Making a list & checking it twice...

It's not just Christmas planning that calls for lists.  There are so many things on my to-do list at the moment, that actually have nothing at all to do with Christmas.  However, it has a lot to do with things I need to get done and dusted before we leave for our dream holiday to the USA, which is making me a little nervous.  Especially since it continues to creep ever-closer, and I feel like I'm running out of time.  It doesn't help the situation being struck down with a nasty flu over the past few days, which has resulted in my to-do list growing much larger than my "DONE" list!

Never mind - with New York in my sights, it's all going to be worth it :)


One of the items on my to-do list has been to start organising a fundraiser, which is scheduled for when I get back from my holiday.  October is Pink Ribbon month and I'm part of a team organising an NBCF Pink Ribbon High Tea to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.  The lovely Nikki from Styling You wrote a recent blog post called "Blogging for a Cause", and asked the question what cause I like to raise awareness for.  I realised that as a breast cancer survivor, it's the National Breast Cancer Foundation that is close to my heart.  Without the research funded by the amazing efforts of the NBCF I might not have lived to write this post today...yes, it is as serious as that.

So that's why I'd like to start plugging Pink Ribbon month now and my upcoming participation in a Pink Ribbon Fundraiser High Tea.  Please visit my team's Fundraiser Page here and consider donating to this very worthy cause.  You could even start organising your own High Tea, breakfast, fashion swap, or any other fun event to support the cause.  I blogged about our 2010 Pink Ribbon High Tea here, which was a great success with nearly 200 people in attendance and almost $3000 raised.  This is a photo of the pink ribbon cupcakes I made especially for the occasion...

I may be busy organising our upcoming holiday, but I'm never too busy for a good cause.  I'm never too busy for good friends either.  So in between getting my to-do list done, I always make time for people I love....like fun catch-ups with friends over a yummy lunch at Cloudy Bay Fish Co at Westfields Sydney:

And I'm also never too busy to bake (well, almost never)!  Last week I made, what I call, cupcakes with a twist...Blueberry Friands!  I figure I should start getting in some practice for my "high tea baking"!

I used frozen blueberries in this recipe, courtesy of my local Farmers' Markets.  I love Farmers' Markets and can't wait to visit some in America, where they're also very popular apparently.  It might be a nice way of getting some fruit into our diet, with all the restaurant dining we'll be doing.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my friand recipe...

Blueberry Friands
(Makes 10)


125g butter
1 cup almond meal
1 2/3 cups icing sugar, sifted
3/4 cup plain flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
5 egg whites
1/3 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1. Preheat oven to 180°C.  Place the butter in a saucepan and melt over low heat.  Set aside.
2. Place almond meal, icing sugar, flour and baking powder in a bowl and stir to combine.
3. Add egg whites and stir to combine.  Then add butter and stir to combine.
4. Grease a friand tin.  Spoon mixture into each of the holes (enough for 10) and sprinkle blueberries over the top.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden.

Enjoy!

So tell me, what's your favourite high tea treat?  And I'd also love to know what you consider to be a worthy cause?

P.S.  I apologise for being a little late on my Rock N Learn giveaway announcement:

Congratulations to the winner Jessica Trad from My Organic Challenge, who commented: