PYO, Likes and Chicken Cake

Print Your Own

We are going on holiday soon, to much warmer climes, and I thought it might be time to check if shorts and tee-shirts still fit.  Smallest has loads of clothes (he's so lucky his big brother passes everything on to him - he thinks he's lucky now but give it a few years and he'll be moaning "I never get anything new - it's not fair!").  Anyway, poor Small keeps growing taller and taller and none of his tee-shirts fit.  So off to 'cheap shop' we go to buy him some.  They didn't have a good choice this year so we bought him some plain tee-shirts and thought we would print our own.  The white one came out very well - the others less so - but he was really happy with them all.

I know he doesn't look ecstatic but he is, HONEST!

This is Bowser, Bowser Jnr and the Bowser Mobile - that's what Small says anyway - and he should know.

What we Like

I made a present for Huffle this week.   It's a collection of words he likes presented in a frame. 

Oh and I made one for me too

Hey I just noticed Huffle and I share a 'like' (ROME) - well we did get engaged there - ahhhhhhhh x

CAKE

This was a cake made for some lunchtime visitors today. That's supposed to be a chicken on the top. Why? I don't know - I just felt like it.

 

Victoria Sponge (Lorraine Pascal's Baking Made Easy recipe)

My buttercream (just margarine and icing sugar with a dash of vanilla essence)

Strawberry Jam

and a very generous dusting of icing sugar.

How am I going to ever fit in a pair of shorts for my holiday?

Why I cookin' soooo good

The title of today's blog was taken from Genaro Contaldo from the Two Greedy Italians which was recently on BBC2.  He was making a meal for his friend Antonio Carluccio and held his arms in the air (Like a typical Italian) and shouted at the top of his voice "Why I cookin' sooo good?"  It make me chuckle.  I did actually record him saying it and hope to add it to this blog soon.

I decided to make their "Warm Chocolate and Amaretto Pudding".

It was absolutely delicious.

In fact we have just finished eating it.  Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Warm Chololate and Amaretto Pudding
18floz milk warmed
1 Tbsp (Heaped alot) plain flour
2 Tbsp Castor Sugar
1 Vanilla Pod
2.5 floz Amaretto
3.5oz dark chocolate chopped (we used milk choloate and then some extra grated 100%Cacao)
2oz unsalted butter
1oz amaretti biscuits (approx 6)

Mix the flour, sugar and vanilla with a small amount of milk until smooth.
Cook for 2-3 mins and whisk in the Amaretto until thickened. 
Stir in chocolate and butter. (Should be the consistancy of thick custard)
Leave to cool slightly and then spoon into glasses and sprinkle over amaretti biscuits.

I'm sure the full and proper recipe is on the website for Two Grumpy Italians but this was a hurriedly written down recipe and it worked beautifully.

They're Despicable

Now I promised I would make a Minion or two.  Here's two.  Adapted from a knitting pattern I found at http://blog.craftzine.com.  I had to adapt it as it didn't work out quite how it should.  However, Small and Smallest have already cuddled and loved them (now I have to make more as I promised my neice the first one - shhhh don't tell her)

This is just to show how big (or small) they are, becuase you can't often tell.  In case you don't know that is an egg in the photo!

I will at some point attempt to post a pattern for these.

woyww

On My Workdesk (Trusty Old Kitchen Table)

As usual there is the cardigan, still awaiting finishing, still awaiting sewing up.  However, I have moved on slightly from last week.  My Mum bought a button - hurrah.  I'm sure it will be finished soon.  Whether she will EVER wear it is another story!!!!

There is a Stanley pattern from The Felt Fairy (thefeltfairyuk.blogspot.com/) to cut out and sew (haven't decided which colours to use yet).

Also the Minion pattern waiting to be knitted.  Got a few of these to make now.  I haven't even tried to make one yet but already I've been asked  to do more.

I am in the process of teaching two people I know how to knit a chicken (with or without chick peas). I hope to show some pictures of what they have created soon.

Last weekend I tried to make Clare @ Jumbleberries (jumbleberries.blogspot.com/ )Country Loaf.  Ummmmmmm.  Yummy.  Not sure mine looks anything like hers but its a winner.

It is lovely served warmed with butter.  Its also lovely cold straight from the tin the next day.  I will certainly be making this one again. 

Thanks Jumbleberries ;0)





Snakey

Whilst perusing through some beautiful shops in Stamford last weekend, I spotted a hand knitted snake. Unfortunately the shop was closed (shame). I had a look for a knitting pattern to have a go but couldn't find a suitable one. I have only ever made up a pattern once before,  and that was for a very straightforward IPod cover, but I thought I would give it a go.

This is the result.

 

It only took a couple of evenings. 

I used buttons for the eyes, and crocheted a tongue but you could easily knit it. 

Smallest thinks he is lovely and he cuddles him and calls him "snakey".

ahh snakey I love you x

WOYWW

I have recently joined the "What's on your workdesk? Wednesday".  http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ 
The idea of this is to showcase what you are working on at the moment.  (I thought it might shame me into finishng my Mum's cardi).  I do not have a workdesk, just my trusty old kitchen table.  The spotty tablecloth that appears in most of my pictures.

So here is what I am working on this week.

Oh No!  the dreaded knitting.  It's nearly finished honestly.  Only the part sleeves to do now.  It even looks a bit like a cardigan now.  Hopefully next Wednesday will feature something completely different.

Also the wedding cake went down well.  The bride and groom were very happy.  (And I think we ate most of the birthday cakes - yummy)

 

Very artistic photography eh?

MIXED MARRIAGE

ISN'T SHE LOVELY..........
This week I got my dream mixer.  Ahhhhhh - she's a beauty.  For weeks (maybe months) I've been looking at colour charts, booklets, internet etc etc.  Which colour should I get?  A red one to match my tablecloth? (how decadent).  A black one to match the worktops? (too much blending), a brushed silver one? (too much polishing).  Instead I finally decided on classic cream.  Bearing in mind I don't sell enough cakes to buy a different colour each year, I felt the classic cream may last me a lifetime (that's what I told Huffle anyway).

MARRIAGE


I have been commissioned to make a fake wedding cake.  When I say fake, I mean that the cake is real and so was the wedding, but it has been and gone - unfortunately we weren't able to attend as it was in the America.  The happy couple have come home for a few weeks so a cake was required.  I modelled the couple on top of the cake on their wedding pictures.  Hope they are happy with the results.  (The groom kept getting fatter and fatter - which is nothing like real life eh Mr Pickle?).  He also kept falling over - was he drunk?

CONGRATULATIONS to Mr & Mrs Pickle.

It is also Mr Pickle's birthday so I made some cup cakes for him.  They have glitter on them (I think he'll like that touch!

Actually Mum piped these - she can't pipe she says - I think she can now.  She has now been given the official title of ASSISTANT CHEF.

Bunnies, Bananas and Brushstrokes

Bunnies

Another of my friends has had a baby - another girl - and I knitted a rabbit for her.  This one has pink fleece ears and feet.  This also has chick peas in its bottom but as they live in this country I thought I might get away with it this time.  This was a fairly easy one to knit but the fleece was hand sewn (which I never find an easy task).

 Welcome to the world Baby Snow. 

Bananas

I borrowed a cookery book from a friend last week and decided to make "Chocolate Banana Loaf".  This is a big favourite of mine because our bananas always go brown (I've realised that I'm the only one in the house eating bananas but yet I still buy for the whole family!).
I left out the nuts (I'm not a fan).  This is definately a cake and not a bread but it is baked in a loaf tin.  When it first comes out of the oven, it is moist, with a lovely crunchy top and the chocolate melts in your mouth.  When you let it cool and leave it in an airtight container it loses some of it's initial lovliness but it is still yummy.  Not too bananary (is that a word?) and not too sweet.  The book suggests that you eat it with cream cheese or chocolate spread.  I personally don't think you need anything on it. 

Brushstrokes

Small asked if I would paint him a canvas for his bedroom.  Small and Smallest both had canvasses for Easter - much more healthy than an Easter Egg - besides they had more than enough.
His bedroom is Spaceman themed and he wanted a Robot.  He is very happy with the results.

I have started another canvas for him but it is not finished yet.

FORTHCOMING PROJECTS

Oh No! I haven't picked up that cardigan that I was knitting!  Sorry Mum. 

Still haven't finished Elmo. (Still only knitted one leg).

Haven't even started the Minion (Whoops forgot).

Finish off Small's robot canvas number 2.

My excuse - The kids were off from school and there was a Royal Wedding to watch.

Royal Sailing

As promised I have created the boat cake needed for a party for this weekend. Plain sponge cake with a covering of butter icing in various shades (only pastel, as I always worry that too much colouring sends the kids doolally). I made sharks in the water circling the boat, an anchor with chain and a rubber ring. Hope the birthday boy is happy with it. I certainly had fun making it.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SMALLEST'S FRIEND. x

Smallest's school is having a coffee morning too this weekend and I offered to make a few cakes for them to sell. The coffee morning is to celebrate the forthcoming Royal Wedding, so I decided to make something patriotic. I planned the cakes in my head but in reality they turned out more like the French flag (if the French flag was pink, cream and pale blue that is!)

They taste good though.

You have to try them before you give them to other people don't you?

BUSY BUSY BUSY

This week I was inspired by the Jumbleberries Blog.  (http://jumbleberries.blogspot.com/). She had previously made a beautiful Tooth Fairy Pillow to put in teeth awaiting the tooth fairy's visit. 

As I have two boys I thought I would try and make them something which would be more "boyish".  For 'Small' (a budding Astronaut), I made a Rocket.  It is made from felt and all hand stitched.  It is slightly padded and has a small window for a tooth and a larger window for money (Small did ask if a £1 coin would fit !!).  I added an extra large ribbon and it fits just nicely on his bed post.  He hasn't got any wobbly teeth at the moment but at least its ready for when he does - I'm sure the tooth fairy finds it quite difficult trying to find such small teeth under a huge pillow with a weighty head on it.

For 'Smallest' I was going to make a Car tooth pillow, as we have just redecorated his bedroom and the theme is busy traffic.  However when he saw Small's Rocket he decided he wanted a Mickey Mouse.  Again it is made of felt and handstitched ( I think I may need to invest in a sewing machine).  I was quite pleased with how it came out but had forgotton what the initial reason for making it was, hence I forgot the pockets.  I left a small gap at the top of the nose which could easily fit a tooth in but nowhere for the money to be left so I will probably have to make another one sometime.  He hasn't got any wobbly teeth either and probably won't have any for at least a year.  At the moment it hangs quite nicely on his wardrobe door.

Thanks Jumbleberries Handmade for your inspiration.

While I was creating these I made a quick padded heart to hang in my kitchen - no pockets for teeth, as I quite fancy holding on to mine for a few more years and besides the totth fairy hasn't visited me for a long time.  I added a rose which I found on the Felt Fairy blog.

Also this week I made another chicken for my Australian friend's baby, this time without chick peas.  I couldn't find any plastic beans to fill it with so just used stuffing instead..  Hope this one doesn't get quarrantined!

FORTHCOMING PROJECTS

For the last two months I have been making a cardigan for my Mum.  It is a labour of love and I keep putting it off and putting it off but I have to get it finished.  At one point I had finished knitting both sides but one was considerably longer than the other.  I cast off and handed them to Mum to see if she would notice (I had to undo rows and rows and rows and almost start again - I could have cried - she did notice after all!)  I am so close to the end but am now using a circular needle (a what!) and just keep looking at it.  I have now got to pick it up and finish it before we are in the middle of Summer and she no longer needs it.  You never know it could be ready for Winter.  

I have also signed up to the Felt Fairy's monthly make.  For this month I will post my tooth pillows and you never know maybe I can use the cardigan for the May make.

I still have a knitted Minion to make for my neice (not even started) and an Elmo to make for Smallest (made one leg).

I also have a birthday cake to make for Saturday.  A boat is required.  Watch this space.

C is for Cookie

This weekend we are celebrating Smallest's birthday.  He requested a Cookie Monster birthday cake and of course I love a challenge.  Normally I would have planned this cake months in advance and my friends and family would be helping with the drawings, research etc.  However this year I decided to just "go for it". 

Smallest came into the kitchen during the icing stage and said "that looks rubbish" and then "wow that does look like the Cookie Monster" - Phew - I didn't have to throw it at him after all.

I took photos of the various stages just to show how it was made:-

Is it a frog?

or a mess?

perhaps its looking a little more monstery

aha!

We haven't cut it yet (seems a shame) or tasted it, although I did have a blue tongue while it was being made - can't think how?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SMALLEST  X X

Quarantined chick

When I was young my mum taught me to knit. My memories are of wonderful handmade things (that my mum finished for me of course), however, her memories are of dropped stitches, stretched knits and ravelled wool. How rude!

I have since picked up the needles again and found that I can knit (just basic stuff) and I can create lovely things. I like to share these things with my friends and my family and they are so kind and tell me they love them!

My friend who lives in Australia has just had a baby so I thought I would send her a hand knitted toy. To make the toy stand on it's own I fill the bottom with kidney beans or chick peas. This is fine until you need to wash them so I sent a note to say she mustn't wash it because of the chick peas. A week or so later I received a text from her saying thank you for the gift but it had been quarantined due to something about chick peas. I'm sure she thought sending a baby chick peas was very strange. I now need to buy some proper plastic beads to put in future projects.