bread and beeswax

this weekend just past I was lucky enough to attend the 3rd annual 'flour and fire day' hosted by Jane of the shady baker, at her property. I remember reading Jane's post back in 2014 and thinking how lovely the day sounded and hoping one day to be a part of it.

the day started with hot coffee made over the open fire, freshly baked sweet treats and getting to know each other. I got to meet some lovely bloggers who I have gotten to know online, Sophie and Kate. gosh I still can't get used to meeting people for the first time though we've 'known' each other for so long through our blogs.

then it was into the bread making, with Jane sharing her sourdough making skills with us.
we all enjoyed a homemade lunch of bread straight out of the woodfired oven, lamb stew and freshly made pasta and pesto.
after lunch it was candle making time. I hosted this little activity. everyone brought along a vessel or two to fill and with the beeswax melted over the wood fire we added a cotton wick and filled our teacups, jars and tins with the delicious smelling wax.
we left with full tummies, a whole lot of inspiration and baskets filled with homegrown and homemade goodies from the swap table.

I'm already looking forward to the 2016 flour and fire day.

lovely autumal happenings

 I have my first sour dough starter up and going. every day I had a spoonful or two of flour and a splash of water and it seems happy enough bubbling away. I'm making a loaf of simple no-knead bread once or twice a week now and it's something I look forward to every time.

this weekend I was treated to a night away in the lovely little town on Mildura. we stocked up on plenty of fresh produce from the roadside stalls along the way and the Farmers Markets had plenty of delicious home grown goodies too. time flew by and I'm already planning for the next trip there.

 these two pillow slips were my only op-shopped find while in Mildura. the perfect little $2 souvenir of our trip away.

I received my copy of Hundreds and Thousands mag and it's filled to the brim with cute articles and photos and all things handmade. you too can purchase a copy here.

thank you to all those who signed up for the Vintage Sheet FQ Swap 2015 and have sent a parcel off. there's still a couple of people who I haven't heard from so i'll give it 'til Monday and start swapping the FQs on Tuesday and post them back. you've all sent such beautiful designs it's going to be a struggle not keeping them all for myself.

and lastly to my little autumn give away...
Naomi of Look See is the lucky winner of a copy of Pip magazine and a handmade wall hanging.
if you could email me your details I will get your give-away gifts in the mail on Tuesday.

 

 

any sour dough starter tips? what other goodies do you make other then bread?

 

what lovely things have been filling your autumn days?

fruit cake

so I'm probably a bit late with the Christmas baking but today after a quick trip to the shops to pick up some supplies I set to making a fruit cake. I based my recipe on a CWA recipe (always a winner in my book) for Glad Shute's Christmas Fruit Cake. I left out the alcohol as I didn't have any on hand.

1.375kg mixed fruit. I decided to make up my own combination rather than use the pre-mixed variety. (250g pitted prunes, 375g dried figs, 200g dried apricots, 550g sultanas)
250g butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 tablespoons golden syrup or molasses
1 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves

Combine all these ingredients in a large pot and place over medium heat on the stove top. Bring to the boil and boil for 3 minutes.
Leave to cool.

4 eggs
1/2 cup hot water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon bi-carb soda
2 cups plain flour (I used spelt flour)
1 1/2 cups SR flour
1 cup chopped nuts (I used half almonds and half macadamias

Beat eggs in a small bowl along with vanilla. Add to cooled fruit mixture.
Dissolve the bi-carb in the hot water and stir into the fruit mixture.
Fold in the flour and chopped nuts.

Bake for 3 hours at 160 degrees Celsius in lined cake tin/s .
Will make one large round cake or two smaller ones.
Cut a round of brown paper to place over the top of the cake while cooking to avoid a burnt top.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool slowly, with the tin wrapped in a towel.

Store by wrapping in foil and placing in a cake tin. enjoy.

 

wishing you a lovely Christmas. x

home life

 my latest reads. mezz and tazz's Hundreds and Thousands mag is onto it's third edition. you can purchase a copy here. I've also found this op-shopped copy all about bee keeping very interesting.

a new op-shopped Johnson plate ($1). another design to add to the collection. 

pretty Pyrex ($4) in a buttery shade.

floral sheets ($2) 

 little Mitten

banana and hazelnut cake. a couple of pieces for now and the rest packaged up in greaseproof paper and washi tape and popped in the freezer to see us through the week.

I tried this recipe for salted banana caramel mousse which was just delicious. it's refined sugar free, gluten free, dairy free and vegan.

 

a parcel filled with handmade goodies arrived in the mail this week from the lovely Tracy.

 

 

what loveliness has been filling your days of late?

25 today.

today I turned 25. I cant quite believe it myself, the years seem to be flying by.
I was spoilt with lovely, thoughtful gifts, and had a surprise coffee date with my love for brunch.
I did a spot of op-shopping this morning finding some Johnson crockery and vintage dress patterns.
This afternoon I baked a cake and layered it with fresh lemon butter with eggs from our chooks and lemons from the markets.
and tonight we headed out for dinner at an amazing little restaurant that sources local produce.
a perfect little birthday. x

nutty honey popcorn slice

sorry I've been a tad quiet on the blogging front lately. there's really been not that much happening, just life as usual, not that I'm complaining, I like calm and simple. I'm going to a 21st birthday this weekend with a 'thrift shop' theme, so i'll be donning a fur jacket and velvet slacks. i'll be sure to share a few snaps with you.

a spot of baking here this afternoon with a new recipe to try. though no need to turn the oven on for this one.
it's a nutty honey popcorn slice, based on this recipe by secret squirrel food.
popcorn is a go-to snack in our home. it's cheap, healthy and quick to prepare.
I pop my corn in a large saucepan with a lid. I add two dessert spoons of coconut oil to the pan and heat. I then pop in half a cup of corn over a medium/high heat and allow it to pop away until the popping slows right down. there's always a few kernels of un-popped corn but it yields over 8 cups of popped corn.
this slice made a delicious, guilt-free afternoon tea sweet treat.

4 cups of popcorn
1/2 cup nut butter or tahini
2 tablespoons honey
dark chocolate (optional)

mix the nut butter and honey in a large bowl. add the popcorn and stir to coat.
press into a square cake tin that has been lightly greased.
melt the dark chocolate and drizzle over the top.
place in the fridge to harden and slice into squares.

this slice has a lovely caramel flavour and it's hard to stop at just one piece.
have you had any success with new recipes?

stills: frosty paw prints

 

1. frosty mornings and kitty foot prints
2. said kitty
3. a new chicken tunnel (chunnel)
4. a bit of blanket repurposing
5. river cottage syrup cake... baking and eating. a favourite cookbook of mine

stills: tip shop and bunting

1. bunting
2. a 'boy' pencil case for my love. with so many florals in the stash picking fabrics was hard
3. these most delicious (and simple) lime and coconut balls. 5 ingredients and a blender/food processor
4. apple and cinnamon muffins for the freezer
5. Country Style reading
6. the newly discovered tip shop. I came home with a chenille bedspread, tablecloth, zippers, an icing spatula and a vintage suitcase all for $10

weekly stills at the beetle shack.

stills: bread and soup

1. bread making again after a bit of break
2. a coffee date
3. one pumpkin became soup. some for now, some for the freezer
4. weekend walks
5. pretty foliage on our walk

stills at the beetle shack.