MAY CHATTERS MEETING

MAY Ebay Chatters Details:

• Unfortunately this months meeting will not be proceeding on May 26th due to unforseen circumstances. Stay tuned for further meeting date for June.

There has been a change in meeting location and the slight price rise. The extra $0.50c pp is going to the Club to cover tea and coffee and anything else required and the $2.00 is going to the Community Centre for room rental.

The April Ebay Chatters meeting had a wonderful array of cultural foods including Lisa and Laura's Italian Pizzas (recipe coming soon), Rudy's Stuffed Peppers (recipe coming soon), Lana and Vinh's Beef Stroganoff, Gil and Anne Marie's "Light" Quiche, George's Bacon and Egg Pie, Alex's home made Hungarian Snags, Alex's home made Parlinka, Joe's Christmas Stollen and Rudy's absolutely wonderful Panetone and coffee! When can we get some more Rudy?? I hope I haven't forgotten anyone's dish.

AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST MORNING TEA
10.00am on 23 May, 2006 at the Centre.

If I can't get Coles to donate tea and coffee for Australia's Biggest Morning Tea to raise money for cancer, (they have already spent their yearly budget for donations apparently), I think it is a good idea that Chatters donate same. Chatters has the money available and one of the primary aims of the club is to assist those in need where required. Any members that have an objection to this please contact me before Saturday 20 May, 2006.

APRIL CHATTERS MEET

This month's Ebay Chatters will be on the 5th Friday of the month as follows:

• Date: Saturday 29 April, 2006
• Time: 6.00pm
• Location: My house
• Cost: $2.00 pp

APRIL EBAY CHATTERS - CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT

This months meeting will include a cultural food night.

Chatters are reminded to bring along a plate of food from their country of origin.

Photo taking will commence at 6.00pm sharp so anyone wishing to take pictures of their own items please ensure you bring your own camera and your item with you. Adequate lighting and stands will be available on the night.

It is expected that eating will commence at 6.30pm/6.45pm and charity listings will commence thereafter.

This month's charity item will be the donated Ebay kit from the titanium Ebay Powerseller Adam Ginsberg worth $499.00.

TEMPORARY CHANGE OF MEETING NIGHTS

By popular demand Chatters prefer to meet on Saturday nights. Ebay meetings will now proceed on Saturday nights until further notice.

Cumquat Marmalade

My good friend Anne-Marie gave me this quick and easy recipe for Cumquat Marmalade. I think she spends too much time on the computer though....

Ingredients:

500 grams cumquats;
1 ½ cups of water;
1 Tablespoon lemon juice;
3 cups sugar;
2 teaspoons of Jam Setta (available from supermarkets @$1.75AU)

• Slice fruit finely; reserve seeds in muslin/fine netting (takes about half an hour to pick the tiny seeds out of the cumquats).
  
• Place fruit in a deep *Microsoft bowl (3 litres). Cover with a 1 ¼ cups of the water.
• Tie the seeds in the muslin and pour remaining water over the muslin in a small bowl & stand overnight.
  
• Strain seeds by squeezing the juice from the muslin. This is the process of extracting the pectin from the seeds; pour water into cumquat mixture. Cook, uncovered, on High for 15 minutes.
• Stir in sugar and lemon juice until dissolved – Cook, uncovered, on High for 20 minutes. Stir jam occasionally. Keep an eye on the microwave as jam may spill over if left unattended.
  
• Add Jam Setta and cook for 5 more minutes.
• Stand Jam for 5 minutes before pouring into hot, sterilized jars. Seal when cold.
  

*I think she means "microwave"!!

Bon Appetite

COMING SOON

A lovely hand crafted scarf by Mary from Calson Park Alpacas will be in Scotty's Boutique very soon. The scarf is made from from sheer material and alpaca wool from her alpaca farm. Such a beautiful handmade piece. Keep an eye out for it!
LEFT:
Two Calson Park Alpacas:
Chocolate & Zsa Zsa

MARCH MEET PICS

Sausage Sizzle went well with a turn out of 18 "chatters" and ended up fizzing out at 12.45 "am". We did however manage to list the donated Le Reve perfumes on Ebay so I hope they reach a tidy price for the Community Centre. I trust members got an idea on how to write an effective auction description and the process involved in listing items. Like anything, the better you get at doing something, the less time it takes to accomplish plus when you are on your own and you don't have 17 other voices telling you what to write and what not to write makes it a lot easier!!

Anyone interested in joining Ebay Chatters please email the Moderator.

MARCH CHATTERS MEET

Next Ebay Chatters meeting will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday 25 March, 2006
Time: 6.00pm AEST
Location: My house * map available on request
Cost: $2.00

We will be having a sausage sizzle!

We will be listing various boots donated by Wally (thank's Wally!) and if we have time, some perfumes donated by Le Reve (thank's Sandy).

Hope to see you all there,
Lisa

The Best Italian Pastry Recipe

I made this wonderful Apple & Pear Tart from scratch and even used fresh organic apples from my boss's apple tree in the country!

Pastry Ingredients:

• 250g/8oz plain flour
• pinch of salt
• 125g/4oz butter
• 1 egg yolk
• 2-3 tblspns ice cold water

Pastry Method:

Sift the flour and salt together (I never bother sifting but some people swear by it!). Place the flour in a food processor with the butter and whizz on high until the mixture resembles bread crumbs (you can rub the butter and flour together with your fingers if you have nothing better to do with your life!).

Mix in the egg yolk and enough iced water to form a soft dough. Knead lightly and wrap in glad wrap and leave to chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Knead lightly again and roll out the pastry to line a 20cm/8in non stick flan tin that has been coated with a little flour.

Add the filling of your choice and bake for about 40-50 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. (I found there was no need to pre-bake this pastry).

I lined a muffin pan with the left over pastry and made raspberry tarts....absolutely delicious and the pastry has a lovely golden colour to it and when it's cooked it comes away from the pan so easily unlike bought frozen pastry. I found no need to baste the pastry to brown it either.

Bon Appetite

Upcoming Ebay Auctions

This beautiful 14k white gold ring will come with a Certificate of Authenticity.
Beautiful crafted Whiskey Quartz with 0.8 carat white diamonds.
The Whiskey Quartz alone is 5.55 carats and the ring's estimated worth is between $700-$800 AU.

WELCOME

This blog is a continuation of my Ebay Store "Scotty's Boutique" and a place for Ebay Chatters, a Melbourne Western Suburbs group that meet once a month to discuss Ebay tips and tricks and list items for charity organisations.