The Swap Meet and the Best Ever Chocolate Brownie

Last weekend we headed off to the swap meet. I love browsing through the stalls. There's lots of good stuff to look at,some of it pretty pricy and geared towards the collector but there's also a tonne of bric a brac for the rummagers, like myself. I snavelled a few treasures and a couple of bargains.

There were some beautiful pieces of depression glass priced at $50 plus so when I spotted this one on a junky old stall for $10, I jumped on it. It's my second piece now...a collection yes?!

Cheerful linen teatowels, $5 a piece.

One lone doily, $1.00

Some vintage tins, $4.00 for the pie tin and 50c each for the cupcake tins-I picked up two. These old tins will be used in my sewing room to house vintage buttons and other treasures.

Some lovely friends of ours live a couple of minutes walk from the showgrounds where the swap meet is held. It is always SO crazy busy, so lucky for us we have a place to park. Afterwards we headed back to their place for lunch and the neighbourhood children-including theirs had set up a cake stall in their street. It was doing a roaring trade and we couldn't resist buying a few chocolate brownies-straight out of the oven.

My friend Annie happened to have her neighbours recipe and I scribbled down a copy. I made a batch yesterday arvo. The kids got off the school bus to warm brownies for afternoon tea and they have been declared the 'best ever' chocolate brownies. Do yourself a favour and make a batch soon!

They are actually called Speedy Chocolate Brownies but of course we have renamed them at our place.

8oz melted butter
3/4 cup cocoa
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 1/3 cup gluten free flour
1/4 tsp baking powder (gluten free)

* I used regular flour and baking powder

Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix together with electric beaters.
Line 20x25cm tin with baking paper.
Pour mixture in and bake at 170 deg cel for approx 40 minutes.
Test with a skewer. This recipe is best undercooked.

The end result will be a lovely moist brownie with the perfect amount of crunch on top!
Enjoy!

Making, baking, photo taking

Firstly, thank you for your lovely comments on my last post. I'm a little unsure where my blog fits these days and I often wonder about my sporadic posting, whether to blab on about life as we know it or not. While I tend not to share too many details here...both my running and my returning to work has been a big deal for me so I thank you for your encouragement. I have been trying to nurture me a bit a bit more this year and both these things have been dolly steps towards that.

So, I thought I'd share some recent making, baking and photo taking...after all that's what this blog is really about isn't it?!

So as well as pj making I stitched up an easy peasy skirt for the littlest love. A marriage of new and old-new fabric teamed with a thrifted doily and trim made from floral sheeting.

A spot of bunting is always fun to make too. Was great to snip into some of these treasures.

Sunday breakfast is like a cafe at our place. I cook for everyone and because they are all a bunch of fusspots, I usually make three or four different breakies. There are usually hasbrowns and blt's, omlette and french toast. Sometimes there's caramel apples. The Mr does the coffee. Always.
Recently, I baked a Blueberry Breakfast Cake. I will definately be adding this one to our breakie menu. It is absolutely divine.You will find it here. Definately worth making and best eaten still warm.

I've been very slack with my photo taking lately, opting for the handy iphone in my back pocket. I love the ease of snapping a quick pic and have had a bit of fun playing with an app or two. A real mish mash of images but each spoke to me in one way or another.

 Have a great weekend! I am off to the swap meet. Hopefully I'll have some spectacular show n tell to share.

A snapshot of May...and June

• Family day at the races
• Our boys had a weekend in Melbourne cheering on their team.
• Mother's Day-Lulu's first preschool present, spilt porridge and many tears from my big girl who wanted everything to be just perfect for her mama.
• CF Clinic review for the big girl
• 65 Roses Day fundraising
• We enjoyed the last of the autumn colour.
• A wonderful weekend with our special friends Yvette and Tassy-cooking, laughing, eating and more!
• The kids had a great day with their Daddy and Grandy in the vintage car rally.
• The cool weather required a spot of pyjama making-3 pairs with plans for more!
• Fresh farm eggs gifted from one of Boo's school friends.
• Unexpected happy mail from thoughtful blogging friends.
• I ran 10km. I have never been a runner but I have been learning. Slowly but surely I am getting there. 
• I had my first day of paid work in 12 years! Yes. It was a big leap for me after being at home for sooo long. I loved it though! 
• We went to watch Monsters University at the movies.
• We watched Boo's band concert.
• We took the big kids to a fabulous concert at our local theatre and watched our drummer boy nephew perform.
• Our big girl represented her school in Public Speaking and came 2nd place. She was totally thrilled. We were so proud of her efforts and so happy to see her shining. 
• Last but not least...Bonfire at the farm with family and friends. The stuff the childhood memories are made of. 

 Phew!

Collections

How many chenille bedspreads is too many?
My collection has grown. I might have too many.
Sometimes they make home on the children's beds. The boy likes to snuggle under one on the couch. They make a nice picnic blanket and a colourful cubby.

 They make a lovely, snuggly quilt back as well.

I remember having lolly pink chenille on my bed when I was tiny. Maybe 4 or 5. Did you as well?

Thrifted lately

1. Apple glasses...oh my goodness! these were picked up at an old wares store. A little more than oppy prices but a couple from my set had been broken so I was very happy to find these.
2. Fabric. The navy floral has already been fashioned into some jarmie pants for the little one.
3. Doily love.
4. Burnt orange florals. I can feel a Summer wrap skirt coming on.
5. Pottery jug, made in Italy.
6. Fabric and buttons, always room for more of both.

Have you been thrifting lately?
Linking in with the lovely Max.