tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53586983240901873772024-03-13T21:30:50.551-07:00playdohandpoo....beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-91699358104704878852013-03-18T13:45:00.000-07:002013-04-20T13:48:30.173-07:00weary<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it's been a little while since i have blogged for a few reasons</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly I've been growing this little bump which has required a lot of extra sleep and food.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secondly, we've had two Spanish students staying for a week. It was fun but rather time consuming & exhausting cooking for a vegetarian (husband having a break from meat for Lent), a Celiac (one of the Spanish boys), a non-vegetable eater (other Spanish boy), a pregnant woman trying to get all the right protein, iron, calcium, vits etc, and two small children. Plus the celiac had his 15th birthday so I felt I should make a cake (gluten free). Needless to say lots of cooking and various pots and washing up! Kids have watched more tv than usual and fallen in love with Shrek which is fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thirdly hubby and I are addicted to Breaking Bad so evenings have been eaten up with that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fourthly it's my four year olds fifth bday party soon which is happening at our house. he wants a jungle themed party. thankfully hubby loves decorating the house for parties and i love decorating cakes so we should be fine. i will post the cake recipes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plus my father in law and easter are arriving soon.... ooooh la la better go...</span></div>
beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-38290319326380147322013-02-28T11:48:00.001-08:002013-02-28T11:48:06.134-08:00do you hoover counter tops?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
after our bake off (previous post) i needed to do some tidying up as you can imagine! as we had already made a big mess i didn't mind more mess... so i set the kids up with a tray of flour and some toys each. they loved it and it kept them enthralled for a long time. my son in particular could play with flour for hours. </div>
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i do wonder whether anyone else in a hoovering frenzy gets carried away and hoovers the table and kitchen counter tops... or is that just me? and is it revolting? i have to say it is quite satisfying... but perhaps no-one will want to eat at our house again now that i have outed myself.</div>
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another fun one is mixing cornflour with water to play with. it is amazing and fascinating. we tried out different consistencies. it made the most amazing textures that felt dry to touch but on picking it up turned in to a gloopy liquid and ran off our hands. it feels dry but moves like a liquid. this is great because it is really easy to clean up.</div>
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beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-18371093324089989512013-02-24T14:30:00.001-08:002013-02-24T14:31:59.033-08:00inspiring sisters<div style="text-align: center;">
so i have two wonderful sisters and we all love cream teas and all things baked and delicious. they both write wonderful blogs that i want to shout about because they are great reads.</div>
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my older sister lives in America with her hubby and two kids. she is a very talented artist and amazing at doing arty, crafty, creative, cool, messy activities with her kids. you will be inspired by her blog <a href="http://messylabstudio.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Messy Lab Studio</a></div>
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my younger sister lives in London with her hubby. she is incredibly creative and thoughtful and loves to dream and photograph and create beautiful things and delicious and beautiful food. she writes about her amazing food, furniture and decorative creations and her own thoughts about life and her experience of fighting cancer. you will be inspired by her blog <a href="http://spooninginthekitchen.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Spooning in the Kitchen</a></div>
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they are amazing women who i love very much</div>
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<br />beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-84158120876292628912013-02-23T13:13:00.001-08:002013-02-24T02:00:19.429-08:00half term bake off<div style="text-align: center;">
so my boy often asks if he can "make a mix" - it is one of his favourite things to do. it involves putting various ingredients in a bowl and mixing them together with spoons and beaters. if he has his way it would involve flour, every spice in the cupboard, some eggs, lots of grated cheese, sugar, maybe even some washing up liquid. it all eventually goes in the bin and is rather a waste of food - an expensive hobby!<br />
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it got so stressful recently when both kids ascended into my counter space and spontaneously decided to make mixes with everything in the kitchen while i was trying to cook dinner. in that heated moment i decided i hated cooking with the kids or even having them in the kitchen and never wanted to do it again. i lost my temper with every grab, spill or mess and sent them both out of the kitchen.<br />
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the next day i felt really bad about my stress and impatience and putting such a dampner on Z's enthusiasm for mixing and making! so i took a new approach. i covered the dining table and got out two big bowls, two loaf tins and all the measuring, mixing, pouring, sieving and stirring utensils. i then let the kids say what ingredients they wanted me to get out. i did a lot of "how about some...? would you like to put in some...?" so that it would turn out edible. it is a really fun way to make a cake... very liberating to have no concerns about spills, mess or measurements. it helped to have them both at the table rather than teetering on stools/countertops in a small kitchen.<br />
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this is (roughly) what we included:<br />
300ml milk (poured through a colander!:)<br />
2 eggs (whisked, of course)<br />
800g self-raising flour (sieved)<br />
1/2 tsp baking powder<br />
1/2 tsp bicarb of soda<br />
1 tsp cinnamon (or half a pot in one of the cakes!)<br />
1/2 cup ground almonds<br />
1/4 cup sunflower seeds<br />
1 cup of brown sugar<br />
1/2 a courgette (grated)<br />
1/4 of a carrot (grated) - or as much as a little one can grate<br />
8 chopped dates (my 4 year old loves using a sharp-ish knife!)<br />
1 tbsp melted butter<br />
a handful of chocolate chips<br />
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this seemed to satisfy all of their measuring, pouring, sifting, chopping, grating, whisking & stirring desires.</div>
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putting some chocolate chips on top.... and plenty in our mouths</div>
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the finished product!</div>
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it was SO delicious. i ate a thick slice of this every day this week - toasted with lots of butter.<img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Iot1ygQ2yG4/USkFyBWHp8I/AAAAAAAACMs/dXHM3SSwI9g/s320/IMG_5119.JPG" style="color: #0000ee;" width="320" /></div>
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i'm already looking forward to doing it again - maybe with a sweeter, more chocolatey, sprinkly version so it is a really exciting treat for the kids, rather than a pretty yummy cake that keeps mummy happy all week - though those are important too!</div>
beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-24150164725681921272013-02-13T01:26:00.004-08:002013-02-13T06:21:04.083-08:00birthday ballerina girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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so i have this little girl who i love to bits. she has the most delightful, tender, cuddly, witty, sparky, playful, independent, outgoing spirit. she also knows how to give us a run for our money. man can she put up a fight and an ear-piercing scream that only dogs should be able to hear. i love her and i want to be a good mum for her on this journey of the day-to-day. i want to be a role model and i want to build her confidence and self-esteem and sense of self and place in the world and place in relation to other women and to men. it's a challenge every day and every day i want to be better and be more patient and creative in my interactions with her. i fear the mother-daughter relationship going horribly wrong when i really lose my temper with her. but i hope and pray we can keep things positive, close, respectful and intact over the years. she has just turned three and i really enjoyed making a birthday cake for her. she loves ballet and ballerinas so i went down that route and it actually ended up looking like her so it was a cake of gorgeous M as a ballerina. </div>
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the cake recipe is <a href="http://playdohandpoo.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/rocket-ship-cake.html" target="_blank">here</a> in a previous post </div>
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i made icing with butter, icing sugar and food colouring. i added little silver balls and edible wafer flowers (from Tesco) for decoration.</div>
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she was very pleased...</div>
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beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-70116868443578023492013-02-07T12:37:00.001-08:002013-02-07T12:53:52.529-08:00just ignore her<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">Sam & I were arguing recently over breakfast - I was talking passionately & crying. Four year old Mr Z leaned over & whispered in Sam's ear "<span class="il" style="background-color: white;">just</span> <span class="il" style="background-color: white;">ignore</span> <span class="il" style="background-color: white;">her daddy</span>"!! Sam managed not to laugh and to (kindly) whisper "no i love mummy and i want to listen to her." later </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">Sam told me what Z had said ... <b>when</b> i was ready to laugh! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">I think I have said the phrase "just ignore her" to Z when Little Miss M is winding him up on purpose... Eg. "if u </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">ignore</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">her</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">, she'll probably stop. she's doing it to make u cross." </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">maybe he's learning lessons about relating to women... learning to </span>switch off.. hmmm we'll have to see about that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">a great comfort food after an argument is bread. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">we all know that bread can be a killer to the waistline and make us feel lethargic and full of wheat! but if i am going to eat bread, homemade is soooo much tastier.. and cheaper... and without all the preservatives, sugar, salt and crap. so i decided to dabble in becoming a bread maker... and thus a proper fully fledged housewife right!? i have to say i loved it ... the process, the satisfaction, the taste... and delicious lunches like this...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">after trying various options i have come up with a good easy recipe. i love making loaves that i can pull out of the freezer for a saturday lunch with soup. or having a big bag of home-made bread rolls in the freezer for the weeks packed lunches. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms4Ckt22I2k/URJQPxPGQXI/AAAAAAAACHs/aC7jimV-wvg/s1600/IMG_3460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms4Ckt22I2k/URJQPxPGQXI/AAAAAAAACHs/aC7jimV-wvg/s320/IMG_3460.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">this was my first attempt... a simple white loaf. it looks really impressive but was a bit dense and my son came home from school saying he wanted brown bread because it was healthier!.. ok.. can't argue with that!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0gXTzoVtEjY/URJQYsspziI/AAAAAAAACJM/y5sdlm1QeCo/s1600/bread.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0gXTzoVtEjY/URJQYsspziI/AAAAAAAACJM/y5sdlm1QeCo/s320/bread.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CfdSEnp0xbk/URJQZ8r1UfI/AAAAAAAACJk/u5vGKzXGBqM/s1600/bread3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CfdSEnp0xbk/URJQZ8r1UfI/AAAAAAAACJk/u5vGKzXGBqM/s320/bread3.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So this is what i came up with and i think it is really tasty. You can play around with the different flours that you use as long as it add ups to a total of 550g of flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Gather:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">150g spelt flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">100g strong white bread flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">300g brown bread flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.5 cups warm water</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tbsp honey</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20g/2tbsp dry yeast</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tbsp olive oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">optional - 50g toasted sunflower seeds, 50g poppy seeds, 50g sesame seeds</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. whisk the yeast and honey in to the warm water and leave until really frothy</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t3fNjAo0YdI/URJQTSpp-YI/AAAAAAAACIQ/otMNxfheMO8/s1600/IMG_3464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t3fNjAo0YdI/URJQTSpp-YI/AAAAAAAACIQ/otMNxfheMO8/s320/IMG_3464.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. measure out the flours & salt in to a large bowl and stir</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. toast the sunflower seeds</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f3rrEdN4wa8/URJQSJ0CnXI/AAAAAAAACII/FwDJurgZhw0/s1600/IMG_3463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f3rrEdN4wa8/URJQSJ0CnXI/AAAAAAAACII/FwDJurgZhw0/s320/IMG_3463.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. add the oil to the frothy water</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. pour the wet ingredients in to the flour and mix well. mix in the seeds. you want the mix to be doughy and kneadable without being too dry. you can add extra flour if it is too wet and sticking to your hands or extra water if it feels too dry and won't come together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. on a floured surface knead the dough for 10mins</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. place the dough back in the large bowl, cover with a damp tea towel away from draughts and leave until it has at least doubled in size.. usually a couple of hours. the warmer the spot the quicker it will rise. if the house is cold you can just leave it for hours which is fine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. punch the risen dough down (my kids love doing this bit) and knead for 2mins</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QtLVyVRgpkY/URJQOkz55HI/AAAAAAAACHg/b4dkuLuwHjg/s1600/IMG_3167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QtLVyVRgpkY/URJQOkz55HI/AAAAAAAACHg/b4dkuLuwHjg/s320/IMG_3167.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. shape in to a loaf or bread rolls (or have the kids make plaits) and place on a floured baking tray</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1SYl4vr8Crk/URJQXhvyq4I/AAAAAAAACJI/UPPdaQmtNZM/s1600/IMG_3968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1SYl4vr8Crk/URJQXhvyq4I/AAAAAAAACJI/UPPdaQmtNZM/s320/IMG_3968.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. cover with a dry tea towel and leave for an hour, preheating the oven to 200C when necessary</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. place the bread in to the hot oven and bake for 20-30mins (time varies according to how large your loaves/rolls are - you might have to do some guess work. if the bread feels hard and sounds hollow when you tap the bottom of it, then it is ready)</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4PSAoMC8Udg/URJQU4eU6qI/AAAAAAAACIk/jf3PAhm6hV0/s1600/IMG_3610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4PSAoMC8Udg/URJQU4eU6qI/AAAAAAAACIk/jf3PAhm6hV0/s320/IMG_3610.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here are our giant loaves that we made for lunches when family were staying for christmas</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F1ltuxyjyy0/URJQXDe0DNI/AAAAAAAACI8/JDINl7zQawE/s1600/IMG_3954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F1ltuxyjyy0/URJQXDe0DNI/AAAAAAAACI8/JDINl7zQawE/s320/IMG_3954.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: .Helvetica NeueUI;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-71387617307281144862013-02-04T02:25:00.001-08:002013-02-04T02:28:51.818-08:00budgeting<div style="text-align: center;">
we have decided it is time to get budgeting... serious budgeting... we started a few months ago and it is both painful and intensely satisfying. it gets disheartening when the boiler breaks or the extended family decide to have a family reunion abroad but we are plodding on and determined not to be living in a perpetual state of debt. so here are a few ideas that we are trying to put in to practise.</div>
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<li style="text-align: left;">buy in bulk</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">shop online or use self scan at the supermarket to keep track of how much you are spending - stick to a decided amount</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">use cloths instead of wipes or paper towel</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">use vegetable oil instead of olive oil</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">put less cheese in food</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">make bread</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">dont eat out so much</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">eat less meat</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">eat more beans</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">packed lunches for all of us</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">make coffee at home - do not buy expensive coffees</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">buy less alcohol</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">say No to things - e.g. expensive days out and cinema trips - ugh!</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">use less laundry detergent</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">dont use stain remover in every wash (leftover from weaning days but i realised no longer necessary)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">don't go in to Holland & Barrett (i always spend too much on unnecessary pills & health items!)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">buy cheaper hair & body products - don't get so caught up in the all natural uber-organic products</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">use less loo roll</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">wash clothes less</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">wash self less - ha!</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">turn the lights off</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">turn heating off and put a jumper and scarf on</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">go on less holidays or do house swaps for holidays</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">use the EEBA app if you have an iphone - i can not recommend this highly enough - it has totally transformed our spending habits and ability to live within our means. it is an envelope system that enables you to create a budget with various envelopes and then record and track your spending really easily on your phone</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">buy clothes from charity shops or borrow/swap with friends - this can get depressing after a while and i think some times one needs a little injection of new stuff. this is where EEBA can be great because you can choose how to spend your allocated person al amount each month and if there's a bit leftover then treat yourself without feeling guilty</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">get a big fat loan!!??</li>
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one problem i have with budgeting - i would love to buy all organic and herbal but it is so much more expensive so i am trying to mix it up a bit</div>
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so to start we have cheap and simple Spicy Vegetable Curry<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I-H_XAYijHw/UQ-FU1sd47I/AAAAAAAACFQ/qSNh8S9jxhE/s1600/IMG_3130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I-H_XAYijHw/UQ-FU1sd47I/AAAAAAAACFQ/qSNh8S9jxhE/s320/IMG_3130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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gather:</div>
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vegetable oil</div>
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5 cloves garlic, crushed</div>
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1 small red chilli, chopped</div>
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1 medium potato, chopped</div>
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1 tsp garam masala</div>
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1/2 tsp mild curry powder</div>
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1 tsp cumin seeds</div>
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1 tsp turmeric</div>
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1 tsp honey</div>
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1 tin coconut milk</div>
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1 tin chick peas</div>
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10 green beans, chopped in inch long pieces</div>
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1/2 courgette, chopped in chunks</div>
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1/2 small cauliflower, chopped in chunks</div>
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to make:</div>
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1. heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok</div>
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2. add garlic, chilli & potato and stir for a few minutes</div>
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3. add all the spices and stir for a few minutes</div>
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4. add the coconut milk and bring to the boil. simmer on low heat for 8 minutes</div>
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5. add honey, beans, cauliflower, courgette and chick peas and simmer for 5 mins</div>
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6. add salt and pepper to taste and serve on rice</div>
beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-75216508030990303382013-01-22T12:18:00.000-08:002013-01-22T13:38:59.983-08:00new year new inspiration<div style="text-align: center;">
so christmas has well and truly passed. we had family to stay for 10 days - lots of lovely meals, drinking wine and staying up late playing games and putting the world to rights. and New Years was a fun night out. We threw a 60th birthday party for my Mum on New Years day... we scurried around all day and my sister made the most amazing canapes for 50 people. </div>
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i have enjoyed a long break from blogging. i love blogging and find it rather addictive - the more i do it the more ideas i have for things that i want to write about - but recently i have found myself really liking the freedom from it. i have felt with the passing of 2012 (as one often does at these junctures) inspired to do more reading (novels, biographies, histories, and especially the News!), listening to music, playing with my kids, praying, staying in touch with friends (picking up the phone!), going out with friends, staying on top of our filing and family photo albums, figuring out a way to make money, sewing, maybe even exercising and definitely more sleeping! .... so for the time being i am going to blog less. </div>
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i want to get a bit more experimental with my cooking and find fun recipes in cookbooks. i frequently make up quick and easy grub that is fairly basic. i will carry on blogging and building up a bank of my own and my favourite recipes. but i do not want to be a slave to the blog... life is too short... there is too much to do & enjoy.... i would like to be more present in the moment and spend a bit less time with phone and computer screens.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6JTBO5_iV8g/UP8Ge92qojI/AAAAAAAACEQ/ZULhv6APS_E/s1600/530374_10152414740105217_1663989921_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6JTBO5_iV8g/UP8Ge92qojI/AAAAAAAACEQ/ZULhv6APS_E/s320/530374_10152414740105217_1663989921_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>here we are on New Year's Eve at our awesome local pub where the theme was: Where The Wild Things Are </i></div>
beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-62456322475543546652012-12-11T23:14:00.002-08:002013-02-28T11:56:18.163-08:00It's Beginning..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
...to look a lot like Christmas. i feel like christmas properly gets under way when the wreath goes on the door. the outside of the house says it's Christmas and inside it's time to go in to full preparation mode! Sam has decided he "really wants to get in the Christmas spirit this year" so Christmas music has been filling the house from 8am, a favourite being Sufjan Stevens.</div>
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last year i put whole orange halves in the wreath</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-36oTfESHW18/UMZYnKpl5DI/AAAAAAAACA8/nXzIbXwp5X8/s1600/IMG_4315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-36oTfESHW18/UMZYnKpl5DI/AAAAAAAACA8/nXzIbXwp5X8/s320/IMG_4315.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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this year i used baked orange slices</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l8V5rjGoHb4/UMb-iLxaUGI/AAAAAAAACB8/XCMC8vywPO4/s1600/IMG_3671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l8V5rjGoHb4/UMb-iLxaUGI/AAAAAAAACB8/XCMC8vywPO4/s320/IMG_3671.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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making these lovely decorative oranges fills the house with lovely smells, especially if you add cinnamon</div>
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<ul>
<li>slice a few oranges thinly</li>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yGE5M5PWJ1Q/UMZUVLIzedI/AAAAAAAAB_8/wOq4Jqtc61Q/s1600/IMG_3608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yGE5M5PWJ1Q/UMZUVLIzedI/AAAAAAAAB_8/wOq4Jqtc61Q/s320/IMG_3608.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>place on a rack (not tray) and sprinkle half of them with cinnamon</li>
<li>bake in the bottom of the oven at 135C for 1 hour and 107C for 1.5 -2 hrs</li>
<li>keep an eye on them so they don't turn too brown</li>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BOK5TmhG60Y/UMZTy3SU1KI/AAAAAAAAB_s/PnmEx0Ff0KQ/s1600/IMG_3609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BOK5TmhG60Y/UMZTy3SU1KI/AAAAAAAAB_s/PnmEx0Ff0KQ/s320/IMG_3609.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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you can use these as decorations in the wreath, hang on string etc</div>
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my kids decimated most of mine so i put them in a bowl and they make lovely pot pourri</div>
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the kids loved cutting and breaking them in to pieces</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P8vCJOkVDJA/US-2WXrQAhI/AAAAAAAACSk/Wfn-vJno4gM/s1600/IMG_1210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P8vCJOkVDJA/US-2WXrQAhI/AAAAAAAACSk/Wfn-vJno4gM/s320/IMG_1210.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xZvYK--5Y1A/UMZT4YDiSgI/AAAAAAAAB_0/kxDqJMSXcsE/s1600/IMG_3662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xZvYK--5Y1A/UMZT4YDiSgI/AAAAAAAAB_0/kxDqJMSXcsE/s320/IMG_3662.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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i got some energy yesterday despite my flu setting in and made Christmas pudding. it was really easy and fun to make and i loved the brandy smells filling the house. the recipe is on my previous blog post.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8GWkRpqNCkA/UMgtztCdhpI/AAAAAAAACC8/i9pCoR-x6YI/s1600/IMG_3696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8GWkRpqNCkA/UMgtztCdhpI/AAAAAAAACC8/i9pCoR-x6YI/s320/IMG_3696.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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this week i'm joining in with The Gallery. Head over there to see other posts with the theme <a href="http://stickyfingers1.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/The%20Gallery" target="_blank">It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas.</a></div>
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<a href="http://stickyfingers1.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Gallery"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img height="160" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_YvvceOEVsWU/S6fY0nf07UE/AAAAAAAABD0/SbguGrqPapE/s160-c/Badges.jpg" style="margin: 1px 0px 0px 4px;" width="160" /></span></a></div>
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<br />beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-83398647525193767422012-12-10T13:26:00.000-08:002012-12-11T00:24:48.100-08:00bah humbug<div style="text-align: center;">
so i'm feeling a little overwhelmed by christmas and paralysed by my To Do list. i can't figure out where to start and how to prioritise my tasks. they are all fun christmasey tasks but they do need to get done. i foolishly agreed to bake 80 mince pies and 40 cookies for the local preschool because i'm on the committee and haven't done anything all year. we are having a christmas drinks party so i'll need lots of mince pies for that... plus extra for general consumption over the next few weeks. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DCwT534ZZEA/UMZPK7Jii8I/AAAAAAAAB-s/1g9P-_ySX9o/s1600/IMG_4344.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DCwT534ZZEA/UMZPK7Jii8I/AAAAAAAAB-s/1g9P-_ySX9o/s1600/IMG_4344.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we are hosting christmas this year. i have never cooked a christmas lunch or christmas pudding so it's all a new adventure. with a huge list of ingredients, i did look longingly at the £5 christmas puddings in tesco today and think why not? why not just buy one? how easy would that be? why torture yourself with having to make one? but i couldn't do it. something in me said it HAD to be homemade. as with the pizzas for the kids at our house party... why not buy pizzas.. i couldn't bring myself to do it... and the granola and bread for the christmas period..... so now i'm left looking at mountains of ingredients and zero baking-labido... help!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yWSb0OPGylk/UMZO_LIvuCI/AAAAAAAAB-c/RtJOhycz1mI/s1600/IMG_3652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yWSb0OPGylk/UMZO_LIvuCI/AAAAAAAAB-c/RtJOhycz1mI/s320/IMG_3652.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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i have a headache and sore throat and feel totally unmotivated to do anything other than sit on the sofa and watch tv... while maybe writing and re-writing the odd To Do list. i will get an early night and tackle it all afresh tomorrow. sorry for the bah humbug blog post.</div>
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to help me feel better (and more in control) i will at least start by recording here the recipes i have chosen for my first few baking exploits.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mince pies:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pastry (makes 12)</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rub together with finger tips: 200g flour (sifted), 120g chilled unsalted butter and 40g caster sugar, (optional - 75g ground almonds) until the mix resembles breadcrumbs</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">gently stir in 1 large egg, then push together to make a pastry ball</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">add a few drops of water if micx is too dry to stick together</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">wrap pastry in cling film and put in fridge for at least 1 hour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to make the pies:</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">roll out the pastry and cut with a round cookie cutter</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">put the pastry rounds in a cupcake tin and add a large teaspoon of mincemeat</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cover the top with a smaller round or a star shape</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">brush with a little milk on the lid of the pies and put in the fridge for 40mins</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bake at 180C for 20mins</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here are last year's pies. they were a hit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">let's hope i can get some mince pie mojo tomorrow and start baking!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sQp3Owv698w/UMZPJ_IgNwI/AAAAAAAAB-k/_-wlORv5VcI/s1600/IMG_4092.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sQp3Owv698w/UMZPJ_IgNwI/AAAAAAAAB-k/_-wlORv5VcI/s1600/IMG_4092.jpeg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's is the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/richchristmaspudding_8935" target="_blank">BBC Rich Christmas Pudding</a> i'm going to attempt:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="module padded summary" id="description" style="background-color: white; line-height: 10px; margin-top: 16px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px;">
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="summary" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make this pudding a couple of months (2 weeks will have to do!) before Christmas day. Feed it with booze regulary for the flavours to develop.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="module bordered module padded" id="ingredients" style="background-color: white; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 10px; margin-top: 16px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 16px;">
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<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients</span></b></div>
<div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">225g/8oz golden caster sugar</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">225g/8oz vegetarian suet</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">340g/12oz sultanas</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">340g/12oz raisins</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">225g/8oz currants</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">110g/4oz candied peel, chopped</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">110g/4oz plain flour</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">110g/4oz fresh white breadcrumbs</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">55g/2oz flaked almonds</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 lemon, zest only</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 eggs, beaten</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 level tsp ground cinnamon</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 level tsp mixed spice</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5g/1 level tsp freshly grated nutmeg</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pinch of salt</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 1em; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ingredient" style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">150ml/5fl oz brandy</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="module bordered js-accordion" id="preparation" style="background-color: white; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 10px; margin-top: 16px; padding-top: 16px;">
<h2 style="color: #333333; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px 8px 8px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Preparation method</span></h2>
<ol class="instructions" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 32px;">
<li class="instruction" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1em; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;"><div style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lightly grease 4x600ml/1 pint or 2x1.2 litre/2 pint pudding basins.</span></div>
</li>
<li class="instruction" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1em; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;"><div style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix together all the dry ingredients.</span></div>
</li>
<li class="instruction" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1em; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;"><div style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stir in the eggs and brandy and mix well.</span></div>
</li>
<li class="instruction" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1em; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;"><div style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spoon the mix into basins. Put a circle of baking parchment and foil over the top of each basin and tie securely with string. Make a string handle from one side of the basin to the other so it is easier to pick the basin out of the pan after cooking.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="technique-clip" id="p008s5mf" style="overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 12px;">
<img alt="Wrapping a pudding for steaming" height="253" src="http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/food/ic/prog_16x9_448/clip/p008s5mf_640_360.jpg" style="border: 0px; left: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: -1px;" width="448" /><a class="play-clip" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5358698324090187377&pli=1" style="color: #386737; display: block; height: 253px; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; position: relative; top: 0px; width: 448px; z-index: 2;"><span class="play-icon" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://static.bbci.co.uk/food/1.32.0/css/f/buttons/play.png); background-position: -192px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 80px; left: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: 47px; width: 80px;"></span><span class="text-container" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://static.bbci.co.uk/food/1.32.0/css/f/bgs/opacity-50-white.png); background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #333333; padding: 16px; position: absolute; top: 50%;"></span></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="play-clip" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5358698324090187377&pli=1" style="color: #386737; display: block; height: 253px; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; position: relative; top: 0px; width: 448px; z-index: 2;"></a><a class="play-clip" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5358698324090187377&pli=1" style="color: #386737; display: inline !important; height: 253px; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; position: relative; top: 0px; width: 448px; z-index: 2;"><span class="text-container" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://static.bbci.co.uk/food/1.32.0/css/f/bgs/opacity-50-white.png); background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #333333; display: inline !important; padding: 16px; position: absolute; top: 50%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watch technique</span></span></a></div>
<span class="clip-duration" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2:01 mins</span></span></div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="instruction" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1em; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;"><div style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put the basins in a large steamer of boiling water and cover with a lid. Boil for 5-6 hours, topping the boiling water up from time to time, if necessary. If you do not have a steamer, put the basins in a large pan on inverted saucers on the base. Pour in boiling water to come a third of the way up the sides of the pudding bowls. Cover and steam as before.</span></div>
</li>
<li class="instruction" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1em; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;"><div style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cool. Change the baking parchment and foil covers for fresh ones and tie up as before. Store in a cool cupboard until Christmas Day.</span></div>
</li>
<li class="instruction" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1em; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;"><div style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To serve, steam for 2 hours and serve with brandy butter, rum sauce, cream or homemade custard.</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<div class="module bordered module padded" id="ingredients" style="background-color: white; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 10px; margin-top: 16px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 16px; text-align: center;">
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</ul>
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beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-16549512717272141872012-12-08T00:21:00.003-08:002012-12-08T00:21:48.490-08:00locked out again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
sam currently has enormous bruises on his thighs from breaking in to our house. this has been the third time in the past few weeks of us both forgetting our keys! what is going on?! we have managed not tot get locked out for years and suddenly this run of dappiness! this particular time we had already used the spare-key-we-leave-with-neighbours and it was now inside out house, along with our keys. i arrived home at 3pm after being out all day and realised i was locked out. i called Sam and he said he'd make his way home (which would take an hour and a half). so i picked up Z from school and went to a neighbours house. Sam arrived back to realise he did not have his keys either! we used a friend's incredibly rickety and rusty old ladder to break in. i think we should leave keys with a lot more neighbours.</div>
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i love this picture.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6z5J-VDmybc/UI2ZbtEb-sI/AAAAAAAABjo/tmeYvEVwGHI/s1600/IMG_2508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6z5J-VDmybc/UI2ZbtEb-sI/AAAAAAAABjo/tmeYvEVwGHI/s320/IMG_2508.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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so here's a quick yummy comforting rustle up dinner when you have been locked out. the kids love it because the coconut milk (with the help of some added honey!) make it slightly sweet.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rkvsV_gGf-g/UMEiqCzhViI/AAAAAAAAB9c/qrjJ6VBmoLc/s1600/IMG_3499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rkvsV_gGf-g/UMEiqCzhViI/AAAAAAAAB9c/qrjJ6VBmoLc/s320/IMG_3499.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>simple, mild & sweet tuna curry</b></div>
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1. in a wok, saute 3 stalks of sliced celery</div>
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2. add 1 tbsp mild curry powder, 1 tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt and stir well</div>
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3. add 1 tin of tuna chunks, 1 tin of chick peas and stir well</div>
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4. add 1 tin of coconut milk and bring to simmering but not boiling point</div>
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5. add 1 stalk of broccoli (chopped in to small pieces) and simmer for 4 minutes</div>
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optional - for more flavour and spice, add more curry powder, 1 tsp coriander, 1 tsp turmeric and a little chilli powder.</div>
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6. serve on basmati rice</div>
beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-28528611353406473752012-12-06T14:55:00.005-08:002012-12-06T14:55:53.642-08:00glitter overkill<div style="text-align: center;">
so this was supposed to be a nice relaxing activity on a cold wet windy winter day. it wasn't hellish but glitter and strong-willed strong-handed toddlers can get a weee bit hellish. they want to cover every corner in thick glitter... as well as the table, chairs, floor, carpet, walls, ceiling, themselves, mummy.... however we ended up with some sweet decorations for the tree. and all feeling VERY very excited about christmas... in our glittery house!<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-glAQm9nOXqE/UMEhrA4xVyI/AAAAAAAAB9U/5y6Pua2nXl4/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-glAQm9nOXqE/UMEhrA4xVyI/AAAAAAAAB9U/5y6Pua2nXl4/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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i am hopeless at following, let alone remembering, recipes. that is why most of my food is made up. however the Salt Dough Recipe is hard to forget - half, half, whole. half a cup of salt, half a cup of water and a whole cup of flour mixed together. Add more flour or water for the desired consistency. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XIvkcN5sO_g/UMEcsy9YzMI/AAAAAAAAB7c/7y8L6Cq-Yv4/s1600/IMG_3498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XIvkcN5sO_g/UMEcsy9YzMI/AAAAAAAAB7c/7y8L6Cq-Yv4/s320/IMG_3498.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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roll and shape. remember to poke a little hole in the top so you can attach thread or ribbon.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xGQ73gpJews/UMEcw9G_SkI/AAAAAAAAB7s/No3EVgPOyqo/s1600/IMG_3500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xGQ73gpJews/UMEcw9G_SkI/AAAAAAAAB7s/No3EVgPOyqo/s320/IMG_3500.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I95kPTv__pU/UMEcyCpZrNI/AAAAAAAAB70/PAioKW6ctfs/s1600/IMG_3501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I95kPTv__pU/UMEcyCpZrNI/AAAAAAAAB70/PAioKW6ctfs/s320/IMG_3501.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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n<span style="text-align: center;">ow you can leave these to dry overnight or bake them at a very low temperature for three hours.. or simply zap them in the microwave for three minutes! </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">then paint and glitter to your hearts content.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ErmSSa5XOnA/UMEc1edeQUI/AAAAAAAAB8E/ZHzxhAS578M/s1600/IMG_3503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ErmSSa5XOnA/UMEc1edeQUI/AAAAAAAAB8E/ZHzxhAS578M/s320/IMG_3503.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ta da! ... the oh so christmassy rocket ship and a very glittery yet shy-looking moose posing as a reindeer... bring on christmas!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3nMM7ehzjNo/UMEc85fKh7I/AAAAAAAAB8U/zuUbWdFj_8o/s1600/IMG_3505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3nMM7ehzjNo/UMEc85fKh7I/AAAAAAAAB8U/zuUbWdFj_8o/s320/IMG_3505.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-86037629110767037642012-12-03T14:37:00.000-08:002012-12-03T14:42:34.641-08:00meal plan<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6fJkWfdjYU/UL0oZ-rta5I/AAAAAAAAB4g/WAHi-gNsQfw/s1600/kidsautumn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6fJkWfdjYU/UL0oZ-rta5I/AAAAAAAAB4g/WAHi-gNsQfw/s320/kidsautumn.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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winter is well and truly setting in and i feel an enormous apetite creeping in - is that the cold? the short dark days? our primal instincts telling us to add layers of fat for the cold season? i need to turn up the heating and get back on the salads! so it's monday and i have a meal plan. how much time in our lives do we spend thinking about, planning and shopping for our meals? what a weirdly huge part of our lives this fills!<br />
on our weekly shop this week a tired Miss M consumed one kinder surprise egg, an entire punnet of blueberries and a huge bag of Kettle Chips (i may have helped out a little with the chips!), but at least she was happy and stayed in the trolley! i often overspend in the supermarket but we have been rubbish with money for too long and are now trying to stick to a strict budget. two things are helping me massively with this:<br />
1. the iphone app EEBA which is brilliant - it creates envelopes (e.g. Groceries, Clothes, Presents, Travel, Personal etc) and enables you to easily track everything you spend and how you're doing at keeping to your monthly allowance for each category. having it right there on my phone and entering everything penny as soon as i spend it is so helpful. </div>
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2. i am loving the new supermarket self-scanning systems. it enables me to see exactly how much my shop adds up to as i go around and then easily reevaluate and put back expensive or unnecessary items to bring down the total.<br />
so here's our meal plan for this week (these always end up changing as the week goes by and my cooking inspirations change, ebb and flow). I have ended up with two huge cauliflowers in the fridge this week - any good recipes welcome!</div>
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<b>Monday:</b> egg fried rice (using left-over rice. we just ate it and it was deeelicious thanks to lots of crushed chilli. we watched the film The Blind Side which is very sweet and lovely)<br />
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<b>Tuesday: </b>chicken fajitas (after family outing to buy a christmas tree - woohoo - kids are very excited!)<br />
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<b>Wednesday: </b>polenta with chopped tomatoes and mozzarella (kids rejected this last time but it's been a while so i'll try them on it again - may end up doing boiled eggs for them!)<br />
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<b>Thursday:</b> good ol fashioned meat (pork spare rib steaks - in the freezer from when our budget stretched to Riverford Organic boxes), potatoes and veg.<br />
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<b>Friday: </b>salmon, spinach, tomatoes & cream cheese on pasta (salmon and veg. for kids - they're not so keen on things mixed together in sauces!)<br />
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<b>Saturday:</b> bean casserole (house will smell nice in the morning!)<br />
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<b>Sunday: </b> vegetable soup or leftovers or jacket potatoes with baked beans and salad<br />
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<b>Lunches: </b>soups (with homemade bread - my new fad), pizza, lentils, salad, quinoa, saturday macaroni cheese, sunday roast(?)<br />
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Check out other people's meal plans over at <a href="http://athomewithmrsm.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/meal-planning-monday-3rd-december-2012.html" target="_blank">At Home with Miss M</a> for inspiration. It's quite handy when you're running low on ideas.</div>
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beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-44108129600988993072012-11-29T13:15:00.001-08:002012-11-29T13:23:15.095-08:00so very thankful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
i am thankful for family, my kids, my health, in particular my sisters health and her miraculous healing from stage 3 cancer. we spent thanksgiving together and talked of the fact that exactly a year ago we were together and she was showing us her painful and bloated tummy. the doctors kept sending her away with antibiotics or diet-tips. six months later she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. 6 months on and she today had Scan results showing everything to be looking good and healthy. she has in the meantime recovered from major surgery and trauma and married a wonderful man. i am so so thankful to God for healing and restoring my wonderful and precious little sis who i adore. my sisters are my kindred spirits - i'm feeling thankful today for them. and all of us love a good PIE! as we are half american we gathered for thanksgiving and i was in charge of pumpkin and pecan pie. yum! i had a slightly stressful pie-making session with little Miss M (too many things on the go at once) but had to relax and embrace the kitchen getting completely covered in dirty dishes and flour!!</div>
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<b>for the pastry </b></div>
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<b>(for 1 pie - double this recipe for 2 pies - you will have plenty left-over too)</b></div>
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1. crumble together with fingers - 450g flour and 250g butter - until well combined</div>
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2. stir in 150g sugar</div>
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3. crack in 3 eggs and stir until well combined</div>
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4. push the mix together in to a ball using your hands - but try to touch it as little as possible</div>
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5. wrap the ball of pastry in cling film and put in the fridge for half an hour.</div>
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6. using lots of flour on your surface and rolling pin, roll out the pastry to 1cm thick and line a buttered pie dish</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TS15B2Q5VpQ/ULKGTfBaB_I/AAAAAAAABzM/RhOf_LwIhhc/s1600/IMG_3317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TS15B2Q5VpQ/ULKGTfBaB_I/AAAAAAAABzM/RhOf_LwIhhc/s320/IMG_3317.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
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these pies are basically a saucepan of gooey melted sweetness poured in to a pie crust.</div>
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i made the two pies at the same time so had both the fillings bubbling away.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PHI6OgvC0MQ/ULKGLAGV9GI/AAAAAAAABy8/Few6kQBpGF8/s1600/IMG_3309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PHI6OgvC0MQ/ULKGLAGV9GI/AAAAAAAABy8/Few6kQBpGF8/s320/IMG_3309.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
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<b>pumpkin pie</b></div>
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1. cut a pumpkin in to quarters and scrape out the insides. baste with olive oil and roast at 180C for 40mins. remove from oven and allow to cool before cutting the skin off the flesh and blending the flesh in to a pulp.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XreOM27GQgE/ULKGPvPYk6I/AAAAAAAABzE/tWS47UnTBpI/s1600/IMG_3311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XreOM27GQgE/ULKGPvPYk6I/AAAAAAAABzE/tWS47UnTBpI/s320/IMG_3311.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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2. keep the oven heated to 180C</div>
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3. whisk 2 eggs and set aside</div>
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4. in a saucepan, gently melt and whisk together: 50g dark brown sugar, 150ml double cream, 1/2tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg, 1/2tsp ground allspice, 1/4 tsp ground ginger</div>
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5. add the eggs and whisk</div>
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6. add the blended pumpkin and whisk until well combined</div>
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7. pour the mix in to the pastry case and bake for 40mins</div>
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8. once the pie has cooled put it in the fridge</div>
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9. serve chilled with a big dollop of whipped cream</div>
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<b>pecan pie</b></div>
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1. in a strong saucepan, melt 125g unsalted butter, 125g golden syrup, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 215g brown sugar. once all melted and gooey, set aside to cool for 10 mins.</div>
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2. meanwhile beat 3 eggs and fill the pie crust with 300g pecan halves</div>
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3. stir the eggs in to the melted butter mix and pour the mix over the pecans</div>
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4. bake for 45 mins</div>
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5. serve at room temperature, do not try to reheat.</div>
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while the pies were in the oven, i put little Miss M to work cleaning up the devastation in the kitchen</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lLKlOO0IYI8/ULKGVtEcm2I/AAAAAAAABzU/BKsRrlsc1Zg/s1600/IMG_3322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lLKlOO0IYI8/ULKGVtEcm2I/AAAAAAAABzU/BKsRrlsc1Zg/s320/IMG_3322.JPG" width="295" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-31xt5QAqCL4/ULKGYNf844I/AAAAAAAABzk/0UFzJ5Xi55Y/s1600/IMG_3325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-31xt5QAqCL4/ULKGYNf844I/AAAAAAAABzk/0UFzJ5Xi55Y/s320/IMG_3325.JPG" width="302" /></a></div>
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and here they are. pecan pie is unbelievably sweet and delicious. how could you go wrong with butter, brown sugar and golden syrup? pumpkin pie is not so sweet and a bit slimey. i do enjoy it in small quantities and dolloped with whipped cream.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BmpqUtoXym0/ULKGgCTr8iI/AAAAAAAABz0/K16f3FxamWo/s1600/IMG_3329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BmpqUtoXym0/ULKGgCTr8iI/AAAAAAAABz0/K16f3FxamWo/s320/IMG_3329.JPG" width="319" /></a></div>
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hubby carving up at our thanksgiving feast made by my talented brother. the big dish is a Nigella Lawson stuffing made with cornbread - yum!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fbeaSdSV-j0/ULKGhoPxVvI/AAAAAAAABz8/l6VGyTKwksc/s1600/IMG_3342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fbeaSdSV-j0/ULKGhoPxVvI/AAAAAAAABz8/l6VGyTKwksc/s320/IMG_3342.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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after pigging out, we rolled out the pies for breakfast the next day and ate pumpkin pie with all the leftovers for lunch. it went very well with turkey, veg and cranberry sauce. </div>
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beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-82817795353590832552012-11-28T05:23:00.002-08:002012-11-28T05:23:44.274-08:00eyes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
so this week i'm joining in The Gallery and posting two photos with the theme of <b>Eyes</b>. </div>
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Children's faces look so strange when all you can see is their eyes. there is something mysterious and unsettling about masks and face coverings - probably because we can't see the full expression. and yet they hold so many feelings deep in those little eyes.... if you look in hard enough. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-At837BLuNQc/ULYOk_X6SnI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/qGYX47IpTwo/s1600/loorollmartha.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-At837BLuNQc/ULYOk_X6SnI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/qGYX47IpTwo/s320/loorollmartha.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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these masks were in some recent party bags and have given us hours of fun</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-26eBlHubp1A/ULYN_OJZRkI/AAAAAAAAB1A/ZAvRF-txQ_Q/s1600/IMG_2819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-26eBlHubp1A/ULYN_OJZRkI/AAAAAAAAB1A/ZAvRF-txQ_Q/s320/IMG_2819.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Check out other <a href="http://stickyfingers1.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/the-photo-gallery-books.html" target="_blank">Gallery</a> entries here:</div>
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<a href="http://stickyfingers1.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Gallery"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img height="160" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_YvvceOEVsWU/S6fY0nf07UE/AAAAAAAABD0/SbguGrqPapE/s160-c/Badges.jpg" style="margin: 1px 0px 0px 4px;" width="160" /></span></a></div>
beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-51113391277530089642012-11-21T12:05:00.003-08:002012-11-23T05:03:50.639-08:00grumpy mum<div style="text-align: center;">
tonight i felt like the grumpiest mum. i'm tired - a killer for me. when i'm really tired i have a short fuse and cant cope with mess or chaos or crying or whining or being ignored. i need lots of sleep to be good, relaxed, patient, gentle, fun, creative, smiley mum. and i feel terrible on the days when i'm trying but i snap. i'm tired for a good reason. Sam and i went to the cinema last night to see "Rust and Bone." it is a beautiful french film and typically french - slow, disturbing, impending tragedy through the whole film, phenomenal acting and great characters. it is raunchy and violent, tender and gentle. </div>
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despite my bad exhausted mood and grumpy-mummy-guilt, here are three things i feel pleased about at the end of today:</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: center;">i went out with my lovely husband last night and saw a great film which has inspired and stimulated my mind all day</li>
<li style="text-align: center;">we made 12 meters of christmas wrapping paper today - we did star potato stamps with stamping ink. the kids were like factory workers stamping away madly while i rolled the paper along the table. they really enjoyed it. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o0CNN2KL37w/UK0zYbWMx-I/AAAAAAAABxo/OREM-7v9_Dg/s1600/IMG_3100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o0CNN2KL37w/UK0zYbWMx-I/AAAAAAAABxo/OREM-7v9_Dg/s320/IMG_3100.JPG" width="320" /></a></li>
<li style="text-align: center;">i made some delicious soup this evening. i almost bought Covent Garden Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato soup and instead bought the ingredients to make some myself. here's how:<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J810ADyNJe0/UK0zaMzTjtI/AAAAAAAABxw/s9Y3QFkx1xM/s1600/IMG_3117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J810ADyNJe0/UK0zaMzTjtI/AAAAAAAABxw/s9Y3QFkx1xM/s320/IMG_3117.JPG" width="320" /></a></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1. cut a medium-sized Butternut Squash in to four long quarters. Scrape out most of the seedy bit. Place on a baking tray and drizzle with oil. place 2 small whole sweet potatoes on the tray and bake the lot for 40 minutes.</div>
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2. meanwhile, in a saucepan, chop and saute a large onion and 3 cloves of garlic (slightly chopped/squashed) until the onion is transparent</div>
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3. cut the cooked squash in to chunks and add to the onions. squeeze the sweet potato out of it's skins in to the onions.</div>
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4. saute for a few minutes and then add 1/2 L of stock and simmer on low heat</div>
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5. add 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1/4 tsp ground pepper, 1/4 tsp mild curry powder, 1/4 tsp nutmeg</div>
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6. simmer for 10 minutes</div>
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7. add approx 8 fresh basil leaves and blend in to a smooth soup </div>
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beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-51537745074224502042012-11-18T01:00:00.000-08:002012-11-18T11:58:56.256-08:00silent sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IQnuQidAmzk/UHxz3mrqCeI/AAAAAAAABVg/EnUpRRnHsQM/s1600/IMG_7974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IQnuQidAmzk/UHxz3mrqCeI/AAAAAAAABVg/EnUpRRnHsQM/s320/IMG_7974.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-33791881826296314882012-11-16T12:00:00.003-08:002012-11-16T12:00:45.812-08:00in our family...<div style="text-align: center;">
so the other night i got sick of the kids arguing over everything... especially over who goes FIRST! </div>
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so i got paper and pen and we started with 'In our family... '</div>
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together we wrote a list. Little Z got so in to this.. he LOVED it!</div>
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here is the list we came up with. let me know if you have any you think we should add.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>In Our Family we..</b></div>
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are gentle</div>
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are kind</div>
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let other people go first (Little M responded to this one with "No ME!")</div>
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share with each other</div>
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love cake (Little M's contribution)</div>
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play with toys gently</div>
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say kind things to each other</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
take deep breaths when we feel cross</div>
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don't grab, hit, shove, push, scratch, bite</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
say sorry</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
do cuddles</div>
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play with each other nicely and don't do things that are rough</div>
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say encouraging things, nice things</div>
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talk kindly</div>
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say please and thank you</div>
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do good things, don't do bad things</div>
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listen to each other</div>
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read books together</div>
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pray together</div>
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do things that are really good and dont make people sad</div>
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go on trips together</div>
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compliment each other (you look lovely in that. you're really good at that)</div>
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do what Mummy & Daddy say</div>
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use nice voices (no screaming)</div>
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say what we are feeling</div>
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are allowed to make mistakes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we forgive</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1vGCSdUFzas/UKPexi0Ac_I/AAAAAAAABwk/FxxQZRhnk30/s1600/kidswrestling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1vGCSdUFzas/UKPexi0Ac_I/AAAAAAAABwk/FxxQZRhnk30/s320/kidswrestling.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we definitely dont microwave our soft toys</div>
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beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-41424567435454903582012-11-13T13:43:00.001-08:002012-11-14T03:30:17.401-08:00dorset days<div style="text-align: center;">
we had a gorgeous half term in a beautiful little village in Dorset. it was the first holiday in four years where i have properly switched off from the kids and read. i read a whole book in four days. it was so satisfying. granted it was a parenting book so not as escapist as i'd like. but it was an incredibly inspiring and helpful book ('screamfree parenting - how to raise your kids by keeping your cool'). it made me want to read more. and made me realise the joys of holidaying with other people with children - the kids just disappeared off with their cousins for hours.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fKlt4UBYN2A/UKKsw5OvVWI/AAAAAAAABtw/X6U01Spvikw/s1600/404587_10152266019660217_1217600659_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fKlt4UBYN2A/UKKsw5OvVWI/AAAAAAAABtw/X6U01Spvikw/s320/404587_10152266019660217_1217600659_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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we had lovely days out to the beach - being near the ocean is so good for the soul and the kids could spend hours digging, exploring and throwing rocks in to the sea -<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6gLbSFhb4Mw/UKKsx_XJFDI/AAAAAAAABt0/6UcIUrvYxvQ/s1600/406857_10152265727915217_1265249905_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6gLbSFhb4Mw/UKKsx_XJFDI/AAAAAAAABt0/6UcIUrvYxvQ/s320/406857_10152265727915217_1265249905_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br />
and the woods - climbing, walking, chasing each others shadows and trying to find the patches of sunlight between the trees to stay warm.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cNY21z4Ts7g/UKKs0Wm9t-I/AAAAAAAABuA/8NI3oaJlWHk/s1600/522420_10152261462970217_1602479510_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cNY21z4Ts7g/UKKs0Wm9t-I/AAAAAAAABuA/8NI3oaJlWHk/s320/522420_10152261462970217_1602479510_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
my sister in law sent us home with cooking apples from their orchard. they have been staring at me all week. orchard's and home-grown fruit carry a beautiful, magical weight to them that makes them so special and wholesome and feeling the need to do something delicious with them so great. i managed to make a simple apple turnover (with store bought puff pastry) for friends but there are still lots of apples sitting there - about to rot... ahhh. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oY7HeTwWKUs/UKKtRgQ8p5I/AAAAAAAABug/obgi5j6CDsE/s1600/IMG_2897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oY7HeTwWKUs/UKKtRgQ8p5I/AAAAAAAABug/obgi5j6CDsE/s320/IMG_2897.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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so tonight i had a crumble and pie making party... no i was alone... a fest. the crumble we'll eat with friends this weekend and the pie i'll freeze for christmas.... how organised is that?? yes!! these are useful things to have up your sleeve - pastry and crumble - good old fashioned dessert staples. i've kept it simple but you can experiment with adding berries, squeezed oranges, dried fruit, pears, apricots, chopped nuts.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QACf4MzOrcA/UKKuNIYe3pI/AAAAAAAABvo/205wL1et0WM/s1600/IMG_2917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QACf4MzOrcA/UKKuNIYe3pI/AAAAAAAABvo/205wL1et0WM/s320/IMG_2917.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>apple pie:</b></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
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crumble together with fingers - 450g flour and 250g butter - until it all well combined</div>
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stir in 150g sugar</div>
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crack in 3 eggs and stir until well combined</div>
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push the mix together in to a ball using your hands - but try to touch it as little as possible</div>
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wrap the ball of pastry in cling film and put in the fridge for half an hour.</div>
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<br /></div>
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roll out the pastry - using lots of flour and line the buttered dish<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NGyu_sWuGqg/UKKuGAhkZpI/AAAAAAAABvg/cSl2bU0756c/s1600/IMG_2916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NGyu_sWuGqg/UKKuGAhkZpI/AAAAAAAABvg/cSl2bU0756c/s320/IMG_2916.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
peel and slice 4-5 cooking apples and mix the slices with 2 tbspn caster sugar and 1 tsp cinnimon</div>
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pour the apples in to the pastry case</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8keG8hYN2M/UKKtapjIlXI/AAAAAAAABuw/Rc_Dz_L0EAw/s1600/IMG_2899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8keG8hYN2M/UKKtapjIlXI/AAAAAAAABuw/Rc_Dz_L0EAw/s320/IMG_2899.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
roll out enough pastry to cover the top and seal the sides together</div>
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cut some lines in the top of the pastry to let steam escape</div>
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brush the top with egg white and sprinkle a little caster sugar on top.</div>
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bake 180C for 45mins.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C4KcfacsDBw/UKKthRPMJtI/AAAAAAAABu4/QdT80Ebam2A/s1600/IMG_2900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C4KcfacsDBw/UKKthRPMJtI/AAAAAAAABu4/QdT80Ebam2A/s320/IMG_2900.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>basic apple crumble:</b></div>
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crumble together with your fingers:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
100g flour, 75g butter and 75g sugar and 50g rolled oats</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
chop 2 large cooking apples and put the slices in a round baking dish</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sprinkle the apple with 2 tsp caster sugar and 1/4 of a lemon</div>
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bake at 180C for 40mins</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zWvc1rZv1eo/UKKtU2-_eoI/AAAAAAAABuo/eUEvYM0zlTU/s1600/IMG_2898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zWvc1rZv1eo/UKKtU2-_eoI/AAAAAAAABuo/eUEvYM0zlTU/s320/IMG_2898.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>alternative awesome crumble</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
i used this topping on a pear and apricot crumble. my friend said it was the best crumble she had ever tasted.<br />
so there we go...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
crumble together with your fingers: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
100g flour, 100g brown muscovado sugar, 60g ground almonds, 125g butter and 50g oats</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FAeKOgsaskI/UKKs9dWujoI/AAAAAAAABuI/4nkz5pzWNJE/s1600/IMG_1537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FAeKOgsaskI/UKKs9dWujoI/AAAAAAAABuI/4nkz5pzWNJE/s320/IMG_1537.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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pour the crumble topping over the fruit and bake at 180C for 40 minutes</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yO1xfJg0Wco/UKKtGAvLqxI/AAAAAAAABuQ/-tpa3HgoDE8/s1600/IMG_1674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yO1xfJg0Wco/UKKtGAvLqxI/AAAAAAAABuQ/-tpa3HgoDE8/s320/IMG_1674.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dyBDmGd94hk/UKKt9QUxG-I/AAAAAAAABvQ/CMdbyPlbeE0/s1600/IMG_2914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dyBDmGd94hk/UKKt9QUxG-I/AAAAAAAABvQ/CMdbyPlbeE0/s320/IMG_2914.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>leftover pastry? </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
keep it wrapped in cling film in the fridge and whenever you or the kids fancy a few cookies:<br />
roll out the pastry, cut out shapes, sprinkle with caster sugar </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
bake at 180C for 20mins or until starting to turn golden.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YJ_Q-xnboWU/UKKt1ER7RpI/AAAAAAAABvI/h87sV_Bx6rY/s1600/IMG_2909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YJ_Q-xnboWU/UKKt1ER7RpI/AAAAAAAABvI/h87sV_Bx6rY/s320/IMG_2909.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-10027064072730192012-11-07T13:12:00.001-08:002012-11-08T14:03:03.627-08:00celebrating obama & almonds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
so so thrilled to wake up this morning to find out that Obama had won the US election. so awesome.. for America.. for the World.. and what a huge relief. </div>
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here's a celebratory cupcake! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--2sjm5K9a7k/UJrJYZ5ZesI/AAAAAAAABsg/Gdp8V09YHCk/s1600/IMG_2865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--2sjm5K9a7k/UJrJYZ5ZesI/AAAAAAAABsg/Gdp8V09YHCk/s320/IMG_2865.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n_0SJNpax9c/UJrJVR5hx7I/AAAAAAAABsY/RNYlF5Kf7xE/s1600/IMG_2864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n_0SJNpax9c/UJrJVR5hx7I/AAAAAAAABsY/RNYlF5Kf7xE/s320/IMG_2864.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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these cupcakes are flour and sugar free. i have recently discovered ground almond as a replacement for flour. i am quite addicted to almonds (my current snack of choice) and anything almond related. i prefer a mix of flour and ground almond but i wanted to try completely flour-free which is higher maintenance. they are also sugar-free and therefore guilt-free! happy days in the free world!</div>
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almond cakes</div>
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1. preheat oven to 200C</div>
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2. beat 4 large egg yolks and 1 cup of honey</div>
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3. whisk the 4 egg whites until stiff peaks form and then gently fold them into the egg yolk mix</div>
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4. fold in 225g ground almonds and 1 tsp baking powder</div>
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5. spoon the mix in to cupcake cases and bake for 15mins</div>
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6. mix a tub of cream cheese with 2 tbsp honey (or to taste) and ice the cakes</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AqFic8jDhO8/UJrJSxmDtfI/AAAAAAAABsQ/e5zvnhgKd4A/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AqFic8jDhO8/UJrJSxmDtfI/AAAAAAAABsQ/e5zvnhgKd4A/s320/IMG_2830.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-35588946269413442142012-11-06T23:10:00.000-08:002012-11-06T23:22:24.212-08:00autumn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so here are some shots to celebrate beautiful autumn. autumn makes me feel so happy inside... so warm and glowing. the colours and crisp cool air warmed by the sun, the beautiful sun rises and moon glowing in the morning. i want to roll in leaves, collect leaves, sit in front of a fire, make orange-coloured soups, bake bread and eat pumpkin pie.</div>
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pumpkins and wellies</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vey_0lZuEVU/UJk5b-XN2JI/AAAAAAAABpw/RNHzJwWKs2A/s1600/IMG_2821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vey_0lZuEVU/UJk5b-XN2JI/AAAAAAAABpw/RNHzJwWKs2A/s320/IMG_2821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
rolling in autumn leaves - tights ended up smeared with dog poo - yuk!</div>
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autumn trees</div>
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autumn moon - showing itself every morning now</div>
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and the obvious one - a beautiful autumn leaf</div>
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These photos are linked in with The Gallery -<br />
head over there to see other people's autumnal photography </div>
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<a href="http://stickyfingers1.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Gallery"><img height="160" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_YvvceOEVsWU/S6fY0nf07UE/AAAAAAAABD0/SbguGrqPapE/s160-c/Badges.jpg" style="margin: 1px 0 0 4px;" width="160" /></a></div>
beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-69398340763096947642012-11-06T09:00:00.004-08:002012-11-06T10:36:32.524-08:00pumpkin seeds<div style="text-align: center;">
when im tired and cold i want to eat and eat and eat. i eat my way through the day - perhaps to give me energy or warmth - perhaps for comfort - perhaps because i feel unmotivated to get on with any tasks. salted roasted pumpkin seeds are SO addictive i couldn't stop eating them. if you do nothing with leftover pumpkins from halloween, at least cook up the seeds.</div>
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separate out the pumpkin seeds and rinse them in a sieve to get rid of as much pulp as possible. </div>
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pour a generous slosh of oil in to a roasting pan and put the clean seeds in the pan, sprinkle with plenty of salt and roast at 180C for 20 minutes or until nice and crispy. they can burn easily so keep an eye on them. </div>
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here is my boy's pumpkin... which apparently has a cross face because he was cross with his little sister's pumpkin who kept hitting him.. processing reality through their pumpkins.</div>
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my daughter LOVED playing with the slimy pulp - squishing and swirling it and moving it in and out of the hollow pumpkin... a bit like Eyore with his burst balloon and the empty honey jar.</div>
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beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-743359287809280732012-11-05T05:32:00.004-08:002012-11-05T05:33:59.665-08:00monday a doing day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
its only been half term - just a week out of our normal routine - and i feel like i'm now drowning in admin, low energy, dirty house, laundry, sorting, filing, grocery shopping, meal planning and baking that needs doing... and here i am blogging! what am i doing? does anyone else ever feel guilty for blogging? that it's a waste of time and other things are suffering as a result. i do want to record my thoughts and memories of little stories about the kids. i also definitely need to record my recipes for myself... so i can find and replicate them. so i will continue for now and try to squeeze it in when i can.... or squeeze the other stuff in around IT?! </div>
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here we are having an admin hour... or two... or was it only 20minutes it lasted? we all got something done.. me a meal plan and online grocery shop, Little Mr Z an entire dozen egg box painted and little Miss M 30 sheets of paper covered in paint.... very productive i'd say. </div>
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beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-91397130412448474342012-10-28T13:44:00.002-07:002012-10-28T13:44:13.958-07:00silent sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5358698324090187377.post-3058917104459867862012-10-26T03:28:00.000-07:002012-11-08T12:03:40.205-08:00halloween treats<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Miss M and I made a batch of <a href="http://playdohandpoo.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/basic-cupcakes.html" target="_blank">basic cupcakes</a> - with 100g block of melted chocolate added in. i think she ate about three cupcakes worth of batter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we then went to the corner shop and got some stringy sweets and mini marshmallows. when Little Mr Z got home from school we made halloween spiders by sticking the sweets in to the sides of the cupcakes for legs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">covering them in melted chocolate [this avoided the problem of finding or making black icing. the kids are young enough not to mind too much if the spiders were brown instead of black]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and sticking the marshmallows on for eyes. i have to admit these were maybe a little too much chocolate and sugar - Mr Z was wired for hours, popping out of bed and dancing around the living room until 9:30pm(he normally passes out at 8pm).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">while the kids were eating and covering themselves in chocolate, i melted marshmallows in a saucepan and used the goo to make ghost shapes on some of the cupcakes... these were very sticky!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i then ran out of halloween steam so finished off the last few cupcakes with a big dollop of melted chocolate and a marshmallow</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">after eating the chocolatey sugary spider cupcake, Z said he felt <i>really</i> sick. 15 minutes later he was hovering around me begging for more chocolate and marshmallows. i said "no i think you've had enough and remember you felt really sick?" He replied "but God has healed me so i don't feel sick any more!" i wanted to give him more for his canny answer.</span><br />
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now on to pumpkin carving...</span></div>
beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837253280776125584noreply@blogger.com5