Toblerone Cheesecake recipe

Ingredients

Base:
1 pkt (250g) chocolate biscuits (not chocolate coated), e.g. Chocolate Ripple
1/3 cup butter, melted

Filling:
500g Philly cheese
1/2 cup cream
1/2 cup caster sugar
200g Toblerone chocolate, melted
additional Toblerone shavings or chunks for decorative topping


Method

1. Crush the biscuits into fine crumbs. Combine the crumbs with the melted butter and press firmly into a springform cake pan, then place in the fridge to harden. (This will harden enough in the time it takes to make the filling.)
2. Beat the Philly to soften. Add caster sugar and beat until fully mixed. If using an electric mixer use a low speed.
3. Add melted Toblerone and cream and mix thoroughly.
   
4. Pour into now hardened base. Top with Toblerone shavings or chunks and return to the fridge to set. For best results, leave in fridge overnight.

Fi's Tips

The Philly is easier to work with if it has been slightly softened at room temperature. So leave it out of the fridge while you are making the biscuit base.

When melting the chocolate, remember to use a water bath rather than melt it directly in a saucepan. For best results, microwave at medium level in 20 second bursts, stirring between each.

Bad touch!!!!

I've been feeling a little stressed lately and felt that it was high time that I had a massage. I used to get massages quite regularly when I worked at the Australian College of Natural Medicine. As library manager, I felt it was helpful to have a first-hand knowledge of what the students practiced so I could serve their needs better. I steered clear of acupuncture (due to fear) and homoeopathy (because I don't believe in it).

Anyway, back to the massage...

I made an appointment a few days ago for a massage and I was told by the receptionist at Chi Link that if I wanted to claim it on my health fund it needed to be a remedial massage. So I duly went ahead and booked that and indicated my intention to claim from my health fund. I actually would have preferred the softer, more relaxing Swedish massage but that is apparently not claimable.

So I show up today. The massage therapist asks if I want deep tissue." No!" says I. "Nice and light, please." She proceeds to pummel like I was stiff clay. "Is that too hard?" "YES! Can you please go lighter?!" "Ok." She did not! It was as though she completely ignored me...or went even harder on my poor tenderised back.

I offered it up for my sins and hoped that it would be therapeutic and I would feel better for it. (I do not)

When the hour was finished, I go out to pay. I remind them of my intention to claim but they say I needed to tell them this first. I tell them that I did mention in when I made the appointment. It seems the receptionist did not record this at all. I was very annoyed.

One of the more senior members of staff intervened and told me that I needed to tell them these things and I continued to state that I had stated quite clearly to the receptionist my intention to claim health benefits for this treatment. That is the very reason why I was having the less pleasant remedial massage instead of the soft, relaxing Swedish treatment that I really wanted.

Their answer: "Oh well you know for next time." (head tilted, insincere smile, look of disdain in the eyes)

My thought: There won't be a next time,

This can all be summed up as MISCOMMUNICATION...and a sadistic massage therapist.

My back feels bruised and sore and I am no less stressed. Actually, I think I might be even more stressed than before. To make matters worse, I'm tired and it now hurts to lie down.

Not happy, Chi Link.

iPhone blogging

I've found an app for my iPhone which will allow me to blog from my phone. This might mean that I blog more often. Hey, one can hope, right?

This is a little weird. I'm lying in bed, having barely woken up and yet I'm blogging away like a nutcase. Not sure if this is how I'll post from now on but at least I have the option.

Fifi's versatile cheesecake

Ingredients

Base:
1 pkt (250g) biscuits - either plain, chocolate or gingernut
1/3 cup butter, melted

Filling:
500g Philly cheese
1/2 cup cream
1/2 cup caster sugar
100mL boiling water
1 pkt jelly (lemon is one of the best flavours for this)

Method:

1. Crush the biscuits into fine crumbs. Combine the crumbs with the melted butter and press firmly into a springform cake pan, then place in the fridge to harden. (This will harden enough in the time it takes to make the filling.)
2. Beat the Philly to soften. Add cream and caster sugar and beat until fully mixed. If using an electric mixer use a low speed.
3. Add boiling water to jelly crystals or concentrate and stir until fully dissolved. Add this to the Philly mix and beat until fully combined.
4. Pour into now hardened base* and return to the fridge to set. For best results, leave in fridge overnight.

*Optional:
Before refrigerating, top with your favourite fruit or chocolate pieces or shavings.

Post via email

So, this is a little weird. Blogger tells me that you can now create blog posts directly from email. I wonder how it will look. Will the template be applied or will the post maintain the formatting of the email message? Who knows?

Well, we all do now because this was posted via email! Ha!

Feels odd not to sign off like a normal email so I will anyway...

Fwibi

Contracted speech

The trend towards contracting various words to form totally new ones is not new. Contractions are a part of everyday speech. How many times a day will you hear isn't, don't, wouldn't, it's, etc? In the United States you will hear "y'all" and in Ireland and parts of the UK you'll hear "amn't".

So why am I posting? Well here are a few that I heard at work...one was even typewritten into the presentation!

Adjunction = adjudication (that was the written one)

Qualitive = qualitative

Quantive = quantitative

I'm all for progress but that's just bloody stupid and lazy. Take a millisecond out of your day to use the extra syllable you missed.

Friday Frustration

Don't be too alarmed. I'm just a little frustrated at trying out different RSS readers. This is essentially a test message to see if a particular setup worked...I suspect not.

However, if you happen to know a good feed reader please let me know via the comments section.

99 Things Meme

THE 99 THINGS MEME
Thanks to Rachel for the inspiration to post this.

Things you’ve already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to - leave in plain font

1. Started your own blog.

2. Slept under the stars.

3. Played in a band.
I'm counting a church band I started.

4. Visited Hawaii.

5. Watched a meteor shower.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity.

7. Been to Disneyland/world.

8. Climbed a mountain.

9. Held a praying mantis.

10. Sang a solo.
This is an almost weekly occurrence for me

11. Bungee jumped.

12. Visited Paris.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
Does card-making count? I could almost count music here as I forgot everything I was taught then had to teach myself again.

15. Adopted a child.

16. Had food poisoning.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
Can I use an elevator?

18. Grown your own vegetables.
badly

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.

20. Slept on an overnight train.
not in a sleeper carriage though - bad move.

21. Had a pillow fight.
...with Suzy while Andy took photos!

22. Hitch hiked.

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.

24. Built a snow fort.

25. Held a lamb.

26. Gone skinny dipping.

27. Run a marathon.

28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.

29. Seen a total eclipse.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
both...over water

31. Hit a home run.

32. Been on a cruise.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
Quite a few, actually.

35. Seen an Amish community.

36. Taught yourself a new language.
Both doing and want to do - let's call this one a work in progress.

37.Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
Once

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.

39. Gone rock climbing.

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.

41. Sung Karaoke.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.

44. Visited Africa.

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
...and got proposed to while doing it.

46. Been transported in an ambulance.
a few times.

47. Had your portrait painted.

48. Gone deep sea fishing.
eww, no thank you!

49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.

52. Kissed in the rain.

53. Played in the mud.

54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.

55. Been in a movie.

56. Visited the Great Wall of China.

57. Started a business.
I'm counting my business as singer/musician available for weddings and funerals.

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia.

60. Served at a soup kitchen.

61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.

62. Gone whale watching.

63. Gotten flowers for no reason.

64. Donated blood.
not sure if I can.

65. Gone sky diving.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
I think we all need to be reminded of how horrible people can be just so we are mindful not to become that which we detest.

67. Bounced a cheque.

68. Flown in a helicopter.

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.

71. Eaten Caviar.
Eww! Fish babies!

72. Pieced a quilt.

73. Stood in Times Square.

74. Toured the Everglades.

75. Been fired from a job.
...coz I turned 18 and that meant paying me more.

76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.

77. Broken a bone.
Left wrist. Fell off my bike after I ran over a dog which ran out at me. It was 13 days before my 13th birthday...spooky!

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.

80. Published a book.

81. Visited the Vatican.

82. Bought a brand new car.
...about 6 weeks ago!

83. Walked in Jerusalem.

84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
I'd like it not to be for any nasty reason though.

85. Read the entire Bible.

86. Visited the White House.

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.

88. Had chickenpox.
I was vaccinated last year.

89. Saved someone’s life.
I counselled one of my clients who was suicidal. I'm quite certain that he would have gone through with it had I not intervened. We talked for about 3 hours and together we found solutions to the problems that plagued him.

90. Sat on a jury.
Been called for service 3 times but always got out of it.

91. Met someone famous.
Numerous Qld politicians, 2 Qld premiers, numerous Irish TDs, 2 Irish presidents, numerous actors and musicians (of varying fame).

92. Joined a book club.

93. Lost a loved one.
too many

94. Had a baby.

95. Seen the Alamo in person.

96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.

97. Been involved in a law suit.

98. Owned a cell phone.

99. Been stung by a bee.
no - it was a hornet.

Meowy Catmas

see more crazy cat pics

Movember

I sponsored the husband. I can't wait for him to shave the bloody thing off!

Oddments

So the big news is that I bought a new car yesterday. I've never owned a NEW car so this is a pretty exciting experience for me.

I spent all of my work day today decimating a library collection. It's amazing how many people are horrified at the thought of a librarian throwing a book away. It's a medical library. The information has to be current. If you thought your physician was basing his/her diagnosis on information from the 1960s or 70s I'm pretty sure you'd want a second opinion. Libraries aren't Tardises (actually, what is the plural of TARDIS?). We don't have and endless abundance of shelf space. Old things have to make way for the new...that's just life. Never mind. The job is done now.

Tonight, I've been working on a poster presentation for a clinician friend and I've had a great time playing with the graphics. I think that will be my next career. I can't draw to save myself but give me a mouse and a decent computer with Office (pref 2007) and Photoshop and I'll amuse myself for hours and turn out a pretty good product.

While I'm waiting for her feedback on my work, I went back to Blogthings to do a little quiz thing to pop in this blog. I found one called "What Modern US President Are You Most Like?" I was cringing the whole time hoping that I wouldn't be someone messed up like Richard Nixon or wimpy like Jimmy Carter. I was totally honest with my answers and I ended up being the one person I really don't have a problem with.

You Are Most Like John F. Kennedy

You live a fairy tale life that most people envy. And while you may have a few dark secrets, few people know them.

What Modern US President Are You Most Like?

However, I have to disagree with the fairytale life part. JFK might have had one but I certainly don't.

Well, I'm just about done in. I'll say nighty-night and slip into the shadows.

Useful idiots

Ever have one of these moments...?


more animals

Pronunciation

I have a bit of an interest in linguistics (read that as total obsession!). I am particularly interested in mispronunciations, malapropisms, etc. A few which have caught my attention in recent times include:

...heard on a weather report...
"There will be smelly fog in Newcastle"

Deciphered as:
"There will be some early fog in Newcastle"


...heard prior to a morning traffic report...
"News up next after we check your underwear."

Deciphered as:
"News up next after we check your run to work."

...heard in conversation...
"There is a lot of iniquity in the education system"

Deciphered as:
"There is a lot of inequity in the education system"

...heard over PA system in Auckland Airport...
"Would Mr Anderson please report to the chicken counter?"

Deciphered as:
"Would Mr Anderson please report to the check-in counter?"

Honestly, people! ENUNCIATE! A bit of diction goes a long way!

Mind you, if it weren't for such little foibles as these, what would I have to write or laugh about?

New Home

You might have noticed that this blog has now moved to a new home.

My new address is http://fwibi.blogspot.com

Hopefully, I will now feel a bit more inspired to post more often but don't hold your breath.

Fickle

MySpace sux

Facebook rulz

w00t!

Meez

If you go to my myspace page you'll see my meez. Here she is anyway:


Not sure if I really should be playing my keyboard in the library but it seems pretty empty and I'm the boss anyway. ;-)

Spacious

My dear friends, I must inform you that I now have jumped on the Myspace bandwagon. My page is located at http://myspace.com/fionawb

Ummm...that's all I have to say here for now.

I'M MARRIED!!!

I'm now a married woman!

The wedding was on Saturday 12th May.

We left for our honeymoon on Tuesday 15th May and went to Vancouver, Canada. We relaxed for the first week and explored downtown Vancouver. On Monday 21st we took a trip to Vancouver Island and the city of Victoria. We loved it there!

On Wednesday 23rd we returned to Vancouver and then headed of the next day to Whistler and to Grouse Mountain on Friday 25th.

On Saturday 26th we flew to Los Angeles and enjoyed a two and half days stay, taking in the sights of Beverly Hills and Hollywoods and points between. I had a great time walking along Hollywood Boulevard, Rodeo Drive and seeing the stars homes. The smog was a little too much for me by the end of our time there and I was glad to be leaving so I could breathe properly again.

Late on Monday 28th we took off from LAX and headed home via Auckland. We got into Brisbane at about midday on Wednesday 30th. Thanks to crossing the International Date Line we missed Tuesday altogether that week which was ok because we had two Tuesdays the week we flew out!

Now we are home and relaxing into married life. I'm glad to be back.

This is comforting...

You Are 94% Ready for Marriage

This doesn't mean you should rush out and get married... But if you did tie the knot, it would probably work out great!

Are You Ready for Marriage?

Jitters!!!

The wedding is a mere 29 days away and I'm freakin' out here!

The boys have their suit fitting tomorrow and I have my dress fitting on Monday. At least we will not be naked on the day...until later ;-)