Market update

We had our first stall at the Olive Tree Markets on the weekend. Yay.  The weather gods weren't on our side though and there was a flashback to the cold rainy weather of winter but even that couldn't put a dampener on our day. We had a great, if slightly chaotic time, (my family had a little meltdown in the carpark afterwards, though for us it was a seven hour round trip so I don't blame them really! hope noone was watching, we would have looked a little totally crazed.)

If you're in the area you really should check it out, such a beautiful spot and so many amazing and inspiring artists and crafters to see.

Pictionary with a seven year old.

I'm not ashamed to admit (ok maybe a little) that I am a huge fan of board games, unfortunately no one else in our family has shared that passion. That is until I discovered a very dusty and neglected game of Pictionary while doing a major wardrobe clean out. 

Oscar, who has never been a big fan of drawing, was fascinated so we had a quick (not following the rules) game. He was hooked! and has been asking to play every night since.

Finally tonight while his Nan was here we got the time to have a quick game. 

This is what happened. 

It was Oscars turn to draw and our turn to guess.

Me: A person?

Oscar: No

Mum: A boy?

Oscar: No

Me: Catching?

Oscar: Nooo!

Mum: Waving?

Oscar: Nnnnoooooo!!

Me: Oh I know, A bear!

Oscar: (laughing) What, a bear with Human feet?

This was his drawing........

And these, are human feet as opposed to bear feet......of course :)

Egg free, Nut free, Dairy free Banana Bread

This recipe also has the added bonus of being *fat free* for those who are interested in counting their calories that is.

I am not a particularly good cook (though I desperately wish I was), never clean as i go, tend to use almost every utensil in the house and more often than I would like to admit have to add as I serve "If it's really bad we can have toast."

We eat a lot of toast.

However I LOVE cookbooks, LOVE reading food blogs and watching any sort of cooking show. It's just obviously never really absorbed......
My son also has Egg and Nut allergies and I'm always scouring for new egg free, nut free recipes.
So in the interest of giving back I thought I would share a few of our families favourite recipes.

This Banana Bread recipe is super easy, so easy you can complete the entire process with a babe in arms and a toddler dangling precariously from the furniture and still end up with something edible (but a rather disastrously messy kitchen).  I did attempt to photograph the process as that's really the best part about reading a recipe but the photos I took somehow managed to make the most basic recipe really ugly and could possibly turn you off an otherwise delicious dish.

It does look a little sad I know but I also forgot to take a photo once it came out of the oven,  we were all too eager to eat it.

Banana Bread


Ingredients:


5 or 6 large Bananas
2 cups plain flour
1 cup of caster sugar *see note
1 Teaspoon Baking powder
1 Teaspoon Baking soda
Cinnamon to taste (we use a lot)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Method


Preheat oven to 180C.

Prepare small loaf tin.

Mash bananas, sugar and vanilla essence in a large bowl until quite liquidy (i don't think thats a real word) sift in remaining ingredients, mix until well combined pour into prepared loaf pan. Place in preheated oven and cook for 1 hour.
Enjoy!

*note: I have a hugely sweet tooth and would never normally say no to sugar but I normally only add about a half to 3/4 cup of sugar.

This recipe was given to me by my Sister-in-law. I'm not sure of it's original source. 

Lucky Girl

To have so many lovely dresses and skirts to choose from.

Thanks to her beautiful and talented Aunt :)

Tuesday's Thrift Finds :)

Happy Monday!

Wow, what a weekend. It was a little hectic around here, yesterday we woke to gale force winds and a total black out. No power meant no coffee machine!!! I was devastated to say the least. It also meant no computer-therefore no blogging, and no sewing machine, but really the lack of morning coffee was the thing that got me.  Luckily we have gas so we did manage to rustle up a pot of tea (because I've become a totally painful coffee snob and instant just wouldn't do) and some cinnamon toast.

Tracey had a much more productive weekend.

Here is a sneak peak at a few more spring things she has been working on for our next market...... 

Some totally swoon worthy dresses and tops for Spring/Summer. Actually could see it working with a long sleeve t and tights for Autumn too.

This photo doesn't do the fabric justice, it's the most gorgeous vintage floral fabric so soft and light perfect for spring/summer.

Sweet Dress

We've been busy whipping up some stock for an upcoming market. Well actually my sister has.... I've been flapping about not really accomplishing much at all. After such a beautiful start to spring, the weather has turned decidedly grey and miserable and it's making me feel a bit the same, not so much miserable just a little grey. Totally unmotivated. Maybe it's sheer exhaustion from actually managing to post three times in one week!

Here's a little preview of some things Tracey has been working on......

The sweetest little pinafore dress in a mint green with a splash of vintage orange fabric for the pocket.

Here it's been teamed with a little capped sleeve singlet.

I love it.

I tried to squeeze Abi into it, I desperately wanted it to fit because really I wanted to keep it for myself! Unfortunately it didn't, but I have put an order in.