How to buy fabric with young children

I stumbled across this post from IKAT BAG and had a big giggle. If you've ever tried to buy fabric [or anything] with young children you should read this.

Everything Liah says is absolutely true. And I learnt the hard way to do all these things.

PECAN PIE

Last night we had some bible study friends over for a meal. We shared the meal preparation [they did main, I did dessert] but I couldn't decide what to make, so I made lemon meringue pie, cupcakes, and pecan pie.

It's been ages since I made pecan pie, and I'd forgotten just how easy [and delicious] it is. Here is my recipe, modified from an Australian Women's Weekly cookbook recipe:

PECAN PIE

1 cup plain flour [I used gluten free - of course]
90g butter
2 tablespoons water, approximately

FILLING:
3 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup golden syrup or glucose syrup
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
30g butter, melted
1 1/2 cups [the whiole 185g packet] pecans

Put flour and butter in food processor and process till it resembles fine breadcrumbs [or rub in butter by hand]. Add enough water to make ingredients cling together. Press dough into a ball, knead gently on floured surface until smooth.

Roll dough until large enough to line your pie dish/flan tin. Lift pastry into greased tin, trim edge. Blind bake in moderately hot oven 10 minutes, remove paper and weights, bake a further 10 mins. Allow to cool while you make the filling.

Combine all filling ingredients in bowl, mixing well. Pour into pastry case.

Bake in moderately slow oven 55 mins or until set. Cool.


This pie is delicious served with dollop cream.

Microwave Playdough

I've been promising a few friends this recipe but keep forgetting to give it to them so I thought I'd post it here. WAY easier than stirring playdough on the stove!

MICROWAVE PLAYDOUGH

3 cups plain flour
1/2 cup salt
6 teaspoons cream of tartar
3 tablespoons oil
3 cups water
food colouring

Place all ingredients in large microwave safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 8-10 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking time. Turn onto a hard surface and knead to finish.

Recent sewing projects

Despite my family [and myself] having gastro during this month, I have managed to do some sewing lately. We had Under 8's day at school this week, to which the children come dressed up. Miss 3 wanted to go as Sleeping Beauty and this is her dress: Miss 5 wanted to be a Fairy Queen. She also wore white fairy wings and carried a wand:

Miss 7 chose Sleeping Beauty too. Actually, Miss 3 only decided on Sleeping Beauty when she heard that's what Miss 7 wanted to dress up as. I really enjoyed making the standing up collar. The back of this dress is laced with pink ribbon much like the front of the white fairy dress:

They looked beautiful on the girls, complete with tiaras. But I forgot to take a photo of them in the dresses. I had such fun sewing these dresses!

Mastering the cupcake swirl

I've been practising at least once a week, and I think I'm finally happy with my cupcake swirls, both with fluted and smooth piping nozzles. In fact, I took cupcakes to playgroup yesterday and the girls thought they looked professional, so I'm happy.

Now to master the icing rose...