"Lettuce" be Crafty Today!

'Lettuce' be crafty today!
I've been eyeing off the fruit and vegetables we 'd bought a while back from Ikea, and often thought that they cant be that hard to make... can they? We have an abundance of felt and a rainbow of colour variety on hand to choose from here so today is the day to give it a go and  after a bit of cutting and two little helpers that have spread felt from one end of the house to the other, we managed to get one piece made so far...

The slightly smaller and darker Ikea 'lettuce' is picture in the background. In the end it was pretty easy and took me about 20 minutes to sew together. I can see many more fruit and vegetables being added to the play kitchen collection. Miss 4 has also even suggested that we "make lots so we can have a shop" Hmm the little Lemonade bake stand tutorial I found on Pinterest could easily be converted to a little fruit and vegetable shop. Just imagine how cute it would look...

The original tutorial on how to make this little stand can be found at
http://lilluna.com/tutorial-tuesday-vintage-lemonade-stand/.
Then I remember that Ashleigh at
http://www.lilblueboo.com/2012/02/project-playroom-storage-solutions.html also has a heap of tutorials titled 'Project Playroom' with some other great tutorials on creating an awning, setting up play shelving and scales etc. So go crazy, have some fun creating the little people in your life will LOVE it.
If you would like me to email you a couple of vegetable patterns that I have hand drawn contact me at groobiteam@optusnet.com.au Please put in your subject line vegetable patterns.

Chocolate Peppermint Sundae Cupcake Recipe

Chocolate Peppermint Sundae Cupcake 

Recipe to Share.

  Chocolate Cupcake Mix

Ingredients:

1 cup Water

1 cup Castor sugar

1 1/2 cups Self Raising flour

2 Eggs room temperature

2 table spoons Cocoa

120g Butter

1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda

Method:

Preheat moderate oven (170/ 180 deg C). In saucepan simmer Water, Sugar, Butter, Cocoa, and Baking Soda for 5 mins then leave to stand until just warm. In mixing bowl sift flour add eggs and pour in cooled ingredients mix gently or fold until combined. Spoon into desired size patty pans cooking time will vary from 10 mins for mini cakes to 30 mins for Texas size muffin cakes. I like to take the cake out when it 'just' springs back and may be a tiny bit tacky still on the top, as the will finish cooking a bit after they are taken from the oven. When tray has cooled a little turn out onto rack to complete cooling, then they'll be ready to decorate. The cake on it's own also freezes well in airtight container so if you are preping for a party make some a week ahead.

Peppermint Icing (Frosting) and Decorations

This is my favourite best ever basic butter cream topping with a bit extra added in! Makes enough mix for 12 large cupcakes.

Ingredients:

125 g Unsalted Butter Room temperature (If you want a whiter finish you can substitute some butter for Cofa )

1 1/2 cups of Icing Sugar Mixture

1 Tablespoon Milk room temperature

2 drops Green Colour ( can add more or less depending on the brand and type of food colouring)

1/2 teaspoon Peppermint Essence ( you can also add more or less to taste)

A few VERY crushed Oreo's

Method:

Using an electric mixer, beat butter in a bowl until it turns pale. Gradually adding icing sugar and milk into the mixture alternately, beating constantly until combined and smooth. Mix in colour and flavour to taste (just a little at a time so as not too overdo it) Fold in Crushed Oreo. Put into piping bag and swirl on! Nearly done, Mmmmmm. Have you been able to restrain yourself  so far? There are some great piping tips and technique over at...

 http://glorioustreats.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/cupcake-basics-how-to-frost-cupcakes.html

Finally and last but not least every Sundae has to have some chocolate drizzled across the top. I have melted a small amount of milk chocolate for mine and using a spoon drizzle lines across, You'll need to work fast here so with a little helper put chocolate star sprinkles of before chocolate sets. Dust with some green edible glitter and you're done. Your Chocolate Peppermint Sundae Cupcake is ready to eat. My kids say they taste just like Choc mint biscuits! They don't last long here in this house.