Loveheart Shortbread

So, wow nearly the end of January, the time continues to tick away. Anyone would think i have nothing to share but i have been busy behind the blog lol. So today i made Mary Berries shortbread, it was infact her ginger shortbread but as i couldn't find any ginger and had already been inspired by a friend to dip it i went down the Valentines route. I omitted both lots of ginger but added 1/2tsp of Vanilla and then cut them out with a heart shaped cutter and later when they cooled i melted some white chocolate and strawberry chocolate and iced the top of some of them with it. I have yet to taste one but am very much looking forward to trying it :) and so starts my inspired month of hearts and love :)

I maybe back later to share some more creations with you :)

Art Journal Challenge

So when perusing my favourite blogs i came across this post where one of my fellow (past) DT members was joining an Art Journal Challenge. Of course i got the bit between my teeth and both me and my son got stuck in. The challenge was BUILDINGS. So down we sat at the back end of the holiday and this is what we came up with. Brett wasted no time, he's only well Six today but five then lol. Mine is not quite complete but for fear of time slipping away from me i am posting now :)


I am looking forward to the next one, why not stop by and see what shakes :)

You can find the challenge over at the Craft Barn

2011

It's almost upon us, 

comes but once a year. 

Time to raise our glasses

and wave goodbye to the year.

Look back on all that's 

been and gone.

Memories good and bad.

Plans to look forward

to what before us lies.

Resolute to all good things

onward, upward, fly.

So farewell to 2011

Strangely i'll be sad to see you go.

No doubt i'll shed a tear or two but no one needs to know. 

Don't wait up!

Griddle Pan Waffles/Epic Hot Chocolate

Well this morning seemed like a good day to try Jamie Oliver's Griddle Pan Waffles. I have been back time and again since watching the recent festive episodes and tried the Epic Hot Chocolate also pictured above as well as the semifreddo. So as you can see i pulled all the ingredients together and let them rest as suggested and once hubby was up got on with cooking it. It seemed to be doing quite nicely until i tried flipping it as suggested. Our pan sat to one side slightly which mean't one side was more than ready but not so much the other but we split it in half and got by. So out came one half in one complete piece whilst hubbies half came out in kinda odds and sods lol. I sliced mine into pieces like Jamie did but refrained from dipping it in the hot chocolate.

My first impression of the waffles is NO to salt. If you're going to eat these with a fried egg or bacon on top then i'm sure that's nice but not when you prefer as i do a sweet topping. I pretty much never used salt and my taste buds were like, what is that all about. So i would make it again without salt if it's for a sweet breakfast. As for the Epic hot chocolate, in all honesty i just don't feel it's that 'epic'. I struggle to get the 70% cocoa solid chocolate to melt thoroughly and am aware of the texture of all the ingredients if that makes sense but i'm pleased I've tried it now, it's all experience. So the countdown continues, New Year is just around the corner. Do you have plans?

That time of year

‘It doesn’t feel like Christmas’.

   Is what I say each year.

‘But what does Christmas feel like?’

   replies mummy dear.

It doesn’t feel like Christmas.

   For all the time we spend.

Preparing for that special time,

   and hoping it won’t end.

Each year I try to recapture,

   those memories so dear.

When a small glass of sherry

   was a treat once a year.

When on the bed each morning

   a stocking would be found.

Brimmed with lots of goodies

   that cost less than a pound.

No tiptoeing at the crack of dawn

   to look under the tree.

A quick squeeze and a shake,

   ‘Oops that’s not for me!’

We’ve put up decorations,

   tinsel and our tree.

The house is covered in fairy lights

   as far as the eye can see.

‘But Christmas is for children’,

   is what I’m being told?

But I still want that excitement

   even though I’m getting old-er.

It’s getting too commercialised.

   The true meaning been forgot

but you don’t have to jump on the wagon

   and get the lot.

So when this Christmas comes around

   we’ll enjoy it all the same.

Because although each Christmas is different.

   The memories remain.

Kerridwen Jeffery

I wrote this some years ago now but each year the same thoughts run through my head, what does Christmas feel like for you? My mum said yesterday we base our thoughts of Christmas on old memories and hope that each year will live up to them, but some of those memories are from childhood when the stress we put on ourselves as a grown up don't exist, the magic still prevails.

I don't know how much longer i shall be adding to my blog, i love to share my thoughts but sharing is what counts where blogs are concerned and it's so nice when someone stops by and leaves a comment. So if you stop by and have a read and have a moment, please say hi.

Happy New Year 2012, i hope you bring with you some good cheer :)

Foot note! These are my thoughts and feelings please do not steal those and claim them as your own but better still find a quiet corner with pen and paper and see what thoughts come to mind and before you know it you may have your own festive poem :)