Pages

Welcome to my blog!


If you ask me what my very favourite thing is I would not hesitate to say my family. I came into motherhood quite late on, and was immediately overwhelmed with how amazing it is. Now I would like nothing more than to be a Domestic Goddess, and surround my family in love, good food, beautiful things and lots of happy memories. And like the majority of families these days, we need to do it on a budget!

I firmly believe we all have a little bit of the Domestic Goddess inside us, just waiting to break out. Whether that is knowing how to make a roast chicken feed a family of 4 for a week, being able to make, repair or recycle clothes, hunting down a bargain, or simply turning everyday, simple things into pretty or useful items, with a little bit of imagination we can all dip in to the Goddess inside and make our lives that little bit more interesting.



I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy sharing my (challenging) journey into Domestic Goddessness!



Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Making and Baking

A little later than usual this week, thanks to a quite whingey littlest yesterday who was in one of 'those' moods. (You know the kind...'how dare you leave me for 10 seconds mummy! Why aren't you carrying me about everywhere??!') but still in time to link up with Wendy for Handmade Monday. My two are currently glued to Toy Story, so as soon as I'm finished here I will be heading over to see what everyone's been up to.... wish me luck that Woody and Buzz can work their magic for long enough!

I've had quite a busy old week this week, and I've managed to make quite a few things, edible and otherwise. I'm now in the last couple of weeks of 'freedom' before ,whispers> work beckons, so I'm trying to make the most of it. Bread has featured heavily in the baking stakes, as has sourdough of course. On the bread front I've had my first true and epic bread failure, using yeast anyway. I've had a couple of failed sourdough breads but never a 'normal' white loaf. I suppose after so many years on and off of making bread (about 15 I would guess at) one epic fail isn't too bad really. I'm still not sure what went wrong, but the dough was sluggish on it's first rise and then decided it wasn't going to rise at all second time round. My guess is that the water I used was a bit too hot or the yeast was a bit stale. But my next attempt (using different yeast) was a riproaring success and definitely restored my faith!
Continuing the bread theme, we had bread and butter pudding for Sunday tea. I love making this as it is really minimum effort, maximum rewards. I don't think there is a better end to a roast dinner. I once read a Nigella recipe, where she made sandwiches with ginger jam to put in her bread and butter pudding, and I have to admit I stole the idea, changed the jam for orange marmalade and have never looked back. On Sunday, however, I rang the changes with chocolate chip brioche. Delicious and went down a storm with everyone,, but it will be back to the old one next time I think. I know I should have taken a picture of it, but I forgot in my haste to get into it. I will leave it up to your imagination, but just think about a rich brioche studded with chocolate chips, covered in a lovely thick set egg custard, with lots of dried fruit and you're there.

Herman has been eaten, of course. It can be taken for granted now that every week I will have eaten Herman in one form or another. This week I was lucky to have 3 portions to get rid of cook with so we made 2 lots of pancakes and one lot of muffins,


I made the muffins to the 'standard' recipe - apples and raisins, but added a cup of porridge oats as well. It was unanimously agreed that these were the best muffins so far. I don't know whether that was the addition of the the porridge oats or the fact that Herman has been living with us for ages now and I'm getting used to using him!
The pancakes were made at tea time, incidentally, when I had a bit of spare time to make them, and stored in the fridge for breakfasts through the week. The girls had the last 2 this morning, still as tasty as when they were made at the end of last week, so they definitely keep well.

On to other making and I have produced a few things, one of which I will share at a later date, as I want the recipient to see it first. But just a couple of ATC's to share that I made for the ATC Trail on UK Scrappers


This was made using some gorgeous card stock I have that has a great vintage, shabby feel. I love the muted colours.

I used cosmic shimmer on the background of this one. I have not used it before, and I was introduced to its delights by my friend Sharon (here's her blog Chasing Art ) I sprayed it over a piece of sequin offcuts and I love the effect. I sprayed the background before I had even thought about the other elements. I thought it looked like the sky and a rummage in my stash led me to some beautiful flowers I obtained from somewhere at some point and never got round to using.

The making continues today. We are having a messy play day, just as soon as Woody saves Jessie from the plane to Japan.

PS Jill I haven't forgotten the award. I will post a blog nominating my 15 bloggers in the very near future, I promise. It's quite difficult choosing just 15 from all the blogs I read!

Hope you all have a good week!
Til next time!



10 comments:

Christmas Pie Crafts said...

I love Toy Story, so if you have space in front of your television I'm on my way. Your ATC's are lovely - especially the first one. Almost goes without saying your muffins look and sound sooooo nice. Hope you have a good week.

Free Spirit Designs said...

yum :) your muffins sound delicious!!!

Anonymous said...

I love the flower and butterfly picture it is really calming. Your family must be the best fed in England (don't let mine read about it!)

lovetartan said...

The bakes look yummy - I am glad I have just finished dinner or I'd be heading to the kitchen looking for something to eat! The cards are really nice. I have that cosmic shimmer stuff in a purple colour - it is good and easy to use. Have a great week! Mich x

Wendy said...

Oh. My. Word. Bread & butter pud with ginger jam just sounds like *heaven* to me. I need to try this with gluten free bread!! Thank you for that idea! Lovely cards too! (and the comment about the littlest made me laugh - I used to say my middle daughter should have had the middle names "pick me up"! She was nearly 5 when I sold her old buggy at a boot sale and she cried cos she wanted to keep it!!)

Your Friend Susie said...

The cards are gorgeous, but somehow I got stuck up above in the food and I can't get my mind off of it all. I love to make bread altho I don't do it often now that I cannot have wheat (non wheat bread is just not the same). I bet your yeast was at fault. I've had yeast get old on me and not perform. It's very sad to go to all the trouble and time (not to mention ingredients) and have it not work out. I've also had that happen with yogurt when my starter was old. It just doesn't set up right.
Now I want roast for dinner. And I blame you. Maybe I should make a card instead. It's probably got fewer calories. :)

Jan said...

Mmmm bread and butter pudding. I like mine with cinnamon.
Toy Story is a great film and not only for kiddies.

Jan x

ps.. I've left a comment on your previous post too :o)

Carolee Crafts said...

Ooh the dreaded word 'Work' I do feel for you and will be thinking of you whilst I sip my coffee on the terrace that is when the weather improves!

Love your creations both edible and other, enjoy your week and make the most of your freedom

Pickle Lily said...

Your chocolate b&b pudding sounds wonderful, real comfort food. I too had a Hermann and in the end I gave him all away as we got so fed up with sour dough! Have a lovely week-end and tuck other thoughts far, far away!
Jo x

Highland Monkey's said...

Gorgeous makes and I have my eye on those pancakes...fancy some now, hand them over :0P