Sunday Baking :: for the school cake sale

We've been out for the day today so I haven't actually done any real baking, however, the kids did have time to decorate some bought (I know, I know, I'm such a terrible mother) cupcakes ready for their cake sale at school tomorrow:

Is there such as thing as too much icing, buttons and sprinkles? I guess not ....

Have you done any baking today?

I'll be back tomorrow with Meet Me On Monday - hope you can join in too.

Have fun. xx

Sunday Baking :: Little Owl Cake

Mr A & I helped Princess celebrate her 5th birthday yesterday by organising an arts & crafts party for her and her friends. As the theme was "Forest Friends" it gave me a perfect excuse to turn my Little Owl design into a cake: 

 

It turned out really well I think (even if I do say so myself, lol) and it tasted yummy too! 

Have you done any baking today?

Hope you can pop back tomorrow and join in with Meet Me On Monday.

Have fun. xx

 

Sunday Baking :: Oat and Apricot Cookies

This Sunday I made some Oat & Apricot Cookies.

I used the Hummingbird Bakery recipe for oat & raisin cookies and just swapped the raisins for apricots and left out the cinnamon. We ate them slightly warm with a nice cup of Earl Grey tea. Yum.

Did you do any baking today?

Have fun. xx  

Sunday Baking :: Pizza Pinwheels

Whilst Mr A and Superhero went to play golf this morning, Princess & I did some Sunday Baking and made these totally yummy Pizza Pinwheels for lunch:

They are easy-peasy to make (perfect for Princess as she is only 4), cook in next to no time and are delicious.

Here's how we made them:
:: we used a sheet of pre-rolled puff pastry, which we covered with a generous dollop of tomato puree and seasoned with some black pepper and oregano
:: we then sprinkled over some strips of ham and quite a lot of grated cheese
:: we rolled the whole lot up length-ways and cut into 12 pieces and baked in the oven at 200oC for around 15 mins
:: we ate them warm with salad leaves - scrummy

Did you do any baking today?

Have fun. xx

Autumn Colour & What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday

I've felt like I've had a black cloud following me around for the last week for one reason or another, so I have spent Monday and Tuesday of this week trying to be good to myself:

I've spent some time reading

I've spent some time writing

I've spent some time baking (and of course eating) some very yummy chocolate brownies

and after that I started to feel the cloud lift and the Autumn colour shine through and I was ready to start making again.  This included:

an Autumn Leaves Brooch (above)

and this little Apple Brooch

So today - now that I have my creative head back on - I'm going to make a start on some of my handmade Christmas pressies.  On the agenda for this morning are a couple of crayon rolls and 4 bags using some (recently purchased) denim (oh yeah, I spent some time doing some retail therapy too) and some pretty and funky tea-towels.  

What's on your work-desk this morning? In need of inspiration? Take a peek at the list of talented peeps organised by Stamping Ground. Be warned though, visiting all those wonderful blogs is terribly addictive!

Have fun. xx

Meet Me On Monday - 10

Morning!

How are you?  How was your weekend?

I've been feeling a bit like Perkin Flump stuck under that cloud for the few days and this coupled with the fact that our crafting group had to be cancelled at the last minute on Saturday has meant (I am sorry to say) that there has been a real lack of creativity happening around these parts of late.

However, I am determined to relocate my mojo and have started by baking myself a batch of chocolate brownies this morning (they are baking in the oven as I type) coz I don't know about you but for me life always seems a little sweeter after consuming vast amount of cake!

This week I am also:
Purchasing:  This green glass dressing table box. I've had my eye on it for the last 3 months and this week the dealer finally gave into my offer. I'm rather pleased with myself.

Cooking: comfort food. Loaded Macaroni Cheese. I am now the size of a small house, but feel slightly less sorry for myself. 
Wearing: My knee high boots. Read an article in the fashion pages of the weekend glossy that they are very on trend this season - get me! 
Watching: The kids perform in their Harvest Assembly - I'm one proud mama. 
Reading: Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson. I'm reading it for book club and have only just started, but it is really good - have you read it? 
Visiting: A Most Marvellous Place to Shop tomorrow with mum as recommended by the lovely Quirky Boots. I'll let you know if I come back with any goodies. 
Loving: This wonderful necklace, given to me by my Grandmother (she was having a de-clutter). Not sure how old it is but it looks a bit Art Deco to me. Need a LBD and somewhere fancy to go now, so that I can show it off.

Eating: Cake, cake and more cake. 
Drinking: Tea, tea and more tea.
Writing: Lists. I know that this isn't actually the same as doing, but I'm hoping that it will give me some focus for when I finally manage to coax myself into some sort of action!
Remembering: To look at the sky every now and again, coz there is always a different perspective.

Gosh, I'm feeling better already.

So, what about you - what is influencing you this week, where are you taking inspiration from?  Add yourself to the link below and I'll be sure to pop by to say hi.

Have fun. xx

Sunday Baking - Strawberry Shortcakes

My little Superhero's favourite thing to eat at the moment is strawberries, so when Betty over at Tales From Betty Bee Towers posted a delicious sounding Strawberry Shortcake recipe earlier in the week, I knew I had found my Sunday Baking project.

Superhero was tasked with getting all the the equipment ready whilst I gathered all the ingredients.  I was so pleased with myself that I had actually remembered to put the butter in the freezer in preparation that I had then completely forgotten to buy some cream, which of course, I only discovered after we had started mixing flour and sugar, etc.  So we had to improvise and use a strawberry yoghurt instead - which I have to report worked really well! 

Superhero enjoyed grating the butter, which he said looked fancy, and wanted gingerbread men shaped shortcakes rather than round ones (and why not?) which we covered with generous amounts of strawberry jam and cream - totally yummy.  Betty recommended serving with a cup of Earl Grey tea, which definitely gets the thumbs up from me.

 Look good, don't they?  Did you do any baking today?  xx

Sunday Baking - Chocolate Muffins

Whilst Mr A and Princess had a little snooze on the sofa this afternoon, my little Superhero & I decided to do some baking.  After some consideration, Superhero decided he would like to make some Chocolate Brownies and who am I to argue?

We use the Humingbird Bakery recipe, purely because officially (well in my world anyway) they are the best brownies you will ever taste!

 

The trouble is, one just isn't enough.

Did you do any baking today? xx

Sunday Baking - Country Loaf

 
This is a recipe that I have been making for years and it is absolutely delicious.  My mum used to make it for me and my brother and sister for tea on a Sunday and now I make it for my family.  I'm not sure where the original recipe came from (so don't know who to credit) and I guess it has changed a bit over the years, but this is how I make it today:

8oz self raising flour
2oz butter
1 egg
1 grated carrot
1 small onion
4oz cheese
1 teaspoon of mustard
a splash of milk

Mix all the ingredients together and pop in a greased loaf tin.  Cook at 180oC  for around 35 mins.

Serve warm with a generous spread of butter.  Totally yummy.

Enjoy x