Mia Bella Passions

Christmas Art Rocks

Painting rocks.

One of my favourite things to do!

And these simple designs are perfect for the kids to make on a weekend.

Perfect to decorate the home for Christmas.

Perfect to gift to the grandparents, aunties, uncle or teacher.

TO CREATE:

Select smooth rocks with a flat front surface.

Using gold acrylic paint, paint the rock a shown.

While the paint is drying, sketch some ideas to decorate the rocks.

Use a black marker pen

(Sharpie is best as other brands tend to run when you spray varnish the rocks)

Decorate the rocks as desired.

When dry spray a light coat of varnish sealer over them.

Place in the decor or gift.

#paintedrocks #christmascrafts

A peek at Mia Bella Passions Garden

Life has been so very busy,

and my next crafty DIY just has not been created.

So instead of a craft tutorial,

(I'll save that for the next post).

I'm just going to show you a snippet of my back of the house garden.

I adore this time of the year.

New growth over spring and now into early summer.

Lush greens.

New annuals heading up for display.

And the rhododendron in full bloom.

This back garden is my favourite place to be.

Enjoy your peek.

EASY YEAST FREE PIZZA

EASY YEAST-FREE PIZZA

I'M SHOUTING THIS OUT IN

SHOUTY CAPITALS.

BECAUSE IT IS DELISH AND SO VERY EASY TO MAKE.

I think you get the hint now.

LOL

This really is the best base if you can't be bothered to fluff around with yeast.

Or you don't like that yeasty flavour.

ALL YOU DO IS:

Mix in a bowl until dough forms:

1 1/2 cups plain flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup fat-free milk (I used soy)

(or a little more if needed)

2 tablespoons olive oil

THEN:
on a floured benchtop knead for one minute.

Shape into a ball.

Put the dough back into the bowl.

Cover with a clean tea towel and leave 10 minutes before using.

While the dough rests, prepare your toppings.

I used:

smoked chicken

Tomato

Mushroom

Pineapple

capsicum

Spring onion

Tasty cheese

Dollops of cream cheese

THEN:

Roll dough out to a round shape.

Place on a baking tray.

Bake in a 200-degree Celsius oven.

Bake for 7 minutes.

Remove from the oven

Spread the base with cranberry jelly.

Top with the goodies.

Return to the oven and bake for a further 15 to 20 minutes.

Printable Recipe HERE.

Note: An ingredient conversion chart can be found HERE

GRAB A COFFEE AND POP OVER TO MY GIFT STORES AT

FINE ART AMERICA

REDBUBBLE

SAATCHI ART

#homemade #pizzabase #yeastfree

Peachy Chocolate Balls

Snack balls are my favourite thing.

Especially snack balls that are cacao based not date!

In these ones, I have used dried peaches.

But you could use other dried fruit like strawberries,

apricots or cranberries.

I retrained my sweet tooth away from cakes and biscuits

to dried fruit, when I wanted a sweet snack.

A yummy choc fruit ball is the ultimate treat when you are trying to maintain healthier food choices.

To make:

Place in a bowl:

4 finely diced dried peaches

(I used Tasti brand)

1 cup almond meal

3/4 cup coconut

and 290 grams dark Chocolate Melts (melted)

Mix well.

Refrigerate until firm.

Remove from refrigerator and roll into balls.

Store in a sealed container in the cupboard.

Or refrigerator if in summer air temperature.

Printable recipe HERE

Note: An ingredient conversion chart can be found HERE

GRAB A COFFEE AND POP OVER TO MY GIFT STORES AT

FINE ART AMERICA

REDBUBBLE

SAATCHI ART

#healthysnacks #snackballs

A Snippet Of Teacup History...

The history of the humble teacup dates back thousands of years.

The first vessels shipped to European countries were without handles.

They were small hand-formed and bowl-like.

Tea vessels as they were known were shipped from China and Japan in the 17th century.

Tea drunk from these vessels was warm, not hot, so holding the vessels was not a problem.

The first Europen imitations also without handles were made at Meissen in Germany using hard-paste porcelain.

The handle on the teacup, also a German invention, with designs as early as 1707.

The handle developed on the cup due to the fact the English preferred to drink tea hot.

The saucers first role in early European times was to pour tea onto it to cool then drink from.

The saucer later evolved as a cup placement vessel when handles were added to cups.

Teacups have over the centuries been loved both by tea drinkers and teacup collectors.

In the 21st century, they are used not only for tea drinking, but as home decor accessories, candles, jewellery holders, and vases for mini posies or a little bunch of one flower type.

How many of us acquired a teacup and saucer or if so lucky, a tea set from Grandmas collection.
My brother gifted an antique teacup and saucer as my 21st birthday gift.
And even though I am no longer actively collecting, the teacups and sets that I do have are used.

For tea drinking and tea parties and in my home decor.

Celebrate Purple And Mauve!

'Mist Star'

Purple...

Perfect pops of colour for decor accents.

Purple and aqua look stunning together as an accent colour.

Here are a few ideas for some purple inspired wall art.

I've shown canvas images here today,

but these are also available framed under glass if you prefer that.

But artwork and photography images presented on canvas has become a popular choice, due to the fact they're modern and durable.

There are no glare and reflection issues you have with glass either.

Canvas Print

Clematis Flower

Fuchsia Art Prints

Purple.

A jewel colour.

A colour that gives the decor a little bit of WOW!

#artprints

Chocolate Crispies

Chocolate Crispies were one of those accidental discoveries...

I had been to the store looking for an easy go-to but healthier sweet biscuit option.

There I found puffed rice chocolate covered square biscuit.

Made in Holland, these rice biscuits were nice.

But not amazing to me.

The chocolate was dark and bitter.

I love dark chocolate, but not so dark that it leaves a bitter aftertaste.

Which to me was what these did.

While I was munching away on this treat, trying to decide if they were ok or not ok, I had a complete lightbulb moment.

Why not make my own version.

But with my most favourite dark chocolate on top!

Using my most favourite corn cracker.

So I did.

Thus Chocolate Crispies were born.

Such a simple biscuit treat to whip up.

It's a fun one for the kids to help make.

So...

All you need to do is:

Place 12 large round crackers on baking paper-lined trays.

I used 'Real Foods' corn thins brand.

They are made from corn and have a popcorn flavour.

Break up one block of Whittakers 62% dark cacao chocolate into a glass bowl.

Microwave on high in 20-second increments until it is glossy and smooth.

Spoon the chocolate onto each rice round and spread out.

Refrigerate until set.

Store in an airtight container.

These Chocolate Crispies are a top favourite with my family.

They are gluten-free.

Use dairy-free chocolate and you'll tick that box too!

YUM YUM!

You'll make these time and time again once you taste them - that's guaranteed.

Note: An ingredient conversion chart can be found HERE

GRAB A COFFEE AND POP OVER TO MY GIFT STORES AT

FINE ART AMERICA

REDBUBBLE

SAATCHI ART

#healthyreats #homemade #yummystuff

Echeveria sp. 'Green Waterlily'...❥

Let me introduce you to this FABULOUS succulent plant.

It is called 'Green Waterlily' and is from the Echeveria species.

I simply adore the shape of this plant.

It resembles a waterlily, hence its name.

This beautiful succulent forms a compact large rosette.

The leaves are mid green with the tips tinged with pink.
It really is a beautiful addition to pots.
And that is exactly what I have done with it...

planted it in a low squat pot...

for on the summer outdoor table.

The Green Waterlily is a low maintenance plant that tolerates dry conditions.
All you need to do to keep it healthy is a once-yearly fertilise with slow release type fertiliser.
Water only water once the soil is dry.
Keep in a full sun location and protect it from frosts.