Sewing Room Chaos!!! I cleaned it up last week and now I feel so much better... And inspired. 

I also found plenty of almost finished projects. And with my new found inspiration - I finished them!

A fabric collage. I absolutely adore how this turned out, and so I've hung it pride of place in our living room.

A felted Gnome Home - for the kids to play with. 

And a lap blanket for the living room. I fully intended to finish this properly. With batting and ties etc, but I decided to take a shortcut instead, lest it sit unfinished for another 12 months. I visited a local op shop and picked up a queen sized bedspread, cut it down to size and sewed it to the patchwork top. One afternoon and completely finished. It's fairly large and will be good for couch snuggling come Winter.

~

Yesterday afternoon, as I was preparing dinner, I could hear Roman and Leo practicing a play in the bedroom. After dinner, Daddy and I were invited to the "cinema" to watch. A very funny play indeed, in which a man (Leo) bought cupcakes from a bakery and a dog (Roman) ate them up. This happened over and over until the man became so upset about the dog eating his cupcakes that he didn't want to do the play anymore ;)

I love seeing them play together better and for longer periods. 

Last night before bed I made a basic dough and left it to rise on the bench. This morning we use it to make cinnamon buns for morning tea. 

Hope your having a peaceful Sunday!

X Shara

Welcome, Winter....

I cannot believe that Winter is upon us already!! Truth be told, I'm a bit upset that my favourite season, Autumn, passed us by in a haze of rain and sickness. Oh well, will have to wait till next year!

 

 

Our Winter banner is up! Now I have made a full set of seasonal banners, the others are here, here and here.

The very exciting thing about Winter this year, is that it will herald the arrival of our little babe! We are all getting excited...well maybe not Leo, who doesn't quite understand, and says things like "No Baby Tummy Mummy!"

Roman keeps asking me if it will snow, but I keep disappointing him with the truth! I think it can be a bit confusing as all the children's books we read about winter involve snow. Do you have any recommendations for winter themed books that aren't about snow men and sledding?

I've been pinning some Winter inspiration, you can see that board here....

We've been experimenting with different oils in the oil burner, mainly eucalyptus, peppermint and lemongrass. Leo is mesmerised by the flicker of the little tea light candle.

In fact I am quite addicted to anything eucalyptus at the moment! Eucalyptus medicine (ahem....lollies!), eucalyptus chest rub for the kiddies and mama, eucalyptus in the vaporiser at night time.... yep, I love it.

We will also be enjoying plenty of Butterscotch Pudding in the coming months, so easy and so tasty on a cold night.

Butterscotch Pudding (my Mum's recipe)

1 cup self raising flour, sifted,
3/4 cup sugar,
1/2 cup milk,
60g butter, melted,
2 tablespoons golden syrup,
30g extra butter,
1 1/2 cups hot water.

Mix flour and sugar together, blend in milk and melted butter.  Mix well.  Spoon into greased ovenproof dish.  Set aside.  Place all remaining ingredients in a small saucepan, stir over a low heat until butter melts.  Pour over mixture in ovenproof dish. Bake in moderate oven 180 deg. for 30 - 35 mins. or until golden.

Serve with cream or vanilla ice cream ..... so delicious!

Stay warm, Friends!

x Shara

30 Days Hath November :: Day 10

Day 10: A favourite recipe.


Well I have shared my favourite recipe before, for Basic Muffins, you can find it here... (I'm actually eating one now, Yum)

I thought I would share a new "favourite" recipe instead.

A few weeks ago I tried my hand at making Risotto! It turned out so delicious, that I've wanted to make it every night since. But I knew that would eventually kill the yumminess of it, so I've restrained myself.

 

I found the recipe over at A Beautiful Mess. The only thing I added extra was some shredded BBQ chicken, because it needed to be used up. Risotto was a lot easier than I anticipated, and all that stirring was quite therapeutic.

 

I also had my first taste of alchohol since January 2010! An apple cider with mango and passionfruit! It was so yummy and I'm looking forward to a few more over the hot summer months...

 

x Shara

 

Joining in with Desiree!

Mulberry Pie

You may have noticed in my garden tour that we have a large Mulberry Tree in our yard, and while I love just eating them picked straight from the tree, many people said they have wonderful childhood memories of Mulberry Pie! Then last week, I pulled down one of my old, faithful recipe books, opened it randomly (looking for a muffin recipe), and lo and behold, there was a recipe for Mulberry Pie. Of course I took that as a "sign", that we should make it.

Dad brought round a ladder and Kaleb, with a little help from Leonardo, picked us a big bowl of juicy, ripe, purple Mulberries! Here is what we did:

 

Mulberry Pie

 

Pastry:

1 cup of self raising flour

1 cup of plain flour

pinch of salt

125g butter, softened

125g sugar

1 egg

 

Sift flour and salt. Cream butter and sugar, add egg and beat well. Add sifted ingredients and mix to a dough. Pat out one portion to fit a 20cm dish. Roll out remainder of pastry on a lightly floured board.

 

Filling:

5 cups mulberries

1/2 cup water

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons arrowroot

1 cup stewed apple, drained

 

Cook mulberries with water and sugar for 15 to 20 minutes until soft. Strain through a course sieve, into a bowl, pushing gently with the back of a spoon. Discard seeds. Return puree to saucepan. Mix arrowroot to paste with a little water, add to puree and cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Add apple and allow to cool. Spoon into pastry-lined pie dish and cover with remaining pastry. Brush top with milk and sprinkle with extra sugar. Bake at 230c for 10-15 minutes until browned, then reduce to 200c and continue cooking for a further 15-20 minutes.

 

x Shara

Strawberry Picking

A few weekends ago, we took the boys strawberry picking at on of the many local farms. It was such a lovely set up, with a playground, plenty of running around space and lots of tables and chairs. There was even a birthday party happening in one of the sheds! What a great idea! We picked a load of strawberries, about $30 worth, but it was so fun, particularly for Roman.

When we got home, we washed all the berries, and then made some fresh strawberry milk, then some strawberry syrup for pancakes, then we ate the rest, some plain, some with cream, some with icing sugar, and on pancakes! Delicious!

This is the strawberry farm we went to.

Another 30 before 30 activity checked off!

x Shara

Chocolate & Courgette Cake

Part of my 30 before 30 challenge was to bake a different cake every month, one I have never made before. This cake is also from the book What Shall We Cook Today?. I chose it because I had some Zucchini's to use up!

With the help of Roman, the cake was whipped up in no time at all, ready in time for Saturday afternoon tea! Roman was a bit unsure that vegetables really belonged in cakes, but he gobbled up a piece of cake with his thumbs up!

Do not be tempted to put icing on this cake! It is so rich and moist, that it really isn't needed.

Chocolate & Courgette Cake

3 courgettes, peeled

250g unsalted butter, softened

250g light brown soft sugar (I used much less than this and my cake was super sweet)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 eggs

125ml milk

350g self-raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

4 tablespoons cocoa powder

greaseproof paper, 30 x 20cm cake tin

1. Preheat oven to 180c (350F) and prepare your cake tin.

2. Grate the peeled courgettes, using the fine grater.

3. Cream butter, sugar and extract, until soft, creamy and pale.

4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

5. Add milk and mix together.

6. Sift flour, baking powder and cocoa into bowl and fold into wet mixture gently.

7. Stir in courgettes and mix well.

8. Pour into cake tin and bake for 35-45 minutes.

9. Remove from oven and place on rack to cool.

Enjoy!

x Shara

Winter Sun and a New Recipe

 I made some scrumptious Sweet Potato Hummus. You can find the recipe HERE.

Today we continued to enjoy beautiful Winter weather. Crisp, clear blue skies and lovely warm sun.

I really love Sunday afternoons!

x Shara

Biscuit Bears

Sometimes for kids, a certain book becomes an instant favourite. In Roman's case it was a library book we borrowed some weeks ago. We read it every night before bed and then, I would often find Roman flicking through on his own, by now knowing the story off by heart.

"When Horace bakes a biscuit in the shape of a bear, little does he know that his edible treat is going to turn into Biscuit Bear! For in the middle of the night, when all is quiet, that is exactly what happens, and Biscuit Bear decides that it is time he made some friends of his own. He makes a whole circus of friends and the fun begins."

Of course, when Roman happened upon a bear shaped cutter in his playdough kit, he immediately wanted to make his very own biscuit bears!

Using a basic cookie recipe, and some coloured icing, this is what we came up with:

Do your kids have a favourite book?

x Shara

 

Fresh Orange Cake

Another part of my 30 before 30 challenge was to bake a different  cake every month, one I have never made before! I love to bake so this is kind of an easy challenge for me, but I kinda get stuck in a cake rut. Do you know what I mean? Chocolate, Banana, Chocolate, Banana... you get the idea, right? I flicked through my recipe books, started a list, searched some of my favourite foodie blogs, added to the list. I still don't have 12 chosen, but I'm sure I'll find them!

Fresh Orange Cake ~ What Shall We Cook Today

(More than 70 fun and easy recipes for kids to make)

1 unwaxed or organic orange, washed

175g of unsalted butter, very soft

250g caster sugar

3 large eggs, at room temperature

250g self raising flour

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

100ml milk

3 tablespoons natural yoghurt

3 tablespoons granulated sugar, for the topping

a 900g loaf tin, greased  greaseproof paper or non stick baking parchment

makes 1 large loaf cake

1. Preheat oven to 180c (350f). Prepare cake tin.

2. Cut orange in half. Save one half for the topping. Remove pips from the other half and cut into 8 pieces. Put pieces, as they are with skins on, into a food processor or blender. Run machine until the orange is chopped into very small pieces. Add orange to mixing bowl.

3. Add soft butter, sugar and eggs to bowl with orange.

4. Sift flour and bicarbonate of soda into the same bowl. Then add milk and yoghurt. Beat with a wooden spoon or electric mixer on speed 1, until well combined.

5. Spoon mixture into prepared cake tin, and spread surface evenly.

6. Bake for about 50 minutes, test with a skewer. If skewer has mixture on it bake for another 5 minutes. Remove from oven.

7. While cake is baking, make the topping. Squeeze the juice from the remaining half of the orange, into a small bowl. Add the granulated sugar and stir to make a syrupy glaze.

8. While cake is still hot, prick holes all over the surface. Drizzle glaze over the top so it trickles into the holes. Leave until completely cold before removing from tin. Store in an airtight container and eat within four days!

This cake is so delicious! Make it today!!

This is actually the cake for May, and I did bake it yesterday, but couldn't get a picture! Stay tuned for June's yummy offering.

x Shara

Mini Mouthfuls of Yum

Last weekend we attended a lovely birthday party for a one year old boy. There was food galore, including some yummy mini quiches... They were so tasty and what's more both my boys gave them a go!

Today I made some for our lunch and a batch to take to my Mum, who has sustained 3rd degree burns to her right hand in a kitchen accident. I'm sure she will love them too!

Puff Pastry

Eggs

Cream

Spring Onion

Corn

Parmesan Cheese

Ham

Salt and Pepper

Easy Peasy!

x Shara

Lately, in the kitchen (and some sunshine)

Homemade Lemonade

Sweet Cheeks Granola (Grain Free)

Crusted Chicken (Grain Free)

Meatballs (using Almond Meal instead of breadcrumbs)

Cool mornings call for cooked breakfasts! (isn't Roman gorgeous?!)

Roast Pumpkin Soup

Green Smoothie (Dairy Free)

Making pasta for the first time!!

Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni

Lemon and Poppyseed Muffins

Choc Chip Cookies (Grain Free)

The sun is finally shining today. A great day for washing. Except I've run out of washing powder ;)

x Shara

A Fortnight of Food

We are a family on a budget, a tight budget. And we have just implemented a new savings program, so it's going to queeze a bit tighter. As I am a full-time at home mama, I am the manager of our home. I manage the finances, the cooking and the shopping. It is my job to ensure our money is spent wisely and that good meals are produced from our kitchen and that we have yummy snacks! I always gave us a small grocery budget as I could cook meals every day on very little money (a good skill to have, for when times get real tough), however I feel now that we were pretty much carb overloading due to the frugalness of pasta, rice and potatoes.

Pizza!

I had to make a decision to invest more of our money in our family's health. I had to up our veggie intake and buy better quality ingredients. But I still have to stick to a tight budget. Our income varies from fortnight to fortnight, so some weeks I have a bit more to play with than others. On these weeks I ensure I stock up on pantry items that are a bit more expensive (coconut oil, nuts, maple syrup etc). To give you an idea, I usually spend around $100-$120 fortnightly, for our family of 4, and then I keep $50 aside for the second week of the fortnight for fresh fruit and vegies. That's a total of $150-$170 including meat. I always keep a well stocked pantry and freezer, which is helpful for fortnights when I've had only $70 for the entire shopping!

I am now running down some things (like pasta, pasta sauces etc) in my pantry and will start making more of these from scratch. I love experimenting in the kitchen and look forward to some new challenges.

Roast Dinner

I am also going to start adding more vegetarian dishes to our menu to help increase our veggies and save our dollars. Thankfully we all love vegetarian food. We also only eat fish when it is given to us by our fishing friends, so this is another cost saver for us.

Kaleb is fed at his work, depending on whichever shift he does, so sometimes lunch, sometimes dinner. If he is working over dinner, I make our main meal at lunch time, and have our family mealtime then.

Sweet Cheeks Granola

I also like to add some new meals to our menu each fortnight to keep things interesting, sometimes these are winners and I add them to our list of favourites, other times they are not so good.

I've marked our new meal ideas with an *, and any meals that are vegetarian with (v).

Monday:: Creamy Vegetable and Almond Korma with Pilaf*(v)

Tuesday:: Leftovers (v)

Wednesday:: Meatballs and Vegetables

Thursday:: Roast Beef and Vegetables

Friday:: Beef and Vegetable Pie (Potato/Cauliflower Top)

Saturday:: Risoni Patties and Vegetables*(v)

Sunday: Homemade Pizzas

Monday:: Homemade Fish and Sweet Potato Fries

Tuesday:: Fish Balls and Vegetables

Wednesday:: Roast Chicken and Vegetables

Thursday:: Chicken and Vegetable Pie (Potato/Cauliflower Top)

Friday:: Vegetarian Pasta Bake(v)

Saturday:: Spinach and Ricotta Canneloni(v)

Sunday:: Homemade Pizzas

Breakfast Ideas:

Moist and Cakey Almond Flour Pancakes*

Homemade Hashed Browns*, Bacon and Scrambled Egg

Sweet Cheeks Granola

Poached Eggs on Toast

Lunch Ideas:

Potato Gnocchi Tater Tots*

Toasted Sandwiches

Dinner Leftovers

Chicken Noodle Soup (using carcass from Roast Chicken)

Pumpkin Soup

Green Smoothie

Snack Ideas:

Pumpkin Choc Chip Muffins*

Homemade Hummus with Veggie Sticks

Cheese and Crackers

Nuts

Fruit

I make my own bread using these 2 recipes:

Who Bread

Paleo Bread

So that's it!!

I'll try to remember to let you know how our new recipes go!!

x Shara