Cute Food - Rocky Road

Ages ago Kat suggested that I do a Miss Wendy's Cute Food version of rocky road and I have been thinking about it since then ... rocky road is one of Ashley's favourite sweets and I mentioned it to him recently and he was very keen for me to give it a go ... while I was creating all the goodies for Vienna's birthday (which I still haven't posted) I was thinking about it and last week I finally gave it a go. I just used ingredients that I already had at home, I figured that for a practise run it would be fine, that I needed to work on the chocolate to extras ratio as I am not really a rocky road eater - there always seem to be other things that tempt me instead.

So, I used mostly dark chocolate and a little milk chocolate, walnuts, raisins, marshmellows and soft mint leaves. I put them in my new baking pan that my fantastic Aunty Lyn and Uncle Tony bought back from England for me (because it cost a fortune to buy here in NZ). The baking pan has lift up bottoms that allowed me to pop the mini rocky roads out when they had set.


The finished product looked cuter than I have seen rocky road look before and tasted pretty good too! Ashley and I decided that it needed peanuts as well for more texture when eating as the walnuts are a softer nut and he thinks adding the tradional cherries would just finish them off perfectly. The small size (5cm square) meant that our sweet treats were a sensible portion size and helped them to last a little longer. I do feel a little guilty that Kat didn't get to try any as it was her idea originally but I guess I will have to make sure that she gets some of the next batch.

Creative Minds ...

Last week I discovered a new blog: http://kensworldinprogress.blogspot.com/ . It has great crafts and one thing that really tickled my fancy was the quote in his header:

'creative minds are rarely tidy'

it inspired a little creativity in me and after thinking on it for the night I made this for myself

and then because it is such a cool quote and nice to do things for others, made these for some of my crafty friends.

Ages ago Gypsy sent me a link to some very cool paper doily crafts and then recently she got busy with some of the small doily's I gave her http://seeshareremember.blogspot.com/2010/12/handmade-christmas.html, this inspired me to use some myself and I think they look great in this project.

I don't have step by step photos but I rounded the corners on the patterned paper, inked the edges, sprayed the doily's with walnut ink, printed the quote on bazzil, inked the edges, put the ric rac through the xyron, added some mini flowers from Caz Dezign (http://www.cazdezign.co.nz/), mini brads and a tiny flower bling.

Nappy Cake for Baby Bellhouse

Robert and Rana's baby is due to be born on Wednesday 8th December (that's tomorrow!!!) and I am very much looking forward to being an Aunty!

To go with the great big bag of goodies we have bought for the baby I made a nappy cake. These come in all shapes and sizes but I have settled on a design that works for me, although it does change a little each time I make it.

I can't wait until the baby arrives!

Meeting Santa 2010

On Sunday we were invited by Uncle Tony to the Steel Mill Kids Christmas Party - well Vienna was invited and of course we went along too!

She got to meet Santa who gave her a lollipop to go with her present.

She also saw her cousins, did some dancing,

watched and clapped for the cheerleaders, went on a couple of rides,

visited with some animals (with Uncle Tony and Aunty Lyn),

played with some toys and had an ice block. And then did some great sleeping and had a late lunch at Karaka Kitchens with Sarah, Jess and Christine. What an awesome day!

Thank you sooo much for inviting us out Uncle Tony, we had a great family day out!

Birthday Cupcakes at Top Kids

In October I started working again 12 hours a week in a maternity leave cover job at Top Kids Manuroa Road, to begin with Vienna was staying at home with Ashley but lately he has been working so she has been coming to work with me.

On the Friday before her birthday we took yummy chocolate oreo cupcakes in to share with the other Under 2s in the Nursery and the teachers too.

Vienna was very interested in the fire on the candle - she tried to touch it! And then got stuck in to her cupcake - I think she really enjoyed it!

Dancing

Last week we went with Ashley to Manakau, he was playing guitar with Sarah Aitchison at White Ribbon Day supporting the Womens Refuge.

Vienna loved the chance to share her Dad with others, she made new friends and danced lots :)
It was a great day out although very sunny and hot - I got a little sunburnt (I sunblocked Vienna but forgot myself!)

Bzzzzzzz

I made bees to compliment the flower themed birthday party, they looked very cuted randomly scattered on the food table.

They were however very fussy and fiddly to make, but with delicious ingredients of peanut M&Ms, chocolate and almond slices they tasted yummy.



I found this idea on the internet - I can't remember where but if it was from you let me know and I will put up a link for you.