Recipe: Mini egg & bacon pies

I can't believe I haven't shared this recipe before. A staple party food in our house growing up - and that still continues. This is obviously one for the meat eaters amongst you. Simple and yummy the same as all of the recipes I share. I usually make double as they freeze really easily.

Mini Egg & Bacon Pies NMAA Cooks

250g shortcrust pastry (my younger sister uses puff pastry)

3 rashers of bacon

1 med onion, chopped or 1 tbsp chives chopped

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk or cream

2 teaspoons chopped parsley

salt and cayenne pepper (I don't add either)

125g cheese, grated.

Line greased patty tins (about 36) with 1/8" thick rounds of pastry (I use ready made and rolled frozen pastry sheets from supermarket. I cut circles with a scone cutter - size that is right for your tray). I use a round bottomed tray - I don't know what it is called but could use any small muffin tray. Chop bacon and fry lightly with onion. Beat eggs and add all other ingredients. Put a tablespoonful of mixture in each one and bake at 190 oC (375 oF) for 15 minutes. Very yummy!

More buttons...

More buttons on the way to the Haby Goddess today and a good chance to show you a couple more of the new fabrics I collected in January. Both of these are being sold in sets of 5 sewing buttons.

.

Liberty of London Sewing Buttons

On the way to the Haby Goddess right now! Beautiful soft cotton fabric in modern Liberty florals. Lots of little sewing buttons - packaged in sets of 3 - for your latest project. If you do ever use any Buttons by Lou Lou sewing buttons I would love to see how you use them - email me at buttonsbyloulou@yahoo.com.au

A lovely morning

On saturday morning I had a few child free hours out and about. I visited the addictive fabric shop Patchwork on Central Park and bought some gorgeous fabrics that of course I didn't need at all. I also visited the Little shop of handmade in Carnegie and had a chat to the lovely Bec. So nice to see so much Melbourne handmade all in one place.

Hello blog!

I have been having blog withdrawal - sad but true. I had so many emails and other bits and pieces to catch up on that I haven't let myself blog for a few days. I could imagine too many people saying 'well if she has time to blog, why doesn't she have time to reply to my email!!' So sorry to the people that I still haven't replied to - the call was too strong...

Milk Thieves Art & Design

Milk Thieves Art & Design. Mini market of handmade art, design and craft. Shop 10A/157 Crown St, Wollongong NSW 2500. Open Mon - Sat 10am.

Goodbye to January...hello 2010

Well my January button break (which turned out to be a semi-break) is now officially over. I am sorry to everyone who emailed because I was slack and disorganised. I am now officially open again for wholesale orders. I did enjoy my time. I read 3 novels (after about a year of none), I unpacked some more moving boxes (6 months on), I had my car serviced, went to the dentist, visited with the in-laws and said goodbye again as they returned overseas. I had a tidier house, I am now a friend of the zoo (so lots more zoo visits this year), I caught up with other friends (and unfortunately missed others) and I am still exhausted because my children don't sleep! I have also bought lots of new fabric and stocked up on supplies so have lots of lovely new things to make. I have a new logo so I am ready to go...Here's to the rest of the year - I hope it's a good one! I look forward to seeing you 'around'.

Media Art for Kids: Experimenta Utopia Now

Experimenta Utopia Now: International Biennial of Media Art
Melbourne Premiere 12 February - 14 March 2010

The Arts Centre, Black Box

My sister has been working on this very big show with over 30 innovative and interactive media art works from international artists...and the cool bit is that there is a kids program so they can experience the exhibition as well!

Media Tykes FREE!
Every Tuesday morning during the exhibition, mothers, fathers, grandparents, carers and guardians are invited to attend Experimenta Utopia Now with their children (aged 1 – 5yrs) for a short interactive exhibition tour encouraging children to activate the artworks in the exhibition and have fun while learning about art.
Date: Tuesday 16 & 23 February, 2 & 9 March
Time: 10:00am-11:00am
Venue: the Arts Centre, BlackBox, 100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
visit experimenta.org for more details

Put it in your diary. I might see you there...

FUN

Water bombs are fun! Of course at this age you need to follow around and pick up all the pieces but they are so much fun on a nice warm day.

Everything Boys

How cool is this? I am a mum of 2 boys (no girls) and this shop is very cool! It is a new online store (only opened in December) created by a mum of 2 boys who was tired of wading through pink and tutus to find a poor selection for boys at the end. This store covers newborn to 8 years...happy shopping.

Buttons by Lou Lou Giveaway

April from A City Girl in the Country is celebrating her blog birthday. Her prize - a special prize pack from Buttons by Lou Lou. A lovely idea from a lovely repeat customer...pop over here to enter before Thursday 28th Jan 5pm (Melbourne, Australia time).

A Special Brew

Does this bring back memories of the tea, perfume, soup, etc. that you used to make for your parents? Mmmmm...This one is actually not too bad as the main ingredient is mint.

Crowns for a princess...but no princess

On the weekend it was my niece's birthday. You might have seen the hair elastics I made to be part of the take home present. Well, I made some Princess (and Prince) crown biscuits for my sister. She was going to have the children decorate them as a party activity. Unfortunately the princess was sick! So the party has been re-scheduled for next weekend so we will be making more crowns this week. The kids coming to play this morning will have fun decorating!

RECIPE: Sweet Biscuits NMAA Cooks
125g butter, 125g sugar (castor or icing), 1 egg, flavouring (I used 1 tsp vanilla), 125g self-raising flour, 125g plain flour

Cream the butter and sugar, add egg and vanilla, mix thoroughly. Add flours and mix to a smooth dough. Knead to a creamy consistency on a floured surface. Roll and cut as you wish. Bake on a greased tray in moderate oven 180 oC (350 oF) for 15-20 minutes.

Baby and Toddler Headbands

I have had a number of enquiries about the baby and toddler headbands I wrote about recently so I thought I would show you some more examples and let you know that I have now listed some in my Etsy shop. I am still open to custom orders of course. I have the headbands in red, white and pink at the moment. Lou.