Waste not want not

So today I've used the idea of upcycling in the kitchen and these are the results.  Bread pudding made with stale bread, pineapple and mango upside down cake made with a mango that was looking a bit wrinkly!  And some BLW banana muffins with some very very brown bananas.  

Winters here

And so are all the bugs.  We are in the midst of a nasty bug at the moment - well when I say we I mean my little one and the hubby.  I've escaped so far with only a slight queasiness ....although this means I've had to look after everyone else!  Hopefully the bug and the horrible snow will all be gone soon - roll on Spring time.

Talking of spring I'm very pleased with my hyacinths which I planted in October I believe and then left in the garage (ok forgot about in the garage!) As you can see one lot have given lovely blooms and the others are on their way - I will try to remember to take a pic when these ones are in full bloom.

I've finished the pad to go on the fireplace hearth - I covered a large pad of foam cut to size with pirate fabric and then hemmed the edge into which was elastic which I then gathered together to make it stay in place.  Its not perfect but it does the job and does mean we don't have to panic every time Isaac goes near it which is a good thing because a - all his toys are kept on there and b - there are enough other places we are panicking about him getting near!!!   Here's a pic of the finished product

Last Saturday I finally managed to get to make some more bread - again I used the same recipe which calls for a lot of wholemeal flour which I know is difficult to work with.  I am going to try again next time to make some with just white flour.  Whilst making this I thought I would have a morning in the kitchen and made rice pudding (yuk! but the boys liked it!), a quiche, some jam tarts with the left over pastry, cranberry and apple scones and a lemon and poppyseed cake.  And I wonder why I never loose weight!!!

Well its been a while....

.... can't believe I haven't posted since nearly the beginning of December!!! And I've not made any bread since then either! lol!

I think this was about when the wheels started coming off with Isaac who was poorly, got better and then got very very poorly the night before Christmas Eve - resulting in us spending Christmas Eve at the out of hours GP's, having no sleep over the Christmas period and walking around like zombies  We can't complain too much as it was the first bout of illness he's had but he doesn't half pick his moments!!

This obviously affected my Christmas makes but I persevered and made up the gift bags - we did the following themes:  Indian Night In, Movie Night In, Italian Night In and General Night In with goodies.  They also were given Homemade Christmas Cakes (see pic below) - which were decorated on Christmas Eve whilst Isaac was a tad grumpy so didn't have the perfect finish I was looking for but they tasted AMAZING so will be using that recipe again (was on from my Essentials magazine) although I think I would add cherries next time  Also included were chocolate truffles - these were a nightmare!!!!!!!!!  I made the mixture and put it in the fridge as instructed and then tried to take a tsp as per the recipe and roll in a ball before rolling in cocoa - well that was easier written than done!!!!!!!!!!  Hard as bloody rock and I ended up chipping into it and had chocolate everywhere on very little sleep with Isaac waking up and not settling to sleep!!!!!!  Not sure they were my best work and were certainly not round - more like lumps!  I think I would stick with fudge next time.  I was going to put shortbread in the bags too but after 3 attempts (one underbaked, one overbaked and one just disgusting) I used Nigella's biscuit recipe and made stars and trees (again on Christmas Eve - I must have been mad!) and drizzled with chocolate.  These looked very nice but weren't the most exciting biscuit to eat.  However the bags went down quite well so I can't complain.

So after Christmas the thank you cards - made from packs of cards from The Range costing a £1 for 15 and decorated with some paper flowers I already had - hows that for money saving!!!  

And onto all things non Christmas related...... My sisters 21st Birthday.  And I made a ribbon heart with a 21st key hanging from it.  

 I was quite pleased with this although wished I had hung it with ribbon rather than wire covered ribbon - but you live and learn.

Next thing on my list is some alterations to  my mums wedding invites - will post a pic when done

Homemade Bread

Slight Change from crafting today - I made my first batch of proper home made bread and here are the results!!  Kneading the bread took ages and I'm not sure I kneaded it for long enough (although I was going for 15 mins!!) but its great for destressing and for the bingo wings - and a bit of a work out! Got a bit of a sweat on! :D  I put it in the airing cupboard to rise and it escaped from the bowl! lol!!  I've made some sandwiches for Owen from it and it tastes really nice.  Will definitely make it again 

Christmas gift bags

White takeaway bags - stamped with various Christmas motifs and coloured in with felt tip pens

A new home card

For our friends

Christmas Cards

So this year's Christmas cards have been made!! (and mainly written too!! Go me!! :D) 

Here's a robin for the grandparents made from Isaac's footprints 

Christmas trees from Isaac's footprints for Aunties and Uncles

For Owen's mum from us two

For my Dad and Stepmum from us two

For my Mum and Stepdad to be from us two

For my brother and sister in law

All the other cards for everyone else

These last few were made from cutting out pictures of Christmas cards from a Christmas catalogue - solved the problem of not knowing which design I liked best!! :D