small kitchen tales

Thank you for leaving me such sweet birthday wishes and for making me smile and reconfirm what a big heart our blog community has. We spent the week away in a magical place full of wonderful animals, nature, beaches and many giggles along the way Just the thing needed to get the batteries re energised for the up coming next few weeks of workshops and markets I was lucky enough to win a fabulous giveaway at one of the most sweetest places in the blogosphere,  Bluebird Notes and this time I thought of me first and got myself something to make me smile and wear close to my heart from the amazing The Rusted Chain . So it has been a wonderful break and now back to reality and the washing...why does reality always include washing??! I thank you for the virtual hugs and beautiful, beautiful sweet words. Many hugs to you and I look forward to popping by to read your news. ✗ ♥

  When I was younger birthdays were all about presents, going out, having a few drinks and definitely all about m e . Today it's not about all that or even about me, it's more about what I wake up to every morning and those faces that look up at me and make my heart melt when they smile. I can't say it has been a great year for me mentally but I am getting by and remembering that losing a person in my life doesn't mean I can't enjoy life and smile. Today I sit here and think about all the good in my life, I celebrate another year another few smile lines and the precious things that make my life what it is today. Thank you for listening and visiting even when things haven't been full of sprinkles.   You made the hurt and the fuzziness seem better with your sweet words. Today my heart is full of sprinkles, colour and love. See you in a few days as I enjoy some of those precious smiles and cuddles. Many hugs ♥ ✗ ♥

The cookie baking bug has really got me and these have been on my mental to try list for a while. My mum used to make them for us when we were younger and she'd sandwich them together with jam and dip the tops in chocolate. This is the first attempt at them and I couldn't believe how easy they were to make. Viennese fingers makes about 20 print me  ingredients 200g butter, softened 80g icing sugar 4 egg yolks 3 teaspoons vanilla 250g plain flour 200g chocolate  method preheat oven to 180C/160C fan, line two baking trays with paper beat butter and icing sugar together until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes add yolks one at a time and beat until well combined, add vanilla and continue mixing sift in flour and continue beating just until combined spoon mixture into a piping bag with a large start tip nozzle and pipe about 6cm lengths onto trays bake for about 10-12 minutes until lightly golden allow to cool then transfer to wire racks place chocolate into a ...

I must admit that this Christmas spirit has yet to hit me but the baking has. I am one of those people who like to give edible gifts to young and old and hope that it brings a smile to their faces.   It's all about handmade and giving someone something you created is much more valuable for me than popping into a shop and grabbing something off the shelf. I remember many years ago whilst studying I had given a friend a card I had made and another "friend" asked why I didn't have time to just buy one.   It has been about 11 years and I still remember that like it was yesterday.   The reason I thought of this again was because we were going to wrap a birthday present for one of Amelie's friends and I asked her to grab a painting of hers so we can wrap the present up in, she then asked me if we had "real" wrapping paper because everyone else uses real wrapping paper so why don't we.... a part of me was a little sad that she thought real wrapping pap...

Getting my groove back Playing in the park   (won't tell you about falling off the slide head first) Hanging out with special friends Finding lovely giveaway gifts on my doorstep Finally getting excited about Christmas baking and decorating with the help of sweet Canadian gifts from sweet friends Some more grateful lists here . Happy grateful weekend to you ♥ ✗ ♥

It feels like I haven't been around for such a long time and I really have missed you! There has been alot going on in the m.e family but I am still camera challenged so for the first time in many years I feel unable to express myself.   Unable to document moments in our family's life that are firsts and some that just need to be filed away and remembered. kinder friends and their Diwali henna tattoos The kids went on their first ever camel ride the other day at the Whittlesea show and I couldn't photograph it, I baked a cake and wanted to share it with you but I couldn't. So while I await for my cameras return I have been using Amelie's camera and funnily enough...I have absolutely no idea how the functions work so things may still be a little quiet around here. As for today, I tried so hard to control the tears as another first came around, Amelie's prep orientation. After a little bit of hesitant start she was happy and excited and I even got a d...

I feel a bit lost, there is so much I want to show you but I can't.   My camera is still at the shop and I feel a little naked without it. For now I'll share this recipe with you, luckily there was a photo of it on my hard drive.   You'll need a food processor for this as it uses whole oranges and they need to be whizzed up. Flourless Orange and Almond Cake (gluten free) print me conversions ingredients 2 oranges 250g caster sugar 6 eggs 250g almond meal 1 tsp baking powder method wash oranges and place whole in a saucepan with water and slowly simmer for about 2 hours or until soft, drain an set aside to cool slightly preheat oven to 180C/160C fan grease and line the base of a 20cm spring form tin with paper separate eggs and place yolks and sugar in a bowl and whisk until pale and fluffy meanwhile process oranges in food processor until smooth add egg whites to yolk mixture and continue whisking until incorporated add processed oranges and mix ad...

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