Christmas Baking - The Great Shortbread recipe hunt

Shortbread. You either love it or don't - there is no middle ground. My Nan used to make shortbread in little rounds with half an almond on top. This was always a hit with me, and I loved the buttery texture. Some shortbread is too crumbly, some is too hard, a lot is just gluggy. Mum's friend J has The Best shortbread I have had since Nan's. Consistently good, it's the kind of thing that you can't say no to, even when you are full to the brim and couldn't possibly fit another thing in.... except J's shortbread. Yummm.

So for the first time, I am determined to make my own. Yes, me of the instant gratification is Planning Ahead!

However, it is not so easy. Which recipe do I use? J is away and uncontactable, so her prized recipe eludes me. Rice Flour - you need that don't you? Recipe on the box - would this be a good start? Then I remember the 4 ingredients book, and also that Margaret Fulton was from Scottish heritage, so hers will be a winner won't it? How can recipes vary so much for a little biscuit? All sources however tell me that the oven is important. My old, unreliable, stand-alone burns things on the bottom when it intermittently fires out heat, do I need to outsource the actual baking?!? I am still not giving up, despite the supermarket shelves groaning under the weight of commercial shortbreads. I am determined. A woman on a mission. So where do you go when Google is unsatisfactory? The Blogworld!

So I ask YOU - do you have a recipe that produces light, crisp, buttery goodness that I could try please? In the vein of Julie and Julia I am tempted to blindly turn to Margaret Fulton, forsaking all others, but am open to suggestions.

In the meantime, I will make the mince pie pastry and await any suggestions!

With thanks - J

Weather or not...

Hot one day, cool and grey the next. The summer doona had a blanket on it last night, wheat bags and the fan are in the same room, and I don't know whether to make soup or salad. With November temperatures 10 degrees C above the monthly average, I had thought that my knitting would be put aside for a while. NO. Another tea cosy in this weather! This time it's the green and pink one in the top left corner, but I am making it cherry red and cream. The big satin bow for it may be black unless I can find just the right shade of red. Instant gratification knitting!

Strawberry Fields Forever...

A home-grown snack was collected and brought in for eating a few minutes ago. Miss 3 loves having her own strawberry plants, but there just aren't enough of them to keep her satisfied for long. They are so sweet and juicy though - yum!

Beautiful Buttons

I have been collecting Donna Hay magazine since its inception. The images, the styling, and the bright colours (especially that 'Donna Hay Blue') are devoured by Mr BB and I regularly. It is because of her recipes that he loves making ice creams and gelato so much.

It was thus with great delight that I received this parcel from Mum recently. They're edible cake decorations! Too cute to use? Fabulosity that I love seeing every day in my kitchen, and remineders of the beauty of the button.

J

Tea cosy unveiled

It's been a while. Some time back I finished a tea cosy for a friend whose tastes are hard to fulfil when it comes to standard knitting patterns. After wondering if I had to design a teacosy myself, good old Ravelry came to the rescue and I spent a weekend guessing Hollie's teapot dimensions.



She likes it, and Master 7 has ordered one for Hallow'een next year! A bit of fun. Pattern is from here for the skull and crossbones and here for the shaping, blended together. I added a cuff just for something extra, although it hardly needs embellishment!

J

I see red, I see red,I see red...

I love this, so decided to keep it for myself. Full of vintage only buttons, many of which are glass. The photo hardly does it justice, but given the screen on the camera appears to have died (half the screen is dead anyway), it may be time for a new camera. Must write to santa...

Button necklace for a dear friend

It's been a while since I made any button necklaces. This is mainly due to the fact that I am low on truly vintage buttons. I don't tend to like the modern plastic button necklaces - I am picky. When I first got into making vintage button and buckle brooches, 5 or 6 years ago, I didn't have such trouble locating buttons.

I save my vintage ones now for special individual pieces, and commissioned items. The cost of the buttons and the time taken to locate enough of the right colour can be great.

A dear friend of Mr BB and I has just recently turned 40. She is an amazing woman who lives in the Barossa Valley in South Australia. Conjure up romantic images of vineyards, old buildings, produce markets, and that's pretty accurate! After asking what colours she wears most often, I settled on a subtle pink creation for her. 1930s, 40s and 50s buttons star in this as I know she loves this period. In particular the kitsch button of the grapes... Also a hit with this one, a magnetic clasp. Much easier to use and easier on the wire.


Happy Birthday dear Em - so glad to hear you have been able to wear it out in public!

Blogtoberfest Dropout....

Not sure where time goes... I have been absent from computer world for a couple of weeks. Mr BB has been overseas, Miss 3 has been unwell, visitors have been staying, unpacking house has been continuing. It all just got too much! When I'm not making anything, I feel like there's nothing to blog about, so I don't.


After some tea, coffee, and a long lie down however, ready to relaunch.




Made 2 button necklaces which should be finished today and feel re-energised and renewed. Buttons are so therapeutic!

xx

Day 13 Blogtoberfest - Images of Floriade 2009

Photos by Master 7 at this year's Floriade last week. He loves composing photos!

J

Day 12 Blogtoberfest

I have just had a relaxing weekend away with 5 wonderful friends, eating, sleeping, crafting, walking, drinking, eating, relaxing, knitting, chatting, eating, talking, laughing, and reminiscing. I always find that being with old friends is like a favourite outfit, a warm hug; the familiarity and warmth just what I needed.

I am refreshed and ready for finishing my current knitting project so I can show you. It's one of my new favourite items - a crazy teacosy! Do you have a tea cosy? Do you have one, or several? I'm thinking there may be a tea cosy giveaway if I can get cracking... will keep you informed.

Image from here

J

x

Days 9, 10 and 11

Day 8

Vintage suitcase side table, photo by me.

The Black Dog (see yesterday), is ever-present but in its kennel for now.

Cheering me up are these lovely collages by Tinniegirl. They have a lovely personality, and I catch them laughing occasionally or close up together having a little gossip. Truly special and lovely, thanks Cathy.

Day 7 - A Black Dog

Blogtoberfest day 6

I'm always conscious that my kids spend a bit of time staring at the box on the school hols. Luckily I am happy for them to spend all day in front of this box:


This allows me time to practice crochet and create silly nonsense like this! Piggy for fun, quilted checker/chess boards for school fair.



Kids didn't get to the peggies yesterday, they were too busy with the chicks. Plenty of time still left in the hols for crafty pursuits. They are loving baking at the moment, but the damn oven in the new house is CRAP so results vary.

xx

Blogtoberfest Day 5

Image from here

It's almost lunchtime, and we are all still in pyjamas. Do you ever have pyjama days?

They are needed here every so often on school holidays.

On the agenda for this "crafternoon" (as coined by Master 7), will be some peg people and biscuit making.

Check out Ali's peg people here, and choose some new biscuit cutters here! I am coveting the babushka doll cutters and the electric guitar!
Enjoy your day - hug your kids and smile at a stranger. xx

Peg doll image from here

Blogtoberfest Day 4

Yes, it's Day Four, and I already missed a day! HOW? I forgot. Plain and simple.

Yesterday we had a tourist-in-your-hometown day, inspired by this post.

We visited the National Archives and saw the Waterhouse exhibition. Brilliant.

Matilda Michell - winner of the 2009 Waterhouse with her painting entitled Fish.

Canberra. Walter Burley Griffin, National Archives of Australia

Following that was a trip to Floriade where Master 7 and I admired our City from a Ferris Wheel. It was his first time on the Ferris Wheel - and he loved it!

Finally last night I went to see The Young Victoria with a girlfriend. Great film, lovely sets and scenery and stunning costumes. highly recommended. Two words for you: Rupert Friend.


Today was a trip to Hall Market for coffee and olive oil supplies and then to Woden Farmers' Market for two new additions to the family:

Strawberry and Mango - aren't they cute?!

Still raining - loving it.

xx

Blogtoberfest Day 2

Watercolours are mesmerising. The magic and delicate nature of them enchants me. Too much water and the paper is soggy and ruined. Not enough water and they are rough and 'scratchy'. Certainly a skill I want to develop. Maybe some of my Dads' talents have rubbed off on me? We can only hope!

Raining this afternoon. Three kids have built a 'camp' in the rumpus room, and I am dreaming of what I might be able to paint.

She started it with her beautiful drawings... who's inspired you lately?

xx

Blogtoberfest 2009

White Rabbits to all - day one of October and of course to the blog-fest hosted by Cathy the wonderful Miss Tinnie and her partner in give-away goodies, Curlypops.

Blogtoberfest is a rather interesting commitment and challenge, to post daily for the entire month. It may SOUND easy, but really, how does one maintain interesting posts?! For me, having had my camera missing for some time, and my new mobile not emailing images, things were looking a little drab.

However the camera has been located, so lots of craft to show, new garden images from new house, some recipes and op-shop finds, and a little rant or two no doubt.

Lots of events I hope to get to over the next week at National Gallery, National Archives, Botanic Gardens, Museum, as well as Floriade and discovering the new neighbourhood, should all get a mention, so some great eye-candy for the non-Territorians.

Another great thing about Blogtoberfest is going on a clickety-trip and discovering new blogs and new voices. That's the main thing for me, thinking outside the square that is my bloglines. It's a huge job and Cathy does an incredible job. Enjoy!

xx

Mr BB saved the day!

In a brief conversation with Mr BB this evening, I admitted that I did not RTFM.

Master 7, quick as a flash, called out: "What's RTFM?"

Mr BB, for whom thinking on his feet is a job requirement, calmly said it was a German acronym for 'read the instructions'.

Phew!

Must. Watch. What. I. Say......

On the needles...

Image from here

At the moment I am taking a few minutes break from the latest knitting adventure. The Baby Shrug by Debbie Bliss in Simply Baby.

I am not used to circular needles at all, and have found them clumsy (or I am clumsy using them!) but this has been a good knit, easy to navigate and turning out well. Instead of the suggested Cashmerino, I am using a Bamboo in a yummy apple green. Two reasons for this: I am using what I have, and also the baby for whom I am knitting is due in January in Canberra. Hot people. Very hot.

I am determined to complete this in the next day or so. I am knitting the 3-6 month version, which is tiny, but hopefully will be cute enough for a newborn or premmie.

I am trying to finish what I have started, however am as yet unable to locate my current knitting in the unpacking! Dreadful!

I am also interested to know if there are knitters out there who are interested in helping finish projects that have stalled. Suitable fees can be negotiated for an hourly rate - all needles and yarns have already been collected. It's such a shame to think of things left unfinished purely as I am a painfully SLOW knitter!

Red and yellow and pink and green...

Image from here

Rainbows are very popular here with Master 7 and Miss 3. They have however been debating the colour recently.

Master 7 has always liked his pencils etc to be lined up in rainbow order. For some time he believed that the order was like a list of favourite colours. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Everything from cars and pencils to bottletops and socks had to be placed in this order.

Miss 3 is less precise, and more of a 'stirrer'. She prefers: 'red and yellow and pink and green, purple and orange and blue... you can sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow too...'

For anyone who is familiar with Asperger's Syndrome, you will know that this does not auger well for happy family discusssions!

In other news, today is the last day of term 3, so hopefully lots of photos to come, as we unpack the boxes and create our new home!

xx

A week off

I am imposing on myself a week without my computer. It's high time I rested and readied for the move. I will still try and read bloglines, but will limit myself to 10 minutes a day. I have stopped with the Twitter thing, and with the Facebook thing, so apart from 10 mins a day to check emails and some daily blog-reads, she will be retired. I am hoping that in this time I can find the camera, so I can show you the crafting that has been going on.

With the time saved, I am hoping to walk, visit Floriade, spend some time with Mr BB, play footy with Master 7, ride the bike, go to the National Film and Sound Archive, Floriade, and the new McCubbin exhibition. Oh, and of course move house!!! Canberra really has a lot to offer, when was the last time you visited?

Enjoy your week.

xx

Good Golly, it's Cauli!

I am often sceptical when a spouse of a celebrity releases a book. I base this on nothing other than my own Tall Poppy affliction, which is hard to explain. From the sheltered world of me, whereby more often than not a week goes by and I have not seen neither tv news nor newspaper, why would I have expected to have heard of these spouses?! It was therefore with great tongue-in-cheek-edness that I approached this book, by none other than Jessica Seinfeld.


Jessica Seinfeld and Jerry have three kids, and she swears by presenting dip and vege sticks when the kids are hungry, and by increasing vegie consumption by the clever use of purees.

We have added spinach to chocolate brownies, avocado to chocolate icing, chickpeas to choc-chip biscuits, and cauliflower to scrambled eggs and to macaroni cheese.


As such, the BB family, of whom I have always been the sole ingestor of cauliflower, manages to eat a half to a whole head of cauli a week. Undetected. Yep! Clever clogs here stirs it through mashed potato, carbonara sauce, chicken pie, and even the icing of a carrot cake!!! Thanks to Mrs Seinfeld, I am becoming a little too adventurous. It tastes utterly crap as carrot cake icing, even with cream cheese and icing sugar mixed through. Some things just weren't meant to be....

Purple cauli image from here.

The lovely snowy vege is a master in fighting off infection. It is low in fat, high in dietary fibre, folate, water and vitamin C, possessing a very high nutritional density. As a member of the brassica family, cauliflower shares with broccoli and cabbage several beneficial phytochemicals including sulforaphane, an anti-cancer compound released when cauliflower is chopped or chewed (or hopefully pureed). In addition, the compound indole-3-carbinal, which appears to work as an anti-oestrogen, appears to slow or prevent the growth of tumors of the breast and prostate. Cauliflower also contains other ingredients besides sulfurophane, substances which may improve the liver's ability to detoxify carcinogenic substances. A high intake of cauliflower has been found to reduce the risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

Romanesco cauli image from here.

It's good stuff people. Eat more of it! Recipes here, here, and especially here for something a little different to cauliflower-cheese.

Brilliant cauli sheep image from here.

In other news, I have STILL lost my camera, and the new mobile refuses to email pics to my computer, so the current craft will have to wait. Apologies!

xx

Counting down to the move

Master 7 tells me (loudly and early) this morning: "Six sleeps until the new house!"

What a slap in the reality-sphere for me! Despite having packed a heap of boxes, there is still so much to do. I am trying not to panic. I'm getting too old for this moving malarchy...

Me aged 4 with my Irish setter 'Toby' and my dear Grandad, in the garden of my childhood home. Circa 1978.

Somewhere amongst the boxes I managed to retrieve my knitting box, so that in moments of stress I can cast on or crochet just for the pleasure of it, not making anything. Amazing how relaxing it is, and healthier than mindless eating!

On the back of an old Coles receipt, a recipe for cheese scones written by my Nan - I love these bits of ephemera from the past.

The sewing machine is still not packed, I think it and the knitting box will now be packed absolutely last, as they are sanity-savers as we all know.

Random image of Miss 3 doing the dishes - she loves helping with chores -

This weekend in Canberra is a wonderful example of the joys of the Capital. Floriade opened yesterday, and continues until Sunday 11 October. The Handmade Markets were yesterday. Despite not having the camera (no idea where it is) I loved seeing Michelle, Jen, 'Nina', Redmag, and so many others, including the talented mother/daughters team of Eliza Clare. Lots of images at their sites and at the Handmade Homepage.

Off the swimming now for the little people then on with the day. Hope you have time for a hot cuppa and a moment in the sun.

xx

Clippety-Clips

The BB kids go to a small, community school here in Canberra. We have our annual Spring Fair looming, and I have been making things for the craft stall.

I am working on some fabric board games, namely checkers and chess, as well as some knight's tabbards for dress-ups. These are fiddly and taking f o r e v e r... however the hair clips I have been inspired to make have been whipped up lickety split.


I have attached them all to cards to make them easier to display and am quite happy with them, especially as I have never done these sorts of things before. I hope that the glue I chose holds though - nothing worse than crappy adhesive.


These may very well become presents or party-craft for next year. They will definitely make the booklet though as they are very effective.


The packing is going slowly as well, but with 10 days to go until we move, I should be further ahead....

Crafting is keeping me sane in the meantime though!

xx

Gingerbread Men and Women Unite

Thanks for your comments on the jam drops. Did you make them? Super-easy aren't they! I'm a fan of strawberry jam for cooking and raspberry jam for toast. Yum!

Liesl has been looking for a Gingerman recipe - here is the link to our best rendition from the BB House, in the hope that it sparks some creative cooking in your neck of the woods.


Mum decorates Gingermen every week for the grandchildren, in footy colours. Superb effort really! One interesting fact though, is that icing in tubes readily available from the supermarket, do not appear to come in basic white in a form that sets, rather than a gel form. Do you have a quick tip for those of us time-pressured and needing a ready-made pantry staple? Mum is using her own piping bag, but I'm a fan of the tubes, as they save mess and time (and icing!)

Hmmm, this may be leading to a Week Of... Biscuits! Want to join in? Leave me a comment - we'll see how we go for next week!

xx

xx

Jam Drops

I can't get these out of my head. Jam drops. Delicious.

Only five ingredients - don't over-cook them, they aren't overly forgiving.

2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups SR flour
125g butter
jam

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time and beat in. Add flour and mix to a stiff dough.

Break dough into small pieces, press hole in centre with finger, or a cork, fill with jam.

Bake 15 mins or until golden at 180 degrees celcius.

Don't eat too many at once.....

When I find my camera, I can show you the pretty hair clips and elastics I have been making for the school fair!

XX

Cravin' a haven....

Have you ever been on a retreat? I visited an Ashram some years ago with Mum. It was so peaceful, but challenging too. I also remember it was REALLY cold!

How about a craft retreat?

The blogosphere often refers to Sewjourn, a crafty haven which aims "for Sewjourn to be a place to relax, create and enjoy for Quilter’s Retreats, Scrapbooking Weekends, Book Clubs, Craft Getaways, Girl’s Weekends or Women’s Retreats."

This is something I dream of! I'd love to be able to book in a quarterly or annual craft retreat, with the aim of finishing UFOs (as you know, I have plenty of them!), and gather with girlfriends for this purpose.

Luckily for all of us, there is a little giveaway at the moment on the Sewjourn blog! As much as I want to share this with all and sundry, it also boosts my chances of being successful if I mention Sewjourn here!! He he - advertising - priceless!!

Just imagine ten of you, sitting and knitting, or crafting and laugh(t)ing, whining and dining, all weekend. Nothing else to do but craft, create, inspire, encourage, support, enthuse, and eat chocolate. Oops, how did that get in there?!

Back to the world of dreams.....

What's the time?!?

Most mornings, this is the first thing out of my mouth. Without my glasses, I have no idea. There is a digital clock in my room, and Master 7 confidently tells me it's: "7 minutes past 14", or similar.

I just had to share that Miss 3 came in the other morning with a declaration that it was: "half-past, dot-dot 41 dot com dot au"

It certainly made me sit up and smile - gotta love kids!

xx

Handmade birthday presents for kids

I am putting together a booklet for my craft group on handmade birthday presents for children. These are generally projects adults will make for kids, but may include some ideas for kids to make for their friends and siblings.

In the past, I have made various presents, and have decided to collate some simple projects that anyone can do. I am not claiming any of these as my original ideas, and credits will be attributed. What are your craft ideas for kids' presents? I have a couple more in my head, not yet made, which I hope will make it into this booklet. I may have bitten off more than I can chew....

apron

pinny

pillowcase dress

knitted back pack

pram quilt

Air guitar by redmag!

Poncho

Dress-ups stand

Crayon melts

Apron

bibs

bunting

hair accessories

craft rolls

library bags

skirts

cushions

tops

booties

knitted food

Felt food

Mugs painted by kids


And examples of beautiful gifts by this amazing crafter, who's permission is not yet sought - E we need to talk!

Journals
Skirts
Car tidy
Puppets
Fabric Boxes
Lacing cards
Texta rolls
Car neck cushions
Doll's clothes
Board games
Books we have written and illustrated

What else have I forgotten??!