daydreaming in aqua...

Christmas Pinspo #2

following on from the Pinspo 'tree' theme...here are some yummy looking treats..hoping to try some out this weekend with the girls..

peppermint fudge  source

 
Christmas refrigerator cookies source 

cranberry & almond coffee cake   source

candy cane chocolate hearts source

and I thought I might share a couple of my own fave recipes..

one I make every Christmas..

 

chocolate fruit cake balls..

this yummy slice from last Christmas..

coffee streusel slice

...and from a few years back..

fruit and nut chocolate

ENJOY!

Gx

has it been a month already?

gosh, can't believe it's been so long between updates.. I guess we've been pretty busy..

watching someone turn 12..

a challenging 3 night walk for Rhi.. 

 

abseiling at Mt Wellington with M..

taking in the beaches of Bruny Island on Australia Day..

special times with friends and family..

building sandcastles..

 
fishing..

dolphin watching...

cooking up a storm...

and a little creating..but that's for another post :) x

done and dusted..

We had a very busy lead up to Christmas with lots of planning, baking, wrapping, card
making, crafting handmade presents...

Rhi made this amazing coffee streusel slice ~ recipe is here

Jem making rumballs to give as gifts to grandparents ~ using Mel's easy recipe

a few of the stamped cards I made..these were featured on Darkroom Door here

Nothing beats a Nanny hug :)

and my favourite Christmas day photo :)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope your Christmas was as special as our Gxox 

taking it slow...

I finally got around to buying one of these...and we absolutely love all the
yummy winter stews, soups and curries it can produce - most recipes have
come from these books..the Sally Wise one in particular is fantastic..simple
but delicious flavours and easy recipes

And a couple of online recipes  Irish Stew and Orange Mustard  Pork 
I'd love to hear of any slow cooker faves you may have :) Gx 

last weekend..

we went to our local show, it was a gorgeous day and there was a bit of this..

..some chainsaw art ..

 

and fairy floss (the oliebollen disappeared before I could grab the camera)..

valhalla icecream with raspberry puree...

 

and while we were watching the dog highjump (my fave)..M spotted this sign :) 

 

this year the girls both entered some baked goodies in the school exhibit and were 
 delighted to discover they had won their section..these were Jem's chocolate cookies
 I've requested another batch and she's making some as Christmas presents too

I've been very slack in making the blog rounds lately..please forgive me, I certainly 
 haven't forgotten my friends in blogland..will be there soon, I have a sick teen at 
 home again today so will pop back here later to share some scraps and hopefully 
make it around to your place too. Have a wonderful day Gxox

new family favourite: butterscotch pudding

The second time around and a little tweaking to increase the amount of sauce..it's
 so good! I can see it being a regular dessert in our house..not they we have dessert
 that often..The recipe is from here..if you like a saucy pudding like us, I recommend 
 adding an extra 3/4 cup of water and tablespoon of golden syrup when making the 
  sauce. Also..for a richer flavour, replace half the golden syrup with treacle..yum!! 

Indoors..

It's been a cold old start to the weekend..M is away for the weekend, helping my
Dad with some roofing at the shack..this is what us girls have got up to so far..



Rhi made Anzac biscuits (recipe coming soon..)

Jem made her first cake..caramel banana cake from Women's Weekly Quick Mix Cakes

while I scrapped..



some masking with glimmers, water colours and stitched paper strips.. I also
masked onto the white chipboard shape, using narrow tape and like this effect







This is for week 2 of the Embellished Idol comp..this week I chose the 'through
these eyes' theme and it had to be a circular layout..definitely trickier than the
squares..the yellow border involved cutting, sanding, distressing, pleating and
hand stitching so quite fiddly and time consuming..but I enjoyed the process
I've once again used my masking tape, gesso and water colour technique
to soften the background paper..just love these Heather Bailey papers



and before I go...a very Happy Birthday wish to my dear blogging friend Annette!

cuppa time..

Rhi browsed the Master Chef Australia website yesterday for something yummy
to make when Poppy B came to afternoon tea..she decided to make these tasty
date and lemon scones...followed by apple tea cake but I'm not sure which
recipe was used, so will post that one later this week. Have a good one! Gx

more yummies..

Morning tea..consisted of Jem's rocky road (with a little help from Dad)
recipe note: biscuits & raisins were omitted & peanuts used instead of macadamias



and afternoon tea..Rhi's chocolate cake..chocoholics eat your heart out! :)

Dinner was lovely last night too..forgot my camera so no shares..and thanks for the
sweet birthday wishes left here too..made it extra special :) Gx

coffee break..

Rhiannon's been baking again..chocolate chip scones..just for something different! :)
The recipe calls for currants with chocolate crosses piped on top, but instead she just
added chocolate chips to the scone dough..they tasted just as good as they look..