Wednesday 30 April 2014

My Mam's drop scones

Hello Dear Reader,
We went for tea at my Mam's last night. She produced a plate of my favourite - drop scones. My mother makes these when any of us are ill or in need of cheering up or if she hasn't seen us for a while. The kids love them and can be gone in minutes especially warm with a knob of butter.
If you ask her for the recipe she admits it changes every time she makes them...

 Drop Scones:

8 oz self raising flour
1 oz caster sugar
1 tbsp golden syrup
2 oz butter
2 eggs
1/4 tsp baking powder
milk to mix.

Method:

1. All in a mixing bowl and mix until dropping consistency. Grease a bake stone - drop 1 heaped dessert spoon of mixture, bake until bubble rise to the surface and flip.


Em x

Tuesday 29 April 2014

Shopping in best mates wardrobes..!

Hello Dear Reader,
Last year I went through an enlightening process where on February the 22nd I gave up buying clothes for a year to help fund my extension. I managed 11 months. I got rid of lots of clothes I had stored in the attic for sizes I wish I could fit into, summer and winter ones packed and forgotten about. I stream lined my wardrobe, creating a uniform of mainly black and white for work.
During the process if I really needed a different top / dress I borrowed from friends wardrobe - only wearing it once, but it was something different. So my friends are used to me shopping at theirs and they at mine. Makes much more frugal sense... Have a read at the below article

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2014/04/22/more-on-how-to-stop-buying-clothes-you-never-wear-2/

Happy Shopping!
Em x

Sunday 27 April 2014

Last Supper - Haystacks!

Hello Dear Reader,

Friends dropped in last night which turned into a last supper before we return to school and work after Easter holidays. My cupboards were quite bare, which lead to an impromptu meal, an adopted ' Haystack' recipe from http://www.grouprecipes.com/18560/mexican-haystacks.html

Skill level: Easy                        Serves: 6                        Takes: 15 minutes          

Ingredients:

500g lean mince beef
1 onion finely chopped
1 sachet of salsa (nacho kit)
1 large packet of nachos (nacho kit)
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 iceberg lettuce shredded
1 packet of grated mozzarella

Method:

1. In a frying pan fry onion and mince beef.
2. Stir in salsa and add spices
3. Simmer for 20 minutes
4. Plate up nachos on plate with lettuce.
5. Add beef mixture and top with cheese and serve.





Em x

Saving Mam: Saturday night, Bluestone, Hot tub - beach party.....

Saving Mam: Saturday night, Bluestone, Hot tub - beach party.....: Hello Dear Reader, I've been away to Kilgetty in Tenby for a couple of days. We really enjoyed our break. Highly recommend Blue stone&#...

Saturday night, Bluestone, Hot tub - beach party...!

Hello Dear Reader,
I've been away to Kilgetty in Tenby for a couple of days. We really enjoyed our break. Highly recommend Blue stone's blue lagoon after dark party. We all loved it!
After Dark's Beach party -themed event every night during the Eater, Whitsun and Summer holidays, bringing together music, light effects and just plain all out water fun with wave machine, water geysers and water cannon.
It was a great night with plenty of music, effects and water fun. The night started with giant beach ball inflatables, holiday music with bubbles, coloured cannon spray and a lazy river. As the night went on the music got louder, waves bigger and even more cannon spray. 



Very tired kids...!




http://www.bluestonewales.com/activities/blue-lagoon-waterpark

Partied!
Em x

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Saving Mam: Me - Time - recharge the batteries!

Saving Mam: Me - Time - recharge the batteries!: A purely relaxing afternoon spent with a Reiki treatment from my friend in exchange for Reiki treatment. Happy Days! We then lay down and co...

Me - Time - recharge the batteries!

A purely relaxing afternoon spent with a Reiki treatment from my friend in exchange for Reiki treatment. Happy Days! We then lay down and completed the mediation below.  'Saving Mam' mentally as its hard being a single parent and the need to take time out to chill is vital on your happiness and your kids happiness.

Try this meditation we did yesterday on you tube..
http://youtu.be/NMldMnEfxX8

Later I went to my friend in Newport for an aromatherapy message as a gift for a Reiki treatment I had done earlier this month. It was lush!

Pampered
Em x

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Saving Mam: Teen Birthday & Chocolate Fudge Cake

Saving Mam: Teen Birthday & Chocolate Fudge Cake: A very proud day, my son turned thirteen. After asking what type of cake he wanted,  the reply was chocolate Mam of course! Here is my ...

Teen Birthday & Chocolate Fudge Cake

A very proud day, my son turned thirteen. After asking what type of cake he wanted, the reply was chocolate Mam of course!


Here is my Chocolate Fudge Cake Recipe taken from a well used book on my bookshelf. A very easy to follow instructions for bread, cakes, pastries and biscuits.


Frame by Frame Cookery:


Chocolate Fudge Cake:- 


(serves 8)

Ingredients:

175 g unsalted butter softened, plus extra for greasing
175 g golden caster sugar
3 eggs beaten
3 tbsp golden syrup
40 g ground almonds
175 g self raising flour
40 g cocoa powder

Icing:
225g plain chocolate (or easter egg)
55g dark muscovado sugar
225g unsalted butter
5 tbsp evaporated milk
1/2 tsp vanilla essence

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 180C / 350F / Gas mark 4. Grease two 20cm / 8 inch sandwich tins.
2. For icing, place the ingredients in a heavy based saucepan. Heat gently, strring cionstantly, until melted.
3. Pour into bowl and leave cool. Cover and chill for 1 hour or until spreadable.
4. For the cake place the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat together until light and fluffy. Gradually beat the eggs. Stir in the golden syrup and almonds.
5. Sift the flour, salt and cocoa powder into a seperate bowl, then fold into the mixture. Add a little water, if necessary, to make a dropping consistency.
6. Spoon the mixture into the preparared tins and bake for 30-35 minutes, until skewer is clean.
7. Cool in tins for 5 minutes and turn out onto wire rack.
8. When cakes are cool sandwich together with half of the icing. Spread icing over the top and sides, swirling to give a frosting appearance.

We went bowling, and celebrated the day!

Happy!
Em x

Monday 21 April 2014

Bank holiday Monday - chilling

Dear reader,
Hoped you all enjoyed your Bank holiday, we had a lovely day. Made homemade bread and lemon slices. My lemon slices are the easiest thing in the world to make.

Lemon Slice

Ingredients:

  • Base:
  • 50 g granulated sugar
  • 45 g  butter softened
  • 125 g plain flour
  • Topping:
  • large eggs 
  • 95 g granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
  •  juice of a lemon
  • 25 g of plain flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

  • Method:
  • Preheat oven to 350° / gas mark 4 / 180 C
  • To prepare the base, beat  granulated sugar and the butter at medium speed of a mixer until creamy. Slowly add the  flour to sugar mixture, beating at low speed until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Gently press mixture into bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan. Bake at 350° / gas mark 4 / 180 C for 15 minutes; cool on a wire rack.
  1. To prepare topping, beat eggs at medium speed until foamy. Add rest of ingredients. Pour mixture over partially baked crust. Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until set. Cool on wire rack.  Cut into 16 squares and serve.
We went for a stroll to Penarth pier, which has recently been refurnished by the Vale of Glamorgan, had chips and threw pebbles in the sea!
Victorian Penarth Pier

Very chilled
Em x


Bank Holiday

Hi,
At least its not raining on another Bank holiday Monday. Just thinking about the week ahead's menu's? Any ideas - frugal of course..!


Menu for the week...

Monday -   Home made bread, chicken tikka, salad sandwiches and for dessert lemon slices

Tuesday -  Pizza
Wednesday - Jamie Oliver's rainbow salad, feta cheese and couscous
Thursday - Pasta bake
Friday -      Mince beef hay stack with tortilla chips, grated cheese...
Saturday: - Chicken korma & rice
Sunday -    Sausage and mash


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