we’ve had a bowl of pears sitting on the dining table for the last couple of days, and when i looked at them this morning, i saw that they were perfectly golden-ripe, and decided they needed eating!

i looked around for a good recipe, and ended up finding a few, which i modified into my own, and i’m very pleased with how it worked out. it’s nice and moist without tasting undercooked, or being stodgy.

ingredients

150g unsalted butter (softened)
1 1/4 cups sugar (raw, caster, or white - it doesn’t matter)
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups self raising flour
1/4 cup milk
3 largeish or 4 smallish pears (approx 400 - 450g) peeled and roughly diced
1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts
1/4 cup sultanas (if you hate sultanas in things, replace these with an equal amount of walnuts & pears)
1 generous tsp dutch cinnamon
1 scant tsp of freshly grated nutmeg
1 generous tbsp honey

method

preheat oven to 170c, and grease a round springform cake tin.

beat butter and sugar until pale and creamy. beat eggs into this mix one at a time.

sift flour into mix, and continute to stir until combined. then add the milk and again, stir til combined.

add pear, walnut, sultanas, spices, and honey, and stir to combine.

transfer to cake tin and bake for 75 mins. allow to cool for 20 mins, then serve while still somewhat warm.

it made the whole house smell deliciously spicy while it was cooking, and it was nommy with a cup of tea on this cold and rainy day we’re having here today!

essie xoxo

i’ve been trying to limit my extra-curricular commitments with all the house business that’s going on over here, but i couldn’t help signing up for the “dr whoopla’ swap on craftster this month. embroidery hoops with a dr who theme? come on! how could i possibly resist?

i went for a simple-but-cute look, and i’m pretty happy with how it turned out. the lettering is a little wonky, because i’m used to working either with less strict lines, or more structured fabric (aida, or dublin linen, for example).

here’s where the quote comes from:

i hope my partner likes it. i’ll be sending it off this week!
essie xoxox

i love it when people use my patterns and tutorials. it makes me so happy!
a little while ago i set up a flickr group so people could share photos of their own interpretations of penelope waits designs.

playing at royals added a photo of her ‘little ribbon pouch‘ to the group, and i just love it, so i thought i’d share it:

pretty, right?
essie xoxoxo

we’re having to keep our house super tidy and organised for the endless home-opens we seem to be having. i must say, it is cramping my crafting style - i like to spread out and make a nice big mess when i’m creating things!

at least the house is full of pretty floral arangements. the one on the coffee table is making me happy - it’s all purple delphiniums and pink lisianthus. so gorgeous…

i am hoping to be back with some lovely new designs to show you soon, but in the mean time, i’m keeping the surfaces clear of clutter, the floor unlittered with thread-ends, and the arm of the couch free from pins and needles.

essie xoxo