A Family Favourite - Sour Cream Carrot Cake

My mum used to make this cake when I was a kid, and it is so yummy. Especially with the 'cheesecake' icing. So quite a while ago, I copied this recipe from my mum's collection, and over the last couple of weeks, have made it a couple of times for my family, which they are loving :-)

Thought I'd share the goodness here too...

Sour Cream Carrot Cake

1 cup wholemeal SR flour
1 cup white plain flour
1 tsp Bicarb of Soda
2 tsp Cinnamon
2 tsp Nutmeg
1 cup white or raw sugar
1 cup vegetable or sunflower oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup Sour Cream
3 cups grated Carrot (about 4 carrots)

Sift flours, soda, cinnamon and nutmeg into large bowl.
Add sugar and oil, mix well.
Put eggs and sour cream into separate bowl, beat well.
Add to flour mixture, mix until smooth.
Add carrot, mix well.
Pour into 2 greased and lined loaf tins. (I usually make one big round cake instead, just needs to cook a little longer)
Bake at 180, centre of oven.
When cooked, stand a few minutes, turn onto wire rack to cool.
Top with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Icing

60g packet Cream Cheese
30g Butter
1 tsp grated Lemon Rind
1 1/2 cups Icing Sugar

Mix cheese, butter, lemon until smooth.
Gradually beat in sifted icing sugar.

xx

Little Boy Dress Ups

Another fun week at kinder for Jude - he had two dress up days - yep..two!

Tuesday he went as Peter Pan...


And then on Wednesday he went as Carol from the movie/book "Where The Wild Things Are". Danielle rustled up this costume over a couple of days, made from scratch - isn't it crazy cool? Jude loves it!

Such a cutie :-)

xx

Cupcake Cuteness

So I didn't make it to the Craft & Quilt Fair on Friday but this was the reason why - Alannah's Cupcake Party which was held on Saturday.

Ambitiously, I decided to sew a little apron for each little girl attending (10 including Alannah) and then went ahead and designed a not-so-simple apron to reproduce...stupid maybe, but it all looked very cute :-P

Here are a few photos of the event taken by my lovely talented sister DQ :



So this is what I'd been working on pretty much all last week, ignoring housework, cooking and other usual responsibilities..he he...fun!

And I want to send a huge 'thank you' to my sis Dan, Reeze, Kate & Paula for all your help last week and on the day - you guys are the best! xx

Melbourne Craft & Quilt Fair

Starts today. I'm heading in tomorrow - anyone else going?

xx

New Inspiration ..

..just arrived on my doorstep...

Before & After - Kitchen Reno

So most of you who have been following my blog for the past couple of years, will know that we have been undertaking some major renovating, including an extension and rebuild on the existing cottage. We are still working away finishing off lots of little bits, and I hope to have more 'before & after' shots to share in the near future!

But the kitchen is pretty much finished now, so here is the before shot...


And the after shots....this first one is taken from the same spot as the 'before' photo..



My new friend, the dishwasher, is now installed, and really the only things left to do are properly install the kickboards and one more coat of paint on the bi-fold window frames.

And I picked up this funky tea towel from Yardage Design on etsy for the photos, and because who doesn't just love a new design-y tea towel every now and then...love it!


Yay! a finished room!

Thanks to DQ for taking some photos for me :-) (the last one is mine though :-P).

Oh, and a few notes...my kitchen is not always this tidy..he he....and it was styled up by me and Dan for these photos. I will make an effort to keep it this neat and lovely looking, but knowing my family, the benches wont remain this clutter-free for very long :-P

xx

A Work In Progress

Just a little something for the kitchen..