Honesty, the best policy!

Here's the thing, I seem to have had one heck of a week and regarding the plans I originally made life has certainly got in the way of them! 

I have come to the conclusion that, as I did not complete my baking challenge at all, I will try and make up for it in other ways so that, hopefully, you will still keep visiting to see my creating and baking. (Imagine me with a pleading face!) 

Therefore over the last couple of days I have managed to make a few new things, as well as the banana and chocolate flapjack on the first day. One was butternut squash and chic pea humous. I am basically working my way through Jamie Oliver's "Save With Jamie" which I think I mentioned I received from my niece for my birthday. This recipe is so easy and very yummy indeed. This is how the squash looks like when you have baked it in the oven,straight on the shelf, for 40 minutes or so depending on the size of the squash.

This is the finished result along with some piadina. Jamie Oliver describes Piadina as being loved by people in northern Italy and is a toasted flatbread filled with something delicious. I am now never going to buy garlic flatbread ever again as I made two of these in around 10 minutes - sooo easy! This was made to a plain recipe but you could add into it sun dried tomatoes, herbs, garlic or anything you fancy to use as an accompaniment to a main dish of your choice. Go on, give it a go!

I have been tidying out my Country Living magazines, now we are coming to the end of the year, as I had my whole subscription pile sitting there. I have taken out the recipe, cooking/baking and decorating ideas and anything else that will come in very useful and filed most of them away. In a couple of them Sarah Moore has featured with some fairly simple sewing projects with vintage always in mind. I decided to follow her lead in that there can be beauty in utility and I made a drawstring bag out of an old tea towel from Emma Bridgewater. 

Here is how it turned out. It is about 190mm by 160mm and if I can manage to make half a dozen or so in time for either of my craft events in November or December I will be really chuffed!

 

They can be used to make items in your baking cupboard look pretty. I am using this one to keep the marshmallows in for the boys' hot chocolate so if they see it on the side in the kitchen they will know a treat is on the way!

Well, I truly hope I have redeemed myself and that you have enjoyed the creating and baking I have managed to do. I have had great fun with a varied bunch of projects and I hope you will drop by again soon.

Catch ya later!! xx

Blackpool bargains!

Yesterday me and mine took a trip with the Gramps to Blackpool. We normally go to 
St Annes but the weather didn't seem quite right for shoes off walking on the sand. (As it turned out it was glorious, but the tide was in so no good anyhow!)

On the outskirts of Blackpool we came across a boot fair. I haven't been for a good rummage for ages and was very pleased when I came away with a couple of proper bargains.

The first stall I stopped at had some really cool stuff like of ration books, stamps from the US, old kitchenalia and then I came across the item pictured below. Always on the look out for anything special to do with Christmas - there will be no apologies from here on in about December and the associated festivities - I thought this was fantastic and it cost just £3.50 and in mint condition; sorry there are so many photographs but I just love it!

I'm watching Jamie Oliver's new TV prog at the moment and was given the accompanying book for my birthday. In it is a recipe for steamed pork dumplings that I really wanted to try  so how pleased was I when I picked up a bamboo steamer for 50p?

The last thing I found just before we left was this fantastic plate. I love old crockery and really enjoy picking up really cool platters, turines etc as they make displaying food so much more interesting.They asked for £1 but before I had got out my peggy purse they said 50p - super bargain!

After this lovely mooch we drove into Blackpool, parked and after a nice lunch, but with service which left an awful LOT to be desired, we had a lovely walk around, the boys spending a little in the penny arcades and the Gramps spending a lot! We had ice creams and doughnuts and a ride on the tram and then headed for home - tired but happy.