More bits and bobs......

Hello

Just a few photos of bits and bobs that I have been snapping in January....

Valentine's designs

Lots of tea drinking..........

Ham, melted cheese and slow roasted red onions with French's mustard

Orange sweet buns...(warm with poached egg, streaky bacon and maple syrup for breakfast is the BEST)

Slow roast veg to cheer up some couscous, I'm really trying hard to love like that stuff

Ripples and ripples and ripples.................

Kitchen and cakes

Not only has it been a hectic week in general I have been fairly busy at work...I attended a brilliant Christmas Fair and had a great day, the sun was out, there were donkey rides, a fairground, Santa's grotto, an ice rink and fabulous selection of Christmas gifts and cakes for sale in the heated Marquee and good fun was had by all......here are some of my photos....

Now we are well and truly into the cold winter days my slow cooker is on a lot....it is so lovely to pop something in with very little prep in the morning and then have a lovely hot meal later, especially on an evening when we are not all eating together.....

Chunky warming sup with homemade crusty bread

Chicken with ginger and garlic and peppers and coconut milk with loads of rice and naan bread

Meatballs with big bowls of steaming spaghetti

This....

turning into this......

And, why not, it is Christmas after all............

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

What's cooking

I don't know about you, but, I am a big fan of cooking......it obviously helps with my job that I love to bake, but in general I am quite happy mooching about in my kitchen....sometimes I just want quick and simple and sometimes I like to make a fuss and do something a bit special...I love my slow cooker too, we have days when we need to eat at different times to my children, but I don't want to cook several meals, so a slo cooked curry, chilli, bolognaise make those days easy, also handy for days when we are out all day and just want to eat when we get in!!

So today it is stuffed peppers one large one each for me and hubby that I will serve with salad and fried potatoes.....

I make a lot of energy type bars, very little sugar, lots of seeds and dried fruit, they taste extra good dipped in dark chocolate......yummy..

 And we still have a few of these left over from Little A's party this week....

I am a big fan of Nigel Slater and I am currently reading this book..

I LOVE IT!!
It's on loan from the local library and sadly it must go back soon, so I will hurriedly copy down some of my favourite recipes.

I have been on a bit of a mission to come up with some new suppers as I get a bit fed up with the same old, same old and wanted to shake things up a bit, sometimes it works and everyone is happy and sometimes it doesn't!!  But it is fun trying out new things.....what is your fail safe tea that kids and adults alike love?  I would love to hear your ideas...

xxxx

Photo less still.....

Hello lovelies, thank you for putting up with my photo free posts.....still no luck on the laptop front, but, wanted to say 'hi'

I have made some pretty purple and lilac triangle bunting, using the pattern from 'Lucy' recently featured in Simply Crochet....they are currently pinned to the ironing board after a blocking and will be put in a row over the weekend....

I have been making squares for my granny sofa blanket and working out a flower pattern for a friend.

The weather has been a delight, so trying to make the most of it.....making endless lists as we approach the busy end of term time and plenty of cakes to make for work.

Weekend baking will be the usual batch of cookies to last the week and then scones for Saturday afternoon snack then rhubarb crumble for pud on Sunday....I'll happily share any of the recipes if you give me a shout......

Enjoy your weekend xxxxxxc

Double choc chewy cookies......

Hello, I don't know about you, but, I love a cookie....I tend to go for the American style, quick and easy to make and you can flavour with whatever you happen to have in the cupboard...

This was a new recipe to me from the lovely Lucy at Attic24. You can find the recipe here
The only change I have made is to make it quicker and easier by putting all the ingredients in together and mix. Now, I have a super speedy mixer to do this for me, but, good old fashioned elbow grease will do the trick and tone your arms at the same time!!

Cooling, not long now.....

Aaaah lovely, in the garden with a cuppa...

Enjoy xx