Helsinki food part 2

I didn't remember to take pictures very much of what I was eating, but I did take some pics at hakaniemi market square and inside the old market hall...

One of the deli stalls viewed from the upper level...

 

So many different types of potatoes...

Colourful spring veg...

In the outside market square, lots of smoked seafood...something herring like I'm guessing?  I didn't like the smell, so I didn't hang about long!

This was actually my last day there and the first great weather day there had been for the season...it was high 20's, so perfect weather for icecreams...I only noticed the IKEA bus in the background now!

This market also had amazing plants and flowers...not food related, but they were so beautifully arranged in blocks of colour, I had to share...the picture does not do it justice though!

Again not food related, but hilarious...pub tram!

get bready for this...

A couple of weekends ago I dove in and made bread.  I haven't made bread since I was a kid and have been thinking about it for a while.  I have been hating supermarket bread more and more, and although I don't mind paying $$$ for good bread, good organic bread is hard to come by.  I found a recipe in an Australian women's weekly muffins, scones and bread book for a basic white loaf to try.  The recipe goes:

10g yeast (1 1/2 sachets)
1/2 cup warm water
2 teaspoons sugar
...whisk these together, cover, put in warm place for 10 mins until frothy
2 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon salt
30g butter - melted
1/2 cup milk - warmed
Mix everything together (including yeast mix)
Knead for 10 mins
Cover, put in warm place to rise for 1 hour
Knead till smooth
Make loaf shape
Rise for 20 mins in warm place (I did almost double this)
Cook at 200 degrees for 40 mins (I only needed 25 mins)

I wasn't expecting too much, but it was fantastic!  The first loaf got a bit burnt as it was a bit too high in the oven and it didn't take as long to cook as the recipe said.   I made a loaf for P's mum and dad when we went for dinner last week and wrapped it in a Japanese ajisai cloth :o)

I have since tried a loaf with 1 cup of wholemeal spelt flour in the mix (nice with a fine grain, but not such a strong crumb) and another with linseeds.  I'm making a plain loaf today, same as the recipe but with double the salt.  I was talking to an experienced bread maker, busyman, and he makes quite salty loaves, so thought I would give it a try.

This is today's loaf, risen for the second time and ready for baking - it's in the oven now!  I got a nice tip too from my dog food person today who told me about the fantastic wild yeast blog.  Lots of bread making adventures for me coming up!

Helsinki food part 1

Some pics of food in Helsinki - when I remembered to take them!

After checking into the hotel, I went to Cafe Aalto at the academic bookshop...I had lunch and remembered to take a pic when I had nearly finished my vanilla slice!  The bookshop and cafe is housed in an Alvar Aalto building...

I bought some moomin cookies at the Alepa supermarket at the bottom of the Forum mall in the city centre.  From left to right is moomintroll, snork maiden, moomin mamma, moomin pappa, and little my and snufkin on the bottom :o)

This is a meat doughnut thing at the market by the sea port, cheap and not bad...

From the same market, here are some reindeer sausages and barbecued potatoes with gherkins and a sauce that's a bit like the IKEA lingonberry stuff on the side.

This was the lady cooking viewed from where I was sitting...

and the market tents with pictures of their offerings.  There was a whole string of these with different types of foods - mostly sausages and some fishy things that didn't smell appetising to me!  Other tents were selling souveneirs and also fresh fruit and veg and fish.  This is the main touristy area of Helsinki...the ferries that go to islands leave from here and Uspenski Cathedral is just up the hill.

blossom and bloom

There's still blossom coming in the garden...

 I love apricot blossom...it looks so delicate and is the most subtle shade of pink dotted on the bare branches...

The  simone cherry on the right hand side of the cherry arch has quite a lot of blossom.  I might have to net them as the fruit develops...

One of the roses I planted last year has already been blooming for a couple of weeks...it is an Alister Clark (Australia's most famous rosarian) called Amy Johnson and has a beautiful perfume...I keep checking the buds of all the others - can't wait!

Helsinki train station

I've been so super busy that I haven't had a chance to scratch myself since my visit to Helsinki late May/June.  I forgot that I haven't shared many pics, so time for a Helsinki revisit!
When I arrived the airport bus dropped me at the lovely central station (Rautatieasema - don't ask me to pronounce it!)  I was confused as to which side of the station I was on, but I soon got my bearings - I was staying about 5 min walk from here.  I went back later to take interior shots.

FASHION event finished...my fav moment!

Hiya...thanks to everyone that dropped by for a look at Tabliers pour le Printemps...it was a lot of fun!
If you missed out and you would still like a private viewing, drop me a line at remnantgleaning@gmail.com, and I may be able to accommodate you!

Here's my favourite moment...oh Gemma, will you ever learn!

Tabliers pour le Printemps

EXCLUSIVE premiere...


Tabliers pour le Printemps from tania splawa-neyman on Vimeo.

one night only...

Everything is in place for the exclusive premiere of 'Tabliers pour le Printemps' here tomorrow night @ 6.30 pm EST
To RSVP go to the invite here
I'll see you then!

FASHION event preview: Tabliers pour le Printemps

For most, a celebration of SPRINGtime doesn’t go much beyond seed catalogues, soil preparation, manure, mulch and snail hunting, but for this fanatic from Melbourne obsession goes way beyond the ordinary. “APRONs are just what everyone needs for springtime,” explains remnant gleaner Tania Splawa-Neyman as she prepares for a showcase of DOMESTIC delights to celebrate the upcoming spring of FASHION. Think 60s influenced popovers and an abundance of garden inspired prints to channel an appreciation of all that is homegrown.
WATCH the online fashion show for a limited time from the comfort of your own screen only at www.remnantgleaning.blogspot.com
EXCLUSIVE premiere @ 6.30pm EST, 6th September 2011.

RSVP @ www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=240601929308331

last year preserved and this year promised...

all things spring

Yay!  First day of spring is here!

I've been very obsessed by the blossoming of miss damson plum - no. 1 fruit tree here.  I've taken to calling this lovely by a name.  Miss damson has become the center of my attention when observing the happenings in the space.  Maybe because the tree is opposite my workroom window?

Makes for a nice comparison with previous lace and reflective space :o)