The Candy Store

It's unusual to have a baby shower for your third baby. But since each of our children have been anticipated as much as the others, I've always thought we should have a celebration for each. Baby one was 'morning mocktails'. Baby two had a 'gelati party'. For baby three we opened a 'candy store'! It was the best way I could think of to involve the girls and to get them (even more) excited about our upcoming arrival. The day went a little like this...

Visitors arrived and were welcomed by the friendly candy shop staff.

They were each given some 'baby dollars' to spend...

...at the store!

They chose from a selection of home-made candy: fairy floss; peppermint creams; freckles;...

...turkish delight; sherbert spoons; orange sticks; chocolate fudge; marshmellow & sherbert cones;...

...pistachio nougat; peanut brittle; honeycomb; coconut ice; and marshmellows.

Then the shopkeepers charged whatever they thought was appropriate! (We did overhear Elara at one point..."wow, you've got lots! That's one hundred and forty please"!)

Then everyone was left to enjoy the food and make some predictions about the baby. It was so much fun, and a great celebration for this 'sweet' one soon to arrive!

Life is Sweet

It seems there are a few of us who have been a bit out of touch with 'blogland' lately. I have missed the sharing and encouragement and inspiration! I have been particularly busy in the 'real world', getting ready for my 'candy shop' baby shower. Here's a little taste of the sewing/crafty preparations...A gift (and reminder) from my sister.

Candy colourful bunting.

Aprons for the girls to wear (pattern found in this book).

The lollipop style invitations.

Ha.ppy.Ro.bot.Birth.day.

Last weekend we celebrated the 3rd birthday of this cool kid, in robot style. His Mum had thought of plenty of clever food and party decorating ideas, so I had to really widen my ideas file to make our gifts robot-like.

It began with this caribena pouch filled with a few treats.

Then a picture: made, wrapped and decorated by Elara.

A robot wristband (now who hasn't wanted one of these before)!

And finally some robot cupcakes (an amateur version of these). Beware...I will only make these for very special people...they took a long time (though not so long to be devoured by hungry kids at the birthday party)!

Yes, I must have found my overdrive button after all. What a shame I couldn't just plug in to the power socket and recharge after all that crafting and baking!

Tasmania Top Ten (from a man of few words)

Tasmania Top Ten (a Mother's version)

1. Tasmanian apples straight from the farm

2. My favourite town of Dover

3. Mother's Day picnic lunch at Richmond

4. Church buildings of all kinds...grand, old and quirky.

5. Curry at Annapurna Indian restaurant.

6. Family sing-along to this cd, while driving, driving, driving...

7. Salamanca markets. Oh how I wish I'd bought a raspberry swirl meringue! Or some tempura mushrooms!

8. Breakfast on my birthday.

9. Those autumn leaves that we largely miss in Queensland

10. And best of all, time with the family.

Tasmania Top Ten (Elara style)

1. Being silly with my Aunties.

2. Making a teeny tiny snowman.

3. Buying and sending postcards to my friends and family.

4. My special 'Lola' wheelie bag.

5. Seeing a real Tassie Devil.

6. Throwing snowballs at everyone...especially Daddy.

7. When the emu at the zoo pecked the whole food bag out of my hand!

8. My fairy coloring book.

9. The conservatory and carousel at the Royal Tasmanian Botanic Gardens.

10. Hiking with Dad

My favourite easy treats

Peanut butter cheesecake slice

Process 250g chocolate chip biscuits until fine; add 50g melted butter and 1 tbls milk, process until combined. Press mixture into whatever tin it fits (mine is a 20cm square tin). Freeze 30 mins.

Combine 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter and 1/2 cup cream in a small saucepan; stir, over low heat until smooth. Cool.

Beat 250g softened cream cheese and 1/2 cup caster sugar with electric mixer until smooth. Stir in peanut butter mixture.

Spread filling over crust; cover with foil, freeze 3 hours.

Combine 200g dark chocolate and 1/2 cup cream in a small saucepan; stir over low heat until smooth. Top cheesecake with chocolate mixture.

Enjoy from the freezer or fridge!

(Adapted from "The Australian Women's Weekly Cheesecakes" cookbook)


Portuguese custard tarts

(oh but they taste much better than they look)

Combine 1/2 cup caster sugar and 2 tbls cornflour in medium saucepan.

Gradually whisk in 3 egg yolks, 3/4 cup milk and 1/2 cup cream. Add 1tsp vanilla paste and a 5cm strip of lemon rind.

Stir over a medium heat until mixture just comes to the boil. Remove from heat and discard rind. Cover surface with plastic wrap.

Cut 1 sheet ready rolled puff pastry in half; place two halves on top of each other. Roll up pastry tightly from long side; cut log into 24 rounds.

Roll each pastry round on floured surface to 6cm diameter. Press pastry into greased mini muffin tin holes.

Divide custard among pastry cases. Bake about 15 mins in a 220 degree oven.

Enjoy the tiny bites of custardy goodness!

(Adapted from "The Australian Women's Weekly Little Pies and Cakes" cookbook)