Jikana Damaru: December 2010

...and a happy new year!

~ Eleven Photography Aspirations for 2011~

1. Learn to process my own film.
2. Experiment with different cameras and lenses.
3. ~~Plan some baby-free photography outings with the hubby (we share a hobby that we never actually share).~~
4. Take a photo that someone loves enough to display in their home.
5. Organise a time-for-prints photographic shoot (I really want to take more people photos this year).
6. Continue to be inspired by and learn from wonderful photographers/bloggers.
7. Take more self-portraits/use my tripod.
8. Improve my photography lighting skills (command of a portable lighting kit would be a good start).
9. Keep the batteries charged!
10. Build a photography portfolio (my blog is helping me to achieve this).
11. Believe I can do it.

may this new year

be the best year ever

for

Backyard View

My parents house is backed to a lake. It is gorgeous year round. But my favorite view of it is when there's snow on the ground with a clear view to the lake...winter. I had dog-sitting duty today so while I was there I decided to snap a few shots the view with Roxy and Kali (their dog).

Isn't it beautiful?! I can't believe 2010 is nearly over! I'll be posting a recap of the year soon. But tonight I'll be celebrating the New Year with my Hubby :) Here's to an awesome 2011 and all the great things to come! Happy New Year friends!

Margarita cupcakes

Margarita, Blue Hawaii & Strawberry Daiquiri Cupcakes

Margarita cupcakes (makes 12 muffin size cakes)

Ingredients
125g (4.5 ounces) butter, softened
150g (5.2 ounces) caster sugar
2 eggs
225g (8 ounces) self-raising gluten-free flour
1 lime zest
1 lime juice
3 tablespoons tequila

Cooking instructions

Preheat oven to 160-180 deg C (325-350 deg F).
Line muffin tray with paper cases.
Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture turns a pale colour.
Beat in eggs, flour, tequila, zest and juice of lime.
Divide mixture among cases.
Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Place cakes on a wire rack to cool.

To decorate (for 12 muffin sized cupcakes)

Ingredients
1 cup Unsalted Butter
3 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp triple sec
4 tbsp tequila
2 tbsp milk
3 cups icing sugar (powdered sugar)
Green food coloring
36 7up jelly belly beans

Instructions

Beat butter, tequila, milk and juice.
Slowly beat in icing sugar.
Add desired amount of colouring.
Fill piping bag with the tequila frosting and pipe in swirl on top of cakes.
Place 3 jelly beans in centre of each cake.
Push cocktail umbrella into side of cakes.

Oops! I forgot to post this recipe back in September as part of my cocktail cupcakes posts. So, at long last here it is, and the timing couldn't be better as they are great party cakes!

Have a sweet day!

Happy New Year

Hello Sweets!

"Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy New Year".

Thank you to all of you my friends for your wonderful love and support this year! I have loved getting to know you all.

Have a sweet year! x

i am

enjoying
Summer days
walking along piers
building sand castles
paddling feet
fresh sea air
& not having to rush anywhere

what are you enjoying about this time of year? where ever you are in the world!

Christmas Day Dessert Table

Well my final post for the year and I have some pictures of the Christmas Day Dessert table I put together at home for my family. Sydney turned on the most spectacular weather for the day so we celebrated outdoors while watching the kids swim and play in the backyard.

We had 12 for lunch and even after prawns, turkey, ham and roast vegies there was still room for dessert! I had my first attempt at the Donna Hay Strawberry Macaroon Trifle that features on the cover of the current magazine and I was pleased with how it turned out - it tasted delicious!

Let's start with Mr A's Turkey and Ham - so so yummy!

Here comes the trifle!

The table included:-

"The Trifle"

Tim Tam Cookie Pops

Rum Balls

Chocolate dipped waffers

Chocolate dipped strawberries

Meringues

Christmas Pudding

Ginger Biscuits

Jaffas

I am thrilled to say that I am getting so much better with my cookie pops - thank you to everyone who has left comments and tips. I have had great success with Linda from Bubble and Sweets receipe for Tim Tam Cookie Pops - check out the recipe here

Mini chocolate bars for everyone to take home!

Once again this fabulous printables were by Sarah from Style Me Gorgeous

I am now signing off for 2010 - thank you to everyone for your wonderful support this past year. I am so excited about all the new and wonderful things I have planned for 2011. We are off for a family vacation next week so I will be back mid January with lots to share.

Wishing you all good health and happiness for 2011!

Hello 2011!

What a year you are going to be!

(Although quite hard to top a wonderful 2010)

This will be the year for.... meeting our new little girl, seeing Lou become a sister, pulling off the surprise of the century, watching friends get married, getting a babysitter more often, loosing this baby weight (but not stressing over it), holidaying and saving more....

I wonder what else you will bring?

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas ~ mine was relaxing but busy at the same time. Our little family are heading off to North Queensland for a fabulous little holiday in Hamilton Island and I'm so, so, so excited.

So.. see you on the other side!!

Enjoy your New Year celebrations and wishing you all a fantastic 2011!!!

White chocolate truffles

White chocolate truffles (makes 35)

Ingredients
400g white chocolate drops
6 tbsp double cream (heavy cream)
1 tsp natural vanilla extract
Bowl of silver vermicelli for rolling them in.

Cooking instructions

Place the chocolate drops and cream in a medium sized saucepan on a medium heat.
Stir until chocolate has completely melted and has a smooth texture.
Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla extract.
Pour into small bowl and refrigerate for about 1 1/2 hours, or until set.
Scoop tsp of chocolate mix into your hand and roll into a ball shape.
Roll in vermicelli to coat.
Refrigerate to store, for up to a week (but best served at room temperature).

Hotel Chocolat sent me some 40% milk chocolate drops and some White chocolate drops to play with. Knowing how much my older sister loves Hotel Chocolat chocolate I thought I would make some chocolate truffles to sit on my Winter Woodland dessert table. I started off with rich milk chocolate ones, then went onto mixing other flavours in them like the delicious Baileys ones and seasonal toffee apple ones. Then it was time to turn my attention to the white chocolate drops! I again started off with simply indulgent plain white chocolate ones.

Have a sweet day!

@ my house

it's apricot picking time!

soft diffused light

Once upon a time we'd sneak into my parents room to raid mum's make-up bag or the loose change drawer. Now I'm slipping in to take afternoon photos - so nothing has really changed. Here, the voile curtains create a soft, diffused light to compliment the beautiful wallpaper and dark furnishings. I love this room.

Toffee apple milk chocolate truffles

Toffee apple milk chocolate truffles (makes 16)

Ingredients
200g 40% milk chocolate drops
3 tbsp double cream (heavy cream)
1 tbsp toffee apple flavouring
Metallic gold sanding sugar for rolling them in.

Cooking instructions

Place the chocolate drops and cream in a medium sized saucepan on a medium heat.
Stir until chocolate has completely melted and has a smooth texture.
Remove from heat and whisk in toffee apple flavouring.
Pour into small bowl and refrigerate for about 1 1/2 hours, or until set.
Scoop tsp of chocolate mix into your hand and roll into a ball shape.
Roll in sanding sugar to coat.
Refrigerate to store for up to a week (but best served at room temperature).

Hand-made toffee apple flavoured chocolate truffles

Hotel Chocolat sent me some 40% milk chocolate drops to play with. Knowing how much my older sister loves Hotel Chocolat chocolate I thought I would make some chocolate truffles to sit on my Winter Woodland dessert table. I started off with rich milk chocolate ones, then went onto mixing other flavours in them like the delicious Baileys ones yesterday. Now here are some toffee apple flavoured ones using toffee apple syrup I picked up on a trip to Paris earlier this year.

Have a sweet day!

Red and Green Christmas Candy Table

My gorgeous friend Kristy asked me to put together a Christmas Day candy table for her extended family to enjoy at the end of their Christmas celebrations.

Her colour theme was traditional red and green so I used the lovely Vintage Rudolph printables from Kim at The Tomkat Studio which tied everything together beautifully.

I used some great Christmas candy selections including chocolate beans, chocolate balls and rock candy all in red, green and white.

Mini chocolate bars and rock candy sticks were tied with pretty ribbon.

These ever so cute mini candy Christmas trees were a hit with the kids as they got one each.

Candy Canes, Jelly beans, raspberry licorice and a christmas pudding made for one very sweet celebration.

wordless Wednesday

not sure if many of you are around this time of year but I still wanted to continue WW. I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas celebrations & are looking forward to a happy coming of the new year. enjoy your Wednesday.