Yay, G’day…wanna do some Christmas Food Crafting Beach Cottage style? No, don’t shudder in your boots…this is the kinda Christmas Homemade gift-making you are gonna love…
This is Homemade Christmas Beach Cottage Dump & Go Style…yep…if you can mix and pour and find yourself a nice little Mason jar and tie a label on it then you too can join that elite crew of Christmas Crafters.
All joking aside, every single Christmas since we had Honeymoon Baby I wanted Christmas to be purrrfect…that was before I had 3 kiddos and a serious reality check…before I un-subbed from all those hideous look-at-us-we-are-so-perfect families around their styled Christmas tree with a glistening turkey (obviously if you are not from the Old Country, like me, insert here seafood)…
The secret, for me, nowadays and Christmas, especially with the big changes in traditions that living in the Southern Hemisphere has brought about and the differences in weather, is about keeping expectations really really low and doing the least work possible. I still like to try my hand at Christmas baking and I love doing a big Christmas dinner (with compulsory bread sauce and aromatic gravy) and I always make room for mulled wine even if it’s a 100 degrees outside…
For someone like me, who is pretty into decorating the house and cooking big meals, Christmas, if allowed, can turn into a horrid frenzy of decorating and cooking…but now I stick to a fairly simple formula…firstly I like lots of twinkly lights….lots…and secondly my kiddos do most of the decorating…keeping it simple means everyone is happy (and I can get up in the middle of the night and change it all around when they aren’t looking )
…but every year about October time I start to have these grand ideas about baking and crafting…I suddenly start to envisage moi, decked out in a Christmas frock, arriving at parties laden with my homemade gifts….last year I was about obsessed with making Pioneer Woman’s cinnamon rolls to take to the beach for Christmas morning…sadly, as with a lot of things in life, the reality is often very different…there ain’t much point, in my book in making homemade chutney and pretties, if the backlash of that is screaming at your kiddos and flying around on your broomstick and oh boy do I know what that’s like…
…so for making things I take the simple route….sticking to my limitations and doing what I love (avoiding sewing and doing foody things)
and so this spicy little salt is one of the things I used to make quite often in the Old Country…but haven’t for a couple of years…this year I have…it is so easy, it definitely fits into the Dump & Go category, only Christmas style….
It’s great to have around to just perk up your meats and stuff and if you are like me and you like it hot baby, it’s really good to have around to add to food that other people (ie. your kiddos) don’t like as mouth-numbing as you
This is so easy with 4 ingredients that you can chuck in your supermarket trolley at the weekend…oh-so-very-easy that when I was shopping for them I forgot one…if I had a brain it would be dangerous….
So for this you will need some salt….I love Maldon salt and it always makes me laugh how I am a long way from where it comes from which is near where I used to live in the Old Country, yet it is readily available in Australia…tip : never buy this full price…it is always on offer in one of the big two supermarkets…I stock up then….once you start looking at salt though, you may be taken by surprise, there are a lot of salts around nowadays especially in the Lucky Country where we are spoilt for choice in products from all over the world…this pink salt, is lovely, in the salt world, but it’s not cheap…make your Christmas Salt though with this and it will look delightful….
You will need peppercorns…to be honest you can try a combo of colours and tastes for this…red peppercorns are pretty much nice for that Seasonal feel though…
I also use star anise in mine, but I forgot to buy these for this blog post…
and some dried chili
Now here’s the tricky bit…you have to sterilize the jars first…two ways to do this 1. hot wash in dishwasher 2. put them in the oven for about 20 mins on 180C …if you use either method, be careful, if you are impatient like me, make sure you use a oven glove to protect your hands…I tell you how I know….there was a dirty great blister on my hand when making these one year and allow them to cool before use
Beach Cottage Christmas Salt
1 cup sea salt or flakes (I used Maldon but any will do, especially if you are on a tight budget)
2 tsp Red Peppercorns
4 Star Anise
2 tsp Dried Chili Flakes
Next mix your ingredients together and pour into your mason / jam jar.
tie with a clay tag and some pretty Christmas ribbon and voila, a Homemade Christmas Gift for real girls who have a life, or six
Oh, clay tags are wonderful for Christmas Crafting…see the Beach Cottage tutorial for them here (comprehensive step by step with all the details on how to make these little delights $6)….I make a big stash of these in one hit and use them to tie on my Christmas tree and on my parcels…sooooo easy and about a million times more economical than those clay tags you see in the boutiques..have a go, it’s super easy!
Sarah-I love this Christmas crafting!!
Gorgeous visually in the jar & would be divine on meats etc all Summer!
We on way home to countryside from London & I’ve just added these ingredients
to my shopping list for tomorrow!
I am trying to get amongst the homemade chrissy gifts this year too. I will be sure to give this a go. Another is easy project is homemade muesli. . Chuck all the ingredients into the oven and wait! Simple. Have a great day. Amy x
Just the sort of Christmas crafting for me – the rest has come to grinding halt since I hurt my hand. I think I could almost do that one-handed – a very good idea thank you!
OH and to think I have ALL of these ingredients except for Maldon sea salt but I do have an acceptable sea salt to use. In fact I just picked up a big bag of star anise at the oriental grocer the other day because I love to decorate with them during the holidays! Have a wonderful day!
What a nice thing to have in the kitchen.
It could sit in the corner near my stove and I could use it when I am cooking and of course the salt is in an air tight jar.
Great idea Sarah – will def try. My neighbor recently gave me some very posh flavoured salts when she came for dinner – I loved them as they were both practical and a clever departure from the standard box of chocolates. AND probably something I would never buy for myself.
Anyway yours look very pretty and Christmassy with the red bits – Thanks for sharing the idea – very clever.
Top of the morning to you xx
ps what are you doing up and posting at 5.10am ?? I think Im very impressed
Very preeetttyyyy…. I love how it looks Sarah… Yes The world of salt we are a bit spoiled for choice. I am yet to try Maddon… Still recovering from Christams lunch… Like you said keep it simple… So I did and it went surprisingly well and smooth… We were all stuffed turkeys by the end of the day (lunch for us usually begins at 1 and ends ant about 8, our guests always seem to find a reason to stick arond for a while or it’s the ikea couch working its magic again – hahaha…) I LOVE the keep it simple rule… It is now the motto of my life…
I have been thinking about easy christmas ‘crafts’ this year too and your salt hits the spot. i’m off to buy me some nice salt.
thanks for sharing your gorgeous home and style – i get loads of inspiration from you.
hiya, last year i made body scrub, in a mixing bowl, fold table salt with enough just melted copha (in the fridge section near the marg, its coconut oil) to form a hand scoopable texture, add drops of favorite essential oils and colour if you like, bottle and give, wow it makes ya skin smooov : ) people raved!
I just read this post and laughed out loud (not at the gorgeous Christmas crafting) but at the fact you lived near Maldon…….I am from Maldon and remember wistfully walking past the salt works by the river, and buying it in Sally Greens on the High Street.
Now I have to ship in bags to a place where they have never heard of it………Delhi, India!
I am presently collecting plenty of ye olde Indian pieces ready for a total white wash when I eventually move back to the sea or ‘that’ river.
Love your blog it’s kept me going when I’m surrounded by dust
Hi Sarah,
Love this for Christmas gifts. I’m making something similar but with sugar for soft skin. (Post titled Cinnamon Sugar Scrub).
Love your pictures too. What camera do you use? I may be getting one for Christmas and I’m doing my homework.
Love this idea Sarah, you clever minx!
I feel that I shall just have to try and attempt to be or at least appear to be a domestic goddess and give it a go! I had the in-laws over for dinner tonight and tried out your thanksgiving bean recipe…..they loved it! I looked as though I had slaved all day, it tasted delicious and looked amazing so, mission accomplished!! Thankyou!
Hope things are looking up for the rest of this week, looking forward to Good Life Wednesday tomorrow, can’t wait to see those scrumptious chairs again….mm! Perhaps you could put on a lovely floaty linen outfit for the occasion!! Haha xo Rach
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Beach Cottage ladies, we have some vintage linen and some wood/twig washed up on the beach today here in Beach Cottage Land….don’t say I don’t keep you entertained now will you . Come on in. So, yep I have posted about colanders on this blog, about things sourced from the side of the road, about [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
1. beat the cream cheese until it is soft
2. whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Oh yeah. Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
)
and allow them to cool before use
Sarah-I love this Christmas crafting!!
Gorgeous visually in the jar & would be divine on meats etc all Summer!
We on way home to countryside from London & I’ve just added these ingredients
to my shopping list for tomorrow!
Thanks
Melissa x
I am trying to get amongst the homemade chrissy gifts this year too. I will be sure to give this a go. Another is easy project is homemade muesli. . Chuck all the ingredients into the oven and wait! Simple. Have a great day. Amy x
thanks Amy! x
Just the sort of Christmas crafting for me – the rest has come to grinding halt since I hurt my hand. I think I could almost do that one-handed – a very good idea thank you!
Pomona x
yep you could easily do this one handed…x
ahhh I was out for my morning dip in the ocean
OH and to think I have ALL of these ingredients except for Maldon sea salt but I do have an acceptable sea salt to use. In fact I just picked up a big bag of star anise at the oriental grocer the other day because I love to decorate with them during the holidays! Have a wonderful day!
I’ll add this to my Christmas list to make for family and friends.
Hi Miss Sarah
Lovely and pretty too.
What a nice thing to have in the kitchen.
It could sit in the corner near my stove and I could use it when I am cooking and of course the salt is in an air tight jar.
You are so resourceful
Have a wonderful day,
loulou, hereiamloulou blog
x
Great idea Sarah – will def try. My neighbor recently gave me some very posh flavoured salts when she came for dinner – I loved them as they were both practical and a clever departure from the standard box of chocolates. AND probably something I would never buy for myself.
Anyway yours look very pretty and Christmassy with the red bits – Thanks for sharing the idea – very clever.
Top of the morning to you xx
ps what are you doing up and posting at 5.10am ?? I think Im very impressed
Oh okay – I had not thought of doing something like this….my sister is into cooking lots of stuff…hmm homemade food type stuff that might do the trick
Very preeetttyyyy…. I love how it looks Sarah… Yes The world of salt we are a bit spoiled for choice. I am yet to try Maddon… Still recovering from Christams lunch… Like you said keep it simple… So I did and it went surprisingly well and smooth… We were all stuffed turkeys by the end of the day (lunch for us usually begins at 1 and ends ant about 8, our guests always seem to find a reason to stick arond for a while or it’s the ikea couch working its magic again – hahaha…) I LOVE the keep it simple rule… It is now the motto of my life…
Oh I do love handmade gifts like this
Love this! Thanks so much for the tutorial. I think they’d be great for the kid’s teachers!
I have been thinking about easy christmas ‘crafts’ this year too and your salt hits the spot. i’m off to buy me some nice salt.
thanks for sharing your gorgeous home and style – i get loads of inspiration from you.
hiya, last year i made body scrub, in a mixing bowl, fold table salt with enough just melted copha (in the fridge section near the marg, its coconut oil) to form a hand scoopable texture, add drops of favorite essential oils and colour if you like, bottle and give, wow it makes ya skin smooov : ) people raved!
This is being added to my ‘easy homemades’ this year for the family interstate. Great timing, thanks so much for sharing Sarah
Hi Sarah
I just read this post and laughed out loud (not at the gorgeous Christmas crafting) but at the fact you lived near Maldon…….I am from Maldon and remember wistfully walking past the salt works by the river, and buying it in Sally Greens on the High Street.
Now I have to ship in bags to a place where they have never heard of it………Delhi, India!
I am presently collecting plenty of ye olde Indian pieces ready for a total white wash when I eventually move back to the sea or ‘that’ river.
Love your blog it’s kept me going when I’m surrounded by dust
Hi Sarah,
Love this for Christmas gifts. I’m making something similar but with sugar for soft skin. (Post titled Cinnamon Sugar Scrub).
Love your pictures too. What camera do you use? I may be getting one for Christmas and I’m doing my homework.
Love this gift idea. This is so pretty and I will be making some of these. Thanks for sharing.
I love that your crafting is so attainable. Makes it really work for the rest of us! Thanks for sharing! liz
I love the idea of giving fancy salt as a gift! Thanks for the idea! I may also give some homemade salsa to go with it.
I love these jars with the salts inside- just beautiful.
My grand girlies made Holiday Gift Jars this weekend with me. I hope you can visit my blog to see their Jars of Chocolate Chip Pancakes. Fun.
Your blog is beautiful.
Love this idea Sarah, you clever minx!
I feel that I shall just have to try and attempt to be or at least appear to be a domestic goddess and give it a go! I had the in-laws over for dinner tonight and tried out your thanksgiving bean recipe…..they loved it! I looked as though I had slaved all day, it tasted delicious and looked amazing so, mission accomplished!! Thankyou!
Hope things are looking up for the rest of this week, looking forward to Good Life Wednesday tomorrow, can’t wait to see those scrumptious chairs again….mm! Perhaps you could put on a lovely floaty linen outfit for the occasion!! Haha xo Rach
hello Rachel, I am glad you liked the beans…yep super easy & delicious! xo
Oh, I somehow missed this. This is wonderful!!! we get pink salt here, yes.