Birthday Cake Pressure

Posted on April 1, 2010 by Kate

Each year, I feel a pressure to make from scratch, birthday cakes for my two girls. It started straight away on my eldest daughter’s first birthday – I even got as far as hiring two cake tins from the local cake decorating shop. One for her party – Winnie the Pooh shaped and one for the family get together – rocking horse shaped. What on earth was I thinking!!

Friends quickly pointed me in the direction of the local supermarket, telling me I was mad to even think about making my own, it wasn’t good to start a precedent, I was already too stressed and busy, etc etc. So, I have always purchased their birthday cakes from said supermarket, until last year, when finally, I succumbed to the pressure of cake making discussions occurring on the playground and made my first birthday cake (which I am very proud of – see picture)!

My girls are happy as long as they have a nice cake, bought or made, but I did feel a warm fuzzy glow at making it myself with love (sweat, swearing and late night included!). This year, she is having a horse riding party and I really don’t think I am up to making a horse shaped cake!!

So, what do you do – buy or make? Please do show us your cakes if you have been brave and made your own.

Chicken Lasagne to die for – Recipe Alert!

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Kate

If you are on a diet or have high cholesterol, look away now as this is a seriously indulgent lasagne!! We have this lasagne when some comfort food is in order, but also it works really well for a hot buffet at a special occasion and when you have friends over for a get together.

Ingredients:

1 large uncooked whole fresh chicken (if your local supermarket has a rotisserie, then much easier to buy a ready cooked one)

1 large pot of double cream 284ml

1-2 large onions (or however much you like)

Mushrooms (I like quite a few but again, depends how much you like)

Garlic (no more than one clove)

Mixed herbs

X2 small cans of Campbells mushroom condensed soup (small tins)

Fresh washed spinach

2 pots of grated parmesan (100g x 2)

Mozzarella cheese (you can use the low fat mozzarella but with this dish, it’s probably not worth it anyway!)

6-8 lasagne sheets (depending on size of your dish I suppose)!!

Method:

Roast the chicken until cooked through & then shred all the breast meat and underneath until you have got all the meat off & put in a separate dish (if you buy a ready cooked one, just do the shredding part!!!)

Chop the onions and mushrooms while chicken is cooking.

Cook the onions, mushrooms, garlic and fresh herbs until soft in olive oil & put to one side.

Then put the double cream into a large saucepan, then add 1 pot of the parmesan and the 2 cans of mushroom soup. Keep stirring on a low heat until the mixture is smooth and runny and its all mixed in.

Now time to make the layers.

How to layer the lasagne:

Layer 1:

Thin layer of onion/mushroom mix

Layer of fresh chicken

Spinach leaves

Creamy sauce

3 lasagne sheets (1 layer but you will need 3 which will be side by side)

Layer 2:

Layer of onion/mushroom mix

Layer of fresh chicken

Spinach leaves

Creamy sauce

3 lasagne sheets

Then on top of last layer of lasagne, put rest of onion, then rest of chicken, then only a few spinach leaves and finish with the remainder of the sauce until everything is covered with sauce.

Then lastly, sprinkle entire top with the 2nd pot of parmesan and slice mozzarella and randomly place on top.

Cook for about 45 mins or until top goes brown.

Do let us know what you think of this dish and we would love to see photos of your finished creations!

Lemon Crunch Flan – Recipe Alert!

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Kate

This is a recipe from my Auntie Susan. She makes it for our family get togethers and there are always ‘discussions’ over who deserves the last piece. Enjoy.

Lemon Crunch Flan

For the flan case:

4 oz digestive biscuits
2 oz butter
1 level tablespoon castor sugar

For the filling:

1/4 pint double cream
6 oz can condensed milk
2 large lemons

Crush digestive biscuits with a rolling pin. Melt butter in a pan, add sugar then blend in biscuit crumbs. Mix well. Turn mixture into a 7 inch pie plate or flan dish and press into shape round base and sides of plan with the back of a spoon. Bakes in a slow oven for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. do not turn the flan case out of the dish as it will crumble.

Mix together cream, condensed milk and finely grated lemon rind. Slowly beat in lemon juice. Pour mixture into the flan case and chill for several hours until firm.

Just before serving decorate the flan with a whirl of lightly whipped cream and lemon slices.

Serves 4 hungry people!

Teaching an old dog new tricks!

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Kate

I realised the other day that I had done nothing for myself, as in ’me time’ in seven years, yes you read that correctly, seven years – shocking isn’t it!! Basically pre marriage and kids. So this obviously required immediate correction.

I had spotted a sewing course for free machine embroidery on another blog and decided this would be just the thing to get the ‘Me Time’ ball rolling. So my husband was informed that he would looking after his kids for two days and a night (for the first time ever!) and I arranged to attend the course with my Auntie.

It was fantastic, a full day of sewing, learning a great new craft (which I will continue), eating lovely home made cake and generally relaxing. I did manage to produce a finished article of my own design no less – a family tree cushion – see pics! And would highly recommend the course if you fancy a great day of sewing – get in touch with Lara Sparks.

How long do you keep your Christmas tree?

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Kate

Embarrassed to say, but all previous records have been broken and our Christmas tree has now left the premises!

Everything is a potential junk model

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Kate

It is time to start sowing the seeds for our vegetable garden. I have purchased the seeds, trays and compost, but was waiting till I had collected enough toilet roll tubes to sow my runner beans.

As I have two small children, it is clear to me now that any attempts to start a creative hobby, such as gardening, knitting, crochet or sewing (in my case), descend into some form of children’s activity! Sewing seeds to start the vegetables off seems to be no exception.

Having spent a few weeks carefully collecting said toilet roll tubes, I put them with the seeds by the back door yesterday morning, ready to start sowing once the kids had gone to school.

I came back 30 minutes later and was greeted by two small children proudly displaying a variety of highly decorative binoculars and telescopes - small selection as shown in my photo!!!

How men amuse themselves in Tescos!

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Kate

My friend sent this around by email and it did make me laugh, so I thought I would pass it on to you – obviously I don’t know if it is true or not!

*******

HOW MEN AMUSE THEMSELVES IN TESCO

Proof of what can happen if a wife or girlfriend drags her husband or
boyfriend along shopping

This letter was actually sent by Tesco’s Head Office to a customer in
Oxford :

Dear Mrs. Murray,

Whilst we would like to thank you for your valued custom and use of the
Tesco Loyalty Card, the Manager of our store in Banbury is considering
banning you and your family from shopping with us, unless your
Husband stops his antics.

Below is a list of his actions over the past few months all verified by
our surveillance cameras:

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people’s
trolleys when they weren’t looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute
intervals.

3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to feminine
products aisle.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone,
‘Code 3′ in housewares….. And watched what happened.

5. August 14: Moved a ‘CAUTION – WET FLOOR’ sign to a carpeted area.

6. September 15: Set up a tent in the outdoor clothing department and told
shoppers he’d invite them in if they would bring sausages and a Calorgas
stove.

7. September 23: When the Deputy Manager asked if she could help him, he
began to cry and asked, ‘Why can’t you people just leave me alone?’

8.. October 4: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror,
picked his nose, and ate it.

9. October 10: While appearing to be choosing kitchen knives in the
Housewares aisle asked an assistant if he knew where the antidepressants
were.

10. November 3: Darted around the store suspiciously, loudly humming the
Mission Impossible’ theme.

11.November 6: In the kitchenware aisle, practised the ‘Madonna look’
using different size funnels.

12. November 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed, yelled’
PICK ME!’ ‘PICK ME!’

13. November 21: When an announcement came over the loudspeaker, assumed the foetal position and screamed ‘NO! NO! It’s those voices again.’

And; last, but not least:

14. November 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited a while;
then yelled, very loudly, ‘There is no toilet paper in here.’

*****

Have you got any stories to add to this list? If you do, please comment!

Camping or Glamping?

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Kate

This year we had decided we needed a proper holiday (both exhausted) so it would be two weeks of relaxation and beautiful sunshine in Portugal, but then recently reality kicked in! I run my own business and my husband is a firefighter, so his self employed second job is important income – the holiday would cost a fortune and we would also lose income. Coupled with the fact that we have just had a break in, so were concerned about security while away. This mixture made the prospect of a sunny break seem far from a relaxing get-away, so we reluctantly decided to scrap the idea.

So we are going to join the thousands of others camping here in the UK and do it properly, as in empty the contents of your house into your car and set it up in a field. The kids (2 girls – 3 and 6 years old) are very excited by the prospect, me and my husband not so much, but we are hoping to get bitten by the camping bug and become converts.

Attempts at a compromise in camping have been made twice in recent years in the form of ‘glamping’, which was fun but expensive and it rained during both holidays. Had it been normal camping we could have just chucked the tent and contents in the car and gone home, however we had to stick this out cause of the money involved. Having said all that, I would highly recommend the glamping holiday that we went on, it was with Featherdown Farms. We have been twice, taking friends along last year, they enjoyed it so much they are going back again this year. As you can see in my holiday pic, you get a ready made canvas house with flushing toilet, table and chairs, woodburning stove for heat and cooking, sink with running cold water and best of all proper beds with duvets!

So the preparations have begun and we now own the tent, chairs, sleeping bags and are looking for bargains on all the other kit. We have started researching campsites – if you know of any good ones, please do let me know with a comment.

Our first foray into camping will be with a festival though (doing it in style!!) and we are so excited. We are off to Latitude for a weekend of fun – I can’t wait for Belle & Sebastian and Florence and the Machine.

Anyway, what is your style – camping or glamping? Oh and please do let me know your camping tips, if you have already been bitten by the camping bug.

The Blind Side for free!

Posted on March 22, 2010 by Kate

Last week I sneaked out with a good friend during the day to the cinema (unheard of!) for a free screening of The Blind Side. It is the movie which recently gained Sandra Bullock her Oscar and is a wonderful, feel good film – certainly worth a trip to the cinema. The trailer – click here to view - made me reach for the tissues (I am very soppy – cry when its sad, cry when its happy!), but apart from a few sniffy bits, the film in general was really heartwarming, particularly as it is a true story and you see the real family at the end.

So big thanks to the lovely Violet Posy for bringing the freebie to my attention on her blog and also to See Film First for screening it for free!

Best gift ever – what's yours?

Posted on March 22, 2010 by Kate

I was thinking about gifts as I had so many birthdays to buy for, but this time it was about the gifts that I myself have been given and what a lucky girl I have been.

It got me wondering about the best gift that I have ever received and I have had some lovely ones, but the one that beats them all (even the diamonds!) was my Mothers Day gift in 2009. My gorgeous (then 5 year old) Sophie presented me with a decorated shoebox and when I looked inside I was shocked to find that it was absolutely crammed with letters, pictures and crafted items, which she had made especially for me and in secret so she could surprise me.

All had kisses and messages of love and I absolutely sobbed my way through each and every one of them. She looked so proud that she had managed to surprise me and also made me soooo happy – bless her. It is now safely stored at the top of my wardrobe and I take it down and look through it when I am having ‘one of those days’.

So, what is the best gift you have ever been given, I would love to know?