Elephant Pin Cushion

Isn't this sweet! I had been researching some different pin cushion ideas and after a while I came across this Heather Bailey 'Ellie & Ollie' Elephant pincushion. I made one, as a present, before the one pictured, so this was my second attempt. I just love it!

Look what my man made!! - Stained Glass Shortbread

As much as I love to bake, I have a confession... My husband is much better at it than I am. Recently I had these stained glass window shortbread biscuits on my list to make for my colleagues, however, ran out of time.. As I was a little overwhelmed with the things that I had to do, my wonderful husband offered to make them for me. 

I found the recipe in the 2011 Christmas edition of Super Food Ideas and thought they were very christmassy. It is a basic shortbread recipe, which you cut any desired shape out of, and then place a boiled lolly in the centre. Once cooked, just sprinkle with sugar. I struggled to find boiled lollies which did not have a white swirl in them, so they turned out a little more opaque than I had pictured. 

Pleated Clutch Bags

Although I have been sewing for many years, I have never managed to master putting a zip in a bag, so I decided it was time that I taught myself. After watching a few blogs and looking at a few tutorials, I found this cute little clutch tutorial.

Pleated Pouch Tutorial - Skip to my Lou

The first was a little bag for my hand bag, to keep all of those left over bits & pieces that float around the bottom of my bag. The aqua floral and pink material is some which I had left over from a quilt that I made and I just love these colours, so I decided what better way to use them.

The next bag that I made was for my Secret Pal. I had wanted to make her something handmade, which was a little more sophisticated than the red felt dove. I had recently made a cushion for a friend and had a range of olive coloured materials left over and loved this darker one. After making the bag I placed a few  manicure bits and pieces in it. I hope she liked it.

Vanilla & Passionfruit Whoopies

Well, this is my first try of a recipe out of my new cookbook from my secret pal -
Vanilla & Passionfruit Whoopies...



Ingredients:
- 125g unsalted butter, just softened
- 165g caster sugar
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 300g plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder

- 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 150ml milk
- 1 quantity vanilla butter cream with fresh passionfruit pulp







1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Line 3 baking trays with baking paper.

2. Use an electric mixer to beat the butter and sugar in a medium bowl, until pale and creamy.

3. Sift the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda together. With the mixer on low speed, add flour mixture and milk alternately in two separate batches each. Beat on low speed for 2 minutes.

4. Spoon even, heaped tablespoons of mixture onto trays, leaving 5cm for spreading. Bake for 12 minutes, swapping trays around at 8 minutes.

5. When cooled, spread vanilla butter cream on one half and sandwich together

Recipe taken from 'Make Me Whoopies'

Christmas Dove Ornament

As I have mentioned before, we are holding a secret pal at my workplace, so I have been taking up the opportunity to make a few things to give my secret pal. Last week I made some 'Glace' Cherry Bites' and packaged them in a coffee cup. This week I wanted to make something a little Christmasy. This cute Christmas Dove Ornament is featured in this months issue of 'Better Homes & Gardens Magazine' and was very fun to make. I hope she likes it!

I got a present!

Well, 'secret pal' at our work place has begun. It is basically a lead up to 'Kris Kringle' 

where we give secret gifts to our workmates. 

My secret pal definitely knows me and gave me this gorgeous book all about whoopies.  

I can't wait to try some of the recipes. Thank you secret pal.

Date & Pistachio Slices

Well, its the first week back at school, and I wanted to make a treat for my teaching buddies. I had a packet of pistachios which I wanted to get out of my house, as they are very munchable.

Ingredients:
Filling
- 250g pitted dates, chopped
- 80g pistachio nuts, chopped
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp water

             Pastry
              - 225g plain flour, sifted
              - 25g golden caster sugar
              - 150g butter
              - 4-5 tbsp cold water to mix
              - Milk for glazing



1. Place the dates, lemon juice and water in a pan and bring to the boil, stirring. Remove from the heat.

2. Stir in the pistachio nuts and 1tbsp honey, cover and leave to cool.

3. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. For the pastry, place the flour, sugar and butter in a food processor and process until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs.

4. Mix in just enough cold water to bind to a soft, not sticky dough.

5. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to two 30 x20cm rectangles. Place one on a baking sheet.

6. Spread the date & nut mixture to within 1cm of the edge. Top with the remaining pastry.

7. Press to seal, trim the edges and mark into 12 slices. Glaze with milk.

8. Bake for 20 - 25min, until golden (in my oven it took around 30-35min). Brush with remaining honey and cool on a wire rack. I then sprinkled it with some sugar.

7. Cut into slices and serve.


Recipe taken from 'Frame-to-Frame Baking' by Love Food