(Freaky) Chocolate Brownie Slice

I have been meaning to share this amazing Chocolate Brownie Slice recipe for ages, I even took these photos last month. But you know, stuff happens, and I had not got around to it. So I sat down at the computer right now ready to share it, but first looked at a few other blogs I follow, and lo and behold, just today Corrie from retromummy not only blogged a very similar recipe, she has also made the same dinner (my salmon fishcakes recipe is here) for her family, as I have made for ours. Freaky. Spooky. Weird. But all yummy, that's all that matters in my opinion.

I'll still share my Brownie recipe, because I know my sister-in-law Jus and family will love eating them.

Chocolate Brownie Slice

• 150-200g good quality dark chocolate*
• 100g butter
• 1 cup sugar (I use brown)
• 1/2 cup plain flour (I use wholemeal)
• 2 Tablespoons cocoa
• 2 eggs

1. Line a 16x26cm slab pan with baking paper, grease with butter.
2. Melt chocolate and butter together (I use a pyrex dish suspended over a saucepan of simmering water) Let it cool a little.
3. Take off heat, mix in sugar, plain flour and cocoa.
4. Add eggs, mix well.
5. Cook in prepared pan for 25-35 minutes in pre-heated oven set to 160C. I like my brownies quite moist and still a little gooey, so only cook mine for 27 minutes.
6. Try not to eat all of it at once.

* I buy good quality cooking chocolate in 200g blocks. Not all of it makes it into the brownie slice, some falls into my mouth. Make sure you put at least 150g into your brownies :)

Love letter to Zoe

Dearest Zoe,

Six months ago today, you were born. Six months ago today our little family changed forever, and in the most wonderful way. Chris and I now have another beautiful child to cherish. Abbey has a little sister to entertain, smother with kisses (and boss about)

Even before you were conceived, I wanted you, craved you. There was this strong, primal urge inside me to know you. For you to be in my life.

Your birth was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. What started out as what looked to be a quick and easy birth turned out to be (slightly) longer and challenging (for me) You were facing posterior, then spinning around and around with every contraction, and not progressing down as part of my cervix was blocking your way. Lucky daddy and Nanny G were both there as my support, and the two midwives were amazing to be able to assist you out into the world. The whole time I was birthing you, you were never in distress. You were so happy and snug inside. And you still are, outside. You are such a happy, contented little soul. So easy going. You have fitted into our family perfectly.

Knowing you, loving you, has moved me to the core of my whole being. I now feel the most wonderful sense of completion. Like a final puzzle piece, missing for years, has been restored.

I love the way your face lights up when you see Abbey, how she can make you smile like no one else can. I love the way your eyes follow me around the room when you are hungry, nothing else matters to you, until you have been fed. I love every minute we spend together breastfeeding - every roll of beautiful chubby skin on your body, I have nourished. Thank you for coping with my constant over supply of milk and such a forceful letdown. Nothing has fazed you.

Thank you my darling Zoe for making me love even more. Thank you for re-kindling my love of sewing and being creative. Being creative is now my sanctuary. Thank you for reminding me how precious life is. I am so grateful, feel so privileged to be your and Abbey's mummy.

Happy half birthday, Zoe.

I love you with all my heart.

Mummy xoxox

Finally, some thing for me!

I finally made some thing for me!

I knew I wanted to make me some A-line skirts, but all the patterns I have (which I made myself, many years ago, pre-children) no longer fit. At the moment, I don't have the time, or the brain capacity, to make another new pattern.

Looking through pattern books in fabric shops is just not possible at the moment either, with two little kiddies in tow. I now go online and choose any patterns I want to buy. I used this New Look pattern, view A. So easy to make, and even better in this case, GJ's had this one on her pattern stand, just waiting for me. I was well chuffed.

I had to make a skirt out of this gorgeous red and white fabric from GJ's recent sale.

More of the same

Well, I said here that I was sure I would be making more of these shirred dresses.

And I have.

Ha ha, very funny

I was very excited last week to receive notification in the mail that my favourite fabric shop, GJ's, was having another sale.

Chris was not so excited. I meant I would want to buy more fabric. So he tried to convince me I had missed the sale by altering the notification.

Lucky for me I was not fooled, and managed to pick up a few different fabrics. I got the circuit board fabric for Chris, wonder what I will make for him with it?