Tutorials ...

Today I'll be listing some of the tutorials I currently have on my blog into my sidebar ... please feel free to check them out and comment! Most of them are Christmas Crafts but I promise I will be adding more tutorials on sewing, basic embroidery, making, cooking and heaps more!

Spanakopita Snacks! Spinach never tasted so good!

Spanakopita Cups

These are a variation of the traditional Spanakopita Triangles. I had intended on taking them to my MIL's for Boxing Day but there was so much food left over from Christmas that they were never made. I was also going to make them in mini muffin pans but as we had them for dinner I made them in the Texas muffin pans. They are delicious with a dab of plum sauce!


Ingredients:


1 x Small onion chopped
1 x Pack frozen spinach (if using fresh then you'll need 2 bunches)
1 x Pack feta cheese (crumbled)
1 x Cup cottage cheese
1 x Egg
50g Butter melted
8 Sheets Filo Pastry


Method:


1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius
2. Thaw the spinach (in a saucepan or the microwave) and drain as much water out as possible. If using fresh - cut all the white stalk off and shred the spinach. Saute in a pan until quite wilted.
* At this point you can choose to saute your onion to soften it or leave it raw. I leave it raw as it cooks a little in the oven later and has a great little crunch.
3. Combine the spinach, feta cheese, cottage cheese, onion and egg.
4. Lay out 4 of the filo pastry sheets. Using a pastry brush, brush each layer with butter and stack on top of each other. Cut into 4 equal parts.
5. Brush a little butter inside each of the muffin wells of the pan.
6. Place each section of stacked filo into each of the wells. Gently pushing in so there isn't too much overhang outside of the well.
7. Repeat step 4-6 with the other 4 filo sheets and muffin pan.
8. Spoon the spinach mix into the filo cups.
9. Bake in the oven for 20-25 mins.
10. When cooked, let sit in the muffin pan for a minute or two, then gently lift out and place on a plate for immediate devouring! Alternatively set on a cooling rack before packing into a container to take on that picnic or to your friends house!

Starry Starry Night ... Starry White Christmas

Starry White Christmas

Ingredients:

500g White Chocolate

1/3 cup Pistachios

1/3 cup Glace Cherries

150g Mini Marshmallows

1/4 Shredded Coconut

Method:

1. In a heatproof bowl melt the chocolate over a saucepan of simmering water. Do not let the bowl sit in the water. Use a metal spoon as a wooden spoon may have too much moisture in it.

2. Roughly chop the Pistachio's. 

3. Cut the Glace Cherries in half.

4. Mix all ingredients in a medium sized bowl.

5. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

6. Pour the chocolate mix into the tray and press with the back of a spoon.

7. Refrigerate for a few hours

8. When chilled cut into shapes with a star cookie cutter.

Serve!

Christmas Chocolate Bark - Cranberry and Pistachio

Cranberry and Pistachio Chocolate Bark

INGREDIENTS:

500g Milk or Dark Chocolate

300g White Chocolate

1/2 cup  Pistachios

1/2 cup Dried Cranberries (Craisins)

METHOD:

1. In separate heat proof bowls melt the milk and white chocolates over simmering water. Do not let the bowls touch the water, use a metal spoon to stir the chocolate (wooden spoons may contain moisture)

2. Roughly chop the Cranberries and Pistachios.

3. Line a baking tray with baking paper or foil.

4. Spread the milk chocolate over the tray. Drizzle the white chocolate over the milk chocolate in parts and around the edges.

5. Using a knife or skewer drag the chocolates into each other to create a marble effect.

6. Sprinkle the Cranberries and Pistachio's over the chocolate and lightly press.

7. Refrigerate for at least 1 1/12 hours. Cut or break into thin strips to eat!

Homemade Muesli Bars

The kids and I made some snacks for the week. We started with some muesli bars. These are packed with fruit and oats and are a great source of protein and energy.

Don't worry if you don't have these particular fruits or nuts. Put what you like in, just try to keep the ratios the same!

Feel free to share this recipe but please link back to me or credit me as the source. Thanks!

Let me know if you make it!


Homemade Muesli Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup sultanas (or raisins)
1 cup craisins (dried cranberries)
1 1/2 cups chopped dates
1 1/2 cups chopped dried apricots
1 cup chopped dried apples
1 cup chopped mixed nuts (we used cashews, peanuts, hazelnuts and almonds)
1/2 cup pepitas and sunflower seeds
6 cups rolled oats
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup honey
1 bottle shaker pancake mix
*milk if needed

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius. Line a deep baking tray with baking paper. (This will aid in lifting out the slice).

2. Gently melt the peanut butter and honey together until just warmed and a little runny. Do not cook them. They will taste bitter.

3. In one bowl mix all the fruit.

4. Pour the peanut butter and honey mixture over the fruit and fold gently to combine.

5. Mix in another bowl the oats, seeds and nuts.

6. Follow instructions to make the pancake mix liquid.

7. Pour the pancake mix over the oats mix and stir in.

8. Add the fruit mix and using your hands combine together. The mixture must be sticky but not wet. If it needs more liquid add milk.

9. Press the mixture into the baking tray firmly. Push down and into corners so it is evenly in the tray.

10. Bake for 20-30 mins until the top is a light golden brown.

11. Allow to cool slightly (about 10 mins) then lift out of tray. Before it cools totally slice into squares or rectangles.

12. Enjoy. These slabs are slow release so will fuel your kiddies or you for a while and will also fill them up in between meals!


Let me know if you make them and if you make any adjustments!

4ZzZ Trash and Treasure Mini Markets

Kitty Boo Boo will be a stall holder at

4ZZZ Trash N Treasure

Saturday May 2nd

Mini markets in the 4ZZZ car park.

A fun arvo full of arts & craft, vintage clothing, vinyl records, bake sale, clothes swap and 4ZzZ DJs playing tunes.
WHEN: 12 NOON to 5PM
Saturday May 2nd
WHERE: 291 St Paul's Terrace,Fortitude Valley
4ZzZ CARPARK and Station

Craft adventures ... no wind in my sails

I was actually starting this blog to mainly focus on my crafty stuff, but I haven't had a lot of time to focus on that lately and instead have been flooding this little corner with imagery of my adventures small though they are.

So stay tuned because I have lots of stuff to put up here.

• I am in the process of making some hairclips and buttons for the markets and my store.
• I am making a few gifts for my friends who all happen to have birthdays around this time of year. Some softies and dreamcatchers and jewellery so I will post them too!
• I have been baking up a storm recently and keep forgetting to take some photos but I will post some gorgeous recipes here soon.
• I have some new kids stuff coming
• There are more gorgeous girls dresses at the machine now
• I am halfway through a batch of ladies pencil skirts and tops
• I am also starting a line of skirts and leg and arm warmers for Derby girls too
  

I'ma gunna be busy ... but pics will be forthcoming ...