Saw it, loved it, made it - a last minute birthday pressie

My husband's birthday is in February. And usually I "suprise" him with a chocolate cake. So. This year we started making it with the girls. And then, oh horror, my kitchen mixer died on me!! And I have to confess, I can't make a proper sponge cake without it... So there was no cake... But I still had to come up with something. In desperation I had a quick look on the net. And saw this post on my favourite blog
Hmm, it looks nice.
Other half just got an iPhone he loves.
Doesn't seem too complicated.
I could make that (?).
So after some advice from Bebi this is how mine turned out :)

It's nice and soft and keeps the phone well padded :)

Mexican pork

Another mouthwatering recipe for winter. I really love the cinnamon in it!

 Ingredients:
1 red onion, finely chopped
half green pepper, diced (or you can slice it into long strips, but I tried to hide this as kids won't eat it if spotted)
2-3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground coriander
pinch of ground cumin
1 tsp paprika
generous pinc of chilli flakes
1 packet (appr. 500g) pork chops, sliced into thin strips
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 large carrort, finely grated
1 tin red kidney beans. rinsed
salt, pepper

 Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the onion and pepper and cook until soften.

 Take off the heat, add the paprika, stir the add the meat and other spices, stir again and put back on the heat. Cook until pork is almost done.

 Add the beans, carrot, chopped tomatoes. Stir, and simmer for 15-20 mins.

Serve with rice, a green salad and a tortilla and top with soured cream.
Enjoy!

Tutorial - salt shaker a la Tulip Cottage

When my plastic salt shaker broke I had to come up with something to store and dispense the salt. I had an empty plastic baking powder box - so far so good. But it was just... too plain. I was thinking about sticking some nice paper on it, but my kitchen is too wet - it would just come off. And then I had an idea! If I use fabric that looks pretty enough but if gets dirty I can wash it.
So, if you'd like to give it a go, here it goes:
You need
a round plastic or tin box with lid
fabric for the sleeve
fabric scrap for the tulip
a wider and a narrow ribbon
a button
thread and needle, sewing machine

1. Trace the bottom of the box on your main fabric.

 2. Measure the circumference (c)and height (h) of the box. Cut a rectangle from your main measuring cxh, allowing appr 1cm seam allowance everywhere.

 2. Cut a half-oval shape from your fabricscrap, fold it in half and cut away a triangle as on the pic.

 So you'll have a pretty tulip :)

 3. Sew on the middle of the rectangle the tulip using zigzag stitch.

 4. Make a bow from your wider ribbon, secure it with a piece of thread and place in the middle of the tulip. Hand or machine stitch it on.

 5. Sew the botton on the middle of the ribbon.

 6. Wrap the rectangle right side inwards around the box. Pin where you'll sew it together.

 7. Sew along the pnned line.

 8. Pin the bottom circle...

 ... and sew.

 9. Turn it right side out.

 10. Time to punch the holes into the top! Take the lide and punch holes into it using a small nail (I put ina pin here for the photo) and a small hammer. Or you can try heating the nail and then pushing the hot nail in.

 11. Fold inside the top edge, wide enough to leave space for your thinner ribbon to slide inside. Sew it around.

 12. On the back pinch a hole with your scissors into the little channel you've just done. Pull in the ribbon.

 13. Pull the ribbon and tie, so the edges of the lid are coverd but the little holes are free. |And you are finished!

Hope you liked this tutorial. If something is not clear in my description please ask and I'd be only too happy to explain! Let me know how you get on!

Tulip Cottage Pie

This is one of my favourite winter recipes. Comfort food at its best!

Ingredients:
2-3 tbsp oil
2 onions, finely choopped
4 celery stalks, chopped
half a pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
500g minced beef
4 carrots, diced
250g mushrooms, chopped
1 tbsp flour
1 cup stock
2 tbsp tomato puree
4-5 large potatoes, cooked
appr. 25g butter
milk
1 cup grated chese
salt, pepper

 Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the onions and saute until softened. Add the celery, pepper and garlic. Cook until starts to soften.

 Add the mince and cook until brown. Break up any lumps with a wooden spatula.

 Add your veg and cook until soft.

 Sprinkle with flour, stir then add the stock and tomato puree. Simmer for about 30 mins on low heat.

 When done put the mixture in an oven-proof dish. Mash the potatoes in a bowl with the butter and enough to milk to make it nice and creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste a nd a small handful of grated cheese. Spread this on top of your mince mixture. Sprinkle grated cheese on top and into the oven! Best to pre-heat it to 200 C and cook your pie until the top is golden and mixture bubbles (appr. 30 mins).

Hmm, yummy! Serve with a green salad.

My little house :)

I wanted to try to make these for ages! They look really nice next to a house plant or hung up somewhere.

 I choose red patterned fabrics, but they would be cool with other colours as well.

 I couldn't find a nice spot to hang it up :( That's what happens when you are living ina cottage under construction...

 And here is what I saw from our house this morning:

 Gorgeous, isn't it?

Oriental pork stir fry

This recipe contains plenty of veg, some meat and is bursting with flavours.  A definite hit for the dinner table! My kids love it - except the bits of onion it, but hey, noone can like everything! :D And they still eat the rest of it. Especially the 'little trees'!

Ingredients:
400g pork chops
2-3 tbsp honey
1 lemon zest and juice
2 small red chillies
appr. 5 tbsp soy sauce
2-3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 head of broccoli, broken into florets
3 onions, thinlky sliced
1 pepper (any colour :) )
4-5 carrots, thinly slices
2 handfuls of green beans
a packet of mushrooms (appr. 250g)

 Deseed and chop the chillies.

 Cut the chops into thin strips and mix with the honey, chillies, crushed garlic, lemon juice and zest and soy sauce. Leave to marinade for 30 mins at least but best for overnight.

 Chop and wash your veg.

 Heat a little oil in the wok or a large heavy based frying pan and cook the pork, adding all of the marinade as well, until cooked through.

 Add the vegetables and stir.

 Cook until veggies start to get tender. Serve with boiled rice and extra soy sauce!

Sissy Bunny

Sissy Bunny is Kitty Bunny's little sister. She is really excited about going to a new home!

Would you like a cousin of hers going your way? ;)