Raw Banana Icecream Recipe

A great way to use up very ripe bananas (instead of banana cake or muffins!)
you need: 20 pitted dates - chopped, 2 tablespns raw honey, 2 tablespns extra virgin coconut oil (I found this at CS organics - very quite $$ but 1 bottle will go far!), 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - I used real (not imitation) vanilla essence, pinch cinnamon, 4 cups (sliced) ripe bananas.

Cover and soak dates in lukewarm water for 10 mins. Drain dates and reserve liquid.
Blend dates with 3-4 tablespoons of the liquid in a blender. Add honey, coconut oil, vanilla and cinnamon and blend until smooth.
Add bananas and blend until mostly smooth (can leave it a little bit chunky if desired).
Transfer to a stainless steel bowl.
Freeze bowl (I popped a bit of glad wrap over the top), stir a couple of times before it reaches a semi-solid state, and freeze overnight.
Allow to thaw at room temp 5-10 mins before serving.

Would add a photo but it was too delicious and we've eaten it all!

Downloadable patterns

It's Sunday and it's raining and I am procastinating about tidying the house!

So here are some great patterns for Wardorf dolls from Dancing Rain Dolls.

Also, if you missed it on Facebook, here is a pattern for an Upcycled Baby Sleeping Bag and upcycled tank top bags.

Happy Crafting!

Babywearer Knitting pattern

These babywearer ponchos are hot in Europe right now and very practical if you are using a sling or baby carrier in this weather!

Babywearer Knitting pattern (Little Turtle Knits.com)

(thanks to Melanie for the link!)

Hire Things!

I was fortunate to meet Iona of Hirethings.co.nz, which is quite frankly a very brilliant website.

Hirethings quite simply allows you to hire stuff from other people or (if you have some useful stuff at home) it allows you to hire it out to other people!

You might want to hire a bouncy castle, a bubble machine, kids costumes, a buggy, high chair, baby swing, backpack, the list goes on...

Environmentally friendly (big tick) and makes total sense!

At Organic Baby, we are joining the party and in the next few month's we will have available for hire: The Ergo Baby Carrier and Honey Child Nappies.

We'll keep you posted....

Vintage Baby patterns

Downloadable for free at - http://www.vintagepurls.co.nz/content/9-freevintagepatterns

Geniune vintage including a practical baby vest pattern.
I do have a love of all things vintage!

Vintage-inspired coats

These gorgeous coats are made by Bev Lees in North Canterbury, fashioned using vintage blankets and adorned with Tagua nut buttons by ecofabric. They may be purchased through our web store.

Born out of a love for good food

Let us introduce you to Onefootprint, a fabulous Wellington-based Gardening Consultancy Service which uses organic principles to empower garden owners to grow good food at home.

Onefootprint was born out of a love for growing good food and a passion to eat healthy, full-flavoured, nutritious food at home. That bought a partnership between Heather Murphy - a trained chef and avid gardener, and Kate Findlay, a horticulturist and applied science student.

Heather and Kate can provide personal consultation to discuss and plan your seasonal edible garden requirements, assess and co-ordinate requirements for tools, natural sprays, fertilizers, composting and irrigation and even provide 10 Seasonal recipes to match your garden.

Garden Consult gift vouchers are available for special occasions like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries. new house and new arrivals!