Peanut butter cups

My daughter and I did some cooking today. We thought we would try Nigellas peanut butter cups as my hubby loves the Reese's ones. So we got out the Nigella Christmas book and started cooking. When I say cooking all that needed to be done was to melt the chocolate.

Peanut butter mix

Rolled and in cases

Chocolate being mixed Covered in chocolateHubby said that they taste very close to the Reese's ones :), My daughter took the photos I don't think she did a bad job.

Christmasness

We were busy making the house look festive at the weekend. We baked mince pies and listened to Christmas music. I can't believe we are only a few days away from the big event. Ive got all the pressies wrapped and sorted. I'm going to do Christmas crafts with the children I mind this week so they will have a little bag of things to take home on Friday.


This is our tree. Its hard to get a good photo. The children decorated it with things we have collected over the years and little bits and bobs they have made.

Gingerbread house

I'm at home today as my daughter is unwell and feeling sick. Ive put on some Christmas music and got cracking with my gingerbread house. Its really got me into the Christmas spirit.

I made the house using a kit i purchased at Costco, Ive used many kits but its is by far the best.

Walls going up

The sides

The backGingerbread people, and I've just noticed that i made them with crossed eyes!!Decided to stick them on the front of the house, what do you think?

Pumpkin Pie

This week in the veggie box we got a pumpkin. I would normally roast it with red onions and cumin, but we wanted to do something a little different. Pumpkin Pie! I used the recipe from the Hummingbird bakery cookbook.

This is the outcome.

The pie came out very well. It tasted more like an egg custard then pumpkin. I would make it again and my son had 2 helpings!!

Scone Saturday

My daughter made some really yummy scones at school on Friday. We had them with cream and jam for supper mm mm.

So this morning i got her to make me some cheese ones.
They only just made it out of the oven before we all pounced on them.

Busy week

Its been a busy week this week so ive not done much cooking or craft.

Im going to share some photos from our lovely summer. We had 3 mini breaks in the UK. First was to Gt. Yarmouth, 2nd to Bath and the 3rd to Yorkshire. My 11 year old daughter took these photos.

quick one

Quick one today as i have my parents over for Sunday lunch. We are also going to make the Christmas cake and pudding.



Yesterday i made 24 of these lovely cupcakes for a friend.

Operation Christmas Child

Every year we make up a box for a child.

DS decided this year that it would be for a boy aged 4-9 years.

This is the contents of the box.

Finished box

Details of how to makeup your own box can be found here http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/

Vodka

Hubby wanted to make Skittles Vodka this year, we made toffee vodka last year which was a big hit.

3 bags of Skittles added

After a hour the vodka turned a lovely shade of orange


I had a look this morning, most of the skittles have broken down.

Sunday

Sunday was a lovely relaxing day. Hubby took me out for lunch, i had pork which was so yummy.

I also made cupcakes as i wanted to have a play with the icing bag set i got on Saturday. I used Rachel Allens fairy cake recipe.

My babies before going into the oven

My babies cooling

I had a play with the icing set and this was the outcome.

They tasted so nice.

Childless Saturday

I am very lucky to have a mother in law who loves stealing my children for the weekend. This has been such a weekend.

Hubby and i went into Cambridge shopping and for a bite to eat.

I got this lovely retro piping bag from lakeland. (sorry for the quality of photo) Cupcakes here i come!

We tried a pub that was new to us. It was lovely inside and the food was ok. Have to say im a little out of touch with going out and £3.80 for a pint seem a little high so i stuck to lime and sodas.

When we got home hubby had a lovely surprise for me a bottle of Moet. Which has now all gone :-p

Baking fun

Ive been cooking up a storm in the kitchen today. The veggie box has been delivered today with lots of goodies, so ive made some vegtable soup for tea. Ive also made this yummy chocolate cake mmmmm.

Loving these

While surfing the internet last night i came across this site
And this very lovely cutlery set. Its going straight onto my christmas list.

I had a spare half hour today so i painted 4 of these hearts, i want to decorate or write something on them. Unsure what at the moment.

I also made heart baskets to hang on the christmas tree

How exciting

ive been looking on Cath Kidstons site and she has a christmas section with lots of lovely thingsLike these paperchains

And these tea cloths

My first post on the blog, how exciting. Ive been wanting to blog for a while now but have never found the time to set up.

My children are not very well at the moment, hubby is at work and im carless. So this seemed like a good time to start.