Mid-week Meander - Autumn

Two days until it's Autumn folks.  Yip-eee!

I love autumn, in fact it runs a close second to Spring as my favourite season.

To me autumn is cool breezy nights & crisp fresh mornings, longer weekend lie-ins nestled under a light doona snuggling Mr Nutt & most of all admiring the spectacular show put on by Mother Nature.

Here are a few quick finds this week to celebrate the oncoming of Autumn.

What does it mean to you?

Happy Autumn!

Backyard Evolution - The beginning

When Mr Nutt and I purchased our home in May 2011, we inherited a modest little backyard but unfortunately, plonked right in the middle, was a giant tree surrounded by lots of pavers & rocks.

When the landscaping was first done it would have looked fantastic, but trees grow and the roots of this one were heading right toward the foundation of the house.  It had to go.

So, shortly after moving in, Mr Nutt got cracking with some good ol' fashioned elbow grease to bring this baby down! (don't get me wrong, I'm a tree hugging hippie, but this tree had to be sacrificed for the greater good)

The late site foreman was ever watchful during the process. How I miss him =(

By the end of the weekend the tree was gone and all that remained was a humongous pile of branches and a stump.

Having the tree gone really opened up the space, just compare the before and after shots.

Anyhoo another laborious weekend later and the raised garden bed was removed and the stump exposed.  Site foreman still sleepily watching on.

We eventually got the stump out and all that was left to do now was to unearth the roots that had worked their way toward the house and remove those too.  A painstaking process, all done by hand might I add - talk about ka-razy!

Stay tuned for more of our backyard evolution, but in the meantime, it's not all dirt and mud in our garden...

Friday Foodie - Orange Cupcakes

I'm a huge fan of citrus flavoured desserts and sweets. In fact I find them so hard to resist that I am indulging in an orange cupcake as I type this post - it's very hard to eat & type you know!

These cupcakes, are super simple to make, have a light texture and are bursting with orange flavour - naturally!

Cupcakes Use:

Cupcakes Do:

At this point, don't be tempted to eat all the mixture, a little bit on the tip of your finger is quite okay!

Don't they just look dreamy already?

If you can resist, allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

While time ticks away, get cracking with the icing.

Icing Use:

Icing Do:
1. Sift icing sugar into medium bowl
2. Add butter and smoosh it into the icing sugar with the back of a spoon
3. Add zest and a little orange juice at a time, stirring well after each addition, until it becomes a spreadable consistency
4. Spread onto cooled cupcakes.  Refrigerate until set.

Feel free to embellish the tops of your cupcakes with any goodies your heart desires.

Enjoy with a freshly brewed cup of coffee!

For a printable recipe click here to download

Mid-week Meander - Mason Jar Projects

I am always on the look out for neat & nifty projects to stow away for a rainy day and let me tell you, there are many, almost to many, my head hurts sometimes.

This week my meandering has led me to see what weird and wonderful ways creative folk have used mason jars and jars alike.

Here are a few of my favourite finds

This project from Artsy VaVa, finds a unique use for left over napkins and pickle jars. Still loving the bird thang!

Please note shows how silhouettes & spray paint can add a touch of ooh la la to your home decor

 

Lauren Elisa Crafted adds a feminine & romantic touch with silhouettes.

 

There are neat storage ideas for the kids craft odds & end. I think this is so ka-yoot!

 

But aside from just home decor, you can also fill them with sweets and give them as party favours

  

or use them to serve drinks - these ones by iheartnaptime are screaming girls birthday party!



There's no limit to the creative ways you can re purpose a mason jar or any jar for that matter, you just need a little know how and some imagination and away you go.

What nifty ways have you re purposed mason jars?  I'd love to see them!

For more mason jar project ideas, check out my pinterest page.

Friday Foodie - Crispy Prawns with Vietnamese Salad

I would love to one day visit Vietnam, not just for the scenery and culture, but for the food experience.

Luke Nguyen who owns the Red Lantern restaurants in Sydney has recently opened his Vietnamese restaurant here in Brisbane called Fat Noodle - a sublime gastronomical delight.

If you can't get along to experience the food sensation that is Fat Noodle and want to taste the flavours of Vietnamese cuisine, then try this recipe.  It has a great balance of flavours you will simply enjoy.

Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Serves: 2

Use:
6-8 peeled green king prawns, tails intact
1 lime, halved
Salt & Pepper to taste
Salad:
1/4 Lebanese cucumber, seeded, sliced thinly
1 spring onions, sliced thinly on the bias
1/2 long red chilli, seeded, sliced thinly on the bias - reserve some for garnish
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves - roughly torn
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves - roughly torn
1/4 cup coriander leaves - roughly chopped
1 tablespoon toasted crushed peanuts
Snow pea sprouts, trimmed - good handful
Beansprouts, trimmed - good handful
Mixed salad leaves
Dressing:
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/2 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon sweet chilli sauce
1 teaspoon caster sugar

Do:
1. To make dressing: whisk all ingredients in a small bowl until sugar dissolves
2. Combine all salad ingredients in a medium bowl. Toss lightly to combine
3. Cook lime halves, cut-side down in a grill pan until browned
4. Cook prawns in a fry pan on a med-high heat for about 2-3 minutes or until colour has turned pink.  Season.
5. Add dressing to salad, combine.
6. Serve prawns on a bed of salad and lime half on the side.  Garnish with cut red chilli

Enjoy!

for a printable recipe click here to download

Mod Podge Picture Frame

Are you like me and amass yourself a collection of bare wooden frames, boxes, letters & numbers or just about anything else?  Have you lost the cat under your mountainous pile of scrapbooking paper? Do you have an unhealthy obsession with mod podge?

Well gather round all-ye who know of what I speak, this one is for you!

For those that are first timers, let me tell you, this project is as easy as 1,2,3.

Supplies:
Acrylic paint + brush
Wooden photo frame
Wooden letters/shapes
Scrapbooking paper
X-Acto knife + cutting mat
Mod podge
Soft cloth
Hot glue gun

Do:
1. Paint the frame & add-ons in a complimentary colour to your paper.  Allow to dry.  Re-coat if necessary.

2. Trace the frame on to the wrong side of your scrapbooking paper, then carefully cut it out.

3. Slap on a generous coat of mod podge to the top side of your frame and position the paper on top - right side up.  Using a soft cloth and starting from the centre working out, smooth the paper making sure to get out all the bubbles.

4. Coat entire paper with mod podge, be sure to get the edges!   Let it dry - overnight preferably - and you're ready for your next coat.

5. Using a hot glue gun, attach the add-ons to the front of the frame.  Presto you're done!





(if you are wondering, my niece does not have a moustache, nor is she a chef - her mum didn't want a full photo online - so I had fun with it instead!)

Citrus & Mango Crush

It's still summer here in sunny Queensland - well for another 20 days at least, and there is nothing better on a hot day than sipping a cool, refreshing fresh fruit drink.

My Citrus & Mango Crush hits the spot, I guarantee it!

The recipe is so simple and soooo delicious you will be asking yourself where has it been all your life.

Use:
Pulp of one mango
1 banana
Juice of one orange
Juice of half a lime - or use the whole thing if you love it tangy
1-2 teaspoons honey
1 cup ice cubes

Do:
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  Serve & Enjoy!

Up and running...

Hi and welcome to "the Nifty Nutt"

It's obvious to say I am a late bloomer in the world of blogging.    Don't get me wrong, I've been around the blog-o-sphere for a few years, reading other blogs & observing.  There are soooo many fantastic blogs out there these days each with their own unique flare.  I sincerely envy them.

But here I am now, putting it all out there.  You gotta start somewhere right?

For more about me, click here, otherwise, what better way to kick off then with a few inspirational images.

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Here's to the Nifty Nutt in us all!

Natalie