Rustic Tarts

Market Season

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 04:09:00 +0000

The market season has begun again - although this year is a bit different as Marion has decided to take a 'gap' year ie she's having the year off! We have just had our second market and I've started with the mindset that I won't bust my 'pfoofer valve' trying to produce as much by myself, as we did the two of us working together. Which is all very good in the mind, but when you see your wares spread out over the tables, you realise that you don't want your stall to look understocked.

The first market was great - even with some rain - but the shoppers didn't go home, they sheltered under the stalls and then resumed shopping once it all dried up.
These photos were taken at the second market which was a bit quieter, as it wasn't a long weekend, but I was still happy with my sales.

Spinach & Feta pies, Scotch Eggs, sticky date puddings, assorted macarons, mixed nut caramel slice, lemon meringue pies, rhubarb & raspberry cakes, blueberry friands, vanilla slice

Polka Dot cookies, pinwheel sausage rolls, chunky chicken pies, middle eastern lamb pies

Sticky Date & oat biscuits, custard cream biscuits, quince paste, olive oil infused with rosemary & garlic (not made by me) and lemon butter

The rosette flower brooches (and also the rosette hair clips which you can't see in the photo) have been 'good sellers' and I really enjoy making them. It's one job I can do sitting down!

Art, food and friends

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 04:06:00 +0000

It was a tough assignment but someone had to do it. Last weekend we headed off to the Barossa Valley with the intentions of seeing great art at some of the SALA exhibitions and also having some wonderful food. The friends part was easy - they were all very willing accomplices.

The SALA exhibitions we visited on Sat afternoon, were a little disappointing - just not our 'thing' but we did enjoy this one.

All made from corrugated iron and metally bits - how smart.

And then on Sunday morning we headed off bright and early to see the exhibition that we really wanted to see. Thankfully it was all that we had expected and more +++

Sue rescues unwanted bits and pieces that have seen better days and with skill like a plastic surgeon, she rebirths them into unique pieces of jewellery.

I still can't decide what was my favourite piece.

The babushka looking necklaces and earrings were once the pull-tops from the tops of cans.

Of course its the kind of thing I notice and think about when I'm opening cans!

She can even produce some arty prints - wonder if there is anything she can't do?

Marion fell in love with this one.

I really liked the necklace on the left - made from pieces of china.

I've been spotted since eyeing off the china in my mother's cupboard!

The Pinnacles cake

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 01:35:00 +0000

A lovely cake that we have renamed "The Pinnacles" - can you see the likeness?
The banner is a great idea for people like me who are cake decorating challenged!

Cloud 9

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 05:48:00 +0000

A few weeks/months ago we celebrated Kirsty's 40th birthday. The theme?........ "Cloud 9"
- and whilst we were encouraged to dress in vintage clothes or vintagey colours, the venue was already slotted well into the vintage era - by age and not by looks but Kirsty had a vision of what it could and would look like and she transformed the room into a magical loveliness.

The walls and ceiling were completed covered with black fabric - metres and metres of it - with hundreds of twinkling fairy lights and many tissue paper clouds hanging through the room.

Chandeliers, candelabras & lamps provided the lighting and

vintage tableware including water jugs and glasses filled the tables.

We settled into our seats and enjoyed the delicious meal.

Marion, Kirsty and me

Kirsty's children were our waitresses and waiter, and her husband
was as debonair as ever

Nameplaces were little swans, with a name wrapped macaron sitting in their backs
and we'd filled lovely dishes full of macarons and had them dotted down the tables.

By the end of the night we were all wearing our wings - even my husband was happy to be photographed with them on.

My job was to make macarons and once started on the lovely pastel colours it was hard to stop. I must say that the photos taken of the mounds of gelati coloured macarons looked fabulous. The fillings included white chocolate ganache with pureed raspberry, salted caramel, lemon butter and milk chocolate with nectarine.

Marion made Kirsty's birthday cake - covered with edible shiny stars,
macarons and persian fairy floss
(I made the cake stand - thanks to the inspiration of Sue and Melissa, using a crystal platter and an upturned dessert bowl. The cake stand was actually a Kitchen tea present for my new "niece-in-law" and as often the case, I now want one like it too!)

She's got 10 years to plan for her 50th, wonder what she'll do to top this party?!

Cosy Apples

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:51:00 +0000

Quick to make and so cute! Pattern featured in the first issue of Mollie Makes a new UK magazine.

Maintaining the monthly blog post

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Tue, 31 May 2011 06:11:00 +0000

The end of May already, but with a new computer, after weeks of no computer at all, it also brings the promise of regular blogging again - I have months of catching up to do. My friend Marion and I have been doing some catering over the past few months. Last Tuesday we headed off to a saltworks company 45 minutes away from where we live, to provide a lunch for 20 visitors that the company were hosting, for a product release.

We were in the kitchen/staff lunchroom unpacking and starting to prepare food when the Site Manager came in and introduced himself, and then asked if we knew what was happening during the day. He then went on to say that the visitors were actually from Sydney and that they were all food editors! Great...... It still didn't occur to us how important these food editors were until the door opened and in walked Lyndey Milan - food editor of The Women's Weekly - and appears on TV (currently has a new foodie travelog type of show on SBS Thursday nights).......deep breaths were taken by us.

We recognised others too - Jennene Plummer from Woman's Day, Doris Papps(?) from New Idea, Michelle Southan and Betty Chung from Good Taste, ....from Food Ideas, and more. The group were heading up to the Barossa Valley for the night and had their own chef with them. It was supposed to have been Justin North (who you may have seen on Masterchef and other TV shows) but at the last minute he couldn't make it so his head chef was sent on his behalf.

The Public Relations lady who had organised the group, popped out to see us a few times and was sampling various things before we even got to take them out to the dining area. When she saw the macarons she told us that Adriano Zumbo is one of her clients and she didn't think she would ever want to eat another macaron again, after sampling some of his wasabi and other flavoured macarons. She told us that ours were really good!

We had a moment of panic, wondering if what we had prepared was up to their standard and then decided that it was, and we couldn't have done anything else at that time anyway.

The menu we prepared? Is as follows - make sure you don't read it on an empty stomach!

blinis with smoked salmon and creme fraiche

arancini with mushroms and mozarella cheese filling

bruschetta with tomato and roast capsicum

caramelised mushroom tart with sour cream and chives

............................................

prawn, atlantic salmon and scallop skewers

balsamic glazed fillet with caramelised apple skewers

middle eastern lamb pies with minted cream cheese and pinenuts

spinach and feta rolls

chicken and haloumi skewers

korma rump steak pies

autumn vegetable tart wedges

...........................................

meringue nests with poached mixed berries

lemon brulee tarts

pink macarons with white chocolate and raspberry ganache

green macarons with salted caramel filling

macadamia tarts

black forest petit fours

dark chocolate orange tarts with chocolate orange pastry

..........................................

cheese platter with 3 cheeses and homemade (& home grown) quince paste

Not a lot of photos, I know, it was only as we were putting the sweets onto the table (and the group were out of the room on a short tour) that we thought to take a few.

What a day - not the kind of day, you expect in a small country area! The feedback was great and we were called into the dining area to be thanked by the food editors.....hope they remember where we live, if they ever need us!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello blog...it's been a long time

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:15:00 +0000

Maybe I need to re-introduce myself???

A host of issues has kept me from blogging, but now with the market season finished for us and not baking nearly every day, I hope to be back on a more regular basis.

My computer has been sick and out of action for a week and now has to go back to get a bit more memory added - wouldn't it be great if we could get extra memory added to our brains as needed? Unfortunately the file that I save all my photos has disappeared from the computer, so hopefully it might reappear after the next 'check-up'.....and now the cable to download photos from the camera has been misplaced....and what is a blog post without photos???????

Husband and I have also done a rushed trip to New Zealand last week. Friday evening we were advised that my father-in-law had died so on Sunday morning we were flying to Auckland - and then drove to his hometown on Monday morning. The funeral was Wednesday and I returned late Thursday night, with husband arriving back on Saturday night. There were lots of laughs & memories shared, and catching up with other family.

Now we are trying to catch up with our work and life this week, so that we can take take off again! This time we are headed to Victoria for my nephew's wedding in a fortnight's time....... another family celebration, of a different kind.

I have enjoyed taking part in another Postcard Swap - this time I gave to Sonya in USA. Whilst my photos are still unobtainable on the camera, you can check out her blog. It was the first time I had tried some 'burning fabric' & fusing techniques (other than the accidental kind!) So pleased she liked it.

Hope to have some photos to show soon.................

Whispers are calling me home..

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 03:45:00 +0000

The school holidays have finished and our cherubs are all back at school.

It is very quiet here today only the dog scratching his fleas and me.

A good day to sit in airconditioning and catch up with bookwork....

and feel sorry for the cherubs having to go to school on a day like this.

Back before Christmas you might remember I was in a postcard swap with the theme of Home - this is the postcard I received....a lovely, cooling watercolour. It is just beautiful and it is highlighted with a bit of stitchery here and there. I'm planning on framing it and putting it up somewhere.

By the skin of my teeth

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 06:41:00 +0000

I've managed a post for December. How slack that it has taken this long - I should be splificated!So this month, we had the Cherub turning 10 - here he is (it was cold that day) with his beloved "Boswell" and waiting for his Dad to get out of bed, so that he could open his presents.The older cherub and I visited an Art Fair in Adelaide and bought this beautiful bird made by Sue. I discovered that it looked quite nice hanging in the middle of some 'tinsel stuff' that I'd bought previously at Ikea.

Husband and I starred in a dancing elves video for our Business Christmas Card - I've never seen myself dance like that!My creativity has been a bit limited but I did make some pompom balls for the pergolaSome mini paper bunting for a tree in the pergola

And some sewn paper garlands for the rest of the house.

The year has flown by so quickly. For 2011 I hope to be more caring, more sharing, more supportive, more wise and more creative.

Be safe tonight - Happy New Year.

Another Market

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 09:26:00 +0000

We had another market, a few weeks ago. This time Marion was there to help me.

There weren't as many 'shoppers' around this time, as it wasn't a long weekend. I wish I could say that it's me wearing the shorts in this photo but I would be lying! I had my 13yo niece doing 'work experience' with me for the week ....."how to bake and prepare for a market"!!!

The macarons, in particular, looked very pretty!

Marion even made bread and rolls which we enjoyed eating at quiet times with some brie cheese.

Postcard Swap

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 21:57:00 +0000

I know it's a long time since I did my last blog post! Here is a photo of the postcard I made for The Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap. My card went to Isabella who lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico and I was delighted to find out after she had received it, that she is 12 years old.
(Back)

I also added a few little extras - a postcard showing the town where I live, a little fabric bird and some Caramello Koalas. Both Isabella and her mum Laura have sent me emails since receiving the parcel and it has been lovely to learn a little bit about them. Laura makes the most beautiful raku pieces and Isabella is definitely an artist in the making.

I'm still waiting for my postcard to arrive downunder but you can see soem of the others here.

I'm in - what about you?

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 03:00:00 +0000

I've just joined up for this swap - why don't you as well?

Looks interesting, fun and easy - are you tempted? Check out the details here.

Market Baking

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 10:53:00 +0000

The new season for the Stansbury Seaside Market has begun, with the first market last Saturday. After having a couple of years break, we decided it was time to earn some pocket money again. Marion is still on holidays so I tackled this one myself....boy was it hard work! The next one will be much better now I am in the swing of it again. Here are the biscuits ready to be packed up - Empire biscuits, Rock Buns, Puffed Wheat biscuits, Gingernuts, Custard Creams, Monte Carlo's, Peppermint Creams and Afghans.

This was my pie baking day - Chunky Chicken ( using 4kg chicken and 3 kg vegetables) and Chilli Con Carne. To finish off that day, I made 4 trays of Vanilla Slice - it was good for the arm muscles stirring 4 litres of thick custard!

I ran out of time to take other photos but I also made mixed trays of slices, boxes of mixed macarons, and Roast Almond Tarts.

The boys helped me on the stall and they sold some of their old movies plus polka dot biscuits, caramel slice, rocky road, flavoured fairy floss and bottled water. What a team!

For when you have nothing to do.......

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 05:32:00 +0000

Make a Gummi bear chandelier!
Now why didn't I think of that???

The story about the felted wool

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:24:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I needed some felted wool for a project - the pattern I was following had some nice patterned wool whereas mine were solid colours and a bit boring. I remembered that husband had a jumper/sweater that had mysteriously shrunk while in his cupboard (you know THAT story)so I went on a search for it. It would be perfect for what I wanted it for however it was nowhere to be seen so I decided I must have already given it away to a charity group op shop. A couple of days later I went to an op shop looking for something woolly to felt and guess what - there was my husband's jumper - so I bought it back for $4! Yes it came back home.
I felted these other bits too although the ladies jacket almost disintegrated in my washing machine. (the photo is before the felting took place)

A bed full of......

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 08:14:00 +0000

............stuff Things that Marion and I are planning to sell (except the cushion in the far corner)

If you can see anything you are interested in, please let me know

Emerging from hibernation

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 01:12:00 +0000

It really can't be nearly 2 months since I did my last post, I'm sure there is a blog post thief out there somewhere.
I haven't been sitting around doing nothing all that time though, I've been making costumes for the school concert next week and - I have been trying out some new recipes for the upcoming market season like the toffee apples.

And mini lemon meringue tartsMarion celebrated her birthday a couple of days before she left on an overseas trip - she of course, made her own birthday cake - as you do!

I know you want to see a better photo of her cake................... It was huge - about 8 layers with a tempered chocolate flower on top.

Marion is currently in Venice - poor her!

My eldest cherub turned 12 a few weeks ago and instead of a traditional birthday cake, he asked for a macaron tower! At the time I couldn't think of anything to fill in the gaps with - if he had been a girl, I would have used flowers but since have thought that I could have used strawberries or marshmallows.

His friends didn't seem to notice the gaps and were quite impressed.

Nets

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:31:00 +0000

This post has been copied from Inspire Co. with Amy's permission - it's informative, inspiring and caring - and definitely worth sharing. Here in Australia we don't hear much about malaria other than when we go to some overseas countries we need to take tablets to prevent catching it.

This is what Amy has written:

A couple of months ago Crystal of A Little Bit Funky felt the nudge to do more with her blog than just write and share...She felt like she was being led to use her blog as a catapult for showing God's love. I want to share her story with you. I hope you are as moved by it as I am.

Crystal had the brilliant idea to make a quilt, a magnificent quilt, to offer as a sort of raffle in exchange for mosquito nets purchased for those who desperately need them in Africa.She contacted sweet Jody from Fabric Shoppe...and told her what she was on a mission to do...Jody almost immediately offered to donate ALL of the fabric Crystal would need to make the quilt. Think about the generosity in that offer...that's a lot of fabric to send to a stranger with a promise to make a quilt to benefit a charity. Crystal cried in the parking lot after she read that email. And then a friend offered to pay for the batting and the shipping. Everything was coming together so well and Crystal was so excited to get started.

In Crystal's own words:
"God is responsible for all of this coming together. God loves all people. God loves Africa...and all those sweet people who are suffering from something that is SO easily helped..."

"To me...each piece of fabric in this quilt stands for a family or person...or BABY...that together we can help...and this may sound crazy...but if you are one of the many who have told me of plans to adopt from Africa...the net you buy just may save YOUR future baby. Crazy cool, right?"

Malaria kills over 1 MILLION precious people PER YEAR!!!

In fact, there are 10 new cases of malaria every second.
Every 30 seconds, a child in Africa dies from a malaria infection. A child that is no less precious or loved or held dear by his parents than our own children.
By buying ONE net a family of four can sleep under an insecticide-treated bed net, safe from malaria, for four to five years.

The benefits of bed nets extend even further than protecting those sleeping underneath them. The insecticide woven into each net makes entire communities safer – killing and repelling mosquitoes so that they can’t go on to bite others who may not be protected by a net.

Although $10 for a bed net may not sound like much, the cost makes them out of reach for most people at risk of malaria, many of whom survive on less than $1 a day.
Just think...to us $10 is a couple of latte's...a movie...a shirt...a lunch out...a CD...a couple of magazines...any number of frivolous things that we all throw money at...can I challenge us all to give those up for a day...or a week or a month...and give a net or two or three instead?

Let's help Crystal show God's love to people in Africa. Each net you buy is ONE entry into the raffle to win this quilt!And as a special little touch...to help you remember what this quilt represents...she added this cute little tag. :)
Go buy a net by clicking HERE.
The winner will be chosen NEXT FRIDAY the 23rd!! So every net bought by Thursday the 22nd at midnight will count as ONE entry.
Now...pretty, pretty, PLEASE...go BUY A NET...and spread the word!!

Amy

"It's raining, it's pouring......

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:24:00 +0000

................. Christina is drawing"

And enjoying it, although there is room for improvement!

Love my new 'pencil case' - it's a cosmetic case Easy to spot the supplies. I'm sure it's not a new idea

but just in case someone else needs to know about it, it works great!

O Inspiration, wherefore art thou?

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:56:00 +0000

Inspiration, I have been searching for you, for a couple of weeks now. You are the expert of hide and seek but it's time now for you to come out of hiding and play with me.
You weren't here on the jewellery mannequins, but I do intend to come back here for another look.
I was sure that I had caught a glimpse of you, with these collaged backgrounds, but it wasn't to be.

Even the family have been out searching on my behalf - yes things are getting a bit desperate.

I got lost myself in this pile of books and magazines.

You weren't at the bottom of the Curry Egg Dip but the recipe is worth sharing (see below) for other lovers of curried egg.

So dear Inspiration, please feel free to do the big reveal to me very soon - (or even sooner) - it would be appreciated because I miss you!

Curried Egg Dip

250g cream cheese, 1/2c mayonnaise, 1/2c whipped cream, 30g butter, 1 small onion, 3 rashers bacon,

2 tspns curry powder, 1 tsp mustard, 1 tsp paprika, 3 hard boiled eggs, salt & pepper

Beat cream cheese until soft, add mayonnaise and cream.

Heat butter in pan, add finely chopped onion and paprika. Saute gently until onion is tender - allow to cool.

Add bacon mixture to cream cheese mixture and mix well with the chopped boiled eggs.

Season to taste.

(Serve with a crusty loaf, carrot & celery sticks or crackers)

1750

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 07:53:00 +0000

1750 items sewn, knitted, crocheted and created by the craft group for the "Care-a-thon" this year. An amazing effort by the women. The charity group for this year is the Salvation Army and we all know the fabulous work that they do.

In 2009, there were 1148 items donated, so there was quite an increase this year. Hopefully these blankets and clothing will supply warmth to those who need it.

This is only a portion of what was given, a lot had already been packed in boxes ready to go.

"O Wise One" (my mother) knitted 83 jumpers this year so not too bad an effort from the olde girl.

My contribution ended up with 4 skirts, 8 caps and 1 scarf, I have a long way to go to catch up with some of the others.

And now a warning........... - this isn't from a passionate kiss!

Beware of travel mugs and steam burns - it hurts and looks so attractive!

Colours

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:29:00 +0000

I spent some time on the weekend baking macarons (after my class in Paris) - it took a while to get the oven temperature and timing just right but now I am happy with the results. The dark purple and pistachio ones were a bit undercooked and lavender ones a bit lumpy, whilst the other 3 batches were pretty good.

Even when you don't get them looking just perfect they still taste lovely.

The pink ones were filled with a strawberry champagne buttercream, the mauve and purple ones with lemon butter, the brown ones with salted caramel and the teal ones with a honey and maple syrup caramel with bacon.

I did another batch of the pistachio green macarons, trying to keep my piping size even. There were a few 'oops' - es. This batch turned out perfectly and they were filled with mint chocolate ganache.

Important thing to remember is that when using food colours to watch where else it can spread to.......this is partially cooked chicken with some blue spots!

And there was also the case of husband's white shirt......yes I was doing the washing in between baking!

A little bit of this and a little bit of that

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 07:54:00 +0000

Our craft group is having it's annual care-a-thon where we knit, crochet and sew as much as we can for a charity group. This year it is for the Salvation Army and we stipulate that all goods are to be given to people who need and require it, rather than sold in their shops.

From donated fabrics I have sewn these patchworky skirtsAnd then from donated yarns, I have crocheted these hats.

It's been lots of fun

Play Day

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:32:00 +0000

I've been fortunate this week, to have time to play....not play in the sandpit type of play, but creative play. Marion has been wanting to paint some emus to take overseas as gifts, later in the year. So under the tuition of Kirsty, she created this painting.

And now Marion is working on the second one.

I think, from the latest reports that the one with the white cap has had a makeover - wonder what he/she's wearing now?

Kirsty is getting ready for an exhibition at the end of July so she has a few paintings "on the go".

This is the one that she was working on, while we were there.

And this is a nearly finished commissioned painting ready to go to it's new home.

Kirsty's emu paintings adorn the walls of some of the local hotels and homes around South Australia

and as welcome signs into one of our local towns.

Love was in the air..........

noreply@blogger.com (Rustic Tarts) — Mon, 31 May 2010 07:31:00 +0000

Amongst a few showers of rain and chilly winds,on Saturday, our nephew James married Steph.

Here they are photographed with James' grandparents (my parents) ~ Pappy and "O Wise One"!And here I am with my 3 gorgeous men.

The boys begged to wear suits and we found these ones on ebay for $42 each -

complete with waistcoat, shirt, bowtie, jacket and trousers.

Pity we couldn't find the same deal for Iain!