The darn cat...!

I bought this material last year for a top that should go with the navy material. 

One month later and the top has turned into 3 tops! The material is so nice to work with (and to wear) so off I went to Jackson's this week to get more for a skirt! Turns out the material were too much, so I can squeeze a pair of palazzo pants too...! 

I am super excited to get all this done today...but on walking into my work room I got confronted by Miss Hoga Williams on my chair! I should have taken that as the first sign that she is not going to move out of my workroom AT ALL today!

She really irritated me at one point as she keeps head butting me or the machines while I am working - so I threw her out of the room! Only....for Miss H to get something to eat and then to return to this spot next to the machine! She has busy wig her morning nap even though she knows very well that I am still busy sewing!!!

Getting ready for my nap...

Making myself even more comfy....!

This means ..."do not distrub"!!

Assume sleep position.....

Buzz off - this is my spot ! Vamoose...!

Saturday bake day

I baked a chocolate cake made with mayonnaise - it is one of the easiest recipes in the world and it tastes just ssssooooo delicious!

Topping is melted milk chocolate slab with whole nuts (2x!) and yummy cream - very decadent and very very delicious!

Fresh baked chocolate cake....

With the topping - melted chocolate whole but slab...

Cherry Fruit cake

My mom got this recipe from my dad's cousin long long time ago. So, when I grew up on the farm, my mom would bake this every year. I only realised when I moved here to Gahamstown, that it is uncommon to have cherry fruit cake for Christmas.

I tried out the recipe yesterday (with my new Kenwood chef :D) and it turned out as close to what I remembered. The only thing is, I used broken cherries and that discoloured the batter into a pink colour, but it is still the same taste.

I also forgot - the cake taste better the next day! First and only rule of baking - note to self - fruit cake taste better the next day! :D

Bake up a storm

I bought myself (my birthday present to myself!) a Kenwood Major Chef with a food processor and juicer attachment. I am waiting for the new stock of the ice cream maker to arrive.

My very first cake made in my machine was a vanilla cake with buttercream icing. It was a smaller cake than any of the others that I have made before. It is also the first vanilla cake that I have made. I decorated it with some coloured sprinkles - a birthday cake! Even if it was a bit late...!

Purple/Red button bracelets

Christmas and New Year 2014

I made Christmas trifle for our lunch with Andrew and Heather Tracey. 

The base was chocolate patat cake that Marda made (bought at Home industries) , green and orange jelly (my kitchen helper did not see the red colour jelly in the grocery cupboard...he needs a pair of readers!) with custard and cream, strawberries, blue berries and peacans....topped with my home made meringues! 

It was definately the cherry on the cake...they were absolutely delicious...it melted in your mouth.

And FOR NEW YEAR.....

I made another trifle, this time with the red and green jelly, custard and cream, strawberries and blue berries with pecans....but the base today was   Banana loaf I made on Tuesday. The bananas ripens so quickly in this heat and I did not want to waste it.

The meringues were smaller today, but not as successful as my stove power/gas kept on cutting out! Real nuisance...!

More please Mom....