Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Wow What a Weekend

Well I have had a top weekend and this past few days...


I went to visit my dear friend Judy and see her newest member of the "Family".
Pandora is a gorgeous Milker and has such a sweet nature, she just sat there and let us pat her and scratch her head...I even gave her a little neck massage...she is truly a sweety.
wow does she give good milk...it has been many years since I have had "Farm Fresh" milk from a cow...I had some in my tea and even brought some home so I could cook up some goodies with it.
We had some fun trying to make some butter while I was there but it was doomed from the start I think because we had too much liquid in with the cream (see success later in post).

 All of the goats decided they wanted to get some pats as well and swamped us as you can see in the pictures.
The big white boy in the front left of the picture is TJ and he became my shadow because I gave him a really good scratch between the hip bones where he can't reach...so adorable.

I am looking forward to some adventures in cheese making in the near future.

Boy how I love the freshness and smell of farm fresh milk....

Whole wheat...
I have a whisper mill that is on loan to me for the next 20 years or so from Judy's sister. I have had it for 8 months now and not had a chance to use it. well after a refresher trial at Judy's house I managed to make my own flour from some organic whole wheat I got from a health food store in our local shopping centre.

The Whisper Mill


Fresh Whole Wheat Flour
I decided to make some Almond and Chocolate muffins with my home milled flour and farm fresh milk...


They were a big hit with the family...the tastiest I have had for a long time.
On Monday morning we decided to skim the cream from the top of the milk because it had separated quite well and make some butter.
I just put the cream in my food processor and turned it on...
I got so excited when watching it separate from the butter milk that I forgot add some salt...oh well it just became unsalted butter. we saved the buttermilk and froze it for another day.
but the Butter looked and tasted so divine it won't last long in our house.

In the end we got about 100g-150g of butter from approximately 600ml of cream.
I scraped it out of the food processor and wrapped it in grease proof baking paper so I could squeeze pout the last of the buttermilk. after that I just stuck it in the fridge to harden up a bit.
hubby had it this morning in his sautéed mushrooms for breakfast, he says it is awesome and very delicious...
wow what a heap of fun we have had.

What have you been cooking lately? What do you think of farm fresh...do you yearn for the outdoors and beauty of farm living like I do? but sadly live with a bunch of city slickers (hubby and kids)...
Oh well one can always dream...

Happy Living

Amanda














Saturday, April 21, 2012

Winners are Grinners...


Prize Draw...

For the Handbag book...Number 3 came out which is a woman very close to me (Mum) I know this seems a bit suspicious but I assure you it was quite legit...

Love your Lunchbag book ,can not wait for October,love you, see you then.
(have the nana room ready) (:

I Went through and those that said they wanted the Handbag book were given a number in order of their comment post.
So Congratulations Dolly Cloth/Rita/Mum...
it will be on it's way to you.


The Apron Book...Congratulations Mimi...


I am now following your new blog and it looks great!!! I love the apron book - thanks for the chance!!

 please email me through this blog with your address so I can arrange postage asap.


Now for those who did not write a preference I just put you all in for the Home Hints book...

the Lucky winner is...

Hi Amanda,
I love the new look and especially the new name. So glad that you are still around in the blogging world.

Tracee, please email me through this blog with your address so I can arrange postage asap.



Ok all done Lovely Ladies... I hope you enjoy your books, please comment me in the future when you get your book s so I know it arrived.

Happy stitching, Cooking and Home making to you  all

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Give away extended


Sorry Ladies I have been caught up in Life stuff and will extend this giveaway till Friday night 20th April 2012...
sorry for any inconvenience...

Happy Stitching.

Amanda

Thursday, April 12, 2012

New Beginnings...


Welcome to my new Blog.
It is said that a change is as good as a holiday…Well I am not sure if I totally agree with that, I have had some really nice holidays and this is not quite the same. I do understand what is meant though.
I have felt like changing my Blog name etc. for ages now but have lacked the time or determination to do it. But here I am on the tail end of school holidays and ready to persue the change.
What was wrong with Cloth Doll lover? You may ask, nothing really except the fact that I truly did not put much thought into a name when I first discovered Blogger and made the first Blog. Now I have had much time over the last few years to think about it and finally do something.

I hope you like the changes and continue to follow me here.
I have added a couple of pages to this new Blog, Recipes and Home Hints etc (maybe more too). It will make it easier to follow the recipe section if that is all you are interested in, or the Home hints etc.


A give away…
In celebration of my new Blog I have decided to have a give away…But it is a bit different, I am having a give away for each different page that I have.
Sewing…
Home Hints…
Recipes…
Go on click on the tabs at top to discover the give aways…
Looking forward to sharing with you all my fun times in these areas.