Hellooooooooo......................

Well anyone would think i had nothing to Show and Tell lol but it's more a case that i just haven't. I have been toying with the idea of finishing blogging because well you wonder if anyone stops by and reads what you have to say. I know i have been at this a while now and have 40 followers but we all have stuff going on and our own blogs to keep up with so....


Anyway i had a busy weekend, well Sunday morning really baking and making and here is a little of what cam about....

Here are my Tangy Lemon Slices, which i have made before but haven't since and in a bid to choose some baking favourites made again. From what i recall the last time i thought it was way too lemony so i reduced the mls of lemon to 100ml from 125ml but i used lemon out of a bottle whereas the last time i suspect it was fresh. So having reduced it my palette is telling me it's not lemony enough lol so next time i think I'll go for 100ml of fresh lemon juice and see if that works better.


Next on my agenda were some Choc Chip Cookies....

These are some of my favourite cookies and are a spin off of Lorraine Pascals Choc Chip Cookies. If you have her book follow the recipe but i swapped brown sugar for golden caster, milk choc chips for white choc chips and 30g of cocoa for 30g of vanilla pudding (instant whip/custard powder) and added 30g of toasted coconut, they are scrummy delish :)


Also on my to do list was to try making some scrub...hand or body so i adopted a recipe from Local Kitchen I followed her recipe for Lavender Sea Salt scrub BUT i switched sea salt for caster sugar as it was finer, added the same amount of Lavender essential oil because i had it in the house, used grapeseed oil (same quantity) as grapeseed was always suggested as a carrier oil for essential oils when i did an aromatherapy course, added some lavender buds because, yes i have a whole bag load of them from a while back. I mixed it as suggested and left it to settle while the jar sterilised in the oven. I am no expert and have scoured lots of sites for different mixtures and read some comments about bacteria in the jars, i am using a measure (baking type) to scoop out my scrub so i don't put my hands in and plan on enjoying it rather than leaving it on the shelf and so far i love the way it looks, smells and feels so fingers crossed. I shall be experimenting with other ideas and hope that by Christmas i have it well and truly sussed and will add it to my present ideas list :)


So what did your weekend consist of? Please say hi and share your thoughts :)

Marmalade Choc Chip Pudding

Wow i don't know how long I've had this recipe sheet but by golly i will be making it again, real soon. Quick, easy and delicious. The only reason i didn't photograph mine was because my brioche was kinda underneath the custard but the next time i may jiggle it about. Well worth a go...


6 Plain chocolate brioche
Marmalade
Custard
Belgian Chocolate


Cut the brioche in half and spread each side with marmalade, the recipe calls for taste the difference Valencia orange marmalade but i used Asdas basic  marmalade. Add 15ml of custard to the bottom of the baking dish (the recipe requires a 1ltr dish) i used what i have. Lady the brioche 'arranging so they stay upright' this bit threw me! Pour over remaining custard (150ml) and sprinkle with grated dark chocolate. Cook in pre-heated oven at 180 oc gas 4 for 20mins. Yum!

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!