Catching up with Emma from She Sows Seeds

She Sows Seeds is a blog written by the very talented and clever Emma Steendam. Emma writes about snippets of her life, living in rural Gippsland, Victoria, with her farmer husband and soon to arrive Baby.

I have been following Emma's blog now for about a year. Back then, Emma and her husband were living and working over in South Australia on a farm. Earlier this year they moved back closer to family and friends, to their home region of Gippsland.

Emma shares stories about their life in a rural community, setting up a home and growing a garden. She is very handy with a crochet hook and a sewing machine, and a real whizz in the kitchen. She is also a professional photographer, so her photos are always a delight to look at. And to add to all of that, Emma even has her own online store selling all her own homemade children's wear and accessories, called Little Miss Emma- definitely worth having a look!

Emma is currently 38 weeks pregnant (as this post goes to air!) and so She Sows Seeds has also been a lovely way to document her pregnancy and for Emma to share this special and personal journey along with her thoughts and plans for motherhood.

What I love about this blog, is that for me it represents pure and simple country living. Emma's stories and photos are what I yearn to see in Country living magazines…..for me, this is what real country living is all about!  I love that her content varies- recipes, crafty DIY tutorials, garden updates,  decorating her home,  thoughts on living in a rural community and now the excitement of a baby soon to arrive, which will no doubt add another lovely dimension to Emma's blog. She Sows Seeds is beautifully written; romantic yet real. Emma is incredibly passionate about rural living and supporting the farming community. My visits to She Sows Seeds are like catching up with a dear friend. And did I mention….Gorgeous photos- Emma can make even a mint plant look simply amazing…see below!

So today on our "Catching up with" series,  Im thrilled to introduce the very lovely and very heavily pregnant Emma Steendam……x

1. What do you love most about living in the country?

Gosh - where to begin...the space, the freedom, the slow pace, not having (close by) neighbours, the sense of community. I do love Melbourne, and lived in the city during uni and boarding school, but my heart belongs to the country, after a weekend in the big smoke it's always nice to come home.

2. Name three things you currently can't live without?

A crochet hook nearby (I have way too many projects on the go at once!), orange juice I've craved throughout my pregnancy and my comfy pillow I sleep with these days as I'm 37 weeks pregnant and getting a bit uncomfortable with not much sleep!

3. How would you define your personal style and where do you find your inspiration and creative ideas from?

I think my style is a combination of modern country farmhouse, a bit of French provincial, a bit of classic Cape Cod, a bit of vintage eclectic. It depends on my mood! I love to scour markets like Camberwell or Glen Waverley bazaar and antique and vintage shops, and although our home is bursting at the seams I still like to look and get inspiration, sometimes for an idea to evolve into a crafty blog post or decorating idea. 

4. Tea or coffee…?

Tough call...but probably coffee. Good coffee.

5. Favourite time of the day?

First thing in the morning at the moment as I'm getting up super early with my pregnancy insomnia! The day is fresh and anything could happen, full of possibility. My husband makes me breakfast, I make the coffee, simple stuff.

6. Why did you start your blog, She Sows Seeds?

I've blogged since early 2008, first as 'Little Miss Emma' (my handmade children's wear business) and then as 'Cinderella at Brindabella' when we moved home to Gippsland to my family's farm. After our wedding we packed up our life, sold our car and dogs, quit our jobs and headed north indefinitely, working on a cattle station in outback Queensland and then traveling around Australia. I blogged about our adventures on 'The Happy Campers'. When we finally returned and back to reality, I craved having a home and garden again, I'm a total nester at the best of times, and I really missed having a consistent blog full of content that I was passionate about. 'She Sows Seeds' was born just as we embarked on a new adventure living and working on the Limestone Coast in South Australia. As I'd changed blogging identities so much over the years I wanted She Sows Seeds to be my 'forever home' for blogging. I try to keep content simple to homely things, gardening, baking, sewing, decorating and crafty bits and pieces. She Sows Seeds tries to celebrate a simple country lifestyle that we try to lead, with a focus on rural living and farming.  

7. Some favourite blogs you love following?

I'm addicted to Beth over at BabyMac, I also love Kate from Foxs Lane, Jodi from Practising Simplicity, Em from The Beetle Shack. There's some chicks in the Aussie blogosphere kicking some serious butt at the moment.

8. Dream job?

I think I have it right now! I'm a freelance photographer (currently on maternity leave) - I studied photography for three years at university, majoring in commercial photography so probably should be taking photos for car advertising campaigns or something...instead I point my lens at things I bake for the blog, newborn babes, happy families and lovely couples on their wedding day. I have a love/hate relationship with the type of work I do - sometimes I absolutely love doing weddings and children's shoots, but I also like to keep my hand in the commercial field for magazines and businesses to keep my commercial photography brain ticking. 

9. Favourite recipe (at the moment)? If recipe on blog- can link to!

I made this pear and walnut custard tart recently which was a bit of a hit, the shortcrust pastry is super easy to make in a food processor and my husband is a huge custard lover so this went down a treat...http://www.shesowsseeds.com/2014/05/29/pear-and-walnut-custard-tart/ (photo below).

10. Current DIY project?

So many! I'm desperately trying to put the finishing touches on our baby's nursery, if you could see our lounge room at the moment there are about seven crochet projects strewn across the couches and coffee table and floor! I'm working on a giant doily floor rug which is causing me a bit of grief, as well as several baby blankets because I just couldn't decide which one to make so I'm making about five! I've also got some little overalls for our cousin's little baby's 1st birthday on my sewing machine I need to finish off. Always unfinished items floating about!

Some delicious home cooking….image from here.

Image from here.

Some pre baby crafting….image from here.

and here.

A few travel stories…..image from here.

A bit of gardening….image from here.

 Some gorgeous photos around Emma's home……

and, life in the country….both images from here.

If you haven't already discovered She Sows Seeds, please pop over and say hello to Emma.
I know her gorgeous blog won't disappoint you.
It's definitely worthy of a pot of tea and some alone time so you can emerse yourself in Emma's lovely life in country Victoria.

Stay up to date with She Sows Seeds on Bloglovin, Facebook and Instagram.

Special thanks to Emma for taking the time to partake in 'Our Catching Up With' Series, especially being so close to having her baby. Best wishes Emma and I look forward to reading the next instalment of She Sows Seeds- The Next Generation!
Such exciting times ahead for you both! xx

All images courtesy of Emma Steendam, She Sows Seeds.

Enjoy xx

In My Kitchen- June 2014

Well, another month has passed and time once again to join in with Celia from Fig Jam & Lime Cordial to share whats going on in my kitchen!

On the weekend down at our local farmers markets I found these Black Krimm Heirloom Tomatoes. I hadn't come across them before so I bought a few to take home. They are quite juicy and an incredibly sweet tomato. Ive been eating them fresh in salads but they are ultra juicy so Im thinking they might be good as a base on a pizza instead of using bottled passata.

Mandarins, in particular, Clemintines are huge in our house at the moment. The kids love them and Im happy knowing they are getting lots of fresh daily doses of Vitamin C. Our oranges on the tree outside our kitchen are almost ripe….hopefully to be shown on next months post!

Some lovely mail arrived today in the post from a fellow blogger, Janelle. How cute are these gorgeous hand knitted bunny egg warmers?  Janelle writes a blog called A White Farm- you must check it out!!! She is one crafty lady who is a whizz in the kitchen and has a beautiful family home.
One cute little bunny for each of my gorgeous children! Thank you so much Janelle!!!! Very clever xxx

I had read about the Careme Pastry but living in the country never thought I would beable to buy it locally. But….whilst shopping at our local green grocer (who just happens to have the best deli section!!) I spotted some in the freezer. How happy was I!!! There are four varieties so I played it safe and chose the all butter puff pastry and the sour cream shortcrust pastry. Ive made a chicken and leek pie with the puff pastry and have to say the pastry was absolutely delicious. I will still buy my Borg brand as its cheaper and fine for every day use, but this pastry will come in handy for those times when I would normally make my own pastry. Have you tried it before???

My sister bought me back a stash of goodies from her recent trip to Cambodia. One of which was this black pepper. Im actually not a pepper person but am still looking forward to experimenting with the flavours.

I have just discovered miso paste….yes, slow, I know!!! I love miso soup but always save it for a city treat. A recipe I have started cooking a lot lately requires this white miso paste and so this packet has now become a staple in our pantry. I also love knowing that during the day if Im feeling a bit peckish, it takes me all of a minute to make up a hearty and delicious tasting soup. Did you know that miso is a probiotic??? Just another good reason to have more of it your diet!!!

In my kitchen this month, I've been cooking a few recipes from this cookbook- a recipe book we had published for my Mother in laws birthday last month. It is a collection of all her much loved recipes she has cooked for her entire family over the years. A lovely keepsake for us all…plus filled with lots of photos of our family (all around the table or eating, of course!) and special pieces around their home. My favourite recipes are my Mother in law's delicious tomato relish, snow soup, madeira sauce  and pineapple upside down cake!!!

A belated birthday present from a friend…..What Katie Ate by Katie Quinn Davies. This book makes me ache with hunger with each page I turn. I love it and have already earmarked several recipes (actually more than that!!) to try. Also love following her blog too!

Something that was in my kitchen/living area but now is having some 'time out' outside is my very sick looking fiddle leaf fig. I accidentally overwatered it and half of it died. I have one surviving branch which is hanging in there. Some new shoots showing (yay) but I have noticed some brown tinges on the edge of the keaves showing again…oh no! Any tips on how to look after them would be greatly appreciated. I love the look of this plant- such gorgeous green foliage and really adds colour and some freshness to the room.

Finally, in my kitchen is a birthday cake for my son who celebrated turning three today.

Just a simple chocolate fudge cake, totally slathered in chocolate butter cream icing, topped with a tip truck and lots of chocolate rocks, dirt, etc…..thank you pinterest!!!! A very happy little (oops, big) boy!

So that wraps up what's in my kitchen for this month, but if you feel like you would like to party on and gatecrash some other kitchens around the world, please visit Celia's blog and follow the links.

What's happening in your kitchen this month?

Winter is here…Bring on the soup!

Well, winter is officially here!!! It's been raining here gently since yesterday afternoon….yes, we have got cabin fever, but at the same time the rain has been so welcome and so lovely to listen too. Nothing beats going to bed with the faint pitter patter of rain on the roof, then waking up the next morning and looking out to see shiny, sparkly water droplets hanging off everything.

With winter comes soup and this morning when I walked into the kitchen I was greeted with a head of cauliflower sitting quite, well, alone.  It had soup written all over it…but so my husband might be tempted I decided to add the crispy bacon and cauliflower on top- have to say it was a pretty delish combo- and as per usual didnt take long to make!

A similar recipe can be found here on Not Quite Nigella's blog. So here goes….

Cauliflower Soup with Crispy Bacon and Cauliflower Sprinkles

Splash of olive oil

1 large brown onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets

500g potatoes, peeled and chopped

1 litre chicken stock

1/2 cup pure cream

parmesan- enough for a light shaving on bacon/cauli sprinkles

2 bacon rashers, finely chopped

fresh parsley, finely chopped

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium- high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for a few minutes until they soften. Careful not to burn. Add most of the cauliflower and all the potato and cook for another few minutes just to add some colour and seal the flavours. Save a handful of cauliflower for the sprinkle mix. Add stock. Season to taste (if you want too)…then cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Set aside and allow to cool before blending in food processor until a smooth texture. Return back to the saucepan. Stir in cream.

For sprinkle mix- preheat oven to 200 deg celcius. On a baking tray lined with baking paper, place cauliflower florets, diced bacon, parsley and a light grating of parmesan cheese. Bake in oven for about ten minutes or until golden.

Serve soup in bowls or mugs and sprinkle with bacon/cauli mix. You can add some extra parmesan if you would like but I think it was tasty without! A chunk of fresh warmed bread is another must. 

Have you a favourite winter warmer soup???

Enjoy & Stay warm (oh, and dry!) x