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Our jam supplies were running low (since I have started making homemade jam we seem to be consuming much larger quantities of jam – probably because it just tastes so amazing when compared to the shop bought stuff and I give a lot of it away!). With winter just starting the suitable fruit available for making preserves was dwindling. My DH mentioned that the plum jam I made was his favourite, so I made up another batch with the last black plums of the season (I think the supermarket had frozen them – don’t you hate that!). This time I made Vanilla and Plum Jam, and let me tell you the addition of the vanilla made this jam so MUCH NICER! I used the recipe I found here.
One of my favourite things about making jam is dressing up the jars. Usually I make my own labels but I found these simple labels at domestifluff and they were perfect! Teamed with some Heather Bailey fabric and some raffia, my jam was ready for giving and eating.
During the week I found a fabulous tutorial for dyeing paper doileys with food colouring. You can find the instructions and sweet images at Charlottes Fancy. I have a thing for doileys lately and have been using them in gift wrapping, for displaying cupcakes etc, and it was oh so fun to colour my own in pretty pastel shades. Once they were dry, I ironed them flat and they are now ready to incorporate into some projects. I think they will make an appearance at our family gathering tomorrow for Mothers Day.
Don’t they look sweet with some of my favourite baking cups!
I have used a couple in wrapping my Mum’s present for Mothers Day. Notice the washi tape with the lace pattern – I found it here. (My collection of Japanese Washi Masking tape seems to be growing).
Happy Mothers Day to all the Mothers out there celebrating tomorrow!
Vanilla plum jam sounds so delicious! especially on a tasty scone or toast. I love how you dress up your jars, and your gifts with those pretty doilies. cool idea, especially if you have them on hand and need to give a last minute gift.
Hi there Sweetpea! There’s just something special about homemade jam and it’s even more special when you present it nicely. Yum Yum. Kind regards, Anita. PS Happy Mother’s Day to you.
Happy Mother’s Day to you! I’m so “selfish” when it comes to my jams that I get to the next summer with a fait amount of jams from the previous year! I should be more generous, shouldn’t I? (or make less!!!)
That jam jar is so pretty its a shame to open it, but I’m sure its worth it the vanilla bits sounds interesting ? never heard of using it in jam so thanks for that xx
I never heard of using vanilla flavoring in a fruit preserve, but now must try it out – maybe in peach for us. I went right over to Charlotte’s fancy to look at the doilies – they are so pretty.
What a fantastic way to present the jams, i’ve been wondering how to make my own labels and your’s look so cute. By the way, i’ve started making preserves as well and have been obsessed. Since Sunday i’ve made 10 jars of Kumquat marmalade, 4 jars of savoury quince jelly and quince membrillo.AND i’ve started curing 5 kilos of olives. I’m addicted, I can’t stop.
Most of my free time will be spent in the kitchen over the two weeks. Some of my recipes are going to feature in a cookbook to be published in a few months time, and I need to perfect them and get them ready for styling and photographing. It is very exciting – although I am not professionally trained, I have had a love of cooking and baking (and eating) for many years!
Here is a sneak peak at my Baby Lime Syrup Cakes (These ones were photographed by me a few weeks ago). I can’t wait to see what the stylist does to all my recipes.
Baby Lime Syrup Cakes
Ingredients:
125 g unsalted butter, softened 175 g caster sugar 175 g self raising flour, sifted 2 eggs Zest of one lime Pinch of salt 100ml milk
Syrup:
100ml lime juice (juice from 1-2 limes) 100g icing sugar Few drops of coconut essence
Method:
Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a 12 hole muffin tin and line each hole with two strips of paper to assist in gently lifting the cakes out when cooked. Cream together butter and sugar. Add the eggs and lime zest and beat well. Gently fold in the flour and salt, and then the milk. Spoon mixture into the muffin tins and cook for 25 minutes. While the cakes are cooking prepare the syrup by adding the icing sugar, lime juice, and coconut essence and heating gently on the stovetop until the sugar is dissolved. When the baby lime cakes are cooked, place the tin on a wire rack and prick them all over with a cake tester. Pour the syrup evenly over the cakes and allow to cool slightly. When the cakes have cooled slightly and most of the syrup has been absorbed, gently loosen each cake with a knife and then gently remove from the tin using the paper strips. The cakes can be decorated with a dollop of lime cream cheese frosting and some lime zest.
My husband went to a conference last week and gave me his conference satchel. I liked its size and messenger bag style and decided it would be perfect when I am doing home visits with my clients. So I transferred it from this……..
……..to this!!
We were tagged by the lovely Jen of Happy Stash for the 6 random facts meme (you have to check out her funny story about her applique related injury!). Here goes:
1. I am allergic to cats and dogs 2. My two children, my Mother, my sister, my brother, and myself were all born on the 6th of a month 3. I have lived in 4 countries, 6 cities, and more than 11 houses/apartments since getting married in 1990. 4. I am 5th generation Australian 5. I am a middle child 6. I love writing lists…
I won’t tag any one in particular but feel free to play along if you would like!
Your recipe looks delicious, Lisa! Congrats on the cookbook inclusion too. I want to try your recipe but limes are hard to find. Maybe I can replace it with lemon or calamansi?
Your messenger bag looks fab! I’m amazed at your clever alteration. 🙂
Congratulations on having your recipes published, it’s wonderful that it came about from your love of baking. The lime cupcakes sound so yummy, will definitely have to try them!
Those lime syrup cakes look delicious. I can’t believe how clever you are being in a recipe book. Can’t wait to see what the stylist does with your things either. Thanks for sharing the recipe now.
love the cupcakes.will find this recipe really handy as i seem to have limes left over.we use limes in the drinks in the bar and the left over i will make something for the special board for the restaurant. fresh limes taste fantastic.i squeeze them straight onto salads all the time.wouldn’t dream of using the squeeze bottle stuff.
Love your photography Lisa, the cupcakes do look delic. I’m glad you added your flare to the messenger bag, I was thinking that before I read all the post. “What will she do to brighten this up?” Looks great. You are such a crafty gal.
That is so exciting Lisa!!! Those cakes look divine and I would love to make some, If it weren’t for this damned “diet” I would be chomping on one right this second…..keep chanting “nothing tastes as good as thin feels” But boy do they sound worth it – yummo! Great satchel too!!
Hi Lisa – well done – that is fantastic getting your recipes in print – it will be interesting to see how a food stylist visualises the subject and to see the photographs in the cookbook – yeah you – so very exciting. Love the remodel of the satchel – I would never have thought to do that – looks so effective and gives it a totally different lease of life 🙂 Hugs Jx
I can’t imagine a food stylist could do any better photographing your lime cakes! Beautiful and very delicous looking. Oh a cookbook…how wonderful…one of my favorite types of books. GREAT messenger bag redo!
Oh, I love lime anything…and these baby cakes look de-lish!! Is the coconut essence essential fo the syrup? I can’t get that too easily where I am living–but I can order online! ;o) Your bag transformation is outstanding–so much prettier now! Happy Days ((HUGS))
O.k. – I’m going to google grams into Cups etc… so I can make your Baby Lime Syrup Cakes! They look delicious. If you know of a site that tells you the conversions from grams to cups/tblspoons…let me know! Thanks! 🙂 Thanks for your support on my blog too! Aussie’s are just the best!
I would never peged you as a middle child! So must be like my husband who too is a middle child but was raised more like a first. How cool for so many to be born on the 6th. And what should I say about lists … we sound more and more a like each time I discover more about you … after I had Josh we went on a big family holiday (mad with 4 kids under 6 including a 3 month old) I wrote lists to remind me of the lists I needed to write! I kid you not! 🙂
Your cooking and sewing always looks so much better than mine! Baah! I think I will have to try harder! Ha! In the mean time I’m going to try out your recipe and see how I go! Jen
Congrats on being published… that is going to be so awesome :o) I can’t wait to see what your stuff looks like… one thing is certain, that it will be yummy. So… after I saw your blog, I was bitten by the baking bug and ended up making chocolate chip cookies. Thank you :o) Take care! xox, Linnea
How exciting! Your stuff is gonna be in a book! Does it make you feel fabulous? Your baby lime cakes look delicious. I hope you have a great time cooking up a storm!
Oh those cakes look sooo yummy! Good work with the bag too – perfect! Everything you and Sarah do is so much fun here – I’ve left you an award over at Dancin’ Puffin (here’s hoping you haven’t already had it).
Well today I made chocolate crackles and they gave me such reminders of school fetes and faces filled with chocolate marks. I love your recipe and will try asap. I wish that I had the need for the messenger, way to go you are so so talented.
Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog! Your cupcakes look fantastic! — and I’m a cupcake connoisseur (I even had one for breakfast this morning — ahh, the breakfast of champions)! :O)
I found you via Linda and the pincushion swap. Just loved your tape measure cover! Those mini-cakes sound glorious! And your own cook-book how amazing! – Well done. Just going to read some more posts of yours now, but you and your ‘partner’ (VBG) seem to get up to some good stuff!
That satchel is the best idea ever! It seems like my husband comes home from work with a new bag every other month or so – I’ve never thought to re-vamp one. I give them to thrift stores about twice a year & now I’m kicking myself that I haven’t kept a few. What a great idea!
What an adorable way to wrap a Mother’s Day gift! I love the way you gift your jam too!
Oh my goodness what a great idea! I never would have thought the doilies would hold up to the water. They look great!
YUM! Plum vanilla jam? Awesome! And love the colored doilies. Nice idea!
🙂
Shannon
http://www.cascobaysoap.blogspot.com
I think I’m going to have to give both the jam and the doilies a go, they both look fantastic!
Your doilies turned out great! Thanks for mentioning Charlotte’s Fancy – much appreciated.
Vanilla plum jam sounds so delicious! especially on a tasty scone or toast. I love how you dress up your jars, and your gifts with those pretty doilies. cool idea, especially if you have them on hand and need to give a last minute gift.
That gift is so lovely in that wrapping, that I wouldn’t even unwrap it!
Seriously!
The jam and presents look to nice to open!
Hi there Sweetpea! There’s just something special about homemade jam and it’s even more special when you present it nicely. Yum Yum. Kind regards, Anita. PS Happy Mother’s Day to you.
Ooh those doilies are so lovely! They remind me of the gorgeous pastel shades of macarons. Your cake box is perfect x
Oh a belated happy birthday!
Happy Mother’s Day to you! I’m so “selfish” when it comes to my jams that I get to the next summer with a fait amount of jams from the previous year! I should be more generous, shouldn’t I? (or make less!!!)
That jam jar is so pretty its a shame to open it, but I’m sure its worth it the vanilla bits sounds interesting ? never heard of using it in jam so thanks for that xx
I never heard of using vanilla flavoring in a fruit preserve, but now must try it out – maybe in peach for us. I went right over to Charlotte’s fancy to look at the doilies – they are so pretty.
What a fantastic way to present the jams, i’ve been wondering how to make my own labels and your’s look so cute. By the way, i’ve started making preserves as well and have been obsessed. Since Sunday i’ve made 10 jars of Kumquat marmalade, 4 jars of savoury quince jelly and quince membrillo.AND i’ve started curing 5 kilos of olives. I’m addicted, I can’t stop.