Bloggers' Dinner Party

OK enough already! I am now officially retiring all the blue and white print from my stash! Two bags (Tear Drop and Key Keeper Coin Purse) and now placemats!!!

Set of 4

I decided that I wanted to do something different so tried my hand at a crazy log cabin quilt! Some of the fabric I used the wrong side out to change things up a bit. Also because the white print seemed a bit bright.

Close up view of the patchwork

Looking around the house I also remembered a coffee pot cosy that I had cross stitched and then finished with this blue fabric.

Coffee Cosy

Also these two little bags that I will put some of my home grown lavender in when it has dried.

Sachets for lavendar

Definitely time to work with some different fabric now!!

For a recipe, I thought I'd share another traditional South African recipe (as this fabric is from South Africa). Bobotie. A type of meat loaf that is regarded as South Africa's national dish by most people!

THE BOBOTIE FILLING

· 500g ground beef

· 2 eggs

· 2 slices  stale white bread, crusts removed

· 1 onion, thinly sliced

· 2 tbsp cooking oil

· 2 tbsp hot water

· 2 tbsp sugar

· 2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp smooth apricot jam

· 2 tsp curry powder

· ½ tsp ground cloves

· 1 tsp garlic, crushed

· 1 tsp turmeric

· ½ tsp salt

THE BOBOTIE TOPPING

· 1 egg, lightly beaten

· ½ cup milk

· Bay leaves or lemon leaves for garnishing

TO MAKE THE BOBOTIE FILLING

Pre-heat the oven to 175^o C.

Soak the bread in water for 10 minutes, squeeze out the excess and then crumble.


In a large frying pan, heat the oil and braise the onion until golden.

Break the two eggs into a large bowl and beat lightly. Mix in the ground beef

Add the onion mixture from the frying pan, the hot water, lemon juice, apricot jam, crumbled bread, turmeric and sugar to the mince, mixing well.

Spoon the mixture into a well-greased, oven-proof dish and bake for 40 minutes, or until golden brown and then remove from the oven.

TO MAKE THE BOBOTIE TOPPING


Combine the other egg with the milk and beat well. Pour the mixture over the bobotie and arrange the bay/lemon leaves as garnish. Return to the oven and bake at 175^o C for 10 minutes, or until the topping is set.



Serve the Bobotie with a large salad and yellow rice. 

Enjoy!!!!

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!