Fun Times

I love entertaining.  I have lost the art of entertaining a little since having the bubs. 

Now my fellas are 2+ it is getting heaps easier.  After so many months of gloom in our family, most of which commenced this time last year, I figured it was high time to have some friends over!  This is also something we love to do after church on a sabbath and as we now live about an hour's drive from church, we were very touched when our church friends trekked it up to our joint.  We live where most Sydney siders visit during holiday season or perhaps en route to Brisbane.  It feels like a hike and strange for a day trip.

I was busy buzzing around as a good hostess does, and I totally forgot to take photos.  Bummer.  We had yummy salads, patties and vegetarian sausage rolls, all made from scratch.  Cheese and fruit with crackers.  Yum.  And Julie brought gorgeous homemade profiteroles, piled high on a white cake platter and dotted with strawberries.  Alongside, she provided caramel tarts dolloped with double cream and impaled with chocolate lattices.  My descriptions do not match what a sight it was.  Nor can it match the out of this world yumminess. 

And as it was Rick's birthday week, I chucked in a cake, a Nutella cake no less made from Nigella's Domestic Goddess bible.  So so decadent, with 6 eggs, half a packet of butter, plus chocolate and lets not forget the 400g Nutella!! But no added sugar, well, no sugar added by me, but it was present in the other ingredients.  And it looked exactly like the book's picture because Rick spread the ganache and tiled the top with roasted hazelnuts.

But once all the food was eaten and we migrated to the cool breeze outside, (boy what a weekend of good weather!), it was time for the Easter egg hunt.

I gave each child a bag that I had whipped up in a sewing frenzy that took me like a person possessed, and off they trotted. 

I love my friends. I love good times.  More good times for this year as surely last year took this decade's quota of bad times.

O Wow Thanks! :: Cushions

Hello!  Thank you for your responses to yesterday's post.  I really appreciated the comments here, on my facebook page and for the personal emails I received.  I have been truly blessed with your kindness.  Did you have a good Easter?  What are you doing today for ANZAC Day?  I have been a bit lost in my bubble of melancholy . . . . to think of all the lives lost during war is a bit much for me right now.   So, I made more jam doughnuts last night, and have just eaten one (after a nuke in the microwave) . . . with a cuppa . . . one son is sleeping the other is watching Toy Story with Rick.  A rainy day with family . . . God is good.

Let's talk about something happy!

My husband says I have too many cushions, even after I have culled two thirds!  I love the promise of comfort when you look at a plush cushion.  I love what one cushion can do to a room; inject colour, tone and comfort.  Cushions can make a dull room come to life!  And if you are like me, you can use cushions to change the feel of the room at a whim.

How much more do I love cushions when a talented friend makes them for me!  My generous sweet friend Lesley (of the Ninjabread cutters fame) made these.  Isn't she clever?

It looks like there are 12 cushions but there are actually 6!  Clever Lesley put a different fabric pattern on the other side so that I can mix n match til my heart's content! (she knows me soooo well).

In return, all I could make for her was my Lemon Curd which she loves (thank goodness).

You know, it is a real blessing to have material items but I love these cushions because they are a reminder of my friend, of our friendship.  I cherish her friendship and will do long after these cushions have lost their plushy-goodness, when they are covered in food stains and childrens' vomit although I will do everything I can to stop that from happening!

Do you have something that you cherish because of who gave it to you?

xxx

Friendship

photograph taken from God Loves Me Baby Bible by Zonderkidz

Good morning on this beautiful Easter morning!  How are you today?  Choc-full, or have you only just started?

I have something pressing on my heart today.  I have had one of the worst weeks of my life.  A friendship died this week.  He was someone I admired and trusted who shattered all that in the course of 24 hours.  I value my friendships highly and feel like I am in mourning even though no one has died.

In my grief, though, I have been comforted but not just by my other precious friends throughout this 48hr ordeal.  I don't wear my christianity on my t-shirt.  It is a deeply personal thing but I will share it with others if I feel impressed to.  That is why I don't harp on about it here.  But Easter, along with Christmas, are times when I can safely talk about it without offense, don't you think?

I just want to tell you that  'A man who has friends must himself be friendly,^[a] But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.' Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV)

You can make all the friends in the world, but there is only One friend that won't ever let you down and in turn, will always love you, be kind to you, show mercy toward you and forgive you.  I want to be more like Him and I have many different friends who show these qualities too.  I am very grateful for my friends.

Today, the christian community are celebrating Christ's victory over death, the consequence of sin.  And, he gained this victory for all of us!  Hooray!  There is no heartache in this earth that can take away His love. 

I hope you are experiencing this friendship with Jesus.

Well, thanks for reading this far.  I am off now to eat some chocolate, not because it is Easter, but because it is chocolate (unless it's Easter here everyday)!

Blessings to each of you

Fiona xxxx

Try this! :: Donna's Jam Doughnuts

When I saw the front cover of the latest Donna Hay magazine, sporting some yummy looking jam doughnuts, I thought of my friend Shelley straight away.  She  l o v e s  jam doughnuts and who better to make them for than a die-hard fan?



image source

 So, my friend Rinny and I made the dough earlier that day.  Then after dinner, Rinny was in charge of the deep frying (she is the most responsible and steady under pressure - must come with being a nurse!), Shelley was in charge of taking photos, and I assembled. 


Dough ready for deep frying




In the hot oil




Ready for sugar and jam injection!



Slicing an opening for the piping bag

Squeezing in raspberry jam



Ooops, perhaps too much jam




First one to Shelley




But there were plenty to go around

 We were well rewarded for our efforts!

xxx

A Gift :: punchbowl

I never used to really appreciated the bowl of punch.  But now, I feel a summer's party is not complete without a bowl of icy, fruity, juiciness . . . I just don't think about who may have sneezed in it!

Back in January we had a party for my baby Dean to celebrate his turning a whole digit - 1!  I had all the ingredients for punch but no punch bowl.  In steps my gorgeous friend, who whipped home and grabbed hers (60+ min round trip).

And again, only a couple of weeks ago, whilst tripping in Orange, Her Gorgeouness found this in a little op shop for $10!  Complete with cups and a proper punch ladle (not like the soup ladle I used previously)

I am indeed a blessed woman to have such a wonderful friend.

Here was my list punch ingredients:

grape juice

tinned fruit salad

lemon slices

mineral water

ice

I vary it depending on what's in the cupboard. 

What's your favourite combo?  A bit of dry ginger ale or gallons of lemonade?

xxx

weekend shenanigans

My menfolk were all sick.  The boys were coming out of the dark tunnel of fluiness, but Rick was decending into it.  Needless to say, the 1 hour drive to church on Sabbath was not going to happen so we opted for a quiet morning at home and then some outdoor time.  Home for lunch and two fellas crashed while Liam and I made cards to bring cheer to some special people.

Sunday seemed to bring some brightness to the infirmed and we managed to drive up to Forster!  Special day with extra special family and friends.

Monday, as always, brings with it weekend withdrawals but once the to-do list gets formulated, the next weekend becomes the goal to strive for!

Did you do anything special?

My Creative Space . . .

Wow!  In an attempt to pull the reigns in on my internet addiction, I buried myself into another addiction - knitting!  So, to ease myself back into blogging, I thought I'd show you what I had been up to.

Thanks Kootoyoo for your lovely Thursday link in (yep, I know it is now Friday but I didn't want to wait another week!)

This little number would have to be the easiest pattern I've ever followed.  I got it here.  This I knitted for my friend's 6 year old girl.

I love it so much that I am knitting it for a friend's baby in cherry red.  Don't you just love the gathered look under the bust line?  You can get the baby-sized pattern here.

And for another friend's daughter in speckled blue.  Gotta say, I'm getting a little tired of seed stitch now!

But wait, that's not all!  I needed to learn how to knit in the round for the neck line so I practised by knitting this little beanie and started another but ran out of yarn!

Deano just doesn't like to wear anything on his head.  I have over a dozen photos like this where I put the beanie on his head, bring the camera up to my face only to get the shot with his hands already trying to pull it off!  This beanie is a bit small for my little man, so I think I will give this one to Vinnies and knit another.  I got the pattern from this book.

I'm so glad I have found my knitting mojo again.  Oh, and for those who have been following for a little while, you may be asking about the never ending knitting - almost done.  Just need to fix the toddler inflicted damage . . . not long now!

Good to be back - how are you?

Yummy Cakes for Yummy Friends

Relaxed dinner parties are so much fun.  When I say 'relaxed' I'm not talking about serving up three courses in our tracky-dacks on the lounge.  I mean, the guests are selected because the ease at which you feel around them and that there is no competitional impressing on the agenda (trying to out do their last dinner party!).

Last Thursday's gathering was relaxed and fun.  Our friends, Beth & Shelley attend uni in Newcastle, living away from home, so we just love having them over for a feast (usually only two courses- they are petite girls afterall!!).  I love when they come for a number of reasons but mainly because they love my children - perhaps I should say that Shelley LOVES & ADORES Liam.  Both girls come in and go straight the playing with the kids while Rick and I continue getting things ready.  Just perfect guests!!

In honour of Shelley's birthday, I made Lemon & Raspberry Cupcakes and Chocolate Mud Cupcakes.  I linked the recipe for the Lemon & Raspberry Cupcakes previously that I had first seen on Martha.  I didn't end up using the recipe but used it as a guide in creating my own version.

If you like the look of them here are the recipes:

Brave New Fiona's Lemon & Raspberry Cupcakes (as inspired by Martha)

1. Using a sharp knife or apple corer, make a small circle incision in the top of the Vanilla Cupcake (see recipe below) going one third down, remove cut cake so you are left with a small well.

2. Fill each well with the prepared Lemon Curd by spoon or piping bag (I just used a spoon and a steady hand).


3. Pipe or spread Vanilla Butter Frosting over top of cupcake, being careful not to disturb the lemon curd.


4. Top with a fresh rasberry.  You can use a frozen raspberry but be sure to thaw them out on paper towel.

Brave New Fiona's Vanilla Cupcakes

Ingredients
1/2 cup custard powder
1 1/2 cups self raising flour
3/4 cup caster sugar
125g butter, softened
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract or paste (I prefer paste for the little spots- cheaper than beans)


Method
1. Preheat oven 180C.  Line muffin tin with patty cases (I'm loving the choc-brown patty cases!)

2. Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs, milk & vanilla.  Sift in dry ingredients and beat until colour has changed and is even.

3. Fill patty cases just over half full with mixture and bake for 15-18 mins. 

You can freeze uniced cupcakes.

Brave New Fiona's Lemon Curd

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups sugar
200g diced butter
finely zested rind of 1 lemon
1 1/4 cups strained lemon juice (~6 large lemons)
6 large eggs


Method
1. In a double boiler add sugar, butter, lemon zest and juice. Stir until butter is melted.
2. Meanwhile, mix together eggs and whisk into the double boiler mixture when the butter is melted.  Don't allow the mixture to boil and stir constantly for approximately 5 mins.
3. Strain before bottling into sterilized jars.

This amount is way too much for the cupcakes but you can use as a gift or fold through whipped cream for a lemony pavlova topping.  Or make some yummy mini lemon tarts!

Brave New Fiona's Butter Frosting

Ingredients
125g unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups icing sugar mixture


Method
Beat butter until fluffy.  Slowly add icing sugar mixture and beat until smooth.

I got the Chocolate Mud Cupcakes with Ganache from Notebook's Little Book of Cupcakes and Cookies.  Although Notebook: is no longer in publication, their recipes are found on http://www.homelife.com.au/.
With some of the left over lemon curd, I made mini lemon meringue tarts.

And the evening was topped off with two rounds of Canasta and a late night discussion on pregnancy and giving birth (Rick went to bed by this stage!!)