Brownies!

I LOVE brownies!
I think when it comes to chocolate cakes (apart from my mums awesome chocolate cake which I will share with you at another time) I think brownies are as good as it gets. I was inspired recently after watching Huey to make some really easy simple not a lot of ingredients brownies.

The only problem was I couldn't find a recipe that didn't call for a block of chocolate. Chocolate does not last long in my house! N just LOVES it (in a similar way to how I love brownies) So I needed to find a recipe that used cocoa instead of chocolate.

A little scouring of the universe and here's what I found. Its fantastic! It's a variation on the recipe found here

Ingredients

1 2/3 cups sugar

180g butter melted

2 tablespoons water

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/3 cups Plain flour 

3/4 cup Cocoa

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Icing sugar

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking pan. 

Combine granulated sugar, butter and water in large bowl. Stir in eggs and vanilla extract. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; stir into sugar mixture. Stir in nuts. Spread into prepared baking pan. 

Bake for 18 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into bars.

Nom Nom Nom

Knitting like a beginner... again

Hey there.
I am so sick of seeing all these beautiful patterns for gorgeous jumpers or jackets (its Winter here in Aus) and then getting all disappointed because they are knitted and not being able to make them.
SO...I decided to re teach my self to knit.
The truth is, I did learn YEARS ago off a friend of my Nanna's. I can still remember sitting in her lounge room while she taught me how to do it.
I've never knitted anything that needed shaping before, so in true me fashion, I have bit off WAY more than I can chew. It was even more stressful when I broke the needles half way through a row!
I'm making this cardigan from a pattern released by Deramores. I got it through Ravelry. (The link is here). If you are into knitting or crochet. Ravelry is a really fantastic site.
I hope it turns out well as it is a little bit complicated I am thinking now I look at it. I'm almost to the point where I need to start decreasing! (aahhhh!!!)
Hope you enjoy watching it appear!
xox

Back panal

Baby Ezra's Blankie!

Well... it's finally finished!!
After SO much time and frogging and undoing the joins 4 times Little Ezra's blankie is all finished!!!
I made it using a pattern from
"Interweave Presents Crocheted Gifts eBook: Irresistible Projects to Make & Give", which you can buy here. I used cheap nasty 8 ply yarn that was $2 a ball from my local $2 shop, but it is beautiful and soft and gorgeous!
Hope you love it too :-)
xox

After a long time absent.

Hi Friends
Well it has been a long time since writing, and the truth is I never thought having one extra person in our family would take up so much of my time. After meeting with my craft group this afternoon (and doing about 20 stitches in my crochet project because of a very happy and wavy bubba, and listening to them all talk about their blog (and being a tad stupid about my own,) I thought I would try to be more diligent in writing some things for you to amuse yourself with reading.

Since last time I wrote, I have completed a basic sewing course. It was run by Jodie at The Haby Goddess and I have to say it was one of the best online courses I have ever completed, and being a teacher, I have completed a LOT!! It was called Sew School Online. It taught all the basics, and consequently I am now quite an excited little sewer and have made a few things. Here are some photos

A hat for Miss C

I love making bunting. This is the first lot I have ever made.

All ready to hang up! 

A doona cover for Miss C

My new baby!

More Bunting!

More Bunting

Drawstring Bag that I use to carry Miss C's toys while we are out.

A bunny for Easter and a cushion cover.

Skirt and Nappy cover for Miss C. (I got a lot of use out of this fabric)

My Sock Monkey! I just love her!! I made this as part of a competition run by Zak Design Dolls

I am now doing a couple of courses on Craftsy. Most of them are free, but the Overlocker Basics course is brilliant.

I know that online learning may not be for every one, but I think it is such a great way to learn!

I'll try and post more often.

Bread!!

I made bread! Like really truly from scratch made bread!

I was watching River Cottage the other night (I love River Cottage, you can check it out here) and Hugh was talking about how easy it is to make your own bread. That day I had used a packet bread mix to make some bread in my breadmaker, but halfway through my breadmaker started making a funny noise. The bread came out ok though.

I decided to have a go making bread without a packet, putting all the ingredients in the breadmaker myself. After carefully measuring everything out and adding them in the right order, it turns out that the funny noise my breadmaker was making was telling me that the kneading knob was no longer kneeding.

So! Armed with a packet of Wallaby Bread Improver by Laucke and a recipe on the back. I attempted to make a loaf of bread from scratch.

And it actually worked!

I was so impressed I even managed to rescue the mix in the breadmaker (which I think will need to go in the bin) and made a cob loaf as well.

Hmmm...what else can I make with yeast??

Mixed and left to rest

Risen and ready to kneed again

Proofed and ready for the oven

Yum!

The loaf I rescued from the breadmaker

Pumpkin Pie!

I love Pumpkin pie!
It is so yummy and so tasty and makes eating a vegetable so much more appealing.
I decided to make one a few years ago and I recently made these little ones for a friends wedding.
I found the recipe online a few years ago, and try as I might I can't find it anymore.
I sometimes make the base just with a shortcut pastry, but the gingersnap base is extra good.
I know it is very American, but as it is Thanksgiving in the States next week I think you should give it a try.
Enjoy

Pumpkin Pie with Honey Cinnamon Cream

1 packet gingersnap biscuits
125g butter melted
1 1/2 cups of pumpkin (cooked and mashed)
1 cup of brown sugar
1tsp cinnamon
pinch nutmeg
1 tbs cornflour
3 eggs, lightly beaten
300 ml cream

Honey Cinnamon Cream
1 tub dollop cream
1 dessert spoon honey
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 200'C. Place biscuits in food processor and process until smooth. Add butter and stir to combine. Press into the bottom of a 26cm springform tart tin. Bake for about 12 minutes. Reduce heat to 180'C

Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into prepared crust. Bake for 30 minutes or until filling is set.

Serve, warm or cool, with cream or ice cream.

Honey Cinnamon Cream
Mix all ingredients together.

These were little ones I made

A slice with all the trimmings

Quick Easy Pastas

I love pasta!!

Its so tasty and yummy and can be extremely healthy, made with cream, cooked in 2 minutes or cooked for an hour! I love it's versatility too! 

Last night I attempted one of Jamie Oliver's 30 minute meals. It was tasty, but a complete disaster time wise! I have enough left over for dinner for N and I tonight, and c is sleeping like a baby so I wanted to use the time I have now to finish the ironing (check!) and do some crocheting on a new project before she wakes up.

Problem: A quick lunch that is not a reheat of last nights dinner

Solution: This pasta! I'm sure many people have made it before but this is my creation and I have decided it is tasty!

Tomato, Basil and Feta Pasta

(for 4)

Ingredients 

Spaghetti or other pasta (Enough for 4 people)

A bunch of basil

250g tub of cherry tomatoes

100g pine nuts

200g feta

50g  butter

1/2 a lemon

Cook pasta as per instruction

Chop tomatoes in half

Toast pinenuts in a dry frypan (if you want them toasted. I use them raw)

Tear basil leave into pieces 

When pasta is cooked drain and add butter. Stir until butter is melted

Add other ingredients and toss to combine Squeeze lemon over

Serve with cracked pepper

Yum!

I think it is really tasty

Hope you enjoy!