a recipe~ chocolate mudcake

A couple of years ago I made this cake all the time; it was my never fail-go to desert recipe. Last week was my brothers birthday and he only had one request, could I please make him one of my mudcakes? Here is the recipe.

Chocolate Mudcake

Preheat oven to 150 degrees Celsius and grease and line a large round (I use 28cm) springform cake pan.

In a large pot over a low heat melt together (stirring regularly)

250 grams good quality dark cooking chocolate

200 grams butter

1 tablespoon chocolate nesquick

2 cups white sugar

1 1/2 cups water

Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before mixing in (I use a whisk)

1 1/2 cups self raising flour

1/4 cup of cocoa

2 eggs

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Bake for 1 hr 15 min

I find this cake is really sweet and does not need icing, just a dusting of icing sugar and a big dollop of  double cream.

Enjoy.

KCWE show and tell~ apple pants

At this rate I may only be able to tell about what I am sewing my babies as they hit the wash before I get around to taking a photo of them {though I should be happy that they are happy to wear what I make for them- I always say to my friend, who sews for her children, that by the time I get a chance to sew my children much in the way of clothing they will be too old to want to wear it}. Lucky these pants are dark so that the days dirt doesn't show too much.

The fabric for these pants came from a pair of long ladies shorts that I picked up at the op shop for about $2. I just cut up the seams to get the fabric for the four leg pieces though when it came to the second front piece the side pocket and bottom of the fly needed to be unpicked {I hate unpicking}.

I used a shorts pattern to get the basic shape and just extended the length. I also put in some little hip pockets and knee pockets made out of a scrap of apple fabric from years ago. For the waistband I just did  the basic fold over type and did not realise that it is not the best option if you have hip pockets.

I used the original hem from the pants I cut up but then needed to take them up as they were too long {the joys of sewing for your children while they sleep, with no real pattern}. The back fits fine but the front is a bit roomy {it doesn't help that she wears them on her hips instead of her waist} so I will have to tweak my pattern or try another next time. Though my daughter does not mind one bit.

i'm in

This is just the kick in the pants that I need to sew up some of my stash before my husband sees how big it is getting and puts me on a ban.
Last night I did get some sewing done and almost completed two shirts but one still needs it's neck binding and he other needs its threads cut and as of yet I have not been able to get it off my daughter so pictures will come later.
Bring on tonight.

It's been a while

It seems as if my month blogged has not done anything in the way of helping me develop new habits. In my defence I have been on holidays interstate visiting family and I have also been tired, oh so tired {but that is another story}.
I have wanted to record our simple daily moments here that I am afraid are already becoming hazzy in my busy mummy mind {that seems to not hold onto things the way it did before my two babies were born}.
Hopefully I'll be back again soon.

The view from my clothesline- makes hanging the washing seem like a little less of a chore {though at the moment, with the weather warming up, I still enjoy being able to hang the washing outside, instead of clothes racks in my bedroom}