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{recipe} delicious frozen chocolate mousse...

Recipe for yummy frozen chocolate mousse....serves 8.
I am tripling the quantities as I am making it for 9 kids and 9 adults...and we are greedy!!

Ingredients
200g good quality dark chocolate
50g butter
4 eggs, separated
1 cup (250mL) cream
2 tbsp caster sugar

Optional
Candy canes
White chocolate chips
Extra whipped cream
Frozen mixed berries

Method
Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl in the microwave. Time depends on the strength of your microwave. Mine is 1500w and I put it in for 1 and a half minutes. Stir until all melted and smooth. Set aside.

Whip the cream until soft peaks form. Best if done in a mixmaster or electric beaters. Hand beating will kill you!

In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form, then sprinkle on caster sugar and whisk until mixture is thick and the sugar has dissolved. Again, use some sort of electric device!!

Stir the egg yolks into the chocolate mixture thoroughly. The chocolate will change consistency. This is normal, so don't freak out!

Fold through the cream gently and then the whipped egg whites. Try to achieve a smooth consistency without over stirring.

This is the fun bit...

For the kids, I spooned portions out into sturdy, red and white striped cupcake patties. Break candy canes in half and stick them down one side. Add a few white chocolate chips and voila! You have reindeer poo at the North Pole! Kids love that stuff!

For the adults, I poured the mixture into a cut crystal bowl. Add a tower of whipped cream on top and drop mixed berries over it. Drizzle some of the berry liquid over the top...

Freeze for at least half an hour or freeze until needed and pull out 15 minutes before serving.

Recipe created by Melissa Hughes for Kidspot and adapted by me!!

Melt the chocolate

Whip the cream until soft peaks form.

Beat your egg whites until soft peaks form. Add caster sugar and beat until very firm.

Mix the egg yolks into the melted chocolate.

Fold the cream into the chocolate.

It should look something like this.

Fold the chocolate and cream mixture into the egg whites.

This is the adult version minus the cream and berries, which I will add just before serving.

This is the kids version...reindeer poo at the North Pole!!

This is really easy to make and we have taste tested several times over...just to make sure!!

{tutorial} Vintage doily snowflake mobile

This is a sweet project all year round! Gather your supplies:

• Selection of fabric doilies (all sizes, shapes and even colours if you wish)


• PVA craft glue or fabric stiffener


• Jar


• Bowl


• Baking paper


• Ribbon or string


• Sharp scissors


• Circle templates (different sized glasses for example)


• Two branches of approximately 30cm each


• Lead pencil


• Hot glue gun

In the jar, mix a ratio of 1:4 parts water to PVA craft glue. Screw the lid on and give it a good shake. If using fabric stiffener, skip this step and follow manufacturers instructions.

Pour mixture into your bowl.
On a flat surface, lay out as much baking paper as required for the number of doilies you have to lay out flat.

Drop a doily into the mixture in the bowl and squish around to ensure that all the fabric is saturated.

Squeeze out excess mixture over the bowl and lay the doily on your baking paper. Ensure that the doily is smooth and wrinkle free. Repeat with all doilies.

Allow to dry overnight.

Carefully remove the doilies from the baking paper. They should be very stiff. Using your circle templates, draw circles where you want the final pattern to be seen.

Cut out the circles carefully. Save your scraps for other projects.

Lay out your circles in approximately the pattern you want them to be when strung up.

Grab your branches. Lay them out in a cross shape and glue them in place using the hot glue gun. Bind them using string or ribbon. Alternate sides as you wrap them so you end up with a cross shaped wrap. Add a small loop for hanging.

Thread your ribbon or string through one of the holes in each doily individually. Using your desired layout, attach doilies to each other to make several 'strings'. You will need at least 4 strings. Make the lengths different to add interest to the finished project.

Tie each of your doily circle strings to the branches, holding them up occasionally to ensure an approximate balance. When you have finished, hang your snowflakes where they can be admired!!

Things I make...ceiling wreath!

This one is for those of you who have little people running around who like touching the decorations on the tree! Save your delicate decorations by making this wreath hanging from the ceiling!
You will need:

• A plain Christmas wreath (I got mine in the half price sales at Spotlight last year)


• A screw in hook


• Some ribbon or decorative string


• Your delicate ornaments


• Tinsel if you wish

First tie the ribbon or string to the wreath at approximate quarters.

Screw your hook in the ceiling at the spot where you want your wreath to hang. Mine is in our front hallway.
I also added an open paper clip to the strings to ensure a straight hanging wreath.

On a stepstool, carefully thread your baubles onto individual branches and hold in place by twisting the end of the twig upwards. Add some tinsel over the top of the wreath to add some interest to the top where there are no ornaments. Voila!

Things I make...a snow globe!

This has got to be one of the easiest Christmas crafts to undertake! Gather your supplies:

• Large jar (I got mine for 50c from a local op shop. It is an old 1kg coffee jar


• Glitter


• Glycerin


• Araldite or epoxy resin


• A suitable ornament


• Silicone


• Ribbon, other trimming...

Glue your ornament into the lid of the jar using epoxy or araldite.
I wrapped some leafy greens around her legs to hide the glue.

Fill the jar (not to the top) with water, glycerin and glitter. Give it a good stir.
When you are satisfied with the amount of glitter, line the rim of the jar with silicone.

Carefully insert your ornament and close the lid firmly.
Add a wide ribbon using the excess silicone as glue. Add an extra sparkle trim or a bow.

Tada! Your snow globe is done! Shake and enjoy!
Love xxx

Merry Christmas Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giving a friend a plug...Cara Aura

For lovers of deep and meaningful quotes, pretty little crafts and treasures from days gone by, you must pay a small visit to Cara Creates...

My (secret relationship, partner in crime) has just started out in the blogging world and I'd like to share some of her treasures...a genuine hoarder of all things vintage and collectable, her home is a real treasure chest! Check it out, follow her blog and pray that she shares more of her collections...over to you Cara Aura!

Love xxx