Genevieve Bunny

 Genevieve the little bunny girl feels the autumn chill. So she wears a cosy jumper, but still wanting to be stylish pairs it with a lovely long skirt.

 I used a summer dress for the skirt and the ears, with the weather here Genevieve gets more wear out of it than me!

Isn't she beautiful? But so lonely...

Mince swirls

I had a jar of this stuff left over from Christmas. I didn't have time to make mince pies back then... But baking mince pies in August??!! No, that just wouldn't do it! I had to find an other recipe!

So I came up with this, in the original version it was filled with nuts and dried fruit, so that did sound great for me!

Mince swirls

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

2 tsp caster sugar

50 g butter

1 cup milk

1 tsp vinegar



 Mix the flour, baking powder, sugar in a big bowl and rub in butter. Mix the milk and vinegar in another bowl (or use buttermilk instead if you have at home) and add enough to form a light dough. Roll it out as thin as you can and spread with the mince.

 Roll it up from both directions then cut in the middle.

 Cut into 1 cm thick slices and place on a lined baking sheet.

 Bake in a pre-heated (220 C) oven for about 15-20 mins then drizzle with some honey or apricot glaze.



How to make a peg bag - Tutorial

This is something I've wanted to make for ages as my pegs are all over the place. I looked some pics on the internet for inspiration, what kind to make.

 A quilted one? An all closed one with small opening? Or a frilled one?

At the end I choose the frilled one but with some alterations and no frills, thank you. The frilled bag's original pattern is in Katie Eben's book, Fabric scrapping.

 First I chosse two fabrics, one for the outside and another for the lining. Cut out a 30x40 cm, a 15.5x30 and a 25.5x30 cm piece from each.

 Sew the matching pieces together right sides out. Hem the top of the front bottom piece and the bottom of the top front piece. You know...

 Then assemble your bag so the lining is facing outside and the two top pieces are overlapping a bit at the opening. Pin together securely.

 Put a child's hanger at the top and draw its outline on the fabric.

 Sew around on the hanger's line and at the edges.

 Cut around leaving a little seam allowance.

And voila, here is your finished peg bag, you just have to slide in the hanger (if you didn't leave an opening for the hanger at the top - about 0.5 cm - now is the time to cut this).

You can decorate it to your taste with embroidery, patchwork or frilles - whatever your fancy ;)



Woodlawn Heritage Walk & Poppy Seed slices

Marking Heritage Week our local Heritage Group organized a guided walk around Woodlawn Estate. The weather was gorgeous and we had a great time! Tea and sandwiches were served afterwards to refresh the tired spirits and we had a good chat at the tables.

We started the day baking with my girls (well, they mostly did the testing!) so I took a box of cakes myself too, recipe from my Mum :)

Poppy seed slices

2 eggs

100 g butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup ground poppy seed

1 cup milk

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla essence

jam (preferably apricot)

Beat the butter and sugar together until creamy. Add the vanilla essence and eggs and beat well. Mix in the rest of the ingredients and stir until well combined. Spread the batter into a 20x30 cm baking tin lined with baking parchment.

Place in a pre-heated (180 C) ovenb and bake for about 20-30 mins or until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin. When cooled slice in half horizontally. I cut it in quarters first, as the cake is very crumbly, so I could lift the upper part with a spatula and after spreading with some jam place it back.

Slice it into squares and sprinkle with icing sugar if desired.



All packed for tea!



Of course I took my camera along and took a few pics on the walk:



Game keeper's lodge at Woodlawn House



Woodlawn House





The ice house




the old bridge



the Church

Hope to make the walk again next year! If you'd like to see more pics about the area and read about the house and estate have a look at http://www.woodlawnheritagegroup.com/!





Lenka is here!

Do you remember the book I bought for my daughter? Well, the main character was so cute I just had to make her in fabric!

And here she is, I've finished her yesterday:

She turned out pretty cute, what do you think?

You can have one too for 10 euros + p&p, just place an order through my Facebook page! ;)

Pork-cauliflower rice bake

This one is from my mother-in-law. It's so simple and delicious!

2-3 tbsp oil

1 onion, finely chopped

4 pork chops

gravy granules (or similar)

about 1 and a half cups rice

1 big head cauliflower

1 tub sour cream

1 egg

grated cheese (a lot!!)

Rub the gravy granules into the pork chops. Heat the oil in a big frying pan and sautee the onion then fry the chops until brown all over. Reserve the juices.

Cook or steam the rice and steam the cauliflower.

Chop the meat and the cauliflower into bite size pieces and fold into the rice.

Beat the egg lightly and mix with the sour cream. Stir this into rice mixture and place it into an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle generously with the grated cheese.

Place in pre-heated oven (200 C) and cook for about 20-30 mins or until the cheese is golden on the top.

Enjoy!

Roddy Bunny

This little fella was in pieces at the bottom of my sewing basket. I found him the other day and sew together. 

Very stylish in hes trousers, isn't he? :D

Autumn Fairy on an online shop!

Web Store - Különleges, csodaszép méteráru!

Found this beautiful fabric in an online shop! Now I only have to decide what else to order with it... :)

Chocolate brownies

Read this recipe in the latest issue of my favourite food magazine and had to try it. It was extremely delicious!! Sugar factor a bit lethal though... :D

225 g margarine
400 g caster sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
55 g cocoa powder
125 g flour
half tsp salt
half tsp baking powder

Melt the margarine and mix in the rest of the ingredients. Stir completely with a fork. I added a good handful of roughly chopped walnuts and dried apricots too! ;)

Bake in a pre-heated (180 C) oven for 30 mins.

For the frosting: melt 80 g butter in a saucepan and add 45 g cocoa powder. Stir and add 180 g icing sugar and 4-5 tbsp milk. Take off the heat and stir well. Spread on the brownies while they are still warm.

Absolutely delicious!