Ladybird fever!
By Unknown 7:00 pm Crafty stuff . . .
I have developed an obsession with all things ladybird, and when I spotted these buttons and felt stick-ons in Hobbycraft I couldn't resist . . .
This weekend we ventured over to the Isle of Wight, visiting Cowes and the Garlic Festival, and having a well earned break from the hustle and bustle of Bournemouth life. We stayed in the beautiful village of St Helen's where Jason's grandparents live. The weather was better than we ever could of wished for (with both of us ending up a little sun burnt in places).
We timed our visit perfectly as it was Cowes Sailing week, so we got to visit all of our favourite shops and more (which are usually closed out of season), as well as some of the local produce . . .
On Saturday we visited the Garlic Festival, which we've been wanting to go to for a while, we stocked up on all the garlic produce we could carry, including these lovely flowers, a by product of the huge Elephant Garlic being sold at the festival . . .
For our final day on the island we went to what we thought would be a deserted beach, as every time that we have previously walked on it there's not been a soul around. However, on this particular day it seems that everyone and their boat decided to turn up, so it was a little crowded, but the views where stunning none the less . . .
In the evening we made our way back to Yarmouth where we were to catch the car ferry back to Lymington, and the sun set across the solent was beautiful to say the least . . .
We're already planning our trip to the island next year! Fingers crossed the weather will be just as good, and hopefully we'll be able to go for a bit longer.
You Might Also Like
Following our weekend venture to the Garlic Festival on the Isle of Wight, I decided to make use of the garlic cheddar that we invested in and made a very tasty quiche, could of done with a tad longer in the oven but tasty none the less!
What you'll need -
1-2tbsps Cold Water
40g Margarine
80g Plain flour
Pinch of salt
300g Creme Fraiche
3 Free Range Eggs
100g Cheddar
Ham, chopped (however much you like)
Pepper
8" loose bottomed flan tin
How it's done -
1. Start by making the short crust pastry mixing the margarine and plain flour into a breadcrumb consistency. Add the salt.
2. Add in the cold water one tablespoon at a time, combining the mixture using a fork. Mix together until a firm dough is formed.
3. Lightly dust a work surface and rolling pin with plain flour, and roll out the pastry until around 0.5cm thick.
4. Carefully place in the flan tin, making sure that the pastry lies flat on the bottom of the tin and then flattening up the fluted edges.
5. Leave to rest for 15 minutes, then prick the base with a fork. Cover the base with greaseproof paper and cover with baking beans.
6. Blind bake in the oven at 190ºC for 20 minutes, then remove the greaseproof paper and baking beans and cook for a further 15 minutes.
7. Whilst the pastry case is cooking in the oven start making the filling, mixing the creme fraiche, eggs, pepper together in a bowl and then adding 75g of the cheese and the chopped up ham.
8. Once the case is light brown in colour remove from the oven and add in the filling, sprinkling the remaining 25g of cheese on the top of the liquid filling.
9. Place in the oven for a further 20 minutes or until the filling only has a slight wobble in the centre.
10. Leave to cool completely or until warm.
Enjoy x
You Might Also Like
Furniture renovation . . .
By Unknown 8:45 pm Crafty stuff . . .
We bought this side table in a recent shopping trip to Reloved in Wareham, we weren't to keen on the colour that it had been painted. Instead we chose this matt duck egg blue colour which compliments the brass colour of the handle . . .
. . . I then lined the drawer with some robot paper that one of Jason's presents was wrapped up in for his birthday, as he is going to be the primary user of the table.
You Might Also Like
Glass jar lanterns . . .
By Unknown 8:37 pm Crafty stuff . . .
We had some spare jam and chutney jars lying around the flat, so I decided to make use of them and make some tea light lanterns to hang outside now that Summer seems to have arrived. I used some wire that I had going spare and some East of India ribbon tied in a bow around the rim . . .
You Might Also Like
I've been wanting to make these cupcakes
for an age but have always been scared of the fact they'll probably look
absolutely rubbish, but as it's Jason's birthday tomorrow I thought I'd give it
a go . . . and low and behold they actually turned out okay. The recipe I used
for the cupcake base was a little out in terms of quantity that it was supposed
to make (12 supposedly but turned out to be more like 6!) I dyed some coconut
blue to represent the fur and used large white chocolate buttons and chocolate
chips for the eyes. Hopefully they'll go down well at the BBQ tomorrow . . .
I also had some blueberries going spare so decided to make one of my favourites . . . blueberry scones, as well as some cherry and coconut ones . . . very tasty!
You Might Also Like
Update . . .
By Unknown 11:08 pm Kitchen experimentations . . .
It has been a crazy past month and a half, what with my new job, hectic weekends visiting family and general explorations out and around the UK. I've been busy blogging away for teenbook, as well as continuing to make my cushion and cards. This weekend i have arranged a surprise BBQ for Jason's bday (which is actually on the 7th), despite the forecast rain I'm ploughing on none the less with my plans, and have a lot of baking/cooking plans ahead of me to feed the 15 or so people attending or little soiree, but that's a blog post for tomorrow.
This evening I have been busy making the sour cream blueberry loaf out of the Humming Bird Bakery, Cake Days recipe book. Both Jason's parent and grandparents are paying us a flying visit tomorrow and I've been wanting to try this recipe out for some time, plus I had some sour cream sitting in the fridge that needed using up.
Due to the recent get fit plan (failing miserably so far!) I've promised myself that I AM going to send them home with the whole cake, although a trip to the Boscombe vintage market might end that mission . . .
