chrissie break

i know its the new year but i wanted to post some images from the chrissie and new year holiday time. 

 

even though it is summer i made our family tradition cream cheese cookies.

only cream cheese, butter, flour, egg and sugar

they are so good.

 

i made a lot, but gave many away.

 

the time between christmas and new years is always good, because there are very few obligations and you can do as you wish. like make new curtains for the lounge room

 

i made the old curtains when i moved in over 6 years ago, and wanted to change from the blue fabric to something more natural and lighter. i think these work well.

we went on a holiday to the beach down south with ottos friend banjo.

 

the cactus flowers were blooming

 

they were pretty special

 

this is the view from banjo's owners front porch. not too bad on a summers day!

recently in Radelaide

here are a few of the things happening recently in Radelaide

i got to check out the bee hive at our studio with bob

 

they are a happy, passive hive, busily filling their home with honey

we may not get any honey this year, but it a long term project so that is ok.

 

there have been plenty of baby ducks and swans along the river - watch out for their territorial behaviour when riding your bike past

 

otto and i had a trip to the beach the other day for a walk 

it was perfect weather for a stroll on the beach and a quick dip in the water

 

here is otto before he ran through the puddles

 

there was a panda cake made to celebrate a friends birthday

this was enjoyed over lunch last weekend

 

and until today the weather here has been perfect not too hot not too cold - and today is perfect inside computer activity weather - 39 degrees and only to get hotter tomorrow!

around the house update

with being back at work now that my wrist has healed life has been busier. as a result i have not blogged much and wanted to give a quick update of things happening around the house.

i have been making these yummy breakfast muffins. banana macadamia almond meal. easy to grab in the morning on the way to work.

it was borris' birthday last month and i made him a raw vegan cacao ginger blueberry  birthday cake

it was actually really good and not too sweet, as i find most raw treats to be.

 

the garden has been really neglected but actually looks really good at the moment. lots of greens that need using up soon but most things are happy. i need to think about a new plant along the back fence as the passion fruit vine is coming to the end of its life and i want to try something different. any ideas?

 

my lime tree has so many flowers on it right now. last year we had the best crop of limes yet, can wait for more this year.

i recently planted out this garden bed outside my front door. there are a couple of plants that will get quite large, but for now it is low and sparse.

 

and its tricky to see but my blood orange tree in the front garden has quite a few blossoms on it right now too. Last year they all fell off, but maybe this year one or two will stay in and become yummy blood oranges. i have been eating lots of these form the markets lately. one of my favourite citrus.

 

yesterday i had some time in the garden, a put together about 30 pots of seeds in seed raising mix. tomatoes, tomatillos, basil, chillies, goldenberries. we will see if anything grows in the next couple weeks, if not then i can hit the nursery for some seedlings early next month.

holiday highlights

i know the holidays are over but here are a few highlights i wanted to share.

believe it or not i have never before made a whole chook. that is until the week after christmas. i was in the markets and i found this lovely looking chicken from these guys. they started raising lamb but have recently begun raising chooks too.

anyways i splurged and bought myself this chook.

i roasted it with potatoes and rosemary and garlic and lemon

and i even made a gravy!

it was really yummy, and i feel more like a grown up now. i will definitely do that again when i can afford a lovely chook again!

other holiday highlights include borris wearing a new apron from my friend andi, and doing the hoovering as he calls it.

very nice job!

i also had the excuse to make a salted pecan caramel tart. this recipe has been on my to do list for over a year. rosies parents are partial to sweet treats with tea, so i invited myself over with a tart for us to try.

it was a success! and really yummy. i think next time i will try with macadamia nuts! here is the recipe. 

and that is Rosie's dad documenting my tart before we sit down to a nice cup of tea!

and that was rest of the highlights from the holidays last year.

you know its almost christmas when....

there are cinnamon scrolls being made

these are resting and rising waiting to go in the oven,

and this batch just came out of the oven. my mom often made these at christmas time, and this year i decided to as well.

you also know it is almost christmas when your presents overtake the tree

see small fig tree in pot on far left of table? that is our christmas tree. need to find tiny decorations next year.

happy christmas everyone!

rainbow birthday cake

last month my friend kumi had her birthday. we had a small dinner party at my place. kumi made us dinner, a yummy japanese meal, soba noodle salad, gyoza. 

so my neighbour george and i decided to make her a cake.

 

but not just any cake. a rainbow cake. we followed this recipe.

 

you make the batter, divide it up and add the food colouring, then make 6 mini cakes. this means lots of washing up but the cakes cook in only 12 minutes each, so it went quickly.

 

after the cakes cooled we made a creme fraiche and white chocolate icing.

layering the cakes with the icing

in the order of colours of the rainbow.

until all 6 cakes are stacked up and not falling over. then we iced the whole thing.

 it was a big cake, and i think kumi was surprised

we sang happy birthday

 

 and the candles were blown out

it was nice to see the surprise of the layered coloured cakes when she cuts out the first piece.

everyone enjoying a slice of the rainbow

i think this is my new favorite cake to make. not too sweet, yummy and fun!