tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78937389196570906912024-03-14T02:13:45.378+11:00hatching smilesAsh n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893738919657090691.post-42291511416305312672012-09-17T15:34:00.000+10:002012-09-17T16:15:57.284+10:00Give Away! With Ché and Fidel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://cheandfidel.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/spring-giveaway-to-celebrate-season.html"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tbExqfSZ7Js/UFa_pXXbgNI/AAAAAAAAB9Q/_6Mar-eo2PQ/s400/Give-away.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As much as I'd love to be giving away something, it's not yet my time... I'm just not that organised! But Jodi over at <a href="http://cheandfidel.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/spring-giveaway-to-celebrate-season.html">Ché and Fidel</a> is! Oh my how she is! Have a look at this line up! <i>Quick</i> go enter now! Entries close tonight at 9pm.</span></div>
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Ash n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893738919657090691.post-28094218194862541702012-07-26T14:59:00.000+10:002012-07-26T14:59:37.879+10:00Apple Cookies<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ubK1YuVhkJQ/UBDMCRXoZnI/AAAAAAAABgc/WQa5pIFjpjM/s1600/Apple_Cookies-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ubK1YuVhkJQ/UBDMCRXoZnI/AAAAAAAABgc/WQa5pIFjpjM/s400/Apple_Cookies-01.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ready for the oven... minus a few bites!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I got my very first real deal cake decorating piping set and have been itching to use it for months! And thanks to the inspiration of one superb sugar cookie decorator </span><a href="http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/" style="background-color: white;">Sugarbelle</a><span style="background-color: white;">; these apple cookies have been my maiden voyage so to speak.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I got my sugar cookie <a href="http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/blog/2011/06/basic-sugar-cookie-recipe-2/">recipe</a> from Sugarbelle too. It's especially simple, and with a few little tweaks for my temperamental oven, I think my cookies turned out quite well. On with the decorating!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I decided to make apples, <a href="http://hatchingsmiles.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-truffle.html">as another gift for the wonderful staff at Day Care</a>. All teachers should receive an apple from the kids (or their parents) don't you think?</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I piped the outlines first.<br />White for the whole apples and red for the cut apples.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jpRyrKM5OHo/UBDMX9jDmwI/AAAAAAAABgs/4w56T3yzer8/s1600/Apple_Cookies-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jpRyrKM5OHo/UBDMX9jDmwI/AAAAAAAABgs/4w56T3yzer8/s320/Apple_Cookies-03.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Flooded (filled) in the rest.<br />A couple hours later piped in the stems and seeds and hastily popped on the little leaves.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7YUFpGiNhA/UBDMd47ugrI/AAAAAAAABg0/a5SKioaE8Nc/s1600/Apple_Cookies-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7YUFpGiNhA/UBDMd47ugrI/AAAAAAAABg0/a5SKioaE8Nc/s320/Apple_Cookies-04.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Popped each one in a little celo bag and tied with a bow! Whaa-laa!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ash n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893738919657090691.post-64854395471965928812012-06-29T12:24:00.002+10:002012-06-29T12:24:11.586+10:00Toblerone Dip<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is not my recipe, it's my cousin's, but I mentioned it in <a href="http://hatchingsmiles.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/rainbow-birthday-party.html">Billy's birthday post</a> so I figured I should pop it up. It's so simple and <span style="background-color: white;">delicious!</span><span style="background-color: white;"> (I am a sucker for Toblerone so it's very necessary to buy extras!) Thanks cousin Maddy (and Mummy) for the recipe.</span></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 tubs of vanilla Fruche</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">small tub of pure cream</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 bar of Toblerone chocolate, grated</span></span></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">banana</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">apple</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">strawberries</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">melon</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">pineapple</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">grapes</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">whatever you like...</span></span></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Combine dip ingredients and allow to sit in the fridge
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />Ash n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893738919657090691.post-33676945817067573622012-06-29T12:11:00.000+10:002012-07-26T14:59:52.842+10:00Chocolate-chip cookie dough truffle pops!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GS7b2i_386I/T-qpCx-tRlI/AAAAAAAABL0/5qG0Na1DYVc/s1600/05-May-29th-Pops2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GS7b2i_386I/T-qpCx-tRlI/AAAAAAAABL0/5qG0Na1DYVc/s320/05-May-29th-Pops2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cake pops are <i>so hot right now </i>it seemed only natural I give them a go. It's only been a few months worth of dreaming about them and wondering what excuse I might have to make some. Then a delightful double banger of an excuse <i>popped</i> into my Facebook inbox: Baking Our Blues Away.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tZQT1jdCZnY/T-qpXuHqhhI/AAAAAAAABME/yafKgKZjtxE/s1600/FB_Message.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tZQT1jdCZnY/T-qpXuHqhhI/AAAAAAAABME/yafKgKZjtxE/s400/FB_Message.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Not only would I get to finally make some pops, but I get to make them for someone else and hopefully make their day! How could I refuse? Challenge accepted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I chose to make the pops for the beautiful, caring and passionate teachers at my boys Day Care. Even though I don't think any of them are technically "blue" it seems like a very thankless job - taking care of other people's children all day. Which seems like a ridiculous concept, but it's very easy to have tunnel vision when it comes to your kids. I know I'm guilty of forgetting what their teachers do each day and thanking them regularly. I will remember to do so more often from now on.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L1_iIJF_bdE/T-qo-4WMjcI/AAAAAAAABLs/VwqujG-lqiQ/s1600/05-May-29th-Pops1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L1_iIJF_bdE/T-qo-4WMjcI/AAAAAAAABLs/VwqujG-lqiQ/s320/05-May-29th-Pops1.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">To the pops!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The chocolate-chip cookie dough truffle <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-truffles/">recipe</a> (sans egg for eating raw) was courtesy of <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/">Bakerella</a>. I spotted it on <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a>, where I find most of my mouthwatering cooking temptations. This one actually came to fruition a lot quicker than most! Simple recipe. Totally fun to make. Absolutely delicious! Teachers at day care, you are very lucky I didn't eat them all! Plus I had to smuggle them out of the house quick smart or I would have had </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">cookie-dough-flavoured-</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">chocolate-covered-kidlets (and husband).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since I am not a cook. I won't go into the details and how-to's. (Bakerella does a fine job of that anyway.) I will simply note a couple things that made my pop experience work (or could work better).</span></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Make extras. As I mentioned above I was very tempted to eat as I worked, which </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">would</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> have resulted in minimal produce.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Make them out of sight of children and husbands, or any other strays in your house at the time for fear of the same result as above.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I made them a couple days in advance and they kept fine in the fridge. Hidden.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Plain sticks look </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">much</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> better than coloured. But I didn't have any, hence </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> coloured sticks.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Little celo baggies and ribbon turn them into very cute individual gifts. Perfect for this situation.</span></li>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-obvI29qjTF4/T-qpLr0qeRI/AAAAAAAABL8/mOTntQRg8RM/s1600/05-May-29th-Pops3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-obvI29qjTF4/T-qpLr0qeRI/AAAAAAAABL8/mOTntQRg8RM/s320/05-May-29th-Pops3.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hope you try your hand at making some pops, they are the bomb!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Ash n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893738919657090691.post-30947734470045246512012-06-28T22:58:00.000+10:002012-07-26T14:33:58.526+10:00Rainbow Birthday Party<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In my previous post I mentioned this party was months in the making. I was not kidding! But it all paid off, the party was a hit! The kids were just amazed and so excited and all thanked us for the wonderful party! Awwww... what a bunch of sweet hearts! It just made me absolutely melt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Everything turned out just how I had envisioned and I loved every minute of the preparation just as much as the party it's self. All the happy little faces, the constant activity, even the fact that my little one year old had no idea it was all for him. And I could not have done any of it without the help and support of my wonderful family.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jhffiasdFh4/UBDHzp56tYI/AAAAAAAABgQ/9qxWMXcMOY8/s1600/Invitations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jhffiasdFh4/UBDHzp56tYI/AAAAAAAABgQ/9qxWMXcMOY8/s400/Invitations.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Rainbows are pretty easy to work with. They are everywhere, but I didn't want to just use a whole lot of tacky ready made decorations and party supplies. So I started with Billy's invitation. My own design. Postcard style. Printed in bright rainbow colours on a textured heavy weight card. Then I created party treat bags to match. These were made of bleached calico and rainbow fabric, tied with a red ribbon and thank you message iron on transfer. I also drew a rainbow scene and printed out a little leprechaun for each guest to colour and play "pin the leprechaun on the rainbow". I completed all of these in "</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">my spare time</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">" and received many an imploring look from hubby doing so.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u68M4RGbspc/T-xXOYkv76I/AAAAAAAABN8/U6gk_JHxgZA/s1600/Party+Bags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u68M4RGbspc/T-xXOYkv76I/AAAAAAAABN8/U6gk_JHxgZA/s400/Party+Bags.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Clockwise from left: Pin the leprechaun on the rainbow colouring in cards.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rainbow fabric treat bags. All the kids opening the treat bags filled with rainbow goodies.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Decorations on the day were really quite simple. Rainbow coloured streamers and balloons - a no-brainer. Miniature table was made by my handy Dad. S</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">urrounded by little colourful chairs just right for little bottoms.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Table was set with a bright purple table cloth (my oldest sons favourite colour) and a rainbow coloured bamboo table runner I got for $5! I can't even remember where! Plates, hats and napkins (and streamers, balloons and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">piñata</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">) were bought from a local </span><a href="http://www.thebasewarehouse.com.au/" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">party shop</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. Like I said, the market is flooded with brightly coloured and rainbow themed supplies, and since I am time poor I opted to just buy these elements. It also made it a little easier to toss everything in </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> recycling after knowing I didn't spend a lot of time painstakingly making little hats too.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PPzVZMsY-Lc/T-xXHksf27I/AAAAAAAABNs/-lVXcZeG0x0/s1600/Decorations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PPzVZMsY-Lc/T-xXHksf27I/AAAAAAAABNs/-lVXcZeG0x0/s400/Decorations.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;">Clockwise from left: Table set and ready for guests.<br />A single row of balloons in order. Ceiling of streamers. Rainbow piñata!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The food was loads of fun to prepare! I got most of my inspiration from <a href="http://pinterest.com/search/?q=rainbow+food">Pinterest</a> totally kidding myself that it would be some what healthy. Two rainbow fruit platters with Toblerone dip was barely touched. Layered rainbow jelly cups were prepared a few days in advance having to with for setting, and well hidden in the back of the fridge from hungry little boys (and husbands). Topped them with whipped cream on the day. I searched for giant swirl lolly-pops and found them for $2 each at <a href="http://www.kmart.com.au/">K-Mart</a>. In hindsight I should have found some half the size, as</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> my 2 1/2 year old licked the colour off the tip and that was it.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> But all the cousins kept them for their interstate flights home two days later (Good thinking Mum's and Dad's).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I separated the coloured popcorn and put them into little ice cream cones. The cones were not consumed. I'll probably put them into little paper cones next time, they will fit more in and not waste unnecessary food. As for beverages; I didn't really want to serve soft drinks to a bunch of kids (kind of outweighed by the giant lolly-pops, I know!) so I found some different coloured juice poppers and made little cloud shaped sleeves for them</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. Then added bigger bendy straws and little colourful paper ribbons to them. Just because there wasn't enough colour on the table already!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Wr-N9f3nH0/T-xXLGhQMMI/AAAAAAAABN0/lVHatYubTIU/s1600/Food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Wr-N9f3nH0/T-xXLGhQMMI/AAAAAAAABN0/lVHatYubTIU/s400/Food.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Clockwise from left: A rainbow food explosion! Poppers in sleeves.<br />The birthday boy digging in. Rainbow fruit platter and Toblerone dip.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now for the pièce de résistance... The cake! This is what spurred on the whole rainbow theme in the first place. Originally spied on </span><a href="http://www.whisk-kid.com/2009/08/say-it-with-cake.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Whisk Kid</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> months ago, I set about acquiring all the necessities to make said Super-Epic-Rainbow-Cake. My making-of details can be read </span><a href="http://hatchingsmiles.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/rainbow-cake.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">here</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and I have to say, this was the </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">funnest</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> cake I've ever made! And that says a lot because </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">funnest</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> isn't even a word! Not only was it fun to make but super fun to see peoples reactions when one seemingly plain white birthday cake is sliced open to reveal seven layers of rainbow awesomeness! The cake was devoured and everyone thoroughly impressed. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ydr-wGskJyc/T-xXDzex-fI/AAAAAAAABNk/eo-x6ybul_c/s1600/Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ydr-wGskJyc/T-xXDzex-fI/AAAAAAAABNk/eo-x6ybul_c/s400/Cake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Clockwise from left: Seven layers of rainbow awesomeness!</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Make a wish Billy! Waiting patiently. One little candle.</span>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">More on the activities of the day and some fun photos of the kids can be seen </span><a href="http://my3chickens.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/may-5th-billys-rainbow-birthday-party.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">here</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All-in-all; a perfect birthday party! Happy 1st Birthday my darling baby boy! xx</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A few of these photos were courtesy of <a href="http://www.seasonsinart.com/">Tara Chiu Photography</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The rest were courtesy of my husband Tim.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thank you both!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Ash n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893738919657090691.post-91160787111693642262012-06-04T14:50:00.000+10:002012-06-04T14:50:25.542+10:00Rainbow Cake<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X3l_cM6qBt4/T8w4hrOMYOI/AAAAAAAAA9U/53_GHqXGSEs/s1600/05-May5th-Cake-Tara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X3l_cM6qBt4/T8w4hrOMYOI/AAAAAAAAA9U/53_GHqXGSEs/s320/05-May5th-Cake-Tara.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.seasonsinart.com/">Tara Chiu Photography</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been doing a lot of "research" in planning Billy's first birthday party. Pinterest definitely comes in handy for "research". I came across <a href="http://www.whisk-kid.com/2009/08/say-it-with-cake.html">this</a> on Whisk Kid and it definitely is a super and epic cake! In fact, it is solely responsible for the following few months of preparation for the <span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">R</span><span style="color: orange; font-weight: bold;">A</span><span style="color: yellow; font-weight: bold;">I</span><span style="color: lime; font-weight: bold;">N</span><span style="color: cyan; font-weight: bold;">B</span><span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;">O</span><span style="color: purple; font-weight: bold;">W</span> <span style="color: magenta; font-weight: bold;">P</span><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">A</span><span style="color: orange; font-weight: bold;">R</span><span style="color: yellow; font-weight: bold;">T</span><span style="color: lime; font-weight: bold;">Y</span><span style="color: cyan; font-weight: bold;">!</span> Yep, you heard right. Months. A labour of love. And to tell the truth, I <i>loved</i> every minute of it! Despite the imploring looks I'd often receive from my husband that said "Seriously? You just did that?" My one year old is not even going to know the difference, but; <i>Y</i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>es I Did!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, back to super epic rainbow cake. It seems I'm not the first to try my hand at this amazing treat. Thank goodness too, because I picked up a few handy tips from fellow cakers. And, also for that reason, I'm not going to bore you with the finer "how-to" details. I'll just tell you what I found helped and worked:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Betty Crocker vanilla/white cake mix and ready made icing.</b> Betty has been doing it longer than me so I put my trust in her and it paid off in taste and time. Thank you Betty.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><b>More than one cake pan.</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> This is not a must, as each layer only takes about 12 minutes to cook anyway, but it would definitely help to speed up the process if you are in more of a rush and I was.</span></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><b>Good rainbow colours.</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Like I said, I initially did my "research" and so invested in a set of Americolour food colouring gels. I got some from Spotlight and then Googled them to get a few more </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">on-line</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Sorry I forget where, but if you just do the same you'll find somewhere close to you for postage. They make for bright vibrant coloured food. I tested them on </span><a href="http://my3chickens.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/april-7th-easter-egg-cookies.html" style="font-weight: normal;">Easter Cookies</a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and was </span><strike style="font-weight: normal;">happy</strike><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><i style="font-weight: normal;">super excited</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> with the result. Then my family got to eat rainbow coloured food for a week till I got over the excitement.</span></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>An under-layer of royal icing</b> to coat the cake before the real icing works wonders to eliminate those pesky cake crumbles showing through. Unless you are particularly fond of speckled cake of course. I wanted the inside to be a surprise so I needed it well hidden.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I just had fun. The cake kind of evolved as I worked on it. It was a bit slow, as mentioned above I only had one cake pan. But that's OK, it was all part of the excitement and anticipation for each layer. I was in love with the rainbow look, but have since seen some pretty <a href="http://pinterest.com/search/?q=layered+cake">impressive alternatives</a>, <i>oh my</i> the possibilities are endless! My family's birthday cakes will be coloured layer cakes from now on!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5lV0hfmGyPw/T8w3uoGCp0I/AAAAAAAAA80/-MTnQzp9z4c/s1600/05-May5th-Making-Cake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5lV0hfmGyPw/T8w3uoGCp0I/AAAAAAAAA80/-MTnQzp9z4c/s320/05-May5th-Making-Cake1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">mixing colours</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5vHqkdhqOYU/T8w3wXO78hI/AAAAAAAAA88/ilA_h-scq-4/s1600/05-May5th-Making-Cake2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5vHqkdhqOYU/T8w3wXO78hI/AAAAAAAAA88/ilA_h-scq-4/s320/05-May5th-Making-Cake2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">one down, six to go!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">royal icing coating and stabilizing skewers</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One little candle and rainbow coloured sprinkles</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the goodie table</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Surprise!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Ash n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893738919657090691.post-10305655195498682492012-02-20T11:45:00.000+11:002012-02-20T11:45:01.530+11:00Free Crappy Portrait<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aaaaaages ago I sent in our photo to <a href="http://www.freecrappyportraits.com/">Free Crappy Portraits</a> and requested one of our very own. So long ago now I totally forgot about it, until today. Not only have they supplied us with an <i>AWESOME</i> Free Crappy Portrait, thoroughly identifying us and poor <a href="http://timsgreenthumb.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/mavis-story.html">Mavis' story</a>, but they put us on their <a href="http://www.freecrappyportraits.com/fcp/2012/2/19/stimulation.html">website</a>! How cool is that?!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is our (awesome) crappy portrait - thanks sooooo much Nick P. You did good.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ax-1hUfQLg/T0GMEv94amI/AAAAAAAAAeo/bBCTrp1v84c/s1600/ashleyjefferyFCP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ax-1hUfQLg/T0GMEv94amI/AAAAAAAAAeo/bBCTrp1v84c/s400/ashleyjefferyFCP.jpg" width="308" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I highly recommend you request your very own Free Crappy Portrait. They won't disappoint!</span></div>Ash n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893738919657090691.post-14061896930393849842012-02-09T23:17:00.000+11:002012-02-09T23:17:11.778+11:00Not So Naked Chef<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gsuPyJhoffU/TzO22MxHJRI/AAAAAAAAAcI/XqRHvAiA2qk/s1600/Apron3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gsuPyJhoffU/TzO22MxHJRI/AAAAAAAAAcI/XqRHvAiA2qk/s320/Apron3.jpg" width="212" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For his 2nd birthday this little <a href="http://hatchingsmiles.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/naked-chef.html">Naked Chef</a> received his very own little person sized kitchen! It seemed only fitting he should have a little person sized apron to go with it, and so I made him one. Stars, because he is a star! And because that was one of the first shapes he knew.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fZ1XF1PXv9o/TzO2zPB5tKI/AAAAAAAAAb4/X-6bEswVqT4/s1600/Apron1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fZ1XF1PXv9o/TzO2zPB5tKI/AAAAAAAAAb4/X-6bEswVqT4/s1600/Apron1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fZ1XF1PXv9o/TzO2zPB5tKI/AAAAAAAAAb4/X-6bEswVqT4/s320/Apron1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tSG-lkU1xsk/TzO20kkTZqI/AAAAAAAAAcA/9MSradFuOLo/s1600/Apron2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tSG-lkU1xsk/TzO20kkTZqI/AAAAAAAAAcA/9MSradFuOLo/s320/Apron2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyone else want one?</span></div>Ash n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893738919657090691.post-81794396647083535952012-02-09T23:02:00.000+11:002012-02-09T23:02:59.236+11:00Building Bob's Garage<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With two little boys, a Mum must step outside her desire for frilly dresses and braiding hair and find her creativity in making car related things. So what can Mum make with a nappy box and some coloured paper, to please one little boy all rainy afternoon?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ncMYo5UB9U/TzOzxUkPY0I/AAAAAAAAAbg/RjzCI6tzduc/s1600/Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ncMYo5UB9U/TzOzxUkPY0I/AAAAAAAAAbg/RjzCI6tzduc/s320/Before.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>(I started with a box...)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A garage of course! Bob's Garage to be specific. Now all the trucks have a place to rest after a long days work.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFksPotfSNw/TzOzzDjsknI/AAAAAAAAAbo/wxU4capxVyY/s1600/Playing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFksPotfSNw/TzOzzDjsknI/AAAAAAAAAbo/wxU4capxVyY/s320/Playing.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>(second storey on but roof unfinished)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bob even has a delightful little bungalow out the back should he and Wendy want to escape for some quality time. Oh, they're not "together"? No? Oops! Could have fooled me!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2HHxY4wxvcg/TzOzvcRI36I/AAAAAAAAAbY/CeVHxb9JlEg/s1600/After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2HHxY4wxvcg/TzOzvcRI36I/AAAAAAAAAbY/CeVHxb9JlEg/s320/After.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Better look out, here comes baby brother!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1t5MO9vO5dc/TzO12yvcbcI/AAAAAAAAAbw/k6GQTrP1Pys/s1600/Billy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1t5MO9vO5dc/TzO12yvcbcI/AAAAAAAAAbw/k6GQTrP1Pys/s320/Billy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Ash n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893738919657090691.post-64111654588007912732012-01-01T15:56:00.000+11:002012-01-01T15:58:55.900+11:00Christmas Treats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hk2hZEemiDs/Tv_gIk1TE8I/AAAAAAAAASU/ANFT27_D_RY/s320/Reindeer_Tartlets.jpg" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;" width="320" /> </div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Since I didn't have the pleasure of being</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> Christmas host this year... not yet anyway... I decided to make a Christmas treat to take along to Grandma's instead. Yummy little Chocolate Reindeer Tartlets. The recipe is not mine however, I had help (from the free Coles food magazine I picked up ages ago) and have been waiting to make these little delights ever since.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christmas rolled around <i>finally</i>, so I did some preparation (while boys were sleeping) so H could help and wouldn't have to wait for the tedious stuff to be done first and lose interest, as usual.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXHv4NqGy1c/Tv_gE_iHFPI/AAAAAAAAASM/GE7JnsCTlBA/s1600/Prep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXHv4NqGy1c/Tv_gE_iHFPI/AAAAAAAAASM/GE7JnsCTlBA/s320/Prep.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Reindeer eyes, noses and antlers. Check.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Chocolate Butternut Snap Tartlets. Check.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Apron on, we dove into putting the Rudolphs together... I made quite a few extra eyes and noses knowing there would be casualties in the making.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PkPBwHlG7SI/Tv_f-QBS28I/AAAAAAAAAR8/CLlS9tZvQsQ/s320/Casualties.jpg" width="212" /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately my plan was foiled! He lost interest after eating a bite out of three tartlets and gobbling down a few marshmallow noses. Obviously dinosaur stickers are <i>way</i> more fun Mum! Duh!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c6mwqkeoIgI/Tv_f7jfO-gI/AAAAAAAAAR0/g5Enio_4tSw/s320/Stickers.jpg" width="212" /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you think these little Reindeer Tartlets are cute here's how <i>you too</i> can make them... maybe next year!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zo9t8CbIfkU/Tv_gBmB5EUI/AAAAAAAAASE/Rh_KYaqHbq4/s1600/Chocolate_Harry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zo9t8CbIfkU/Tv_gBmB5EUI/AAAAAAAAASE/Rh_KYaqHbq4/s320/Chocolate_Harry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></div><br />
<ul><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 x pkt Arnott's Butternut Snap Cookies</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/3 cup cream</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">200g milk or dark chocolate, chopped</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">65g unsalted butter, chopped</span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Preparation:</span></div><ol><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 180°C. Place biscuits over each hole of a twelve hole, 1 1/2 tbsp capacity round based tartlet tin. Bake for 2 - 3 min or until soft. Remove from oven and press softened biscuits into tin to mould into a cup shape. Allow to cool. Repeat with remaining biscuits.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Place butter, cream and chocolate in a saucepan over very low heat. Stir constantly until melted and smooth - approx 7 min. Pour into a clean, dry bowl and refrigerate until cool but not set - approx 20 min.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fill biscuit cases with 1 heaped tsp of chocolate mix then place in fridge for 20 - 25 min until set and ready to serve.</span></li>
</ol><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Decorating:</span></div><div><ol><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cut a regular marshmallow in half and place cut side down for face.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stick a jaffa to marshmallow using icing or melted chocolate.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cut a mini marshmallow in half and place cut sides up onto tart for eyes. Add a dot of dark icing or chocolate for pupils (though I used little blue choc drops).</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cut mini star shaped pretzels into shape and press into chocolate filling to make antlers.</span></li>
</ol><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ENJOY! But watch out for little sneaks who like to taste...</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WPyNZspFsD4/Tv_gLShUXKI/AAAAAAAAASc/Yk6cz-zSDbI/s320/Sneaking.jpg" width="212" /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Ash n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893738919657090691.post-46672747535376920112011-12-11T22:19:00.000+11:002011-12-11T22:19:39.982+11:00Christmas Stockings<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oooh I love Christmas! It's nearly here... only 3 weeks away! Firstly I can't believe the year is almost over already! Where has that time gone? Secondly, it's baby's first Christmas and he doesn't have a stocking yet! Better get a wriggle on...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a beautiful stocking growing up, one my very clever creative Mum made for me and my siblings. Sadly that stocking was misplaced in a Christmas Care Package in the post en route to England a few years ago, and hopefully is being used somewhere by a person also called Ashley. Otherwise that would just be weird.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3JbKYwtfzaQ/TuSQPDQ3aII/AAAAAAAAARY/ykpSYv4SDyE/s1600/Stocking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3JbKYwtfzaQ/TuSQPDQ3aII/AAAAAAAAARY/ykpSYv4SDyE/s320/Stocking.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, inspired by fond childhood memories, t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wo years ago I made stockings for my own family members. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you might notice I've hand stitched the names. That's mostly because I am frugal, but I also had more time on my hands, and was far more organised back then. So much so that I started the 4th stocking in anticipation of expanding our family... Eventually... Thank goodness!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BZcLjwokobk/TuSQSqetpRI/AAAAAAAAARo/wkWW2RwZJvM/s1600/Harry_Stocking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BZcLjwokobk/TuSQSqetpRI/AAAAAAAAARo/wkWW2RwZJvM/s320/Harry_Stocking.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One previously prepared gender neutral Christmas stocking has been fished out of the cupboard and is on it's way to completion. Let's hope Mummy gets it finished in time for your 1st Christmas Billy!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KFAhpZO2ElM/TuSQRNzUj1I/AAAAAAAAARg/kA1OJnaFFSs/s1600/Billy_Stocking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KFAhpZO2ElM/TuSQRNzUj1I/AAAAAAAAARg/kA1OJnaFFSs/s320/Billy_Stocking.jpg" width="212" /></a> </div>Ash n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893738919657090691.post-56643362320826941692011-11-23T14:25:00.000+11:002011-11-23T14:25:33.083+11:00Colours and Cake<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I managed to indulge in some of what I call "creating" this past fortnight.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking inspiration from H's beading I made some fun colourful necklaces - which have already been given away as birthday gifts.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1mAZWWAYno/TsxnDFrd92I/AAAAAAAAARQ/UDXIjKXfZwA/s1600/ColourfulBeadedNecklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1mAZWWAYno/TsxnDFrd92I/AAAAAAAAARQ/UDXIjKXfZwA/s320/ColourfulBeadedNecklace.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, among all the cleaning, cooking (regular meals), hosting mothers group and the rest of the extensive list of motherly duties I regularly tackle each day, I also attempted a new chocolate brownie recipe... which didn't quite turn out. So, in my creativity I decided to make a twice baked chocolate fudge brownie tart slice... thingy... And let me tell you - it was YUM! It too lasted only briefly in our house.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc-okBuL0Dk/Tsxm1acddYI/AAAAAAAAARI/nFbREdapymc/s1600/Tart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc-okBuL0Dk/Tsxm1acddYI/AAAAAAAAARI/nFbREdapymc/s320/Tart.jpg" width="320" /></a> </span></div>Ash n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893738919657090691.post-18900483042762893662011-11-07T21:46:00.000+11:002011-11-07T21:46:14.383+11:00The Naked Chef<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We like to bake. Anything will do. Though, sweets are preferable to my son... Oh OK, preferable to me too!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dYBMYH-93J4/TrezbypJSjI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/Ikp5yj1tYnI/s1600/HarryCake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dYBMYH-93J4/TrezbypJSjI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/Ikp5yj1tYnI/s320/HarryCake1.jpg" width="240" /></a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>brownies</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I try to include him whenever I'm baking. He runs off and pushes a chair up to the bench to join in. I wrap him in my spotty apron and hand him the spoon and measuring cups. He'll watch eagerly when I'm using my mixer and sneak a finger or two into the batter when I turn it off.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KtTLNDrL3Gc/Trezd3NByRI/AAAAAAAAAQg/64fopUO32mc/s1600/LickingTheBowl1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KtTLNDrL3Gc/Trezd3NByRI/AAAAAAAAAQg/64fopUO32mc/s320/LickingTheBowl1.jpg" width="240" /></a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>pavlova</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DwTWZXWIqlE/TrezcsLFo0I/AAAAAAAAAQY/qdIcgrEhQT0/s1600/LickingTheBowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DwTWZXWIqlE/TrezcsLFo0I/AAAAAAAAAQY/qdIcgrEhQT0/s320/LickingTheBowl.jpg" width="240" /></a> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've come to accept a few things when cooking with him;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">there is going to be mess, just clean it up later</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my cake will turn out a little smaller than it should be</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a good soak in napi-san straight away usually gets the chocolate out</span></li>
</ol><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xzqZLPQESA/TrezfBHi4uI/AAAAAAAAAQo/Fh0xPLn6skg/s1600/ChocolateFace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xzqZLPQESA/TrezfBHi4uI/AAAAAAAAAQo/Fh0xPLn6skg/s320/ChocolateFace.jpg" width="240" /></a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>chocolate crackles</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or bake nude and you don't have that problem! Thanks my little Naked Chef!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7JqgwDmWcC0/TrezrTUS_kI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/aDmXg9DnpVc/s1600/Harry+the+naked+chef+2sml.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7JqgwDmWcC0/TrezrTUS_kI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/aDmXg9DnpVc/s320/Harry+the+naked+chef+2sml.jpg" width="240" /></a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>rolling pizza bases</i></span></div>Ash n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893738919657090691.post-90773706610030891162011-11-04T17:41:00.000+11:002011-11-04T17:41:15.993+11:00Threading Delights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was just tickled pink when I found out my two year old LOVES to thread! He will thread these coloured straws for hours... well... not literally hours, he is only two. But his attention is held for longer than the average two year old when it comes to threading. His masterpieces - naturally - are displayed in our home.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-91pt5ngWybw/TrOHKqtHgtI/AAAAAAAAAPA/I_L4CZsj9fY/s1600/Threading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-91pt5ngWybw/TrOHKqtHgtI/AAAAAAAAAPA/I_L4CZsj9fY/s320/Threading.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course it inspired me to join him in a threading experience, but I had no straws. Improvise. I made him some coloured beads out of long skinny triangles of coloured paper, gluing and rolling them to make these quirky little beads.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"><o:p> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N9tIXrSvemI/TrOHISF3AVI/AAAAAAAAAOw/O-94toboZCI/s1600/Beads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N9tIXrSvemI/TrOHISF3AVI/AAAAAAAAAOw/O-94toboZCI/s320/Beads.jpg" width="240" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had fun, but I think it took too long and he'd lost interest because mostly they just ended up in Muck.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0Fn5-3UEgY/TrOHJzx6NqI/AAAAAAAAAO4/blxAdmEg2ps/s1600/Muck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0Fn5-3UEgY/TrOHJzx6NqI/AAAAAAAAAO4/blxAdmEg2ps/s320/Muck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Note to self: make beads in advance… or spring for the straws next time.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Ash n Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540398387090489103noreply@blogger.com0