A birthday gallery.

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Lemon butter fairy cakes and Lest we forget.

Butter making. It is easier to drain the buttermilk off when it is fine lumps. I use a gnocchi paddle which is similar to a butter hand I think. One day I will make gnocchi with it.

Making lemon butter.

Pi

 These three love eating pickles and polished off this jar of gherkins between them.

Lemon butter and cream filled fairy cakes.

ANZAC day cake made by my sister Mandy. Before cutting the cake we had a big vintage war song sing-a-long. DH lost his uncle and great uncle in the second and first world wars, both named Edwin. 

Dough-dee-Oh-dough!

Making, baking, all the time! That's what it seems like and it all tastes good. I can't believe Easter is just a week ago it seems like ages ago. In our family we like to call it YEaster. Good Friday  brought us Hot Cross Buns. My kids begged me for weeks beforehand to make some but I refused to do so until the traditional day. Hot cross buns had been in the shops since Christmas but for me, I will only eat them on Good Friday and then only the buns I have made myself  (or my Mums or sisters, my sister also made chocolate ginger Hot cross Buns and a Danish marzipan wreath which was delicioso!). I'll eat a spicy fruit bun any time of year, but for me buns with crosses are significant and are eaten to remember the day Jesus Christ was crucified. Dove rolls became a tradition for me many years ago. I make these Easter Saturday.

I had lost the original recipe so had to improvise and now use a Sweet bread dough recipe from a Margaret Fulton recipe book, with the addition of finely grated lemon zest that I remembered from the original recipe. One thing to remember is that because of the extra butter and egg in the dough, it will be slower to rise so be patient, but the rolls should be light and moist and fragrant.

Sweet bread Dough (I usually double the recipe for a crowd)
From this basic dough you can make a lovely variety of sweet festive breads - add fruits, spices and icings as you wish.
4 cups flour
large pinch of salt
3/4-1 cup milk
125g (4oz) butter
30g (1oz) fresh yeast (I just use dried yeast)
1/2 cup caster sugar (I put regular sugar in the blender a few bursts)
2 eggs, beaten
finely grated zest of 2 lemons

Sift the flour with the salt into a large bowl. Heat 3/4 cup milk to lukewarm, then add the butter and allow to melt. add the milk and butter mixture to the yeast, stirring until dissolved. Mix in the sugar (and zest) and eggs.
Make a well in the flour, pour in the milk and yest mixture and mix until smooth and elastic, adding more milk if necessary to make a soft dough. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning it over in the bowl so that it is lightly greased all over. Cover with a damp cloth and leave to rise in a warm place for 45 to 50 minutes or until doubled in bulk. Knock down the dough, pull sides to centre, turn it over then cover and allow to rise again for 30 minutes or until doubled in bulk. Knock down the dough, pull sides to centre, turn it over, then cover and allow to rise again for 30 minutes before shaping and proving.
Makes 1 loaf, 6-8 large or 12 medium buns.

To make the doves, take a piece of dough and roll between the hands to make a sausage about 9" long and tie it in a knot. make sure there is enough poking up at the top for a head and a longer piece hanging out the bottom to make the tail. With the palm of your hand, squish the tail into a flat circular shape and use a knife to cut the tail feathers which can be fanned out if you wish. Pinch the head to make a beak. Push 2 cloves into the head for eyes. They need to pushed in firmly as they will come out as the dough rises. They can be popped in further after rising and before baking. Make an egg wash and use a pastry brush and glaze each dove and cover in almond flakes one at a time, so the glaze doesn't dry out which stops the almonds from sticking. The kids love to help squish the tails, poke in the eyes and stick the feathers on.
Remove the cloves before eating. They give a lovely aroma to the head dough.

On Sunday I made Olie Bollen.
Who needs chocolate?

Today my sister sent me a link to The Knead for Bread. I can highly recommend it for recipes and inspiration. It is my sons birthday today and the Lemon Monkey Bread looked like it would make a delicious birthday cake for my son who doesn't like cream cake. Everything went well until it came time to turn it out. I think there was a bit much lemon cheesecake between the layers and not all of it came out as one. It was a bit of a mess, but it still looked yummy. I just piled each little lemon roll back on top. The lemon butter sauce poured over was still a bit hot and runny too but this is the first birthday cake in a long time that was finished within half an hour of blowing out the candles. There was a lot of groaning and holding of full bellies after the party tea, but it was just too hard to resist.

Birthdays, clippies and a big catchup!

Where did the last two weeks go? I think I will start with the latest news and work my way backwards. This week was Pearls 2nd birthday. I made her some felt food, and 2 new dresses.
Beccy made her some playdough.


This green thing is a frog cake lol. You probably have to be South Australian to appreciate it. I sort of winged it so it's not the best, but it was fun to make. I didn't use any patterns. I would like to try some more things sometime like cupcakes, pancakes and eggs. I just ran out of time.












fettucine with mushrooms and a meatball....















the sauce is cut in a concertina effect......

















some crackers, but where is the cheese?














cherry tomatoes and a chicken drumstick (though it looks more like a crumbed sausage lol)...












some cheesy pasta.













Pearl's dress is made from Hilco fleece. I made the pattern up on the spur of the moment. I was going to make a Farbenmix Olivia but felt like something different. It went together really easily and the full circle skirt has a lovely twirl.
I am going to make lots more of these dresses. short sleeved versions, long sleeves,layered puff sleeves, layered skirts, lots of plans..
I made matching clippies using felt and scraps for her wispy hair.













This little overdress is an Ottobre pattern. The binding was not cooperative and I am hoping it will settle over time. It is a good pattern though which will last for ages. Pearl had this same pattern made up over a year ago and still wears it as a much shorter pini/vest. I want to get as much wear as possible from the fabric as 1. it is so cute, 2. expensive, 3. hard to get hold of.


I cut the little bird out without checking placement and when I turned it over, there was the perfect eye placement! so I added a small glass bead to give it a wink.









Giving the dress a test run. She is not quite up to twirling yet.
Love the odd shoes?! lol
















I didn't manage to get a good shot of the cake myself but luckily Sarah took some photos with her camera.
Beccy made a chocolate mud cake and we used packaged fondant icing to model with. Pearls favourite song is the one that goes:
Da-glumph went the little green frog one day......We all know frogs go, ladedadeda....etc
Beccy made the little green frog on the lilypad and a speckled frog prince to sit on a speckled log (another frog song) and I made the lilypad with Mr Frog who jumped out of the pond (another song).



I made a whole bunch of clippies for my market stall this month. Hopefully I will get lots more done in different colours and styles.













This month's crafty Mamas swap was for 30x5" fabric squares in as many different designs as possible from your stash. Here are the 30 I chose for my swapee.










I was thoroughly spoilt in return by Claireberry who sent these lovely packages and handmade card with a note. I love all the recycled wrappings.












Inside one was some chocolate, mmm, you can never go wrong there :) and a cute button tin complete with buttons and ribbon.













The actual swap is fantastic. Blues and greens, spots, checks and florals including yummy vintagey goodness. I havne't decided what to make yet but I do need a new bag..













Late this week I also got to meet some other Crafty Mamas from Adelaide and visiting. In my typical style I decided an hour or so before leaving that it would be cute to have a Crafty Mama matroyshka brooch to wear. Of course it was all rather rushed and her apron is wonky but that is probably typical of me, rushing around at the last minute lol. Why do I get the best ideas when it is too late to implement? I still think she is cute and plan on making a whole bunch of them. Maybe for market.







I also had a fabric delivery and whipped up another of my new dress from this lovely soft jersey knit. I love the colours. I couldn't get a good shot as my 13yo son was being a clown and amusing himself at my expense by jumping in front of the camera everytime I tried to take a pic. Gotta love school holidays and wearing PJs all day lol!



















Lastly, the week after the market, when I was relaxing, Sarah reminded me late one night that she needed 2 costumes for her dress rehearsal at school the next day. I was too tired that night, so the next morning put together a mermaid from silvery lurex knit and cancan ruffle tail. I ahd some very stiff interfacing to use to support it. I shirred the front bodice and used elastic for straps.




















She actually had to sit for her part so could tuck her feet behind.





























One of my vintage hats, a shawl and her sisters coat made a good fairytale granny/mum. I would have done a dress and apron but she needed to wear the mermaid costume underneath and had about 40 seconds to change.



Soon I will be busy working on the next school drama production, Peter Pan. Sarah will be playing Wendy.


















And that's just about it .. Phew!

My sisters and niece are heading to the US and I am expecting some cool packages when they get back :)