Kainga, where Roses bloom, life is lived at a gentler pace.Living Simply, doing all those good things like stitching, gardening, cooking and reading.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Hexagon bag finished,"Washing Day" and some recipes.

Hello,



Not much sewing has been done here this week but I did manage to get the hexagon bag together. I decided to use some rattan handles. I put these on this morning. I hand sewed it all together. Sewing with black thread on black material is something I will give a miss for a while. I will be posting the bag to you Chris early next week. Look out for the parcel.

The other week I was lucky enough to win one of Lyn's newer patterns. This is called "Washing Day" and there are three items to make,peg apron,Hand/Tea Towel and a Small Quilt to pretty up the top of your washing machine. Lyn also included a tea towel and the most beautiful ric-rac. I just love the ric-rac. Thanks Lyn.


I have been picking lots of zucchini from the garden. I have found two recipes that use zucchini. These vegetables seem to grow right before your eyes.


Zucchini Fritters with Minted Yoghurt


400 grams grated zucchini
1/2 cup finely chopped spring onions

2 tsp garlic,crushed

1 cup mozzarella cheese,cut into small dice

2 eggs

1/4 cup parsley finely chopped

1/4 cup basil shredded

1/4 cup mint shredded

1/3 cup flour

salt and black pepper

olive oil for frying

1 cup natural pot set yoghurt

1/2 cup mint shredded


In a bowl combine the zuchini,spring onions,garlic cheese,eggs,herbs flour and seasoning and stir together until mixed. Heat oil in shallow pan put small dollops of the mix into hot oil. Cook on a moderate heat until golden brown on one side. Turn to other side and repeat.


Combine the mint and yoghurt and dollop onto the cooked fritter. Enjoy.


When I made this I adjusted the recipe as I didn't have all the herbs so used dried mint and being a lover of garlic I used a few cloves chopped up and I had only cheddar cheese. I didn't have spring onions so finely chopped about a quarter of an onion.It all worked out though.


My other recipe I have is for a cake. Lucy found this recipe in her journal from her trip to New Zealand last year. Chris made this cake while we were there for my Mum's Birthday. It is just so lovely and moist.


Spiced Courgette Chocolate Cake.


250 grams unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups caster sugar

1/2 cup light olive oil

2 eggs

2 3/4 cup flour

1/4 cup cocoa

2 tsp Chinese five spice or used mix spice

1 1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3 courgettes trimmed and grated (1 1/2 cups)

1/2 cup unsweetened plain yoghurt


Chocolate Glaze

200 grams dark chocolate

3/4 cup cream


1. Beat the butter,sugar and oil together until thick and creamy. Beat in the eggs.


2. Sift the flour,cocoa,baking powder,Chines five spice or mixed spice, baking soda and salt into the creamed mixture and fold in the courgettes.


3. Turn into a well-greased and paper lined 23cm round cake tin. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until cooked. Cool before pouring over the chocolate glaze.


Chocolate Glaze.


Melt together the chocolate and cream in a microwave on high power for 2 minutes or until the chocolate has almost melted. Stir until smooth.


I hope you all have a lovely weekend,we will be having a swim as I think the temperature is going to climb up a few degrees. Hopefully nothing like the couple of 47 degrees days we had earlier on in the week.


Happy Days.


Bev C


10 comments:

Pauline said...

Hi Bev, I can't wait to see Chris' new bag. I thought I had planted a zucchini plant but it grew into a cucumber vine. Not complaining as I love cucumber but I also love zucchini fritters.

Sue said...

I love the hexagon bag...beautiful fabric. I'm going to try your Zuccini Fritter recipe. It sounds yummo. Lastly the ric rac in your parcel of goodies is just sooo pretty, do you know if it was hand dyed or purchased?

Simone de Klerk said...

Lovely bag and what a great win!
I will have to make that courgette chocolate cake once now. One of my sisters gave me a book with recipes like that, so I should get started!

Tarnyia said...

Love the fabric's used in your bag Bev... and I know what you mean about black fabric and hand sewing... I like your recipes as well and will be copying them out to use :)

Vickie said...

Bev, the bag is excellent looks great.What a super win and that ric rac is gorgeous..arn't zuchinni fritters great,cheers Vickie

Bobbie Lynn said...

What pretty bag and the fabric is great. Wow, look at the zucchini. I can't wait for spring here in So. Calif. Thanks for the recipes they sound yummy. I see you have your embroidery hoop out. : ) I have mine out too. Just did an iron on transfer. Hope to do some embroidery this weekend. Happy Friday and have a nice weekend.

Cath Ü said...

Love the hexy bag... I never seen to win anything on blogs... well done on your win...
Cath Ü

Mylene said...

Hi Bev, your bag turned out great. Love it!

Hope you are having a good weekend!

Jossie said...

Bev, that bag is gorgeous. I know what you mean with black om black. And then those recipes are tempting. I love zucchinis but we'll have to wait untill next summer.

Nate @ House of Annie said...

Wow, those are some monster zucchini! They really get away from you if you let them go too long.

Since you are using homegrown ingredients, would you like to enter this post in our Grow Your Own roundup this month? Full Details at

http://chezannies.blogspot.com/2010/01/rambutans-plus-grow-your-own.html