Little Chillies heat up

If you haven't already discovered Little Chillies, here's a taste of what you've been missing...

Really cute don't you think? (I wish there was a brand that made dresses with matching fabric shoes for grown ups.) Up until now, their range has only produced designs up to size 2, but the great news is that like so many Australian online businesses, the Chillies are growing! They've enlisted a pattern maker and new fabric suppliers and will be wholesaling their new designs (that will now extend up to size 4) from February. So keep an eye out for Little Chillies at your favourite spots both online and instore, but in the meantime, head over to their site (here) where you can still buy their designs direct. (and you'll be able to say, "Little Chillies? I knew them back when...")...

Make it: NYE Fondue

What could be more fun than a fondue to see in the new year? Even Martha says its the thing to do... But there'll be no double dipping!

Chocolate Fondue

Ingredients 

(serves 4)

300ml thickened cream

1/4 cup Cointreau liqueur

300g dark chocolate, finely chopped

fresh fruit, such as strawberries, orange segments, banana, raspberries and kiwifruit, to serve

250g packet marshmallows

Method

1. Heat cream in a saucepan over medium heat until almost boiling. Stir in Cointreau.

2. Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Pour hot cream mixture over chocolate. Stir with a metal spoon until melted and smooth. Pour into a warm bowl or small ceramic fondue.

3. Serve chocolate fondue with fruit and marshmallows.

Via Super Food Ideas

Swiss cheese fondue

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients (serves 8)

1 garlic clove

60ml (1/4 cup) brandy

1 1/2 tbs cornflour

375ml (1 1/2 cups) fruity white wine, such as riesling

1 tbs fresh lemon juice

750g Australian Gold Swiss Cheese, coarsely grated

Accompaniments

1.25kg Baby Coliban (Chat) potatoes, halved (see note)

200g thin salami slices

200g thin prosciutto slices

1 x 350g jar Always Fresh Baby Cucumbers (Cornichons)

Method

1. To prepare the accompaniments, cook the potato in a saucepan of salted boiling water for 8 minutes or until tender. Drain. Transfer to a warm serving bowl. Arrange the salami and prosciutto on a serving platter. Place the cornichons in a bowl.

2. Cut the garlic clove in half. Rub the cut surface of the garlic over the base and side of a fondue pot.

3. Place the brandy and cornflour in a bowl, and stir until smooth. Combine the wine and lemon juice in a heavy-based saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer. Add the cornflour mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture boils and thickens.

4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add a large handful of cheese. Use a wooden spoon to stir constantly until the cheese melts. Repeat with the remaining cheese, in large handfuls, stirring constantly after each addition, until the cheese melts and the mixture is combined.

5. Heat the fondue pot over a low flame. Transfer cheese fondue to the pot. Serve with the accompaniments and walnut bread.

Notes

You can prepare this recipe to the end of step 1 up to 30 minutes ahead. Continue from step 2, 15 minutes before serving. The fondue will still be a little lumpy at the end of step 4. This is normal and doesn't affect the flavour.

Recipe Via Good Taste Image via Martha Stewart

DIY of the week: Ooshka Boys

I've always loved Babushkas - even now, despite their almost creepy presence everywhere... But with two boys I'd come to terms with my home forever being Babushka-less. Hold onto your hats! Sydney based artist, Lisa Tilse has created these divine little creatures she calls Ooshka Boys. 

Like them? Yes! So, can you sew? They are strictly a DIY project for the timebeing but Lisa hints on her site, The Red Thread, that they could be available ready-made soon. But, if Bernina's been needing a workout, maybe this is your next stop? You can buy the pattern here.

And if the Ooshka Boys didn't win you over, this will. The story behind the name The Red Thread is too beautiful not to. 

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The red thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break."

Ancient Chinese Belief

"This Red Thread belief seems to resonate with many people. I named my business for this lovely Chinese belief after my husband and I adopted our daughter Roxy from China. There is no doubt that this amazing little girl, born half a world away, was absolutely meant to be our daughter. The red thread connected us and she’s the light of our lives."

I'd say with a mum like you Lisa, Roxy is one pretty lucky little girl too.

Style to steal!

It was only a few days ago that I introduced you to Etsy store PomLove in my post Floaty Fluffy Fings. Well, I nearly fell off my chair today when I saw this!

OhDeeDoh

Can we just pause a moment to admire this gobsmackingly gorgeous mix of vintage pieces, handmade details and contemporary cool, cool, cool!!!??? It's about the bed! How much do we love the repurposed antique door casually hung to create a bedhead? Almost as much as the upcycled packing pallets repurposed to create a bed-base! With storage! Sooooo easy! Sooooo so so clever!

I really like the way they've used the mis-matched vintage picture frames to house a very personal display of photos, artworks, prints and things... The crocheted nanna rug suits the colour scheme beautifully and becomes a bit of a centrepiece in the overall look of the room. Not bad for something that can be sourced from an op shop for just a few bucks huh?

And, as I like to do, saving the best till last - notice the PomLove clusters that hang from the ceiling? This is it! This is the room where I could lie and stare at the cloudy puffs of colour floating from the ceiling, lulling me into a deep and restful (yawn) sleep....

Anodized cups are back!!!

Noosh loves all things retro. Especially these little gems. Cool huh? They take me straight back to picnics at middle harbour with the fam, swimming in the seaweedy water, the buzz of outboard motors, the smell of 4 stroke mixed with lamb chops on the barbeque... My cousins and I used to have races swimming out to the moored yachts and back to shore... I treasure these kinds of memories. Life seems to have sped up so much since those polaroid days of tight shorts and tighter t-shirts. Note to self: Very important to remember to slow down sometimes so the kids get to have something fun to look back on when they're mums and dads with jobs and mortgages...
Back to the cups... Eco Cocoon is an Australian owned company, and their stainless steel cups come in sets of six, complete with their own neoprene cover. The children’s sets, both boy and girl, feature gorgeous motifs of princesses, pirates and animals on vivid, colourful stainless steel metal. 

The 'Retro' set appeals to adult tastes with six brilliant block colours. The Ecococoon 'Urban Chic' plain stainless set of six is great for everyone looking for contemporary and timeless cups that will stand the test of time.  Available here.