Em's Construction Cake

 I've been looking forward to trying a digger/construction cake for a while! Myles' 3rd birthday was a perfect time for it as he loves all things digger/construction! Not sure if he was more excited to eat it or play with it!! I was nervous about cutting into the cake and what chocolates to use but it was very easy in the end and effective. I made two round cakes on top of each other, then roughly ripped some of the top off and placed it on the board. I then iced it all over (it didn't matter if cake crumbs got mixed in the icing as it looked like dirt anyway). I then used crushed choc ripple biscuits to cover the 'hole' with 'dirt', added broken honeycomb and Malteasers and placed the mini construction vehicles on. The only problem was the honeycomb shrunk due to moisture being in the fridge over night, so needs to be added last minute to keep it's colour and shape.

After cutting the back of the cake off we let him play in the crumbled down bit, which he of course loved!

Em's Gummy Bears

Juice gummy bears

I bought a gummy bear mould because I saw that you could make your own from wine on Pinterest. Then when researching I found out you can make them from jelly or juice too (probably almost anything). So I've been experimenting with my new mould and dropper. They are very small, however, so I would recommend getting a good sized mould.

Jelly

First I tried making them with jelly, using this recipe (85g packet of jelly, 1Tbs Gelatin, 1/3 water) and used cornflour to stop them sticking. They tasted great, however I didn't have the right amount of gelatin   when I made the green ones. They still set but where more like jelly.

Jelly gummy bears- yum! 

Juice

I then tried juice gummy bears with normal bought juice using this recipe, (1/2 cup juice, 1Tbs sugar, 2 Tbs gelatin) although I used normal sugar instead of honey. I used apple and black currant and breakfast juice. Once again it was easy and yummy. Hardest part is waiting for them to set. 

Juice gummy bears

Wine

I then tried making ones with wine. I decided to make a big batch to give as a Christmas present to my sister who loves lollies and wine. I used this recipe (1/2 cup wine, 2 Tbs Gelatine, 1/4 cup sugar). They taste great too with the flavour of the wine yet being sweet lolly. I bought the cheapest bottles of wine (Pinot Grigio, Rosé and Cab Merlot) and made batches and batches with my one small mould I had. I ended up filling a 2L container and almost used up the wines.

Tips

• Cornflour is good to stop them sticking together
• It is good to wait a bit for them to set at room temperature or put the mould on a tray before putting them in the fridge to stop them spilling.
• Store in an airtight container (preferably full to reduce condensation) in the fridge. They go softer at room temperature. They also dry out and shrink if not sealed.

I HAVE to try these coffee ones soon! Yum!

 

EDIT:

I played around with a few different things to make Christmas gummies. Red and green of course. I used a much bigger mould, which worked fine. The jelly (using the recipe/ratio above) was probably my favourite in flavour and gumminess. It was very sticky, however, so definitely had to be coated in cornflour. 

I also tried cordial diluted to drinking strength (1:4) but it was very weak in flavour and super firm (1/2 cup liquid to 2Tbs gelatin). A cordial strength of 3:1 and half the amount of gelatin seemed to work better (a little stickier though).

 

And just because.. how cool are these crocheted gummy bears! Next project?

Em's Lego Camo Cake

I was told my nephew likes "anything camouflage", so I decided for my two nephews birthdays to make a marble cake with vanilla, chocolate and green to create a camo cake! They both also like Lego so I made it in the shape of a Lego brick, which was instantly recognised and got squeals of excitement form them both. It came out awesomely. I couldn't wait for him to cut into it! The Lego shape was created using Oreos and then iced over. (could have also used marshmallows?) So simple and effective!

The bottom of the cake before icing

Em's 2018 Christmas Presents

Reindeer Noses

I made these reindeer noses as effective Christmas gifts. I think it is a really clever way to give the sometimes boring gift of chocolate in a new way, as everyone likes chocolate right? A packet of Malteasers and a packet of Jaffers made two big jars perfectly (Damn! I was hoping for some left overs!). I also like the added touch of a reindeer Foo on the label! 😁

Eggs
Our chooks supplied the three dozen eggs we needed for our family Christmas lunch, so I edited the usual label I use when giving people eggs and put little Santa hats on the chickens!

Em's Beetroot Relish

I made a batch of my favourite beetroot relish for everyone for Christmas. We have a constant supply in our fridge and cupboard to put on eggs or fritters etc. I also made the labels.

 

 

700g beetroot

1 red onion, finely chopped 
1 cup Jam Sugar
1½ cups white vinegar
3Tbs balsamic vinegar
pinch of salt
½ tsp ground black pepper

Clean the beetroot and cut off all of the stalk/leaves. Place into a pot of boiling water and boil for 20mins (until soft and the beets can be pierced with a sharp knife). Remove from the water and cool. Wearing gloves remove the skin from each beet by gently rubbing. Grate the beetroot into a bowl (it should be very soft and easy to grate). Add the beetroot and all of the ingredients into a wide-based pot and stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Let mixture simmer for approximately 30mins until the liquid has evaporated and it has a jam-like consistency (test by spreading jam on a plate from the freezer- If it wrinkles and feels gel-like, it’s ready). Put into sterilised jars.

Notes: Store the relish in a cool dry location. 
Once opened it should be stored in the fridge. 
Use within 3 - 4 months. 
Enjoy on salad sandwiches, with cold meats, cheese and eggs

To sterilise jars

Preheat oven to 120C. Clean jars well with hot soapy water and rinse well. Let drain then place upright on oven tray. Place in oven and heat for 20mins. Fill while hot with hot jam. Boil lids in saucepan for 10mins then let drain.

Em's Mad Hatter Hens

I finally got to have a Mad Hatter's themed party! And what a party! What a theme! For my hen's, my sister, Mum and I planned a Mad Hatter's tea party, making the food, decorating my sister's backyard and organising plenty of fun games. I couldn't leave it up to others to plan it as I didn't want to be left out!! We all collecting things for the day for ages, getting lots of inspiration from Pinterest.. I picked up lots of teacups from op shops and made eat me and drink me tags and other decos/props.. Mum brought over a trailer load of stuff from her place to set up the outside area of my sister's along with varies eccentric things my sister had around her place.. We also spent the week making all sorts of Alice in Wonderland and tea party inspired food..

Decos:

Mismatched chairs, lace and mismatched tablecloths, doilies, little hankies as serviettes, dresser, hat stand, gypsy chandelier, knitted throw rugs, suitcases, bird cage, piles of vintage books, tea cups and tea pots a plenty, roses, hats, scarves, pom pom curtain, clocks, lamp, and all sorts of other vintage and old random objects!

Down the rabbit hole welcome sign and helium heart balloons

Rabbits feet to lead outside

"Read the directions, and directly you'll be directed in the right direction"

"If you don't know where you are going any road can take you there"

Croquet: mallets made from a pool cue and old rolling pin and cardboard flamingoes and hedgehog ball

Cardboard card soldiers

Food and Drinks:

We made 2 types of punches, one ice tea mojiti one and a sangria. We also had a variety of teas and coffee. We had lots of fun making all the food. Scones, quiches, sandwiches, cupcakes, as well as themed food, apple roses, heart tarts, teabag cookies, and "mad" cake!!

This one makes you smaller punch

This one makes you taller sangria

Drink me

Eat me

The Queen of Hearts made some tarts

"Mad" cake!!

Apple roses

Tea bag cookies and heart tarts

Costumes:

Everyone coincidentally came as something different from Alice in Wonderland (although no Alice).

Queen of hearts

Off with your head!

Queen and the caterpillar

"We're all Mad Here"- Cheshire Cat

I'm late, I'm late!!- Rabbit

"Painting the roses red"- Rose bush and card soldier

"Twinkle, Twinkle little bat"- Cheshire Cat and Dormouse

Games:

Chess, croquet, twister painted on the lawn, plus a few hen's related games. And I got everyone to kiss with lipstick and sign my visitor's book :)

Chess

Croquet

"OFF WITH YOUR HEAD" The Queen of hearts

Twister on the lawn

Blowing the biggest condom game!

Checkmate!

The visitors book

Now we have all the Alice in Wonderland/ Mad Hatters decorations we'll have to have another party sometime!! Was an excellent theme that I can now cross off my bucket list!!