Well Hello there…it is newsletter time again!  It is another frosty winter morning in Mid Canterbury, followed by an absolutely stunning day.

It is full steam ahead at the moment with our preparations for the South Island’s Mini Symposium in Blenheim which starts next week.  This is a show case of some of the best quilts in the country along with classes, merchants mall and an all around good time to mix and mingle with people who are just as crazy about fabric as you are!  Remember that you don’t have to be registered to be able to come and see the exhibitions and the merchants at the Marlborough Girls College.

http://www.sewmarlborough.com/

We have had lots of new stock arrive in this week including giftware, patterns, rulers, threads, books and magazines, so now is a really good time to come and visit the shop or visit our stand at Sew Marlborough.

As part of my crusade to “finish some stuff”, I thought I would show you my peacock cushion which is finally quilted and put together.  This was the workshop we did with Sue Spargo when she visited Annie’s last year, (good things take time!)  This beautiful bird is on the cover of Sue’s Creative Texturing book, and book shows you step by step how it is put together with lots of other helpful information about design, colour and texture with loads of inspiration for good measure.

Sue’s new book “Folk Tails” arrived in yesterday and has sold out already, so I am taking orders for the next lot of books which is will be another 10 days away.  The book is $69.00 and features patterns and templates for a huge number of delightful animals and creatures which will keep even the most diligent stitcher busy for quite some time!  This quilt was her 2015 BOM project.

For those of you like me, who are hooked on hexagons, I have discovered this very handy 8 piece laser cut template set that includes sizes from ¾” up to 3”.  The templates include marking points for your ¼ inch seam and are usually $36.00. However, due to a bulk deal with the supplier this week they are $29.90 per set.

Now…enough rambling, onto the recipe!

Chocolate Ricotta Shortcake with Marinated Fruit

• 1 ½ c diced dried fruit such as apricots, prunes, fig, cranberries
• ¼ c sherry or orange juice
• ½ c chopped almonds
• ½ chopped dark chocolate
• 200 g ricotta
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tbsp honey

For the shortcake:

• 125 g butter
• 110 g caster sugar
• 1 egg
• 225 plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp each of mixed spice, cardamom

Combine the dried fruits with the sherry and marinate for at least 30 mins.  Stir in the almonds and chocolate.  Mix together the ricotta, egg and honey and stir through the fruit.

Preheat the oven to 170 C.  Cream the butter and sugar, beat in the egg and then add the sifted dry ingredients.

Press half the shortcake mixture into the base of a  24 cm springform tin.  Spoon in the fruit mixture.  Crumble over the remaining shortcake mixture.

Bake for 40 mins or until golden.  Dust with icing sugar and serve warm with cream or icecream.

Serves 10-12.

Before I forget, the winner of the $50.00 montly draw from Annie’s CQS is Shirley Guthrie from Ashburton.  Congratulations Shirley, we have you voucher waiting for you!

Take care and happy stitching,

 Rachel

Annie's Country Quilt Store

(03) 3076 277