More cake love

As soon as Gwyneth told me about Erin McKenna and her bakery BabyCakes NYC, I was entranced. I mean, who wouldn't be? Cupcakes that are actually good for you. After a little wander around the website, and taking advantage of strong Aussie dollar, I ordered her gorgeous cookbook.

You see, Erin makes (mostly) gluten free, vegan, sugar free cupcakes that apparently, rate as the best cupcake in New York. Ever. Even up against regular butter, sugar and wheat filled cupcakes. And I have to admit dear reader, that sugar, butter and too much wheat make me feel a little ill these days. And Erin's recipes, whilst differ from regular baking, are pretty easy to follow, taste sensational and don't leave you with a massive sugar crash. The cakes are so moist and tender. I'm in love. So far I've made chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, chocolate frosting and the chocolate crumb cake. And Elsa wants the Triple Chocolate Fat Pants cake for her upcoming birthday.

The book alone is worth having even if you don't bake anything, the pictures are ace and the text friendly and funny. And here's a peak at a typical day in the bakery...

Meanwhile, my camera has broken, no pics of pizza ovens, advent calendars or cute kids to share. sigh. A bit sad. I'll have to dig out pics from the vault for future posts. But despite being busy, we are taking time to breathe. How are your Christmas preparations coming along?

In the garden...

.....we've been very busy.

Building the brick oven.

Finishing new raised beds with gravel paths.

Watching lupins and poppies bloom.

And scoffing strawberries!

My place & yours :: my collection

Whilst admiring Kate's theme for My place and yours this week, at first I struggled to find anything I collect really worth sharing :: bills? laundry? dust bunnies? I had to think harder. Then in the garden this morning, I realised I was surrounded by my collection, and it's certainly worthy of a post, considering there's such exciting developments.

My collection is driven largely by gluttony. I collect fruit trees. I'm addicted and I can't stop. In particular, I love heirloom apple varieties, especially anything with a silly name. I'm rapidly running out of space to plant my collection, thank goodness for espaliers. In the three year since we've been in our home I've planted::
kentish cherry
morello cherry

cats head apple

sturmer apple
mutsu apple
cox's orange pippin apple
bramley's seedling apple
geeveston fanny apple
pine golden pippin apple
fenoiullet gris apple
espopus spitzenberger apple
pomme de neige apple
calville blanc d'hiver apple
court pendu plat apple
smyrna quince
van de man quince
beurre hardy pear
blood orange
lisbon lemon
black turkish fig
pomegranate
peacans
pine nut
chestut
frantoio olives

huonville crabapple
john downey crabapple
white mulberry
damson plum
golden drop plum
greengage
sloe (for gin)
juniper (for more gin)

I think that's all. Next winter I'd like to plant some apple stepovers - they are so cute. And a peasgood's nonsuch apple, with a name like that, who wouldn't want one in their collection?

Oh, and the exciting development? Why fruit of course! Whilst most of my collection are mere sticks, my apples have started to fruit this season. Already! And I can't wait to pluck a ripe apple from a tree that I planted and bite into the sweet crunchy fruit, from my very own collection.

Thanks to this week's theme queen Kate and to Pip for hosting such an ace game.

Monday wash day

We had a huge weekend at the Market. The crowds were massive early on, and at first I thought we were going to sell out before noon. Luckily things slowed to a more manageable pace so we could enjoy ourselves, chat to bloggy friends, have a browse at all the gorgeous stalls, and still sell out for an early mark.

After a busy few days it's so good to have a quiet day at home, even if there is a massive pile of washing waiting for me!

Eye Spy - a gadget

I'm playing along with Cindy's weekly eye spy and this week's theme is gadgets. Now I try to keep gadgets to a minimum in the house. No avocado slicers for me. I like things as basic as possible thank you. But this one gets a good work out. It's my ice cream scoop. I use the large one to scoop cupcake batter into their cases and the small one to dollop the frosting. You get perfectly even cupcakes and it is super fast. You can use it for muffins too. And, lately I've also been using them for tiny person sized portions of dinner. Mashed potato, cous cous, rice. A cute little dome of food doesn't seem so overwhelming and the children are more inclined to taste it. True!

This weekend, my scoops will be earning their keep as we'll be at the Market on Sunday, (I love an eye spy theme that can segue into a sales pitch!). Thanks to Kellie, of the beautiful 74 Lime Lane for this week's theme and Cindy, as ever, for hosting.

Nothing else matters

What is it about November that sees life turned up to eleven? Literally. Once that October page flips over, life suddenly becomes more manic as it hurtles towards the looming deadline of Christmas. Let's face it, midsummer is such a crap time for Christmas, it must be the busiest season of the year.

It makes much more sense, in the relative quiet of winter, to retreat indoors, make some gifts and gather family and friends around for a slap up feast (I know, I do say that often).

Alas, not here in the southern hemisphere. In the garden it's busy - planting, weeding watering, then there's end of school activities, excursions, fairs and concerts with costumes to sew. Throw a seventh birthday party to organise and a couple of market stalls into the mix, and I can feel a knot the size of a small car developing in the pit of my stomach.

And of course, as we're hosting the family for yuletide festivities, there's the house to get shipshape. According to the Inside Out magazine's 8-week Christmas Countdown plan, by now, that's week 7 - November 8, I should have;

::arranged tradespeople to finish off any small jobs,

::booked a professional house cleaner,

::made holiday arrangements for pets, (Where would you like to go this year chooks? Tahiti?)

::ordered now for any online christmas shopping,

::inspected outdoor lighting and adjusted or augmented as required,

::bought gift wrapping, ribbon, cards and tags,

::booked a session with a stylist for my own Christmas makeover, and

::sorted out bedding for visited relatives

O-kaay, now that knot is starting to feel like the battle ship Potemkin.

But then my little guy, how I cherish my children's ability to live in the moment and remind me to do the same. This morning, as I thought to tackle my list of chores, my little one asked for a hug. Then just one more. Then just one more. Then just one more. And I close my eyes, nuzzle his neck and breathe. Deeply.

And nothing else matters. I don't care about augmenting the outdoor lighting as required. I spend the day playing with Hugo. Building lego, racing cars, having tea parties. Because, today nothing else does matter. And then, thankfully, that battleship Potemkin feeling, just sails away.

My place & yours::my secret weapon

My secret weapon. I can't tell you how many times I've used it. I take it with me everywhere, able to be used at moments notice in all manner of situations:: whenever I'm feeling nervous, anxious or sad. It can be used when dealing with a fractious toddler, meeting new people, awkward encounters with customer service people. It is an instant pick me up, a wonderful anit-ageing strategy, totally free, incredibly contagious and an all round feel good weapon. It is a smile. Cheesey I know, but try it sometime, it really does work!

This photo is a vintage one, (sadly, try as I might I cannot get it to rotate). It was taken some twenty years ago, I pulled it out recently for a friend's fortieth birthday party, the theme of which was "act half your age", and all guests were required to bring a photo of themselves half the age they are now. Great fun! It's me and an old friend Helen, using our secret weapons, behind the undercover veil of the Remo photo booth.

Head over to Pips to see more secret weapons, brought to you this week by mybricole. Thank you ladies!

Lovely

I love this photo. Elsa. Cupcake. Little hands. Lovely.