Banana & Mulberry Bread

In the reserve near our house there is a beautiful old mulberry tree.

It has been in full fruit for weeks, and we have been enjoying picking and eating the sweet, ripe

berries.

I have started freezing some of them now, and want to have a try at making some mulberry jam at some point.

I found a recipe for Banana & Raspberry bread (what did we do before google!?!?!) and substituted the raspberries for Mulberries. It was absolutly delicious and I will definately be baking it (and trying out some variations of it) again. Next time I will make a two though - this one was just about finished one the boys returned from school and kindy yesterday!

For those that dont want to follow the link (and for me so I have the recipe easily accesable when I forget to stick the print out in my cookbook) I will give you my adaption of it here (original from recipelover.com.au)

Banana & Mulberry Bread

Ingredients
150g butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 bananas)
2 cups self-raising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup mulberries

Directions
Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a 7cm deep, 11cm x 21cm (base) loaf pan with baking paper, allowing overhang (it rose quite a bit above the sides of the tin, so it really does need to be lined and have over hang!)
Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until pale.

Add egg, in 2 batches, beating well after each addition.
Stir in banana.

Sift flour and baking powder over banana mixture. Add milk. Stir with a wooden spoon until combined.

Carefully fold in Mulberries.
Spoon mixture into loaf pan. Smooth surface.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. (mine took closer to 55 min)

Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Lift onto a wire rack to cool



>Well I must go - I have two little ones waiting (not so) patiently to go and pick more Mulberries! Oh and look what else is growing at the end of the street..

..might have to pick a few of them too if they have ripened up since our last visit. For those that didnt reconise what they were - they are Blackberries - yum!

Edited to add, about an hour later - the results of our little trip down the road...

lots of mulberries.... (which despite eating millions off the tree they still scoffed into while I sat them next to them for the photo!)

Jacintas shoes and the fitted cloth nappy we were using like training pants...yes that means no cover to protect it, silly Mummy - look just as bad as she does!

The only way to clean up that mess, a nice warm bath. Perfect for relaxing before a nap.

Quilting time

Friday night I was home alone - well except for two little angels who went off to bed nice and early and gave Mummy lots of sewing time! Caleb & Nathans cricket game was Friday night and then Saturday morning. Being about an hour away, most of the boys and their Dads (and a few brave Mums!) camped the night at the oval.

Once the little ones were tucked up in bed asleep I had lots of hours of uninterrupted sewing time. I got these four D9P blocks finished.

I bought a charm pack of Moda Hunky Dory fabrics from Patchwork apple when I popped in there Friday. I could get hooked on these pre cut fabrics. So quick and easy. I also love the variety of designs from the range, many of which I wouldn't have normally chosen, but that I really like once they were sewn up.

I also sandwiched and quilted this little play quilt for a gift.


Ive had the top finished for ages. It is the first thing I have quilted with my walking foot, so the quilting is a little wonky, but it was made with love and I know the recipient wont mind, and her Mummy will be gentle with me and my emerging skills! I just need to finish hand stitching the binding and send it off.

Photo a Day Challenge

January 2010
Day 27 - 31
(I did it, easily...stayed tuned, I might even keep going, see how far I can get!)

Simple Reversible Apron Tutorial

I had quite a few people asking about the pattern etc that I used for the girls apron I made a few weeks ago. I searched the net for a simple reversible tutorial, but didn't find anything that was quite what I was looking for.

I wanted the double layer to provide a little more protection for kids clothes, and to be able to use two cute fabrics! and also wanted no tie around the neck, to make it easier to put on. I ended up drafted up my own pattern, and today I made a boys version. It is basically the same to process to make, just this one is a much squarer and more masculine design. You could easily adapt this method and measurements to make the girls apron by rounding off the shape and adding the pockets before sewing the pieces together. The only other difference is that this was made in two pieces, which made matching up the waistband so much easier, the girls version was all one piece (if I make it again I will do it in two pieces like this tutorial) They both have the elasticised neck band so there is one less thing for small fingers to try and tie.

Please excuse any of the incorrect sewing terminology and techniques, I'm only a new sewer and I basically just do what I think will be the simplest way! and excuse any typos if you find any, I was doing this on photoshop with the kids playing at my feet today, and forgot to save the ps files as well before I proofed it properly!

Photo a Day Challenge

January 2010
days 22 - 26

23 months

To my darling girl,

You are just an absolute delight at the moment. Nearly two is such a gorgeous age. You are able to understand and follow directions. You are chatting away, multiple words and short sentences, enough that we understand what you want - most of the time. You are really starting to show your little personality - you know just what you want, and what you don't. The phrase "not" which meant No, has now been replaced with the word "no" or "nope", you enquire as to where the boys or Daddy are, you come looking for us to get something and will begin to raise your voice at us if we don't listen and respond. You squeal with excitement. If we go to visit Auntie Vic, you recognise when we turn into her street, and start squealing excitedly - "Georgia, Bailey, Vic"

You are engaging in more imaginative play. You love putting baby to sleep in her cradle, covering her up, kissing her goodnight, feeding her, undressing the other dolls. You love tea parties and playing n the cubby house - as long as Mummy is out there too! You love reading books, as long as you are in control of when the pages are turned, and how long we chat about each page.

Ive started putting you in knickers each morning - you have had the occasional accident, and so far no success with anything in on potty. But you are dry for those few hours most mornings, and happy to sit on the potty. Occasionally you are even asking to go and sit on there, so we will get there in time. We even found a little pooty for your baby to sit on with you at the op shop - you love putting her on there more than sitting on the potty yourself.

I have been having a lovely time sewing lots of simple little dresses for you. Cool, comfortable, easy for toilet training and oh so cute!

You like things to be in their place. You are always picking up the remotes and bringing them to me, or sitting them back on the cabinet where they belong. You go and shut the bathroom and toilet doors when the boys leave them open all the time. The trouble is during the heat you were also insisting on shutting the bedroom doors and not letting the coolness from the air conditioner in there. I thought I was going mad, I was sure I had them open and every time I turned around they would be shut again - then I worked out my little helper had been busy!

One of your top two year old molars cut through this month, and the other is very close. When you suck your Dummy you dribble so much your shirt ends up saturated. Ive managed to clear up the dribble rash that had appeared a couple of months ago, hopefully it stays away now. I try to keep dummy only for sleep times, but unless I remember to hang your Dummy right out of reach, you manage to get your hand in the cot and pull things until you get it.

Daddy got a surfboard for Christmas, so there have been a few trips to the beach since then. You love the water, and play happily on the beach, never venturing too far away from where we are. While Daddy was giving Isaac a turn on his surf board, you had a go on Kingys. you were a little hesitant, but you layed on the board and held on to catch a little wave! When you get tired, you are happy to curl up for a while in the shade with your Dummy for a little rest. You also love going to Mandy & Johns pool for a swim.

Isaac will start kindy next week - for two days a week there will be only you and I at home. I'm really looking forward to spending some time with just the two of us. You and Isaac are playing together a lot more now - I think you will miss him terribly the days he is away.

The other day Daddy dragged the baby carrier for the bike out of the shed and took you for a ride down our road - you loved it! You had to wear Isaacs Thomas helmet because you dont have one of your own yet.

I'm starting plan for your 2nd birthday party. I think a family show on the weekend, and a girly afternoon tea party for a few of your little friends from playgroup the day after your actual birthday. I love planning parties, and the novelty of choosing girly themes/colours is still such fun!

I love you so much sweetie,

Mummy xxx

Photo a Day Challenge

January 2010

days 18 - 21

Photo a Day Challenge

January 2010

Days 12 - 17