Baking day.

I know I know, hardly keeping up with blogging at the moment. And I had promised to, as well! I seem to have such little time spare these days, to blog or otherwise, and I am really doing very little making at all. My only actual making seems to be in the kitchen just now. Something I hope to change! Not that I mind cooking and baking, not at all. It gives me a lot of satisfaction making food from scratch for my family (even if it ends up on the floor or in the dog thanks to two small children...you know how that goes!) and as we continue down the recession road, it's also very necessary. Like most families we are looking at where we can cut corners and save money.

So with that in mind I'm always trying to find things to do with the veg that's getting past it's best or the leftovers from previous meals.

The mash and sweetcorn from yesterday's tea are currently in the fridge for tea tomorrow in the shape of potato cakes to go with sausage and beans. Tonight we are having pasties made from potato and the bargain bag of leeks I bought last week at the supermarket, half of which will go into soup midweek when they will no doubt be getting a bit sad and floppy and would normally end up in the bin. To the leek and potato mix I added garlic, herbs and a generous sprinkling of cheese before wrapping them in pastry and baking for half an hour.

Pasties really are a great way of using up leftovers. I have often used Sunday roast leftovers to make them, though ut does get fiddly when I don't eat meat and the rest if the family do. But I get round this by adding the chicken (it's generally chicken I use as the family are not big red meat eaters really) after the filling is made and when I have split it for half veggie half meat pasties . I then just add a decoration to the pasties that are 'mine' though they tend to go first! We are on veggie pasties today so there's no problem this time!

(I never can understand why people feel they must gave meat at every course or they don't feel satisfied. Meat free food can be just as filling and tasty if you ask me)

While I'm on the subject of free from food, a friend has set up a Facebook page for people who have dairy intolerances/allergies. You can find it here:

 Diary of a Dairy Free Mummy 

I'd like to link up with Wendy over on  Handmade Harbour for the 102nd Handmade Monday. I am hoping to catch up with everyone and see what's been happening in the craft world. I think you would enjoy doing the same. There are some lovely bloggers out there, all very talented with its to show off do go and have a look!

Til next time!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy New Year!

I've been a bit of a slacker with blogging lately. Life has been quite busy and I've really lacked much motivation to be honest. But it's a New Year so what better time to try and find some get up and go! (not that I have much today thanks to endless fireworks at midnight but I digress)

So first of all I hope that Christmas and New Year was kind, happy and full of all you wanted, and that 2013 brings everything you want!

I am not really one for resolutions. I am not the best at keeping them! But this year I am hoping to be a bit better at all the things I want to be: better with budgetting, better with home cooking, more productive on the making front.

I'd also like to be better at sharing things. I take lots of pictures (where would I be without my FB SII phone??) so I intend to share these more often. I can also easily blog from my phone and I'm not sure why I don't!  Initially I wanted to share a picture a day with you all, but I know that won't happen. Life gets in the way. So instead I will just share more often and I'm happy with that.

On the home front I am lucky to possess lots of cook books which I often sit and flick through but rarely cook from. I need to change that, otherwise why do I have them? This morning reading through a Nigella book I came across this recipe for Sunshine Soup. It is basically a simple pepper and sweetcorn soup but it looks filling and comforting especially when you look out of the window and see all the grey skies and rain we've had recently. I don't have any peppers in my fridge but I do have sweetcorn and a bag full if spuds. So I am inspired to make sweetcorn and potato soup for tea, with a hint of chilli to spice it up.

I hope you have a lovely day with your families and for those who are working I hope its a peaceful one.

Til next time.

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas is coming!

Now that Caoimhe is at school nursery I'm looking forward to all the Christmassy things she'll be doing. They are currently practising for the nativity play (it's top secret and she won't tell me anything about it other than that she will be singing something!) and I can't wait to watch her with her friends from nursery and reception..... Surely one of the nicest things about being a parent is watching your kids take part in a school event. And yes, I am definitely going to cry!

The children have also been preparing for the school fair later this week, and we were asked to make some things for the school to sell, namely a cracker with a small gift inside and a 'jumble jar'. Of course the children are supposed to make them themselves but obviously 4yr olds will need some help. Caoimhe helped me to collect the things together for the jumble jar, some bobbles, key rings, sweets and obviously there had to be some crafty things in there too, so I added some glitter and some gold and silver pens. I decorated the top with some Christmas wrapping paper and ribbon. We will make the cracker this week and I'm sure Caoimhe will enjoy helping me to decorate it.

The Christmassy prep didn't end there. There has been an afternoon baking with grandma, making Christmas cakes, and Violet the elf has come to stay too... I'm sure there will be more about her visit in future posts.

I'm linking up with Wendy for  Handmade Monday as usual so don't forget to go and have a look at all the other blogs linked up there.

Til next time!

Happy Birthday Flop!

I can't believe it but on Sunday my little girl was 4! Not sure where the time has gone, it seems literally yesterday when I had the biggest shock of my life looking (very disbelievingly) at two pink lines on a little white stick. But here we are and that little shock is now 4 years old!
She has grown into a loving, generous, funny, bright little girl and I am very proud to be her mum.

I wasn't able to make her birthday cake this year, so we had a Haribo cake with lots of candles. Instead we started our family day with home made Herman breakfast muffins (apple and raisin) and the first sit down family breakfast we have shared in a long time thanks to that horrible work place! It was lovely.

On the crafting front I've been a bit of a slacker recently! But I have a few things planned including, of course, family Christmas cards which I'm hoping to make a start in soon. I'll be getting the yarn out soon, too, as well as thinking about some home made gifts for Christmas. Just as soon as I find a few more hours in the day!

I'm linking up with Wendy over on  Handmade Harbour for Handmade Monday so have a wander over. There are some lovely blogs there and I'll definitely be visiting and hoping for a bit of inspiration :)
Til next time!

Wordless Wednesday - Hello Son!