Wednesday 29 August 2012

Baking and making

Sausage rolls. Love that these are so easy and worked well (this time). Make some short pastry -start by grating cold butter, then rub butter, SR flour, white pepper and a splash of ice water to form a dough. Chill and then roll out to 2mm thickness. Take some fresh pork mince and grate finely one carrot, mix with one egg and more white pepper to taste. Form into a long sausage on top of the dough, roll and bake for 25-30 min on 160C. I freeze some of these uncooked for another time, as its lovely to defrost and have something warm and fresh for the boys after school.
 

 Where is that egg? I'm sure I left it here!
 Card making - focused on a range of garden inspired cards and thinking of painting a Robin for mum for Christmas.

Monday 27 August 2012

A fine disregard for the rules

We love yogurt so much -about 2 litres a week much! I haven't made it for some time since we moved as my thermometer is in a box somewhere but to save us from our own Greek (yogurt) bankruptcy I had to make some and not the thin pale stuff you see on the hippy dippy self-sufficiency sites. So I did ad lib a little but all seems well, easy, satisfying and fun! I do feel myself sinking more and more into the role of 1930's housewife, although this may only last until I finish all 66 Agatha Christie books.

Lots of good links to make your own. I bring 2Lt's full cream milk to a hot simmer, with little bubbles around the side. Take off the boil and allow to cool to luke warm temperature and stir in 2 tablespoons of live yogurt and seal into a clean container and keep warm for 24hrs -winter is perfect for this! I wrap my container in towels as well. Open it up to test that it has changed! Its good to eat at this stage but we like it very thick so I usually strain it in the fridge for another day and you get perfect thick creamy goodness. I knew keeping 10 years worth of Bon Mama jars was worth it along with plum compote from this past Autumn.

Kisses for Venus

Darling Venus the chocolate retriever, the best girl a girl could ever have! and the best friend a little boy could ever have too!


Ack my slipper!


Sunday 26 August 2012

Ugly but good. My best chocolate cake ever.




Happy birthday darling! Chocolate meringue coconut hazelnut extravaganza. Ugly but good!

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Bloomin' great.

The last few days of sunshine have brought a haze of golden green to the garden. Lots of buds peeking out from the blossom trees and the clematis -such anticipation! The standout this week is the last of the peach blossom which has been in bloom for a month now and is finally fading.



This golden land!

Friday 10 August 2012

Aprons for living! and baking and gardening!

I love my aprons and if you love vintage country style I think you will too. As we don't have a Cath Kidston store here these aprons are my indulgence to have a happy kitchen.  I have listed a whole range today over in my ebay store all on sale-only $8.00, so load up for Christmas! http://stores.ebay.com.au/artlifecreative
Jam day Apron in red.

A Day On the Green Apron

A Summers Day Apron

Red geraniums apron

Spring meadow apron

Summer Rose apron.

Saturday 4 August 2012

White Hyacinths to feed my soul. August flowers

"If I had but two loaves of bread
I would sell one of them
& buy White Hyacinths to feed my soul."
- Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915)



Naughty Elbert seems to be para-phrasing;
"If, of thy mortal goods, thou art bereft,
And from thy slender store two loaves
alone to thee are left,
Sell one & from the dole,
Buy Hyacinths to feed the soul"
- Muslihuddin Sadi,
13th Century Persian Poet

Sunday 29 July 2012

A Butterfly wish

Beware the butterfly! Waaaaay too many pic's but I couldn't help myself as I am making a new range of silver wish and lilac blush butterflies for decorating cards, walls, flowers! Spring is almost upon us and many lovely brides used these for their weddings last year as for many cultures they symbolise luck (and they never fail to raise a smile!).

 May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
~Irish Blessing





Monday 11 June 2012

Pizza forever.

I have had these stone pizza trays lurking on the "little used but useful one day shelf " which is soon to be the "throw out or use shelf" in the new kitchen, so in the interests of this hopeful project I sprung these out of the darkness. Oh my goodness why did I wait for so long! These create a wonderful crisp base and seem to cause that great bubbling of the top of the base. Who knew what wonders could be found in the great unknown of the bottom shelf.



Wednesday 30 May 2012

Lots of lovelies

I shall be at the Gisborne Sunday Market this Sunday if you want to have a lovely day out (and visit me!). I'm at stall 123 near the fountain roundabout. There are many great stallholders - the herb lady, the spiral potatoe chicks, jam ladies and the honey man. Hope to see you there.



Tuesday 15 May 2012

Virtual Gardening or Creating cards

I love vintage images of seed packets, they seem to represent such sweet hope and promise. I have been collecting lots of seed this year towards the end of summer and autumn but I am a very cruel gardener or just without patience as I don't pot up but fling them in the garden to fend for themselves - I resolve this minute to be a better sower! I'll let you know how I go, somehow I think my little cards may be the only ones that bloom with certainty!
New card sets "Vintage Seeds" will go into the store today. All blank inside for your own sweet message.