Winter...time for jackets, coats and merino knits...and some warming food!

Firstly some promised recipes from class morning teas.

Cup of Tea Cake...enduring popular.

I usually make this for morning classes right after breakfast when there is fresh cold tea left in teapot. There are many variations of this old recipe called Brac.

Short shelf life as it has no oil or butter and is suitable for freezing. If you are not on a diet lashings of real butter on each slice make it really scrumptious!

1 cup cold tea
I cup dried fruit ( raisins are best) can be chopped dates or apricots too.
3/4 cup sugar ( brown raw or white)
1 cup approx. SR flour ( I prefer wholemeal)
1 Egg
pinch mixed spice( opt)
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped roughly ( opt)
Extra walnuts or pecans for topping

Soak fruit in tea for 30 minutes, then add sugar flour spice nuts and egg. Mix only till combined and sprinkle with extra nuts. As flours differ, a 'Christmas cake' consistency is what to aim for.
Cook in a large loaf tin, paper lined, for approx 30 minutes on 180 C.

Weight watchers, serves 15,for 3 points a serve...

Chocolate Pecan Fingers

90 g dark chocolate
120g reduced fat butter
2tsp instant coffee powder
2 eggs
3/4 cup Caster sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 cup plain flour
100g pecan pieces
In a double boiler melt chocolate and butter in top over boiling water. Add coffee and cool slightly. Beat eggs till frothy and add sugar and vanilla. Fold chocolate mixture into eggs the fold in flour and pecans.
Pour into a 20 cm paper lined oil sprayed cake tin and cook for about 30 minutes at 180 C, till firm. Cut into 15 fingers. Dust with icing sugar. Fab with a coffee,


Photos show finished coat (at last...its turned pretty cold in Orange) from previous blog steps and gorgeous merino knit from The Fabric Store ( Surry Hills) in a cute high waisted jumper dress...both current projects being made in the studio.

Easiest Cushions Ever

If you are planning to make cushions next week or term 2 you will need the following:
.5m furnishing fabric( preshrunk)
1 x 45cm zip ( can use an invisible zipper)
1 size 18 cushion infill (45cm)
You can choose from several styles;
Button down ... No need for a zip
Outside flange
Decorative overlays using silk organza and stitching
Stripe effects
Button bobbles, bead decorations!

You should be able to make a cushion in an hour or two in a class!

Easter for another year...

Classes have been busy finishing the reversible jacket for this term with some really good results....well done to all ! I have suggested a lesson on ' my easiest cushion ever' should follow as a warm down after such a monumental effort, ideas, requirements and photos to follow.
Below are recipes for this term, one sweet and one salad. First is weight watchers carrot and zucchini cake, (well we do have them going mad in the garden) and then friend Jane W 's wonderful Chicken and Spiced fig salad which the family enjoyed over Easter.

Jane's Chicken and Spiced Fig Salad   

I just cook the chicken breasts in a baking dish in the oven on 180c for 30 minutes covered with baking paper.  So easy.  Don't bother frying etc as below.
serves 4.

4 x 200g chicken breast fillets
1 tbs olive oil
2 buffalo mozzarella balls or 6 bocconcini, torn into bite-size pieces
4 prosciutto slices, torn
2 cups rocket leaves

Spiced figs
1 cup (220g) caster sugar
1 1/2 cups (375 mls) dry red wine
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 cinnamon quill
6 cardamon pods
6 peppercorns
2 star anise
2cm piece of ginger, thinly sliced
4 lemon slices
8 fresh figs

For the figs, placed all of the ingredients except the figs in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer for 10 minutes, then add figs and simmer for a further 3 minuts or until figs soften slightly.  Remove the figs with slotted spoon and set aside.  Return the pan to medium-high heat and simmer liquid for 4-5 minutes until reduced to 1 cup.  Remove from the heat, return the figs to the pan, then allow to cool. 

Remove the figs from the syrup and halve. Slice the chicken into strips.   Remove the figs from the syrup and halve. Since the chicken into strip. Arrange chicken, figs, mozzarella, prosciutto and rocket on a serving platter. Drizzle with some of the spiced fig syrup, then season and serve.  

Carrot, pineapple and zucchini cake


A nice twist on classic carrot cake - we've used pineapple and zucchini to keep the cake moist, yet healthy. Enjoy with tea or coffee.

Ingredients
1 x 3 second spray(s) oil spray
¼ cup(s) Canola Spread
½ cup(s) caster sugar
1 small egg(s)
1 medium egg white
200 g canned pineapple in natural juice
1 medium carrot
1 small zucchini
1¾ cup(s) white self-raising flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg

125 g reduced-fat cream cheese
¼ cup(s) icing mixture
1 tsp lemon juice

Instructions

Preheat oven to 180 deg. Spray and line 20 cm cake tin.
 Using electric mixer, beat spread and sugar until light and creamy, gradually add combined egg and white, beat till combined. Stir in carrot, pineapple, and zucchini. Stir in sifted flour and spices. 
Spoon mixture into tin, smooth surface. Bake for 35 - 40 minutes, test with skewer  and then cool in pan. 
For icing, beat cream cheese and icing sugar till smooth, beat in juice. Spread over cooled cake.
4 points a serve when cut into 16 slices.... No cheating!

Welcome back for 2013 !

The weather has cooled down making sewing possible. Great to see so many students starting reversible linen jacket.. Some of the combinations are lovely.
A couple of pointers which ensure it's professional finish are:
Preshrinking fabric ( and sometimes interfacing)before cutting.
Using pinking shears for outer edges of the interfacings to prevent a ' welded' line at edge of fusibles.
Read direction sheet before sewing so you have an idea of the method of assembly.
To be continued....

Our plum tree is laden so morning tea and supper this week featured the blood plums..

Rustic Plum Cake

125 g unsalted butter at room temperature
150 g caster sugar ( I use slightly less if plums are ripe)
2 large eggs
150 g self raising flour
pinch salt
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
500 g red plums

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well between each.
Add Flour salt and vanilla, beat well.
Grease a springform tin ( I use 20cm) and place two strips of paper from side to side( like a cross) and up above tin sides.
Spoon in mixture and level top. Place plums halved with cut side up on top( I cover whole cake)
Bake 190 C for 50 - 60 minutes, or until skewer comes out clean. Leave in tin till just warm, unmould, dust top with icing sugar and serve with cream.
Cake does collapse if using watery ripe plums, firmer are probably better...but it still tastes wonderful.

Kimono Shoes

Thanks to Julie Darley for passing this gorgeous little pattern for baby shoes on to me. During the heat I have loved pottering in the cool studio working on these for pleasure.
I have pattern sizes through 0 to 18 months and while they are quite tiny to work on the result is well worth it. Inadequate cards to match using fabric of shoes and stitching them onto paper card.. Cute!
I have wrapped two pairs up for a friend's daughters on birth of her first two grandchildren born two weeks apart!
If you have scraps of cute fabrics it might be fun to give a pair a go!

Classes resume for 2013

Happy new year to all!

You all should have received an enrollment email or letter today or tomorrow and if not please contact me.
After reeling from the heat it's hard to think about sewing, but the studio is cooled and very pleasant even on the hottest days.
I am just getting patterns and test garments ready for those who are taking up the challenge of the reversible linen ' go anywhere jacket'.
Pictures included to remind you of its easy shape and clever stand up collar.
I have purchased an array of colors that can be used together in various combinations for you to purchase, if you don't have anything suitable. Most are cotton/linens and the rest are pure linen, with prices of $16 - $29.00.

New puppy

Miss D'arcy at 13, has a new mate.. the daughter she never had! Remy, so named after our last week in Provence staying at St Remy, is just gorgeous, soft and cuddly and reasonably well behaved for a 16 week old Retriever ! Puppy preschool on Wednesday nights still has me a little challenged but there are signs of progress...