Roald Dahl's Completely Revolting Recipies

Francisco received this great book for his birthday. He likes to read it over breakfast and decide which recipes he would most like to make. So far the Green Pea Soup has been a hit and so have the Mud Burgers. Today we made Butter Gum Balls.

They are sticky, tasty, and have no nutritional value. In hindsight, after our trip to the dentist we probably should have made something else, they are jaw breaking and could pull out the most secure of fillings.

They do taste really good though!

Thank you parcels

So, not long left now until our baby joins us. We have slowly been getting ready and I think now we are almost there. 

I put together some thank you packages as we have been so grateful for all the things our generous friends and family have given us. They contained a card, some biscuits, and of course some soap

Thank you everyone x

Tea & Biscuits

I made a batch of biscuits from this recipe that I found on pinterest and filled an old kilner jar full of them. They are so so delicious and perfect with a lovely cup of tea.

I find the American cup measurement system quite tricky so with a little on-line help I converted the recipe into grams. Here is the recipe in grams, for all of you who struggle a little like me.

Swiss Cinnamon Crisp Biscuits
Ingredients: 
For the biscuit dough 
225g Softened butter
88g Brown packed sugar
168g Granulated sugar
1 Egg
1 tsp Vanilla essence
Zest of 1 lemon approx 1 tbsp
450g Plain white flour
1 tsp Kosher salt ( I used Cornish sea salt)
1 tbsp Cinnamon

For the top
1 Egg
2 tbsp milk
50g Sugar
1 tbsp Cinnamon

Beat the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add in the egg, vanilla and zest and beat to combine.  Add the flour, salt and cinnamon and mix until incorporated. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour.  Roll the dough out on a well-floured surface to about 1/4" thick. Cut out shapes with biscuit cutters or cut in to squares. Place the biscuits on a baking tray.  Beat the egg and milk together with a fork or whisk. Mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Use a pastry brush to coat the biscuits in the egg mixture, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top.  Bake at 350 F for 10 to 12 minutes.

We have had 3 whole days of sunshine in a row which has been a very rare occurrence of late so we sat in the garden soaked up some warmth and enjoyed our tea and biscuits. Lovely.

Shades of green & white

With a dot of red thrown in. It's the first lady bird I have seen this year and such a beauty so many spots. My son was trying to count them but it kept moving before he could finish. Just sat still long enough for this picture.

 

 

The hedgerows and fields are now awash with the delicate lace like cow parsley flowers. It is just so lovely I had to get my camera out and get a few snaps

 

 
And when I got back home I thought I would have a go at a bit of sketching and sewing. It is such a long time since I have done any drawing I am a little rusty, and the same goes for my stitching but the more I practise the better I will get. I am quite pleased with my efforts.

I am not quite sure what I will do with the stitching yet. Maybe I'll put it on the front of a nappy basket or maybe the laundry bag I have been promising myself I will make for ages. Totally fed up with picking up dirty washing off the floor.

Little Bird

This little bird was a project that I started over a year ago, put aside and had never finished, until now. I am really pleased with him. The pattern is based on one from this book but with quite a few modifications. Although the pictures don't show it he is tiny. I have also individually cut out and handstitched every feather which as you can imagine was really time consuming but worthwhile as I love the finished look.

Apart from this I have been collecting cashmere jumpers from the charity shop, I am planning on making a super soft baby blanket. There is something about having a baby which seems to bring out the maker in me and after several months of not really creating anything I am suddenly full of new ideas and inspirations.