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9 Handmade Christmas gift ideas + Free Printable Gift tag

December 10, 2012 by

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Today along with nine other awesome bloggers I am sharing a handmade Christmas gift idea, My contribution is #5 Homemade basil and some free printable homemade gift tags to add to your gifts, scroll down to check it out in full.

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I love that pesto is so versatile you will find yourself putting it on everything. Tonight I had it with pasta tomorrow morning with eggs and on pizza for dinner. Your family and friends will thank you for it. It lasts about three weeks in the fridge.

 

 

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If you would like some gift tags to finish off your gift then click here for some I prepared earlier.  FREE printable homemade christmas gift tags.

Julia x

 

 

 

 

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On The Kitchen Table – We Do Art!

October 12, 2012 by

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Today in Sydney the weather was miserable. It rained the wind blew and the sun did not shine. But that didn’t stop us from having our own crafty fun.

We drew inspiration from The Forest by Marc Martin.The story starts in a lush green forest that is then cut down to make way for skyscrapers. The story is aimed 5+. But the perfectly simple watercolour illustrations had me so I had to get it for Maksi.

Turns out it was just perfect for him.

Maksi is at the stage where he is a cute little sponge. He parrots everything we say and is developing a sharp memory. We talked about the colour green, looked at green lego and paint. Looked at the trees and pointed to the trees in our backyard. Talked about the city and all of it’s colours. Looked at the way the illustrations were made and then experimented with our own watercolours.

Once daddy came home, Maksi was able to tell him about the Forest, it’s green trees, colourful city and point to the tree he painted.

Talking babies are the best.

Filed under: Create, I heart Kids Art, It's a Kuku Life Tagged with
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In The Garden – How To Make a Terrarium

October 10, 2012 by

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Hi There,
 
This morning I woke up early so I could do some design work before my babies woke. I don’t usually do this but the forecast promised beautiful weather and I didn’t want to miss it.
 
Once I had the kids up, dressed and fed we headed to the beach for a quick play in the sand and pre nap snacks.
Once home I popped both boys into bed checked and replied to emails did a little more design work.
 
Then headed out to the garden.
 
I have been meaning to make a terrarium for a while now and today was finally the day.
 
You can make a terrarium in almost anything. I chose a little vase I bought from the cutest little home wares and cute kiddy things shop in Cronulla called Char Bella.
 
What you need.
Container, pebbles, potting mix, plant.
 
First line the bottom of the container with a small amount of pebbles. This allows for good drainage. Then add a good organic potting mix before placing your plant inside the container.
Finally top with more pebbles, ornaments or anything you like and volia you have a cute little Terrarium.
This will not last forever and if you want the plant to survive you will eventually 
need to re pot it.
Usually 4-6 weeks is a good time frame.

x

 

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In the Kitchen – Rhubarb Danishes

October 5, 2012 by

 

Hubby and I spend most of our weekends with a coffee in our hands watching our big boy playing in a park somewhere In Sydney.

So last weekend I decided to make some yummy treats to go with those coffees.

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These are so tasty, pretty and delectable you must try them.

 

Here is what you need to make these bad boys

roasted rhubarb (2kg rhubarb trimmed, rinsed and cut into 3cm pieces)

crème pâtissiére

850g sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

For the dough I used this croissant dough recipe but have also made these danishes with store bought butter puff pasty

which is very tasty and a super quick alternative.

This is how you put it all together

Sprinkle the rhubarb with the sugar and bake until soft.

Cut the dough into squares. place on lined trays and refrigerate for 10minutes.

Remove the squares from the refrigerator and working with one square at a time fold each corner to meet the centre pressing down firmly.

Place 1 1/2 tbsp of the crème pâtissiére into the centre of each folded square and top with 4 pieces of rhubarb.

brush the top of each one with egg was and place in the oven.

following the baking instructions for the croissant dough or store bought pastry.

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& voila They were a hit
Julia

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How To Make The Tastiest Triple Choc Bundt Cake Ever!

August 27, 2012 by

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Hello Friends,

Two weeks ago I made the tastiest birthday cake I have ever eaten.

35 others also ate this cake and when polled 9/10 said it was also the best they have ever had.

So it must be good right?

I wasn’t going to share the recipe here as it is just too good but when I heard about The Big Cake Bake, I thought it would be ok to divulge my recipe for a good cause :)

So here it is,

The Tastiest Tripe Choc Bundt Cake Ever

 

Ingredients

  • Cake

    • 1 cup  unsalted butter, melted
    • 1 1/2 cups sugar
    • 4 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
    • 1/2 cup chopped semisweet chocolate
    • 1 cup buttermilk
    • icing sugar (for dusting)

  • Chocolate Sauce

    • 1 cup finely chopped unsweetened chocolate
    • 1/2 cup sugar
    • 1/3 cup unsalted butter
    • 2/3 cup heavy cream

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees. Grease a 12-cup Bundt pan.
  2. To make the cake, in a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Toss in the chopped chocolate.
  4. Into the butter mixture, alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk.
  5. Spoon the batter evenly into the Bundt pan and smooth the top of the batter. Bake for about 55 to 60 minutes, or until a cake tester or a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan briefly. Turn out onto a cake plate to cool completely.
  6. For the Chocolate Sauce, place a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water and add ingredients and stir to melt and combine.

To Serve

Dust cake with icing sugar. Cut a generous slice and top with Chocolate sauce and ice cream.

 

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If one yummy cake recipe isn’t enough and I’m sure it’s not.

Germaine over at Chibi Run is sharing the recipe for this Knock Your Socks Off Lemon Drizzle Cake!

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& Tamsyn over at Max and Me is sharing this Amazing Chocolate & Raspberry Pavlova Decadence

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for the cause.

Don’t forget to check out our free printable Father’s day card/craft here.

Julia x

 

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Tiny Food For Tiny People – Mini Bagel Sliders

July 27, 2012 by

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I know I know this is the second donut shaped treat I have brought you this week, but hold off on the Weight Watchers membership this one is healthy.

Last night we had homemade pizza for dinner (because I am a domestic goddess like that) and today I have some left over dough which I am planning on using to delight hubby with flat bread tonight.

But before that I decided to use some of it in my donut maker, genius right! (substitute donut tin or simply roll into donut shapes) an volia you have adorable little, I am calling them bagel sliders.

I used this pizza dough recipe from MasterChef.

These are perfect for the little ones or a light entrées for your guests.

You can put absolutely anything in them and they are just so cute.

Maksi, Leo and I and heading out for a playdate in the park today and I have made this for Maksi’s  lunch, I am thinking I will make a whole batch of these over the weekend for the week ahead.

 

Have a Lovely Weekend,

 

Julia xx

 

 

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Old Fashioned Buttermilk donuts (baked not fried) + Free Printable Food Flags

July 23, 2012 by

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I have recently become a little obsessed with donuts there are so many different flavours and cooking methods and I think that mini donuts  are just look so darn cute. I really want to make some donuts for Maksi’s birthday so I have been on a mission looking for the perfect donut recipe and after several trials I have found one.

This recipe makes donuts that are light and fluffy, but the best bit is they are baked not fried but every bit as delicious as their deep fried counterparts.

Ingredients:

1 ¼  cups all purpose flour

1 cup self-raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

½ teaspoon salt

1 large egg

½ sugar

½ cup buttermilk

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Icing sugar for dusting

 

Method:

In a large bowl, mix together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and salt. In another large bowl, using an electric mixer beat the egg and sugar until pale in colour. Add buttermilk melted butter and vanilla and beat until well blended. Add the flour mixture and beat until it comes together into a soft dough. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes.

 

Baking :

Now there are several ways to bake these, I am using a donut maker, other wise you can use a donut tin, muffin tin or simply roll the dough into donut shapes and bake in the oven.

If baking in the oven set oven temperature to 160 degrees cooking time approx. 12minutes.

Once cooked dip the top of the donut into melted butter and then using a fine mesh sieve sprinkle icing sugar and serve.

Top with our fun food flags you can download them here

Makes about 12 donuts.

Julia xx

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My Farmers Market Haul

July 18, 2012 by

Most wenedays I bundle up the babies and head to the Entertainment Quarter in Sydney for their farmers market. I am not much of a meat person so I get very excited about fresh produce.

Cutting into a fresh carrot or zucchini from a farmers market is whole new experience they are nothing like their supermarket cousins.

Here is my haul from this week

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And here are some of the things I will be trying over the next few days

Caprese Tart  Zuccini Chips Roasted Vegetable Strudel, Pumkin donuts, Sweet Potato Soup

I have made the Caprese Tart and the donuts before and both were super delicious.

 

Julia xx

 

 

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Paper Cake Toppers

June 8, 2012 by

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I love how easy it is to Jazz up a simple cake with some paper cake toppers. When ordering invitations from us we can design some co-ordinating toppers for your special event.

Julia x

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Bundt Birthday Cake

June 6, 2012 by

Maksi is turning two in August and i am starting to think about what I am going to do for his party. I love the idea of making his cake every year, and would like something simple and beautiful. When I spotted this Bundt Cake on the Designsponge.com I thought it would be absolutely perfect with some paper pretties on top.

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…and who knew they came in so many shapes check them out at Williams-Sonoma

Julia xx

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