Beading and Baking

Hello!  Over the last couple of weeks I have been collecting coloured workable clay that can be baked in the oven to harden such as Fimo and Sculpey.

I wanted to test both of them to see how they were in ease of use, colour retainment and outcome.  With my clay I only attempted making beads which required a bit of kneading, some rolling in the palms, making a hole with a skewer and baking.  It was that easy.  I found the Fimo a little harder to kneed but the finish was great, no finger print marks and it was smooth.  While the Sculpey was easier to kneed but because it was so soft I found I left little finger prints in the clay.  Both clays were baked at the Fimo instructions (Sculpey had no instructions on the packaging) 110 degrees Celsius for 30 mins.  I loved the outcome, the colours were retained after baking and the beads were hard and set.  This would also be a great activity to get the kids involved.  The websites both offer some cool ideas on what else you can do with the clay such as jewelry, homewares and figurines.   I ended up making a necklace with some of my beads and will probably use the rest as decorations for presents etc.

This week I also made a variation on the Raspberry Blissmas cake I made for Mother's Day a month or so back.   It was my sister's birthday in the first week of June and I made her a Cherry Blissmas cake, involving a chocolate sponge and cherry/cream/marshmallow centre.  Yum, I definitely think this cake is very versatile and can be made with other berries.

I also baked some raspberry friands this week and thought I would share my favourite recipe by Margaret Fulton.

• 175g butter
• grated rind of 1 orange
• 1 cup ground almonds
• 1 2/3 cup sifted icing sugar
• 1/3 cup & 1 tbs of plain flour
• 5 egg whites
• 200g fresh or frozen raspberries

Preheat oven to 230 degrees Celsius.  Grease friand or cupcake moulds with butter.  Put the butter in a small saucepan and cook gently until the butter is pale gold - set aside.  Place the ground almonds in a bowl with the orange rind, icing sugar and flour - mix well until combined.  Add egg whites and pour in butter carefully holding back browned solids.  Mix well.  Bake for 5 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 200 degrees Celsius and bake for a further 12-15 minutes  Turn off oven and leave in oven for 5 minutes.  Remove and turn out onto cooling rack.

I always forget how tasty and easy these little delights are.  They are such a pleasure to make :)

How has your week been?

Kimberlee xx:)xx

Spreading some love..

Hello! I love a good chocolate slice and this recipe has been pleasing my family for over 20 years!  The recipe comes from an Australian Women's Weekly book call The Big Book of Beautiful Biscuits.  This recipe is such an institution that everyone in my family makes this recipe..my mum, sister, brother and now even my 13 year old niece bakes it.  I can admit that sometimes I have stuffed up the recipe…like the time when I  was about 14 I added a cup of cocoa instead of 1 tablespoon.   But it is foolproof!  So here it is…

Chocolate Fudge Bars 

• 1 cup of plain flour
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 cup of coconut
• 1 tablespoon of cocoa
• 185g (6oz) butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Chocolate icing

• 1 cup of icing sugar
• 2 tablespoons of cocoa
• 30g (1oz) butter
• 11/2 tablespoons of hot water
• coconut

Sift dry ingredients into bowl, add melted butter and vanilla, mix well.  Press mixture over base of greased 28cm x 18cm (11in x 7in) lamington  tin.  Bake in a moderate oven for 20 minutes.  Cool in tin.  When cold, ice with Chocolate Icing, sprinkle with coconut.  Cut into bars when icing has set.

Chocolate icing: Sift icing sugar and cocoa in small bowl, add melted butter and water, mix until icing is smooth and glossy.

I even hunted out my own copy of this book at an op-shop, it's such a treasure to own.  

Chocolatey…fudgey days to you!

Kimberlee xx:)xx

Easter is in the air

Hello!  Welcome to my blog!  These past two weeks I have been…

Thinking about more repurposing ideas.   I found these cuties at an Op-shop, they were only 50c.  I have taken the old clip on the back off and will hot glue gun some stud bars in place.  Volia!  Cute, retro studs for me!

Yum, I have been wanting to make these Caramel Kisses for ages!  This is the second batch I have made in two weeks and they have been a huge hit!  If you cannot buy Arnott's Butternut Snap Cookies, look for cookies that have a buttery coconut base.  I found my recipe here.  Enjoy :)

Easter is in the air….well in Australia it has been since we packed away the christmas decorations!  I found these ultra cute easter decorations at my local Woolworths grocery store.   Easter has been slowly gaining a decorating following that it never has had before.   Bunnies, chocolate, thankfulness and family what's not to celebrate!

Have a glorious week,

Kimberlee xx:)xx

sunshine and lollipops

It has been a busy couple of weeks for me, so I'm finally getting to a new post!  Here are some of the things that have been inspiring me these last 14 days....

 I made some unreal brownies from a recipe by New Zealand cook Annabel Langbein.  These brownies were made with dates.  I was so surprised as I am not a dried fruit fan (actually I run from the stuff) but the dates add a unique texture and moreish quality to these delicious morsels.  Im afraid I never got around to taking a photo of the end product as they were devoured by my family (and me)!  If your inclined to make some here is the recipe!

 My sister bought these gorgeous earrings for me from Daisy Chain a handmade jewellery and accessories store she found on Facebook.  I love stud earrings and have a lot in my jewellery box and wear a different pair every day...(ok small obsession ;))

Embellish me!  Wow check these beauties out!  I found them at Spotlight and I swear my eyes nearly popped out of my head!  There were many embellishments of the same kind some were a bit more glitzier and some were collars.  These were only $6 each a complete bargain if you ask me.  The only thing is that I'm not sure if I will use them for a simple black t-shirt or something more daring and use them for a jacket.  What do you think?  I will post pics when I've decided!

My reading material for the last couple of weeks..Frankie Magazine which I love, love LOVE!  Did I mention I love Frankie Magazine?  I find it quirky, down-to-earth, interesting and fun such a good read every month.  Merle's Country Show Baking, old school baking which I really enjoy.   Merle is a member of the CWA (Country Women's Association) and a queen of baking.  I look at it as baking that your Nanna would do.   Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, working in a public library I have a list as long as my arm of my next reads.  This book has been on my list for quite a while and Im really enjoying it so far...I think it's a winner!


Oh a note on my antlers... well I am still trying to find the perfect rope to bind them together.  I have tried several over the last couple of weeks and they have either been too big and bulky or not the look I am after.  The hunt for the perfect rope continues...

Happy Days to you!
Kimberlee xx:)xx