Sunday 14 February 2010

Sunday - Sunday
















I am having one of those days when you sort out fabric and make plans to make something. I have been making fabric envelopes and cards, but decided to make some more bags. I needed some ideas and where else to look but the blog. Everyone has such brilliant ideas. I came across this
So many ideas I don't really know where to start.
I have attached some of the bags already made using bits and pieces from my collection and also recycling some fabric. I love tote bags. I made a lunch bag and some of those cute little bags from here
Hope you are equally inspired

Friday 12 February 2010

Valentines Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Cake/Pudding
Valentine/Birthday Special

Ingredients

2 tabsp. cocoa
100g butter
100g caster sugar
1 egg
100g SR flour
1/2tsp. baking powder
1 tin black cherries – drained and de-seeded
Chocolate Sauce
25g butter
142ml double cream
75g dark chocolate
Splash of brandy/rum/baileys

Method
1. Pre-heat oven to Gas 4/180C and grease small ovenproof dish
2. Mix the cocoa with a couple tabsp boiling water and mix until smooth
3. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
4. Add the cocoa mixture, egg, flour and baking powder.
5. Mix really well and pour into ovenproof dish
6. Pour drained cherries on top
7. Bake for 20-25 mins.
8. Make chocolate sauce by putting butter and cream into a small pan, bring to
the boil and turn off the heat.
9. Add the chocolate pieces and give it a good stir – leave for 5 mins so that
the hot cream melts the chocolate
10. Add a splash of alcohol
11. Once cake is ready pour the chocolate sauce all over.

Can be served with extra cream or a dollop of ice cream


We are off to the cinema this evening to see 'It's Complicated'. Will give a review over the weekend.
The above cake/pudding was a real treat.

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Birthday




It is Colin's birthday on Friday 12th February. This year I have made him a card and envelope from fabric and tucked inside two tickets for the cinema. We haven't been to the cinema for ages and we have talked about seeing the film 'Its Complicated'
What´s the plot?
Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin star in ‘It's Complicated’, a comedy about love, divorce and everything in between.
Jane has an amicable relationship with her ex-husband, attorney Jake, who is now married to the much younger Agness.
But when Jane and Jake meet up for their son’s graduation, an innocent meal turns into an affair, and Jane now finds that she is ‘the other woman’.
Also caught up in the situation is Adam, a recent divorcé, who is falling in love with Jane.
So, as love triangles go…’It’s Complicated’

I have also put into the Birthday Bag a bottle of beer brewed locally and a selection of books. The local Post Office has a section for unwanted books that have been donated for a local charity. So I took them some of our unwanted books and bought three more for £1.00. I am sure I will be recycling them again at perhaps another bookshop.
I will of course be making a little birthday cake as a birthday is just not a birthday without a cake.
Happy Birthday Colin

Tuesday 9 February 2010

Blogging is just great

I click on most days and share my thoughts and ideas with whoever cares to read them. Some people have been blogging for years, whilst others are just starting out on lifes journey.
Happy Blogging to http://whichname.blogspot.com/2010/02/three-years-and-gift-for-you.html who has been blogging for three years.
Whatever you leave on your blog is just great by me. I love reading all your ideas, trying out new recipes and looking at all the photographs. It is a big world out there and blogging just brings us all that little bit closer.
Have fun

What could it be?




I was out and about yesterday, busy with my jobs for half term break. When I retuned home, I found this large pink box waiting for me beside the door.
Whatever could it be? All will be revealed later.

Sunday 7 February 2010

Fabric Cards and Envelopes












Yesterday I shopped for pieces of fabric to make cards and envelopes. I was inspired by sew mama sew http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=4778#comment-195653

I wanted to use fabric flowers and found those http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2009/08/make-fabric-flower-and-flower-tutorial.html

My sister has a birthday in April and one of these would make a great gift along with a few special surprises.

Freezer Biscuits










I found this recipe whilst searching for something else and just had to make them.

Freezer Biscuits
Ingredients

200g butter - softened
200g soft brown sugar
eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
200g SR flour
140g oats
YOUR CHOICE of flavourings
50g nuts
50g coconut
50g raisins
1 tabsp mixed spice
Method
1. When the butter is soft add the sugar and mix well using an electric mixer
2. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well
3. Add the vanilla ess, SR flour and oats
4. Mix well and then add yhour choice of flavourings
5. Tear off an A4 size of greaseproof paper.
6. Pile half the mixture in the middle of the sheet and spread along the centre of
the paper
7. Pull ove one edge of the paper and roll up until you have a tight cylinder.
It needs to be aboaut the width of a teacup. Twist the ends and place in the
freezer. Repeat with the other half of the mixture.
This can be frozen for up to 3 months.
8. Preheat the oven to Gas4/180C
9. Unwrap the biscuit mix and cut into disks about 1/2 cm wide. If
you have difficulty slicing through dip the knife into a cup of hot water
10 Cut off as many biscuits as you need and replace in the freezer.
11. Bake 15 mins until golden brown.
12. Leave to cool before eating

These are really tasty. I used mixed spice for this batch. I may try choc chips next time

Thursday 4 February 2010

Recycling your Clothes

School half term is coming up and as usual a thousand jobs to do. I usually have a really good sort out of my wardrobe. I came across this article from Mrs Green and thought I must do more with my old clothes than just take them to the charity shop. I love the idea of turning a pair of jeans into a pair of sandals. I bet some blogger out there has already got a tutorial on how to do this - if so please share it with us. In the meantime check out this