Bake: Energy Bars

I am thoroughly enjoying researching, making and eating foods that are filled with good ingredients that are filling and will fuel the fire for longer, rather than sugary snacks that will leave me hungry an hour after eating them. I went searching and found this recipe: Ellie Krieger Energy Bars – from Food Network.

I added some craisins and some coconut and they were deeee-lish-ous! And super-filling.

– They were lovely with a cup of peppermint tea –

– You can see they were quite dense, so you only needed to eat a small square –

Do you have any snacks that are tasty and filling?

Make: Oats in a Jar

I love porridge. I also love a filling breakfast. And even more than both of these two things, I love a quick breakfast.
I kept seeing #OIAJ tags, so I had to google it and with some further research I discovered that I would like to make these, ‘Alison-style’.
These are a great idea as we (in Australia) head into a Summer, I’ll be making them a lot!!!

And lovely with a up of tea…

Have you made #OIAJ?

Alison

Love: Three Things

Three things I’m loving this week are…
1. Making heaps of smoothie combinations – so yummy and so healthy!

2. Getting to the gym regularly again- am LOVING my new gym and its crèche!

3. Holidays – need I say more??

What three things are you loving this week?

Alison

Fashion Friday: Neck-detail tops

Are these a yay or a nay for you? I can’t decide. I’m leaning towards a yay.

1.

– Witchery Neck Detail Top in grey marle ($89.95) –

2.

– ASOS River Island Cami with Embroidered Yoke in white ($36.24) –

3.

– Katies bead detail top in cream pearl $29.95 –

4.

– Temt Bohemian Dream Sleeveless Top $34.95 –

5.

– Ezibuy Capture Placement Print Tunic in white $39.99 –

Which is your favourite (if any)?

Bake: Mum’s Birthday Cake

After I’d finished work, and before Little Mr Mr arrived into the world, I did a one-day cake decorating class at the very amazing Decorative Sweets. It was such a fun day and I learnt SO MUCH about cake decorating that I have spent the last few months since, jumping at every opportunity to make a cake. One of my first ones was for Mum’s birthday. She is not too far off a very special birthday, and so I thought I’d practice for the big one next year.

– My first cake…made at the class –

I wanted to impress and set about some online research when I came across a fab blogger, Bronnie Bakes, who uses videos to demonstrate her awesome cake making techniques. I pretty much used her website to come up with a caramel mud cake, layered with Italian Meringue Buttercream, in both vanilla and caramel. It was then covered in a layer of white chocolate ganache and finally, a thin layer of fondant and decorated with stars and hearts. It really was a first attempt at layering and rolling fondant, but I am really happy with the result.

– THE cake –

– First slice taken out….the reaction was a perfect ‘woah!’ –

– There were too many layers and it was a bit TOO much cake for most of us –

– MASSIVE –

– SInging Happy Birthday –

– Blowing out the candles –

Happy Birthday Mumma – watch out for next year’s cake…I’ve got to top this one!

Have you ever had a beautiful-looking cake, that also tasted superb?

Make: Frozen Banana Smoothie

So i’m officially in love with my own discovery of using frozen bananas in smoothies. I’m certain many people have been doing this for yonks, but I just discovered it and I am totally fab because of it – yes, I’ll keep telling myself so too!

Ingredients

• 1 Frozen banana (I have a zip lock bag of peeled bananas in the freezer ready to go….I buy them in bulk when they’re nice and cheap).
• 1/2 cup coconut water
• 1/2 cup milk/almond milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 scoops sculpt protein powder (vanilla)
• 1 tbs cacao
• ice blocks

I chop up the banana so it’s easier to blend, then get my stick mixer out and blend away. The frozen banana really makes it an ice-creamy consistency -YUM! Such a good, filling, sweet-kick for an afternoon snack.

– Some days I omit the cacao…depends on whether I need a little choccy hit! –

– coldy goodness –

– YUM! –

Have you used frozen bananas before?

Fashion Friday: The Floral Blouse

I love anything floral. Perhaps it’s the old lady in me? I’ve seen so many beautiful floral blouses around that catch my eye. Big LOVE.

1.

– ASOS Warehouse Trailing Floral Print Blouse in multi ($81.54) –

2.

– Big W Avella Burnout tee with floral print $14.98 –

3.

– Topshop multi flower print shirt in nude (32 pounds) –

4.

– Sussan Pretty Floral ramie shirt in mid-blue $79.95 –

5.

– Katies Coral Flower Print Kaftan $ 59.95) –

Do you love a floral blouse? Yay or Nay?

Make: Kale and Cashew Pesto

I am right into the clean eating craze and am hoping to post some yummy, healthy foods that have my own personal spin on them. I love researching on the internet and getting inspiration from others who have been there before, but I also love to make my own additions to recipes and try things that might, or might not work.

– Kale from our garden –

Husband has lots of lovely green kale growing in the back yard (along with many other beautiful fruits and veggies) and although I do think it tasted rather ordinary when just steamed, I do like it when it’s changed into a different format. One of the formats I have tried recently is to make a pesto out of it. All I can say is….YUM.

Ingredients

• 1/2 bunch of kale
• handful of cashews
• clove of garlic
• 1/2 lemon – juice
• 1/2 avocado
• coconut oil

– Add kale, garlic and nuts to food processor –

– Then avocado and coconut oil –

– Process until smooth –

– yum –

It’s like having a hit of goodness in the form of a condiment. We had this slathered on top of our quinoa and sesame seed-crusted chicken (that’s another successful kitchen sesh that I will share another day).

Do you have any fab kale recipes?

Love: Today is the day to start blogging again.

I have had some time away from the computer juggling part time paid work and a toddler whilst being pregnant and moving house, then a toddler and now a baby. Throughout this time away, I have yearned for the  time and energy to sit and write again. I have yearned for the silence that is only interrupted by the soothing tap tap tapping that my beloved laptop makes (and the tweeting birds outside my study window).

Although I have only had minimal sewing time, I have still been baking a lot and of course, I’m still loving lots of things and trying to stay inspired by all those other awesome bloggers out there. I am filled with ideas on a daily basis, but time and energy are at their lowest points – I’m hoping from here on, they will increase, and I can make a come back to regular posts.

The biggest news that I have since I’ve last blogged, is the birth of my baby boy, Archer. He’s such a cutie and I love him to bits. I’m trying to enjoy every moment with him, but I also need to keep some interests of my own – and I’m hoping this blog will be that outlet.

Here’s some shots of him…totally cute!

Anyway, here goes. I’m hoping to also bring some new ideas into the blog – so let me know if they are favourable or not. I would love your support.

Love: 7/52, 8/52 & 9/52

A catch up week for my Evie portraits…

– 7/52: This one is actually a self-portarait….Evie took it herself on the Iphone –

– 8/52: Taken whilst sipping baby-cinos –

– 9/52: Ready for a walk to the park in her new pram –