Birthdays mean parties and parties mean work. And I am here to tell you that I have a lot of work to do before her party this Saturday. 24 little people will be gathering together with Keira to celebrate AND thankfully not at our house.

I do love the home party and we had a great one last year (you can read about it here) but this year we’ve gone with an art party at her art school. And as I sit at my house which needs a really good clean and I have a lot of blog work due, I’m so grateful that I’ve outsourced the party this year. All I have to do is food and the cake. And we’ve picked the apple cake from the Women’s Weekly Bumper Book of Kid’s Birthday Cakes. Great book by the way with all of the classics and some new ones.

But I will stress about the party and make way too much food and hope the cake turns out right. Because for some reason I can bake a cake on any given day of the year but ask me to bake a cake for a birthday party and I am bound to make a mistake or have a disaster. For Keira’s 5th birthday I just could not get the dolly varden cake to bake in our old oven. 3 times. Yep I tried 3 times before I resorted to cupcakes.  Last year I did the pink rainbow cake and it was a huge success and I’ve put a few hints here.

So please excuse me from blogging while I get down to business. I need to plan the menu, shop the big shopping list, bake and decorate the cake and get those lolly bags underway.

 Best birthday tip? Biggest birthday cake disaster?

It’s been a while between recipes so I have two easy ones for you. And they are healthy. With the weather getting cooler I just have to share one of my favourite breakfasts. My cheats bircher muesli. Now this is a bit of a no-brainer and doesn’t need it’s own recipe card. BUT it is just so perfect for the weather we’re having right now. It’s really filling and really healthy and I rediscovered it when I was trying to lose the weight after having emerson. It can fill me up until lunchtime or mid morning and is so easy

Just take about 1/3- 1/2 cup of untoasted muesli. I used Woolworths Select Apricot, Almond and Date Wholesome Muesli.  Place in a bowl. Cover with just a bit more boiling water than is needed to cover the muesli. Place a plate over the top of your bowl and leave for 10 minutes. I use this time to jump in the shower, grab a cup of coffee or make lunches. Remove the plate and make sure all of the water is absorbed. Give it a good stir. Leave the plate off for a minute to cool down then add a big spoonful of yoghurt. Enjoy. Its the nuts and fruits that really make this one a winner.

Now my next favourite recipe using muesli is a lunchbox and morning tea winner. It is actually the real reason we keep muesli in the house…………to make muesli bars. The kids can help you stir all the ingredients together and their favourite job is also pressing the mixture down into the tin with wet hands. Definitely a fun job to save for the kids as they love getting their hands in there. Please, please, please make sure that you use a nut free version of muesli if these are going to school or a children’s party.

The mixture tastes great too according to my assistant, Elodie. I don’t think I could do a recipe without  a ‘helper’  in the kitchen

Woolworths Select have just released a  range of Wholesome Mueslis that come in a variety of flavours for different tastes. And they are well priced too. Anyone who does the grocery shop knows that you can pay an arm and a leg for cereals these days. And judging by this photo it looks like I won’t be needing to buy muesli for a while. We are well stocked here.

We tasted all of the flavours and decided that Retro daddy’s favourite was the Original Toasted with honey & cinnamon. I also loved this one and thought to myself that it would be great sprinkled over some natural yoghurt for a healthy snack. I’m more of a natural muesli kind of lady so my favourite was the Apricot, Almond and Date because I just adore nuts in my muesli. And the Low Fat Untoasted will be my favourite when summer rolls around and I think about getting into shape.

The great thing about muesli is that you don’t need to do anything fancy with it and it’s a quick and healthy breakfast. And why not just have it with yoghurt for a snack or quick breakfast on the run. Not that I’m going to run out the door with one of my good glasses and silverware but just pop it in a little container and you’re off.

So keep an eye out for the Woolworths Select range of muesli next time you’re at Woolworths (in the cereal aisle of course) and work out your favourite flavour. And tell me how you eat muesli at your house or your best Bircher muesli recipe!

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easy muesli slice

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

40 mins

 

Author: corrie

Recipe type: Baking

Serves: 16

What you’ll need

• 3 cups Woolworths Select Muesli
• 125g butter, chopped
• 2-3Tbsp golden syrup
• 1Tbsp Vanilla extract/essence

Instructions

1. Place muesli into a large mixing bowl.
2. In a saucepan melt the butter and golden syrup over a low-medium heat and stir a few times. As soon as the butter has melted remove from the heat.
3. Stir butter mixture into the muesli and combine with the vanilla.
4. Tip into a lined square/rectangular tin and press down well with wet hands. It’s really important that it’s pressed in.
5. Bake in a preheated 180C/350F oven for about 30 minutes. The centre will be soft but the top will be golden brown. Be careful that it doesn’t burn.
6. Leave pan to cool on wire rack (leaving the slice in the tin) then place tin in fridge for at least 30 minutes. Slice and enjoy.
7. The slice will be soft at first so it’s best to leave it to cool well and then enjoy.

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Now first up is the very first knitting book I ever purchased and used. It’s a good one and I often recommend it to beginners who don’t know where to start. It’s called Baby knits for beginners by Debbie Bliss. It covers the basics with clear pictures and then has a range of patterns that are suitable for beginners right through to more experienced knitters who are looking for a classic pattern.  In fact one of my favourite cardigans,  the raglan cardigan with fully fashioned shaping , is in here and it’s such a great knit for a new baby or toddler.

The patterns are also great if you’re wanting to move on from scarfs and squares but simple enough to follow that you won’t be lost or stuck with half a knitting project that you can’t finish because it’s too hard.

Next up is a golden oldie that I picked up at Vinnies for $5. Love a good buy like this one. There are a few variations and different editions of this book but you can pick these up at op shops, 2nd hand bookstores, eBay, Gumtree and wherever you buy your 2nd hand books.

It covers everything, is super easy to read and suits all levels. There are pages and pages of different stitches and it’s a great reference book. And no matter what level of knitter or crafter that you are, everyone needs a good reference book. Definitely a winner this one.

And last up is a new book for our craft library that I’d wanted for a few years now. And I picked up this book as soon as Keira told me she really wanted to learn how to knit.  It is full of photos and little rhymes to help little people learn to knit and it is written for children in easy to understand language.

We’ve been sitting down together doing the stitches and when Keira gets stuck she can look at the photo or revisit the rhyme and see where she might have gone wrong.

I also love the few pages on correcting your mistakes. So important for any knitter. This book really is clear and I think is great for adults too but is really great for little ones and includes cute projects for them to make.

And a last little tip, before I buy a knitting book I pop over to Ravelry, select patterns, put in the title of the book and you should be able to see what people have made and sometimes all of the projects in the book. It’s a great way to see if a book is worth purchasing.

Now, have I missed one? Do you have a favourite knitting book for beginners that you want to share?

For  a few years I’ve driven past the signs and seen the traffic and crowds of people going to the Kamaroi Fair. This year I knew we had to go. We got there just after opening time and it was already busy and parking was a few streets away. But we managed to get everyone down the very busy road by walking in the ditch like a row of ducks. Of course we got to the main entrance and discovered there was a drop off zone (and used it for getting all the kids in the car safely home).

It was probably a little bit too ambitious for us to start with the craft hall but I managed to pick up something small for elodie from my doll making teacher. Elodie kept trying to put it back on the table so we left with a big bunch of tears and hit the craft area for kids.

This was girl heaven.

Pom pom making for my girls while my boys hit the organic sausage sizzle.

the mums on the craft tables were just so helpful and interested in all of the little ones who were at the tables. And it was so fun watching them making the pom poms. I love this photo….the joy of craft and making something is alive and well.

oh and the pom pom flowers were scented with lavender oil. so sweet.

Next up was face painting.

some cake, a play, the book store and some sushi, I tried to see more of the craft hall but only managed one big table then it was home time. I was really itching to try the food – vegetarian nachos, lovely salads and some delicious food but elodie had pretty much reached her limit.

Those of you with lots of little ones know that it’s always worth it when you take everyone out together and you can look back on it. But man oh man it’s a whole lot of work to keep 5 little people together, happy and fed when you’re out and about. But we did it. We survived and we’ll do it again. Creating memories right here.

If you get the chance to visit a steiner school fair it is a real delight for the kids. Ours had the ‘best day ever’ and we look forward to visiting Glenaeon’s towards the end of the year.

And you don’t need kids to visit! You can probably enjoy a longer walk around the craft hall, books and enjoy a coffee and some lunch on your own.

Take this little baby cardigan I made for retro daddy’s PA. It’s only been sitting in my craft room for a fortnight waiting for the buttons to go on. In the end it took less than 5 minutes to sew these buttons on and now it’s ready to head off  in the post with a cute little baby outfit.

I love this project and you can find it on Ravelry here. The pattern is Granny’s Favourite by tiKKi and the wool is called Shetland 8 ply from Bendigo Woollen Mills. Now I’m sorry to say this came from the back room. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, when in Bendigo you just have to visit the back bargain room. It’s a treasure trove and I wrote about it here

Are you good at finishing your knitting projects or more of a ‘start a new project’ kind of knitter?

She is the mother of two little ones. Do you remember growing up? Your worst fear was to lose your parents. And for a woman so devoted to her family and home life it is just so sad.

So keep her children and family in your prayers and thoughts today. It is an unimaginable loss and I know that the craft and blog community around the world will be coming together in a few ways to ease the pain and burden for her children

I never met Kathreen but she was a true inspiration to so many bloggers and crafters with her love and passion for craft. Her blog had been around forever. I adored her pinterest pages as she had so many boards and an eye for finding things. And she worked so hard as evidenced by her books, blog and work. Just the other day I was reading her book in the library while the kids were playing.

May she rest in eternal peace.

Edited to add that you can make a donation towards the trust fund set up for her two beautiful children here. And if you’d like to place a button on your blog there is a link in the comments on the Whip Up page.

And I’m going to give my top tips and also how I keep myself honest. I know people on small incomes who save and people on big incomes who spend it all. It took me a year of working full time and living out of home at 21 on a graduate salary before I got my butt into gear and stopped spending so I could pay the bills, clear out my maxxed out credit cards and have a bit tucked aside. It was never much but it was a start.

1. OK so first you need a goal

For us at the start of the year it was carpet (not cheap!) and small goals. Small goals might be a new pair of jeans or some wool for the stash and so on. And little treats like a magazine or sushi train lunch are always part of life.  Once that big goal is done then there are always a couple after it that we’ve been talking about. The carpet goes down later this month and then it’s time to save for heating and curtains.

2.Open up a high interest saving account.

I have an internet high interest/saver account so once I receive any money that I don’t need in my everyday account it goes to the isaver account. You generally don’t need a minimum balance these days and because I can’t access it by ATM it’s a good account for my savings. When I need to pay a bill or something comes up then I just transfer money to my everyday account. Sometimes that account runs low but that’s why you need to save….to watch it go up.

3. I made my own pizza

Every time I wanted a takeaway on friday or saturday night I would remind myself of what was in the pantry and that the kids do their own simple pizzas. For me that is $30 just there and over a month that is $120 so saying no to takeaway has been a big deal here. And it’s easy to be in the takeaway trap when you have so many little ones and are pooped by the end of the week. It also helps when you move away from the best thai takeaway you’ve ever had and the local chinese goes downhill. Chinese was easily $50-60 per takeaway.

4. Keep on top of wardrobes.

Not as in sit on them but just regularly go through the kids and your own wardrobes. I generally switch things around between the kids and then realise that elodie doesn’t need new jeans because there were 2 pairs in tillie’s wardrobe that would do. I shop all at once for things like pj’s or when I have a discount voucher to my favourite store and don’t just buy them clothes at other times. And I buy less for the kids but buy better quality. Anyone with a few kids knows that good hand me downs are like gold. I take care of our clothes so that someone younger can wear it, I stick to classic colours and good quality and I know we’ll get a few kids out of them.

5. Don’t pay full price.

This is a big deal for me. When it comes to dressing the 7 of us if there is a sale at my favourite store then I look online and buy what I need online. If I go into the store I tend to spend more or rush my decision because little people didn’t want to be there. I also buy out of season so Keira and Tillie have new jeans this winter that I bought in the summer sales from Country Road and Zara for less than $20 a pair. Full price is $50. I love a bargain, learn to love the thrill of a bargain.

6. Make the kids a part of the saving

Remind the kids of what you are saving for. This was a big thing too. The kids all know that we’ve been saving up for the carpet and we’d remind them how nice their bedrooms will look. If they want toys they know they’ll get them at birthdays or Christmas. They get little treats but there are no toys along the way just because we are at the shops. This has not always been the case. Trust me. I was the queen of buying toys and clothes here and there but now we have a room devoted to toys and everytime they ask for a toy when we’re out I think of that room.

7. Act as if you don’t know when more money is coming in.

This sounds ridiculous to some people but a blogger’s income is all over the shop. You might have a great month then hardly anything the next month. Because I don’t know how much is coming in the next month I hold on to what is at the bank.

8. Reduce your credit card limit.

Now this was a big one for me. I had a high credit card limit from when I was running my fabric store and still had it at a high level until Christmas. I cleared the card and reduced the limit to a third of the original. I do all of the groceries, my own bills, all of our medical appointments, clothes, kids activities, swimming and other things that I pay for. When I get paid each month the first thing I do is clear my credit card. You save on ATM fees if you can use your credit card to pay for your everyday stuff BUT you should be paying it off each month.

9. Marry a saver 

Ha ha of course I’m joking, no I’m not. It has to be said that I married mr frugal. Being raised as one of 7 children and with a bank manager for a father – he keeps me on the straight and narrow. Shopping purchases are no longer snuck into the house (ok sometimes they are) and he always asks what is the balance on this or that, what have you got coming in, this bill was such and such. And if you didn’t marry a saver then make sure that one of you is keeping your family on the straight and narrow.

10. eBay & Gumtree

When Keira needed a bedside table I turned to second hand and paid $17 on eBay instead of $300+. When my lovely friend said heh do you want a white bedhead for the girls bedroom I said yes. If you’re renovating then make gumtree, eBay and garage sales your best friend. Be picky but always be on the look out. And get rid of the stuff in your own house too to bring in some money.

11. Stop buying stuff

With a big house to fill it would be easy to buy more furniture or couches to fill our upstairs lounge room or do a trip to Ikea. Nope. The carpet was made the priority and the only big thing we were buying for the house. And we’ve pretty much stuck to it except for my birthday when I decked out my craft room. All that little ‘stuff’ adds up to a whole lot of ‘stuff’. Even the number of parcels being dropped at my door has been cut right back because I’m not buying ‘stuff’.

12. Stay motivated

I love my home magazines and pinterest which keep me focused on saving up to do things on the house and how I want things to look. It’ll be a few years before our house is finished from top to bottom and that’s ok. More time to get it right.

13. Commit to using cash for your goals

These days it’s so easy to use credit – credit cards, personal loans and drawing on your mortgage. We made a commitment when we bought this house that we would renovate it as we had money and not increase our debt. And we’re committed to doing it that way. Don’t decide half way through saving that you’ll just borrow for the rest of it. Of course there are times when you’re building a house or doing a major renovation or unexpected problems come up. But if not then stay focused on your goal of having cash in the bank and using that cash for what you want. It’s old school but it’s smart and what we should be teaching our children.

14. Think of the family

And  the biggest thing that has helped me save has been the responsibility of providing for our family. How corny does that sound!!! Bringing in an income after many years of not bringing in much or anything as well as the uncertainty of jobs for retro daddy mean that I think about our family and the future. Sure I’d love a new sewing machine or more clothes or a second car or a holiday but I have really controlled my spending by making sure that money is there in the bank in case something goes wrong. I also remind myself of the times when we’ve had no money and how I need to keep the money I do have.

Hit me with your best saving tip or even your dilemma?

I was sent the latest Thermomix cookbook, ‘Thermomix Cooking for your Baby & Toddler’ by Louise Fulton Keats (granddaughter of THE Margaret Fulton) and it’s a great addition to your little home library. There are loads of great recipes for babies and toddlers but as soon as I opened the book I went straight to the family meal section. And started working out what I was going to make for dinner. Top of my list to make were the sausage rolls (great to keep in the freezer and also for kids parties), prawn and fish wontons, ricotta and spinach ravioli, carrot cakes with lemon cream cheese frosting and crunchy fish fingers (no more fish fingers from a packet).

The recipes are definitely what your little ones want to eat and what will also keep everyone in the family happy. There is even a macaroni cheese recipe which of course I will have to make however much it pains me because my lot would eat it 7 days a week. Retro daddy will eat something else because after 6 years of making it he is well and truly over macaroni cheese/tuna macaraoni/ any other variation I try on the old mac n cheese.

There is a really great page in the book about what foods to avoid, what age and the reason why. The start of each chapter also includes helpful advice and it was informative without being too long or indepth to read. It was also up to date. I think even mums second (or third or more) times around will learn a thing or two as well.

We road tested the sausage rolls and they were a winner. There is no salt or seasoning in the recipe so emerson ate 2 of the rolls and next time I might just season the mince for the adults as retro daddy and I love a bit of salt and pepper in ours. Huge hit and I got 3 trays of sausage rolls out of the recipe.

All in all this was a great book to keep in your kitchen if you have little ones in your house. My thermomix cookbooks are all in pretty high rotation in my kitchen but it’s the old favourites that really keep the family happy and I love how this book has some great new recipes that I know I’ll be making time and time again.

We did church, a few tears, lovely to see a few mummy friends and we all had to get on the alter for a final blessing and photograph. So special. Mind you Tillie and Keira were hugging my legs so tight that I lost my balance at one point during mass which was pretty funny. Keira definitely embraced the spirit of mother’s day. Up to the cemetery with flowers, visit from my dad with flowers for me (he always buys me something for mother’s day!). Lunch and then it was quilt time.

I am always having a little conversation with myself to make more time for craft. And quilting is a craft that requires time and patience. And generally no kids in the room…..someone was allowed to play with fabric before I took a bit of time to myself. A few hours in my craft room, coffee and chocolate finger biccies  and I finished a quilt block. Just one.

Ta da! This might take me a while but my goal is a lovely quilt to look like stacks of books to hang over emerson’s cot. 1 block down and 11 to go……………………

Chocolate and coffee are two of my favourite things. Put them together and you have a winner. And you know I love baking brownies. So I’ve combined a few of my favourite things into a delicious brownie using Moccona Flavour Infused coffee.  I’m still loving the caramel flavour but decided to use vanilla for this recipe. And I still find myself opening the jar for a smell before I make the coffee…………….it’s that good.

Now the actual brownie itself doesn’t taste like coffee but has a really rich flavour and it’s the icing that gives it the delicious mocha flavour. And if you’re not a fan of icing just leave it off. But it’s the icing that really makes this brownie so give it a go. These are great to make for a special occasion or when you’re out to impress.

and the recipe……….here you go. And there is still time to enter my Moccona giveaway here. $500 Wheel & Barrow gift voucher anyone? But be quick. Winner will be drawn next Monday 13th May…….

mocha brownies

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

30 mins

 

There are 3 flavours of Moccona Flavour Infused coffee and I used vanilla for this recipe. You choose…..Vanilla, Hazelnut or Caramel.

Recipe type: Baking, Chocolate

Serves: 16

What you’ll need

• 200g good quality dark cooking chocolate
• 100g unsalted butter
• 2 eggs
• 2tsp Moccona Flavour Infused coffee in about 2Tbsp hot water
• 1 cup Caster sugar
• ½ cup SR flour
• ½ cup plain flour
• 2 cups icing sugar
• 2Tbsp cocoa
• 50g softened butter
• 1 tsp of Moccona Flavour Infused coffee in 2 Tbsp water

Instructions

1. Melt butter and chocolate in glass bowl/microwave safe dish for 2 minutes 30 seconds on medium high in microwave and stir a couple of times inbetween.
2. Add sugar and stir well. Add eggs and stir well. Add in coffee, mix in well.
3. Now sift in flour gradually.
4. Pour into lined lamington tin or a greased silicone form.
5. Bake for 18-20 minutes in 180C/350F.
6. Remove from oven and leave to cool completely. Yes completely. No cutting slices for yourself yet, you need to ice it first.
7. Place butter in mixer and beat for a minute until soft and creamy. Add in sifted icing sugar and the cocoa. Now with the sugar add it in gradually with a dash of milk and the cooled coffee.
8. Keep adding icing sugar until you get the right consistency. Nice and thick and spreadable.
9. If you need more than 2 cups of sugar then go for it otherwise if it still a little runny then put it in a bowl and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Then spread onto the brownie.
10. OK so get your icing, spread evenly on the brownie and then refrigerate. Keeping it cool will give you nice thick icing on top.
11. And when you’re ready to eat it just slice and enjoy.

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