The Bloggers' Dinner Party

I recently stumbled upon a lovely blog, Needle and Spatula, by the very talented Kate S. who is an avid crafter. Of particular interest to me was the Blogger’s Dinner party:

“The Bloggers' Dinner Party will be a monthly link-up for you to show off handmade placemats, table runners, napkins, trivets and any other handcrafted item related to serving a delicious dinner!  Items should either be hand-sewn or significantly modified (such as by screen printing, freezer paper stenciling, embroidery, etc).   Each month you can enter one item (or set of items); the item(s) entered must have been made within the past year” (from the blog)

Now, I sew mostly clothes and have just recently ventured into the world of bags, thanks to the Amy Butler Style Stitches Book that I received for Mother’s Day. More on that in a later blog when I actually have a finished bag to show off!

I do however have many household items along this line that I have been meaning to sew. I also have  fabric collected on a trip to Namibia and South Africa in 2008. Lots of animal prints and very pretty, all waiting to be made into household items.  In fact I did make a few placemats a month or so ago and am going to sign up and enter them for this month.

So, these placemats that I made are from end of the roll pieces. So there was only enough for 3 of each pattern. I backed them with quilt weight plain cotton, with batting sandwiched in between. I didn’t quilt as such, but did frame the print with stitching.

Rhinos, zebras and lions

Guinea Fowl

I won’t be using them for a dinner party, but just casual every day dinners (at the kitchen table or out on the deck).  As these have an Africa theme, I thought I would share a traditional South African recipe.

”Melktert” (milk tart) is very popular in South Africa as a dessert of with a cup of tea or coffee any time of the day.

Line a 22cm tart dish with pastry, I sometimes make my own, but often buy frozen pastry as well!

Filling
500ml milk (2 cups)
1 stick cinnamon
25ml butter (2 T)
50ml sugar (4T)
2 Eggs
50 ml Cake Flour (4T)

1. Bring the milk to almost boil in a large pot with the cinnamon stick.
2. Combine the sugar and flour and stir in the hot milk slowly.
3. Return to the heat and cook for 15 minutes with the lid off.
4. Remove from heat and stir in the butter.
5. When cool, add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
6. Pour the filling mixture in to the pastry lined plate
7. Bake at 200 deg C (400 deg F) for 20 minutes.
8. Before serving sprinkle the top with powdered cinnamon and castor sugar.

Serve cool or cold.

Unfortunately I haven’t made it for a while, so no pic to share!