A rather tidy little competition - take note car lovers !

I have a 1951 Pontiac, and being the classic that it is, I have insured "Ruby Baby" (as my children call her) with Australia's premier 'old car' insurance group, Shannons. I thought I would share the latest Shannons brochure that arrived in Fridays mail - advertising their West Coast and Pebble Beach Tour D'Elegance. If you have ever dreamed of a happy car sojourn in America, you had better head on over to the Shannons website and read up to enter. Happy motoring !

New York, New York

 

Oh my !

 

All you die hard vintage shoppers wont want to miss this.....

 

Contact Kim if you are interested and need more details (the poster is kinda hard to read)

Donna Hay - Chocolate Malt Self Saucing Pudding

Some years ago I received a Donna Hay Chocolate cookbook for my birthday - it has been a delight to trial various recipes from it over the years, but this was the first time I attempted her Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding. May I tell you, it was well worth the effort on this rainy autumn day in old Northern Victoria? Mmmmmm, Beck, Michelle and I hooked into this scrummy dessert dolloped with ice cream as we gasbagged about all things wonderful - from the upcoming local football formal ball to Johnny Depp and Tim Burtons latest collaboration. Why not join us - whip up this decadent delight and have a girls coffee morning some rainy Monday !!!

130g softened butter

1 1/4 cups Castor sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups plain flour

2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup hazelnut meal

1/4 cup malted milk powder

1 cup milk

 

sauce

 

2/3 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup malted milk powder

1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups boiling water

 

(I actually found that I wanted more sauce in the pud....you might like to double the quantity as I will do in the future...)

 

Preheat oven to 170 degrees C. Place butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until pale. Add the eggs gradually and beat until smooth. Sift the flour, baking powder and cocoa over the mixture, add the hazelnut meal, malted milk powder and milk and beat until smooth. Spoon the pudding mixture into a well greased ovenproof baking dish.

 

To make the sauce, place sugar, malted milk powder and cocoa in a bowl, pour over boiling water and stir to combine. Spoon over the pudding mixture and bake for 45-50mins or until risen and cooked when tested with a skewer. Serves 6 plentifully.

Chasing a Vintage Photo Shoot Guys and Gals?

Chasing a vintage photo shoot guys and gals? Look no further !

 

 

Click on the photograph and check out this wonderful promotional clip by

Brooke Orchard Photography.

 

Have a glorious weekend !

 

XOXO

 

Classic Adds to make you smile.....

I have been working in the marketing department of Mawsons - a wonderful family owned company in the town where I live. I simply have to say, marketing is a fascinating business - ever challenging, and ever changing (especially with the advent of multi media !) But you know, there are some things to be celebrated about change in the marketing industry......check out these hilarious adverts from the days of Don Draper, and whisper a prayer of gratitude for these changing times ! Enjoy !

 

 

 

 

LETS GO SHOPPING......

Well, if you are in Melbourne then you definitely should. Go shopping at the lost and found market that is !! Its wonderful - full of quirky vintage from most mid century eras - furniture, toys, clothes, books, records....its all there. You will be inspired. You will be chuffed. You will lighten your wallets for sure ! Get on down.......

 

  

While you are visiting this cosmopolitan wonderland, you should also drop by Title Records....wow, they have a groovy selection of vinyl, CD's, books and films - very retro, very quirky also, very much impossible for me to ever walk out empty handed....

 

 

 

 

And lastly, after all that shopping, its great to have something to do before sitting down for a coffee in the big smoke. Check out this exhibition of classic Hollywood costumes at Fed. Square.....totally awesome. After all, its not everyone who owns a blue gingham dress and sparkly red heels !

 

 

 

 

All in all, have a terrific time in Melbourne this coming Autumn/Winter. It is no wonder this regal town is fast developing a name as one of the hippest creative cities on the planet....get in on it people !

Something to look forward too.......

Doesn't this look like fun! All central Victorian 1940's lovers take note........

 

 

Click on the photograph to be taken to show information page.

 

 

And oh my goodness! I forgot to mention here on my blog the winner of last Sundays Sunglasses competition is Rebecca Sherlock. Well done Miss Rebecca ! The winner was announced last Sunday on the Alice Jeans Facebook page - do join if you haven't already!

 

Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.............

 

It has been a really REALLY long time since I have done a garden related post, mainly because, in truth, over the last couple of years since my marriage ended I have not had the drive to put into my rental garden in the same way I did my very own patch of earth. However, as part of my employment I had the tremendous privilege of going to the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show this past March, and joy of joys, it rekindled the spark/love of gardening within me again. You may be seeing more posts about sustainable vegetable patches in the near future ! In the meantime, enjoy this wander through the gardens and displays of the recent MIFGS - and isnt it a delight to see the swing back to cottage garden plants in landscaping fashions again? I know as a designer I will be glad to see the end of yucca's in every new northern Victorian garden !!!! Happy virtual strolling everyone...............