Banana Cake

This is a big hit, try having just one piece......

getting organised:

pre heat oven to 275 F (135 C), grease and flour a 9 x 13 inch pan

ingredients for the cake:

• 170g softened butter
• 2 1/8 cups white sugar
• 3 room temp eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cup buttermilk (no butter milk add 1 1/2 tbsp white vinegar to milk and you have buttermilk)
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas

ingredients for the frosting:

• 112g softened butter
• 1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese (softened)
• 3 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' (icing) sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

now lets put it together:

1. In a bowl mash bananas and mix in lemon juice, set aside
2. In another bowl mix sifted dry ingredients - flour, baking soda and salt, set aside
3. In a large bowl cream softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy
4. Beat in 1 egg at a time, then stir in vanilla
5. Beat in the dry mixture ingredients alternately with butter milk (VIP step, if you start with the flour you should finish with the flour)
6. Stir in banana mixture
7. Pour batter now into prepared pan
8. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean (While cake is in the oven prepare an even space in your freezer at this time I will place another pan in the freezer this ensures that the heat of the pan does not effect any items you have in your freezer)
9. Remove from the oven and place directly into the freezer for 45 minutes - this is the secret to making this cake stay moist and light
10. Making the frosting - in a large bowl cream butter and cream cheese until smooth, beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla, add sugar and beat on a low speed until combined then on high till frosting is smooth. Spread on a cooled cake

I truly hope you enjoy this cake as much as everyone who I have made it for has enjoyed it. The key to getting this cake correct is oven temperature, (at the moment my oven is having a melt down so I currently have two extra temp. gages inside the oven to try and get the right temp) sifting ingredients and having them prepared in bowls for easy access. Have fun and enjoy, XXoo S

Surfing Blogs - The Toy Society

It is very early here, the sun have not even woken up but she is just beginning to touch the horizon. Being new to "blog" world, I decided to surf and in surfing I found this wonderful blog called The Toy Society, unsure how to link at the moment have tried this as a test I hope it works (baby steps in blog land) if not here is there blog address http://thetoysociety.blogspot.com.

This is a little bit about what they are doing, after making several quilts for Australian children affected by the floods, Yasi and the fires I have decided to put my scrap to geed use and make some toys and distribute them. I am sure where I live they will be much appreciated because the majority of toys here are very expensive and made of cheap plastic in China.

The Toy Society is a world-wide collective of toy makers – of varying skill levels– who make toys and leave them as gifts for perfect strangers. The project was started in Australia in June 2008 by a local crafter, Bianca, as an attempt to create a ‘something for nothing’ experience for anyone who discovered a toy.

What started as a small personal project has now spread around the world and become known as a Random Act of Craft. There are more than 3200 members throughout the world who have collectively gifted more than 1800 lovingly handmade toys to perfect strangers since the project began.

Membership of The Toy Society is open to anyone, who wants to contribute and believes in the spirit of the project."""

I have a wonderful idea, imagine if for every quilt you made you made a toy with your remnants. How may addtional people would you make happy in your own town or save them for when you go on holidays and know you will be leaving a little happiness behind you as you venture home, XXoo S

What is Rock the Red Pump

Every year, the United States recognizes March 10th as National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD). It’s a nationwide initiative to raise awareness about the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on women & girls and encourages ladies to take action. While progress has definitely been made in the areas of AIDS prevention and treatment, women still represent 27% of all new AIDS diagnoses, with African-American women accounting for 66% of that group. This year focuses on this statistic, “Every 35 minutes, a woman tests positive for HIV in the United States.”


In observance of this day, The Red Pump Project is asking bloggers to participate in the third annual “Rock the Red Pump™” campaign: 500 in 50. Last year, 250 of you took to Twitter, Facebook, and your blogs to help us “Rock the Red Pump” and this year, we’re asking you to do it again! We have a goal of getting 500 blogs and we have 50 days to do it.

Leading up to March 10th, we’re asking bloggers to “Rock the Red Pump” badge on their sidebars or above their headers to represent the strength and courage of women fighting HIV/AIDS or affected by the disease both directly and indirectly. 

To participate in the “Rock the Red Pump” campaign, please sign up HERE or click onto the button on the side bar.

Thanks in advance for any support you can give to such a great campaign, XXoo S

100% child approved cookie

Today I would like to share with you a 100% child approved cookie by my niece and nephews. I have to admit that when making this cookie the first time I was using my sisters oven and could not get the temperature correct. Needles to say there was some not so great results. What to do with these, get rid of the black on the bottom then crumble them up and use them as a topping for ice cream the kids loved it, and no wasted cookies........

lets get ready:

Pre heat the oven to 375 degrees, sift your flour, grate your chocolate and grease your baking trays

ingredients:

• 2 cups of softened butter
• 4 cups of all purpose sifted flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 5 cups blended oatmeal (measure out oatmeal and blend in a blend till fine)
• 24oz chocolate chunks (chocolate chips will also workI find the  chunks tend to give a nice chocolate burst when you bite into them. Alternatively smash up a chocolate bar into chunks)
• 1 tsp salt
• 18oz grated chocolate bar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 3 cups chopped nuts (your choice and optional)
• 2 tsp vanilla.

now lets put it together:

1. Cream the softened butter and both sugars.
2. Add eggs and vanilla, then mix together with the sifted flour, finely blended oatmeal, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
3. Add chocolate chunks, grated chocolate and nuts to the mixture
4. Roll into balls and place 2 inches apart on your greased cookie trays
5. Bake 10 minutes, place onto cooling rack for 10 minutes

This batch will make approximately 110 cookies should you want less just half the ingredients. These cookies also freeze well and as mentioned are great crumbled on top of ice cream .... XXoo S

Why a "Story Book Quilt"

Over the last weeks I have watched in awe how Australia has been battered by the forces of mother nature.

I am from Brisbane and on the 11th January I saw history being repeated, (floods of 74), being older this time did not lessen the impact of the destruction and heart ache that was caused. At this point you helped where you could and be inspired by Toni from make it perfect, what a fantastic effort she and all her followers did - congratulations.

Then on the 2nd February came  cyclone Yasi a category 5, was another history going to repeat herself again, (Darwin Cyclone Tracy). During this time I was listening to ABC radio coverage when they interviewed a young boy who was upset because he lost his books, not his electronic games or such devices but his books.

This hit home to me as when I was younger I loved to read. Reading transports you into the novel and you could travel the world, become a doctor, an adventure, even a romantic you could find refuge from everything within those bound pages. The best part was you could take it anywhere with you, there was no need for electricity or battery power to find your adventure.

What did this all mean lets combine a quilt with books - "lets make a story book quilt" for the children who have lost everything. I surfed the net for a pattern but did not find the "one" so like any quilter/needle woman I decide to create one, the objective was to be able to use the scraps you may have and to be able to do the quilt within a week. 

Within a short time the "Story Book Quilt" challenge was born.

Following is a blog with a free pattern that has instructions for the quilt and attached are free storybook templets that you can choose from all templets are done in straight stitch for simplicity. If you do not wish to do the story book templates how about doing a children's quilt with a book and we will distribute both.

My target is to make a quilt a week till April/May, total 10 quilts, when they will be distributed, remember winter is coming and not may families will have thought about blankets/ quilts right now. I am hoping that you will consider joining me in the challenge.

So please join me in this "Story book Quilt" drive, can you begin to imagine the joy and the love you will be sharing.

You can drop me an email at unconditionallovegrows@gmail.com, or alternatively send your completed Story Book Quilt or Quilt and Book to:

unconditional love grows 

c/oMetroplex Management 

Level One, 28 Metroplex Avenue

Murarrie QLD 4172 Australia

I will continue to keep everyone updated with photos and alike.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and hopefully consider joining me in making a Story Book Quilt, XXoo S

A history on redwork needlepoint

Redwork became popular in the late 1800's because of a colourfast thread made in Turkey. Up until then, coloured threads did not hold their colour in the wash and as a result could not be used with much success to adorn everyday items like dish towels and bed spreads.

The simplicity of redwork designs, and the fact that they were embroidered with very simple stitches on inexpensive muslins, meant that nearly everyone could have decorated linens. Children often learned how to embroider on "Penny Squares", little designs printed on muslin and sold at the general stores for a penny. Redwork quilts were mostly "summer weight" linens, meaning they had no batting. The Redwork squares were usually stitched together without sashing, and either quilted to a backing with a feather stitch or simply tied with string or yarn.

When synthetic dyes began to be manufactured in the United States, the popularity of Redwork diminished and embroidering with colors became very popular. Redwork can be embroidered in any color, Bluework and Blackwork is still Redwork, only it's done in Blue or Black.

Today you can find a wonderful variety of books with patterns that go from simple to advanced, as mentioned before it is a great way to get a child to enjoy needlework - why not get them to work with there favourite colour.

Happy stitching, XXoo S

Gardening

In between doing my Story Book Quilts I am trying to get the garden in order. This is not a small job as we live on a 1/2 acre of land and I have come to realise how little space our home takes up.

At the beginning of this year I began clearing the land, to the joy of the garbage man we had created 74 truck loads of garbage, to remover rubbish here they charge by the truck load.

Now that most of the garden has been prepared it is down to the planting and bringing in soil as we live on a sand island.

In the month of January we transplanted just on 100 plants, of which, at the time of posting, 2 have died. It is a little tough right now as it is our winter, and as such we get very little rain. The only time it has rained is the night we took shingles of the roof to replace them - as Jim Carrey said "that's how the cookie crumbles".

During January SP made me a herb/vegetable raised garden from the recycled wood, belonging to the old stair case, he built me a new stair case that does not move when you walk onto it and twice the width. The garden is now producing mint, parsley, basil and onions can not wait for the rest to pop up there heads.

Today I moved 37 barrel loads of top soil, had to also put said soil into the barrel, dug 37 holes and planted, mulched, fertilised and watered 37 plants.

Thank God for a full moon as I was out till 8pm finishing my work, I can not believe it now takes an 1 1/2 hours to water the garden, can not wait till they "have gripped" and are surviving on themselves.

The place is beginning to take shape I hope that most of the plants survive, if they do they should blossom during Spring and Summer with the rain and heat.

Mother Nature what a wonderful friend she can be, thank you XXoo S

putting your image onto a block

First of all, look at the pattern carefully, follow the outlines with your eye, make sense out of every line and know what purpose it serves. This avoids confusion while embroidering later.

The patterns should be traced onto fabric with a washable transfer pen. They are available at most quilt shops, craft stores or fabric stores. A light table is recommended, but if you tape the fabric onto the top edge of the paper then tape that to a brightly lit window, that will work too. Trace carefully and completely, lifting the fabric often to make sure you have included all of the design.

I recommend a 6-inch, spring type embroidery hoop, changing positions often. Don't leave the work in the hoop when you aren't working on it to avoid stretching the fabric. Do not allow the fabric to become wet or damp or the outlines will smear and the pattern will be rendered useless.

Use your favorite brand of 6-strand embroidery floss; all patterns use 2 strands of floss, except for the faces, where 1 strand keeps them looking delicate.

When your embroidery is completed, follow the instructions given with the transfer pen you purchased to remove the ink.

After you wash the block, roll it in a bath towel to remove excess moisture, do not wring. Lay flat on a dry towel to finish drying. Do not stack one on top of the other while wet. When dry, press with a warm iron if necessary.

There are but a few rules in doing any hand work, my favourite is always measure twice before cutting and on that applies to the above blog, practice on some scrap first, have fun XXoo S

what stitches & tread to use in story book quilt panel

For this project I am using the "redwork method" that is where an image is completely done in one colour - red - I use DMC 321 if you would like to do a quilt in blue for boys i use DMC 824 - I have found that these colours in the past stand out well. If you have a stash of DMC threads why not add a bit of colour to your panels.  There is no wrong colour what every road you take will bring a smile to someones face.

The stitch I use for the outline is the simple outline stitch, for the dots I used a french knot and for areas that I would like to define I used the unpadded stitch.

As with my choice of thread for the purpose of this project I kept my stitches simple, please feel free to add your personal stitches or touches. (the only suggestion I have is to stay away from buttons, bells etc as we will never know the age of the child who will receive your story book quilt, Thanks)

The most important thing is to have fun with this project, XXoo S

sample stitches for story book quilt

	Simple Outline Stitch; is made from left to right, putting the needle forward a short distance along the line of stamping and bringing it up at the end of the last stitch. Always keep the thread on the same side of the line.
	Lazy Daisy Stitch; Long loop stitches, beginning and ending at the same place, are caught down with a short stitch in the end of the loop.
	French Knots; Bring the thread out on the right side, then holding it with the left hand, wrap once or twice around the needle; insert the needle near where it was brought up and hold the thread taut while the needle is carried through to the wrong side of the fabric.
	Unpadded Satin Stitch; are regular, even, smooth stitches taken close together side by side across a space to fill it in, either straight across or at an angle.

       

      Key:

• Outlined areas use outline stitch
• Small dots use French knots
• Large dots use satin stitch
• Daisies use Lazy Daisy Stitch with a French knot for the center

story book panel - what an awful nights sleep ...

Remember to place the image in the centre of your block and either trace the image on using either a light box or  quilting tracing paper. (if you do not have either tape your image to the window, hopefully it will be a sunny day, now sticky tape your panel over the image and trace your image using a fading quilters pen)

Click on the image to print, please feel free to adjust the size to best suit your block.

We hope you enjoy this panel, XXoo S

story book panel - i am on my way to see grandma

Remember to place the image in the centre of your block and either trace the image on using either a light box or  quilting tracing paper. (if you do not have either tape your image to the window, hopefully it will be a sunny day, now sticky tape your panel over the image and trace your image using a fading quilters pen)

Click on the image to print, please feel free to adjust the size to best suit your block.

We hope you enjoy this panel, XXoo S

story book panel - how high will the bean stock go

Remember to place the image in the centre of your block and either trace the image on using either a light box or  quilting tracing paper. (if you do not have either tape your image to the window, hopefully it will be a sunny day, now sticky tape your panel over the image and trace your image using a fading quilters pen)

Click on the image to print, please feel free to adjust the size to best suit your block.

We hope you enjoy this panel, XXoo S

story book panel - one day i will go to the ball ...

Remember to place the image in the centre of your block and either trace the image on using either a light box or  quilting tracing paper. (if you do not have either tape your image to the window, hopefully it will be a sunny day, now sticky tape your panel over the image and trace your image using a fading quilters pen)

Click on the image to print, please feel free to adjust the size to best suit your block.

We hope you enjoy this panel, XXoo S

story book panel - oh look a ginger bread house ...

Remember to place the image in the centre of your block and either trace the image on using either a light box or  quilting tracing paper. (if you do not have either tape your image to the window, hopefully it will be a sunny day, now sticky tape your panel over the image and trace your image using a fading quilters pen)

Click on the image to print, please feel free to adjust the size to best suit your block.

We hope you enjoy this panel, XXoo S

story book panel - am i ugly - the baby duck asked ...

Remember to place the image in the centre of your block and either trace the image on using either a light box or  quilting tracing paper. (if you do not have either tape your image to the window, hopefully it will be a sunny day, now sticky tape your panel over the image and trace your image using a fading quilters pen)

Click on the image to print, please feel free to adjust the size to best suit your block.

We hope you enjoy this panel, XXoo S

story book panel - princess let your hair down ...

Remember to place the image in the centre of your block and either trace the image on using either a light box or  quilting tracing paper. (if you do not have either tape your image to the window, hopefully it will be a sunny day, now sticky tape your panel over the image and trace your image using a fading quilters pen)

Click on the image to print, please feel free to adjust the size to best suit your block.

We hope you enjoy this panel, XXoo S

story book panel - who is sleeping in my bed...

Remember to place the image in the centre of your block and either trace the image on using either a light box or  quilting tracing paper. (if you do not have either tape your image to the window, hopefully it will be a sunny day, now sticky tape your panel over the image and trace your image using a fading quilters pen)

Click on the image to print, please feel free to adjust the size to best suit your block.

We hope you enjoy this panel, XXoo S

story book panel - what will happen if i kiss this frog...

Remember to place the image in the centre of your block and either trace the image on using either a light box or  quilting tracing paper. (if you do not have either tape your image to the window, hopefully it will be a sunny day, now sticky tape your panel over the image and trace your image using a fading quilters pen)

Click on the image to print, please feel free to adjust the size to best suit your block.

We hope you enjoy this panel, XXoo S

unconditional love grows

I truly believe that we all have a wonderful ability to share unconditional love.

Daily life and the environment around us continually challenges our ability to share unconditional love but I believe we can over come this and when one person share, unconditional love grows......

Brownies Island Style

Do you like Brownies? Well this week I would like to share with you my version of Brownies Island Style, it has two steps before it reaches its final destination - YOU and your friends or in my case neighbours.....

Getting Organised :
preheat oven to 350F (175C), grease an 9 w x 13 l x 2 d baking pan
sieve all dry ingredients and leave aside till required

Step 1 - Ingredients:

55g (1/4 cup) butter, 6 tablespoons carob powder, 1 cup white sugar, pinch salt,

1/2 cup all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 eggs, 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1 cup of mini marshmellows, 1 cup of chocolate chunks  (break up a bar of chocolate into chunks this is what i do alternative chocolate chips)

Lets make it:
1.     Melt butter over low heat.
2.     In a large bowl place carob powder, sugar, salt, flor and vanilla make a hole
        in the middle pour in the melted butter and stir combining all ingredients well,
        now mix in the eggs.
3.     Fold in next the marshmellows, walnuts and chocolate chunks
4.     Place aside for a moment till we complete step 2.

Step 2 - Ingredients

225g (1cup) butter, 1 3/4 cup sugar, 3 eggs, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 1/2 cups whole milk, 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 6 tablespoons coco powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda, pinch of salt

Lets make it in a LARGE bowl:
1.     Cream together the butter and sugar until light in colour and smooth
2.     Beat in the eggs one at a time to the creamed butter and sugar, on the last egg
        add the vanilla.
3.     Mix baking soda in the flour, now fold flour alternatively with milk, into your
        mixture, continue this until you have finished the flour and the milk.

Now the interesting bit:
1.    Get you bowl from Step 1 and add it to your Step 2 mixture
       (we did mention you required a large bowl for all these goodies)
2.    Now get your greased pan and pour your batter into the pan.
3.    In your preheated 350F oven place the pan on the middle shelf for 35-40
       minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the pan comes out
       clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before turing out onto a cooling tray, best
       served warm (over the top indulgance add vanilla ice cream)

Step 3: You can now enjoy your brownies as they are but we like  FROSTING

Ingredients:
115g (1/2 cup) butter - softened, 4 cups confectioners sugar, 1 large egg beaten, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 table spoons milk

Lets make it;
1.     Cream the butter until soft light in colour should look smooth, gradually add
        2 cups of your sugar blending well.
2.     Now gradually add beaten your egg and vanilla, blend well.
3.     Add remaining 2 cups of sugar gradually alternating with milk, until the right
        consistency to spread, keep an eye on your beating to ensure it is smooth.

** Chocolate Frosting alternative, instead of 4 cups sugar use 3 and 1 cup cocoa.

With Brownies Island Style, I tend to put on a chocolate frosting first then I place 3 dollops of the white icing on top, then with a tooth pick I swirl the white icing around with the chocolate to create a marble effect.

Yes this is a calorie buster treat, just cut the pieces a wee bit smaller and you will not feel guilt, as I mentioned this is best when still warm.

I do hope you enjoy these treats, being new to blog world I am working on my pictures, they will get better......

Oh by the way I was able to deliver 4 pieces to 9 neighbours, yes none of my neighbours have children who live with them, that certainly does not mean they can not enjoy treats..... XXoo S

Why a "Story Book Quilt"

Over the last weeks I have watched in awe how Australia has been battered by the forces of mother nature.

I am from Brisbane and on the 11th January I saw history being repeated, (floods of 74), being older this time did not lessen the impact of the destruction and heart ache that was caused. At this point you helped where you could and be inspired by Toni from make it perfect, what a fantastic effort she and all her followers did - congratulations.

Then on the 2nd February came  cyclone Yasi a category 5, was another history going to repeat herself again, (Darwin Cyclone Tracy). During this time I was listening to ABC radio coverage when they interviewed a young boy who was upset because he lost his books, not his electronic games or such devices but his books.

This hit home to me as when I was younger I loved to read. Reading transports you into the novel and you could travel the world, become a doctor, an adventure, even a romantic you could find refuge from everything within those bound pages. The best part was you could take it anywhere with you, there was no need for electricity or battery power to find your adventure.

What did this all mean lets combine a quilt with books - "lets make a story book quilt" for the children who have lost everything. I surfed the net for a pattern but did not find the "one" so like any quilter/needle woman I decide to create one, the objective was to be able to use the scraps you may have and to be able to do the quilt within a week. 

Within a short time the "Story Book Quilt" challenge was born.

Following is a blog with a free pattern that has instructions for the quilt and attached are free storybook templets that you can choose from all templets are done in straight stitch for simplicity. If you do not wish to do the story book templates how about doing a children's quilt with a book and we will distribute both.

My target is to make a quilt a week till April/May, total 10 quilts, when they will be distributed, remember winter is coming and not may families will have thought about blankets/ quilts right now. I am hoping that you will consider joining me in the challenge.

So please join me in this "Story book Quilt" drive, can you begin to imagine the joy and the love you will be sharing.

You can drop me an email at unconditionallovegrows@gmail.com, or alternatively send your completed Story Book Quilt or Quilt and Book to unconditional love grows, Metroplex Management, Level One, 28 Metroplex Avenue, Murarrie QLD 4172.

I will continue to keep everyone updated with photos and alike.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and hopefully consider joining me in making a Story Book Quilt, XXoo S

New to Blog World

I have decided to give this a try, so over the following weeks, maybe even months, I will be posting onto this blog. Please bear with me as I do have the best of intentions to share with you what "unconditional love grows" means to me.

My first blog starts today Valentines Day or as my niece and nephews refer to it as Friendship Day. When you think about it what  a wonderful way to share this day, with everyone,  through - Friendship.

XXooS