Cupcakes and Jam Drops

I needed to make the kids some snacks for their lunch boxes yesterday. My master 9 asked if I could make some vanilla cupcakes so I said sure mum can do that!

Cupcakes

Ingredients:

125gms butter

2 teaspoons vanilla essence

¾ cup castor sugar

2 eggs

½ cup milk

1½ cups self-raising flour sifted

Method:

1. Preheat oven at 180°C, fan forced 160°C.

2. Line a 12 cup cake pan with paper cup cake cases.

3. Cream together the butter and sugar in a bowl.

4. Add vanilla essence and 2 eggs and mix together.

5. Add sifted flour and milk and mix until combined.

6. Divide mixture into the 12 cup cake cases.

7. Bake in oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly brown on top.

8. Place on wire rack to cool.

Jam Drops

Ingredients:

125gms butter

¾ cup sugar

2 eggs

2 cups self-raising flour sifted

Jam

Method:

1. Preheat oven at 180°C, fan forced 160°C.

2. Place baking paper onto 2 baking trays and set aside.

3. Cream together butter and sugar in a bowl.

4. Add eggs and mix together.

5. Add sifted flour and mix until combined.

6. Take a tablespoon full and roughly roll into a ball and place onto tray.

7. Make a hole in the centre of the ball and fill with jam.

8. Bake in oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly brown.

9. Take out of oven and leave them to sit on tray for 2 minutes.

10. Then place them on a wire rack to cool.

Crafting with the kids

I have missed out on posting two of my crafting morning with the kids. I need to get my butt into gear as they say! So today I am going to show you what we have done so far. 

Treasure Rocks

You will need:

Baking Soda

Water

Food colouring

Trinket or Toy

Vinegar

Pipettes

In a bowl, add baking soda and some food colouring. Then add some water slowly, mixing as you add. You don't want the mixture runny as it needs to be moldable and hold it's shape. Once your mixture is done, you can mold it into a ball hiding the treasure inside. Then put it somewhere so the treasure rocks can dry. I put mine near the stove as the oven was on with me cooking and they did dry quicker than just sitting on the bench. Or you could leave them to dry overnight.

Once they were dry I put a treasure rock in a container and placed it on the table with a bowl of vinegar and a pipette. I bought the pipettes from the arts and craft shop in our local shopping centre. 

The kids used the pipettes and squeezed the vinegar in then dropped it on the treasure rocks and watched what happened. The rocks fizzed and bubbled and started to break apart.

By using the pipette it took awhile for the rock to disappear but the kids kept on going and really enjoyed it. They were looking forward to seeing what the treasure was going to be inside.

And here are the treasures! My kids are into trash packs so I thought it was a good treasure to find. They had a great time and have asked when can we do some more treasure rocks.

Modelling Clay

The kids have been asking when I could get them some clay to make things. While I was at the shops last week I went into The Reject Shop and grabbed three packets of modelling clay for $2 each. 

Heaps of colours and a great simple activity

A few tools to cut and roll with

And everyone had a fun time! The kids made some really good things.

Well I'm off now to do some baking for the kids lunch boxes. 

See you tomorrow! xx

Weekend is here already

Just going to be doing things around the house this weekend.

Tend to my vegie garden boxes

Pull out my little carrots!

Take our doggies for a walk

I am still doing crafting with the kids on a Sunday morning. We did treasure rocks last sunday.

I try to post the crafting morning on my blog on the Monday, but I think I just have a relax day after the weekend. All the kids are at school so I have a me day!

I hope you have a good weekend!

The Hottie Project

I finished the hot water bottle covers for The Hottie Project. I hope they get there in time as the last care parcel gets sent off by the end of July.

I made my jam on the weekend, strawberry and blackberry jam. All the kids went to dad when they needed something so I could get my jam made. I will put up a post of my jam making soon.

Homemade jam

I love making jam. I started making our own jam about two years ago. Our apricot and peach tree had an abundance of fruit which I didn't want to waste so I decided to make jam. I really enjoyed making it and it tastes so good. 

I made a batch in January this year and I noticed the other day that our yummy jam is getting low. So tomorrow I am making some more. I bought some frozen strawberries and blackberries from the local farmers market last month. I can't wait to get started. I told all children that you can't come to me tomorrow and ask for things, mum's busy tomorrow. 

You can ask DAD! See how we go. 

Enjoy your weekend xx

Getting back into routine

All the kids are back at school and I am slowly getting back into the routine of washing, baking and having a spare moment for myself. 

During the holidays my daughter decided to clean out her wardrobe, getting rid of clothes that don't fit and toys she doesn't play with anymore. Now I am going to show you what is left for me to clean up.

I will start on it soon, I really hope so. Let me just add that to my things to do list!

I made these cookies on Tuesday and they are very nice.

Orange Sugar Cookies

I found this recipe over at jensfavoritecookies.com.

The only thing I changed from the recipe is that I halved the ingredients because it was going to make 4 dozen cookies. I didn't want that much so I halved all the ingredients except the egg, I still put one egg in. 

They turned out great and were very nice with my coffee.

Nice, relaxing school holidays

Spent a day with family

Fed the sheep

Went for a walk

Saw the new lambs

Airport plane watching

Watching them fly over

Ordered a candle making kit

My mum's birthday present

I made my mum's birthday present today. The kids were playing nicely with each other so I used the opportunity to get the cushion done. I am very happy with how it turned out, I thought not bad for my first sewing attempt at making a cushion. 

And I even had time to sew a hottie cover for the hottie project. One down, five more to go.

What are you doing today? 

School holidays

The school holidays have started here so I won't be able to blog everyday. Spending time with the kids is what I will be doing most days. Walks to the park, a trip to the movies, going shopping and just staying home. 

I will post the Sunday morning craft with the kids soon. We did painting with nature. The kids collected sticks, rocks and leaves. Then they used their collected nature for painting tools. It was fun making pictures that way. We all enjoyed the morning. 

 Enjoy your day!