Tim Tam Truffles

I was talking to my sister earlier today as she prepares for a fundraising event in Hahndorf, SA, this weekend (500 women for a Girls' Night Out - wish I could be there!). One of the highlights is a 'High Tea' and I mentioned this recipe for Tim Tam Truffles that I made a few times after winning a year's supply of Tim Tams in 2009 (how lucky am I!?).  I didn't have the ingredients to make the truffles today, but instead took a photo of my super truffle-dipper which I love!

And here's the recipe:


Tim Tam Truffles
Ingredients:
200g packet Tim Tams
395g can sweetened condensed milk
100g milk chocolate, chopped
180g milk or dark chocolate, chopped (for coating truffles)

1. Crush biscuits into fine crumbs in a food processor or blender.  Transfer to a large bowl.
2. Heat condensed milk and 100g milk chocolate in a small saucepan on low, stirring, until chocolate has melted.  Pour over biscuit crumbs and mix to combine. Chill for 10 minutes to firm slightly.
3. Line a tray with non-stick baking paper.  Roll tablespoons of the mixture into balls.  Place onto tray and chill for 2-3 hours to set.
4. Melt remaining milk chocolate in a microwave on MEDIUM for 2-3 minutes, stirring after each minute until chocolate is smooth.  Line a wire rack with non-stick baking paper.  Dip balls into melted chocolate to coat and place on rack to set.  Chill truffles in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Give all you can

I love this quote from John Wesley.  It captures the way I think about money, especially in this season of being a single-income family.


In fact, it was after a household budget meeting that I became really passionate about raising money for victims of the famine in Africa.  You see, I'm not doing so well on the two budget areas I feel most responsible for - Groceries and Gifts.  Let's just say that if I stuck to the budgeted amount, we wouldn't be eating for the last 6 weeks of 2011!  But, I've also realised that this year I'm feeding a family of four (and babies eat a lot!), and that I'm trying to be as wise as I can about the way I shop and prepare meals for our family.  


As I thought about my weekly grocery budget and looked at some figures from ALWS, I started to realise that what I was spending could be multiplied many times over:

• $2 will feed a family of six for one day
• $156 will provide 100kg of food - enough for 1428 meals!

Have a look at this short video to see some more information about the huge impact of the African famine:

And so, while we're still planning to eat, I'm not so eager to go out for takeaway, and do I really need those donuts?  Am I trying to save all I can so that I can give all I can?  It's a good challenge to all of us as we go into the 'silly season'.  May God give each of us the wisdom we need when it comes to how we make, save, give and spend our money.

Christmas Caroling

We've been rocking out to Christmas carols this last week.  I know that some people think it's too early, but Christmas music makes me happy, so why not be happy for two whole months?!  Last year I even choreographed a dance routine (LOL!) to some of our favourite songs - great exercise for the boys and I if we carol 30 minutes a day!  Here's a pick of some of my favourite Christmas albums:

After writing yesterday that it's too hard to pull out my sewing machine, today I set it up while the kids were sleeping so that I could sew together a few samples that I've been working on.  Unfortunately, nap time seemed shorter than usual, but I'll have a bit more time tonight.

I went through one of those stages of 'why am I doing this?!' fear and trembling... I am worried about getting things done; whether this idea will work at all; if people will like the things that I am putting together.  But every time I feel like that, I just have to trust that God has given me an idea and the inkling that now is the time to pursue it.  I probably just need a good dose of encouragement from my girlfriends and to play that Christmas music all the louder!

Time to craft

My little man turns one today!  What a year it's been - that strange tension between some days that never seemed to end, and the fact that weeks and months fly past.  (It always seems to me that weekends go the fastest!)

With two boys under three, I don't get a lot of time to sit down and make craft happen.  Even setting up the sewing machine seems to take too much effort most days, and yet I find myself itching to do something!  One of the things I've learned about being a mum is that working on a project where you can see progress helps prevent the days from turning into one long washing/cooking/cleaning marathon.

Especially with the warmer weather, my boys love playing outside.  And I need to sit out there somewhere to supervise ("Joel, don't eat that sand/rock/stick", "Liam, don't throw sand/rocks/sticks at your brother!").  I enjoy having something small that I can easily pick up and put down, and so preparing some Christmas ornaments for the street stall is a great project to have!

Here's what I've been working on:

 Just a sweet, simple heart decoration that I can sew by hand as I soak up the sunshine.  Sounds like a great life, doesn't it?!

Where it all began...

It all started with these little tubs of Play-Doh.  I'd bought them for my son for Christmas, and then a friend suggested packaging a few together to sell at markets.  Give me a chance to play shops, and I'm there!  I started thinking about things I'd like to make and sell, and how I could start using up the huge stack of craft supplies stored in my shed.

And then, I heard news about the famine in Africa.  There's something about images of children dying from hunger that stirs me up.  Even though our family has already made some monetary donations, I wanted another opportunity to take action, raise awareness and hopefully make even more money for the cause.

And so, the idea to have a 'street stall' was born.  At the moment, I am planning a 'Stocking Stuffer Stall' at my church on the first weekend in December, where 100% of the money raised will go towards the African famine appeal (through my chosen aid agency of Australian Lutheran World Service).

This blog is really about getting my ideas out there so that friends can comment and make suggestions, and maybe some people might even be inspired to help.  Hopefully it will help me keep some of my thoughts together, too, since I've been lying awake at night making plans and thinking of how this can all work out!  I've got one busy month ahead of me... and then, who knows what will happen?

PS. The Play-Doh is going to be one of those stocking stuffers... stay tuned for that project to appear!