Un-sausage rolls

A couple of crafty minx types have been hassling me for this recipe so I thought I'd better share it.
It was passed to me by my aunt and although I was a bit sceptical, I gave it a try and whoa Nelly, I am sooo glad I did.

The key to sharing them with others, especially meat-and-three-veg menfolks types is to tell them nothing. When they ask, "what's for tea?" the answer should be sausage rolls. It's not a lie....

MEAT-FREE SAUSAGE ROLLS
Makes 12
Prep: 10 Min Cook: 25-30 Min

Ingredients:
1 Cup low-fat cottage cheese
1/2 Cup pecans
3 eggs
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon dried mixed herbs (I use oregano, basil, thyme & rosemary)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 Cup quick oats
1/2 Cup dried breadcrumbs
3 sheets ready-rolled puff pastry

Step 1:
Preheat oven to 200degrees C
Process cottage cheese, pecans, egg, onion, herbs and soy sauce in a food processor.
Add oats and breadcrumbs.
Pulse until combined.

Step 2:
Cut each pastry sheet in half.
Fill each half with two heaped tablespoons of mixture.
Roll into a sausage shape and cut in half.
Brush top with a little milk.

Step 3:
Line a baking tray with baking paper.
Place rolls on tray and prick pastry with a fork or lightly score with a knife.
Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Serve hot or cold.

Note: The sausage rolls freeze well either cooked or uncooked. I make up a double batch and have some in the freezer for those lazy nights.

My dad is a good cook and he's always been known for his sausage rolls. They are damn good, but.....
I like these better. They look like meat, they taste like meat but they are light and you don't get the greasy feeling after eating them.

One of my friends and her husband came for lunch and we had the un-sausage rolls. He's a very plain eater and would never choose a vegetarian meal and he didn't pick that they weren't meat.

Try them out and let me know how you go.

Back to all things crafty. I bought a little something for the sewing room....

I've already insisted we move it into place because I knew if I left it in its temporary spot, I'd fill it will crap and then have to unpack it to move it. I couldn't help but put a few quilts in for the photo though. A bargain at the local oppy that I think will end up looking pretty fab once it's stripped and attacked with some white/off white paint. That will have to be down the track because it's already full of crafty stuff.

I hope your craftiness finishes are happening, I'm still pegging away at mine and I think I can get at least one WIP completed in February. What are you working on at the moment?

Ab xx

A Day of Delights

Last Wednesday I had the pleasure of hosting a reunion of sorts. A group of lovely ladies and I got together a couple of years ago and much fun was had. It was long overdue for us to do it again.

Julie, the queen of Narioka and all things quilty, shirring (whirring) and gorgeous dresses.
Kate, the doyen of crochet at Foxs Lane and master of all crafts, including quilting these days.
Bianca, who is the maker of Stuff and the Swooney extroidinaire and frazzled energy.
Fi, so Dear to me, super sewist who managed TWO quilt tops in a day and half - amazing.
Peta, can be found wandering amoung Pippiwillows she's a quilter-to-be and extremely tallented in the world of felting. Who needs elfin stitches when you can make shoes?!?!
Faith, not a blogger and new to quilting but grabbing it by both hands and getting her sew on!
Jodie, Sadly couldnt make it due to needing new dentures (that right Jod...? ;o) Next time...

Due to being hostess with the mostess, I failed at taking photos on the day so lets see what I can 'steal' when I visit their blogs....

The best bet is to head on over to Julie's blog at http://narioka.blogspot.com/ and see her lovely pics.

Including many other topics, we had a bit of a discussion regarding crockery. The general consensus was that fine china for ones cup of tea is the best way to go. I had to blow the cobwebs out of this dainty little pretty but it does seem to make things taste nicer...

Even Mr CP agreed.

Time for a walk.

Have a great day.

Ab x

It's time I exposed myself

Don't be rude, I'm showing my WIP's not my arse!

I am challenging myself to get all of the following projects finished.

Last year was supposed to be the year of finish but then I had the best kind of start (Master Harvey) instead so I was completely and utterly distracted.

So I invite you to look at the inner workings of this very distracted sewist....

My favourite Amy Butler fabrics quilt. It's possibly to be long arm quilted, possibly to be machine quilted by me...Anyway, the backing AND binding fabrics are sitting with it so it's semi organised.

Another Amy Butler quilt (there's three, I was obsessed ;o)

Also has backing ready to go. I will get this long armed.

'On the Move' cot quilt. I finally stuck the appliques on the other day, I need to raw-edge applique them and of course piece this one. It too has the binding and backing fabrics sitting with it. There are at least six babies that I need to create for this year (not including making a quilt for my own...the one that is yanking on the laptop right now. I guess I'm finishing this post later)

Several hours and a bedtime later....

Un-named red and white quilt for my friend Lisa. Already gifted and then taken straight back so that I could quilt it. Anyone noticing a theme?

The final Amy Butler, also un-named (I always name my quilts, usually with a pun) and unquilted. I'm planning to hand quilt this with Perle thread. I'd love to have this finished and being used this year.

This green and white number is the toile quilt. Um it's been a finished top for a very long time. Dare I say at least five years. Oops. To be long arm quilted when I find a backing. I'm considering scalloping the border so I think that's held back the finishing.

'Cowboys' is another top that 's been languishing in the 'Tops to be Quilted' container. I really wished I'd bought bolts of the red with white spot - it's the scrummiest colour. This will be for one of those many babies. I'm banking on a few boys at least.

This is 'Chocolate Lollipop' in the Walk the Line pattern by Sarah Fielke (I think. It was in Australian Better Homes and Gardens some time ago). Must piece it.

'Birdie Stitches' was a stitch-along on the LMS blog. I ran out of steam but plan on using the blocks for a girl baby quilt.

The 'Rainbow Connection' is a zig zag quilt. I think it's going to be for our bed...who knows? Much piecing to be done.

A table runner that I practiced hand quilting on. It has needed binding for quite some time and it'll give me an easy finish.

Another one for a baby-to-be. Simple but very cute panel. I'll machine quilt it.

Oooh look another panel. As above.

Some scrummy, girly fun fabrics for girl baby-to-be (the only one I know what the sex is...because her mum accidentally told me - oops!) probably a simple star pattern.

I'm hoping to start (and finish) this stitchery, well the whole quilt actually, with my favourite wenches B and Jules.

Finally Swoony. I've never made a quilt for my one true love and it's really about time that I did. His favourite colour is blue and mine is green so I'm hoping to make it a perfect fit for both of us.  

So that's me exposed.

Eleven, yes ELEVEN tops to be pieced and/or quilted.

Five quilts to be started and finished....um, also at least a few other for the remaining babies.

Eeeek that probably means TWENTY QUILTS to complete.

Bugger.

Oh well, I'll be a super sewist (my new word) in 2012.

Wishing you all good luck and productivity with all that you begin this year.

Abbe :o)

Ps. I am linking into the 12 WIP's in 2012 created by AJ. A bit of extra motivation for me.

A meeting of minds

Sometimes the best way to get an invitation to somebodies house is to just invite yourself.

Ms Narioka and myself plotted and then garnered ourselves an 'invitation' to visit that Bianca girl who makes stuff. Not such a big trip now that she is a Victorian again.

I packed the kid.

Ooh look shiny thing!

I packed the car. 

Kisssy smoochy noises!!

I packed some craft. 

This finger tastes almost as good as my thumb!

I packed some munchies. 

See no evil!

What's the point of having kids if you can't amuse yourself with them???

There was craft - Bianca's scrumptious hexies. 

Julies wonderfully pretty hair clips. 

We stayed up late talking while we stitched.

We had an ace time.

Welcome home B.

There was a missing member to the quartet - her nose is in a book as she studies hard but next time...whoa nelly, it'll be a SIT reunion!

Photos taken by the rather effortlessly talented Jules.

Another visit to RCH for Master Harvey and his gammy hip.

He had an ultrasound with the brace on and then with it off and it's doing really, really well.

He's even allowed time off for good behaviour so he had his first bath in four weeks. He was quite swimmy once he realised he could be.

Back to the doctor in 5 weeks so fingers crossed for lots more growing which will make this process lots quicker for Harvs.

Today he modelled a gorgeous 'bomber' style jacket from the range 'Baby Takes a Trip' designed by my childhood bestie, Hayley. Check out her online store. She stocks really pretty, vintage style clothes for kids.

Quiet night in tonight. Couch, chocolate and trashy tv.

Awesome!

Ab x

My new days

We are doing quite a lot of this.

I am learning to do it in 3 to 4 four hour blocks.

We have had some help this week.

Brothers.

My men. 

And to prove he's my son....check out that middle finger ;o)

We really must get a bath but then water conservation is important so it probably is a good idea to put him in with the dishes. Once he realises he's in the water, he's happy and swimmy.

And then we do some more of this.

I haven't exactly done any crafting but I have sorted through some of my stash for 'boy' fabrics. I'm not sure how many quilts a Harvey needs but there is potential for quite a few.

Thanks for all the love and support bloggy peeps, especially his two 'aunts' Jules and Bianca who have been on the end of the phone when I needed questions answered (to say the least) and advice.

Ab x

Snow, sweltering sun and sewing

Saturday the 16th of Oct I woke up to this.

Yep, SNOW!

Much fun was had with snowballs and snowflakes.

On Sunday the 17th I flew to Darwin.

A whole week with my bloggy mate Bianca and this is the view from her yard!

More than 30 degrees and beautiful blue skies.

It was sooooo wonderfully warm.

Bianca took me on some sight seeing. We visited the war memorial at Adelaide River and then met up with another blogger, Kirsty. We enjoyed a lovely lunch (yum!) with her and then we made her do show-and-tell. Kirsty has an amazing eye for colour and is making some fabulous things.

We also visited Litchfield National Park where we saw some wonderful water falls, termite mounds and a flame tree or two.

 I also had the wonderful experience of crying with laughter when I turned around at one water hole to find Ms Bianca flat on her back in the water, camera in hand and look of surprise on her face. It took me more than five minutes just to able to pull myself together enough to ask if she was okay. Last night I thought about it again and started laughing out loud in bed. Ahhh laughing at with your mates...is there anything better?

 She might be a bit wet and soggy but she was still laughing as she told me to F off!

And this little chestnut is the stunning mini quilt that B made me for the quilt swap we were in. I love it and I think it'll look great in the baby's room no matter what flavour we have. Just need to get a baby's room....

The girl does mighty good points!

And guess what? You're mad and I'm not....

AND on Wednesday I am turning 30!!!!

I'm not quite having the large celebration I had originally been planning. I'm going to save that for my 31st when I have Baby CP ensconced with a babysitter so I can let my hair down (yep, already planning escapes) and really party.

I better have a giveaway as it will also co-incide with my 100th POST.

More details on Wednesday.

Better get some chores done so I can earn some slobbing time this arvo.

A HUGE thanks to Bianca and her munchkins for having me for a week. Funny who you can meet on the internet and amazing that they can turn into real and fabulous, life-long friends. Yep B, you're stuck with me!

Sew well peeps,

Ab xx