Thursday, November 24, 2011

Killer Coffee Cupcakes

I made these cupcakes this evening to share at an afternoon tea Tupperware party tomorrow.

Of course, we had to try them to make sure they were OK.

Trev declared them some of the best cupcakes he'd ever tasted!  He's a good man.

Coffee Cupcakes
125g butter, chopped, at room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups SR flour, sifted
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup strong black coffee, cooled

1.  Preheat oven to moderate, 180 oC.  Line a 12-hole muffin pan with paper patty cases.
2.  In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar together until light and creamy.
3.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Fold in flour alternatively with sour cream and coffee, beginning and ending with flour.  Spoon mixture into paper cases until 2/3 full.
4.  Bake for 20-25 minutes, until cooked when tested with a skewer.  Cool in pan for 5 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Icing
1 cup soft icing mixture, sifted
10g butter
2-3 tablespoons hot strong black coffee
12 pecans, to decorate

5.  Combine icing sugar and butter in a small heatproof bowl.  Stir in enough coffee to make a smooth paste.  Place over a saucepan of simmering water and heat gently, stirring, for 2-3 minutes until mixture is a spreadable consistency.  Spread over cooled cupcakes and top each with a pecan.

6.  Eat with a hot cuppa!!

I struggled a bit with the icing - I think I put in too much coffee too soon and then had to add nearly another cup of icing sugar to correct it.  Next time I'll be adding the coffee a teaspoon at a time!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

2 Months Flies By

Well, Liam is 2 months old.  Time has really flown by.  He is starting to smile heaps, especially at older ladies which makes him very popular when we're out and about.  He coo's and really loves to watch his brother and sister when they are careering around the house (loudly).

He's sleeping well at night but in the last week he has decided he no longer does long sleeps during the day and is doing 40 minute cat naps which really doesn't suit me!
Especially when I had grand plans to get crafting in the lead-up to Christmas.  Oh well, it can wait - this little guy is growing fast!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Oliver+S Hat Love

We were given a beautiful hat for Liam, made by our dear friend Sarah.  She blogged about it here.
Doots modelling the hat - I still need to get a picture of this on our boy!
It was from the Oliver+S book Little Things to Sew.  It inspired me to make new hats for the big kids for the summer.

I was in Spotlight on the weekend and this linen fabric with retro bikes was willing me to buy it and make a hat for Kelvin - so I did!
He loves it.
So do I!!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

The Graduate

This has been sitting on my dining table overnight.  It arrived yesterday.

I now have a Masters Degree.  I didn't attend the graduation ceremony, but opening the postpack tube at home seems like a bit of an anticlimax after a decade of work.
I might spend a bit more time baby gazing!!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

BlogtoberREST = LifeFEST

Wow, where has October gone!  My baby is nearly 6 weeks old, I now live with a 3 year old and there has been much thinking about projects (and reading crafty-type books whilst breastfeeding) - if only I didn't waste so much time waiting for the baby to wake up!!

Some photos from our October...

A family of five (sans the dog).

And a pirate family (sans the baby)

Ahoy-me-hearties - it's Pirate Liam!

The pirate galleon cake (thanks to the new Woman's Weekly Birthday Cake Book)

And Liam at one month (we did this with Kelvin too, here he is at the same age)
The first Irish Dancing competition!
I've also managed to squeeze in some sewing.  Another pencil roll for a birthday gift.  Some toy sacks to tidy the lego and baby toys (and one for another birthday gift).

I also made some pirate pants for Kelvin's pirate party (as well as a pirate sash).  I used the Sewing for Boys Kickin' Back Sweats pattern.  It's a fabulous pattern since it only has two pieces!!  I must admit, that I wasn't that enamoured with this book when it arrived but I have changed my mind since and have cut out several more pairs of pants to sew for Kelvin!


I have been knitting too and once I've finished my Common Ground Cardi I have grand plans to knit myself a Coastal Hoodie using this...
Bendigo Woollen Mills, Classic 5 ply
It's going to be a hard slog swapping from 12 ply knitting to 5 ply!