Baking

I like to bake. I am not a great cook but I do like to bake. Ollie and I bake every week. Usually it's choc-chip/raisin cookies but today it was a banana cake.

Banana Cake is G's favourite. When we were 'courting' I used to drop by his house and leave a banana cake in the kitchen for him. Awwww...When we built our new house we designed a space for an upright freezer. Grant joked that it was for all the frozen bananas I hoard.

Anyway I have tried many a banana cake recipe and this one has been my favourite for a while now. I thought I'd share because it really is easy and yummy too.

Banana Cake

Preheat oven at 180 degrees

Ingredients
125g butter(room temp)
1 1/2 cups caster sugar
2 mashed bananas(overripe)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
100ml milk
1 1/2 cups SR flour
1/2 tsp baking powder

Mix butter and sugar, then add bananas, then eggs, just keep mixing and adding each ingredient until it is all nicely combined.

Grease and flour your cake tin. Pour in mixture and give it a tap so it settles.
Bake for 55-60 minutes at 180 degrees.

Insert a skewer to check that it's done-the skewer should come out clean.

Set aside in the tin to cool for a bit, then transfer cake to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Cream Cheese Icing

Ingredients
125g cream cheese(room temp)
50g butter(room temp)
1 1/2 cups icing mixture
1 tbls lemon juice
1 tbls milk

Place ingredients in mixing bowl and use an electric beater to beat mixture until it's pale and creamy.

Spread over cake and cut yourself a slice to have with a cuppa!

Today we were going to visit Great Nanna Belle. I thought I'd take her a banana cake. Nanna Belle broke her hip a little while back and has been in nursing care. She has recovered beautifully but is no longer able to live at home and care for herself safely. She is very capable in many ways but she really does need some round the clock care. So she has just moved into her new 'home'. It's been hard for her to leave her home, her 'things', her memories. She has spent her life there. It's been hard for Grant's dad too(it's his mum) but it is right. Let me tell you she celebrated her 97th!!!!! birthday last month. Isn't that FANTASTIC!

So I decided to bake a tiny cake. Perfect for one! I split the mix between three small tins(6 x 3 1/2 inch loaf tins). It only took half the baking time for these mini versions. They turned out beautifully!

WIP

I borrowed this fantastic book from our local library.

It's been around for a while and is jam packed with fun stuff. I thought I'd show you my work in progress, that way if you don't see me posting the finished project soon, you can give me an encouraging prod. Anyway I have pieced the front of the log-cabin cushion-a project by Lisa Congdon.


I have used 2.5 inch strips of varying lengths. It's a simple but effective design, I think. And a great way to use up scraps. Hopefully next week I will quilt it and make it into a cushion cover. Fingers crossed.

Vintage Quilt

A little while back Grandy(Grant's father) took Grant, Bella and Ollie in the Vintage Car Rally. This is something they have been sharing together, the past couple of years. I think it's a lovely tradition in the making and I hope they'll continue to enjoy it for years to come and that when they are older they'll be able to say 'remember when Grandy used to take us in the vintage car rally..' The vintage car belonged to Pop(Grant's Grandfather).



The children giggle with excitement when Grandy beeps the crazy horn. When I asked Ollie about the Rally he said his favourite thing was the afternoon tea! They have a soup stop and loads of home made cakes and slices.

My favourite thing-besides waving them goodbye as I prepare for a day of 'me time' or 'me and Lulu time' was discovering this beautiful Vintage Quilt draped over the back seat of the car.



I quickly snapped some photos and then on their return, I took it inside to snap a few more shots. I just loved all the quirky colours and fabrics. Divine. I *think* it was made by Grant's Great Aunt. Correct me if I am wrong Grammy:)

A quilt in the making

I am one step closer to having a quilt. Bella's quilt top was sent off for some fancy schmancy quilting. I am very happy with the quilting. I LOVE the roses design, it's pretty and meaningful too. I like how it looks on the backside as well-the white side that is, the backing...you know what I mean.







I feel like a bit of a cheat putting it on the bed because it doesn't have a binding yet. I just couldn't wait to see it in Boo's room and I am undecided about the binding. I am not sure whether to go matchy matchy or something contrasting. Bella has requested orange. Hmmm I was thinking a solid teal colour from one of the Heather Bailey prints or maybe the HB 'wallpaper roses' in the darker green. What do you think???