My cookery school for children

Having thought about it long and hard, I have decided to open a cookery school for children in my home.

Starting my own business, and working from home was frankly much more appealing than going to work for someone on their terms and having to pay for childcare.

I will be teaching 6-16 year old's, and aim for the classes to be creative, fun and informative.

I will also venture into teaching adults in the future.

I'm almost ready to start, and can't wait!

My new venture is called Jenny's kitchen and all info is here:  http://www.jennyskitchen.info

Wish me luck please!!

❅ Sledges and Snowmen ☃

Sadie has waited, waited and waited for the snow so she could go out on her sledge for the first time, can you imagine how exciting the prospect must be when you are 5?

Well it finally came on Friday the 18th, after many poor predictions...

She had a ball Saturday and Sunday!

                                                                   Off she goes!!

I think this is the first year she has not wanted to come in after 5 minutes because she was cold, she kind of just got on with it and braved it~ although the 6 pairs of gloves changed regularly probably helped!

On Monday Sadie and Henry's schools were shut. Hooray! I heard from both.

They built little snowmen, Sadie refused any help, and built in the cold for 90 minutes to try and get something that  resembled a snowman, I kept shouting "MAKE IT ROUNDER"!! "Then it's head will stay on! "

She got there in the end.... Sadie's almost 'french' looking snowman.

                                                     Henry's... That carrot looks like a beak!

The look on her face because she did it all by herself was priceless, she is like this in ALL things, if she has any help then it doesn't count, and she would rather scrap it and start again, Woe betide anyone that puts even 1 puzzle piece in for her!! I guess  her tenacity will be a good trait when she's older.

Well the  snowmen's carrot's and eyes have fallen out  and their heads are almost falling off... The thaw is here, and I'm thinking of Spring  and new beginnings...and all the good things it brings.:)

Blue stripe blanket

I made this a couple of months ago for a baby boy due any time soon, blanket was given  to mum for her baby shower last week.

I loved working on this, as its more continuous then making squares, so some speed can be had!

                                                               First fiddly foundation row...

Getting  going.....

Work  in progress.....

The finished blanket, I love these stripes, they make me feel summery, think of deck chairs, and the beach!

Hope baby boy enjoys being wrapped in cosy!

Crochet heart

Thanks so much to Lucy over at Attic 24 for the pattern for this, as soon as I saw it I couldn't wait to make one!

Here is my first attempt, not bad although a little puckered here and there, but I was very pleased with it.

I made it for a friend, and plan on making more, in lots of lovely colour combos, this does make such a lovely handmade gift.

The cute little wooden message is from Ebay and can be found here, there are a selection of messages.

Blankie for Isabella

Made for my neighbour's little girls 1st birthday.

42 squares of delicious Cath kidston-esque colours.

Scrummy!!

☃ The lead up to Christmas ✰

How has December flown by so quickly? This month has been very busy indeed!


Early snowfall for my 40th birthday birthday...Spent with my nearest and dearest.

A visit to Santa's grotto...

A completed blanket for me and hubby, very welcome in this cold snap!

Celebrating with dear friends ♥

A kitchen dining table and chairs makeover from dull wood to vintage duck egg blue~I'm  SO pleased with the  result, should have done it  sooner!

Before...

After!  Ta Dah!!

Cute Christmas pud cake pops for little boys party bags, not bad for first attempt at these!

Daughter made this at school, he NEEDED a hat and scarf!

Working on this scarf for Sadie.

All  presents bought (mainly online) ~ thank the lord for Internet~ I hate trudging round shops. Big food shop ordered, all pressies wrapped, house blitzed (which will need doing again) in between keeping the family happy with constant supply of mince pies and sticky buns...

1 week to go.... Sadie is very excited, we will be making our biscuits to hang on the tree at the end of the week, I LOVE this so much! I'm making the most of little ones excitement, so precious when they believe in Father Christmas, it just won't be the same when she grows up....

I am quite happy listening to my Kings choir carols CD, and enjoying a nice glass of wine or port, and a viewing of A Christmas carol and some Capra, at some point. Can't wait to see the Snowman and Snowdog. Raymond Brigg's animations are Christmas itself :)

Plans are afoot for a new venture for me in 2013.

 I for one after cooking all the dinner for family will not be relegated to the stool or pouffe at the dinner table!!  Humbug to to all the sexist ads on the box at present!

Hope you are all surviving the mad rush....

Merry Christmas, Love and peace to all. xx

Cinnamon buns

The minute I saw these, I could almost smell them and wanted to make them!

Thanks to Cherrymenlove for posting this recipe.


You will need:

A largish rectangular tray 1inch deep.

For  the dough:
250ml warm water
2 x sachets of dried yeast
1 tsp caster sugar
150g caster sugar
250ml warm milk
150g butter
2 tsp salt
900g plain flour
2 large eggs beaten

The filling:
75g melted  butter
225g dark muscavado sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon
100g dried fruit/or nuts  (optional)


The drizzle icing:
200g Icing sugar
1heaped tsp cinnamon
1 heaped tsp ground nutmeg

Add the yeast and tsp caster sugar to the warm water,stir and set aside, it should grow a bit! In a large bowl, add milk, melted butter, sugar, salt and eggs.Stir, then add the yeast mixture, then stir in the flour.

Knead well for 10 mins by hand, or use the dough hook in a mixer if you have one, this should take 5 mins.

Place the dough into a large bowl and cover, leave in a warm place for 90 mins or so until dough has doubled in size.

Prepare the filling 10 mins before dough is ready.

Turn out the dough onto the worktop, use a little flour to stop it sticking.

Roll out the dough into roughly large rectangle shape, slather with the melted butter, then sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar and fruit.

Start at top edge and roll down into a sausage shape, and cut into 12 rolls. Place into a buttered tray,  face up.

Leave to prove a bit more for 15-30 mins, cover with a tea towel, I left mine on cooker top.

Pre heat oven to 180.

When they have grown, pop into the oven for 25 mins, and wait for the smell to waft through the house.....Tis amazing!

When they are golden brown, turn out onto a wired rack, and leave to cool. This is almost impossible as you will be picking bits off to taste test!

In a bowl mix the sifted icing sugar and nutmeg and cinnamon, add a little water at a time, you want a thickish drizzle consistency.

Drizzle the buns, I had a helper for this bit!

 The buns are HUGE and need to be halved. Finally dust with some icing sugar, plate up,make some nice coffee, tear apart and enjoy!   

                                                          Happy Christmas!! xx

                  

                                                                   

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