Cookie decorating with the neighbours

We are unashamedly obsessed with hanging out with our next door neighbours. In January last year the Hayes family moved in next door and after getting to know them really well, really quickly, it's been more or less a non stop riot ever since. If I am missing, the kids assume I am next door and are more often than not right... Joseph is always next door with Gracie, Maddie and Charlee hang out all the time - and little Kinsley and Alex love each other too. Could not have possibly worked out better if we had ordered them from a catalogue. When Luke and Karalee listed their house I was so worried, because we got along so well, but it has worked out like a dream. We are constantly passing things back and forth, lending things, passing on clothes, sharing cooking - and laughing all the time.

On Monday, it was Valentine's Day and the older girls came over to decorate cookies with Madeline. I have no idea what happened to the photos of the decorated cookies, but this one photo is all I have. Day after day these kids can be found hanging out together and there is nothing that brings them more joy.

Dresses from Mrs. Carter

So I actually cannot believe that I haven't shown these off sooner... My parents have lived in the same house since I was four years old and in the house "next door" (a fair walk away when you live where they do) live this lovely old couple, who have always seemed old to me...

In the late 80s, probably not long after we moved in, she bought these gorgeous dresses, all amazing vibrant florals, which have sat in her cupboard since then, unworn, with the tags still attached, until a few weeks ago, when she brought them over to mums and asked her if I would like them.

HECK YES I did. I am so freaking stoked and will absolutely be wearing each and every one of them. I love it when things like that happen! Thank YOU Mrs. Carter! ❤

Joey's with the neighbours

It's back to to school tomorrow, so on Friday night, we hit up the local diner with our neighbour besties. We love having the Hayes live next door to us, it's genuinely the best thing that's ever happened. Their kids are all similar ages to ours and they just get along so well that it's actually a pleasure to have them spend time together. I mean seriously, you can tell how much fun they are having together.

On Great Northern Highway in Herne Hill, there is the most awesome burger joint, a retro looking diner style place, called Joey's. Their food is excellent, including their delicious burgers, waffle fries and iceberg desserts. All simple, but amazing. 

In winter, there is outdoor heaters and a closed in gazebo to sit in, in summer, aircon in the outdoor areas. Plus a kids play area, sandpit and arcade games. We really should come more often, everyone loves it.

 

jett's birthday cake

our fave little dude next door turned four today - and seeing as we are all living in isolation - we tried to make his birthday a little bit better by making him a birthday cake!

i have never had a good chocolate cake recipe and hoped to be able to change that, so i did some googling and then decided to try the first one that came up because it looked so good. it's called the best fudgy chocolate cake and you can find it here

ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose or plain flour

1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 large egg

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup milk

3/4 cup (190 ml) boiling water mixed with 2 teaspoons substitue (caro/natures cuppa)

instructions:

preheat oven to 175°C. lightly grease 2 x 8-inch round cake pan with non stick cooking oil spraying.

combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, soda and salt in a large bowl. whisk thoroughly to combine well.

add oil, egg, vanilla and milk to the flour mixture and beat well to combine. pour in the boiling water (with the coffee substitute), and mix until glossy.

pour the cake batter split between 2 x prepared pans. bake for about 40 - 45 minutes, until a tester inserted in the centre of the chocolate cake comes out semi-clean with small amount of cake (not runny batter) on it due to the fudgy texture.

remove from oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes. transfer cake from the pan to a wire rack and cool completely before frosting. 

i'm not a huge fan of ganache, which this recipe suggests but i did have some cream cheese in the fridge so i decided chocolate cream cheese icing was a go... googled again and this one came up.

ingredients

335g full fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature

175g butter, softened to room temperature

3 1/2 cups icing sugar

2/3 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1–2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

pinch salt

instructions

in a large bowl using a mixer, beat the cream cheese for 1 minute on high speed until completely smooth and creamy. beat in the butter until combined. add the icing sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon milk, and salt and beat on medium-high speed until combined and creamy. add 1 more tablespoon of milk to slightly thin out, if desired. 

i halved this recipe for my cake and it was more than enough to fill between the two cakes, thickly ice the top and cover the sides. hot tip from the website the icing was on, if you want to pipe onto cupcakes, cool in the fridge for half an hour first.

it gave us a pretty good looking cake, so i was very pleased... 

we decorated with sprinkles and some candles and then popped over next door to deliver!

best bit was, half of it came back not longer after for us to share! woo. i can now confirm it was absolutely delicious and i am filing this recipe away for next time!

the baby next door

a few weeks ago our neighbours had a baby... and this clucky little girl is forever nagging to go and "see the baby!" we went for a visit today and she was in her element, snuggling with him and chatting away. she is just the cutest and i am sure she is going to be the best mummy ever when her time comes around. ♥