Pots of Gold, Fall-ing Down and Roasted Cauliflower, Leek + Cashew Soup

Hello readers, apologies for the late "weekend" blog post but have been a little out of sorts. Tonight I share with you Pots of Gold, Fall-ing Down and Roasted Cauliflower, Leek + Cashew Soup. Happy Reading xo♥

Pots of Gold

I was amazed to see a Rainbow form from the sea before my eyes on the weekend. It seemed to come right out of the ocean. Maybe there really is a pot of gold hidden beneath the waves... 

Fall-ing Down
A dear friend of mine shared a social media status recently, and the challenge was to be allocated a letter of the alphabet and share a song accordingly. "J". So being a proud West Australian, I chose a little Perth band by the name of Jebediah. I have seen Jebediah live and they put on a damn good show. Who doesn't love men in kilts,bagpipes and Indie music from the early noughties? Enjoy the music video "Fall Down" by Jebediah 

Roasted Cauliflower Leek + Cashew Soup 

I found this yummy vegetarian soup recipe at http://www.loveandlemons.com. It serves about 3 as a main, 4-5 as a starter or side. It is dairy free but still very creamy and flavoursome. A different style of winter warmer. 

Roasted Cauliflower Leek + Cashew Soup 

Ingredients 
2 cups chopped cauliflower
2-3 leeks, white and very light green parts, chopped (about 1 to 1.5 cups) 
2 cloves of garlic olive oil, for drizzling 
1/2 cup raw, unsalted, un-roasted cashews, soaked overnight and drained 
1.5 teaspoons miso paste (or season with salt if you don't have any) 
Leaves from a few sprigs of marjoram or thyme 
3 cups of water 
A splash of olive oil (to blend into the soup) 
1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika (or more to taste)
Squeeze of lemon 
Pinch of Red Chilli Flakes 

Method: 
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Spread cauliflower, leeks and garlic on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Drizzle vegetables with olive oil and sprinkle with a few pinches of salt & pepper. Roast for 20-30 minutes, or until golden, make sure to rotate the tray halfway through cooking. 

Use a stick blender or add to your blender or food processor the roasted vegetables, drained cashews, marjoram leaves, miso paste, a squeeze of lemon and half the water (1.5 cups). Blend until pureed. Add olive oil, paprika, and the rest of the water. Blend again. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Pour into a medium saucepan and heat just until it's warm. Stir in a little more water if it's too thick. Serve with bread on the side. Garnish with fresh Marjoram or Thyme Sprigs. 

Readers, I hope you enjoyed Pots of Gold, Fall-ing Down and Roasted Cauliflower, Leek + Cashew Soup. See you tomorrow for a new Wednesday Wishes blog post x 

Friday Friends - DUSTy Divas - Plumfish

Happy Friday lovely Maddabling blog readers, I hope this post finds you well. My goodness it has been a chilly one this week, I am looking forward to a weekend of soup making and will share a new soup recipe with you all this weekend. Today I am absolutely thrilled to introduce you all to a new Friday Friend, DUSTy Diva and talented West Australian Maker - meet Rosemary of Plumfish! 

I have been a fan of Plumfish creations for a very long time and must confess, I am the proud owner of a pair of custom Plumfish fingerless gloves and a gorgeous winter scarf ♥ 

Here are some other pieces that are in the Plumfish collection on Etsy that I had to share! This Recycled Sari Silk Rosette Statement Necklace in Olive and Bronze is such a gorgeous wearable art fiber piece. 

I LOVE this recycled silk bohemian single rose cuff bracelet in pretty pinks

and this Hand Spun Bulky Art Yarn Natural Rustic Woodland Scarf Wrap (which is also on sale) will keep away the winter chills. 

I invite you now dear readers to take some time to read 
A Plumfish Yarn. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did. Have a fantastic weekend and hope to catch you on Sunday for the weekend blog post. 

A Plumfish Yarn
I have always loved this verse from Psalm 139:   For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I think that's where the journey began... I think I must have been created with an innate passion for all things fibre - because I don't remember a time when I didn't knit, sew or crochet.

My mother was a wonderfully creative woman, a professional dressmaker and designer. My grandmother though, was the one who had the enthusiasm and patience to teach me how to knit and crochet when I was very young. She was self taught; an Italian migrant with limited English, who was never allowed to learn to read or write but when it came to knitting or crochet, she would only need to look at a sample, or a photograph, and she would know what to do.

In my growing years, my mother was of the opinion that one should never sit without something in their hands. She would often quote the saying "idle hands are the devils playground". While I never understood that saying, I never ever, sat without my knitting, crochet, or sewing... I used up all the scraps I could find and I still love scraps!

In my early adult years I knitted for the family... all very traditional things - all very neat, conservative and precise - all from patterns.

In my mid thirties I decided to go back to university to study nursing. It was a very busy and very fulfilling time in my life. My hands were always busy - so busy in fact, that for many years I did not pick up a needle or hook.

I have recently retired; I have  wandered for a while through a few deserts and dark times but my love for fibre, and passion for art has rekindled! There are now not enough hours in the day to create , and there are so many things I want to learn, so many things I have never tried.  

I need to thank my daughter Holly for freeing me from the conservative and traditional things of life and art. She is an amazing young woman - one of the most talented and creative I have ever known - and of course I am not biased!! She has always encouraged me to create those things that spring forth from the soul, she has enabled me to overcome the fear of just being me - in letting the bohemian within come out once in a while.

My work these days is more about the reflection of that free spirit within - which at times, still struggles to fly. My work has been called flamboyant, colourful , crazy, zany, bohemian, avante garde, out there. Usually people either love it or hate it.... either way, like any piece of art, it will evoke a response of one kind or another! And I truly am OK with the negative comments as well. My work is not for everyone; it's certainly not for the faint hearted! I now follow my daughters teachings - that at the end of the day, if you like your own creation - it doesn't really matter what others think... so continue to create in the intuitive way that is your own unique style...

I call my style earthy and raw, organic, distressed, messy, raggy, scrappy and tattered... Whether or not it can be labelled as a particular style - I don't really know!! But I guess it doesn't matter.

I love rich, vibrant, dancing colour... colours that want to be noticed... and textures that long to be touched... People say they cant walk past my creations without touching them - I love that!

I love to work with recycled sari silk - some of my favourite pieces are made from silk. But I love wool too, especially beautiful locks, and fuzzy yarn. I love handspun, and I love felt. I would love to learn to weave! My house is always a mess - there is fluff, wool, yarn, silk, needles, hooks - all sorts, everywhere!

The beautiful things of the world inspire me... nature, animals, children and laughter, people of peace and love... strength and courage.

I have never been much of a dreamer, or future planner - I'm too much of a realist; too grounded in the present; too busy to worry much about tomorrow. I know that I want to continue to create, to play with my grandchildren, and to laugh with them hysterically, at nonsensical crazy things. 

I have all I could ever hope for, I am truly blessed.

Dear readers, would you like to see more? Here is how you can connect. 

Become a follower on Facebook here: 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Plumfish/189165537834288

and buy lovely things on Etsy here: 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/plumfish

Handmade Kitchen - Wednesday Wishes

Handmade Kitchen forms the inspiration for the Wednesday Wishes blog post this week ♥ Happy Browsing ♥

Kitchen Hanger / Pot Rack Rustic Style (large) and Blacksmith Made - Ready to hang  from Industriana

Set of 5 Beautiful Japanese paper toothpick holder from SophiesBlossom

Timber SPATULA, wood mixing spoon/ salad server. Ergonomic and elegant from SunlabProductions

Ceramic Bowl - Vintage Look Pottery Terracotta Pinch Pot from susansimonini

Twin Heart Personalised wooden chopping board from SoakStudio

Stunning Sunsets, Canine Chuckles and Pea, Zucchini and Mint Soup

Hello readers, welcome to the weekend blog post. Tonight I share with you Stunning Sunsets, Canine Chuckles and Pea, Zucchini and Mint Soup. Happy Reading xo♥
Stunning Sunsets
I captured this sunset sequence recently, the winter sunsets in our part of the world are part colour and part apocalyptic cloud at times, always beautiful. 

Canine Chuckles. 

Are you a dog or a cat person? This comic strip made me laugh. Anyone who owns a dog and has tried to do floor exercises at home will understand. Everything is a game and their love for you is unconditional. Dogs really truly are the best people :) 

Pea Zucchini and Mint Soup

Who loves soup? This is the first of many soup recipes I hope to share over the coming weeks. Simple and delicious soul food. Winter warmers. Call it what you will :) I found this recipe here: 

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/25027/pea+zucchini+mint+soup

I had some left over salt reduced vege stock and used half stock half water for this recipe. I don't have a blender but use a stick blender to blitz this in the soup pot. This recipe serves 4 people.

Pea, Zucchini and Mint Soup
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 large brown onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 (about 300g) potatoes, peeled, coarsely chopped
1L (4 cups) water
375g (2 1/2 cups) frozen peas
2 (about 300g) zucchini, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
125g (1/2 cup) low-fat ricotta
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
8 slices crusty sourdough 

Method:
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onion, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until aromatic.

Add the potato and water. Increase heat to high and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 8 minutes or until the potato is almost tender. Add the peas and zucchini, and simmer for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Set aside to cool slightly.

Stir in two-thirds of the mint. Blend half the vegetable mixture in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a clean saucepan. Repeat with the remaining vegetable mixture. Stir over medium heat until heated through. Season with pepper.

Combine the ricotta, half the chives and remaining mint in a small bowl. Season with pepper.

Ladle the soup among serving bowls. Top with remaining chives. Spread the ricotta mixture over the toast and serve with the soup.

Readers, I hope you enjoyed Stunning Sunsets, Canine Chuckles and Pea, Zucchini and Mint Soup. See you all on Wednesday for a new Wednesday Wishes blog post x 

Friday Friends - Local Makers - i.love.milly.mu

Happy Friday readers! The weekend is nearly here, it is meant to be very wintry in this part of the world so it might be an indoor weekend down here. I was thinking of making some more tiny terrarium gardens if I can find some pretty things to put in them. This week I am exceptionally pleased to re-introduce the lovely talented Elizabeth of i.love.milly.mu who took on this feature at the very last minute. My scheduled feature artist for this week could no longer commit to being a featured artist. Thank you Elizabeth from the very bottom of my heart for being Maddablings Friday Friend this week♥ You rock! 

Having featured Elizabeth many moons ago, it is delightful to see how far she has come creatively. Her beautiful work is forever evolving. I love the clever things that Elizabeth creates and have long been a fan. I have made a few purchases from i.love.milly.mu - some pieces were for me and others for nieces and nephews, to share that love of handmade. I love these Super Bunnies that are ready to take on the world

and I really do adore this most darling Fearless Fox

In fact, there are an absolute plethora of Forest Friends and other sweetly strange creatures who are just waiting for you to take them home. 

Readers, I invite you now to sit back with a nice cup of tea, or hot beverage of your choice and read more about Hooked on i.love.milly.mu! Stay warm and dry this weekend xx

Hooked on i.love.milly.mu
Hello I'm Elizabeth, the crafty arty person behind i.love.milly.mu. My magical journey into crazy crochet lady with a ridiculous amount of yarn in her stash and too many patterns to speak of, began when I moved to Albany some 4 and half years ago.

I started out as a stay at home mum crafter, as a lot of us crafters do! Then turned it into a business, and even now that I have returned to work, craft is still a major passion in my life.

Craft as a business can be tough! Juggling work-life with home-life and craft-life has been interesting and a constant learning curve. It is draining, exhausting but most of the time rewarding. Recently I have had something of a re-awakening of my joy in the art of amigurumi and craft. I’ve come back to my roots, so to speak, making crocheted quirky weird things/creatures just for the joy of making something new and different! I’m addicted all over again.

My inspiration comes from all over, usually if it is crazy or weird or my kids love it then its something I want to try make! Showcases on facebook and custom orders are great for getting me to think outside the box too! My fav technique/kind of things I like to create/fav pieces can all be answered with one word – amigurumi! It's addictive and so fun to use just yarn and a hook (and some stuffing) to create a ‘thing’ that is cute, adorable, creepy, unique! Possibilities are endless!

Plans for the future – I would like to share my love, and any skills I might have, of crochet and amigurumi with others, with a group or even teaching a class. AND just keep crafting! Like the look of my handmade goodies? Feel free visit me online here..

Facebook ♥ facebook.com.au/i.love.milly.mu

instagram ♥ instagram – ilovemillymu

bigcartel ♥ ilovemillymu.bigcartel.com/

pinterest ♥ pinterest.com/ilovemillymu/

...Or visit me in person! I’m part of The Bendigo Bank Southern Art + Craft Trail again this year! I’ll have a display with my folks (who have Wonky Pot Pottery) at Oranje Tractor Winery come September!

Motivate - Wednesday Wishes

Typography Art, Motivational; I am Brave..I am Enough; 
with Bunting from barnowlprimitives

  Sterling Silver, She Thought She Could... So She Did, Cuff Bracelet, Motivational Jewelry from LemonLimeCreations

With brave wings, she flies vintage silver quote necklace from JosabelleStudio

Ladies Fitted Style T-Shirt. Motivated by the Fear. Text Trend. Fashion T-Shirt. 100% Cotton. from FrankieMadeMe

Paperweight Wood Block MOTIVATED Motivational Office Decor 

from JetmakDesigns

Waves in Motion, Key to the Past and Afghan Biscuits

Welcome to a new weekend blog post dear readers, tonight I share with you Waves in Motion, Key to the Past and Afghan Biscuits. Happy Reading xo♥

Waves in Motion

On a fishing trip with my dear dad this weekend, I got to study some waves in motion from the beach. The formation of waves is a constant source of fascination to me, there is so much power and beauty and there are never two the same. There was a nice swell running and a slight sea breeze, perfect for capturing some snaps (see below),unfortunately we didn't spot any whales or dolphins this time around, but it was still a beautiful Winter day on the south coast.  

Key to the Past

I wanted to share this gorgeous film made by a dear friend of mine for her Screen Production Course at Uni. 

This is how Sandy describes her film: 

"Sarah is late for an appointment. Nervous and excited she takes a deep breath, reminding herself that the key to family history is just within her grasp. Sarah slows her car to a stop, the street is deserted and she is definitely lost. Her eyes search the empty street hoping to recognise a way back to the main road when the glint of something up ahead catches her eye. As she pulls up alongside, she is greeted by an old little lemonade stand and its only inhabitant, a peculiar little girl. Sarah is soon to discover not only the way back to the highway, but a way back to her family's past." 

This little gem is a short film but it still had time to give me goosebumps! Fantastic work Sandy xx

Afghan Biscuits 
I remember making this recipe from the CWA cookbook as a kid, crunchy on the outside and softer in the middle. Funnily enough, the biscuits are claimed to be of New Zealand origin and seem to have very little to do with Afghanistan. 

You could experiment a little and  modernise this recipe with plain spelt flour, raw cacao powder, coconut sugar and some chia seeds for a little something extra. Or you can stick to the delicious original recipe - you can see it here: http://www.sbs.com.au/food/recipes/afghan-biscuits
Afghan Biscuits
Ingredients:
150g unsalted butter chopped
110g (½ cup)caster sugar
185g (1¼ cups) plain flour
25g (¼ cup) cocoa powder
60g (1½ cups) cornflakes
chopped toasted walnuts, to decorate
Chocolate Icing
160g (1 cup) icing sugar mixture
2 tbsp cocoa powder

Method:
Preheat oven to 180°C. Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and ¼ tsp salt until pale and fluffy. Add flour, cocoa powder and cornflakes, and stir to combine.

Roll tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls, flatten slightly and place on 2 greased and lined oven trays, 2 cm apart. Bake, swapping trays halfway, for 15 minutes or until just firm.Set aside to cool.

To make icing, whisk icing sugar and cocoa powder with 2 tbsp water until combined and thick paste consistency. Add more water, 1 tsp at a time, if necessary. Immediately spread over cooled biscuits and top each with a little of the chopped walnuts, to decorate.

Readers, I hope you enjoyed Waves in Motion, Key to the Past and Afghan Biscuits. See you all on Wednesday for a new edition of Wednesday Wishes x