Hello 2012

Thank you to everyone who has made 2011 wonderful. A big shout out to my family who are helping me get ready fro my wedding in 2012. Also thanks to my international buddies who read this blog and use it to stay in touch. Hoping everyones wishes come true next year.

Choc-A-Holic Cookies

So I really wanted to bake yesterday. I have these cool new cookie cutters that I was going to use. Then I stumbled across 2 choc cookie recipes and decided to try a mutated version of both. These are the most chocolate tasting, fudge like centred cookies I have ever had. I made 24 only 6 survived the night. Those 6 may not survive this post...just saying.

Choc-A-Holic Cookies

Ingredients
3/4 cup (firmly packed) brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
200g butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups plain flour
1 cup Bournville Cadbury cocoa (any nice Cocoa would work I guess, let me know)
1 teaspoon baking powder
200g choc chip (milk, dark, white or combination it is your choice- I used milk)

Method
1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat sugars, butter and vanilla until fluffy.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each.
4, Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder and 1 teaspoon salt over.
5. Add chocolate chips.
6. Stir to combine.
7. Place 1/2 tablespoonfuls of mixture into ball like shapes on lined baking tray. Flatten with a spoon.
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes (vary cooking time for size).
9. Cool biscuits on trays.

Note: Eat when warm soooooo good! I would recommend to watch the oven when you are cooking this because I made tablespoon sized ones and had to have them in for 17 mins. Pictures to come.

Christmas Light Hunting-Innisfail

Aussie Christmas lights. Santa and his sleigh being pulled by mighty Roos'


House 1 of 3, they all went in a row. It was beautiful, I loved the jumping reeindeer.


House 2 of 3, the swinging santa was cute.


House 3 of 3. The flying doves and angels looked beautiful.


All three combined made a magical site.

For those not in Australia, yes we are in the middle of summer which is why you can see the green grass, trees, bushes and flowers. It was cooler last night, only 32 degrees. It was nice for a change.

Rainforest Touches The Sea

This is Etty Bay where the Rainforest meets the sea. It is the best place in the whole world. Yes that is me playing in the water. It was beautiful and cool on such a hot day.

Cassowary- Etty Bay

I have headed home and what do you know? Head down to Etty Bay and a Cassowary was waiting to greet us. I got a few photos and video which I thought I would upload. The bird is beautiful to watch. Sorry for the shaky hands.

Kitty Christmas

Have a wonderful holiday season. Heading North to be with the family.

Mmmm Pumpkin and Cherry Pie

Hello blogging world. Well I have had my last day for the year at my second job. To celebrate I brought in Christmas presents and pies for everyone. I used the wonderful Cherry Pie recipe I got from mathaholic on swapbot and also a pumpkin pie. I am lucky to have Steve send me the pumpkin pie spices from America which make it a little easier to make. So here is the Cherry Pie recipe from mathaholic.

Cherry Pie
Ingredients
2 sheets of short crust pastry (for pie crust)
4 cups of tin cherries pitted-in America Tart Cherries (I use the black ones from Coles)
1 1/2 cups of sugar
4 tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 tbsp butter

Method
1. Put cherries in medium saucepan over medium heat. Once it get soupy, remove from heat.
2. Pour sugar and cornstarch over cherries, mix well.
3. Put back on heat and cook on low until thick, stirring often.
4. Let it cool.
5. Prep crust and pour cooled cherries into pie.
6. Make a lattice work pie top.
7. Sprinkle with sugar
8. Bake in 375F oven for 50mins.
9.Let cool before serving.

Yummy, wish I had kept some at home :(

Shout Out to LittleMessyMissy

I received a truly amazing swap from LittleMessyMissy on swapbot. She made me 4 beautiful altered dominos for the Christmas Ornament. Hand made/Altered swap. They are proudly hanging on my Christmas Tree. A truly amazing swapper.

Feels Like Christmas

We have had our tree up all this week and I am only now getting around to posting pictures of our random, random tree. Decorations range from hand sewn treasures to traditional angels, Santa, words of hope, My Little Pony and Star Trek. When Scott's family visited they brought all his decorations from when he was a child. They have a tradition where each year they were given one decoration each with their name and date. Some of these decorations are older than me. Latest additions include a Winnie the Pooh and a Playful Kitten from Hallmark Collection. I present, our tree.

Little Birdie Crafting

So the last Swapbot swap I was in required us to make a 2 little birdies for our partners. My two sets are below.

However, this got me thinking. I had a secret santa to do with a very small dollar limit, so I got hold of some nice Christmas fabric and made up a set of these birdies in Christmas Tree ornaments. My secret santa person loved them. Here are the 3 pairs put altogether in their 'nest' (a nice lightweight summer scarf).

I Feel Like Chicken Tonight!

However, unlike that annoying ad I will not be using a bottle mix. I want to try a new marinade I have had stored up for a rainy day. On that note my goodness the heat is oppressive after the summer storms last night. Air con is actually on before noon (I know I am weak) and this is coming from someone who did not have it until university. How did I survive North QLD as a kid.
I have just finished making this one up using dried herbs, will try with fresh herbs next time to see the difference. Scott should like it because garlic and chilli are his favourite. For dinner tonight we are having Marinated Chicken, Mashed Potato and Salad. Nothing fancy but good.

The marinade recipe is as follows.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 bunch parsley, leaves chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 pinch dried chilli flakes (or more to taste)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 pinch dried oregano
4 chicken breast/thighs

Method
1. Rub over chicken and store in fridge for minimum 30 mins. (I prefer overnight for the flavour to absorb).
2. Remove from fridge 20 mins before cooking.
3. Pan fry ir BBQ chicken.

I will let you know how it goes tonight. If you have a go tell me what you think.

I LIVE!!!

Hello blogging world,
You may have noticed I have not written in a while (well for me that is). I have been quite ill but am recovering. It has been a very busy time while I have been ill with many exciting things happening. A few new things to report. My wedding invites have arrived!!! From the lovely people at Orchard and Brown. Scott and I are both very excited about this.

School related stuff first. We have been very busy in the classroom organising a number of events. The first was some Christmas relief for a troops and canine units serving internationally. We have managed to get students to write Christmas cards and create care packages to send to our men and women currently serving. The kids (and I) got right into it. I sent to the Canine Units with 2 sets of dog treats and packets to Aussie Mix lollies for the handlers. I hope it reminds them of home.

The next thing we decided to do was make bags with our whole class using recycled materials (fits in with all the sustainability we have been doing all year). I was allocated by my class a set amount of materials and had to create a bag in 1 hour that met the design brief given. It was expected to be to an A standard. I was admittedly nervous. But here is the finished product. Pretty good for the first time I ever made a bag (not to mention not allowed to use a pattern).
Finally Swapbot news. Because of my illness I actually fell a little behind. The last time that happened was when mother nature decided to drop Cyclone Yasi on us. That was certainly an experience. But, I have some wonderful partners who I managed to stay in contact with and gave me a few extra days to complete my projects. Shaking hands make hand sewing difficult. But here is my final product for the Handmade/Altered Christmas Decoration Swap. A door hanging decoration of Chris the Christmas Mouse although I will not be suprised if he is given a new name.