ICED LEMON TRAYBAKE

(for Pixiedust!)

8oz (225g) Soft Margarine
8oz (225g)Caster Sugar
10oz (275g) Self Raising Flour
2tsp Baking Powder
4 eggs
4 tbsp Milk
grated rind of 2 lemons

FOR THE ICING:
about 3 tbsp lemon Juice
8oz (225g) Icing Sugar

Preheat oven to 180'C/350'F/Gas 4. Grease and line a 12 x 9 in (30 x 23cm) roasting tin with greaseproof paper. Measure all ingredients into a large bowl and beat well for approx 2mins. Place mixture in tin and level the top. Bake for 35-40mins until cake has shrunk from sides of tin and springs back when pressed in the centre. Leave in tin to cool.

Mix lemon juice with the icing sugar and spread over cake. Leave to set.
Makes about 21 slices. I have halved this recipe before now and it works just as well.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES, LEMON TRAY BAKE AND A CHEAP CREDIT CRUNCH SUPPER

As I have now finished crafting for for my Valentine Swap, I decided to spend the afternoon baking and cooking. As I am trying my best to cut costs I made chocolate cupcakes using cocoa powder for the chocolate flavouring - they taste just as good as using real chocolate. I made 18 about 3hrs ago and there are now 11 left!

I also made a huge Lemon Tray Bake (I bake them in my roasting tin) with a view to them lasting all week. Although this rarely happens with my kids around!

The best money saver today though has to be our supper. I made Tomato Pasta using a Jamie Oliver jar of pasta sauce. These are on offer at the moment at Tesco for only 89p a jar. I added a pack of spaghetti costing 49p and topped it all with a little grated cheese. There was more than enough to feed all 4 of us.

I then made pancakes for afters using ingredients from my store cupboard. This has to be the cheapest meal I've ever cooked - I'm now going to see if I can better this one next week!

ANOTHER AWARD!

I have received an award from Rosanna at La Stanza di Giuggiola. This award, we think, means Your Hand In My Hand, and is a token of friendship and encouragement to others, which I am most honoured to received. I would like to pass this award on to:

Nana Grace

Jose-Mary and

Doreen

MEET KITTY !

The cat on the stone bench is not our cat, it's the neighbourhood stray. We've called him Kitty. However there is no need to feel sorry for him as virtually all the neighbours look after him and give him food. He will come in the back door when opened and meow for food and a warm, which he gets from virtually all the street! After trying to trace the owners unsuccessfully, one of the neighbours has now taken him on permanently. However old habits die hard and he still does the rounds. The photograph does not do him justice as he is in fact rather large!

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!

I've been tagged by Pixiedust at Faerienuff. I have to show my fourth photo on my fourth file and pass it on to 4 others to do the same. So here goes!

This is my hubby, Graham. It was taken one Saturday afternoon just before we went out (although he does tend to keep his cap on most of the time indoors, and then says it's hot when the rest of us are freezing cold!).

The 4 others I would like to tag are:

Debbie at Tiny Treasures

Erika at Erika's Miniatures

Buffy at Buffy's Charms

Rosanna at La Stanza di Giuggiola

FABRIC SAMPLE FREEBIE!

With thanks to Mel from At Home With Melmel, who gave me the idea, I too have been trawling the internet for fabric samples. This is what arrived in the post last week from 2 different companies.

I thought the character patterned pieces could be used for applique or cardmaking. The others are going to be used for some fabric hearts.

I hope to get started by the end of next week, although I do have 2 cushion covers to make and a cross stitch cupcake picture I quite fancy stitching. So many things to make - so little time....oh well.....

THE LURGY AND BAD HAIRCUTS!

So sorry I have not posted anything for a few days, but I have not been well at all - think I may have got flue. On top of that I went to the hairdressers on Saturday and came out with the worst hair-do I've had in years. The hairdresser has cut much too much off and my bright blonde hair is now brown. I seem to have aged about 15 years. I've spent most of the weekend in tears!



Anyway I'm better now and I have a visit to another hairdresser in the morning, who is going to give me my blonde hair back! Unfortunately my budget doesn't run to extensions, I'll just have to wait a few months for it to grow back.



I am back at work tomorrow and will be busy with my Valentine Swap pressies in the evenings, so I will say goodbye until the weekend.



Love Jayne xxx