Weekend links

How have you been? I've had a surprisingly relaxing week with lots of bike rides, a bit of baking and TV too (I'm a Downton Abbey tragic). I'm planning to make pizza and baked apples this weekend and see one of my favourite Australian photographers give a talk. Here are a few things to share:

Winter overalls.

This episode of Crybabies with Matthew Weiner, creator of Mad Men.

Teen runaway.

Chore dates.

All the things we know.

My latest podcast :)

And just in case you're like me and haven't made baked apples since primary school, I'm going to give this recipe a go.

This year's apple pie

A couple of years ago I made an apple pie from scratch. It was autumn and it made me feel excited about some of the smaller things that mark the change of season, from the prettiness of fallen leaves to being able to wear my favourite scarf again.

I'd love for it to become an annual ritual only the two times I've made a pie, I've been blown away by how much time it takes. Here's a look at my last pie, a classic apple pie that came out of the oven looking a little freaky.

This year I decided to make a blushing apple pie from a cool Brooklyn pie shop that's owned and run by two sisters. I'd heard about the bakery before (sadly long after our New York honeymoon) and stumbled across the recipe in a stack of Cherry Bombe magazines that my sister-in-law gave me at Easter.

It had two surprise ingredients - half a beetroot and a dash of Angostura bitters - and it made my whole apartment smell like jam. I felt so proud pulling it out of the oven, even if my pie sealing skills need a little work.

I'm not sure if I have another pie in me this season but if I can muster the energy this salted caramel apple pie is next on my list.

Mini house tour

When we moved to Canberra we had a few frantic days to unpack before we both started work. Over Easter we had time to really sort things out and our little place is feeling just about done. Here's a little look:

Weekend links

What's on for you this weekend? The cooler weather has made me want to stockpile food - soups, cookies and a few loaves of bread too. I'm also hoping to check out a seasonal food fair and finish a book I've neglected for months. Here are a few fun things to share:

This pretty winter cardi.

Spiked lemonade.

Putting down roots in a small town.

Very lovely baby gifts.

Super easy no knead bread via Vanessa.

A magical face oil.

And how to make Neiman Marcus cookies. I was obsessed with this recipe as a kid.

Artwork by Rosalind Lemoh currently on show at ANCA.

The all-in-one to do list

Here's an idea I pinched from Tony that's really working for me. Instead of a daily or themed to do lists, I'm chucking everything into one long list. And I'm crossing things off too!

For the last few months Tony's been carrying around a biggish journal where he's been writing down everything he needs to get done - big and small - in one long list. I normally jot things down in my phone as they come to me or think that I'll remember to do certain things naturally (!), so my list is somewhat scattered.

I decided to give Tony's method a try and got so much done in the first week. I still keep my work to do list separate but now have a skinny notebook that's always on me to capture everything else.

Here are a few things that are currently on my list:

Drop a few bags off at the op shop
Buy and send my Dad a birthday present
Assemble the doll's bed I bought for my niece
Change my address with a few places I missed when we moved

P.S My to do notebook is from here. It has a polka dot cover :)

Desktop: Le Tran, Jujubakes

When Le Tran's daughter Sophia was born, she was determined to make her an amazing cake in time for her first birthday. Four years and another sweet little baby on, Le's cakes are looking pretty spectacular and she now has a growing list of friends and strangers who are keen for a slice.

Weekend links

This week has been all about staying cosy. I made porridge, pulled out my winter gear and kept exercise to a minimum. Some weeks are meant to be slow :) This weekend we just have tiny things planned - a trip down the road to check out the new ice cream shop and a few little jobs around the house. Here are a few things to help your weekend along:

The prettiest LA food tour.

The sweet history of the annual White House Easter egg roll.

This chat with chef David Chang that covered everything from how Momofuku started out to his very genuine concerns about food sustainability and being a bully via Lee Tran Lam who just interviewed the man himself.

Signing up for this.

Have you seen this Michael Jackson documentary? It was on TV the other night and is eerily compelling.

Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb have a new series on iView. I haven't had a chance to watch it yet but the e-newsletter is awesome via Jessica.

And this banana and date cake, which was a joy to make and eat :)