Christmas Cake with 4 Ingredients - It works!

A customer of Cosy Toes emailed through a Christmas cake with only 4 ingredients! So that's what  I've just made. I made 4 small cakes for gifts  and decorated the top with glace cherries and sliced almonds - this one to the right.
Yes it looks like a cake and it worked!

Here is the recipe for you to share:

Soak a kilo of mixed fruit in 2 cups pf strong coffee overnight (I add
red glace cherries!)
Next day sometime! Add 150gms of roughly chopped chocolate - we like
macadamia chocolate
Then mix in 2 cups of self raising flour! Can add spices such as
cinnamon if the mood so pleases.
Bake at 130C The smaller the tin the longer to cook - I use an eight
inch tin

You have a nice as in NICE cake.

I would love to hear if yours worked out too.

Cosy Toes: New Zealand Wool and Why We Love It.

Cosy Toes: New Zealand Wool and Why We Love It.: I keep a pretty good eye on New Zealand wool and any related industries or businesses that could be effected by what is happening with wool ...

Cosy Toes: Christmas Decorations Made from Wool

Cosy Toes: Christmas Decorations Made from Wool: Christmas brings out my creativity! I thought you might like to see my latest project. I've made these mini Christmas Stockings which w...

Christmas Decorations Made from Wool

Christmas brings out my creativity! I thought you might like to see my latest project.

I've made these mini Christmas Stockings which were knitted and made from scraps of wool (of course). They were so simple to make and took hardly any time.
I'm going to hang my on our tree this year but I thought next year I might make them in all different colours with a number sticker on them and hang them for an advent calender. Or they would just make a lovely gift in a card for a keep sake gift made lovingly from you.

Click here for the link to your free pattern.

There is also an idea there to make a wool pompom which children could make and hang on the tree too.

Merry Christmas from Cosy Toes.

New Zealand Wool and Why We Love It.

I keep a pretty good eye on New Zealand wool and any related industries or businesses that could be effected by what is happening with wool in our country. Recently an online article was brought to my attention. The first lines were saying "stop wearing wool because of cruelty to sheep". I couldn't think what the cruelty would be here in New Zealand to warrant this. As I clicked through to the website where the article was, I read on to discover the writer was referring to live sheep exports. As far as I know New Zealand is no longer involved with exporting their sheep live to any foreign countries and I hope the new National Government here in New Zealand will not be considering doing this again.

Here at Cosy Toes wool has been the back bone to our business. We believe in this wonderful, natural fibre to be the best fibre you can dress in and live in, in the world. The benefits are endless. It's warm for a start and promotes great circulation for the body. Babies do not regulate their body temperature and as wool breathes naturally this is the ideal fibre for them to wear. Many elderly people also reap the benefits of wearing wool as it helps with blood flow and warmth. The advancement of technology in the processing of wool and animal health over the years means that wool is a more comfortable fibre to wear than years gone by. 

Sheep are shorn which is just like cutting your hair. Sheep continuously grow wool and are typically shorn once a year. Shearing a sheep benefits the sheep as it helps to keep the sheep cool in summer and healthy. New Zealand sheep farmers are experienced with generations of farming knowledge being passed down.

I'm really pleased there has been a resurgence of people's awareness of the benefits of wearing and living with wool . Synthetics will always be a part of our lives whether we like or not but there is no other fibre that comes close to wool.

Enterprising Rural Women Award 2011

Do you know someone who runs a successful small business from a rural location?

Now would be the time to bring to their attention the 2011 RWNZ Enterprising Rural Women Award, as entries close on Friday 18th March.

This is the third year we have run the award, and it's a great opportunity for rural women to showcase their businesses to a wide audience.

The award attracts extensive media interest, and previous entrants have enjoyed a real publicity boost through articles in local and national print media, and on radio and television.

 

 

Winning the South Island prize in the RWNZ Enterprising Rural Women Award last year has had a positive spin off, especially increasing my local sales - I'm definitely busier because of it. Tracey Robinson, Cosy Toes Ltd.

This year's awards is being sponsored by Telecom, Access Homehealth Limited, and Rural Women New Zealand.

Judges Tina Symmans, Telecom's Director of Corporate Relations and John Ayling, Chairman of Access Homehealth Limited, will join RWNZ National President Liz Evans in the challenging task of selecting a North Island and South Island finalist, as well as the supreme winner. Each award includes $1000 in prize money.
An exciting award ceremony will be part of our National Conference 2011 in Auckland in May.
Further information and entry forms can be found at www.ruralwomen.org.nz.

Merino Singlets for Adults!

Look what we have been up to the last couple of months! These beautiful 100% merino singlets for woman are due to arrive and will be online to buy in March 2011. Just in time for our Autumn and Winter season.
Cosy Toes is expanding every year and this year we are introducing more adult merino socks and adult merino clothing.