~Cook Up with donna hay magazine......Sticky ginger marmalade Chicken~

Another delicious Cook Up has happened from donna hay magazine Issue 88 Aug/Sep 2016

These are really getting really too far between now but I'm determined to catch up!!!

Menu -  Sticky Ginger Marmalade Chicken Stir Fry
accompanied by Zucchini and a Cucumber Salad with aThai Dressing

 Chocolate and Maple Banana Cake

First up  I started the Dessert Cake preparation 

I even made my own Dulce De Leche instead of purchasing it but come to think of it I have never seen it available in our small coastal town

Recipe for Homemade Dulce De Leche by Donna Hay available here and also above blog in Pages

Condensed Milk ready to go into oven covered by foil and in a Water Bath
I don't think I left mine in long enough due to the paler colour and thickness of it compared to  Donna's but in any case it was still delicious
Also a bit hard to check as it was covered by baking paper, foil and string

As you can see Donna's version is really dark and quite thick

The Dulce De Leche is sitting atop Chocolate Ganache

My version all bottled and ready to use whenever called for

To our surprise we have successfully grown Ginger so this was used for garnishing the meal

All accompanied by Zucchini

and a Cucumber Salad with a Thai Dressing (home made) just to give it that little edge

I used Home Made Marmalade from my local Farmer's Market and boy was this so different to a commercial marmalade........the Citrus flavour was strong and I really enjoy that!!!

Above and below.......just a few versions of my Cake

And the best part........it's all Gluten Free!!!

Bon Appetit and have a great weekend......Dzintra

~Nundle.......Girls Just Want To Have Fun~

Back in March we made our Annual Trek to Nundle for Girls Day in the Country hosted by Kerry Swain from Cottage on the Hill

Here's JoJo Guitar and all when we pulled up at the Motel at Hunter Valley

Cattle Grazing on the way

After lunching and shopping we all gather and have a Swap

This time it was agreed that we make an Anni Downs pattern seeing she was the Designer this weekend

JoJo received the red book at the back left made by Dale

I received the shoe bag to the right of the book made by Sweet Peg

I made the bright pin cushion on the bottom right with a little bag to the left of it which was received by Alison

~A   F U N   S W A P~

Fabulous Project Roll designed by Anni Downs

A Roll for storing Blocks in Progress

The side of the Roll

Needle book opened out to show the outside covers

Inside the Needlebook

and a sweet little Pin Cushion

Oh behold I looked down and saw Dawnie's shoes at one stage

Couldn't rush out and buy a pair seeing they were from Japan
but aren't they just fabulous!!!

The Swap I received during the afternoon was from Christine at Cowra
A little fabric covered notebook and a piece of Anni's fabric from the collection
'Button Tree Lane'



This was my contribution to the Swap
We had to include a little stitchery on it
'Friends are Never Far Away'

Catching up with Chez

Anni showcasing one of her quilts 'Nature's Journey'



This one is 'In My Garden'

With Anni showing off my 'Gardener's Journal' Quilt

Spotted.......this fabulous bag on a chair

Our Annual Group Photo

Show and Tell in the evening

This one is my 20 year project

'From Blackheath to Bathurst to Bungendore'

Started off as Blocks......turned into a Wall Hanging and then eventually it was suggested I make a Quilt
Blocks were cut before the advent of Rotary Cutters where you pulled a piece of thread through the fabric, hoped it wouldn't break and then cut very carefully along that line......phew!!!
And sandpaper was used to hold fabric in place!!!

Above and below 2 more fabulous Show and Tells!!!

Above and below Girls Just Having Fun together with Shez and Deb after Breakfast

And here's a little preview of next year's Tutor's work.......Bonnie Sullivan

A fabulous time as always with The Girlfriends as JoJo has christened this wonderful group!!!

~OPAM.....One Project A Month, October 2016~

Just one item for OPAM this month

I made this Book Bag for Author Dzintra Sullivan after meeting her a few months ago and seeing that she loved Halloween I thought this quite apt for her as I had the fabric.

I also put on a name label for her *Dzintra* right where I would put mine

Pretty cool I thought seeing she had the same name!!!

Thank You Sweet Peg and her Partner in Crime Kris for hosting OPAM

I know I wouldn't be finishing 1 item a month if it wasn't for them!!!

**********

Last night being Halloween and JoJo was very excited to hand out Treats to Trick or Treaters that may arrive.........they did and we had 32.

Halloween reminds me of when we were little and going to the Cemetery with candles the last Saturday in October and singing to our  

Beloved Ones and Honouring them that night.

Looking back it was a lovely thing to do........

Looking outside

and then back in!!!

What fun she had!!!

Im not posting as much as I am still having trouble with my eyes and headaches and I think the computer is partly to blame however I do still keep up reading blogs!!!

Happy Stitching.......love Dzintra xo