Month: August 2014


Cute as a Button 50’s Kitchen Tea Party


August 21, 2014

I have the sweetest birthday party to share with you today, courtesy of the very talented Nicole from Penny Lane Studio.  You know I love all things simple with a few perfect details and this party is just that!

Nicole decided to celebrate her daughter Lily’s 2nd Birthday with a Cute as a Button 50’s Kitchen Tea Themed Party featuring a pretty soft pastel colour pallet.

Here is what Nicole told me about the party and her inspiration:-

“The styling for Lily’s Party was reminiscent of my childhood raised with 50’s obsessed parents, with genuine ‘Gay ware’ canisters, popcorn and marshmallow sundaes and delicious strawberry milkshakes.

Karyn from Karyn’s gifted creations designed the cutest button cookies and cookie pops, and Gillian from Crumbs of Comfort jumped on board with a simple messy triple layer cake which was dressed with a button and a bow. Grace from Willow and Co’s stunning photography was perfect for the vintage vibe of this sweet little table.”

 
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Styling, Invitation, Spoons, Garland, Oh Happy Day Bags and Ribbon Cake Topper :: Penny Lane Studio 
Cake :: Crumbs of Comfort Cake Design
Cookies :: Gifted Creations 
Photography :: Willow and Co 


Apple Berry Pies


August 20, 2014

Gillian is back today to share with us and delicious Apple Berry Pie Recipe

Gillians recipe are always wholesome and include beautiful ingredients – I can imagine serving these beauties to the mums and dads court side after our Saturday morning netball game!  Where would you serve these lovely little pies?

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Recipe :: Gillan Brown | Crumbs of Comfort Cake Design
Photography & Styling :: Leanne Ambrogio | Sweet Style

Apple Berry Pies
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Ingredients
  1. 200g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
  2. 2 tsp cinnamon
  3. 140g cold butter, cut into small chunks
  4. 85g light muscovado sugar
  5. 1 egg, separated
  6. 700g Granny Smith apples, cored peeled and cut into 2cm cubes
  7. Juice of 1 lemon
  8. 150g blackberries
  9. 1 tbsp demerara sugar
  10. 40g butter
Instructions
  1. Grease a cupcake pan with butter and heat oven to 180C
  2. Put the flour and cinnamon in a food processor, then add the butter. Process to make fine crumbs. Reserve 2 tbsp of the sugar, then add the remainder and briefly mix. Add the egg yolk and 1 tbsp water, then pulse to make a firm dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and briefly knead. Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.
  3. To make the filling, peel and core the apples, and cut each into 2cm pieces. Toss immediately with lemon juice in a large bowl, to prevent apples from discolouring. Place the butter and sugar in a large frypan over medium-low heat. When butter has melted, add apples and spices, then stir to coat. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes or until apples have slightly softened, add blackberries and cook for a further 2 minutes. Set aside to cool.
  4. Roll out pastry to approx 1cm thickness. Cut rounds to fit cupcake pan. Cut smaller rounds for lids.
  5. Gently press rounds into cupcake pan and spoon in cooled fruit mix ( don't be tempted to spoon in hot fruit as this will affect the baking process of the pastry.) Brush a little water on edge of pastry and place lid on top. Brush with milk and sprinkle with some sugar.
  6. Bake for 25 minutes or until pastry is golden brown.
Notes
  1. You can substitute blackberries with any seasonal berries
Sweet Style http://www.sweetstyle.com.au/

 


Our latest Bali Adventure


August 18, 2014

So after what has been the most amazing winter here in Sydney the weather has finally cracked and the rain is coming down by the bucket load!  As I sit here huddled in front of my fire watching the weather around me I keep thinking back to our amazing trip to Bali in July and thought today would be the perfect day to share some sun, fun and happiness with you.

I know I said it in my post a few months ago after our April trip to Bali but it really is the one place in the world I feel very connected to the world.  The constant warm days, the friendly people and the wonderful vibe I get every time I am in Bali makes me desperate to spend more than a just a few weeks at a time there.  I am still working on Mr A and hope that sometime in my future we can even a few months living the Bali life – switching off from the pace of life at home and just enjoying each others company.  

This trip to Bali was a little different than others as we were staying at my lovely friends Rowe’s villa.  Rowe is an Aussie photographer living in Bali with her family while her daughter Audrey attends the amazing Green School (such an amazing school – even just to visit).  We spent our first day with Rowe, Danny and Audrey before they headed home to Australia for a few weeks – it was a lot more like living in Bali than being in a resort with loads of other families – I just loved it and it gave me even more of a taste for it. 

So here are 20 of my favourite photos from our recent trip away (somehow I decided on these out of over 1,000) – I think I will have to do another post soon to share some more fun photos.

Would love to know where you love travelling to?  Is there somewhere in the world that you feel really connected to? 

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Pineapples


August 15, 2014

I am really loving the pineapple trend so I have jumped aboard and found a few cool things to inspire you this Friday!

With only 16 days officially left of winter I am certainly dreaming of the warmer weather and pineapples remind me of summer days by the pool!

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

pineapple

TOP :: T-SHIRT :: NECKLACE :: PHONE COVER :: SHOES :: PRINT :: CANDLE :: BEDCOVER :: COCKTAIL :: POPSICLE

 

 


Vegan Apple and Cinnamon Slice


August 12, 2014

It is recipe day today and Bianca from Botanic Baker Blog is back today to share with us one of her delicious Vegan treats.

This Apple and Cinnamon Slice sounds just amazing and would be the perfect afternoon treat for visitors (or just to treat yourself).  The recipe can be found and printed at the bottom of the post – as will all of Bianca’s recipes they can all be made non vegan.

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Apple and Cinnamon Slice
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Ingredients
  1. 2 cups plain flour, sifted
  2. 2 tsp baking powder
  3. ½ cup caster sugar
  4. 125g softened butter
  5. 1 chia egg* - egg can be used also.
  6. ( 1 tbs chia seeds to 3 tbs water, whisk until combine and gel starts to form. Place in fridge for 15 minutes before using)
  7. 2 cups stewed apples, with cinnamon*
Instructions
  1. Simply peel, core and dice your apples then place into a large pot or saucepan with a lid. Sprinkle apples with ground cinnamon and a tablespoon of caster sugar.
  2. Pour in ½ cup of water over the top and put the pot onto a medium heat, stirring occasionally until apples become soft but still firm.
  3. Once cooked, strain and allow the apples to cool before placing them into your slice.
  4. Combine all pastry ingredients into a food processor.
  5. Mix until all ingredients are combine, if needed you can add extra milk if dough is not combining.
  6. While your dough is combining, line your slice tray with baking paper.
  7. Once combine place the dough onto a well floured surface and roll into a ball, place in fridge for 5 – 10 minutes.
  8. While dough is sitting in the fridge pre-heat oven to 180°C.
  9. Cut dough into 2 or 3 balls ( this depends on how many layers you wish to make)
  10. On the well floured surface roll your dough balls into roughly 1 cm layers and start to layer your apples and pastry.
  11. Start with a bottom layer of pastry then add your stewed apples(if you like them sweeter sprinkle a teaspoon of caster sugar on to the apples) then layer the pastry. You will need pastry at the top to keep it all together.
  12. Place apple slice in oven and bake for 25 minutes or until the top is slightly golden brown. Once baked place tray onto a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes before taking the slice out.
  13. Once out cut into slices and sprinkle sifted icing sugar over the top.
Sweet Style http://www.sweetstyle.com.au/

Bianca Virtue is the creator and owner of Botanic Baker Blog in Melbourne, Australia.  After meeting her vegan husband six years ago she started to create and develop vegan recipes that are easy for everyone.  Every recipe can be made non vegan which is the beauty of her recipes.  From simples bakes to learning to make something with seasonal produce her passion is sweet treats.  She is currently studying Patisserie.