Mystery BOM Block 2

"Mint Julep" by Lisa Bongean.

I do love this block. Doesn't hurt that the pink fabric is one of my favourites in the range.

That Wasn't So Difficult

I don't know why I was so worried about sewing all these blocks together; turns out it was easy!



The way I assembled the blocks meant it was easy to find seams that would butt up against each other neatly, you just need to rotate the block until it works.

All the rows are done now, hopefully tomorrow I can get them pressed and assembled!

Sunday

As promised!

My mum and I booked into Mama Baba for lunch today; on Sundays they do a Greco Roman yum cha, with the menu changing every week. For $40 you get four courses of Greek and/or Italian inspired food.

(the bar)

The restaurant is tucked in a little street off Chapel St in South Yarra, and it's a gorgeous space. Nice and open, the staff are really friendly, and kids and babies are welcome.

We had lots of yummy things, including olives, proscuitto, ricotta, and a variety of pastas (including this one with chicken, lemon and thyme).

Dessert was a very yum chocolate semifredo and some italian style donuts (which were so good I forgot to take a pic!)

After lunch we popped into Burch & Purchese (which you will have heard of if you watch Masterchef; I recognised the chef in the kitchen). So many yummy cakes to choose from!

We walked away with a couple of things for later, a Passionfruit cloud and a chocolate ginger cake.

What a Week!

When I warned you all last week that the next four weeks would be crazy, I really think I underestimated. My week went something like this: Work, yoga, work, gym, other work, work, physio, other work, collapse in a heap! I've never been so excited to see the weekend.

But after a bit of exercise time this morning I finally cleared off the loungeroom floor and got my Hopscotch blocks spread out.

I've mostly follwowed the layout on the pattern cover, but shuffled a few blocks to separate a few matchy blocks and spread some colours out a bit more. I like it! Just need to find the time (and nerves) to tackle all those points! (If you notice any blocks that need to be shuffled, let me know).

I'm off to try out a newish restaurant tomorrow that I've been hearing about, so hopefully I'll have something good to report back on.

The Last Few Blocks

I finished up the last of the Hopscotch blocks late last week. Now I just need to find time to crawl around on the floor checking that I'm happy with the arrangement; you cannot replicate the cover of the pattern as some prints are duplicated more than is possible using one jelly roll.

I love the houndstooth prints.

The greys...

The circular prints.

And a few odds and ends to get me up the required number of blocks.

  

Hopefully I can start getting is assembled this weekend; from next week I'll be working full time for a month, so there won't be as much free time as usual.

Apple Pie

Everyone needs a good Apple Pie recipe; this is mine (from a Donna Hay cookbook).

Shortcrust Pastry
2 cups plain flour
3 tablespoons caster sugar
150g cold butter
water

Process flour, sugar and butter in food processor until fine crumbs form. Then with motor running, add enough water so that the dough starts to come together. Form a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Filling
6-8 granny smith apples
water
sugar (optional)
lemon juice
cinnamon
almond meal

Peel apples and cut into eight. Heat in pan with a splash of water until just tender.
Drain then cool. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of sugar if desired, plus a dash of cinnamon.

Use 2/3 of your pastry for the base; roll out and line greased pie tin. Sprinkle almond meal over the base (soaks up extra liquid), then pack in the apples. Roll out the remaining pastry and place over the pie. Press edges together, trim excess. Then brush pie with a little milk or egg and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake for approx 30 mins in 190C oven. Serve with cream or ice cream.