Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Passion fruit slices

The other day my husband came home with a pack of passion fruits. 'They were half-price in the shop. Can you make something from them?' Hmm, to be honest this was the first time we bought them ever. So. Two was eaten on the spot. Just for the taste. :P I had two left and after some searching on the net I found a recipe.
So the girls and myself donned the aprons and baked it!



Unfortunately we couldn't make the icing as I ran out both butter and passion fruit but it was very tasty nevertheless.

Monday, 30 January 2012

More hearts

Of course I didn't stop at just two...

 I made some red gingham hearts...
 ... decorated with cute lace and buttons.
 This one is my favourite, really simple but graceful.
 A romantic heart decorated with lace, ribbon and beads.
 A row of romantic hearts.

Which one is your favourite?

Sunday, 29 January 2012

Hearts

Valentine's Day is nearly here and I could feel the love in the air! :D so when I was playing around a bit with leftover bits and pieces these came out from under my hands.


Which one do you prefer? Peachy romantic or modest gingham?

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Potato Bread

For the last three months I've been making carrot and sunflower seed bread everyday and it kinda got boring by now. So I tried something new! I had some leftover potatoes and this went down a treat - with me. It turned out the kids don't like cumin seeds... They asked for the carrot bread again  :(
So if you don't like cumin seed either you can jusgt leave it out ;)

Ingredients:
500 g flour
250 g cooked  potatoes, mashed
1 sachet dried yeast (7g)
150 ml milk
3 tbsp oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp sugar
lard for greasing

Mix the sugar, yeast and milk. Leave until frothy. Then put all ingredients in a large bowl and knead. If too soft add more flour. Shape two breads and place on a greased baking tray. Leave to rise for about 45-60 mins.
Brush with water and place in a pre-heated (170 C) oven for about 60 mins or until the top is brown.r

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

Bunnies in love

Valentine's Day is soon here and everyone is looking forward to a candle lit dinner with their partner.This lovely bunny girl has found her true love.
And to celebrate this they put on matching outfits for their rendezvous!




Aren't they lovely?

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

Goulash Soup

This is one of my favourite meals, doesn't take too long to make - you just let it simmer on the stove and sew away... ehm, I mean, go about your chores in the house - doesn't cost a fortune and packed full of protein, iron, vitamins and all!

Ingredients:
2-3 tbsp oil
3 medium onions, finely chopped
1/2 red bell pepper
1 tomato, chopped or a tsp tomato puree
2-3 tsp paprika (you can be generous, it gives a full flavour and a deep colour to your soup!)
600-800 g stewing steak, cut into 1,5 cm cubes
2-3 celery stalks or 1/2 a small celeriac
8-10 medium carrots, chopped
4-5 turnips, chopped
a good pinch of ground cumin, or a few whole ones
10 peppercorns
salt
4-5 biggish potatoes, peeled and chopped
 Heat the oil in a large (and I MEAN LARGE!) pot. Add the onion and cook until softens. Add the finely chopped pepper and tomato.
 Take off the heat - otherwise the paprika would burn and turn bitter - and stir in the paprika.
 Put in the meat, stir and put back on high heat. I usually put in the celery here, or ou can put it in at the next step.You can add about half a cup of water, so it wouldn't burn. Lower the heat, place a lid on and simmer until the meat is tender.
 When the meat is done add the cumin, peppercorns, carrots, turnips.Stir, add more water and cok until the vegetables are done. Season with salt. Add the potatoes for the last 10 mins.
Ladle into soup bawls and serve with crusty bread!

This quantity serves 8 persons or 4 persons for 2 days. This is very nice the next day, too.
And when you don't have to cook you can do more crafting with the kids ;) I'm just not sure who enjoys it more, my little one or me...
From yet another of her fairy craft books...

Monday, 23 January 2012

Twins

The latest Lenka dolls. My younger daughter managed to get hold of one of them and subjectet her to a few minutes vigorous pulling. And I'm proud to say the arms are impossible to detache!

 Personalized with running stitch.


They are very cute :) My favourite is their thights! I'd love one with this pattern myself!

Sunday, 22 January 2012

Bukta & Facebook competition

Just in case you are wondering what bukta is, I have to tell you: it's something utterly delicious! My Mum used to make it when I was little and we had it for lunch after a satisfying soup.
Recently I came across an alternative recipe of it, and found that that this way it feel even lighter and fluffier.
 Ingredients:
150 g margarin, melted
50 g sugar
3 egg yolks
400 ml milk
1 sachet dried yeast (7 g)
600 g flour
100 g cooked potatoes, mashed
1 jar of thick jam
20 ml milk
50 g margarin, melted

Stir the yeast into the milk and add a little sugar. Leave in a warm place until frothy. Put the flour, sugar, egg yolks, potatoes in a large bowl and add the frothy mixture. Knead, gradually adding the rest of the 400 ml milk.
Roll out as thin as you can, cut into 5x5 cm squares. Put a dollop of jam in the middle of each square, roll up and close into a parcel.
 Place into a high walled greased baking tin, so they are touching each other. Pour over the hot 200 ml milk and the melted margarin. Leave to stand for 30 mins. Place in the pre-heated (180 C) oven and bake for about 45-60 mins, or until the bottom is done too.
Enjoy with a cup of milk or hot cocoa!


And now to the Facebook competition! Tulip Cottage has 100 likers on Facebook, thank you everyone who liked the page! To celebrate this, there is a little competition. And the prize? The prze is this little chubby lady well prepared for the beach. Hope she bring a little sunshine to your home! ;)

 To be in a chance to win her, all you have to do is to comment on the '100 likes giveaway' album on Facebook! I'll draw a name from the commenters on Wednesday.
Good luck and have a sunny day!

Friday, 20 January 2012

More angels :)

I got hooked on making them! :)





They make lovely decorations, don't they?

Sunday, 15 January 2012

Almond biscuits

These are absolutely gorgeous with a cup of coffee, they melt in the mouth :P
 Ingredients:
250g margarin
550g flour
200g sugar
100g ground almonds
50g coarsly ground walnuts
2 egg yolk
1 egg
1/2 lemon grated zest
1 tsp vanilla extract
cooking chocolate, cream for decorating


 Rub the margarin and the flour, then mix in the rest of the ingredients. Put in the fridge for 30 mins or more. Then roll out on a floured surface. Cut out circles and roll them up to crescents or cut out different shapes. My girls love this bit! :D
 Put in a pre-heated (180 C) oven and bake for 15 mins or so. Leave in the tray to cool.
 Melt some chocolate and a few tbsp cream over boiling water and dip in the biscuits to decorate.

Enjoy!

Saturday, 14 January 2012

Baaa!!

For a little boy to cuddle ;)