Upside Down Caramel Banana Cake

Oh she was (did not last long!) delicious. We cooked her yesterday am for afternoon tea.
serves 6 - 8 (ha ha)

1 very ripe banana
2 tbs sour cream
180g self raising flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
90g unsalted butter, at room temp
180g caster sugar
1tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
Thick cream or vanilla ice cream (makes it go faster though....)

Caramel banana topping
60g unsalted butter
120g lightly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tbs golden syrup
3-4 large just ripe bananas sliced. I did not have enough so did not over lap.

Oven 180 degrees C. Grease 23 - 24cm round cake pan.

Topping: melt butter over medium heat. Add sugar and syrup. Cook stirring occasionally for 3 minutes. Pour into pan and tilt to coat base. Cover with banana slices in overlapping circles.

Combine mashed banana with sour cream. Sift flour and spice into bowl. Beat butter and sugar in a bowl with an electric beater till light and fluffy. Add vanilla, then eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Reduce beaters to low and add flour mixture then sour cream mixture till JUST combined.

Spread into pan careful not to dislodge the bananas. Bake 40 - 45 minutes until golden and springy to touch in centre. Stand for 3 minutes then run knife around the rim and invert onto a plate. remove pan after 20 seconds, pressing back into cake any banana stuck to pan. Serve warm with cream or ice cream (if desired!)


Do not forget if you know of anyone who owns a Janome and wants a Quilting Foot see this post. Four more days to go!

Guess what turned up in my letter box...

Yup! I got something in my mail box!



Here is a hint.... she is from NETHERLANDS!


Wrapped in beautiful decorated tissue paper (I have not seen decorated tissue paper)


Her stitching is beautiful and look at this wonderful goody she has made just for me. I have hung it up on my craft board so I can look at it when I am at my desk. Thank you NETHERLANDS Angel Swapper
: o ))))))

Winter Coats

Isn't he dashing?



Jessie is a bit more shy....



This winter has been really cold. I have worried about the dogs outside at night. They do have an up market kennel with a luxurious feather filled quilt to lie on in a sheltered area but never the less it is cold out there... They have had these coats for a few weeks now. After they have been inside or if it is a warm day both bark to have them put on if we forget! SO cute.

Last bag swap tease 2

This is the last bag swap tease as I have completed it (yippee)! I will reveal her when I reluctantly send her in September.

Block four done and five to go...

As I continue with my 'There's No Place Like Home' from Daisies and Dragonflies quilt...

Cradle Mountain get away

What a great weekend away. Here are a few images of our time at our hide away



its views






and our walk around Dove lake which is on the base of Cradle Mountain.












It was nice to get away, have a change of scenery, meals made for you, no washing, warm fires, crunchy snow under your feet, desserts, spas and snoozes...

We interrupt your viewing for a special announcement...

Another fabulous weekend away - I will blog about it but here is sneak photo of Cradle Mountain and the shore of Dove Lake. Lots of snow, fires and spas (grin).

I had to write this because my angel swapper wrote to me again and it just makes me feel like a little girl all over again. I am SO EXCITED I am going to be getting a parcel (can you see me doing a little dance?).

When I was packing for this weekend away I thought of something I need to make. Then I thought if my partner is struggling with ideas maybe she would like to know... SO my sweet angel swapper if you are struggling to think of something... I need something to put my bathrooms stuff in when I go away. Like you know toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant etc... I would forever use and love it! OR I might organise a toilet bag swap early next year after we get over the glutton of swaps and then Christmas... so WATCH this space.

Also don't forget to let any of your friends with a Janome sewing machine know I have a walking foot (must have) swap offer - see blog before this.

Janome Walking Foot and Quilting Guide

Since I have upgraded to a Paff I don't have the need for this foot.

So thought I would offer it to you for an exchange. Here is the idea. I will mail to any where in the world to the person who offers the most favourite exchange. To avoid making this complex just offer items or pieces (not hand made -that is to precious). I have no expectations as to what to exchange with. Ideas may be patterns, fabric or Suffolk Puff maker tool. Email me or leave a comment by 4th September and the best offer will be notified by email for their mailing address (woo hoo).

There is a Janome walking foot review on Hoppo Bumpo blog if you want to have a read (basic instructions are included with this one!).

Suzie's biscuits

Do these look yummy or what? A friend made these for us and they were all eaten up VERY quickly.

YUM YUM YUM

Oh (giggling here) I received my first contact from my Angel Swap Partner. I just LOVE that I have a total secret angel making something just for me - love it - it makes me feel all goose bumpy. Isn't she SO organised! I have started to plan for my angel as well (grinning from ear to ear). Oh isn't this just GORGEOUS! Hello to my anonymous Angel Swap partner (waving at you)

For Jo with lots of love

A very belated present for Jo. I had no idea is was her birthday and felt terrible I did not have something for her. Christine and I saw this pattern at the Evandale Stitching Day earlier this year. I decided to make the pillow for Jo's Christmas present. When I found out it was her birthday I had to make it now. I split the pattern into two as lucky Jo has two rocking chairs (I want one) and I thought they would be nice on them. Jo is a pretty special friend. She encouraged me to get back to stitching and quilting. She also encouraged me to start a blog. She has been so patient and generous with her goodies and time. If you want to see them up close check Jo's blog out.

Let it snow

Oh what a lovely day. We went for a drive to Miena - which is a little shacky place on the plateau of Tasmania slap bang in the middle. We were to meet up with other Citroen club members for a meeting (how more middle of Tasmania can you get). On the way up we decided the snow must have mealted. Then the themometer started to drop and snow patches started to appear on the side of the road. The children wanted to get out so badly. When we arrived at the place there was snow every where and a lake right next to it - really it was so beautiful I would have loved to have my bush walking gear on with the dogs and go for a walk. The boys were in their element. It even started to snow during lunch and they were outside in a flash.

The boys highlights - making a snow man...



On the drive back we saw two wombats. They are not cute and cuddly - this one ran as soon as he heard my camera click. Poor thing.

Buttons

Not sure what it is about them but I have caught the button bug. Lynette and I have been emailing and she suggested I went to my op shops to find more buttons. Well I visited four today and found these. There are wooden, metal and country colours. I even found a well worn silver Defence Force button. Not many blue or green ones to find.

The next day I visited a shop near my work place and found these luscious buttons and this jar to hold them in! Now I need to find another bigger one to fit the rest of my buttons in bags....





My surprise gift is almost finished.

The Vegie Patch

I am very excited as some of our crop is close to picking. We are talking of soon making the second - twice the size vegie patch at the front so we can have it ready to put organic seeds in for spring/summer crops. I think I should challenge the boys to make a scare crow. I am hoping this time round we can grow from organic seeds. I have all the seedling pots/ warm house stuff to do so. We have been purchasing food from The Organic Shop for a while now and I am hoping we can substitute our own organic vegetables to help the dollar go further and we can start buying organic/free range meat.

Wonder if I can talk Hubby into making a mini glass/plastic house to sit over part of the patch so I can try to grow the warmer crops like egg plant and capsicum which don't like the cooler Tasmanian weather. This will mean I will want to build a bigger patch! Wonder where we can fit these in our very small land. We live in a suburb very close to the city. We made this choice so we all live a more active lifestyle (we can walk to school and shops from here) but also Michael is in the middle of the 'spiderweb' for work.

You may be wondering why milk cartons are in the patch. Well they are 'housing' celery. They encourage celery to grow up right so you get long stalks and a cluster rather than spread out little celery bits. We all enjoy crunching on fresh celery (with humous yum yum). Hope the crop spreads it growing time so we don't go anti celery! In this patch is silverbeet (soon to start picking), celery, leeks (SLOW growing), beetroot, carrots, cauliflower (no babies yet), broccoli (soon to start picking) and Brussels sprouts (no babies showing - these are yummy young and fresh). Wonder what seeds will be at the shop to grow this summer.

Bag tease 3

I have finished my bag! REALLY pleased with it. I am going to miss her when she is gone.

I have been busy making something for someone. Once it is finished I will blog it. We are having COLD days here. Snow really low - apparently down to 100 m during the week. Lots of water for the garden.

5 Minute Chocolate Mud Cake

I received this email from my cousins wife. My son and I had a go yesterday morning before breakfast (like you do!)

You will need...

4 Tablespoons Cake Flour
4 Tablespoons Sugar
2 Tablespoons Cocoa
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons of Milk
3 Tablespoons of Oil
3 Tablespoons of Chocolate Drops (if you want)
1 Mug

Here is what you do...

Add dry ingredients to the mug and mix well.

Crack an egg and add to your mug (I pre beated it with a fork). Be sure to mix it well to avoid pockets of flour.

Pour in milk and oil then mix well.



Add chocolate drops if you desire and a splash of vanilla essence.

Pop your mug into a microwave and zap for 3 minutes on high (1000 Watt). Wait patiently.



Wait until the cake stops rising (ours did not rise) and the cake sets in the mug.



Run a knife around the mug, tip the warm cake out and sprinkle icing sugar on the top then eat eat and eat!

Variegated thread

Is this yummy or what? I just had to do something with it. I pulled out my punch needle and began another project for another swap. (Hint: when you have not done something for a while and it does not work - read the instructions before you get grumpy)

Bag Swap tease 2

(Evil Grin)

Oh I am having so much fun doing this bag!

Retreat Layouts part 2

The last and final layout from the retreat - hope to scrap a bit more often at home. This was when we went to Melbourne for a weekend. I really did not want to be doing a layout of each little event. This way I can have all the memories scrapped with out the extra work. There is journaling around the sides...

(Blushing here)

I have been awarded two blog awards - I am so new to blogging and feel humble. I knew bogging would be so good but it has been even better than I thought. BUT where do all these lovely bloggers have the time to look at so many amazing blogs! Seriously blogging has to a craft of its own LOL.

Maree from On My Verandah has nominated me for Glenice Weblog Award. Thank you Maree : )



Now I have to nominate seven blogs I enjoy reading - this was hard - I read a lot of blogs! (NOT in any order!).

1. Jo in Tas - Jo got me started in blogging
2. Hop Skip Jump - a good read when she gets time to blog!
3. Maria at Sew love to sew - a new blog friend
4. The Stitching Room - a lot of fun
5. All Stitched Up - swaps and swaps and more swaps
6. Aunties Quaint Quilts - Tassie blogger - woo hoo
7. Helena at Syverkstan - another new blogging friend


Helen from Hugs n Kisses nominated me for



Now I have to nominate seven blogs for this!!!! Again in no order : )

1. Smitten Kitchen - recepies to die for!
2. L'Atelier Perdu de Nataliejo - her work is AMAZING
3. Lynette Anderson - Just delicious work
4. Leannes House - love her style
5. Moonstitches - something different
6. A Spoonful of Sugar - yummy blog
7. Loobylu - a good read and lots of fun

Oh yes and Farmyard Crafts is having a give away if anyone wants to have a go!

Retreat Layouts Part 1

As promised I am sharing the layouts I did at Kylies Scrapgirls Retreat...

We were given a challenge. I LIKE challenges : ). We were given 45 minutes to complete a layout from start to finish. I had NO idea how long I actually spend on a layout. They would call out 30 minutes, 20, 15, 10. When they said 15 I was like OH MY GOSH. It took me by surprise. I had actually scraped a solid 45 minutes on this layout and under pressure. I don't IRL have time to spend 45 minutes doing a layout! They were judged and the winner received a $25 gift voucher from the shop. I WON!!!! I bought myself x2 clear stamp sets and an embellishment.



This one took me a LONG time to put together - I had been putting this in the to hard basket for months. I was so proud when I did finish because
1. I used what I had and did not buy anything
2. I completed it!!!!





We were also given a challenge pack of papers etc. The colour suited the colour in Oliver's hair so I gave it a go. I also submitted it into the challenge layout competition. There were only two of us using this kit and I lost (lol). BUT I felt like I had won - I used what I had and I had completed it.