No, no, no, no!

[blamebrampton]

I am getting another cold! Why??!*

Obviously it's all the people sneezing over me on the train. Handkerchiefs you bastards!!

Watching the ABC tonight, which is the Australian government channel that has less sex than the other one, they have a great show called the Gruen Transfer that dissects advertising. Tonight they are looking at Road Safety adverts, and by jingo they're intense. Good! I say. Having nearly been killed myself several times and lost several of my nearest and dearest to speeding and law-breaking drivers I say make the fuckers feel bad every time they watch television! And then fine them, take their cars and break their kneecaps. Alas, the last is not on the agenda of any Western government.

This was the one that I was most impressed by, it was first screened at 3 minutes, simultaneously on every commercial channel in Victoria. It's very very good. But, it's very very hard to watch if you're one of the people who's been on the receiving end of the damage caused by speeding drivers. It made me happy to see such an effective personalisation of a problem that is often just swept aside as government revenue raising through speed cameras. But it also made me happy that I don't watch commercial television.

On a cheerier note, pudding recipes for pushdragon! NB, if anyone not in Oz wants to make them, an Australian cup is 250mL, an Australian tablespoon is 20mL (US and UK use a 15mL tablespoon).

CHOCOLATE FUDGE PUDDING  
This is an absolute doddle and I have been known to triple the quantities and make it for a dinner party. Just increase the cooking time. I have left the original cocoa levels, but I tend to double them. I also make a double-sized amount of sauce most of the time (it has 4 times the cocoa, twice the sugar and twice the water, I think we can see why my arse is no longer a size 8 now I can't run)

60g unsalted butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 large egg
1 cup self-raising flour
pinch salt
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk

Sauce
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
1/3 cup caster sugar
1 1/2 cups hot water

1. Heat oven to 180 deg C. In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter and sugar until just liquid. Remove from heat. Crack in the egg and stir through, sift over the flour, salt and cocoa, fold in with a spatula, stir in milk.
2. Butter a 6-cup (8-cup if you double the sauce) ovenproof pudding bowl, pour in the pudding. (to be honest, I never bother with the buttering)
3. For the sauce, sieve the cocoa and sugar together, stir through until it's mixed. Then sieve it evenly over the top of the pudding. Pour the hot water over the pudding, over the back of a spoon.
4. Cook in the centre of the oven for 35 mins or until the pudding has risen and is spongey. Serve with cream or ice-cream. Serves 4


STEAMED GOLDEN SYRUP PUDDING
1/4 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons caster sugar
1 large egg
1 cup self-raising flour
pinch salt
1/3 cup milk
good dash of vanilla extract
3 tablespoons golden syrup (you can use treacle instead, but it is goopier. It also works with jam or conserve, same amount)

1. Cream butter and sugar until pale and light. Beat in egg. Sift flour and sugar over the top and fold in, alternately with the milk and vanilla.
2. Spoon golden syrup into the bottom of a 4-cup buttered pudding basin. Spoon pudding mixture on top of golden syrup. Cover the top of the basin with a circle of baking or waxed paper (or a circle of washed muslin or calico) cut so that it has a diameter about 2" wider than the top of the pudding basin, this is then put over the top, tied with string around the lip, and the excess paper or fabric turned up on top of the 'lid'. I often tie 'handles' of string on either side of the bowl to make the next step easier.
3. Take a large saucepan that will more than fit in the pudding basin. I put an old saucer upside down in the bottom of the pan to stand the basin on. Fill the saucepan with water that comes halfway up the sides of the bowl. Remove the bowl, put the lid on the saucepan, bring the water to a simmer, return the bowl to the pan, replace the lid on the pan. Steam for 75 minutes.
4. Remove from water, rest for 10 mins, turn out onto a flat plate. Serve with cream and or ice-cream.

* It's the Pope, isn't it? Well, nuts to you, il Papa, I still think you're wrong on homosexuality, birth control and how cashed-up your World Youth Day needs to be!

Comments

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

That link to the adverts goes to four different ones - which one was it that impressed you most? I just watched the first one and yeah, great stuff.

Tangentially to the subject of religion, we had quite a good campaign for wearing seatbelts here a while back (I'm fairly sure it was imported so maybe you've seen it): http://youtube.com/watch?v=KSRKmuxrOz4 It was criticised by some as being too strong, which made me smile wryly considering the mayhem we see on TV every day, but I can imagine it may be to those who have lost someone in traffic accidents.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

The first one, which is the one the link saying 'see the ad' underneath goes to. But they're all good. I LOVE that Norwegian one, it fits my Princess Di theory, that road safety campaigns have missed a trick by not using her in seatbelt campaigns.

[absynthedrinker.livejournal.com]

This Chocolate Fudge Pudding recipe is going in the oven in about 20 minutes. I can tell already though that I'm gonna like it. Thanks for posting. I have a Treacle Tart recipe in my journal that you should really try. It's amazing!

Peace,

Bubba

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I think you'll like it, it's fast, cheap and tasty! I will trot over for the treacle tart on the weekend, thanks!

[pushdragon.livejournal.com]

Waah! I have never seen the Gruen Transfer because my commercial TV loving flatmate alwatys monopolises the telly at that hour and this week I was back in a cocktail bar you will remember well but I can tell you the cocktails were about half as good - my alleged pear and alleged vanilla just tasted like rum on ice. Ripped off!

I shall try your golden syrup recipe and see how it compares to my grandma's - whatever the result, the experimentation will surely be satisfying :-)

And also ... don't get sick. There's all sorts of art deco madness happening in Melbourne. Learn the Charleston on 19 July. Fashion and Textiles Study Room Visit 4 September.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Does this mean you miss Spicks and Specks, too? That's terrible!

And at least the universe could have rewarded you with good cocktails! Life is not fair!

I am deeply unimpressed with what feels lke another cold. Though Melbourne is already on the calendar, though I was going to wait until Snottygrrl is back from the US so she could pop over and catch it, too. J is very excited as it's his fave art period. You will not be shocked to learn that I can already Charleston.

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

Oooh, where is the learn the Charleston? I actually used to be able to dance the Charleston, but haven't for years.

I am So out of the bloody loop on local events. *failz*

And bad cocktails are just not on! That wasn't Madame B's was it?

[pushdragon.livejournal.com]

The Charleston is at the National Gallery next Saturday at 1pm.

I've never been to Madame Bs though I've heard good reports. This was Cookie on Swanston St - noisy and crowded on a weekend but when their cocktails are good it's worth it.

[spark-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

:lol: For about ten seconds I went all 'a cold in this furnace weather?!' and then my brain reappeared. I hate people who cough/sneeze in public without making any effort to lessen the bacterial rain. Urgh. Gross. And expensive for everyone else in the long run.

OMGOMGOMGI'monadiet,hidethesweets!!!

No, it's not the Pope, you alleged atheist! :amused: It's the time of the year. Because imagine if the Pope could do this what would befall half the San Francisco population.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

No, it's not the Pope, you alleged atheist! :amused: It's the time of the year. Because imagine if the Pope could do this what would befall half the San Francisco population.

Yes, but he's sent his bovver boys to Sydney to clean everything up in advance of his arrival. Wandering about spraying cold germs would totally be on their list!

[deensey.livejournal.com]

I didn't know the tbs thing

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I only know it because I have to convert recipes a lot. I'm guessing you were with Keira or else hiding today. My bookshelf is safely waiting for you, give me a bell when you'd like to swing by and pick it up!

[deensey.livejournal.com]

Heh, i convert recipes and apparently incorrectly. Awesome.

I was with Keira and I sorta forgot. Oops? Are you home tomorrow night?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed! And all day!

And really, can I in good conscience ever criticise anyone for forgetting?

[deensey.livejournal.com]

Well, you could. I mean, you could forget that you forget and criticise based upon that! >.>

Awesome! I plan to go for a walk with anna after work, but mayhaps around seven? Unless I decide work is awful and leave partway through the day. Also a possibility.

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

ONOES! *makes wardy fingers for you*

No cold for you, missy! It is forbidden (which would have been german, but I can't spell german words).

Although my tolerance for Will is low, I am enjoying the Gruen Transfer - I think the panellist from Leo Burnett's is an apologist for his agency, but that Todd Sampson (who may be a relative.. will have to look into this) is pretty reasonable. I did enjoy last night - I especially love the new (was is NSW) campaign giving the mickey to the teen/20 male drivers (oh, yes, I have been known to waggle the little finger at them...). Shame the Top Gear Ad undermines the whole thing. >.>

I preferred the 100% there for the Taking - Invade New Zealand ad. :D

btw... you have my UNDYING love, even if you didn't already, for the pudding recipes! I may just have to go buy a proper pudding bowl now and learn how to bloody well steam a pudding, because Golden Syrup pudding is better than sex (or better with sex... either / or). I can use my corning ware for the oven one, but not to steam.

I am sending everything I can spare to your immune system.

♥

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie! I have spent most of the weekend and Friday asleep, so am feeling much better now. Hope the pudding recipes work out for you!

And did you read in the fairfax press that NZ were slightly afronted? I still think it's worth a quick invasion and then peace just for the public holiday.

[waterbird.livejournal.com]

Oh, these recipes looks great. Thanks!

I hope you're feeling better soon.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

The chocolate one is really easy and surprisingly yummy. but do increase the cocoa if you like the chocolate as much as I do! After sleeping for most of the last four days, I feel much better, thanks!

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

i am fighting mightily to not become one of the lurgy.

and while i respect what they are trying to do with the commercials, and understand that there is almost nothing as devastating as losing a child, i just wanted to send them all to grief counseling. and get better music. on the other hand, i must say i liked the billboard campaign i saw in oz way back that said simply. 'drink. drive. die.'

we had an excellent set of speeding commercials that were written and acted, but well done and effective scenarios. also some nice seatbelt ones too. i'm all for the scare tactic [*nods*]

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Stay healthy! You have a plane to catch in very short time. This lurgy has mostly expressed itself through regular periods of unconsciousness, so I have achieved bugger all this week, which includes travel directions. Alas, my fave clothes shop in Bath is gone so I can't even send you there, dammit.

Seatbelt adverts rock, though no one has ever done the Princess Di one that I thought would be obvious.

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

so I have achieved bugger all this week, which includes travel directions. Alas, my fave clothes shop in Bath is gone so I can't even send you there, dammit.

don't sweat it hon, i'll be golden. you've already given me a great gift with the stuff you sent the first time. [*cuddles*]

[drgaellon]

I converted these to American cups and spoons (1 cup AU = 1 cup + 1 Tbsp US; 1 Tbsp AU = 4 tsp US), and posted them to Recipezaar; I gave you appropriate credit. :)

http://www.recipezaar.com/314182
http://www.recipezaar.com/314199

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

OOH! Good point on the cups, I always forget that. Thank you, that's sweet and amusing.