My Beautiful Blog

I've had a busy day getting lots of jobs done, and spent the afternoon cooking and baking with Christmas songs blaring in the background.  It was so much fun!:)

I made:-

ROAST MUSTARD PARSNIPS

INGREDIENTS

• parsnips (I used 12)
• 2-3 tbsps plain flour
• 2 tsps mustard powder
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• olive oil

Place some olive oil in a roasting tin and heat it in a hot oven.  Peel the parsnips and cut them into quarters.  Place them in a pan of boiling water for 5 minutes to allow them to soften.  In a large bowl, mix the flour, mustard and pepper together.  When the parsnips have softened slightly, drain, and put them in with the flour mixture.  Toss to ensure they are all covered, then place them in the roasting tin and cook for around 25-30 minutes, or until they are cooked through on the inside and crunchy on the outside.

MINCEMEAT SWIRLS

INGREDIENTS

• 1 sheet of ready rolled puff pastry
• 200g mincemeat
• 3tsp maple syrup
• 1tsp ground cinnamon
• handful of pecan nuts,chopped

Mix the mincemeat with the nuts, cinnamon and maple syrup.  Place the sheet of pastry with one of the longest edges facing you.  Spread half of the mixture over it, then fold the two shorter edges over to meet in the middle.  Spread the remaining mincemeat over the folded pastry and repeat the folding, bringing the outside ends over again to join in the centre.

Place the pastry log onto a baking tray and chill in the freezer for 10 minutes.  Remove when ready, and cut the pastry into 1cm slices and arrange, spaced apart, on the baking tray.  Cook in a medium oven for 15 minutes or until well risen and brown.  Cool on a wire rack and dust with icing sugar before serving.

CHRISTMAS PUDDING MUFFINS

INGREDIENTS

• 225g plain flour
• 1tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 175g leftover Christmas pudding, crumbled
• 150g caster sugar
• 150ml sunflower oil
• 2 eggs
• 5tbsps milk

For the icing

• 200g cream cheese
• 50g icing sugar
• zest of 1 orange

Heat your oven to a medium setting.  Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda into a bowland add the Christmas pudding and sugar.  Stir, then make a well in the centre.  Whisk together the oil, eggs and milk and pour into the dry mixture.  Stir until just combined.

Spoon the mixture into 24 cake cases (normal cup cake cases, not the large muffin kind), and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until they are springy to the touch and golden.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool.  Meanwhile, mix the icing sugar and cream cheese together and add in a little of the orange zest.  Place some on each muffin when they've cooled and top with the remaining zest. 

 I also made my roast potatoes for Christmas, now stored away in the freezer.  I just have the bread sauce and sausage rolls to make now and I'm all done!  Like, wow, I can't believe how organised I am, lol!

I've also done well in my FOLKSY shop this week.  I sold another 3 Christmas Planners and had orders for 2 custom cards.

One for a wedding, where the colour theme is 'Cadbury' purple.  

 

and the other for a 70th birthday.  The mum's favourite colour is pink, so no problems there finding items from my stash, lol!

I was relieved both customers loved their cards!  This one's had another round of stickles on the letters, but I had to photograph while it was still light, dark at 3.30 - whatever next!!

Now I'm going to put my feet up with one of those muffins and a cup of tea.  Enjoy your evening!x

Another set of cards made:)  I'm waiting until I've got a few more sets done before adding them to my shop, but I'm on a roll at the moment so it hopefully wont be too long.

Mark starts a new job next Monday, and he finished his current one on Tuesday, so we had a couple of days together to finish off Christmas bits and just spend a bit of time chilling out.  Wednesday, we went for a stroll around Windsor.  I love just walking and taking photos, so here are some from the day.

The gulls were out in full force. 

And they came flying in from all directions when someone threw bread into the water!

 

Even the pigeons came (what a poser!)

and the ducks.

 
I always love photographing the swans.  These ones looked so sweet with their heads all tucked up.

And you can't really go to Windsor without taking a photo of the castle, even though I have a hundred others that all look the same, lol!  The Queen was home!

We had a quick look in the shops, and found this jar of old fashioned favourites in one:-

Do you recognise any of your childhood favourites?

The highlight of my week as a child was nipping to the local Spar with my 10p and buying Fruit Salads and Black Jacks!  And those bags of Gold Nugget bubble gum, well, I'd completely forgotten about those until I opened this jar!  I confess, not much of it tasted as nice as I remembered (apart from the walnut whip!), as I think my tastebuds might have matured a little since then:)

Well, off to enjoy the rest of my Friday now.  I'm going to make toad in the hole for dinner, then watch Kirsties Homemade Christmas on catch up tv!

Have a great weekend!xx  

Time to blog at last!  So much for a post everyday hey, I should stop promising that, lol!

Anyway, here are my latest batch of cards.  I've actually become quite fond of white space lately, I think it looks really nice on cards, but a bit boring if the paper or card is plain, so I've been jazzing it up with lots of Cuttlebug Embossing Folders, bought recently from Artbase.  I never realised how addictive these were to use, I LOVE 'EM!

I finished up the last of my Christmas shopping yesterday, and now just have to write out and send my cards, which I plan to do this afternoon.  I even wrapped all the presents up yesterday, something I don't particularly enjoy, so I usually leave it to the last minute.  I'm glad I didn't though, as I discovered we have a leak at the top of my built in wardrobe cupboard where the wrapping paper rolls were stored.  The wrapping paper was fine, some gift bags were spoilt, but also one of my scrapbook albums:(  Luckily it was just the outside of the album and the page protectors had kept the actual layouts safe, but, if it had been left over winter the whole lot would have ended up being ruined!  All my albums have now been removed from there (all 20 of them!), and I'm going to buy some plastic storage boxes to put them in so they can go in the loft.  Need to get a builder out now to check the leaky roof:(

How are your Christmas plans coming along?  I made my pigs in blankets today.  Well, I say made loosely, as all I've done is wrap a cocktail sausage with a piece of streaky bacon and add a rosemary sprig to it, but Christmas dinner wouldn't be the same without them!  I'm flash freezing these, then I'll put them into freezer bags for Christmas and Boxing Day.  Another food item off the list:)  Next, I'll be making the parsnips and roast potatoes.

PIGS IN BLANKETS

Rebecca is really excited about Christmas this year.  Strange really, as they both know they just have clothes for gifts.  We decided this year they would get what they needed rather than the things they wanted (and then discarded a month or two later!).  This is my favourite item of clothing we bought for Rebecca:-

It really is her to a T and I know she'll love it! 

Just a quick photo of the tree all lit up before I go:-

Have a lovely Tuesday!xx 

I really wanted to blog yesterday and make it a post everyday in December, but unfortunately, my cold got the best of me and I fell asleep on the sofa in the afternoon - sitting up, would you believe!  I must have been ill:(  I'm, feeling much better today though, and actually had a whole nights sleep without coughing once.

So, first, I want to share this new soup recipe with you.  It's what I had for my dinner yesterday and it made me feel a lot better!

SPICED CARROT SOUP

INGREDIENTS

• 2tsp ground cumin
• pinch dried chilli flakes
• 600g carrots, peeled and grated
• 140g red lentils
• 1 litre vegetable stock
• 125ml milk

Add all of the ingredients to a pan and allow to simmer for 20 minutes, or until the lentils have swollen and softened.  Transfer to a blender and whizz until smooth.  Spoon into bowls and serve.

How simple is that, and healthy too!

Now, I know I've been a bit lax on the book updating front, but I've just updated my Goodreads with the four latest, this being one of my favourites.

Love Is a Four Letter Word by Claire Calman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars A real page turner, I prised my eyes open one night to finish it off as I couldn't wait to find out what would happen! Bella, the main character of the book is so likeable, and you find yourself really caring about what happens to her. There's a little twist in it part way through when you find out what really happened in Bella's past, brilliantly built in, as I certainly didn't see it coming! I guarantee you'll want to read this book in one sitting when you start, so make some time, lol! View all my reviews >>

I can't believe I've read 36 books this year (so far,still a couple of weeks to go!).  Actually, it will be more than that, because I've read the Twilight series, Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes a dozen times in between all the new reads.  Sometimes it's just comforting to re-read something, as you don't have to concentrate too hard.  A bit like watching repeats of your favourite tv programme!

Craft wise, I have a couple of cards to share:-

I'm hoping to get a lot made next week as I've been busy cutting up my patterned paper, even those beautiful sheets that I've been coveting for years!  I decided to be brave and just go for it, lol!  There are now little piles of shapes and such lying all over my desk just waiting for me to be creative:)

I'll leave you with a photo of one of my tree decorations as it makes me smile!

Have a great Friday all!xx

I'm super excited for Christmas now, as Mark ordered me a new lens for my camera yesterday!  It's the next length on from the one I have, and means I should be able to take better photos from further away.  It may not be here in time for Christmas, but as long as I know it's coming.....

Today, I got in the Christmas spirit and made my red cabbage.  This is a delicious version, and it hands down beats any of that vinegary stuff you buy in jars in the shops!  In fact, I detested red cabbage until I made my own!

CRANBERRY AND RED CABBAGE

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large onion, roughly chopped
• 700g red cabbage, thinly sliced
• 300g fresh or frozen cranberries
• 125g light brown sugar
• 3tbsp red wine vinegar
• 3 star anise
• 2 oranges, zest and juice

Place all of the ingredients in a large pan, together with 50ml of water.  Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover the pan with a lid for around half an hour, stirring occasionally.  After half an hour, remove the lid and continue to simmer until all the liquid has evaporated.  Remove the star anise, and either serve immediately, or, allow to cool and place in freezer bags for use later.

I separated mine into two bags, one for Christmas Day and the other for Boxing Day. There's always so much food on offer I think you only need a little of everything.

The ingredients look gorgeous when you're weighing and chopping them, you can't get more Christmassy than a cranberry!

Oh, and one of me staining my hands pink with the red cabbage!

Now I'm going to nurse my sore throat with a cup of tea and a strepsil.  Back tomorrow!xx 

Happy 1st December!  Wow, it doesn't really seem possible that it will be Christmas soon, I can use the C word safely now, lol!

We put our tree up yesterday, well, Rebecca and I did, it's not really a man thing to do is it?  I'd forgotten quite how ginormous it was!

It's 7ft 6" and nearly 50 inches in diameter!  The poor fairy is touching the ceiling, lol!  I love it though and always get really excited once it's up. I've been rough with a cold and sore throat the last few days, so never managed to venture out to get hooks for the window lights, but hopefully I'll get those in the next few days, then it will really feel festive:)

I thought I'd have a go at taking some new photos of myself, as, I'm ashamed to say, I've hardly taken any  of the children or Mark and I this past couple of months.  That will change though, as I'm vowing to take one every day during this month.  

So, here's me:-

They're not as sharply in focus as I'd like, but not bad for self timed, tripod shots.  Thought I might use the bottom one as my new avatar as the one on here is so out of date! 

Oh and a couple of other photos that I just wanted to share.  The first I took at the weekend after all that rain we had.  If only I'd have had my short lens on you would have seen that this was the perfect rainbow, a complete arc of all the glorious colours.  I haven't seen one like it for years!

But I had my long lens on, so you only get a bit of it:(

And...look what was at the back of my garden on Sunday:-

Parakeets!!  Now, we have heaps of different birds visiting due to living next to the nature reserve, but I've never seen parakeets here before.  They're very pretty to look at, but I hope they don't oust our local birds.

Before I go, I'll leave you with a card I made for a new baby boy.  I don't actually know anyone who's having a baby, so I'll be sticking it in my shop.

Have a fabulous day!xx  

CRAFT SALE!  Yes, these are the stamp sets that I am selling off.  Some have been lightly used, but most are still untouched.  The inkpads are brand new, still in their plastic wrappers.  If you are interested in any of the items, please send me an email at psealey@blueyonder.co.uk with details of  what you'd like, and I'll let you know a complete price including postage.  Payment by Paypal only please, but wait for my email!

INKPADS by COLOUR

• Brocade Blue
• Apricot Appeal
• Not Quite Navy
• Taken with Teal SOLD
• Chocolate Chip SOLD
• More Mustard
• Lovely Lilac
• Really Rust
• Bravo Burgundy
• Pale Plum
• Almost Amethyst
• Elegant Eggplant
• Always Artichoke
• Rose Red
• Handsome Hunter
• Yoyo Yellow ALL INKPADS £3.00 EACH

SU STAMP SETS

• Cheer and Wishes (pg 62) £10.00
• Bloomin with Beauty (pg 45)   £18.00
• Love you Much (pg 26)   £17.00
• A Good Egg (pg 25)   £15.00
• Garden Whimsy (pg 42)     £18.00
• In the Stars (set in FRENCH not English!) pg 55  £17.00
• Tags for All (pg 19)    £25.00
• A Rose is a Rose (pg 44)   £28.00
• Live your Dream (pg 37)     £22.00
• Old Fashioned Christmas (pg 21)    £20.00
• Fun and Fast Notes (Pg 34)   £25.00
• Seeing Spots (pg 59)     £ 9.00
• Whimsical Wings (pg 12)   £10.95
• A Flower for all Seasons (pg 46)     £  8.00
• Wonderful Words (pg 65)   £13.00

TOOLS

• Stamp a ma Jig (pg 90)     £ 8.00

I'll update the list as and when any of the items are sold.

Happy Friday!xx

A Christmas card today!  I used up a really old Basic Grey rub on for the main sentiment, American Crafts papers and lots of lovely Making Memories pieces.

I'm loving using up some older stuff from my stash as it justifies me adding new things, lol!  I just managed to snap a photo of this before the light faded, and it's only 3.40!  Winter is here:(

Oh, and is there anyone in the UK who reads that might be interested in purchasing some Stampin' Up! sets from me at a little discount?  I think I went a little bit mad ordering everything under the sun and have now realised I'll never use some of them!  Let me know if you might be interested, I didn't want to list them all here if no one was:)

Have a great afternoon!xx

Ooh, I didn't mean not to blog for days, time just ran away from me!

I've been busy crafting and have lots to share, so you should see something from me everyday from now on.

I made this card for Rebecca's birthday, which isn't until January.  It feels great to be ahead!

I've also done all my Christmas shopping!  Can you believe that, I mean, it's still November, lol!  Our first trip out was a complete disaster.  I don't think anyone was really in the mood for it, and it only took a few words from someone (who'll remain nameless!), to start us all off bickering.  We only ended up being in the shopping centre for 20 minutes and bought zilch before coming back home and not speaking to each other!! 

We'd all made up by the next day though and decided to try again. Much more successful!  We started by having brunch in a restaurant (because a full up belly is essential before shopping!), and then went into all the fab shops at Westfield.  I do love that place, even though I end up over spending! 

So, just Christmas food left to plan now, which I'll start sorting out at the weekend, which is also when the tree will go up.  I can't wait!!

Well, need to go and finish clearing up. Have a great evening!xx 

I had a bit of a spree in Hobbycraft at the weekend (I know, I know, I'm not supposed to be spending!), and picked up this adorable set of fairy stamps.  They're so pretty, and I haven't stopped stamping them onto everything since I got them.

Here are two of the cards I made:-

 
 
 
 I had fun colouring them in with ink and have got better at shading parts (I think!).  I also had fun stickling everything, I really love that stuff!

My craft area looks like an absolute pigsty at the moment as I decided to sort out all my buttons and chipboard.  Looking at the amount I have you could definitely tell they're two of my fetishes, lol!  I really think it's time to stop stroking everything and get them used up!

No more news here, so I'm off.  Have a great day all!xx

EDITED TO ADD: The top card is for the CUTE CARD THURSDAY challenge, to make a card for teens.