Monday, 23 March 2009

IRISH SODA BREAD

450g Plain White Flour
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
400ml Buttermilk

Pre heat oven to 250'C

Sieve all the dry ingredients and make a well in the centre. Add the buttermilk. Using your hands, mix together until it forms a soft dough.

Turn out onto a floured board and form into a round loaf shape. Cut a deep cross on the loaf and prick with a fork.

Bake for 15mins then turn down oven to 200'C for 30mins until cooked. To test if it is done, tap the loaf - if cooked it should sound hollow. Cool on a wire rack.

Soda bread is best eaten on the day it is made.

Monday, 16 March 2009

CHOCOLATE CHIP TRAYBAKE

Ingredients
250g Butter
250g Caster Sugar
4 eggs, beaten
250g Self Raising Flour
50g Cocoa Powder
150g Plain Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 180'C and grease a 20x30cm roasting tin or cake tin. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Adds eggs a little at a time and add a tablespoon of flour if the mixture curdles.

Sift the remaining flour and cocoa and stir into the mixture. Add the chocolate chips. Spoon mixture into the tin and bake for approx. 30 minutes. Cool in the tin and cut into squares.

Saturday, 14 March 2009

I'M A WINNER!


I was the lucky winner of Mrs L's monthly giveaway on her blog 21st Century Housewife. I won this wonderful pair of hand knit socks. They feel so soft and snugly and I just know they are going to be really cosy - thank you Mrs L.




If you have not visited Mrs L's blog before there are some wonderful hand knits that she makes and also some really nice recipes and photographs of nature. In fact her whole blog is centered around nature and living more in harmony with it. A really lovely blog.

ROLO TARTS

Ingredients
1pk Shortcrust Pastry
24 Rolos
24 White Chocolate Buttons

Preheat oven to 180'C. Grease 2 x 12 hole bun tins. Roll out pastry and cut out 24 round or square pastry shapes big enough to cover holes in bun tin. Put one Rolo in each tart. Bake for 10-15 minutes, then immediately put one large white chocolate button on top of each tart. Leave to cool slightly. Eat while warm.

Tuesday, 10 March 2009

MY CATH KIDSTON BAG






I recently bought the book Make by Cath kidston. It came with a blank bag that you could applique yourself, so at the weekend I cut stars from the pattern inside the book and decorated the bag with them. The fabric I used was left over from the curtains from my doll's house.






The bag is just the right size for holding my lunchbox and book that I take to work and it's nice and light to carry.



COLOUR SWAP GOODIES



















I recently joined a Colour Swap with Jessica at Kid's Napping? I'm Scrapping. You had to send your partner craft items in a colour that they specified. My swap partner was Emma from Stitching Magpie, and this morning I received a beautiful pink parcel from her.


There were some really lovely items in the parcel including a hand made bunny (according to the kids it's name is Miffy, so this is what we have called her), a cupcake bath bomb, lots of ribbon and beads and some gorgeous fabric in various shades of pink. There was also 2 beautiful wooden pink hearts.


Thank you to Emma for the lovely gifts - I am so pleased with them. Also thank you to Jessica for organising the swap - I have really enjoyed it.





I'VE RECEIVED AN AWARD!




Thank you to Nana Grace at Nana Grace's Place for giving me the Sisterhood Award. I am so honoured to receive this award from her. Please check out her blog to view her lovely crafts.




The rules connected to the award are thus:




1. Put the logo on your blog or post




2. Nominate at least 10 (11) blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!



3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received your award.




I am passing the award over to the following people:



At Home With MelMel


21st Century Housewife


Jose-Mary


Stitching Magpie


Vintage Tea


Faerie Nuff


Tiny Treasures


La Stanza di Guiggiola


Kitschen Pink


Little Gems World





I have informed everyone about the above, but I am having problems reading MelMel's blog tonight. If you are reading this Mel, then you will know I have given you this award!!