CHRISTMAS CRAFTING WITH PAPER SCRAPS & OLD BOOK PAGES (upcycling vs recycling!)

January 22, 2013 by mmmarzipan

I was intrigued when my local library advertised a pre-Christmas paper crafting night that would feature the use of old books, otherwise destined for the recycling heap. Being a keen recycler and a curious “newbie crafter”, I decided to attend the event and invited a friend to join me. The weather was terrible that night and snow storms kept most people away, which not only made it very easy for my friend and I to chat as we crafted, but also to have free access to all the materials on offer. Many of the paper crafts suggested in the tutorial print-outs on the table revolved around paper-folding/origami and the use of paper punches. The time went quickly (far too quickly, especially as we arrived late!) and so I continued working on my little projects when I returned home.

Included in the 40 SEK cost (approximately 6 USD) was unlimited use of paper (origami/wrapping/card/old book pages), glitter, string, glue, beads, activity instruction sheets, etc., plus the usage of all paper punches/other tools… and cookies and drinks! Not bad, huh? As the night ended up being so quiet, in appreciation of the fact that my friend and I had braved the weather, we were charged only 20 SEK and were allowed to take home extra supplies to continue our work. A true bargain… and a great night to boot! Thus I feel it is still a blog-worthy event, despite being rather “old news”.

My friend, J, crafting with pages from a colourful Dr. Seuss book

L getting in on the act by hanging the very first decoration on our tree; a lovely snowflake that he made at nursery school

L getting in on the DIY act, hanging the very first decoration on our tree; a lovely snowflake that he made at nursery school

ORIGAMI CHRISTMAS WREATH

Searching around online, I came across this tutorial with very clear pictorial instructions for how to create the same sweet and simple paper wreaths that I made for our tree. Mine were constructed from old book pages, wrapping paper scraps and origami paper.

ORIGAMI CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

This lovely design is deceptively fiddly to put together, so although these were not the exact same instructions I used on the night, I am happy to share this very clear tutorial for the same design that I found at minieco.co.uk with you! I made the decoration below using old book pages.

CHRISTMAS GIFT TAGS

Essentially I made these using a variety of papers and paper punches; large scalloped, small snowflake, heart, angel and text (“God Jul”, meaning “Merry Christmas” in Swedish). I highlighted certain elements of the tags with translucent or silver glitter. This really was a great way to use up little paper scraps to create something colourful, personal and whimsical with which to adorn Christmas gifts (this year we wrapped our presents in red paper with white polka dots, tied with red and white gingham print ribbon).

CUPCAKE FOR CHARITY, PART 4 (AKA … and now for some good news!)

January 17, 2013 by mmmarzipan

We are all bombarded with “bad news” everyday and I cannot allow the chance to share some of “the good” to slip by when it catches my attention. The following story is proof that WE CAN make a difference. We don’t all have to quit our day jobs to volunteer. We don’t all have to become overnight activists. If we can’t afford to donate money, we can give a little of our time. If we have no time to spare, simply sharing information via social media, signing a petition or forwarding a pre-drafted letter to someone in a position of power CAN make an impact. If enough people care, if enough voices are raised in support of worthy causes, we can change the world for the better… one small act of kindness at a time .

I truly thought my next post would be a final Christmas 2012 wrap-up, but then I saw something wonderful on my Facebook news feed this morning and felt compelled to share it. Since October 2012 (when I was still on bed rest), I have been following the plight of Animals Asia’s Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre; a safe haven in which rescued bears who have suffered the most hideous, prolonged torture at the hands of bile “farmers” are able to recover. Since starting with my little Cupcake for Charity project, Animals Asia has quickly become one of my favourite charities, possibly due to the fact that I had only just started to support them when the following story of greed, corruption and hideous injustice made the headlines:

“On Friday 5 October, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) informed Animals Asia that the Ministry of Defence has issued an order to evict the sanctuary operation and its 104 rescued bears. This follows Mr Tien lobbying the Ministry of Defence to declare the land occupied by the sanctuary to be an area of “national defence significance”. Mr Tien has been pressuring Animals Asia to relinquish the land since April 2011. It is believed that he intends to hand it over to the Truong Giang Tam Dao Joint Stock Company, in which his daughter is part–owner. This company has submitted an application for development of a tourist park – plus wildfire park – and hotels on the site. Mr Tien and the Truong Giang Tam Dao Joint Stock Company have been lobbying the Vietnam Administration of Forestry, within MARD, to approve the real estate development. Mr Tien’s daughter is one of four founding members of the Truong Giang Tam Dao Joint Stock Company and holds 10 per cent of the company’s shares. Mr Tien has not publicly disclosed this information. Following interventions by local embassies, international organisations and European Ministers, as well as significant media attention, MARD issued a directive on 26 April 2012 ordering the park director to allocate the land to the bear rescue centre in line with the government’s original agreement with Animals Asia.

Mr Tien then spread misinformation, in an attempt to block construction of the third outdoor bear enclosure, that waste pollution from the rescue centre was damaging the environment and health of the local community. He requested that the Ministry of Agriculture close down the rescue centre and relocate the bears. Following an exhaustive investigation by the Vinh Phuc environmental department, the allegations were proved false. Mr Tien then began lobbying the Ministry of Defence to apply pressure on the Ministry of Agriculture to stop the rescue centre’s planned development. The claim that the land in question is an area of national defence significance is questionable, given that the centre has been in operation since 2005 and that the Chat Dau Valley, where it is located, has been used for tourism and other private purposes since the park opened in 1996. It is believed that once the bear centre is forced to close, the land will be declared to no longer be of national defence significance, allowing the Truong Giang Joint Stock Company to take it over for private development.

The eviction is in direct violation of the Vietnam government’s 2005 agreement with Animals Asia to fund and develop a facility on 12 hectares of the park that would permanently rehabilitate and house 200 endangered bears rescued from the illegal bear bile industry. Based on this agreement, Animals Asia has invested more than US$2 million in building and infrastructure. Currently 104 bears are being rehabilitated at the rescue centre, many after years of trauma from being locked up in small cages and painfully drained of their bile. These bears will be forced to return to cages to be relocated, which will have a major negative impact on their mental and physical well–being. It is likely to take at least two years to establish a new centre with outdoor enclosures, forcing the bears back into cages on a long–term basis.

The case will now go to the Prime Minister of Vietnam for a final decision. Animals Asia is calling on the public in Vietnam and worldwide to appeal to the Prime Minister to allow the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre that he previously approved and endorsed to continue operations and expand in line with the government’s original agreement.”

From AnimalsAsia.org

Major newspapers and sites from around the globe started to pick up the story, celebrities hit Twitter and shared their outrage at the unfairness of the situation and voiced their support for Animals Asia and the rescued bears, people blogged about it (including myself), people shared links on Facebook… and the word spread. Hardly a day has gone by since I first heard about the eviction threat that I have not thought of those poor bears and the people who work with them.

Last Saturday we jumped online again to make a special kind of contribution to Animals Asia on behalf of our little Cupcake (who is now due in less than 3 weeks!). We decided to participate in the Animals Asia Befriend a Bear program, whereby our financial contribution will help aid a chosen bear’s rehabilitation process and, in exchange, we’ll receive a photo of our bear friend in a Befriend a Bear frame, incorporating a Befriend a Bear Certificate (to which we can add Cupcakes’s name), an information card on our bear’s unique character and a “gorgeous, plush Moon Bear toy“! This package just seems like the perfect memento with which we can one day illustrate to Cupcake the tangible impact her little life had on our desire to make the world a brighter place. We chose to befriend Jingle the bear. It was a family decision, given the official stamp of approval by 22 month-old L, whose favourite Christmas song (which he is still singing!) is “Jingle Bells”.

So, having just made our contribution to the Animals Asia Befriend a Bear program, and with the plight of the bears in Vietnam fresh on my mind, I was shocked (I still am!), relieved and overjoyed to see the following image appear on my Facebook news feed via the Animals Asia Facebook fan page and to read the following GREAT news:

“Animals Asia’s Vietnam bear rescue centre has been saved from the eviction threat that has been hanging over it since 5 October 2012. A communiqué issued by the Vietnamese government confirms that Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has concluded that the rescue centre’s operation should be maintained, and that construction on the project’s second phase should continue. This decision ensures that the 104 bears living at the centre that have been rescued from the bile industry will stay, 77 local Vietnamese staff keep their jobs, and Animals Asia who fund and operate the centre will not suffer the financial losses of US $2 million as previously feared.

Animals Asia is a charity that is devoted to ending the barbaric practice of bear bile farming and improving the welfare of animals in China and Vietnam. The Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre, located in Tam Dao National Park, is dedicated solely to the rescue of previously farmed bears in Vietnam.

Tuan Bendixsen, Vietnam Director, Animals Asia commented: “We are very grateful to the Prime Minister for his commitment to the bear rescue centre. We look forward to working with the government to end bear bile farming and help conserve the bear species..”

Jill Robinson MBE, Founder and CEO, Animals Asia commented: “Our priority has been to rehabilitate these bears after their years of trauma from being locked up in small cages and milked for their bile. If we had been forced to relocate it would have had a terrible impact on their wellbeing. We want to sincerely thank the tens of thousands of supporters from around the world who wrote letters, sent e-mails and signed petitions calling for the eviction to be stopped.”

The rescue centre was established based on the Vietnam government’s 2005 agreement with Animals Asia to fund and develop a facility on 12 hectares of the park that would permanently rehabilitate and house 200 endangered bears rescued from the illegal bear bile industry. Based on this agreement, Animals Asia has invested more than US$2 million in building and infrastructure.”

From AnimalsAsia.org

I hope that in future I will remember this story if ever I am feeling small, voiceless and powerless. I hope it will remind me that one tiny light in the darkness can make a difference… and that good can indeed triumph over evil. I hope that it will serve as a warning to corrupt businesses and governments that “the people” are watching and that information can be readily shared these days. I hope that the completely unnecessary, barbaric practise of bear bile farming ceases completely and that the bears who have already suffered so horribly at the hands of greedy, ignorant men will find the peace they deserve… and come to know that human beings can be kind too.

We have recently made some other contributions to humanitarian causes to, which I will write about in the near future. In the meantime, please see:

CUPCAKE FOR CHARITY (AKA an exercise in gratitude & giving)
CUPCAKE FOR CHARITY, PART 2 (AKA changing the world DIY style)
and
CUPCAKE FOR CHARITY, PART 3 (AKA a time for giving)
for more details about the causes we are supporting and the stories that led to it happening.

Many, many thanks again to all those out there who care, share and make a difference !

THE COMPLETE BLESSINGWAY ROUND-UP (with LOTS of FREE printables, great blessingway/baby shower activities + links to all recipes & tutorials)

January 10, 2013 by mmmarzipan

So, Baby Cupcake is due to make an appearance in the world in less than 4 weeks (yes, less than 28 days!). After having had complications from the very start (plus a diagnosed high risk pregnancy condition) and spending months literally counting down the days to full-term, I finally find myself on its doorstep. And now time is speeding up! It seems imperative to prioritise blogging this final blessingway post now with so many other pressing pregnancy-related matters to see to on the horizon .

THE MENU

Let’s start with the menu, shall we? I have already posted the recipes used for my self-catered event, but here’s the full menu plus links to all recipe posts (simply click on links or thumbnail images).

Hummus

Mini Quiches

Pink Lemonade

Chocolate Cupcakes with Nutella Buttercream Frosting

Chocolate Cupcakes with Vegan Coconut Frosting

Magic Vanilla Cupcakes with Vegan Vanilla Frosting

Magic Vanilla Cupcakes with Vegan Coconut Frosting

Cheese Biscuits

THE ACTIVITIES

My blessingway was rather unconventional, it must be said. The main reasons being that a) there is no baby shower culture here in Sweden, so anything goes, really and b) I wanted to incorporate a variety of activities so that it wouldn’t be a “one note” event. I did a good deal of research online (thank ye, beloved Pinterest!) and came up with a list of activities that I thought would be fun/moving/enjoyable/meaningful (a combination of blessingway activities and more typical baby shower games) and a schedule with which to break them up.

Pictured above, row by row, from left to right: Blessingway Candle activity, Gender Prediction Myths game, Funny Portrait Predictions game, How Many Candies in the Jar? game, Wishes for Baby activity, Blessingway Bracelet/Charm activity

Blessingway Candle
For this activity, guests select an embroidery chord with a printed “wish tag” attached to represent their support and wishes for the mother-to-be. Chords are then tied around a candle which, when lit, will be a comforting reminder of everyone’s support. My wish tags included things such as “gratitude”, “intuition” and “hope”. My candle will be lit on my baby’s birthing day.

How Many Candies in the Jar?
A pretty self-explanatory game, really . I bought a nice glass jar from IKEA and filled in with yummy candy in my blessingway colours (green and purple). The jar was left on a table so that guest could take their time in between eating/drinking/chatting to pick it up and have a guess as to how many candies were inside (of course I had counted them earlier!). I printed out a list for this game so that people could write in their name and guess number. The winner of this game is obviously the person who has guessed the number closest to the actual number of candies.

Gender Prediction Myths
A traditional baby shower game that is clearly appropriate for the occasion! The hostess reads out the questions as all the guests follow along. By simply circling “boy” or “girl”, the guests answer the questions to the best of their ability. Some rather obscure myths are thrown in amongst more common ones to make it more interesting.

Wishes for Baby
A lovely, heartwarming activity using a simple template to allow guest to fill in their own personal wishes for baby-on-the-way. The simple statements act as prompts but are left open-ended, so each person’s responses are unique. The collected filled-in sheets are just perfect for scrap booking or setting aside for your little one to have later in life.

Funny Portrait Predictions
This game is hands-on and hilarious. Each guest is given a blank “baby template” along with a portrait of each parent. Using scissors, glue, imagination and sense of humour , the guests then set about creating a faux prediction portrait of the baby. As it is impossible to pick a winner for this game, all guests were asked to write their name on the portrait they’d created, then all portraits were placed in a bag and the hostess (my mother-in-law) drew the winner randomly.

Contributions for Charity
I really did not want my guests to feel obligated in any way to contribute, nor did I want to dampen the mood of the day, but I have felt compelled during this pregnancy to give back… and I believe that in doing so I have been honouring my baby’s life (see Cupcake for Charity). Thus it seemed especially appropriate to do so on this occasion too. I set up a “prizes & gifts” table stocked with lovely accessories such as necklaces, scarves, bags, purses, etc., and all guests that won a game were free to choose anything they fancied from the table. The remaining items were then on offer to be exchanged for any contribution whatsoever (just a coin would do) to a charity collection tin. I decided to support the charity Bliss (for babies born sick or too soon), via Baby Saif’s Lighting up the Holidays Fund as, having been one of the lucky ones to make it so far with a high risk pregnancy condition, I count my blessings everyday whilst my heart breaks for those less fortunate. I was touched that every person at the party contributed and that, together, we were able to make a nice contribution to an important cause.

What’s in your Handbag?
A typical baby shower game where guests are given a checklist of items that may or may not be in their handbags. Each guest goes through her bag and the list, ticking off items that she finds and adding up the points. The winner of the game is the person with the highest point score.

Blessingway Bracelet/Charm
Each person invited brings a bead/charm/button that they have picked for the mother and all items are strung together to create a bracelet/charm symbolic of support for the mother-to-be. In my case, despite telling everyone to simply find something they already had around the house and not go to any trouble, everyone kindly chose very personal things and all the items had a lovingly supportive meaning (hearts, angels, etc.). It was my husband who threaded each bead onto bracelet wire. The little children in attendance were fascinated by this activity and process! As these bracelets/charms are intended to strengthen focus and a sense of support during labour/delivery, my lovely one will accompany me to the hospital as I go to deliver my baby.

THE PRINTABLES (yep, that’s the free stuff too, folks!)

As mentioned in earlier blessingway posts, my colour scheme for the event was purple and green and my motif was butterflies. I designed my stationary items around these things. I have been told by a few people (including my boss) that I shouldn’t do design work for free, but I feel compelled to share these things freely as 1) they are already designed and 2) I understand the costs for hosting a shower/blessingway can add up (there’s enough to think about, financially speaking, when a baby is on the way). So, in any case, I hope you like these printables and that they come in useful for you or someone you care about

Here are links to all FREE downloadable print items:

Blank menu template (just write in the treats you plan to serve)

Blank schedule (for the hostess to write notes on & keep track of the day’s events)

What’s in Your Handbag? game

Gender Prediction Myths game

Gender Prediction Myths answers

Funny Portrait Predictions game

How Many Candies in the Jar? game

Wishes for Baby template (for guests to fill in with personal messages)

Buffet labels 1 (simply write in the name of the dish)

Buffet labels 2

THE FAVOURS

I love giving gifts… and having the chance to prepare things for my event DIY-style was a joy! Aside from the “prize & gifts” table (on which a variety of accessories tied with purple ribbon were laid out) I also made sure each guest left with some other goodies.

Scented Candles
I found lovely cherry scented purple votive candles (with 25 hours of burning time) and created my own thank you tags for the gift bags, each one with a unique “blessing” on the reverse side.

DIY Thank You Tags

Fondant-covered Sugar Cookies
Each guest received a gift bag containing 2 large decorated sugar cookies (with fondant in matching colours dusted with edible glitter) and 4 mini ones. I am so happy with the sugar cookie recipe I used and very glad to be able to share it with you too, along with tips for how to decorate sugar cookies with rolled fondant (click on links or images below).

Sugar Cookies

THE DECORATIONS

Ok, so maybe I went a little overboard by making the decorations too, but after 10 weeks of bed rest, I was feeling extra motivated . Below you will find links to simple tutorials that may come in handy if you feel so inclined to give DIY decorations for your event a go too (simply click on links or images). The only decorations I have not yet posted about are the paper lanterns with butterflies (idea originally from Martha Stewart Living). You can do as Martha suggests and trace the shape of a butterfly onto any paper you like before cutting out the shapes or you can use the template I created (which uses the same colours and patterns as the rest of my printables). Then simply fold cut-out butterflies in the center and adhere them to paper lanterns using glue dots or a little double-sided tape. To download the template I created, click on the link or images directly below. For all other decoration tutorials, click on the relevant link/image.

Paper Lanterns with Butterflies

Paper Flowers

Fondant Cupcake Decorations

Homemade Confetti

THE OTHER BLESSINGWAY POSTS

The following posts included the original updates for my blessingway planning:

PROJECT PINTEREST (2 editions in 1!)

PROJECT PINTEREST BLESSINGWAY EDITION IN FULL EFFECT

NEW YEAR = NEW HOME (clearing clutter & creating lovely spaces DIY-style)

January 6, 2013 by mmmarzipan

In amongst the inspirational images on my 2013 visualisation mood board, you may have spotted a couple of pics of extremely well-organised spaces (a pantry and a crafting station) which I added because, as for many others, having an attractive, user-friendly home environments is one of my priorities. Recently I have been bombarded by email notifications from Better Homes and Gardens about de-cluttering and the other day my cousin posted a link on Facebook about Peter Walsh‘s “31 Days to Get Organized” challenge. I’ll take that as a sign . We actually began our big sorting out process the night before New Year’s Eve and even did a little more right up until almost midnight on New Year’s itself, as one of my wishes was to wake up on New Year’s Day to a lovely clean, clear home. I like to think that our family home is kept in a clean and relatively well-ordered manner in any case. We don’t hoard, we aim to make conscious and informed purchases, we try not to indulge our son (or ourselves) with an excess of material things and, in typical modern Scandinavian style, our family spaces are open-plan and minimalistically decorated (I hate unnecessary “dust traps”). However, there is always room for improvement, right? And with baby number 2 set to make an appearance very soon, what better time than the first week of 2013 to get started?

PETER WALSH’S ”31 DAYS TO GET ORGANISED“ CHALLENGE

Day 1: Spend 10 minutes ONLY and remove all the things from one room (preferably the living room) that don’t belong there.
I cleared a particular pile of stuff on our work desk. It took me a little longer than 10 minutes but only because I am pregnant and moving slowly!

Day 2: “Empty your sock drawer onto your bed. Immediately sort pairs together. Discard any single socks, any socks you no longer wear, any frayed or ‘holey’ socks. Arrange like colors/types together and put them back in drawer. Bid the others farewell!”
My husband and I did this together… and found 16 socks that don’t belong in either of our drawers.

Day 3: “Keep Your Lid On! Today your task is to tackle all those disposable plastic storage containers that you have in cupboards and drawers in your kitchen. Get them all out onto the kitchen counter. Discard any that don’t have matching lids, that the dishwasher has mangled or that are stained. My rule: no more than 15 plastic storage containers! Here’s the deal: with takeout containers, margarine containers and coleslaw containers there’s a constant inflow of these puppies into your home – the trick is to keep them under control. So … take a deep breath, drag them out and take ten minutes to get it done!”
I asked my husband to help with this as we store our plastic containers in a low cupboard and I am having trouble bending down. I realised whilst completing this task (which literally took less than 2 minutes!) that we are probably fairly organised in this respect… and we definitely have no more than 15 containers (far less in fact).

Day 4: Sort out your remote controls. Take the ones you use (and only the ones you use), clean them (we used a disinfectant wipe) and pop them in a box that will always be kept in the same place in your living room. Use this box to also store the case for whatever DVD you are currently watching.
I did complete this task, but as we only have 3 controls that we always keep in the same place (on top of a speaker), it seemed a bit of a non-event. However, it was good to give them a clean and we’ll use the box for a while to see if it does indeed make a difference.

Day 5: ”Romance & Calm: Grab your partner and head for the master bedroom. Spend ten minutes TOGETHER gathering up and removing anything from the room that doesn’t belong there or doesn’t help create a calm, romantic haven for you both. (If it’s just you in your home you can do this equally well for yourself!) This is about taking care of you and your relationship.”
We will do this tonight after the little one goes to bed.

Now, as the “31 Days to Get Organized” challenge is ongoing for another 26 days, I will update at some other point in the near future. I just thought it apt to spread the word now as the challenge is in its early days and it’s still a great time to jump on board if you care to. In the meantime, here’s a couple of simple ideas I also plan to implement…

Create zones for kitchen tasks you do on a regular basis. Designate a shelf for everything you need for the job. – Kathi Burns, author of How to Master Your Muck

To store uniform white sheets, fold fitted sheet, top sheet and extra pillowcases inside a pillowcase of the same set. – a Peter Walsh idea

PINK LEMONADE (with fresh lemons & cranberry juice)

January 6, 2013 by mmmarzipan

So, I finally got around to blogging about this recipe (recently mentioned in my New Year’s Eve menu post)! I was so excited to get the opportunity to try making pink lemonade for the very first time in advance of my blessingway/baby shower and I hope that you’ll love this recipe as much as I now do!

I remember thinking of pink lemonade as being something truly special when I watched The Sound of Music as a little girl and I still remember the terrace scene well…

The Baroness: Not too sweet, not too sour.

Max: Just too, uh… pink.

Despite loving the idea of pink lemonade, I never did get to try it when I was little, and the only version I have had as an adult was made in France by some fancy beverage manufacturer. I thought it high time I made my own and my blessingway/baby shower gave me the perfect excuse! This version of pink lemonade uses organic cranberry juice, thus contains no food colouring (yay!), and is not to sweet, sour or pink

. You can adjust the recipe, as I have, to suit your personal preferences. The next time I make this for an event with guests I will double the quantities. It was truly a hit!

PINK LEMONADE
Makes: Approximately 2 liters

INGREDIENTS

1.75 dl sugar
4 lemon peel segments
2.5 dl water, for syrup
14 dl water
5 dl freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 10-12 lemons)
1.5 – 2 dl organic cranberry juice
A pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS

In a small saucepan, combine sugar, lemon peel segments, and 2.5 dl water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Simmer until sugar is dissolved, then remove from heat.
In a large jug (or mixing bowl with pouring lip), combine remaining water, lemon juice, cranberry juice, and salt.
Remove lemon peel segments from syrup. Add syrup to lemonade mix. Stir to combine.
Pour lemonade through a fine mesh sieve to remove any pulp, if desired.
Serve chilled OR…
… for a frozen version, pour 1 liter of pink lemonade into an ice cream maker (or ice cream maker bowl attachment for a KitchenAid), turn on and, 20 minutes later… voilà; a delicious frosty drink that the whole family will love!

This pink lemonade is absolutely delicious as a frozen drink too!

*I have also made a “cheat’s version” using pure, bottled lemon juice and it works very well too (and is super-fast)!
*Adapted from this recipe (an original by The Cooking Bride).

OUR HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE (+ recipes for Black Bean & Pineapple Guacamole, Veggie Quesadillas, Cornmeal & Pineapple Cake with Whipped Coconut Cream… AND a DIY Sparkle Jar!)

January 2, 2013 by mmmarzipan

Happy New Year, all! I hope that 2013 is off to a great start for you and that your New Year’s celebrations were fabulous! Being rather heavily pregnant (35 weeks), still on sick leave and having a 21 month-old little guy in tow, I decided it wise to have a small family party at home this year. After a fabulous morning outdoors in the snow watching L and friends from England sledding, followed by lunch, we finished preparations for our Mexican-inspired family fiesta. I had made Pink Lemonade and baked a lovely looking Cornmeal & Pineapple Cake the night before and we had a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling rosé chilling in fridge. With the aid of some “sparkle straws”, party hats, party blowers and our DIY Sparkle Jar, we were all set to ring in the New Year! Here’s how we did it…

DIY SPARKLE JAR

This is one of those Pinterest projects I have had on some Pinterest board or another for a while now. At a work event earlier this year, we were all given a bunch of glow bracelets and I have held onto them just so I could make a sparkle jar “some day”. As our little L is too young to be out for midnight fireworks, I thought it would be nice for him to have his own, quiet, indoor “light show” to celebrate the New Year. So my husband and I finally got around to making a sparkle jar (also known as a “fairy jar”). Now, there are a couple of things that I want to note. The substance inside glow bracelets/sticks is dibutyl phthalate; a clear, oily, colorless liquid. It is apparently low in toxicity, but it can irritate the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. What’s more, cutting into glow items means breaking the glass vials in the center… and this means tiny pieces of glass floating around in the jar. So, although little ones might find sparkle jars fascinating and beautiful, I can’t see myself allowing L to make one himself (until he’s about 21 years old ).

WHAT YOU NEED:

A unused glow bracelets (we used 5 small ones) or 1-2 glow sticks
Glitter (we used holographic silver and translucent)
A jar with lid
Scissors for cutting the glow item/s

DIRECTIONS:

Carefully cut your glow item/s and shake the contents into a jar.
Add glitter.
Seal the top with a lid.
Shake, turn off the lights and enjoy the glowy glitteriness for an hour or two!

BLACK BEAN & PINEAPPLE GUACAMOLE

Around October last year, I subscribed to receive the Better Homes and Gardens 100 Days of Holidays email updates. There have been so many lovely ideas to be inspired by… far too many to try! But this one caught my eye and, after reading the excellent reviews, I knew this would be the perfect addition to our vegetarian, Mex-inspired New Year’s menu. This is not only the BEST guacamole dip I have ever made, but it is also one of the best dips/sides I’ve made in general. Here is my modified version of the BHG recipe…

INGREDIENTS:

2 medium avocados, halved, seeded, and peeled
.75 dl bottled green salsa* (*our supermarket was out, so we used regular salsa… obviously the dip colour was not as vibrant, but the taste was still fabulous)
1 tablespoon sour cream
1.25 dl finely chopped fresh pineapple or canned crushed pineapple, drained
1.25 dl canned black beans, rinsed and drained
1 fresh jalapeno chile pepper, seeded and minced
2 tbsp finely chopped red onion
1 clove garlic, crushed
Juice of half a lime
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cumin
.75 dl shredded cheese (I used a mix of Cheddar and Wästgöta Kloster)

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl mash avocados. Stir in salsa and sour cream until combined.
Stir in pineapple, beans, jalapeno, onion, garlic, lime juice, salt and cumin. Cover and chill for 2 hours or until ready to serve.
Sprinkle with cheese. Serve with tortilla chips.

*We had leftovers which we polished off the next day. The taste was still fabulous, but obviously the colour was not so pretty!
*Recipe modified by one found here.

FROZEN PINK LEMONADE

I made Pink Lemonade for the very first time for my blessingway and I loved it so much that I have been waiting for an opportunity to make it since. I will post the fabulous recipe I used soon, but in the meantime, here’s how you can make your own delicious, icy drink treat!

DIRECTIONS:

Simply use an ice cream maker (or, as I did, the ice cream attachment for a KitchenAid), pour in Pink Lemonade, turn on and 20 minutes later, voilà; a delicious frosty drink that the whole family will love!

VEGGIE QUESADILLAS
Prep Time: 15 Minutes, Cook Time: 20 Minutes, Servings: 6

I made the original version of this recipe (The Pioneer Woman‘s Quesadillas de Camarones) for my husband’s birthday dinner during my last pregnancy. I wanted to change things up a bit and make a veggie version. Not only did we love them, but my little boy did too (he can even say “quesadilla” now!) and my parents, who joined us for leftovers on New Year’s Day, also thought they were fab.

INGREDIENTS:

Organic flour tortillas
Half a packet of vegetarian chicken pieces (you could use mushrooms, tofu or anything, really!)
1 jar of organic taco sauce
1 dl (or more) organic black beans
1 large white onion
1 whole red bell pepper
1 whole green bell pepper
5 dl cheese, grated (I used a mix of Cheddar and Wästgöta Kloster)
2 tbsp organic olive oil
Butter
Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Chop vegetables into large pieces. Heat pan over high heat and add olive oil. Cook vegetables over high heat until they start to go brown/black. Remove from pan and set aside.
Return pan to high heat and cook the veggie chicken. Add the taco sauce and black beans and heat through, stirring occasionally. Add the vegetables back to the same pan to combine everything.
In a separate pan, heat butter. Place a tortilla in the pan, layer on cheese then top with veggie mix. Top with more cheese and a second tortilla. Cook on both sides, adding butter before flipping.
Remove from pan and slice into wedges using a pizza cutter. Serve with rice, salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

*Recipe adapted from this one by The Pioneer Woman.

CORNMEAL & PINEAPPLE CAKE WITH WHIPPED COCONUT CREAM
Makes: one 9 inch cake

One of the first events I attended after being allowed off of bed rest was a friend’s birthday dinner party at Mexican restaurant La Neta. El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) had recently been celebrated and, as a result, the kitchen was short on food and quite a few things were struck off the menu. What was on the menu, however, was pretty darn good! And one of the things I had the opportunity to try for the very first time was corn cake (with ice cream). It tasted just how I imagined it would; moist and delicious! And, when coming up with our New Year’s menu, corn cake sprang to mind almost immediately. I still had corn flour (meal) leftover from making Sweet Corn Muffins, and searched online for recipes that looked appealing and that I could modify (I had my heart set on something pineapple-coconutty). This recipe is the truly yummy result!

INGREDIENTS:

165 g organic cornmeal
85 g organic plain flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
170 g unsalted butter
250 g organic white sugar
4 organic eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
120 ml plain organic yogurt
1 small tin of crushed pineapple, drained (approx. 150 g)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 175 degrees C. Grease and flour a 9 inch round cake pan. Sift together the cornmeal, flour, salt and baking powder and set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Stirring well, add half the dry ingredients, then the yogurt, followed by the remaining dry ingredients. Finally, fold in the crushed pineapple. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted in middle of cake comes out clean. Cool cake in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes then invert onto a serving plate. Serve with coconut ice cream or whipped coconut cream.

*This cake is not too sweet, cuts like a dream, is moist, dense, a lovely corn colour and the pineapple flavour is subtle.
*Recipe adapted from one by Jen found here at allrecipes.com

WHIPPED COCONUT CREAM

This is genius! With nothing but a can of coconut milk, you can make a delicious and versatile dessert topping that is, of course, lactose-free and vegan. I am so glad I came across this! Viva Pinterest!

INGREDIENTS:

1 can of full fat organic coconut milk
2-3 tsp sweetener* (such as icing sugar or raw agave syrup)
1/4- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract*

DIRECTIONS:

Place can in the fridge overnight (crucial as coconut cream needs to chill until it’s very firm*). *If your fridge isn’t cold enough to harden the coconut milk, tip it into an airtight container and pop it in the freezer for 2-3 hours.
Just before you make your whipped coconut cream, place a mixing bowl in the freezer for 5 minutes or so to help keep everything cold.
Remove the chilled can from fridge and flip it upside down.
Open the can and pour the coconut liquid you see at the top into another bowl. You should have just under 2.5 dl of liquid, but this can vary. Use this liquid for smoothies/baking/cooking.
Scoop hardened coconut cream into your chilled bowl.
Using a hand mixer, whip the cream until fluffy.
Add a little sweetener* and vanilla extract* (*optional, but recommended) and continue to whip until combined.

*This amazing recipe by Oh She Glows originally found here.
*Use this whipped coconut cream just as you would whipped cream; as a topping for cakes/pies/porridge oats or in frostings.
*May be stored in fridge for at least 1.5 weeks in an airtight container. Scoop into a bowl and re-whip when you need it.

100th POST TODAY WITH BELATED (YET GRATEFUL) RESPONSES TO 18 AWARD NOMINATIONS!

December 31, 2012 by mmmarzipan

My 100th post comes to you on the cusp of a new year and I felt it appropriate to finally respond to some generous nominations sent my way by other bloggers. It has been a while since I agreed to accept any more award nominations, but the thing is that I am truly grateful for the support I have received in the short time I have been blogging regularly and I want to acknowledge the kindness I have received. If I don’t follow all award rules, please forgive me. And I totally understand that not everyone likes to/has time to participate in accepting/nominating for awards, so please do not feel obliged to respond if you fall into that category (I have been in it for a while myself). Many thanks to anyone who has stopped by… and particular thanks to Miss Marzipan blog followers/readers and the kind bloggers out there who have taken the time to post nominations and shout-outs.

Wishing you all a very happy 2013 ! xx, Miss Marzipan

VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD x 2
Nominated by: lovely kz (a self-described writer, fashionista, foodie, beach bum and traveler) from The Eclectic Eccentric Shopaholic and lovely Stepphy from Pretty Little Dreamer (Step into the Cruz)

The rules:

• Display the award certificate on your website
• Announce your win with a post and link to whoever presented your award
• Present 15 awards to deserving bloggers (Versatile Blogger)
• Drop them a comment to tip them off after you’ve linked them in the post
• Post 7 interesting things about yourself

7 things about me (reposted from a previous nomination post):

There is nothing that I cherish more than the gifts of life and motherhood.
I was born in the Chinese Year of the Dragon, as was my grandmother and my father. My baby is also due in the Dragon’s year!
My husband is the kindest and most patient man I know.
I love to travel and have had many adventures prior to settling into a life of “domestic bliss”… and quite a few since (eg, my husband proposed to me while we were staying in a ger camp with nomads in Mongolia).
I am a big fan of make-up and for a short time in my late teens I went to beauty school, aspiring to be a make-up artist.
I love living in Europe, but I wish the Scandinavian winter only lasted through December… and that we were a little closer to Paris/London/Venice/Amsterdam/Vienna/Berlin… oh, and Australia! Too much to ask?
I respect and admire anyone who wants to make a positive impact on the world and I hope to be one of them in my own small way.

My nominees for the Versatile Blogger Award:

Hot, Cheap & Easy Fabulous food and recipes! Truly!
ArdentPT Sweta’s blog about all things physical therapy-related… ask her a medical question and she’s sure to kindly provide some info!
Gazing In A wonderful blog about life, family and food
Blue Jelly Beans Foodie posts in Spanish and English
matchamochi Vegetarian home cooking adventures
Thank You Honey A blog about mommyhood and good food
The Thankful Heart Yummy, comforting home cooking and personal reflections
No Naughties “Naturally sweet treats without sugar, wheat, gluten, yeast and other allergens”- yay!
Vini Cooks Veg Amazing vegetarian food with Indian roots
ABC of Spirit Talk Stop by, reflect, feel good
Green Door Hospitality Wonderful tips and recipes for making your home warm and welcoming
Dear Kitty. Some Blog Some people truly care about the world… and it’s evident

THE LIEBSTER AWARD x 2
Nominated by: Savor the Food and Loving Homemade

The Liebster Award, for those who don’t know, is apparently given to up-and-coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. “Liebster” is German for“Beloved, Dearest or Favorite” and the award is intended to shine a spotlight on blogs deserving of some recognition. Although I am extremely grateful for the encouragement and acknowledgement (thanks so much, guys!), with well over 200 followers now, I cannot accept this award. I have accepted one earlier however and the post can be found here.

REALITY BLOG AWARD
Nominated by: Sweta of Ardent PT (thank you very much, lovely!)

I was unsure as to how this award worked exactly, but after searching around I now believe I am supposed to answer the following questions, then nominate a few blogs:

If you could change one thing, what would you change?
I wish there was no violence/competition/mean-spiritedness and that everyone recognised on a deep level that we are all connected.
If you could repeat an age, what would it be?
Perhaps my early to mid-twenties. Youth is wasted on the young, as they say But really, I am very happy with my life today, so wouldn’t really want to change anything that got me where I am now (and that is everything).
What is one thing that really scares you?
Anything to do with my babies getting hurt… in any way.
What is one dream you have not completed, and do you think you’ll be able to complete it?
I think I would like to work on my own small business venture (even if only part-time/casual) in the future. I definitely think it’s possible.
If you could be someone else for one day, who would it be?
Perhaps my little boy, so I could see the world from his perspective.

My nominees for the Reality Blog Award:

The eclectic eccentric shopaholic It’s a blog about the lovely KZ, with posts that are sure to entertain
Daisy and the Fox Wonderful, comforting food and a celebration of lovely things!
Just Enough Sugar Super-delicious recipes and step-by-step instructions
Pudding the Damage On A marathon running mother of three shares interesting, inspiring anecdotes
Flutterby Rainbow Adventures in homeschooling and lovely activities for little ones
Pretty Little Dreamer With love from the Philippines
Heart And A Half A lovely blog about a mother’s love and life with a little boy born with a congenital heart defect
Elena Selivan Nutrition, diets, fitness, alternative medicine, etc. Elena does the homework for you so that you don’t have to!
silkannthreades A blog about the little and lovely things in life

THE VERY INSPIRING BLOGGER AWARD x 3
Nominated by: Chef Doru, Ardent PT and Savor the Food

Below are the rules for the Very Inspiring Blog Award so please follow carefully:

Display the award logo on your blog.
Link back to the person who nominated you.
State 7 things about yourself.
Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award and link to them.
Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements

7 things about me (again, reposted from my previous nomination post):

There is nothing that I cherish more than the gifts of life and motherhood.
I was born in the Chinese Year of the Dragon, as was my grandmother and my father. My baby is also due in the Dragon’s year!
My husband is the kindest and most patient man I know.
I love to travel and have had many adventures prior to settling into a life of “domestic bliss”… and quite a few since (eg, my husband proposed to me while we were staying in a ger camp with nomads in Mongolia).
I am a big fan of make-up and for a short time in my late teens I went to beauty school, aspiring to be a make-up artist.
I love living in Europe, but I wish the Scandinavian winter only lasted through December… and that we were a little closer to Paris/London/Venice/Amsterdam/Vienna/Berlin… oh, and Australia! Too much to ask?
I respect and admire anyone who wants to make a positive impact on the world and I hope to be one of them in my own small way.

My 15 nominations:

Cooking Whims Cooking with passion
Butter, sugar, flowers Inventive sweet creations
Hugs and kisses Everything made with love
Best of 2 Sisters A lovely blog with gorgeous posts and photography
HopeTulips Honest personal reflections on a pregnancy journey
Librarian Eats Menu plans, reflections and recipes
The Healthy Epicurean Delicious nutritious food with French flavour
Revel Kitchen “Revel in all things food”
Mamsell Proust All things pretty, romantic and vintage
Loving homemade Putting time and care into personal projects- a blog after my own heart
Arohanui Vegan Love Amazing vegan inspiration and fab recipes
Boomdeeadda A blog about art, life and lovely creative projects
The Vanilla Duck Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free deliciousness and inspiration
Clan Mother A beautifully reflective blog
Table of Colors Food, family, creativity and lovely photography

THE SUNSHINE AWARD x 4
Nominated by: Flora’s Table, Chef Doru, Elena Selivan and Baby Boomer Bakes

I have already received this award, but have been kindly thought of and nominated by Flora’s Table, Chef Doru, Elena Selivan and Baby Boomer Bakes (thanks so much, all of you!). The Sunshine Award is symbolised by a flower that one blogger can give to other “bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere”.

As with most awards, the Sunshine Award comes with a few simple rules:

Acknowledge the person who gave this award in a blog post.
Do the Q&A below.
Pass on the award to 10 deserving and inspiring bloggers, inform them and link to their blogs.

Q&A (reposted from my previous nomination post):

Who is your favorite philosopher? I cannot, in all honesty, say that I have a favourite philosopher, though there are philosophies that I live by. The maxim “know thyself” has been attributed to many wise Ancient Greeks, but I suppose“whoever came up with that one” will suffice for an answer to this question
What is your favorite number? 23
What is your favorite animal? Rabbit
What is your favorite time of day? It depends on what I am doing but usually early morning or late evening.
What are your Facebook and Twitter? I don’t link any social media to my blog.
What is your favorite holiday? I love Halloween. I also love Christmas… and a little-known celebration that occurs here pre-Christmas called “Lucia”. If I lived in America, I bet I’d be crazy about Thanksgiving. I am very much into celebrating occasions!
What is your physical favorite activity? Dancing
What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink? Some kind of juice or smoothie… or perhaps a frappuccino (which we can’t buy here, darn it!)
What is your passion? Put simply, living, loving, creating and exploring!
What is your favorite flower? I love wild flowers and sunflowers

My 10 nominations:

Just Enough Sugar Sweet inspiration and lovely recipes
Heidielka Crafting, baking and personal reflections
MonaLisaMom Makeup, yoga and motherhood
Sugar Coated Sarah “A delicious life!”
Chef Mimi “So much food. So little time.”
Rarasaur A self-confessed blogging geek providing interesting, regular posts
I need a feed An abundance of lovely food ideas
Della Cucina Povera Recipes, reflections and photography
Lucy’s Friendly Foods A Cordon Bleu trained mum of two with a passion for cooking shares gorgeous recipes
Easy Baked I feel inspired (and hungry) when I visit here… lovely stuff!

THE SUPER SWEET BLOGGING AWARD x 2
Nominated by: All you do is eat! and The Eclectic Eccentric Shopaholic

Many thanks to the very kind folks at All you do is eat! (a blog about all things foodie in Sydney, from recipes to reviews, that makes me rather homesick! ) and The Eclectic Eccentric Shopaholic.

The rules for this award are:

Thank the super sweet blogger who made the nomination
Answer the five questions provided with award
Nominate a baker’s dozen of other bloggers

Q&A:

Cookie or cake? I am going to go with cake, only because I love cupcakes. But I won’t turn down a good cookie either!
Chocolate or Vanilla? I’m going with chocolate, but I am partial to vanilla too.
What is your favorite sweet treat? Impossible question- I have a sweet tooth! To be sporting, I’ll say cupcakes.
When do you crave sweet things the most? After meals. And I always have room for dessert!
If you had a sweet nickname, what would it be? I have one (see blog name )

My baker’s dozen nominees:

Pretty Happy Baking Inspiring recipes and images
Fork and Beans Genius- pure, delicious genius! Inspiration is a click away!
(hand) one day on a plate Lovely, comforting recipes and painterly food images
Go Bake Yourself A glorious blog full of dangerously good recipes, written by the young and lovely tour de force of the baking world, Choc Chip Uru
Profiteroles & Ponytails There is something warm and comforting about this blog, not to mention sweet personal anecdotes and delicious looking food!
The Vagabond Baker Living life on the road and baking up a storm along the way (what a dream!)
3pastriesaday Great step-by-step instructions, fab recipes… and cool background story
Sophies foodie files Food, travel and personal anecdotes from the lovely Sophie
yum yum cinnabun It’s all about “yum”!
Green Door Hospitality Wonderful tips and recipes for making your home warm and welcoming
Lemon Cake A new and exciting blog for cake lovers
Beautiful Baking Sugar-free, wheat-free baking… it’s possible
Eat My Shortbread Just yummy!

THE BLOG OF THE YEAR 2012 AWARD NOMINATION x 4
Nominated by: Hugs and Kisses, Ardent PT, Realistic Bird and Cupcake in Cairo

Thank you so much to those very kind bloggers who have nominated me for this award! x
The “Blog of the Year” Award is a little different from some other awards, because you accumulate stars.

Here are the ‘rules’ for this award:

1 Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

2 Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.

3 Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/ and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)

4 Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them.

5 You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience [I cannot join that group as I am not on Facebook].

6 As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…

Yes – that’s right – there are stars to collect!

Unlike other awards which you can only add to your blog once – this award is different!

When you begin you will receive the ‘1 star’ award – and every time you are given the award by another blog – you can add another star!

There are a total of 6 stars to collect.

Which means that you can check out your favourite blogs, and even if they have already been given the award by someone else, then you can still bestow it on them again and help them to reach the maximum 6 stars!

For more information check the FAQ on The Thought Palette.

—-

So those ^^^ are the rules… and now for my nominations (which will include blogs I have nominated already for other awards)…

My nominees:

Dear Kitty. Some Blog Some people truly care about the world… and it’s evident
Saif’s NICU Journey Tiny baby Saif will touch you and his story will break your heart
Healthy Glow Nutrition A big old dose of healthy inspiration
The Spotted Owl Inspiration for families with small children… with an eco focus. Yay!
Violet’s Vegan e-Comics Personal stories, vegan recipes plus illustrated tales… and lots of heart
Prisoner in my own body A brave mother’s story about Hyperemesis Gravidarum, a high risk pregnancy condition
ABC of Spirit Talk Stop by, reflect, feel good
Motherhood is an Art Charming personal stories
Savor the Food It’s all about cooking!
Live Blissful One of my absolute favourite blogs… delicious comfort food can be healthy!
My Awakening Life Food for the spirit
Eat Breathe Yogini Health, nutrition, yoga and yumminess
Palestine Rose Poetry and reflections
Cate Writes Again Sharing a passion for active, healthy living and vegetarian food
Veggiereader Running, reading and eating veg… great combination!
GYA today Focused on helping people to achieve success and happiness
All you do is eat Love this Sydney-based foodie blog
Chef Doru A passion for cooking
Cupcake in Cairo Such an interesting background story… and lovely recipes too
Making myself useful “Striving for daily self-accountability”… isn’t that awesome?
Life’s too short not to eat cake Lovely recipes and reflections on food
The Healthy Flavor Amazing vegan food and inspiration
sachensucherin ”Looking for the pretty things in life”

DIY VISUALISATION MOOD BOARD JUST IN TIME FOR 2013 (AKA visualise your way to a wonderful year!)

December 29, 2012 by mmmarzipan

I needn’t state the obvious by saying that 2013 is right around the corner, but as it is, I thought I’d share a pre-New Year’s Eve activity idea. For those of you who believe (as I do) in the power of positive thinking and your thoughts creating your reality, a visualisation mood board may appeal to you. I have created many over the years and I am always astounded that they work so well! Among the dozens I have created, I recall particularly one I made just before I landed my “dream job”, another created just prior to my first successful pregnancy and another I stuck to the back of my bedroom door to keep me positive/help me heal whilst on bed rest after I received my high risk pregnancy diagnosis this year. Based on the incredibly positive results I have had from doing affirmations/meditation/visualisation exercises, I have every reason to believe that mood boards such as this help aid/affirm powerful intention, increase motivation and evoke feelings of positivity. You can easily create your own using a page layout program such as InDesign, make one using magazine images and ye olde cut-and-paste method or, if really pressed for time, why not create a Pinterest board called “2013″ and cram it with pins of the things you’d like to fill your life with this coming year?

Here’s to 2013! And here’s to all your dreams for the year coming true! In the words of Walt Disney, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” xx, Miss Marzipan

CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES LITTLE HANDS CAN HELP WITH (even those belonging to small toddlers)

December 29, 2012 by mmmarzipan

As Christmas drew near, I was determined to find activities that my 21 month-old L could join in with (he was already filled with the Christmas spirit and had been singing “Bingle Bells” for weeks prior to Christmas!). This is a post about a small selection of activities that we found highly enjoyable and little hands-friendly (despite requiring a high degree of adult involvement); making glitter baubles, baking jam tarts and creating sticker book art. Aside from these things and others, L also baked traditional “pepparkakor” (gingerbread cookies) with his Finnish grandmother, made a variety of things at his nursery school (including Christmas decorations), made a snowman with his granny and granddad, met Santa no less than 3 times (!) and thoroughly enjoyed opening his advent calendar boxes each morning up until Christmas Eve. Christmas certainly is a great time for little ones… and for those who have the privilege to be around them, sharing their excitement

GLITTERY CHRISTMAS BAUBLES

I had actually wanted to make glitter pinecones with L this year, but as every pinecone in town was buried under two feet of snow and the craft store had sold out of all but the most expensive ones (at about 12 US dollars a pop!), when I came across a packet of 6 plain baubles on sale at half price (less than 1 pinecone!), the idea struck me to create glittery Christmas baubles instead. As we were limited with our options, we could only get plain glass baubles and so we did not let L handle them directly himself. We also opted to display them in a glass vase so that he could look at them and appreciate them (which he does… proudly!), but not touch. Plain plastic baubles would be even more toddler friendly, but with supervision this is a great activity for little hands to help with. L has been talking about it for days since!

WHAT YOU NEED:

Faux glitter snow (a small amount to cover the bottom of a vase)
Different types of glitter (we used white, silver, holographic silver and translucent)
White PVA glue
A paint brush
Some string (and scissors for cutting it)
A couple of coat hangers (for drying the baubles)
A packet of plain baubles (we used clear glass ones)

HOW TO MAKE THEM:

Put everything you need out on the table. Cut lengths of string and tie to bauble tops so that they are ready for tying to a coat hanger later on. Spread out some newspaper to catch glitter.
Squeeze PVA glue onto bauble, either allowing your toddler to help with the glue bottle or hold a paintbrush with which he/she can paint patterns in the glue.
Help your toddler shake glitter onto the glue designs.
Allow toddler to inspect handiwork
Tie the loose ends of string on each bauble around the rod of a coat hanger and allow ornaments to dry completely.
After placing an inch of faux snow in the bottom of a clear glass vase, stack the baubles. Put them on display and enjoy!

EASY JAM TARTS

Using the exact same pastry recipe that I used for my mince pies (super-easy in itself… and delicious!), L and I made jam tarts. We have both received lots of compliments on these having served them before Christmas, on Christmas Eve as part of the julbord (Swedish “Christmas table”) and also for afternoon tea post-Christmas

INGREDIENTS:

225g cold, diced butter
350g plain flour
100g caster sugar
A pinch of salt
Half a beaten egg (for the pastry dough)
Half a beaten egg (for brushing pie tops before baking)
Jam (we used organic raspberry jam and St. Dalfour 100% fruit jam)

DIRECTIONS:

To make the pastry*, whiz butter and plain flour in food processor, then mix in caster sugar, half a beaten egg and a pinch of salt. Combine the pastry into a ball and knead it briefly. The dough may be used immediately, or chilled for later use. *Do this part yourself in advance of involving your toddler.
Preheat the oven to fan 180C. Your toddler can help you grease a 12 hole pie tin (or 2 if you have 2!).
Roll out pastry (you’ll need a little extra flour for dusting over the pastry and rolling-pin). Your toddler can also help with the rolling out!
Cut out circles with a cookie cutter (this is especially fun to do for little ones).
Press pastry circles gently into pie tin holes. Help your toddler spoon a little jam (1.5 tsp approximately) into the pies.
Help your toddler use a smaller cookie cutter (we used a star-shaped one) to cut out enough shapes to make pie lids. Top the pies with their lids.
Brush the tops of the pies with remaining half of beaten egg (little ones can help with this too).
Bake for approx. 20 minutes or until golden. Leave to cool in the tin for 5-10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack. To serve, lightly dust with icing sugar.

Pappa watches on as L creates pastry stars

*These pies will keep for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container and may be frozen for a month!
*Pastry recipe adapted from one by Orlando Murrin, found at BBC GoodFood)

STICKER BOOK ART

L and I loved doing Halloween sticker book activities during autumn, so I really wanted to get him a winter themed sticker book too and found this one at Usborne Children’s Books. It is important to note that this book is not intended for unsupervised use by children as young as L and that we only ever do sticker activities together. L does not remove the stickers from the page himself. He says “Mamma help” or “Mamma fix it” and I remove the one he has chosen, then we find the page he wants to put the sticker on and I ask him where it should go, he tells me and then we stick it down together. Small toddlers should not do any sticker activity unattended/unsupervised. We love doing these activities together because it gives L a chance to create his own little stories and talk about all the things he can see on the page. He is very proud of the words he knows and it’s lovely to be able to expand his vocabulary by introducing him to new things too… especially seasonal/festive ones.

L carefully choosing his next sticker

Sticker in place… happy days!

EDIBLE FESTIVE GIFTS: NUTELLA WALNUT FUDGE, EASY MINCE PIES & PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE BARK (+ season’s greetings to you!)

December 24, 2012 by mmmarzipan

This is my first Christmas ever as the mother to a nursery school-aged toddler, thus preparing holiday gifts for teachers was a brand new experience. Being right in the thick of Christmas DIY-style, I thought I’d attempt to make all of my gifts for L’s teachers at home (even the gift tags, based on my thank you tags as you can see). Once again, I turned to Pinterest for a little festive inspiration. To be honest, there is too much to choose from! But I settled upon the following 3 recipes, all of which have been given the proverbial BIG thumbs up by those who’ve tried the results. I also had remaining Chocolate Gingerbread Truffles which I included as gifts.

This will be my last post pre-Christmas, so I’d like to take a second to wish all readers a very merry Christmas/happy holiday season. May the coming days be extra joyful for you and yours! MM xx

NUTELLA WALNUT FUDGE

Makes: 100 squares, depending on size

I am not the biggest fudge fan in the world, but my husband adores the stuff. And there’s something about seeing fudge packaged prettily that evokes a festive feeling. So when I happened to come across Nutella fudge, I thought I’d give it a whirl. When using the original recipe, my fudge did NOT set… twice! I vowed to give it just one more attempt (I hate the idea of wasting ingredients!) and I managed to save the original batch by reheating and adding more icing sugar than specified in the original recipe. I also decided to top my fudge with walnuts to add a little crunch and make them less of a sugar-bomb

INGREDIENTS:

250 g unsalted butter
2.4 dl whole milk
7 dl brown sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla
2.4 dl Nutella
14.5 dl icing sugar
A couple of pinches – 1/2 tsp of salt
1 dl chopped walnuts (optional- and of course you can add more if you like!)

DIRECTIONS:

Grease a pan (I used an IKEA Drömmar pan, dimensions: 37 x 25 x 3 cm). Line bottom of the pan with baking paper, extending the ends beyond the two short pan sides.Place the icing sugar in a mixing bowl and set aside.

Melt butter over medium-low heat. Add milk and brown sugar. Bring to a hard, rolling boil over medium heat and then boil for approx. 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove pan from the heat and quickly add vanilla and Nutella. Stir until the Nutella is melted.

Carefully pour the hot Nutella mixture over the confectioner’s sugar and mix quickly and thoroughly until completely combined. The fudge will begin to set as the icing sugar is incorporated. Pour/scoop the fudge into your pan. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts (they may need to be pushed down slightly with the back of a spoon). Chill for at least 2 hours.

Remove fudge from pan for easy cutting.

*Recipe adapted from this one found at Not your momma’s cookie.

EASY MINCE PIES
Makes: approx. 24 small pies

This recipe (adapted from Orlando Murrin’s one found here) has been given 5 stars by its reviewers. I am not suprised! I love it and am pretty sure I’ll be hard-pressed to find a yummier, easier mince pie recipe than this! I have made some modifications to allow for the pastry to be easily rolled (as I prefer a slightly more “polished” look to baked goods generally).

INGREDIENTS:

225g cold, diced butter
350g plain flour
100g caster sugar
A pinch of salt
Half a beaten egg (for the pastry dough)
Half a beaten egg (for brushing pie tops before baking)
Mincemeat (I used a jar weighing 400 g)

DIRECTIONS:

To make the pastry, whiz butter and plain flour in food processor, then mix in caster sugar, half a beaten egg and a pinch of salt. Combine the pastry into a ball and knead it briefly. The dough may be used immediately, or chilled for later use (handy, huh?).
Preheat the oven to fan 180C. Grease a 12 hole pie tin (or 2 if you have 2!). Roll out pastry (you’ll need a little extra flour for dusting over the pastry and rolling-pin). Cut out circles with a cookie cutter and press gently into pie tin holes. Spoon mincemeat into the pies.
Take a smaller cookie cutter (I used a blossom one, but stars or other shapes would be lovely too) and cut out enough shapes to make pie lids. Top the pies with their lids.
Brush the tops of the pies with remaining half of beaten egg. Bake for approx. 20 minutes or until golden. Leave to cool in the tin for 5-10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack. To serve, lightly dust with icing sugar.

*These pies will keep for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container and may be frozen for a month!
*Recipe adapted from one by Orlando Murrin, found at BBC GoodFood)
*I used the same pastry recipe to create jam tarts with my little boy. Yummy!

PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE BARK

If you’ve been anywhere near Pinterest looking for candy recipes during advent, you’ve no doubt come across an image of this; Peppermint Chocolate Bark. I may have been hiding under a rock, but this seems to have become an overnight phenomenon. Until November this year I had never even heard of it… and yet it seems hugely popular all of a sudden. Having made and eaten it now, I totally understand why! It is absolutely delicious! And looks lovely too! Traditionally made with crushed candy canes, my version contains Swedish peppermint flavoured boiled sweets (as they were all I could come by).

INGREDIENTS:

400 g dark or milk chocolate
400 g white chocolate
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 – 2 dl, crushed hard peppermint candies

DIRECTIONS:

Line bottom and sides of a pan (I used an IKEA Drömmar pan, dimensions: 37 x 25 x 3 cm) with aluminum foil, extending the ends of the foil beyond the two short pan sides.
Melt the dark/milk chocolate. Stir in the peppermint extract and keep stirring vigorously if the chocolate seizes (it should become smooth and shiny again as the extract is properly incorporated). Spread the chocolate evenly in the prepared pan. Chill until set, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt the white chocolate. Spread the white chocolate mixture evenly over the dark/milk chocolate. Sprinkle crushed candy pieces evenly over the white chocolate layer. Chill until set (at least 1 hour). Cut into triangular shards to serve.

*Recipe adapted from this one by Caityb19 found at allrecipes.com

Miss Marzipan

ventures forth into the realms of all things DIY

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NEW YEAR = NEW HOME (clearing clutter & creating lovely spaces DIY-style)

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OUR HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE (+ recipes for Black Bean & Pineapple Guacamole, Veggie Quesadillas, Cornmeal & Pineapple Cake with Whipped Coconut Cream… AND a DIY Sparkle Jar!)

100th POST TODAY WITH BELATED (YET GRATEFUL) RESPONSES TO 18 AWARD NOMINATIONS!

DIY VISUALISATION MOOD BOARD JUST IN TIME FOR 2013 (AKA visualise your way to a wonderful year!)

CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES LITTLE HANDS CAN HELP WITH (even those belonging to small toddlers)

EDIBLE FESTIVE GIFTS: NUTELLA WALNUT FUDGE, EASY MINCE PIES & PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE BARK (+ season’s greetings to you!)

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