Work Trials

The kids get to use the excuse "The dog ate my homework." I'm going to use the excuse "my poor kitty needed attention" for why I didn't do my marking. You can understand why...right?



Her shaved belly feels weird.

Scarves, Herbs and Flowers

Lots of happy, busy things happening this weekend. While working today I caved and brought 2 beautiful scarfs I have been eyeing off for the past 4 weeks (i know self control right) they match the Gypsy top and singlets I have had to order in. I have been looking for an excuse to buy these and managed to get the necklaces to match :).
We have also started getting our flowers into the pots, it is heading towards the end of winter here (26 Degrees Celsius with the humidity kicking in) and we need to get them in and growing before summer hits and they start to dry out. Ideally we should have done this about a month ago but time flies when you have lots of stuff to do. We are planning on starting our herb garden again, after Yasi we just have not really maintained the garden beds because the weeds went insane. So to get back into we have picked up seedling for rosemary, basil and chives. These are the three main herbs I use in my cooking. By some miracle the thyme has survived the neglect and just needs to be trimmed.
We also picked up a few varieties of flowering plants because they are pretty. I love having lots of colour and lots of different shapes with my flowers so I managed to get varieties of marigolds, snapdragons, petunias and a rice flower plant. The rice flower plant is really lovely, it is an Australian Native they called it a 'everlasting daisy,' and when you crush the leaves they smell like curry! Love it.

Lazy Saturday, cupcakes and a curious kitty

I can has cupcake?

Today has been a slack one, but I was in a baking mood. So I decided to make up some simple yummy vanilla cupcakes with chocolate butter cream icing. Yum! I am being so naughty with my cooking lately. I of course also had my little side kick being super cute and annoying the whole time. Here are the recipes I used to make these.

Vanilla Cupcakes
Recipe taken from: Mum (she probably got it from a recipe book like 200 cupcakes or a Women's Weekly Cookbook)
Serves: 12 larger cupcakes or 15 smaller
Prep Time:10 mins
Cooking time: 20 mins

Ingredients:
150g butter, softened
150g caster sugar
175g self-raising flour
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:
1. Line a 12 section muffin tray/cupcake tray with papers or foils.
2. Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F), Gas Mark 4.
3. Put all cake ingredients in a large bowl and beat with electric beater 1-2 mins until smooth and creamy.
4. Divide cupcake mixture into papers/foil holders
5. Cook for 20 mins, transfer to wire racks to cool.

Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting
Recipe Taken from: Combined 2 different to find middle ground
Makes enough to cover 12 muffins (yes leftovers!)
Prep time: 2 mins
Cooking time: Nil

Ingredients:
150g softened butter
250g icing sugar
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp hot water
2 drops vanilla essence

Method:
1. Use an electric mixture to combine butter and icing sugar.
2. Dissolve cocoa into hot water, add to icing mix. Use beater until combined and smooth.
3. Spread over cupcake in preferred manner. (My piping bag broke so I just used a knife)

My Print Arrived!

'Celebration Warrior' by Emily Nelson
She is a great artist, the picture makes me happy just looking at it. Check out her website or blog, she is in the process of working on new pieces. If you are in Brisbane you can find her work at the Suitcase Rummage and Winn Lane Markets. I love the elephant postcard she also sent out to me.

Back on Bed Rest :(

Yes it is annoying, but I am back to bedrest. Grrrr, thankful crafting and my kitty are keeping me sane. For those who have not already been pounced on, sniffed, meowed at or batted at...this is Delenn when she was itty bitty kitty. Yes she is using my to rest on.

And now, she is getting so big.

Summer Salads IN WINTER!

Hello blogging world!
Well I am trying to make a habit of blogging weekly no matter what. Random update on my crafting, I am halfway through a new cross stitch and am almost finished my own fabric scrap elephant. Have been busy being back at work and can breath again which is always exciting. I hope my lungs have learned breathing is not optional!

I have started swapbotting again, which is always a tonne of fun. So far have sent out some recipe swaps and about to send out some great pink fabric, will have to post a photo before I send, it is sooooo pretty. Have used it for the face if my elephant. One of the recipes I have sent out to the world is my new favourite summer salad, which is in no way good for you. I use it when it is hot and I don't want to be near a stove top or if I have left over roast chicken, or if I am lazy or just cause. It is a good simple recipe like that :). So here it is, have a go. The ladies at work demand this from me when ever we have shared lunch, they remind me for about a week beforehand.

Roast Chicken and Pesto Cream Salad (Lisa's amended and more awesome than the original version)

Ingredients:
Salad
600g cooked Roast Chicken pieces, torn up
3 celery stalks, chopped
2 large red capsicums chopped (bell peppers?)
Punnet of cherry tomatoes, quarter
1/2 cucumber, chopped
1 Cos lettuce shredded

Dressing
2/3 cups sour cream
4 tbsp bottled pesto (cause I am lazy and grasshoppers ate my basil)

Directions
1. Use a small bowl, combine pesto and sour cream until smooth using a metal spoon
2. Take chicken and salad ingredients, toss in a large bowl and chill in fridge until needed.
3. Remove from fridge 10 mins before serving, re-toss salad and stir through pesto cream. Serve.

Stitching the Undead

Zombies might make you swoon, but those bad boys have one track minds. This little sampler is a daily reminder to keep your precious heart from falling for a shuffling step of a zombie brain digger.



So this is my first attempt at cross stitching and I wanted to do something a little bit less traditional. So this pattern was taken from a pack sent to me by Steve. It is called 'Zombie Cross-Stitch' by Kristy Kizzee and Erika Kern. Their are 12 different patterns that come with a beginner kit. This kit contains enough thread to complete 3 zombie projects. Although the thread is not of the highest quality it is good to start out with and I loved the patterns. I was kinda over the religious and sentimental patterns I have seen around. Nice for a change of pace. The next cross stitch book I think I want to get hold of is Subversive Cross Stitch: 35 Designs for Your Dark Side. Although I do have a few super cute kitten ones as well. We will have to wait and see what mood I am.

A New Beginning with Banana Chip Cookies

Hello online folks,

It has been along time since I have blogged. I will be using this to share craft ideas, swaps, cooking discoveries and adventures I go on. That might be as simple as gardening or a wander along the river to beaches and rainforest get aways. Moving along.

I have been off work for the past week on bed rest and to stop myself from going stir crazy I have been reading through cook books and started a few projects. I managed to find an old friend while laying in bed. Yummy 'Banana Chip Cookies.' I haven't made them in ages!

Here is the recipe if you would like to give it a go. It is written on a card and I cannot remember where I found it. I think it is from one of my uni friends.

Banana Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
125g butter
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 egg
1 1/3 cups self raising flour
1/2 cup banana chips chopped
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1/2 cup banana chips, extra

Method:
1. Beat butter, essence, sugar and egg in a bowl with electric mixer until just combined. Stir in sifted flour, chopped banana chips and nuts.
2. Shape rounded teaspoons of mixture into balls, placed onto greased oven trays, leaving about 5cm between cookies. Top with extra banana chips.
3. Bake in moderate oven (180-190 Degrees Celsius) for about 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cook cookies on trays.