Easter Inspiration - A Medley of Crafts and Delicious Easter Cakes

Above: Easter egg pinatas, so cute! Hop over to Oh Happy Day for instructions

Easter is looming so I thought I would select my favourite mix of Easter Ideas, links to the tutorials and recipes are included...

"I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" - DIY Holiday Inspiration, Printables, Recipes and More

Sharing some Holiday inspiration, diy projects, last minute recipes and more from talented bloggers around the web...

My First Attempt at a Naked Wedding Cake

Hi everyone, recently I mentioned that I was attempting a cake for my son's wedding, last week I made a trial, naked cake and thought I would share the recipe, some images of my cake and a few great video instructions I discovered.

Tuesday's Mix - Naked Cakes and DIY Homeware

Just Destiny Mag 

I used to have a regular weekly post that contained a medley of recipes, DIY homeware and interior inspiration but somehow it slowly disappeared when I had to reduce time on the blog due to dry eyes. Recently, a reader made a comment that my blog "felt like sitting down with a good magazine", I was really happy to hear this but also aware that the magazine type inspiration I had wanted for Lee Caroline had slipped a little as I hadn't been featuring this post. So, I am re-introducing a regular post with links to recipes and DIY projects for the home and calling it 'Tuesday's Mix'.

Gluten, Dairy and Sugar Free Christmas Fruit Cake

Originally a recipe from a friend, 'Kathy's Real Easy Fruit Cake' is a simple to make cake that is a great Christmas cake option. Being intolerant to gluten I made the cake this weekend as a GF version.

Crunchy Peanut Butter Biscuits (GF) and Coffee Lovers Baby Cakes from Jo Seagar's Latest Book - Jo Seagar Bakes

 

My fondest memories of baking were watching my Nan make her famous Cherry and Almond cake. In fact, I can distinctly remember the delightful aroma that would drift throughout her cottage. Kiwi Chef/Baker, Jo Seagar acknowledges that "cooking is a learnt skill not an instinctive art". It is those times watching our mother, grandmother or aunt baking that we will have learnt important skills for our own success. However, what if we didn't have that opportunity, Jo has pondered on this and decided it was time to share her knowledge and the knowledge of those who have gone before her to help make us successful bakers through her new book, Jo Seagar Bakes.

Weekly Inspiration - Recipes, DIY Homeware and Black and White Kitchens

1. Izy's Swedish Chocolate Cake from the Vanilla Bean Blog...Recipe here

A collection of inspiration: recipes, DIY homeware and some black and white kitchens. You will find a quick link to the recipes and tutorials at the end of this post.

Cheats - Frosted, Individual Vanilla Easter Cakes

Don't get me wrong, I love to create dishes from scratch, however when your having an ultra busy week and still want to create a little Easter love, I don't see any harm in cheating a little.

Inspiration From The Blogasphere Wk 10 - Interiors, Upcycling, Recipes

This week has been a long week of back and forth to mums, still sorting out but also sanding and painting. The house is really starting to look refreshed, I'm replacing old floral wallpapers with a fresh, clean neutral paint, Resene Ricecake, and painting mouldings, skirting and ceilings in alabaster. I used these colours for my own home too. These neutral whites with a touch of warmth help create a sense of  light and space and are perfect background for hanging artworks.  I'm still struggling parting with a lot of mums possessions but this week made a break through sending 5 more huge bags of clothing to the Mercy Hospice shop as Mercy were so wonderful to both of us the past few years, without their help I don't know what I would have done. I also have two bags for the SPCA (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Mum loved animals and I know she will have felt good about contributing to this worthy cause too.

Consequently this week to prepare this post I've had to rush around the web gathering  inspiration to share, a little rushed but found some great ideas, I hope you'll enjoy today's picks....

Free printables from Graphic Designer and fellow blogger Kristi at, "I Should Be Mopping the Floor". Hop over to Kristi's blog to download a sheet of various size labels in your choice of colour. Click "here" for her link to download. Print them out on self adhesive label sheets for your kitchen storage jars or on a slightly thicker paper as gift tags. Thanks Kristi for sharing such pretty designs...

How about a little "upcycling" with vintage china. Ideas from stylist Paul Lowe at country Living, step by step directions to the Lamp can be found at the link below.  PS...If an annoying advert pops up when you land on this page just hit the "x" on the ad, I found it a little intrusive, however, certainly worth hanging around to read the full instructions if you can dodge this ad which was a bit of a cat and mouse game for me :)....

 

 find out how to turn this box of old china into a unique lamp, step by step directions at Country Living

More ideas with old china, aren't these sweet, also Paul Lowe at Country Living...

I just LOVE blue and white,  if you'd like some more blue and white inspiration, check out my Pinterest  Blue & White Board, lots of fabulous images to be found. You can also see some of my own home blue and white collection in a previous post "here".

Oh...and a great idea of transferring plate designs onto fabric....

Iron on technique found "here"

And now for a little sweetness...

I love coffee and cake and my favourite Saturday morning indulgence is said coffee and cake usually at La Cigale market but this week I decided to DIY (saving pennies), and I've found a couple of special recipes to share. First an Apple Walnut Delight cake, and secondly Meyer Lemon Coffee Cake with Apple Streusel,  both from Liren at Kitchen Confidante. You'll find the recipe links below the images. The first one is "easy peasy", the second one takes a little more time but well worth it...

Apple Walnut Delight Cake

Meyer Lemon Coffee Cake with Apple Streusel, 

Ending this week with a sneak peek at this gorgeous apartment in Sweden, all the remaining beautiful images can be seen at Inspiring Interiors 

This week I was excited to introduce my first guest blogger, Sierra, who from time to time will be posting  fresh ideas on interiors and fashion. I would love for you to support her first post  here Nursery  Inspiration by leaving a comment. Sierra is a writer and blogger who I know will bring some fresh young inspiration to Lee Caroline - A World of Inspiration.

We hope you had a fabulous week, we are well into Spring now in New Zealand, the Peonies are in bloom and I hope to take some great shots over the next few weeks for future paintings.

Oh....and Poppy wanted to say hi today so will leave you with a parting farewell photo from her, she is one year old now but I still think the cutest little thing ever!

Sharing this week with:

I Should Be Mopping The Floor

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Time Travel Thursday at the Brambleberry Cottage

Show and tell Friday at My Romantic Home

At The Picket Fence

Parsnip & Pecan Cake - Another shared expat recipe

I thought it about time I posted another delicious recipe, this time for a Parsnip and Pecan cake.  I have made this cake a number of times and it is absolutely delicious.  The Parsnip can be replaced with Kumara (sweet potato) or carrot if Parsnips are not in season.  The colour of the cake changes naturally if you use a darker vegetable.

My recipe is from my handwritten recipes when I was living as an Ex Pat.  I think this one came from my friend Maureen who went on to open her own cafe in Brisbane. Sadly Maureen has just sold the cafe as she needed a break from the 60 hours a week she was putting in. Maureen used to run baking courses at her house in Brunei. We would gather as a small group and at the end of her demonstration we would indulge in a lovely lunch.  We all had such a great time, I made new friends and my baking skills definitely improved.  I guess now Maureen its time for a new chapter in your life and I'm sure with such a gorgeous, multi talented woman, there is an exciting new challenge ahead.

The photo I have to credit to The Baking Pan and is actually from a recipe for an Italian Pecan Cream Cake,  I just had to have a photo though to get your mouth watering. I knew if I made the cake especially to photograph I would certainly eat the lot and sadly I am trying to remain gluten free :(. The cake does actually look the same but I only slice it once so it has one filling and the remainder as topping.  I usually scatter some whole Pecans over the top of the cake.  The Baking Pan have a lot of delicious recipes so you may want to head over that way later to check them out.  I notice they have "gluten free" recipes so I will be having a look at those for sure.  

Please go to my recipe page for the ingredients and instructions on how to make this scrumptious cake or click on the cake above and it will take you directly there.  If you visit the Baking Pan before you view my recipe, please don't forget to use your back browser to return to my blog :).


Bon Apetite!

Cake Mamas - Amazing works of edible art!

I like to showcase art I discover while "googling", I don't just mean 2 dimensional art but art in any form that stands out from the rest.  Today I want to share about a company called "The Cake Mamas" owned by Janelle and Fabiola whose exquisite cakes, cupcakes and biscuits are handmade to order.  The company is based in Glendora, California, USA. The cakes they offer are simply amazing, I don't think there is anything they cannot make in the form of a cake.  Below are some of their hand sculpted "handbag" cakes. Chanel, Coach, Juicy Couture and of course the Louis vuitton cake, their attention to detail is second to none!

Cake Mamas Janelle and Fabiola have just launched their new website, showcasing what they have to offer, the amazing story of how they began and photo galleries of their incredible cakes. These two women are talented like you wouldn't believe, their cakes are unique pieces of artwork and I am mesmerized by each one.  

It has been very difficult for me to select only a few of Janelle and Fabiola’s  cakes and I know my pictures are small and unfortunately do not do the justice they require. Therefore, I recommend you take a look at their site to view their gallery, read about their children's parties and learn more of what they have to offer, maybe even order that special occasion cake.  

I believe these two “ entrepreneurial” and talented artists will go far! And as their slogan says... I hope you enjoy their “sweet story”!

I think the Dr Seuss Cake is fascinating!

I enlarged this cake above so you could see the exquisite detail.

The cake mamas.com