Three bears up for grabs at ridiculously low prices over 3 weeks. All info and goings on can be see on my facebook page.
Week 1: winner for this week goes to Tankia Simon.
Tanika you can choose from any of the three and all you have to pay is the postage $7.20.
Please contact me by Wed 18th April mellebug@gmail.com
I love melting moments, an ultimate indulgence. So buttery with a hint of sweetness.
For todays little bake session I decided to add a little twist and add rosewater and oh my! they taste yummo.
As always the kids are in helping out, their piping skills are a little poor but they lacquered on some tasty icing. I couldnt help having a lots of little tastes on the way.
I had to take a photo of the existing price tag on the bottle. I wonder how much a bottle of this cost now as I am so getting some to have at my place.
So what do you do to add that little spark to your next melting moments. Get yourself the recipe (mine came from the old Womens Weekly biscuits and slices book), add 3 tsp of good rosewater to the biscuit batter and a tsp to the icing. I also adding pink colouring.
As for the tasty treats above I am sure the lucky birthday girl who will be getting these tmrw will enjoy them thoroughly.
Happy baking people!
Winter is slowly approaching here in Perth, Australia. For some reason though the weather has reverted back to above 30, an annoyance as I dearly like to get to wearing my jeans and winter woolies. I have pulled everthing out of storage, clothes, doonas, snuggly flannel sheets and also started making the next season of lupin heatpacks and cold packs.
This time round I decided to do things a little differently. I thought I would make ‘ranges’ of different fabric combination that included the Boo Bears, rectangular heatpacks and cute wee cold packs that are stored in the freezer all ready to be pulled out to soothe a sore bump. You can buy matching heat and cold packs, perfect presents for that special little person in your life and also for yourself. Thats right, these cuties are not exclusive to the kids, adults alike have enjoyed the warmth of these lupin heatpacks.
They are all available from my Madeit Store and Etsy Store. Due to the bags containing seeds I cant send overseas, although I can send unfilled.
The first fabric collection I worked on is from ‘Meet the Gang’. I am in love with this fabric as it lends itself to be perfect for both girls and boys.
The new cold packs that I have made are the right size to fit into wee hands. They also have a removable cover that can be machine washed, perfect to clean any little blood that comes often with scrapes and bonks. Having two babes myself we are forever getting the cold packs out and it really helps with clearing up the tears quicker. Due to being made using the seeds they do not go super cold which means that you can place straight onto skin.
This set was quickly followed by:
The Bears are perfect to take to bed with or to soothe a sore tummy. I have yet to hear of any child receiving one of these cuties and not loving them so. My daughter sleeps with hers all year round, heated or not.
I am sure that as the chill sets in more of these ‘ranges’ will be popping up. I only make 4 of each bear so there are limited amounts available. If you would like a little more info on the benefits of using lupins over wheat head here.
Till next time……stay warm.
With one day to go to a friend’s wedding I thought I should perhaps put a little colour into my outfit. I liked the idea of putting something in my hair but where to start. Google images. It is the place I go to for inspiration on a desired project. I suppose it is a bit like pinterest but I have yet to delve into yet another cyber outlet that can otherwise consume more of my time.
Anyways in my trawling through the photos I came across this tutorial on a flower collar by Katiedid. Very cute indeed.
I turned this great idea into a hair clip.
I ended up using light weight jersey, put a circle of felt on the reverse with a hair clip to attach. I am also thinking of adding a brooch pin.
I am really pleased with how it turned out. As I had left it to the last minute to make I needed to make it right first time. In the end the wedding was beautiful and I wish the happy couple all the best in the future.
Only three weeks to go before easter. Time goes way to quick. I have yet to start organising the chocolates and decorations.
Here is some tutorial inspiration I found. Click on the links.
1. Quick Sock bunny (gotta love the quick part, and too cute)
2. Fabric eggs.
3. Garland
5. Carrots
6. One for the kids from I love crafts: The chicken or egg
7. Egg tree
Whether it be pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot, apple or fig mash, anyone of them goes.
This one pictured is delicious Fig Bread that will be going into my kids lunch boxes tomorrow. So yum with a slab of butter on the top, but thats a little naughty.
Recipe:
Its just like making muffins. Mix together the wet ingrediants and then slowly add in the dry. Dont over mix. Pour into a loaf pan or a small round pan and bake at 180 degrees for 1 hour (always check 15mins before end time).
Sushi, I love sushi.
I remember saying to myself before my first was born that they will learn to love sushi. Thankfully there wasnt a problem with that. Aside for the inability in the beginning to cut the nori with her front teeth she loves it. Every week I get the “Can we have sushi tonight?”
Here is my method of making teriyaki chicken sushi. Is it the right way??? Its the way that works best for me and it tastes great.
Makes 10 rolls (dinner, lunch and dinner again)
What you need:
1. Marinate the chicken. Mix soy, mirin, brown sugar, garlic and sugar together. I put it into a plastic bag and leave for a couple of hours.
2. Put the 4 cups of rice with 6 cups of water into a rice cooker (or your preferred method). Whilst cooking put together the vinegar, white sugar and salt together and heat in the microwave to help dissolve the granules. When the rice is cooked pour the vinegar mixture into the rice and stir in well.
I dont fan at this stage, I just put a tea towel over the rice and leave to cool. I usually marinate and cook the rice in the morning and make the sushi 1 hour before dinner.
2. Cooking the chicken. Place the entire bag into a pan, sauce and all. You are basically broiling the chicken for approx 10-15 min depending on the thickness of your chicken. You can place the lid on top so the liquid does not fully evaporate. For me this method is the key and the easiest to clean up afterwards.
3. Once the chicken is cooked and cooles, slice into finger chunks. Assemble your area. Have a bowl of water to wet your hands in, tea towel, mayo, cut up cucumber, bamboo mat , rice and plate.
4. Assembling the sushi.
5 Rolling. Grab the bottom on the mat (closest to the chicken) roll and tuck the bottom edge of the nori under the chicken as tight as possible. Move the bamboo slightly and then roll the rest of the way, patting the wet edge of the roll to stick.
Perfect rolling is not a requirment. Its how it tastes that matters the most.
Place each roll onto the plate to rest. This will soften the nori slightly. Put any uneaten sushi in the fridge straight away. When you want to eat it next it is best to pull out 1/2 hr before hand to warm slightly. Sushi does not taste its best when coming straight from the fridge.
**Alternative to chicken. Can of tuna drained and mix with the kewpie mayonaise.
Cut up and eat!!
These are so yum and so nutritious that I cant stop eating them.
They are perfect for lunch boxes, packed full of protein and vitamins.
So here they are:
Super, super easy recipe that can be modified to suit. Like using a different nut (or omitting) or changing the dried fruits used. Using the milk powder provides a great deal of proteins, calcium and a variety of minerals and vitamins so it is worth storing some in your cupboard.
I also found that there is no difference between the expensive cherries and the homebrand. Both contain the same ingrediants yet one is half the price. For me the only down side is that I am yet to find cherries that are preservative and colour free but I think they add that bit of yummness.
Enjoy!
Last winter I introduced the Boo Bear Lupin Heatpacks. Cute bears that are perfect to keep warm with at night or to soothe a sore tummy. They are all handmade with double stitching to prevent leakage and are made using 100% Western Australian Lupins.
Lupins are a wonderful alternative to using wheat or rice in heat or cold packs.
They:
* Lupins come from the same family as the peanut and is advised not to be used by those suffering from peanut allergies.
If your Heatpack is slightly soiled then a quick sponge with luke warm water to remove and then to hang up to dry as soon as possible. When cover is dry, rub lupin bag briskly between your hands to ensure grains are dry.
If your heatpack is in need of really good clean then you can immerse the pack in warm soapy water and scrub gently with your hands. Rinse and then squeeze out excess water or alternatively put it in a spin cycle of your washing machine. Then immediately put out into the sun (make sure that its a hot day).
I place my bears on the shadecloth out the back and every now and then turn it over and rustle the beans around to ensure that is all gets dry.
An alternative to hanging outside is too place in a conventional oven on very low temp with the door ajar.
To finish I think it is important to note not to overheat your packs especially when used by a child. Please check the temperature before giving it to your child to ensure no burns.
With my daughter starting full time school this year me thinks I will have to be a little more organised with planning her lunch box. The main aim is to keep it healthy and no packets. You have more control over what enters your childs body if you make most* of what goes into their lunch box. It seams that a lot of foods targeted at children i.e yoghurts, muesli bars, cheese packs, crisps are all heavily laden in sugar, fats, salts and preservatives/additives. I was told a few years back that if it has a cartoon character on the packet dont buy it, too true.
One way to check is to quickly glance at the nutrition panel per 100g on the packet. This column is what you use to compare with other products. So products that have:
Are perfect for kids.
Now in my travels scouring the isles in the store there are little products that have all of these going for it. So in the end use your judgment and compare products to find one with the least amount or think about making it yourself. Cooking it yourself you can see how much fat, sugar and salt you are adding and best of all no ADDITIVES and PRESERVATIVES. Find recipes that freeze well and make things in bulk, make up extra vegies at dinner time and set some aside to puree (i.e. pumpkin, carrot, spinach). These are great to add to loaf cakes or muffins.
So with all that said I have found a get list of lunch box ideas that are grouped into categories.
This website has some great recipes.
A really fantastic planner for the week. I really like how it has a ‘what to prep on sunday box’ (click on pic for link).
The above planner does not allow you to wipe the writing to make up your own planner. So here is my version Lunch Box Planner
Great ways of making your kids lunches exciting from Lunch Boxes with Love.
So my plan is to print out the list, cross out ones I know the kids wont eat and add some others, think about how well it will freeze to make stocks up and print out some of the planners. Lets cross fingers I can stick to the plan.
In the coming weeks I will add my favourite recipes and if you have any ones put a comment below with a link and I will added it to the page.
