Menu Monday

Cupcakes are a favourite in our home - and it seems they are in the home of Little Sew & Sews too!!

Here is Bel's "Never Fail Cupcake Recipe"  (Bel likes to use muffin cases to make BIG ones and folds in things like Choc Chips, Sultanas or Cherries)

Ingredients

2 cups Self Raising flour, sifted

3/4 cup caster sugar

3/4 cup milk

125g butter, melted and cooled

2 x 59g eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon Vanilla essence

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200 deg celsius. Grease or line with cases a 12 capacity muffin pan.  Combine flour and caster sugar in a bowl. Make a well in the centre.
2. Add milk, butter, eggs and vanilla to flour mixture.  Using a large metal spoon, stir gently to combine.  If adding extras, stir them through once the mix is combined.
3. Spoon mixture evenly among the 12 muffin cases.  Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted.  Stand in the pan for 5 minutes before cooling on a wire rack.

Decorate when cooled as desired with frosting or icing.

To share your favourite recipes email me at thesewingsisterhood@live.com.au.  We love to hear what you love making in your home too!!

Tracey
My Obsession Designs

Menu Monday

This weeks recipe comes from the home of Bel of Little Sew & Sews (and who doesn't love a good cheesecake!)

No-bake Cheesecake

Serves: 8

Prep time: 20mins

Chill time: 10-15mins then overnight

INGREDIENTS:

250g plain sweet biscuits (I have used Nice and granita and both were yummo)

125g butter, melted

375g cream cheese, softened

zest of 1 lemon

2 tsp vanilla essence

1/3 cup lemon juice

400g can condensed milk

optional - strawberries and icing sugar to decorate

METHOD:

1. Grease and line a 20cm spring form tin
2. Place biscuits in food processor and finely crush.  Add butter and process until mixed.
3. Press half of the mix into the base of the tine, and press remainder around the sides, using a glass to firm it into place.
4. Refrigerate for 10-15mins
5. Beat cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add lemon rind and vanilla and beat. Add the condensed milk and lemon juice gradually, and beat until smooth and the volume has increased.
6. Pour into the tin and refrigerate overnight.
7. Decorate with strawberries and icing sugar, if desired

Thanks so much to Bel for sharing one of her favourites!  If you have a favourite you would like to share - email it to me at thesewingsisterhood@live.com.au. 

Tracey

My Obsession Designs

Martha Tours Mooloolaba

Martha made her way from Gympie with Angela from Perigren Creations to Mooloolaba where she had a VERY busy day with Me Sarah from Skip Chasey and little Miss 4.

Martha's first stop was at UnderWater World. She was so excited checking out the Stingrays and all the pretty coral and sea animals in the touch tank. She posed for a few photos with the local wildlife.

Next she wanted to check out the beach and take in some beautiful winter sunshine. Lazing on the beach with Miss 4 and meeting some of the lifeguards on duty, keeping all the swimmers safe.

After soaking up the sunshine she went off to pay her respects to Steve Irwin- at a special statue near the beach and at the Australia Zoo On the Beach Shop. She got to hang out with Bindi Irwin too (well a soft toy) and rode a Whale

Martha had a lovely time here in Mooloolaba checking out the sites and enjoying a lovely winters day. She left us at the post office for her next journey out to Murgon with the lovely Naomi and Family. 

Martha heads to Queensland

After the fun in Melbourne with The Sewing Sisterhood gals - Martha headed to Queensland with Angela (Perigren Creations) and Sarah (Skip Chasey). 

 

Martha was a very safety conscious plane

traveler - wearing her seatbelt and reading the In Flight Safety Guide. 

Upon landing, Martha was invited to visit the pilots - she was absolutely fascinated with all the lights and dials.

Sadly, she wasn't able to stay on board to help the pilots fly off to their next destination.

Maybe next time?

Welcome to Queensland - Martha with Sarah from Skip Chasey!!

First stop on her adventure is "The Town that Saved Queensland"  

Her new friends were very excited to see her when school finished and couldn't wait to show her around town. Luckily there was a spare seat in our car, perfectly Martha size.

First Stop: The Valley Rattler - all aboard the Heritage Train for a scenic tour of the area

Then it was time to explore the many historical sites around Gympie

Town Hall         Memorial Park            Australian Institute of Country music

After touring around town it was back to Perigren Creations headquarters, to catch up with all Martha's new friends, including Rabbit and Bear. What better way to end the day, than tea, cookies and pizza on the deck overlooking the paddocks and breathing in that fabulous country air and sunshine.

 

Thanks so much Martha for visiting Gympie as you travel around Australia!

    Angela xxx

 

The Sewing Sisterhood proudly supports Make-A-Wish® Australia with Martha's Journey!

It is with great pleasure that we announce that all proceeds from the on-line auction for Martha and her assorted goodies (to be held on-line early December) will be donated to              Make-A-Wish^®  Australia! We all believe in the great work that Make-A-Wish^®  Australia does in supporting children with life-threatening medical conditions and bringing happiness to the child and their family by granting wishes.  If you would like to find out more about the wonderful work they do or even want to make a donation please follow this link to the Make-A-Wish^®  Australia page  https://www.makeawish.org.au/netcommunity/sslpage.aspx?pid=1611

More details about the auction will be advised closer to time but for now, please follow along with us as Martha continues her journey!


Bel Henderson
Little Sew & Sews

Martha hit's the Melbourne Craft & Quilt fair with her sisters!

After an early start
well early for someone that does not have young children to wake her up 

on a Saturday morning.

Before we hit the fair we had to go in search of COFFEE!!

Or I would not survive!

Those of us that had stayed in the apartment on the Friday night

were to meet up with some of the sisters
(our online crafting support group)
and spend the day with "Martha" our dolly and
attend the Craft & Quilt Fair.

Here we are what a stunning bunch!

 

When we got inside the fair some of us split up and went in different directions because we wanted to do some classes and demonstrations.
 I went and did a procion dye class with unique stitching and hand dyed a silk scarf.

It was great to learn something new from the professionals :)

 

Another great class was one on what do do with the scraps you have in your craft room

Jane and Angela went off to a crochet class and Angela picked up her first crochet hook

see the concentration on their faces.

It was then time for Martha to meet some of her friends.

here is Martha with Nicole from Craft Queen

Everyone loved meeting Martha we were stopped by lots of people who wanted to know about her and why she was travelling Australia.

She stopped awhile and played with some lace

Then Martha meet up with

Nikki M from "You sew girl" book fame

By this stage Martha is a bit tired so had to have a rest

With rest period over off we all went to visit

the lovely Toni from "Make it Perfect"

Here is Toni with all of us that were left.

Martha was given a sewing lesson with the girls from Bernina

By this stage we were all pretty exhausted we had a fantastic day at the Craft and Quilt fair in Melbourne but it was time to go back to the apartment and relax a little before dinner.

Here is Martha relaxing and watching a bit of footy before heading out for dinner.

Well you cannot come to Melbourne and not see a footy match that would just be wrong.

Here was Martha's view from the apartment window

It was a great weekend with lots of fun and laughter.

I hope you enjoyed sharing Martha's day at the fair with us.

 

Frillys Designs

Welcome to Melbourne, Martha!

Martha's journey continues ....

Martha, Jane (Lil Pip) and the little owlets

I was up bright and early on the Saturday morning in the Lil Pip house and off we went to the Queen Victoria markets where they go every week. Aren't they lucky! Thankfully it wasn't too cold that morning, sometimes they go when it is just 3 degrees! I think I would prefer to stay snuggled up in bed.

Little Miss A (who is just 2) gave me lots of cuddles in the market trolley. What a great way to get around the markets.

First we went to the meat hall. There were so many people and so much to choose from. Meat, seafood and chicken.

I loved the deli hall the best - all the cheese, ham, dips, antipasto - yum!! This was my favourite shop, we bought ham and bacon here. 
 Next was off to buy fruit and vegetables. All the yummy healthy food. 

It was still so early but the day was just getting started. 

Off we went to the Melbourne Craft and Quilt Expo with lots of girls from The Sewing Sisterhood. 

I enjoyed my morning at the Queen Victoria markets with Jane from Lil Pip and her little owlets. Thank you for showing me such an amazing place!

Martha (with help from Jane x)

 

"Dolly" says Goodbye Perth and Hello Melbourne!

 
After a whirlwind tour of Northampton, WA - "Dolly" arrived back to Perth and had a few days to rest up in her new travelling/sleeping bag before starting the next stage of her journey!

Surviving the Midnight Horror flight from Perth, "Dolly" travelled out to Rathdowne Fabrics & Remnants bright and early by tram and got to meet the gorgeous Amanda from Appleberry Kids too!  






"Dolly" spent her final hours with me trying very hard to nap and getting excited about all the fun that was coming up with Gill from Frilly's Designs, Jane from Lil Pip and many other crafty ladies!



Bel
Little Sew & Sews

NAME UPDATE:
After weeks of discussions about "Dolly" being given a name, The Sewing Sisterhood are pleased to announce that this lovely doll is now officially named Martha :)

Menu Monday

Here is a nice simple recipe for lunch or a light evening meal.  Quick and easy to put together (just the way I like it!)

Spinach & Bacon Slice

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon oil

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

3 rashers bacon, diced

1 bunch English spinach or 6 large silverbeet leaves, washed and shredded

2 tablespoons self-raising flour

6 x 60g eggs

½ cup milk

1 cup grated tasty cheese

2 tomatoes, sliced

Method:

1. Heat oil in large fry pan.  Add onion, garlic and bacon and stir over heat until onion is softened and bacon in just crisp.  Add spinach to pan.  Stir over heat until spinach is soft and most of the liquid has evaporated.  Transfer spinach mixture to a large bowl to cool slightly.  Stir in flour, then add eggs and milk.  Stir until combined.  Stir in cheese.
2. Pour the mixture into a greased rectangular (5-cup capacity) ovenproof dish.  Arrange tomato slices on top of mixture.  Bake at 180^oC for about 45 minutes until slice is set and lightly browned.

Stand in dish for 5 minutes before cutting into squares.  Serve warm with salad and crusty bread if desired.

Variation:

Complete step 1, but instead of adding milk and eggs add some cream and the cheese and stir through some cooked pasta until heated through.  Makes a very yummy pasta sauce!


Do you have a favourite recipe that you would like to share?  Email me at thesewingsisterhood@live.com.au with your recipes and I will share one from a blog follower each week.

Enjoy your slice (or pasta!)

Tracey
My Obsession Designs