I've had a craving for cheesecake lately, so I used the excuse of having some family over for dinner to make one. I like chilled cheesecakes because they're not as rich, so you can eat a second piece and because they don't have the stress of baking and potential cracks. I don't think I've ever actually made a baked cheesecake, all the rules have scared me off! This recipe is ...
Crab Balls with Asian Noodle Salad
It has been crazy hot in Melbourne! Too hot to sew, too hot to cook, which is why the blog has been a little quiet. We are on track to have 10 days in a row over 30°C. I must say right now I'm missing the air-conditioning from the old house, but the pool makes up for it. I've also been putting my heat pack in the freezer and resting on my forehead at night. It definitely helps ...
Cooking the Books – Upcoming Series
Just before we moved house, I got all organised and started to put this series together. It's something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I love cookbooks and I love to collect cookbooks. I like to flick through them and I feel like I'm being all creative just looking at the pretty pictures and reading the ingredients! I've been known to even take a cookbook for bedtime ...
Simplicity 3503 Pattern Review
As you might know from the blog's Facebook page, we have internet finally! I'm slowly getting back into the blogging habit, but it's taking longer than I thought...sorry! I made this dress a while ago to add to my maternity wardrobe. The pattern itself is not maternity, but the placement of the gathers and the use of knit fabric makes it comfy for my growing belly. I think ...
Chenille Blanket Beginnings
My craft area is almost ready, well ready enough to start using. I've decided that the first project I do should be a fun and special one and I've settled on a Chenille Quilt. It'll be for the new baby and I'm excited to be doing some 'nesting' sewing. I'm sure I don't have the patience for a real patchwork quilt, but this seems like a good intro to quilting. The idea of ...
A Work in Progress
We are all moved and pretty much unpacked, but things are still a work in progress here. The biggest thing at the moment is that we are still without internet! Does anyone remember life about 15 years ago when that wouldn't have mattered?! Now, I'm just going mad! I feel so out of touch with the world. I haven't been checking blogs or reading the news...I feel like I don't know ...
Coconut Cardamom Barfi
Hubby and I were watching an old episode of Food Safari and they cooked up a batch of these sweet little Indian treats. They looked so easy and delicious that I made them up the next week to take to a BBQ. All you need is a saucepan, which worked well for me as most of my kitchen was in boxes at the time. Coconut Cardamom Barfi makes about 40 200g desiccated coconut* 50g ...
The Stamps Bag
This was originally posted over on Emmaline Bags as a guest post while she was moving halfway across the world. We are now in the middle of moving, but only a few suburbs away. Right now I'm crazily unpacking boxes. I've always loved the British postage stamps. They're all the same, but so very different. I love the variations in colour! I still look at the bag and try and ...
Banana and Walnut Loaf
About 18 months ago, hubby had to go on a business trip to the US. With a very unsettled baby permanently attached to my hip, I decided I wasn't going to miss out on the fun AND be on my own with Roman, so we went too! While we were in Seattle, I got a bit obsessed with the Starbuck's Banana Bread. This recipe is meant to be the same, although I can't quite remember what the ...
Saucepan Handle Cozy
Here is a guest post I originally posted over on Craftstorming. I love my Cast Iron skillets. They cook food beautifully and look cute sitting in a little stack. The handles can get pretty hot though! I don't like using a tea towel to grab them because the tea towel is usually wet so I burn myself or I use too much tea towel to grab the handle and set the tea towel on fire!! ...
Cotton Sweater to Baby Wash Cloth
I had some pieces of an old cotton knit sweater lying around... and by pieces, I mean the back of the sweater and an arm. I have no idea what happened to the rest of it! Anyway, I thought they would make lovely baby wash cloths. The knit has gotten soft and absorbent after lots of washes...perfect for wash cloths. I had a scrap of flannelette laying about, so this was an ...
Lovely Liberty
I feel like I'm moving into a new phase with my clothing. Most of my clothes are really old and ready to throw out, so while I'm pregnant I'm taking the time to think about what I want to wear when I get back into regular clothes and sewing/shopping accordingly. I don't think I've bought clothes for at least 2 years...that's pretty bad! Like most crafters, it's rare that I ...
