Waiting for the Fairies

Although still winter here there have been a few glimpses of spring lately. Middle and littlest took advantage of the most recent spring like day to make a fairy garden.

Hope the fairies like it:) Cyndy Pin It

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

This year my littlest turned 5 and had her first proper birthday party. She's been planning it since late last year. Settling on a theme took a bit of time. She started with princess dress-up, but in the end went with rainbow (good for boys and girls).

I may have helped her along in her decision by offering to make her the rainbow cake for her birthday. You know the one, 7 layers of cake, each one a colour of the rainbow? Yeah, that one:)

So the day before her party we (OK I) spent all day making and baking 7 cakes. Below is the butter cake recipe I used, but really you could use any butter/vanilla/white cake recipe or even packet cake mix as really, this cake is about the colour.

While the cake had drama, it wasn't that hard to make. What it mostly took was time. My middle has already requested one for her birthday next year:)

Now my oldest was more taken with the cupcakes. The cupcakes, you ask? Yes, I also made cupcakes:) These didn't have a rainbow inside, but on the outside. I used my favourite chocolate cake recipe (see below) and then decorated them with butter cream icing and "sour strips." Again, very easy to make.

I have to admit most of the children at the party picked the cupcake....until they saw the inside of the cake:) Cyndy

Rainbow Cake Recipe
250g butter, softened
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup caster sugar
4 eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups self-raising flour, sifted
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease, flour and line with baking paper your pans. I used 30 cm (base) round pans, which made each layer about 2 cm.

Beat butter, vanilla and sugar until light and fluffy with a mixer. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in flour and milk alternately until combined.

This recipe made enough for four layers (but, I could only bake two cakes at a time). Divide batter between 4 bowls. Tint each portion a different colour in the rainbow (we did red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and purple). Spread 1 portion into 1 prepared cake pan. Repeat with remaining portion. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating halfway during cooking, or until cooked through.
Remove from oven when done, let cakes cool and turn out onto wire racks to cool completely. Wash and dry cake pans. Grease and line with baking paper. Repeat with remaining batter.

Once cakes are cool, place purple layer on bottom. Frost top with icing of choice (I was so tired at that point I will admit I used Betty Crocker icing:) Repeat placing layers in rainbow order. Once you have built your rainbow tower, ice the entire cake and sprinkle hundreds and thousands on the top.

Rainbow Cupcake Recipe
2 1/2 cups plain four
1 1/4 cups Dutch process cocoa powder
2 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 teaspoon bi-carb soda
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large whole eggs plus 1 large egg yolk
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups warm water

Preheat oven to 180°C. Place rainbow coloured cup cake liners in muffin pan (this will make 24 cupcakes).

Sift flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add eggs and yolk, milk, oil, vanilla and warm water. Beat on low speed until smooth and combined. The batter will seem runny, but don't worry, these are the best chocolate cupcakes ever:)

Pour batter into cupcake liners. Bake about 20 to 25 minutes.

Make butter cream icing. Tint one portion light blue and leave another portion white. Once cool, frost each cupcake with the blue icing. Then use sour strips (or similar flexible coloured candy) as rainbows, bending and pushing first one end and then the other into the frosting. Pipe "clouds" around each end to help anchor it on the cupcake.
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I am a butterfly

 

(photograph via here, text added by me)

Life changes; sometimes it’s expected, sometimes it’s a surprise. Six years ago I left my career, my family and friends and moved overseas with my husband and children (expected). I then found myself pregnant with child number three (surprise!). I had planned to look for work after we had settled, but instead I was ready to go on maternity leave, so a stay at home mum I became.

For those who knew me in my previous life this probably seemed totally out of character, and honestly I never imagined that role for myself either. I had worked hard to build a career, a reputation in my chosen field, and came late to the child raising game (oldest was born when I was 35). I never considered the idea of not working, I wanted it all.

But with all the life changes 6 years ago, I did what I never thought I would do and became a stay at home mum.  For the last 6 years, I have been there for every moment of littlest's growth and development and I have thrown myself into my older children life, being there for every expo, school excursion, sporting event, and after school activity. I became that ever slightly annoying parent who did everything at her children's school, taking on volunteer leadership roles (school council and parent's association), coordinating fundraising activities and helping out in the classroom and around the school.

During these 6 years I also rediscovered my love of craft and handmade. It became my new creative outlet and a way for me to explore my fascination with my new home, Australia. Again, probably a surprise for those who knew me in my previous life. I started to blog, I started an online shop or two, became a twitterer, facebooker and instagrammer. Discovered, in fact, a whole new community of people and in many ways friends to share and interact with about my everyday life.

And so I settled into a routine, a day to day life that I was comfortable with. But 6 years on life changes again. In January littlest started prep, so all three children are now at school full time (expected). And I have gotten a job (surprise!). I had always said when littlest started school I would go back to work, but I did imagine a slightly longer transition. For what every reason, that’s not what happened. Last week I went back to the paid workforce, three weeks from seeing the job advertised to actually getting it. And it was a total fluke that I even saw the position advertised. I never look in the job ads, but that day I did and there it was, the perfect transition job for me in my former field of work.

And really I couldn’t ask for anything more, I am working 4 days a week, school hours. I am getting to bring my almost 20 years of experience from overseas to where I live now, and a chance to learn so much more about my field of work and community here. It’s all so perfect that I am a little bit suspicious:)

I am a bit sad about not being able to spend as much time on the children’s school, but I will still try and do what I can (I do have one day a week off:).  I am also not sure what impact working will have on my creative outlet. I am hoping that having more to do will only make me more productive - I guess only time will tell:)

Cyndy (the butterfly)

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Day 10 Blogtoberfest - Wordless Wednesday

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Day 8 Blogtoberfest - Keeping it in the Family (Chicken Paprikash Recipe)

For dinner on Sunday I made chicken paprikash. It's a Hungarian dish: chicken and dumplings in a paprika and sour cream sauce.

I've been eating this dish since I can remember.  My great grandma made it, my grandma made it, my mother makes it and now I make it. Its the one dish that all three of my children unequivocally love.

As I was standing at the stove I had a bit of a moment. My great grandmother and grandmother are no longer here so only my mother and I are left to make this dish (I've never known my sister to make it). If I wasn't here would my children know how to make it?

So I called my oldest (age 11) into the kitchen and said to him "Do you know how to make chicken paprikash?"And he replied "sorta." So I made him tell me the ingredients and the steps for making it.

As he shared what he knew, I found myself adding details here and there, sharing the small differences between how my great grandma, grandma, mother and I made/make it and some tips I have picked up over the years in making it.

When we had finished talking through the recipe, my oldest asked why I had wanted to know. And I told him that it was a dish that was important to our family (part of our heritage and traditions) and I wanted to make sure that we were keeping it in the family; that he and his sisters would be able to make it for their families. He told me not to worry:)  Cyndy


Chicken Paprikash

• 1 kg chicken legs and thighs with the skin on
• 1 onion chopped finely
• 1-2 fresh tomatoes diced
• 2-3 heaping tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika
• water
• 1-2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup sour cream
• green pepper (capsicum) slice thinly

Pull some of the skin off the chicken and brown with chopped onions. After about 5 minutes remove chicken skin and add chicken pieces (most with skin still on) and brown chicken.

Once chicken has been browned, add water to just cover chicken pieces, paprika, salt, diced tomatoes and simmer gently with the lid on for 50-60 minutes or until chicken begins to fall off the bones.

Remove chicken pieces from broth. In a glass or small bowl mix flour and some of the broth. Keeping adding broth until a smooth and silky texture is achieved. Add this back into the broth and stir until well incorporated. Make sure there are no lumps.

Next place the sour cream in the glass or small bowl and add some of the broth. Keep adding broth until a smooth silky texture is achieved. Add this back into the broth and stir until well incorporated. Make sure there are no lumps.

Add the chicken pieces back into the broth. Add the dumplings and simmer until warm all the way through. Just before serving add some green pepper slices.
 
Dumplings

• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoons salt
• 1-2 tablespoons water

Place flour in a bowl. Add salt and mix together. Make a well and crack the egg into well. Mix egg into flour using a fork. When you have achieved a crumbly mixture add 1 Tablespoon of water. Continue to mix using fork. Switch to using your hands to mix/knead the dough and add water in small amounts until mixture begins to form a ball.

Dough should be well mixed and begin to appear slightly shiny. Drop small pieces of the dough into boiling water (I use a small spoon or you can use a knife to cut off small pieces) and remove when they float to the surface (this should take about 30-45 seconds). Use a slotted spoon to remove them and place directly into the Chicken Paprikash or place into a covered bowl to add them later.

Note: I generally make 2-3 batches of dumplings for the Chicken Paprikash recipe above. I make the dumplings in small batches as I have found that the dough does not come out well mixed or with the right texture when I make it in larger batches.

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Day 3 Blogtoberfest - Are the school holidays over yet?

We are in the 2nd week of our Term 3 school holidays here, and its about now that I start to lag. I will admit 24 hours a day with three children starts to take its toll and yesterday I hit the wall. A trip to Melbourne with the 3 said children (for business, not pleasure unfortunately) probably contributed. I find driving in Melbourne (as I don't live there) stressful and the closure of the Burnely and Domain tunnels (they go under part of the city) added to my stress.

Even before we were back home I had announced (to the delight of the children) we would be getting takeaway for dinner, as I couldn't even get my head around the idea of cooking.

But today is a new morning and we are off to swimming lessons (intensive swim during the school holidays), we have cookie dough in the refrigerator to bake and oldest needs a new pair of shoes! The weather is also supposed to be glorious in our part of the world, so maybe some work in the backyard is in store.

Only 4 more sleeps left and the children are back at kinder and school. I'm sure come Monday I will be wishing it was still the school holidays:) Cyndy Pin It

A Little Moment: Happy Mother's Day

Moms are amazing. My mom is amazing. Despite being on the other side of the world from me, I know she would do anything for me. I know that she still hopes and dreams for me, and sometimes even cries for me.

Hoping I can be the same kind of mom for my children. Happy Mother's Day mom! Cyndy

PS This pic of my family sits on the mantle in our living room - I am the little girl on the right:)

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A Little Moment - Weet-Bix Tryathalon

I love that my children are willing to try things and push themselves. In March, oldest and middle participated in the Weet-Bix tryathalon held locally. This was oldest's second year participating and middle's first (she wasn't old enough last year). The tryathalon includes three segments: swim, bike and run.

I was a bit worried last year about how oldest would do. He takes swimming lessons, but would he be able to swim the entire way, and what about the run segment, running isn't his strong point. I thought my fears had been realized when I didn't see him finish the bike segment, but it turns out he got a tire puncture half way through and had to walk the rest of the way. Despite this he finished and felt good about his participation, there were never any doubts in his mind.

Ironically this year also had an unexpected challenge. At the last minute they cancelled the swim segment due to algae in the water, and replaced it with a second run segment. Again, I am proud to say my children finished and yes, both are already looking forward to next year:)

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A Little Moment: Happy Valentine's Day

One of our family traditions/rituals on holidays is making themed frosted sugar cookies. I have an obscene number of cookie cutters, many are general, but I also have them for Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving, 4th of July (yes we, do American holidays too:) and of course Valentine's Day.

On Sunday middle and I made the cookie dough and yesterday after school each of the children rolled and cut their cookies.

Today after school we are icing and decorating. An edible Valentine:) Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day with your loved ones! Cyndy Pin It

A Little Moment - 3 Day Pickles

Today I made three day pickles. For me, three day pickles are the epitome of summer. They also remind me of my family - my mother and grandmother always made them. For those of you who are not familiar with them I've included the recipe. They are super easy to make and incredibly refreshing to eat, so give them a try:) Cyndy

PS linking up to Make: Grow: Thrift at The Haby Goddess this week for the first time. Check it out for more goodies:)

Recipe for three day pickles

Ingredients

• 1 large jar (to put the pickles in, I try to use a 1.5-2L jar, make sure to sterilize the jar in boiling water)
• 5 small cucumbers about 5-6 inches long)
• 1/4 cup salt
• 8 cups of water
• large bunch of fresh dill
• 2-3 garlic cloves
• 2-3 slices of rye bread (make sure the rye bread you use has caraway seeds in it, this is essential)

Directions:

1. Put the garlic cloves and about 1/3 of the fresh dill in the bottom of the jar.
2. Cut one end off each cucumber. Stand the cucumber up with the cut end facing up. Cut the standing cucumber in half but don't quite cut all the way through to the bottom. Cut in half again, but don't cute quite all the way through (this creates long slices that you can pull apart once the pickling is done, like traditional dill pickle slices).
3. Place the cut cucumbers in the jar, placing another 1/3 of the dill between the cucumbers as you place them in the jar.
4. Once all the cucumbers are in place the last 1/3 of dill on the top.
5. Put the water and the salt in a pan and bring to boil. Once boiling pour the salt water over the cucumbers in the jar, leaving about 2 cm at the top of the jar clear.
6. Stuff the top of the jar with the rye bread slices.
7. Leave the jars out on the counter for at least 3 days. After three days, carefully move the bread and test your pickles for taste, if they taste good to you they are done:) if not move the bread back into place for another day or so. Once they are done remove all the bread from the jar, place a lid on the top and refrigerate. 

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A Little Moment: Strawberry Fields

Friday we picked strawberries and had a picnic with friends. It reminded me of my childhood and how my mother used to drag my sister and I out to pick all manner of fruits and veges from season to season. I realize now how lucky I was to have such a mother! I hope someday my children think I am that same kind of mother:) Cyndy

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Happy New Year!

Today is a new day and a new year. Brand new, just waiting to be lived...with confetti:) Here's hoping that you and yours have a wonderful year ahead of you :) Cyndy Pin It

A Little Moment - Giving Thanks

As soon as I open my mouth people know there is something a little bit different about me. You see, I am an American living in Australia and the moment you hear me talk my accent gives it away (this will never be a problem for my children:). A question I often get is what I miss about home. The chaos of living with 3 young children doesn't give one much time to miss things, but when I do it's usually the silly little things like an ingredient for cooking, or a word.

But then there are the times of year when I really do miss home. Not surprisingly these are the big holidays, both for the rituals/traditions tied to them and of course, for the family and friends.

One of the biggest holidays in the states is coming up this week - Thanksgiving. The fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving has its roots in the early settling of what is now the US by the pilgrims and their celebrations of the good harvest. During the civil war Abraham Lincoln created the official public holiday, to help heal a nation at war.

Today Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate family and friends and to take stock and count your blessings. While only a 4 day weekend, for many this is a bigger family time than Christmas. For me it was about traveling to Ohio to my paternal grandmother's and spending time with my very large extended family (my father is one of 10), seeing Aunts, Uncles and cousins of all ages.

As an American living overseas it has been important to me that my children not only learn and experience their Australian heritage, but to understand their American heritage as well. Our first couple of Thanksgivings here we celebrated alone, but it just didn't seem right to me (why do all that fabulous cooking especially when young children won't eat it), so a number of years ago I decided to make Thanksgiving our big social event of the year. To invite our friends to share in our company, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie, and to bring their whole family and a dish to share.

It has become an event I look forward to; this year we had about 45 friends (over half were children) attend our Thanksgiving "extravaganza". We were blessed with perfect weather (which is important both for cooking - the oven is on for about 2 solid days - and where we hold the event - outside, as our house is not large), the food was fabulous and the friends were merry. It made being away from home this time of year that little bit easier:)

So happy Thanksgiving to my family and friends in the States - I miss you terribly and for those of you down under, thanks for coming and sharing in my tradition, and helping me not to miss home so much:) Cyndy

PS We saved one whole pumpkin pie for ourselves - yes, even the children now love pumpkin pie:) Pin It

A Little Moment

Last night as I sat on the couch doing embroidery I had a little moment that made me smile. Also sitting on the couch was my son (age 10) who was working on a cross stitch and my oldest daughter (age 7) who was was working on a hankie. The moment that made me smile? That all three of us were sitting on the couch, together, quietly (for once), doing some sort of needlework:) The littlest one was there too, not sewing, but just trying to find someplace she could squeeze in on the couch:) Cyndy Pin It