MY FAVOURITE CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE and a few other goodies

This is the chocolate cake recipe I use for all the family birthdays, except my hubbies as he prefers fruit cake but we still have one of these as well for everyone else.  It is large and foolproof.

RECIPE
1/2cup cocoa mixed with 1/2cup hot water
2 large cups S.R flour
1/2cup milk
3 eggs
1/2tsp carb soda
1tspn vanilla essence
11/4cups sugar
4ozs(125grms) butter
1tspn cream of tartar
1/4tspn salt

METHOD
Cream butter and sugar well, add beaten eggs a little at a time beating well between. (my mothers tip to prevent this mixture curdling at this stage, sprinkle in a little flour)  Add sifted flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt.  Lastly stir in milk and cocoa mixed with hot water.  Bake in a flat baking dish in moderate oven for about 25-30mins.
 I nearly always use my ring or square cake tin to make a nice birthday cake but just cook it longer, I touch it with my finger at about 40mins and if it springs back when I release, it should be cooked, but I double check with a cake skewer too.  Cool in the tin and then turn out onto a rack.  Ice with chocolate butter icing when cold.


My best bean recipe
I grew these beans from some dried ones that I use for cooking, they grow easily.

Put the beans through a shredder if you have one.  Chop up some spring onions and capsicum, asstd coloured capsicums look nice but I only had red today.  Stir fry in olive oil and a little butter until just done.  You can also add some crushed garlicand skinned deseeded chopped tomatoes which is nice too.

Don't throw away the root part of the spring onion, plant it in the garden, it will grow again.  The one in the photo with the green shoots is one I planted 2weeks ago.

Another of my mums tips

My mother said that during the war when some ingredients were unavailable they substituted lots of other ingredients.  One that I had to use today was a teaspoon of cider vinegar in place of  an egg yolk for the biscuits I baked, I used my last 3 in the chocolate cake. As you can see in the photo they are fine and taste very good (yes I sampled one while they were still warm, only a tiny one)

A LOVELY SCRUMMY VEGETARIAN LOAF

I was wondering what I could make for dinner for a change and came across this recipe in my old cookbook which I had forgotten about, you know how it is, you make a nice recipe and then down the track can't remember which cookery book you got it from.  Well here it is and it's delish

Ingredients
11/2cups sunflower seeds
3/4cup sesame seeds
1cup walnuts
315g(10oz)can soy beans ( I cook my own from the dried stage) in this case I substituted them with cannalini.
1large carrot grated
1large onion chopped finely
1stick celery chopped finely
1tsp mixed herbs
3tbls chopped parsley
2 eggs
2tbls oil
2tbls cider vinegar
Method
Place sunflower, seseme seeds and walnuts into blender and blitz until fine.
Transfer mix to a large bowl together with well drained beans and everything else. Mix well with hands and then press into a greased loaf pan
Cook in moderate oven for 1hour until firm to the touch and edges are golden brown.  Allow to cool then turn out of tin, serve hot or cold.  Enjoy

I just love this

I just love this handmade shell mobile.  I bought it from http://www.astaraboutique.bigcartel.com/ there are more lovely unusual handmade items in this online shop.

This one I couldn't resist and I think it looks so nice hanging over my bird bath.

SNAZZY LITTLE SEED BEDS

I found this little packet of 12 seed raising pods at my local garden centre yesterday and thought I would give them a try.  I actually got 13 in the packet which is a change.

They were so easy to use, they look like little felt round pads ,quite flat.  You just put them into a dish(I used a meat tray)one that comes from the supermarket with meat in it. Although I did remove the meat first. Pour over a little warm water and within a few minutes they are 7cm tall.  Just push aside the mesh on the top and plant a seed, cover over a little with the peat, cover the whole lot( I just put some glad wrap over) and watch them grow.  Just a little bit of water now and then when they go pale brown.  When the seedling is quite strong, plant the whole lot straight into the garden. "Ingenious"

I love the idea and can't wait to see the result.  It saves disturbing the roots.

sewing day

Made some aprons this week for the shop, all out of my vintage fabric stash

Planting the council strip

After reading veggiegobblers blog on medien strips I thought I would show you how we planted up ours.  We also asked the council for some trees to be planted in the street ,which they did .They were pretty good about it.

EXCITING NEWS

I have just opened my online store.  You will see lots of little treasures I have for sale.  You are welcome to take a look. http://www.vintagetreasuresbyjeanetteann.bigcartel.com/  Little handpainted vintage vase $9.95

BAKING DAY

Just some goodies for the grandchildren and the children in my sewing class.  I suspect they will be gone by the weekend. But look nice while they last.

USING UP MY FABRIC STASH

I had a project day again yesterday to use up some more of my fabric stash.  I decided this brocade would look good as table runners, I have enough for four.  I added the Christmas appliques and will give some away for presents at Christmas and keep one.

I know its a bit early but oh why not make a start it will save the headaches later in the year.

Hibiscus flowers

I just love hibiscus and at the moment they are nearly at their best, they are so bright and sunny and some of their flowers are as big as dinner plates.

VICTORIANA

Today I played with some lace that I hand dyed recently.  Made some Victoriana which I love.  A bag and a lavender cushion to hang.  I am quite pleased with the result although I still have to line the bag with silk.

MISS DAISY

As it has been so extremely hot the last week, I havn't been able to get out into the garden.  So I went through my sewing room cupboards again sorting into piles of to do's and to throw etc:  I came across my rag doll I made a few years back but she still hadn't been dressed.  Well now Miss Daisy has a new identity and she looks so pretty in her daisy dress and apron.  I even used up some little crocheted doilies for pockets and some buttons from the button jar.  I just love ric rac braid and found some in my vintage box.  The white daisy lace came from a vintage wedding dress train. With the left over yellow fabric I made two cushion covers with daisies.

I made a killing today

We have suspected we might have a mouse in the house for some time as the house next door has been empty for eighteen months.  Yesterday we bought mousetraps and placed them in front of the stove. 

MOTHER MOUSE

THE FINISHED LACE

While I was playing with my Christmas present ( a ribbon and lace dying kit ) the trap went off.  My husband is rather squeemish when it comes to emptying a trap so yours truly had to do the honours.  Lucky I didn't throw away the mouse still in the trap because I reset it and within three hours had caught three and they were all babies.  I bet their mother told them not to go near Mrs O'Donnells kitchen, but did they listen, no.  I wonder if mother will come looking for them when she has finished her sewing.

I LOVE VINTAGE

I have been on the hunt for vintage tea towels as I had found two and just loved them.  Today I came across six lovelies for $8 plus a terracotta warmer for the scone/roll basket $2.  I always feel like I've won the lottery when I come home with such lovely items.

THE VEGIE PATCH

Finally I have a female quash flower open so, was able to pollinate her, result at last.

The pumpkins are now just starting to fruit and the tomatoes are just about starting to turn, yum.

POTATOES EVEN GROWING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE BIN

POTATOES

TOMATOES

BABY PUMPKIN

SQUASH

  Vistitors for lunch on thursday so nice fresh salad including some baby Zucchinis ready to be picked with their flowers.

SEA URCHINS

After reading Astara's latest post I remembered a collection of sea urchin shells I picked up on the beach at Cabowie on the York Peninsula a couple of years ago.

I found them out and now can't decide what to do with them, maybe a mobile what do you think?

MORE CUSHIONS

In the mood for cushion making again so thought I would use this Vintage fabric which I think looks so sweet.  They will be for sale on Gumtree classifieds, as I have too many to keep them all.

strangers in my garden again

Can anyone tell me if this is a weed or not.  I plant so much in our tiny garden that I don't know whether it is a weed or not. There are a few of them and 2 are a metre tall and growing near my tomatoes and beans.  Also my baby squash are showing a black spot under where the flower falls off and then the whole thing turns to a black mush. I really don't want to spray but can't think what it is. Help needed

SEWING PROJECT

I thought I would sort through my stash of old fabrics today and came accross some nice colour ways.  I turned some into simple cushions with ties on the back or maybe the front. Anyway I was quite pleased with the result.  Now where do I put them thats all I need another cushion. ha ha.

Maybe on ebay I think, yes ebay x

BAKING DAY

Baking day, apple and apricot pies,plum sauce and apricot jam

Almost there

Well finally I am on the home straight.  My book is in the edit stage so it won't be long and I will be holding it in my hand.  I am a little nervous about what it will look like but excited too.