Holding hands meant so much baby
    Outside the club cherry bomb
    Where our hearts were really thumpin´
    say yeah yeah yeah
    Say yeah yeah yeah

    – John Mellencamp

  • Blue Skies


    Whirlygig
    Originally uploaded by RaeA.

    I was blue, just as blue as I could be
    Ev’ry day was a cloudy day for me
    Then good luck came a-knocking at my door
    Skies were gray but they’re not gray anymore

    Blue skies
    Smiling at me
    Nothing but blue skies
    Do I see

    Bluebirds
    Singing a song
    Nothing but bluebirds
    All day long

    Never saw the sun shining so bright
    Never saw things going so right
    Noticing the days hurrying by
    When you’re in love, my how they fly

    Blue days
    All of them gone
    Nothing but blue skies
    From now on

    I should care if the wind blows east or west
    I should fret if the worst looks like the best
    I should mind if they say it can’t be true
    I should smile, that’s exactly what I do

  • Downtown Train

    Outside another yellow moon
    Has punched a hole in the nighttime, yes
    I climb through the window and down to the street
    And I’m shining like a new dime
    The downtown trains are full with all of those Brooklyn girls
    They try so hard to break out of their little worlds

    Well you wave your hand and they scatter like crows
    They have nothing that will ever capture your heart
    They’re just thorns without the rose
    Be careful of them in the dark
    Oh, if I was the one you chose to be your only one
    Oh baby can’t you hear me now, can’t you hear me now

    Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
    Every night it’s just the same, you leave me lonely now

    I know your window and I know it’s late
    I know your stairs and your doorway
    I walk down your street and past your gate
    I stand by the light at the four-way
    You watch them as they fall, oh baby they all have heart attacks
    They stay at the carnival, but they’ll never win you back

    Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
    Where every night, every night it’s just the same, oh baby
    Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
    All of my dreams they fall like rain, oh baby on a downtown train

    Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
    Where every night, every night it’s just the same, oh baby
    Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
    All of my dreams just fall like rain, all on a downtown train
    All on a downtown train, all on a downtown train
    All on a downtown train, a downtown train

    – Tom Waits 1985