Pretty Pickles. Beauty in the every day kitchen

Love in the Kitchen - Heart shaped jellies

2012-03-11T00:02:00.001-08:00

I love discovering things that can multi-task. I particularly delight in finding multiple use in things that don't intend to serve more than one purpose. This love heart ice cube tray was a hand-me-down from my boyfriend's sister. As I've been obsessed with jelly making lately, I thought I'd try making some in these trays. Once the jelly set, they were quite difficult to pop out without cracking. What worked best for me was using a toothpick to trace around the edges to aid in the removal. Serve with ice cream and you've got an easy Sunday treat. Strawberry jelly...yum.

As you can see, there were some not so perfect hearts.

Our multi-tasking ice cube tray.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

More from Disney's Little Mermaid

2012-03-06T23:15:00.002-08:00

These are just a few more pics of the costumes from my Little Mermaid themed birthday. The fabric was purchased at Reverse Garbage, a not-for-profit organisation that encourages the re-use of things other people would consider garbage. In sum, they take lots of stuff from big fashion houses and manufacturers and sell them to arts and crafters like myself. We found this gorgeous mermaid-esque fabric here.

I really wasn't sure what to do with Ariel's top and decided to go with the no sew, easy option, using one piece of fabric tied around the bust area.

Table setting with foam stars spray painted gold and painted sea shells from the craft store.

San Pellegrino bottles spray painted gold for vases.

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My Under the Sea Soiree

2012-03-03T21:43:00.000-08:00

To kick off the start of another decade, I decided to host an Under the Sea Soiree for my 30th. It was a fancy dress high tea, with guests dressed up as all kinds of sea creatures-Ursula the Sea Witch, Flounder, scuba divers, seaweed and pearls just to name a few. One of my friends said he felt like he was at his 5 year old niece's birthday party and that was exactly the point. I don't have Peter Pan syndrome or anything, it's just fun to channel your inner kid...and that we did, with an afternoon of charades, sing-song (mostly from Ursula the Sea Witch) and a jellyfish pinata that died a very slow death.

Delicious to the eyes and taste buds, this scrumptious Little Mermaid Marble Chocolate Cake was from http://heavenlycakes.com.au.

On the high tea menu: Starfish cucumber and smoked salmon sandwiches, vanilla cupcakes with 'pearls' on top, ocean water jelly cups, veggie quiches and a delicious cheese platter

Homemade jellyfish pinata. Ours died a very slow death and note to self for next time, only use 3 layers max when making paper mache pinatas.

Flounder costume. Thanks to American Apparel for having the perfect yellow for this costume. This was so simple to make with some simple sewing and fabric scraps. If you want more detailed instructions, let me know.

A scene from The Little Mermaid. Making these costumes was so rewarding...

Planting Herbs in Coconuts

2012-02-24T02:57:00.000-08:00

I've always had a purple thumb when it comes to gardening but I couldn't resist when I saw spearmint planted in a coconut. They were sitting by the side of the road, near the Sunday Marrickville markets waiting to be adopted. It's been a week and I'm proud to say that my mint and spearmint plants are still thriving. The trick is in the soil said the previous owner. He had a worm farm and used the soil for the plants. If anyone has any tips to help me keep these babies alive, please let me know! Thanks very much.

I'm waiting for my mint to blossom so I can make...mint water with lemon, mint cucumber sandwiches, non-alcholic mojitos. More pictures to come.

Homemade Jelly Citrus Cups

2012-02-18T20:04:00.000-08:00

When I started this blog, I wasn't sure I'd keep up with posting on a regular basis. Since I've started though, I've been finding inspiration everywhere. Last night I found this recipe for homemade jelly and decided I'd use oranges, lime and lemons as dessert cups. A burst of citrus in the kitchen.

Juice the oranges and scoop pulp out

Pour jelly into the citrus cups, filling to the top

Let the jelly in the citrus dessert cups set. yum!

Tip: Don't attempt to slice the fruit until it completely sets. When filling the cups, try to fill it to the top as it presents better once the jelly sets.

The Best of Sydney's Best Japanese Restaurants: Miso Japanese Restaurant

2012-02-16T03:53:00.000-08:00

Living in Japan has really refined my discerning taste for authentic Japanese food. Sure, many have the aesthetics but no one really captures superior customer service with authentic flavours like the real thing. One of my friends introduced me to Miso lately and I've been hooked since. Known for its award-winning pork tonkatsu, this joint does bentos like no other. Situated in the heart of the city, this casual restaurant is always bustling.

Average meal: $20-$25680 George St Shop 20 World SquareTel: 02 9283 9686

What to do with mini succulents

2012-02-13T14:23:00.000-08:00

We have a friend who loves succulents and at her wedding recently, she had them as wedding favors. How cute and so easy to do! Tie some craft paper and ribbon around it for a personal touch.

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Love at The Fabric Store

2012-02-11T23:23:00.000-08:00

I love fabric. I'm fascinated by the colours, textures and the endless possibilities they present. And so you can imagine my excitement when I learned (through Peppermint Magazine) that The Fabric Store was having their annual sale, all fabrics were to be sold at 50% off. Now usually, such a generous offer comes with a few catches but to my surprise, there wasn't. The place was stocked with an array of whimsical silks, funky nylons and layered colour combinations in every colour imaginable. I found cotton blends from Tigerlily, champagne pink silk from Lisa Ho and a timeless nautical print from DKNY, all at 50% off. With much self control, I walked away with a collection of yellow hues. Bright and cheery, they'll definitely be pieces of inspiration for my next collection.

Pay them a visit, the team there are lovely!21 Cooper Street, NSW, Surry Hills(02) 9211 2217

Just a cheery burst of sunshine for my desk.

Sweet Healthy Treats

2012-02-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

They say you start gaining a pound a year after you reach your mid-20s and I didn't believe this held true until I checked the scales a little while ago. So whilst I'm a quest to eat better and exercise more, I've come up with ways to make my desserts as attractive as one that is ridden with fat and calories. I love how these cupcake holders look with a scoop of French Vanilla Yoghurt topped with frozen blueberries and raspberries. Yum!

Cupcake Headphones

2012-02-07T01:37:00.000-08:00

All the presents I received this past Christmas had some food element to it; Babushka measuring cups, paper cupcake holders, a crepe maker and these cute headphones. I got these over Christmas and thought they were so cute and even quite functional in blocking out the background noise. I wonder if anyone has noticed them during my morning and afterwork commute....

Some tunes I'm listening to:

Beyonce: Love on Top
Bruno Mars: Count on Me
Katy Perry: Teenage Dream (yes, a bit old but I still love it)
Madonna and Nicki Minaj: Give me all your Luvin (it is so annoying catchy)

Here's a link to buy your own at Amazon, on sale for $10.00.

http://www.amazon.com/cub-21558-Cupcake-Earphones/dp/B003BPT0UC

Colours Lemon and Mint

2012-02-07T01:07:00.000-08:00

It's officially crunch time to get my apron designs finalised so the production can be begin. Everything takes so much longer than expected, even the fun parts. Though I loved looking through colour options, being spoilt by choice did not make it easy. Here's just a preview....

Lemon and Mint - Such happy colours. A little bit of yellow always brightens me up and Mint is such a calming colour. It's the ideal balance of calm and happiness.

What colour combinations do you love?

Some Words to Live By...and Post-Its

2012-02-04T21:14:00.001-08:00

I've been seeing this quote in the blogosphere of late and I love it. This is a snapshot of my collection of quotes, scattered out into colourful post-its on one of our walls. It brings a bit of colour on the grey washed walls and reading it helps me start my day with lots of positive energy. Got a quote to add to my wall? Comment here.

Valentine’s Day Idea: Love Notes

2012-02-01T02:24:00.000-08:00

Who wouldn’t love to wake up to mini love notes? After all, it’s the little things that count. In celebration of Valentine’s Day, I commissioned a little DIY project over the weekend to make these messages in a bottle.

What you need:

Small glass bottles
Gold spray paint
Ribbon
Craft Paper
Baker’s Twine

Directions: Place the bottles into a cardboard box to prevent coloring your carpet/furniture. Spray bottles from a 30cm distance and leave to dry for 24 hours and decorate as you please. You might want to don a mask whilst you're spraying... all those chemicals I inhaled during this project can't be good. They make great vases, though I thought flowers would be a bit girly for my boyfriend.

Tip: It took me several times to refine my technique to prevent the spray paint from bubbling. The trick is to layer thin layers of paint.

Best Part of the Job is Playing with Colours

2012-01-30T03:33:00.000-08:00

I've been carrying swatches of colours with me everywhere. They're in my bag, in between my notebooks and the other day I found a swatch under my pillow. Choosing a palette for my aprons was definitely a highlight in my 30 day race to the launch. Here's a snippet of the colours and patterns I've been looking at. Let me know what you think!

Three Things I Learned from Baking Blueberry and Coconut Muffins

2012-01-27T00:20:00.000-08:00

I’ve never been a great baker. In fact, I still vividly remember the time my muffins from a Betty Crocker mix came out rock hard, with the potential to seriously hurt someone. Two gifts of late inspired me to give it another go. Cute Babushka Measuring Cups and girly cupcake cases. Three things I learned in my afternoon of baking.

1. Check on your baked goods, often.

Even if you follow baking instructions with diligence, cooking times and temperatures may vary with ovens. My boyfriend’s oven for example, cooks much faster than the one I have at home. As per my colleague’s advice, check on your work as soon as you smell baking.

2. Use primer for your cupcake cases

Cupcake cases that cling on to your treat is always a pet peeve of mine. To avoid this, I lightly spray the bottom of the cases with olive oil before I pour in the muffin mix.

3. Every Ingredient Counts

What I love about cooking is that you’re fully aware of all the ingredients you’re consuming. Every ingredient counts so when shopping, opt for organic where possible for optimal taste.

To bake your own bluberry and coconut muffins try our preferred recipe -

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/24088/blueberry+and+coconut+muffins

What to do with wooden pegs

2012-01-25T21:37:00.000-08:00

I stumbled into these cute mini wooden pegs at a Dollar Store in Lane Cove, Sydney. I knew I'd find use for them somehow, starting with my Christmas wrapping. I know it's a bit late to talk about Christmas but you can use them as gift tags all year round.

Snippets of my 2012 Vision Board

2012-01-24T02:59:00.000-08:00

Super model and power mum Miranda Kerr keeps one and if you've read The Secret, you'll know it's one of the tools to success. I'm a visual person and so creating this vision board really helped me organise what I wanted to achieve this year. I had so much fun cutting out scraps of fabric, momentos and pictures of million dollar homes and yachts. Yes, big dreams but I also believe in the law of attraction. As in life, this board is still a work in progress but one thing is certain...I've booked my fights to Hong Kong and Toronto and am gearing up to launch the Pretty Pickles shop! Watch this space. x

Sample test post

2012-01-18T17:42:00.000-08:00

Hello my pretty pickles, a new blog is just beginning... more to come :)

Another test post

2012-01-11T12:49:00.000-08:00