Vignette or Vinaigrette?

Rushing our the door last night and leaving husband and children to fend for themselves with a plate of fruit and some toast I had other things on my mind. An hour later creative friend and I screeched up outside Toby Scotts lovely Brisbane studio, we had arrived to uncover the secret of Vignette's from the delightful Kara Rosenlund. 

We were greeted with name tags by The Schools Megan Morton who settled us in with bowls of salami, cheese and olives and little bottles of san pellegrino. With tummy's full we settled down ready to be inspired and learn the secrets to creating the perfect vignette. You may be asking, "What is a vignette?", and as Kara herself had explained to her Mum, "It is not salad dressing!".

With a touch of her magic Kara transported me to a place of creativity, a place where, with a few basic principles I could translate the language of my loves into beautiful works of art that could be changed as often as I was willing. It was so inspiring watching everyone bring objects to life, so much love going into every Vignette.

If you think you would like to join in the fun and let the creative sparks fly join Interiors Addict 7 Vignettes, this is a little competition that is run every month through Instagram which lets your inner stylist shine...

A big special thank-you to Kara for sharing her journey, truly inspiring.

The Lemon Canary xx

why adding less is more..

I have been inspired recently to try and let my beautiful customers know more about my beautiful candles and why they are the best choice possible. A good starting point on this journey is to try and let you know why I don't offer some things in my candles. Something I get asked a lot about is triple scented candles, why aren't Lemon Canary Candles triple scented? 

Lemon Canary produces candles of the highest quality with the least toxic effect whilst still offering you the best possible product. However, there are some places I won't go, one of these is adding synthetic additives to 'triple scent'. These additives are made of polymer , they increase opacity and enhance colour, they allow the wax to hold more fragrance oil without the fragrance separating from the mixture, this enables the candlemaker to put twice or even three times as much fragrance oil into their mixture. This means that when using and burning these candles you are inhaling 3 x times more fragrance oil than a Lemon Canary candle and also the additional polymer.

Lemon Canary candles are scented with only the oil that the wax can hold naturally. There are no additional nasties or additives. Rest assured when you buy my candles you are buying ethically from a candle maker who would not sell a candle she wouldn't use around her home and children and who is passionate about her products.

The Lemon Canary x

quark & peach parcels

I had a lovely container of organic quark and found a great recipe which I have tweaked a little bit to my style of eating... enjoy.

need:

Dough

1/2 level teaspoon celtic sea salt 

1 level teaspoon vanilla paste 

125 grams organic quark 

60 grams milk 

30 grams rapadura sugar 

zest of 1 lemon 

60 grams extra virgin olive oil 

300 grams spelt flour 

1-2 heaped teaspoon baking powder 

Filling

370 grams organic quark 

1 organic egg 

1 level teaspoon vanilla paste 

30 grams sultanas soaked in grand mariner or rum

50 grams butter 

80 grams rapadura sugar 

1 level tablespoons cornflour 

peaches, cut in half, canned or fresh 

icing sugar to dust

do:

Dough

Add lemon zest and sugar into TM bowl and mill for 20sec/speed 10. Add salt, vanilla, 125g quark, milk and oil and mix 20sec/speed 5. Add flour and baking powder, mix on speed 6 for 10 seconds. Then knead interval speed 1 minute. Set aside in fridge for 30 minutes.

Filling

Mix butter and sugar for 1 minute/speed 5. Add other ingredients (not the fruit and sultanas) and mix for 1 minute/speed 6. Add sultanas and stir for 10sec/speed 2.

Roll dough to about 3mm thin and cut into squares. Pop 1 tablespoon of filling into each square and pop a peach on top, then bring the four corners together. Brush with milk and bake in a moderate oven for 25 minutes. Dust with icing sugar while still warm.

The Lemon Canary xx

rapadura sugar revealed..

I have had a few people asking what Rapadura sugar is, so here it is..

Rapadura is made from the juice extracted from sugar cane, this is done with a press. This juice is then evaporated over low heat, during this process it is being stirred, it is then ground down to a sugar. As it is not cooked at high temperatures or spun into crystals the vitamins and minerals are retained and the molasses have not separated from the sugar. Rapadura sugar is free of chemicals and anti-caking agents. Rapadura Sugar is also sometimes called Panela sugar. It is produced organically, mainly through fair trade programs in Columbia or Brazil. When substituting in recipes simply replace 1 cup of sugar with one cup of Rapadura sugar.

Rapadura is usually readily available at your local organic store or you can find it online at www.organicsonabudget.com.au

The Lemon Canary x

Busy Bee's Banana Bread

Thermomix Recipe

need:

140g butter cubed

270g Rapadura Sugar

2 Organic Eggs

200g Mashed Banana

280g Wholemeal Spelt Flour

1 teasp baking powder

1 teasp bicarb of soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

do:

preheat oven to 170degrees

place butter in Thermomix 2minutes/80/speed soft

set aside

place sugar, eggs in thermomix with butterfly attachment 1minute/speed 2

add banana 1minute/speed 2

remove butterfly

add flour, baking powder, bicarb & cinnamon 15 seconds/speed 4

add melted butter

20seconds/speed 3

Pour into greased loaf tin bake at 45-50 minutes checking with a skewer to make sure inside is cooked.

The Lemon Canary x

date delight balls..

thermomix recipe

need:

50g hazelnuts skinned

50g macadamias

20g chia seeds

150g dried dates

200g pitted dates

100g organic rolled oats

50g organic sultanas

1 tbs organic maple syrup (the real stuff)

1/2 teasp vanilla bean paste

100g organic coconut shreds (for coating)

do:

Place nuts and chia seeds in TM bowl and mix for 30 seconds on speed 7

Add remaning ingredients (except coconut) and mix for 40 seconds speed 7

Make little balls and roll in coconut.

tips:

I always try to use organic where possible, these means the highest quality produce. Feel free to use other nuts or add superfoods to these delicious treats. Enjoy x I haven't made this in a food processor but I'm sure it would work beautifully.

The Lemon Canary xx

naturally new carpets..

Unfortunately, I am still waiting patiently for the chance to upgrade my upstairs lounge into some lovely wooden floorboards. Until then I have to make do with the 70's carpet that I have been dealt. It's actually not to bad, luckily the previous owner didn't like green shagpile carpet but stuck to a fairly neutral short style carpet. I still feel like every now & then it needs a 'big refresh'. I like to know what I'm breathing in & also have little ones crawling around so I investigated a natural carpet freshener & would like to let you in on it. It's super easy & my lounge smells amazing!

Here is what you do..

1. Clean out a jar

2. Put 1 Cup of Bicarb of Soda into it & add 100 drops of Essential Oil (I used mandarin & lemongrass)

3. Pop the lid on the Jar & give it a good shake

4. Leave it for 24 hours

5. Sprinkle over the carpet (I put mine on the lounge too)

 6. Leave for 20 minutes

7. Vacuum away

8. Breathe deep...

See Easy Peasy!

The Lemon Canary x

extra virgin coconut oil in your bathroom..

Being a 'mixer' of all things natural I like to dabble with my kitchen products in my bathroom. There is nothing I enjoy more than creating my own beauty products from natural everyday items, it really is so easy and often much cheaper then store bought beauty products. Not having all those yucky additives is just a bonus!

One of my favourites is Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (EVCO). I use it to make Body Scrubs, Hair Masks, Baths or even just a beautiful moisturiser. I use it every day - it is 100% natural and smells divine - almost like our Lemon Canary Toucan Candle.. mmmm.. 

You can pick up some EVCO at you local health food store or in the Organic section at some supermarkets. 

Here are some ideas on how to use it..

1. Use a little bit as a moisturiser on your face after a shower.

2. Before you hop into the shower put some in a little bowl with some sea salt or brown/raw sugar use a washcloth and rub it all over for a divine natural exfoliant.

3. Apply on legs after a shower - just be sure to wipe the excess off with a towel - please make sure the oil is soaked in so you don't get it on sheets or clothes. (Please note - oils & silks don't mix).

4. Use a mixture of coconut oil & salt/sugar scrub for dry cracked heels and rub with a pumice stone.

5. Massage Coconut Oil into scalp, leave for 10 minutes with warm towel (I sometimes do this while sitting in the bath) then shampoo hair out well afterwards.

This is just to get you started, Enjoy my beautiful people 

The Lemon Canary x