Why I love Christmas Part one.

So I've had the talk. The serious talk. The talk about table settings and colours and all that serious stuff. The Christmas talk.

Said talk was with my mother. She gets just excited about these things as I do. Genetics. Aisle 4.

Decisions have been made. Tentative plans about menus have been discussed. Someone may or may not be attempting a bomb Alaska. Some new blue plates have been spied and will be purchased. Whats Christmas without new crockery right?

I'm putting my thinking cap on for some genius decorating idea's. Nothings hit me so far.

We're going duck egg blue with pops of red. Should be gorgeous....

Lets hope we don't peak to early.

Images from Canadian House and Home

Shake your bon bon

This is what I'm currently doing.
Happy Birthday to me for tomorrow ;) That's right I'm old now.

Have yourself a fun weekend.

From here.

Bench candy

Some people were not as excited

I'm excited. It's arrived. All shiny and perfect.

I haven't been this excited since I unpacked my Dyson...

I'm about to spend a few wonderful hours beating egg whites to my hearts content.

This weekend... why don't you..

Head on down to Mount Ashby Estate Vineyard.

I went there recently and they have set up the most gorgeous restaurant in an old style french barnyard. You can get excited and break your no alcohol during the day ban and sample some of the local tipples. Might I suggest the 2009 pinot gris.

Delicious french country food. Great staff. Lovely atmosphere. Rustic. Might I recommend the beef bouguignon. Did I mention there is an Antique's store on site? There is.

Maybe that's how I ended up there.

We'll be back. Its only ten minutes from our house or 45mins if you decide you don't trust your GPS and think you know a better way. Not that that happened.. I'm just sayin'.

You should go too.

Have a great weekend!

They came, they saw, they christmased.

Here are a few pics of my Christmas in July table.

I hung some string above the table and hung some ornaments from it.

The highlights: Dessert. Christmas jaffa favors. Mum bringing presents.

The lowlights: None. Except my hair. ;)

Watch out Masterchef.

So macaroons are hard to make.

Would I make them again?

Probably not.

Anything that requires a piping bag is alot of work.

Did they taste bloody terrific? You betcha.

Mine look a bit flat though.

That's all x

Chairs and Macaroons and its raining here.

Image from Absolutely beautiful things

Just about sums up this post so feel free to get back to whatever it was you were doing.

I like these bamboo (I'm guessing) chairs. I would like some for my sun room. I'll need a jaunty little table too.

Just a thought. I am allowing myself to look but tragically no purchases till we move. IE buy a shoe box and have too much furniture.

Attempting to make macaroons this afternoon. Stay tuned.

I made these

Hope you have a happy Easter.
Love us. x

Family secrets... ssshhhhhh

If your in the mood for baking this weekend, might I suggest a family favourite.
Just keep it between you and me.
I've been making this for over ten years and it never fails. My mother must have been making it for thirty years.
I'm clever, I don't need the recipe anymore but here you go.
Thanks Nana June. x

June's Banana Cake

1/4 Cup butter - unsalted
3/4 Cup caster sugar
2 Eggs
3 ripe banana's mashed
I teaspoon bi carb soda
pinch salt
1 1/2 cups SF Flour
2 tablespoons of milk

Cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs and beat well. Stir in mashed banana's. Fold in flour (sifted) carb soda and salt. Stir in milk. Bake in moderate oven for around half an hour. I like to ice with a lemon icing, but you could also use cream cheese icing.

DIY Cupcake Bar

Images from Style me Pretty

OK so I've been banging on about Dessert bars - but this is different.
Its a cup cake bar.

Great idea for kids or adults parties. You simply provide plain cakes and all the goodies to ice and decorate and viola cup cake bar.
I think it would be a hit.

I'm thinking dessert table

Image from here

Yes please.

Good one

There's nothing quite like a home cooked meal. And if you were really stuck for a gift idea.. or perhaps left it to the last minute. This is a good idea.

Make it special here.

About last night

Lemon delicious pudding cooked by me

So I told R that I was cooking up a storm last night and not to get too excited but I was going to blog about it. Nothings sacred anymore huh?
So dinner was delicious - but the pics I took as evidence of delicious dinner aren't so impressive. Only pic suitable for publishing is of dessert.
Must buy new camera.

Easter time = chocolate

Images courtesy of Martha Stewart

I found these great invite ideas on Martha Stewarts website and used them for my up and coming family Easter Brunch. Yay. I just love events.
Looking forward to some yummy food and perhaps a Bellini or two. Calls for Nigella's American pancakes. Definitely.x

Bake It Pretty

Cup cakes are my thing. I have made them for years. I've made them for parties, school fetes, Sunday afternoons, charity - you name it. You never get tired of a good homemade cupcake. I've strayed away from my tried and tested recipe but always come back to the Woman's Weekly recipe circa 1982. Never fails. I recently found a great website dedicated to all things pretty and baking and these adorable cup cake holders. Might be a great jumping off point for some Easter treats.

Family favourites

Its no secret I LOVE to cook. On a recent trip to visit my lovely grandmother, she gave me her baking tins which she said she no longer used but she knew I would. I felt very honoured and alittle misty eyed driving home with the tins carefully packed between a cardigan in the back seat. It dawned on me that over the years my grandmother has made over hundreds of cakes and slices in these very tins. We love a good slice in my family. How special to be able to use these in my own kitchen and cook for my family and friends. I haven't used them yet. I am waiting to make her famous banana cake in its special new tin. I hope I do her proud x