LMD Yummy Moist Egg Free Banana Bread (Lactose Free option also)

May 9, 2013

Do you ever sometime just feel like baking but don’t always have all the ingredients?!

This happened to me a while back when I wanted to make my Banana Cake!

I had no eggs. 😦

So I decided to make Egg Free Banana Bread.

I make this recipe all the time now and it has changed over this time to its current version below. It is really simple and most importantly VERY yummy. Once you make it a few times you will be able to modify it to make it your own. I use general quantities below as I have been making it by sight and feel for so long I don’t use exact measurements any more. If you follow this recipe to the letter though, you will get a very yummy Banana Bread at the end – but don’t stress about being exact as it will be just as yummy!

Ingredients

3 to 4 very ripe bananas (the riper the better – lots of yummy natural sweetness)

1/2 cup butter melted (you can use dairy free margarine or even vegetable oil for lactose free version)

1/2 cup milk (can be cows, soy or lactose free milk for lactose free version)

2-3 teaspoons Vanilla Extract (depending on how much you like vanilla)

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2  – 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

1 teaspoon bi-carb soda

1 1/2 cups plain flour (sifted)

 VARIATIONS:

Add walnuts or nuts of choice for a bit of crunch

Add chocolate chips for a bit of extra sweetness

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 180 (degrees Celsius) and spray a suitable loaf tin with spray oil then line with baking paper and spray again. Set aside.

2. Mash the bananas with a fork onto a plate. You will see from the first photo that my bananas were REALLY ripe and the skin was black and that made them just perfect for this!

3. Melt the butter and put it in a mixing bowl and combine in the mashed bananas.

4. Add in milk and vanilla and mix lightly.

5. Add in sugar, bicarb soda and mix.

6. Add sifted flour and mix with a wooden spoon until just combined.

7. Pour mixture into the loaf tin.

8. Bake for 1 hour or more (depending on your oven) until a wooden pick comes out clean. I use a thin wooden skewer to do this.

9. Allow to cool before removing from the pan. Remove by lifting it up and out by the baking paper and then peel it off.

I say ‘allow to cool’ – as that is what you are supposed to do.

In practice – I don’t let it cool. I am WAY to keen to eat it so I get it out straight away and cut it and eat it 🙂 It is more difficult to cut when it is hot as it is moist and crumbly – but it tastes SO SO SO good straight out of the oven! 🙂

10. Cut and enjoy on its own or with a cuppa. Store in an airtight container and eat within a few days.

You can also be a little wicked and add some butter or even golden syrup to spread on it. I also recommend popping your slices in the microwave for about 20 seconds to heat up before eating – it goes super soft and moist again.

So please give this recipe a go as it is easy, uses up those overripe bananas and you don’t need any eggs! We seriously love the taste of this one and it always gets eaten quickly.

Enjoy!

Keep smiling
Michka

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How to Plan and Implement a Child’s Birthday Party in only TWO DAYS!!

Apr 26, 2013

What a time we have had the last week or so here! Lately I have been sewing most of the day and into the night until 3am in the morning. Yes I am exhausted. Yes I am having a ball! 🙂

With the volume of orders for my Lilli May designs creations growing by the day, I feel so wondrously fortunate to have so many people wanting my creations for themselves and for their loved ones. With this increase in orders comes the need to increase the time I spend creating. Late at night and weekends are a time when I usually get a lot of creating done however last weekend I knew there would be no time for sewing.  Why I hear you ask? Because our daughter turned TWO and we had her birthday party on Saturday and then a very close friends son’s first birthday on Sunday.

So each night, as my darling Lilli May and my sweet Husbando slept soundly and warm in their beds, I worked away in my Cougar Cave kept company by my iPod on shuffle. With less than 48hours until the party, by Thursday, I just knew I had to stop sewing and focus on our daughters special day. Because at that point I had done NOTHING party related!! And there comes a time when family just must come first! Wouldnt you agree?!

The theme we had chosen for her party was BALLERINA & SUPERBOY!

We did a quick trip up to the shops on Thursday morning (which for us involves a lot of walking and two trains – so as ‘quick’ as that allows) to grab some special icing and a ballerina shape cutter then it was back home to sew all afternoon to get those last items out in the post by 5pm. Once Lilli May went to bed at about 9.45pm on Thursday night I was able to hop online and do the grocery shopping for the party for it to be delivered the next day (Friday).

So then at 10.38pm I finally decided on what I wanted to do with regards to her birthday cake that I was making and began to bake it. I also rolled and cut out the icing decorations that were going to go on the cake.

Then it was time to start creating some of the 8  tutus whilst that was in the oven. Once it was cooked and some of the tutus done, it was into bed at about 3am.

Up at 9.30am and it was time to cook another part of the cake. Then it was out the back to clean down the swings and do the washing whilst the Husbando took Lilli May out for a couple of hours. After a rushed lunch and getting Lilli May settled for her nap it was time to do the housework of tidying up each room and a good vacuum. Then it was time to bake the third part of cake and pack all the shopping away.

My mum and Aunty then arrived and as they went out to grab some takeaway dinner with the Husbando and Lilli May, I got a spray tan done at home. A little treat for mummy 🙂 = it was after all the two-year anniversary of surviving my 43 hours of excruciating labour pain! LOL

After scoffing down some dinner I went and locked myself in the Cougar Cave and created 6 superhero capes and even a pink one for Lilli May!

My mum and Aunt helped me make some chocolate crackles and coconut ice. Then we sat at the table and evenly counted out lollies for the goodie bags…because some kids do count and compare!

My Aunt also made the CUTEST little tea cups from lollies and biscuits! I just love them!

Then it was back to the Cave to make myself a tutu out of leftover tulle. I went to bed at about 1.30am (early mark!!). Suddenly it started to pour with rain and I lay awake until about 3.30am  tossing and turning thinking about how to change the party plans now that we couldn’t have it outside due to the cold and rain.

It felt like I had only just got to sleep when the alarm went off at 7am. Up we got, had a coffee then rearranged the kitchen so that the party table could now be inside. Nervously I iced the cake and made a tutu for the cake stand.

I was so very happy with the result!

From the moment Lilli May woke up the rest of the day just seemed a blur of fun and happiness!

We all got dressed and then the party began!

How cute do the kids look in their tutus and superhero capes and with their faces painted?!

We are SO proud of our little Ruffian and love that we are now in the TERRIFIC TWOs!!!

We are also so proud of how fairly she plays with others too. Such a good girl!!

Lilli May and I also made the best of the rain and enjoyed what it creates by stripping off our tutus and playing in the puddle and mud! By the end of it she was covered in mud from face to feet and had SO much fun….. then a nice hot bubble bath! 🙂

So there you go! It IS possible to organise and implement a successful toddlers birthday party in less than 48 hours!!

Even though it poured with rain and it meant that we couldn’t have it outside so that we could have the automatic bubble blower game, the playdough table games, the chalk drawing on the path competition, the balloon game or play on the swings and sandpit that we had planned – we still had the best day!!

A special thank you to all our family and friends that shared this special day with us and a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR GORGEOUS LILLI MAY. We love you and are so proud of you!

Keep smiling

Michka

There is ALWAYS time for a swing!

Apr 4, 2013

It has been a little while since I have made the time to write a post! It is so surprising how fast this year is really going!

Between enjoying time with our daughter Lilli May and the Husbando there are always lots of Lilli May designs orders to sew! I love the variety and I love how we manage to fit everything in for our little family!

The other day, I needed to go up to the shops to take some photos of a new Lilli May designs item – the LMD Deluxe Shopping Trolley Cover/Clothing Protector. The Husbando was kind enough to drive us up there and amuse Lilli May so that I could quickly take the photos and get it in the mail.

Now the entire time I was taking the photo all I could here was screams and giggles!! The Husbando was playing with Lilli May on the swings behind me.

(Lilli May is wearing a LMD Lilli Dress in Vintage Holly Hobbie fabric – details here)

So as with every time we go out to our backyard or up to the shops, she always makes me realise, that no matter how busy and hectic things get –  there is ALWAYS time for a swing!

So I joined her! She did, after all, point and show me where the swing next to her was! 🙂

When was the last time you had a swing?

Keep smiling

Michka

LMD Giveaway – Week 3 – WINNER – Nanny in a Nina!!

Mar 15, 2013

Thank you to all of you who entered the final week, of my recent giveaways, to win one custom made ladies LMD NINA VEST!

For those of you that did enter but did not win, you can still order your very own LMD NINA VEST in the fabric of your choice AND if you place a new order before Wednesday 20th March 2013 you will receive a 15% DISCOUNT (excluding other items and postage)! Please email lillimaydesigns@gmail.com to place your order!

Please note that anyone can place an order for a NINA VEST but the special discount offer is only available to people who entered the Week 3 Giveaway. Some fabrics are strictly limited and may sell out so please be quick to avoid disappointment! Details can be found in my LADY STYLES album here.

I am extremely happy to announce the winner is………. Margie!!! I cant wait to create her very special custom LMD NINA VEST!!

Here is Margie looking very happy to be a winner!! When I contacted her she said “yayyyyyy! I am sooo excited!!! I never win anything but I am so happy that it is a beautiful Nina Vest!!! ” 🙂

Margie is a very loving Nanny with wonderful grandchildren! A Nanny with a love of all things crafty! Margie is the lovely lady behind Nannycraft4U facebook page and a blogger who shares her wonderful sewing/craft hints, tips and tutorials at her blog found here. She will soon be a Nanny in a Nina!!! 😀

So please put your hands together and give a BIG CHEER for MARGIE!!! Hip hip Hooorrrayyyyyyyyy!!! Please stop by her facebook page, found here, and tell her Lilli May designs sent you!

Keep smiling

Michka

LMD 2000 Liker Giveaway – Final Week

Mar 8, 2013

Welcome to Week 3 and the FINAL WEEK of three big weeks of giveaway’s here at Lilli May designs – so you can all help me celebrate reaching over 2000 likers on my facebook page!

Week 1 and 2 were a huge success with two very happy winners!! Congratulations to Jessie and Dani! Read about their stories here and here.

So what is this weeks prize I hear you ask?

The Week 3 prize is a stunning LMD NINA VEST in the winners choice of fabric (from a selected range) and custom made to the winners size!! The NINA VEST is a Lilli May designs original design and is one of my most popular lady’s styles available.

This giveaway is open worldwide. Postage is included for postage WITHIN AUSTRALIA only.

If the winner resides outside of Australia, then the international postage must be paid by the winner.

To enter our giveaway please follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter Application. Click on the link for the Rafflecopter Application on the top of the Lilli May designs Facebook page or on the link at the bottom of this post to go through it easily and quickly!

Make sure you follow the first two steps as they are mandatory for a valid entry and YOUR COMMENT ON THIS BLOG POST forms part of the judging and selection process. REMEMBER YOU MUST ANSWER THE QUESTION AS YOUR BLOG POST COMMENT:)

You can ‘share’ our giveaway with your friends and family. This is NOT mandatory but it will give you an extra 2 entries into the giveaway and you can do this as little or as much as you like (you can do this daily for the duration of the giveaway and receive 2 entries per day). Please follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter Application to confirm you have completed each step.

The giveaway commences now with last entries to be received by Thursday 14 March at 2pm Sydney time.

The winner, once notified via email, will have 48 hours to claim the prize otherwise a new winner may be selected.

All terms and conditions are available at the bottom of the Rafflecopter Application. Any questions please let me know!
Good luck!

 Click here to enter via Rafflecopter

Keep smiling!

Michka

LMD Giveaway – Week 2 – WINNER – May The Force Be With You!!

Mar 5, 2013

Thank you to all of you who entered the Week 2 Giveaway to win one pair of custom made LMD CAI SHORTS! (in a choice of fabrics as pictured) in a range of sizes (from 6mths to size 8)!!

For those of you that did enter but did not win, you can still order your pair of LMD CAI SHORTS in the fabric of your choice AND if you place a new order before Friday 8th March 2013 you will receive a 10% DISCOUNT (excluding other items and postage)! Please email lillimaydesigns@gmail.com to place your order!

Please note that this offer is only available to people who entered the Week 2 Giveaway. The fabrics are strictly limited and may sell out so please be quick to avoid disappointment!

With over 100 entries there were lots of people in with a chance! So without further ado the winner of the Week 2 Giveaway is Dani and she has chosen the rare vintage Empire Strikes Back fabric for a pair of shorts for her little man Jacob!

Here is an absolutely stunning photo of Jacob with his dad Pete!!

Now ONE of the really wonderful things about Jacob is his birthday date….it is May 4th! So he is destined to wear a pair of Star Wars shorts when you can say May the 4th (…may the force) is his birthday. 🙂

Dani said that Jacob’s dad grew up with Star Wars as his older brothers were right into it. Jacob was due on the 30th April but arrived late and they realised his date was May the 4th be with you!

So please put your hands together and give three cheers for Dani, Pete and Jacob!!

Now don’t forget, we have one more Giveaway to go over at Lilli May designs. It is a LMD item for the ladies and will kick off on Friday 08/03!

Until then……MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU! 😀

Keep smiling

Michka

LMD 2000 Liker Giveaway – Week 2

Feb 28, 2013

Welcome to WEEK 2 of three big weeks of giveaway’s here at Lilli May designs – so you can all help me celebrate reaching over 2000 likers on my facebook page!

So week 1 was a huge success with over 200 entries and a very deserving winner. Read all about them here.

So what is this weeks prize I hear you ask?

The Week 2 prize is one pair of LMD CAI SHORTS as pictured (in the winners choice of any of the vintage/retro fabrics in the photo), in their choice of size (from 6mths to size 8)!

This giveaway is open worldwide. Postage is included for postage WITHIN AUSTRALIA only.

If the winner resides outside of Australia, then the international postage must be paid by the winner.

To enter our giveaway please follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter Application. Click on the link for the Rafflecopter Application on the top of the Lilli May designs Facebook page or on the link at the bottom of this post to go through it easily and quickly!

Make sure you follow the first two steps as they are mandatory for a valid entry and your comment forms part of the judging and selection process. REMEMBER YOU MUST ANSWER THE QUESTION AS YOUR BLOG POST COMMENT:)

You can ‘share’ our giveaway with your friends and family. This is NOT mandatory but it will give you an extra 2 entries into the giveaway and you can do this as little or as much as you like (you can do this daily for the duration of the giveaway and receive 2 entries per day). Please follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter Application to confirm you have completed each step.

The giveaway commences now with last entries to be received by Monday 4 March at 2pm Sydney time.

The winner, once notified via email, will have 48 hours to claim the prize otherwise a new winner may be selected.

The new Giveaway will then start for the third and final week!

All terms and conditions are available at the bottom of the Rafflecopter Application. Any questions please let me know!
Good luck!

 Click here to enter via Rafflecopter

Keep smiling!

Michka

LMD 2000 Liker Giveaway – Week 1 – WINNER!!

Feb 27, 2013

Thank you to all of you who entered the Week 1 Giveaway to win LMD Retro Bianca in rare Vintage My Little Pony fabric (similar to the one in the photo) in their choice of size (from 3mths to size 8)!!

Well that was a bit exciting wasn’t it?!

With over 200 entries there were lots of people in with a chance! It was a nervous wait yesterday after I had emailed the winner and waited for her to confirm her acceptance of the prize!

So without further ado the winner of the Week 1 Giveaway is Jessie and the dress will be for her daughter little Miss Sierra!!!!

What a gorgeous smile little Miss Sierra has!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH!!!!!!!

So last night I got to know Jessie that little bit better and what an amazing mum she is!!! She is a mum from Queensland and her and her lovely husband have 11 gorgeous children with another one on the way!!! 😀

She said her children range in age from her youngest of 29 weeks (pregnant) up to her 21 year old!! She also said she has a gorgeous little grandson who is 19 months. Oh, and no twins either! Hubby and her have been together for nearly 23 years, despite being told that they wouldn’t last (she was 15 and he was 17). She said ‘He is an amazing man. I am very lucky’.

Awwww isn’t that beautiful?!

Could there be a more deserving winner?!!!! Please go and check out her Blog Post Comment as well, found here! Very creative!

So please put your hands together and give three cheers for Jessie and Sierra!!

Now don’t forget, we have two more Giveaways to go over at Lilli May designs. The next one is for the boys and will kick off tomorrow!

Keep smiling

Michka

LMD Cookbook Club # 3 – Pear Tarte Tatin

Feb 26, 2013

I made this recipe last week and have only now had a chance to share it!

What a couple of weeks it has been! I know I have been slow in getting the next installment of my LMD Cookbook Club but I have been flat out with family visiting, everyday life and of course orders for my facebook page.

This weeks choice was made by the husbando and to be honest, I did sit on it for a week..because I was too nervous. It is something that I have always wanted to make, but have been too chicken to try. So I procrastinated! Then I tried it! Here is the photo from the book:

Recipe : Pear Tarte Tatin

Book : COOK with JAMIE – My Guide to Making You a Better Cook Author : Jamie Oliver Estimated

Prep Time vs Actual : none given/10 mins

Cook Time : 30 mins approx

Level : Moderate

Ingredients : Mostly pantry items. I omitted the thyme, as I didn’t have thyme to buy it LOL

Appliance/s require : Stove/Oven

Real Life vs Photo :  2.5 out of 5. 

Result/Taste : 4.5 out of 5

Ok so I was super nervous as I did this. Only a few simple ingredients but so much room for error! I decided to make it easier and use store bought frozen pastry. 🙂 Other than the pastry, my other ingredients are all lactose free including the butter and the ice cream.

So after chopping up the pears I realised that we don’t have a heavy bottomed fry pan that can go in the oven! *gasp* what type of chef am I?!

So I decided to use my heavy bottomed cake tin and it worked an absolute treat!! Winning!

Thus began the making of the syrup. Stressful? VERY!!!

I was so terrified that I was going to burn it or ruin it…and thought that I had after I added the pears – as it went a bit toffee like and in a bit of a lump – but once I put it back on the heat it re-melted and was fine!!

Then I added the other ingredients – I didn’t toast the almonds, and it still tasted fine. Although I know the toasting would be yummier.

Then place the pastry on top.

Bake it. Looking good!

Ta daaaaaa

Now it may not look exactly like the photo in the book – I think this is because my pears were ripe and thus they had more juice and were softer – BUT it tastes SOOOOOOOOO yummy!! I can not believe how yummy this stuff is!!!

It says ‘serves 4’.

4 what?

Ants?

The husbando and I demolished this together that night!! LOL Even then I was reluctant to give him any!!

So if you are making it for others to share, perhaps make two so there will be enough for everyone.

So again, I like Jamie’s tone as he explains the recipe etc but for the inexperienced cook, you are going to want more details in relation to each step. Dont let that stop you though – as the result is phenomenally yummy and worth any guess work you have to undertake!

Anyway, I am looking forward to this weeks new recipe as it looks very yummy too, but I must go now as I HAVE to go and make this Pear Tarte Tatin again!

Keep smiling!

Michka

LMD 2000 Liker Giveaway – Week 1

Feb 19, 2013

There are now over 2000 Likers of my facebook page!

Thank you to each and every one of you! Also, an especially big and heartfelt thank you to my customers and those of you that have taken the time to comment, ‘like’ and/or shown me such amazing support!! I am humbled by your kindness and I love getting to know each of you more and more every day. I hope to always exceed your expectations and continue to find those unique fabrics that will inspire me to create even more wonderful handmade items!

So with over 2000 Likers do you know what that means?!

It means its time to kick off THREE BIG WEEKS OF GIVEAWAYS!

So what is this weeks prize I hear you ask?

The Week 1 prize is a LMD Retro Bianca in rare Vintage My Little Pony fabric (similar to the one in the photo) in their choice of size (from 3mths to size 8)!!

This giveaway is open worldwide. Postage is included for postage WITHIN AUSTRALIA only.

If the winner resides outside of Australia, then the international postage must be paid by the winner.

To enter our giveaway please follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter Application. Click on the link for the Rafflecopter Application on the top of the Lilli May designs Facebook page or on the link at the bottom of this post to go through it easily and quickly!

Make sure you follow the first two steps as they are mandatory for a valid entry.

You can ‘share’ our giveaway with your friends and family. This is NOT mandatory but it will give you an extra 2 entries into the giveaway and you can do this as little or as much as you like (you can do this daily for the duration of the giveaway and receive 2 entries per day).  Please follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter Application to confirm you have completed each step.

The giveaway commences now with last entries to be received by Tuesday 26 February 2013 at 1pm Sydney time.

The winner, once notified via email, will have 48 hours to claim the prize otherwise a new winner may be selected.

The new Giveaway will then start for Week 2 and then, once this one is complete, the Giveaway for the final Week 3 will begin!

All terms and conditions are available at the bottom of the Rafflecopter Application. Any questions please let me know!

Good luck!

Keep smiling!

Michka

Click Here to Enter Via Rafflecopter