Saturday, November 10, 2012

No sew bunting

Long time no chitty chat hey? We moved a few weeks back, 45 minutes down the road but a million miles from where we were. We've spent the last few years feeling a bit isolated, so we have moved home. Some things don't change (kids are still great but tiring), but we are happier living near the ocean and friends.

Now that we are almost unpacked (not unpacking completely since we are renting a friend of a friends place while we look for one to buy) I have been making an effort to get to some projects that have been sitting around for a while.

Today's no sew bunting is a great one for those that are a little challenged in the craft department (like me!).

I picked up a stash of napkins a while back for about 20 cents each. I don't think anyone has used apricot for decorating since about 1988, but mix it up with some patterned 70's orange (sounds hideous doesn't it?) and voila! 5 minutes a couple of dollars and bunting!



I've ties the napkins together rather than sew, basically because I'm lazy, but you can use any excuse you like.




OK..off to enjoy some more of the springshine!

xxCC

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Meet Bertha

I made a new friend this week. She is a little rough around the edges and may need a hammer and a bit of WD40 before she is the right shape (which in this instance is MY shape).......


Bertha, as I have christened her was being throw away by the business next door and they said I could have her for free!!! WooHoo!

There is enough for a dress, but I suspect the colour will look awful near my face!

I think she looks rather fetching in this fabric which I think is destined for a quick and dirty skirt job this week.

I also managed to pick up a couple of great pillowcases to be used either as dresses for Poppet or as panels in a skirt for moi (come on spring!!!!), and few more patterns.

Prints galore!

I also picked up this truly dreadful tea towel. I have a soft spot for all things Scottish having lived there for a few years many moons ago. I saw this guy and had to buy it....because sometimes something is so bad it is good.

So bad its good? Or just bad?

I may be even more sporadic with my posts in the coming weeks......after a year of being on the market we finally sold our house and are packing up and moving! (Just as soon as we can find somewhere to rent!!!) .

Til next time...
CC.

Linking up with Her Library Adventures Flea Market Finds and
Recycled Fashion

Monday, August 6, 2012

Sunday afternoon baking

With the wind blowing and colds taking up residence in the house I got my bake on with some quick easy Apple Butterscotch Scones. Excellent way to warm up and use an apple that was starting to go a bit brown!!!

Normally my scones are pretty crumbly, which is as far as I'm concerned how they are supposed to be...but these have a more cakey consistency which I'm happy to go with this time around.

Apple Butterscotch Scones

2 cups of Plain Flour and 4 tsp of Baking Powder (Or Self Raising Flour instead...normally I will replace with 1/3 wholemeal four.....but I was out).
2 T Caster Sugar
Pinch salt
80 g butter
1 cup of Buttermilk (or if you are me and never have any 1 cup of milk with 1T of vinegar).

Filling
1 Apple (peeled and grated).
2 T butter
2 T brown sugar
2 T maple syrup (or golden syrup)
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Add dry ingredients to bowl and stir. Rub though butter. Stir in milk. Mixture will be a bit sticky...this is OK! Empty onto a floured bench (or floured chopping board for size) and spread.

Not pretty but you get the idea.
In a separate bowl mix all filling ingredients except apple.
Spread over scone mixture.
Grate apple over the top.

Roll up, roll up!

Slice into 1 inch pieces (most recipes like this say you will get 8-10 scones.....ummm no. More like 6-8!). Use a bread knife it cuts easier (yes, that's a Belinda tip)

Mum's helper.....in between trying to shovel brown sugar in his mouth

Place on a baking tray covered with baking paper and brush with a little extra maple syrup.

Cook on 200c for about 20 minutes. Top will be a little brown and the bottom will be a little bit crunchy.

Classy chipped china and tea bags

Serve with lashings of cream and a nice cup of tea.


Poppet, Percy and the remnants of afternoon tea.


CC

Linking up with Gingerbread this week.



Photobucket

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Dotty for Doilies!

I jumped on the doily bandwagon this week. Actually I jumped on it a while ago after seeing a ridiculous amount of cute doily projects on the blogosphere. After picking up an appropriately sized doily in the haul a couple of weeks ago, I was inspired to try this collar. I made a  few changes to the original instructions.

1. Mine started unravelling as soon as I cut it, so I added bias tape to the neck and edge.
2. I used hat elastic to fashion a loop for he button to go through. Poppet pulled this off in about an hour, so I ended up pushing the button through the existing holes.
3. I messed up the cutting and both sides are a little uneven if I wear it Peter Pan style. As long as I wear it fastened at the back it fine!

Thank you to Noemie from The Sun was High for posting it. I will definitely try making another one. If you have a spare doily hanging around give it a try. If I can get it (almost) right anyone can!

Please ignore the similarity to the gorgeous Noemie's picture...I didn't click until after I posted it!  (Well as similar as this old lady is going to get!  I cropped my eyes so the wrinkles and bags couldn't be seen after a few too many nights without sleep!)

CC. 


Sunday, July 22, 2012

The Linen Dilemma

Once upon a time I would walk into an oppie and see a lovely single bed sheet, pick it up, look at it longingly and keep walking. These days I pick them up, squeal internally (or lets face it, sometimes rather loudly) and add them to the stash I'm trying to juggle whilst chasing two kids down aisles and yelling "no, you can't have....!".
Why the change.....well A)we now have single beds in the house. Well, single bed, but since poppet will need one eventually I buy nice ones when I see them, and B) I have started sewing many of them would make great clothes. The problem is, do I keep them as sheets or chop them and turn them into pretty dresses for me and Poppet? Tell me, what would you do?


Green single only....others with set. Even wash fade, great designs, dilemma dilemma.!
I have been grabbing a ridiculous amount of patterns lately....now I just have to learn how to sew with them.

I can see the sheets as some of these. 

Also picked up some great doilies and napkins along with the patterns. 
Along with doilies I've been picking up napkins lately. The doilies are destined for collars and decorations on clothes. The napkins are destined to be....napkins! Yep, some things I think I will keep for their intended purpose!

Any other ideas on how to use this weeks stash? Check out Her Library Adventures for other great Flea Market Finds. 

CC

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Broccoli and sweet potato pie

Yep. Another pie. I think i need to change the name of this to a million things to put in pastry. 

I'm happy with this, the filo pastry is crispy, the fetta is salty and that complements the sweetness of the sweet potato nicely. The middle eastern veg has lots of cumin and coriander and other yummy spices. So, yeah happy!




Surprise, surprise I turned to Belinda Jeffery for inspiration. I picked up her latest offering Belinda Jeffery's collected recipes from the library as soon as the boss was finished with it. (I really should take it back and let others borrow it! I'll add to my pinterest board of books people should buy me if you want to know what to get me for Christmas) The middle eastern baked veg here is inspired by her Middle Eastern vegetables with chickpeas (page 133 if your interested!). I've changed the amounts a bit and omitted the eggplant and the pasta sauce she used...mainly because I had made eggplant parmagiana the night before and couldn't do something so similar so quickly (especially since I'd had the leftovers for lunch!).
From Penguin. Gotta say, I'm not a fan of the photography on the cover... especially since the photo's inside are amazing. Maybe it's just my aversion to meat? 

While still on the subject of the cookbook, go and buy it (or at least pop down to the local library and borrow it once the staff have finished with it ;-). It has some reprints of favourites like her Spicy red lentils with caper and currants (with a dressing that works on almost anything) a Slow cooked salmon with lime and lemongrass butter (that the husband is wanting to cook as soon as he can wipe the drool from his chin) and as per usual some AMAZING looking desserts (raspberry semifredo anyone?)

Now without further ado......pie!



Broccoli and Sweet Potato Pie
6 sheets of filo
2 medium sweet potato (kumara)
1 head broccoli
100g fetta
Handful of chopped dates
Cumin to taste (1 tsp?)
Crushed coriander seeds to taste (1tsp?)
Grated lemon zest (again to taste.....about 1 tsp....sorry about not being precise!)
Olive oil

Preheat oven to 180c

Peel, chop and boil sweet potato and steam the broccoli above it (I'm guessing it would taste better if it was sautéed but this is faster). Remove broccoli when still green and firm. Cook sweet potato until a fork goes through it. Drain
When both cooked empty into a bowl (or the saucepan if your as washing up adverse as me). Stir though spices, fetta and dates. 

I used a cake tin to bake this as that's what I have at the moment. You could go all fancy and use a pie dish. 

Line base of tin with baking paper. Spread sheets over dish so that the ends are sticking way over the edge. (Oil between layers). Add veg mixture and folder pastry over the top. Brush with oil. 

Cook until brown. (About 25 mins)

Middle Eastern Veg
2 Carrots
1 Zucchini
1 Red capsicum
1 Onion
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp chilli flakes
1 tsp crushed coriander seeds
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup canned chickpeas
lemon juice
Olive oil
Natural yoghurt, coriander, parsely (optional)

Chop veg add to baking dish, pour over oil and spices and swish around the tray. Cook for 1/2 hr at 220c (stir halfway). Add chickpeas and cook for another 10 minutes.

Add lemon juice and herbs. Add a drizzle of yp and would serve yoghurt when you plate it. Om nom nom (really good with an amber ale or a glass of red!)

Note: alter the veg in this to whatever is in season. The whole thing was super cheap and would serve 4 adults. 


Ugly Flora

I had a rare child free day on Wednesday and managed to hit three oppies, take in a movie and eat an eggy breakfast! Bliss!

I've need a sofa bed for a while so when I spotted this in an op shop I hadn't been to before I knew I had to bring her home!. So what if we have no space? So what if I had to put a lounge (that probably matched the house better) in storage? So what if we had to take an entire morning borrowing trailers and shuffling stuff? So what if some people think she is ugly? I shall name her Flora and I shall love her.



I've picked up a bunch of great napkins in recent weeks that I am planning on turning into no sew bunting when I have five minutes. Check back soon to see the results! 

I'm hoping to get more photos up tonight of some great vintage patterns I picked up as well as the napkins (but right now, I am cold in an unheated room as my netbook  needs power and the last episode of Downton and a cup of tea awaits!)

CC

Linking up to Flea Market Finds over at Her Library Adventures

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Spiced roasted vegetable and lentil soup

I started making soup the other day by roasting some vegetables and then sat down to have a flick through this months Delicious. Two minutes later I was up and tweaking my soup with something inspired by the flavours of James Walt's Butternut pumpkin soup with spiced creme fraiche. Apparently his restaurant Araxi is one of the best in Canada (it says it in the article so it must be true). Anyway his soup is on the cover of this months magazine and mine looks....a bit special (mainly due to blurry photos). I know there is some sort of bloggy rule about not including blur, but I have decided to whack it up anyway as it just tastes so damn good!

The original recipe looks great and easy to follow...but as per usual I didn't have most of the ingredients so this is what you get instead.

Spiced roast vegetable and lentil soup

Roast vegetables (use whatever variations you have)
3 Carrots
1/3 Kent pumpkin
2-3 Sweet Potatoes
1 Red Onion
2 Cloves Garlic
1/4 - 1/2 tsp Garam Marsala
1/4 - 1/2 tsp Cumin
3/4 Cup Red lentils
4 cups of stock (add more water if needed)


Use about this many vegies!

Chop vegies and roast in a large roasting pan with a glug of olive oil, cumin and garam marsala. Roast in a moderate oven until cooked (you know what I mean, brown and smooshy) about 45 mins.

When cooked transfer to a stock pot with stock and lentils. Cook on a medium heat until lentils are cooked through (about 45 mins). Wizz! (With a stick blender or transfer to normal blender). Add a little hot water if too hot. 
Serve with Yogurt / Sour Cream and Crusty bread. 



Super blurry photo due to haste at eating while hot!

Walt's recipe was served with a spiced creme fraiche, which I never buy unless its on special. What I had in the fridge was home made yoghurt and some low fat sour cream. So this is what you get.

Spiced Sour Cream and Yoghurt
2 Tbsp Sour Cream
2 Tbsp Yogurt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice

Mix together and put in fridge for an hour.

I used the leftovers of this the next day on a jacket potato wit lashings of cheese, yum!

Friday, May 25, 2012

Autumn Leaves

With all the cold weather and and whinging about being cold (and yes it is just whinging, its not that cold yet), I've still managed to get out to the local Op- Shops and markets over the past couple of weeks. 

These canisters are awesome! And in great autumn colours. And the Pyrex  casserole dish is perfect for making two serves of chocolate self saucing pudding! (Yes, I have already tried it.....waited until the kids went to bed and then quickly made some for us grown ups and scoffed it in two minutes flat!)
Vintage kitchen porn
I picked up some kids books from the 50's and 60's from a record seller at the markets. They are in great condition but my only gripe is that he stuck awful stickers to the front that have damaged the covers during removal. Oh well, I buy things because I like them, not for resale. On the upside Mr C picked up a Zappa on vinyl that he had been looking for for a while, so I can't be too hard on the guy!

Chuckles is impressed with the one the left that he refers to as "The Party Book"

This week I have been lucky with boys clothes, which is lucky as Chuckles seems a) outgrow everything in five minutes or b) soil whatever he is wearing. Deep breath...this will pass!

I picked up his outfit below for about $7! The pants were in the dress up section of the oppie and I'm sure the woman thought I would be permanently scarring my son by letting him wear them every day. The coat is lovely wool, very warm, dates from pre 70's and only cost me $2. Whilst shopping at the farmers market all the old dears kept telling me how pretty "she" was. And they didn't mean Poppet.

Poppet's coat is thanks to a few awesome friends with great taste that give us all their cast offs! Huzzah for hand me downs!


Toilet stop for chuckles means chance to play in the autumn leaves!
Till next time.
xxCC

Linking up with Her Library Adventures and Photobucket


Monday, May 21, 2012

Love Pie

Since its well and truly on the way to winter I'm finding more and more meals I am cooking are of the comfort variety. I love pie, its easy, and sooo comforting!

This recipe owes a lot to Veggie num num. I didn't have all the ingredients so came up with this instead.
Despite being vego it has to be the meatiest pie I have made. Mr CC kept stoking on the gravy and polished it off in about two minutes flat.

And yes, this is made in a love heart cake tin.......my pie dish broke a while back and I have been too lazy to replace it.
Enjoy!


Mushroom and Lentil Pie
Pastry (enough for pie and top).
Surprise surprise I used Belinda Jeffery's Shortcrust recipe. The pastry from veggie num num above looks pretty good, or use your own (or just buy some).

For the filling
500g  mushrooms, diced. (I used flat)
1 leek
1 clove garlic
Splash red wine
1/2 cup vegetable stock
1Tbsp flour
1 can brown lentils
sage
rosemary
1 dollop sour cream

Brown leek in a sauté pan in some olive oil on a medium heat. Add mushrooms and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until mushrooms start to brown. Add lentils. Add a generous splash of red wine (and some for yourself!). Mix the stock and flour together and add to pan. Add herbs to taste and put on a low heat. Simmer for about 15 minutes or until gravy has started to reduce. Stir sour cream through just before spooning into pie.

Line pie dish with pastry, add mushroom mixture, put on a pastry lid and brush with milk and bung it in the oven on about 180c for about 30 minutes.


While at the farmers market I managed to score a bunch of heirloom carrots! They are so pretty, I wanted to stick them in a vase. I also managed to get the last bunch of baby asparagus. I usually use foil in the recipe below, but didn't have any, hence I get to go all masterchef wanky and call in something that sounds remotely french and fancy. I also served it with some potatoes in olive oil and rosemary (hmmm, what fancy words can I call that?)




Honey Carrots and Baby Asparagus in papier. 
1 bunch of carrots
1 bunch of baby asparagus
T butter
T honey
sprinkle thyme

Wrap all ingredients in foil or baking paper.

Wack in the oven for about 45 minutes on 180c.


OK. Not the prettiest pictures ever...but hey, I have 2 kids under 3 and I'd rather dinner was hot. 
What comfort foods do you crave?

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Birthday records

A number of years ago two babies were born in the same hospital 3 days apart. They didn't meet for 27 years, but when they did they fell in love, had some wild joint birthday parties and then settled down and had kids. This week Mr Chameleon and I turned 35. When we turned 30 we celebrated with an all night fancy dress party, 31 was spent on a boat on Halong Bay and today we took the kids to the cinema for the first time and came home and drank tea.
I must have aged as I think I prefer the latter!


Amongst a week of baking and stressing over other things (more of those in posts to come) I managed to buy a few things, including Mr Chameleon's birthday present. Some may say I'm stingy, I prefer vintage ;-)

After we had a conversation a couple of months ago about John Peel and his record box (containing the records he would take with him in a fire), I decided I wanted to buy Mr Chameleon one. Now, there are quite a few on ebay, but most were out of my price range, so I put the call out to the thrift divas that are my mother and sister in law. Mum found this for me after posting a wanted add on a facebook sale site.




This one holds 12". I now need to find something to hold 45s. Actually I think I may have started something and wanted to collect a few more!


OK, so it doesn't hold 142....but it is probably more portable. 

I also picked up this Star Wars version of Guess Who at the local Oppie. It was sitting in the window calling out to me with its $3 price tag. I know its isn't perfect (it was created after the prequels so contains Jar Jar Binks, but at least it isn't auditory) , but it has all the pieces and gave me something to put in the record case (since I ran out of time to buy him a new record). We had a game the other night and its great. You can get rid of a whole bunch of characters if the first question is "Are you humanoid?"



I picked up this set of 10 linen napkins from the same shop. I love crisp white linen (or in this case still wrinkled white linen) with the fresh greens in the embroidery. A couple of them have a few age spots, but otherwise they are in great condition.

Would look great on a Christmas table!


I also did a bit of facebook garage sale shopping this week. I had noticed this Sesame Street doona (duvet) cover a few weeks ago and finally succumbed yesterday. At this stage I am thinking of using it for fabric. Either as a skirt or pillowcases.


Wow! Cookie monster is Australian?? 

I think big bird is still my favourite.

And yes...the skirt will probably be for me and not Poppet.

CC

Linking up with Flea Market Finds over at Her Library Adventures.







Monday, April 23, 2012

Pantaloons!!

I've been teaching myself to sew. This is a really funny statement since I've always said that I suck at any type of craft.

What is more surprising it that I really enjoy it. I actually look forward to the cutting, the pinning, the drawing blood from the pinning of my finger, the uneven stitching. It's great. Well, the outcomes aren't great at this stage if you are talking about tangible product, but the enjoyment and satisfaction factor is pretty high.

Although the tangible products aren't too bad either. No brilliant, but not too bad.

This is the second thing I have made (the first being a bit of fabric with elastic in the top, whala a skirt!). I took an old top that had a few holes from age, and turned it into a pair of pants for Poppet using a this tutorial on Prudent Baby as a rough guide.
Before
I say guide as I got a bit confused adding the crotch, couldn't make out  the 'proper' way of finishing it, buggered up the waistband and ended up winging it......and am chuffed at the results.

As good as a picture as I could get since she won't pose.
If they look like pants and fit like pants, then they are pants!!

CC

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Bagaholic

I love bags, cases, boxes......anything that you can put other things in. My mother is the same. Give her a present and the first words out of her mouth are "Ooh, nice box".

The second hand gods smiled on me this week. I had a phone call from a friend last weekend saying that her neighbours had a sewing cabinet out the front of their house with a sign saying free! Thankfully the owners dragged it back inside til we could pick it up. It even contains a sewing machine that apparently still works and the manual. Since I have a shiny new machine I don't need a second one and a friend from work is pretty stoked to get a free machine.
Sewing cabinet, 2 airline totes, 2 suitcases, wrap dress pattern, fabric and tea towel! Huzzah!


 I was able to hit a couple of op-shops this week and scored the two suit cases and the concorde bags from the one shop!! I grabbed the red concorde bag as I walked through through the door and was amazed as I walked to the other end of the shop and spied the blue one. After trawling though the clothes to no avail I spotted the suitcases at the rear of the store. I am going to use them to store the ever growing stash of fabric I seem to be accumulating.

Scarf storage and out and about
The brown case has a broken latch, but still closes thanks to the amazing buckles. It even still has the key. I am terrible at dating anything..anyone have any idea as to how old it might be? I love that it comes with its own clothes airer...it must of been top of the line in its day!

Complete with clothes airer

All straps and buckles still intact
I scored the fabric and the pattern for a wrap dress in another shop. I'm thinking a skirt with the fabric......the wrap dress is a bit beyond my current abilities..but soon grasshoppers! The repro AWW tea towel was destined to be turned into an apron, but I'm thinking of using it as wall hanging instead. I figured I can always change my mind.....but once cut you can't go back!


I passed on a whole bunch of gorgeous crockery, but have decided that since we are about to move there is no way I am bring home anything that needs wrapping in newspaper! I was able to justify the suitcases since they can be used in the moving process.
Honestly, they won't clutter things at all. (Total cost including some kids shoes and baby bowls......less than A$30! I love a bargain)
CCXX

(Linking up with Her Library Adventures - Flea Market Finds)


Sunday, April 8, 2012

I love Belinda Jeffery

Of course I've never met her and this is completely based on her food. But I do.
I love the way her books give me an insight into her past. I love the photography of the food that I KNOW is still edible even after being under studio lights. How do know...well, because it's Belinda's cooking it has to be.

Most of all I just love the food and the way her recipe's just work.

Mix and Bake is the most useful cookbook I have come across. I used 3 (yes 3!) of its recipes as my wedding cake, her scones are MY scones and as is the case with the following recipe, you can make some tweaks and generally not stuff things up.

Image from Penguin

Belinda (yes I am on first name terms with all of my favourite cookbook authors Belinda, Jamie, Stephanie...) herself says that there are many variations of her "simple upside-down tomato and basil pie" and I think I try something different every time I make it.

Sometimes I halve the amount of canned tomatoes (and it still works), I sometimes replace the mustard powder with dijon or wholegrain mustard (and it still works), I never have Tabasco in the house so chuck in some chili flakes (and it still works) and most of the time I'm out of basil and will use another random herb instead and yes it still works. And of course I don't use egg and it works with "No-egg" replacer.

Tomato and Basil pie...sans basil!

In this particular version it was I added a can of cannellini beans after the tomato. I really enjoy this variation and it packs some extra protein points in.

So try it, Belinda's way, my way, your way....whatever, it still works.

CC.



Sunday, April 1, 2012

Second hand score

OK. Long hiatus and renewed vow to do this more often, so setting myself some challenges!

Since what I spend so much time trawling op-shops I figured I'd share some of the loot.

After a series of mishaps (involving rain, sickness and a bit more rain), by mum finally made it down for a belated Happy Birthday for Poppet. Since mum is an even more chronic op-shopper than me we hit one of my favourite op-shops.

Unfortunately since one child was asleep in the car (and the other needed physically restraining from trying to grab everything in the shop), we had to take it in turns to have a quick rummage. Mum unfortunately missed out, but I managed to score a few things.


Strawberries!!! Possibly oil cloth, but definitely cute. And pretty floral frock that is admittedly a but frumpy without the belt, very cool and comfy.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

New celebrity food crush

Hugh Fearnsley -Whittingstall. Your name is rather, well posh. Not really your fault I suppose. With a name like that I would expect your food to completely inaccessible. Its not, its lovely!

OK...thats enough of the fan girl. I picked up the new River Cottage Veg from work this week and it is packed full of accessible recipes that even the most ardent meat eater would love. It also explains to meat eaters WHY they should eat less meat AND is by someone that actually likes meat (as opposed to moi).

Gorgeous photos, intro's that include food sustainability without being overly preachy and fantastic food...what's not to love?

So far I've cooked a yummy baked eggplant and Porotos Granados (Chilean Bean Stew) and thinking tomorrow may be a beetroot soup. I wouldn't normally try so many new recipes a week...but they all look so good and so easy!

I made the stew with few modification......I didn't have enough corn so chucked in a red capsicum and through in a tomato....just because I thought it needed it. I also used dried oregano and bog standard paprika.


Monday, January 16, 2012

A fridge full of salmon and a koala in a gumtree

Three weeks after Christmas I'm sure everyone wants to forget about it for another year and get on with paying off the debt, so I'll keep this short.
Mini CC!
Presents were opened and parental interests were foisted on the young.

Like most people in the privileged western world we stuffed ourselves on Christmas day. Somehow for 6 adults (and 3 little people) we ended up with Ham, Turkey and Salmon sitting on the table. Add to this the salads, nibbles and deserts and I'm surprised we were able to move afterwards. 

We have recently rediscovered the joys of  potato salad  thanks to egg free mayonnaise. I know, i know if it doesn't have eggs it ain't mayo...but if it quacks.  98% fat free from Praise and I love Coles are both egg free and vegan too! (Aldi is egg free but has rennet).........so anyway the point is I got to eat potato salad for three days. 

Despite living in Australia, this is the first Koala I have seen in the wild. No they are not on every street corner. 
Uninvited dinner guest

We also had three days of salmon thanks to the smallest fish available being 4kg! And so the creative use of leftovers begins! 



I cooked the salmon pretty simply in the first place (giant roasting dish, butter, lemon dill, splash of white wine) so was able to turn the leftovers into pasta, pie and pancakes. Om nom nom!!!

Salmon pie and pumpkin scones
Since the Christmas season brings my parents and my brothers birthday I also used the great old style kitchen to make pumpkin scones for a birthday brunch. I love Belinda Jeffery's recipe  although I seldom use buttermilk and usually use milk with a tablespoon of vinegar. My scones have come out a little flat after I ran out of baking powder (arrowroot and a bit of extra bicarb seemed to work as a substitute) however they still tasted great!

The salmon pancakes were super easy. We just used the regular pancake recipe and chucked in some salmon! Served with a dollop of sour cream and some chives they were a decadent brunch. 

Salmon Pancakes
The salmon pie was another easy one. A simple shortcrust pastry, top with a salmon mornay and they some mashed potatoes. I'll write out a proper recipe for this later (it's a fall back that we eat variations of regularly)

Vintage 70's thrifted skirt and matching Christmas pressies (not deliberate I swear!)

Happy washer-upperer

Thats it for Christmas!! Hope yours was just as great as ours!