Mothers Day

Today is Mother's Day! A day in which people celebrate their Mothers. Why not?! I know that mine is such an important person in my life, she is my best friend, my councillor, my stylist, and my teacher. Without my mum I would not be where I am today!

So, today me and my man took our mums out to a new (to us) place in Birmingham. It is an amazing little place called The Lost and Found. The concept originated from an explorer and professor from the Victorian era called Hettie G. Watson. She travelled the world finding new and different variations of botanics. She kept these in her little hideaway which is why the Lost and Found is tucked away and inside is a magical botanical library. There are different areas to this place and because of this it doesn't feel like your all on top of each other, the atmosphere is great, the food was amazing and the mums felt like they were being treated to a lovely day!

Okay, as usual I got a bit snap happy. So here is some pictures of the food...

The Burger

The Cannelloni

The Roast Chicken

I suggest that if you are near Birmingham, you try here. You will need to book, but it is most certainly worth it! 

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Take Care

This song was played to me by someone I care for greatly. This has been a very tough year for me and this song makes me know that he cares for me. I insist that you play this to someone important to you too, so that they know. X

Bettys

After having a beautiful weekend away with some old friends, and my lovely mother in Harrogate, I am currently munching away on some Macaroons and Moroccan Mint Tea which I purchased from Bettys tea room in Harrogate. Bettys is a famous tea room, they originated in Harrogate but have three others in the Yorkshire area. The first one opened in 1919 by a Swiss man, he combined the mouth-watering confectionery with the warmth and hospitality of Great Britain. Even today it still has the same silver service, great tea and beautiful food. (Smoked salmon, scrambled egg and English muffins are yum!) I would say that if you ever visit Yorkshire, you must go, and if you go early you can avoid the queues.

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Button Biscuits

I should start my own baking company with the amount that I have made this past week. This time it's biscuits. But not just any biscuits, ones that are shaped like buttons!!
Of course yours don't have to be button shaped, they can be any shape. Just ignore some of the method instructions. But these are tasty and have a good crunch to them. Perfect for tea!

What you need:
* 226g unsalted butter at room temperature
* 227g caster sugar
* 2 eggs
* 2 tsp vanilla extract
* 427g flour
* 1/2 tsp salt

What you need to do:
(Now, a little side bar: This may sound complicated and annoying but stick with it)
1. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on high, mix the sugar and butter together until light and fluffy. Reduce the mixer to medium and add the eggs and vanilla. Then, when mixed, turn down to low and beat in flour and salt until a soft dough is formed.

2. Divide the mix into four equal pieces and pat each into a disk. Wrap each tightly with cling film and pop into the fridge overnight.

3. The next day, roll out each disk between 2 pieces of greaseproof paper to about 7mm thick. Transfer to a baking tray, still on the greaseproof paper and pop back into the fridge for another 30 minutes to an hour.

4. Unwrap two of the disks and using a round cutter around 8cm in diameter cut out as many biscuits as you can. (At this point I actually had enough biscuits and then froze the rest of the mix for future use.) Then using the blunt side of a slightly smaller cutter indent a circle on the cookies to make the border. Then using a straw, cocktail stick or knitting needle pop in the button holes.

5. Then pop into an oven pre-heated to 180C. Bake them for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

6. EAT! As if you needed telling really.

I tried doing different shaped buttons, wiggly edged ones, star ones. They would make a beautiful gift, tied together with ribbons, or even strawberry laces or something. Ooooh ideas :)

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Cupcakes

Carrying on with my love of baking, I have been baking cupcakes a plenty!! I actually can't believe that I have not shared this recipe before. This is the easiest cake recipe that I have ever used, and seems to work every time. (Touch Wood). It's simple and can easily change to adapt to different flavours.

What do you need: (to make roughly 12 large cupcakes)
* 175g very soft unsalted butter
* 175g caster sugar
* 3 medium eggs, beaten
* 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
* 175g self-raising flour, or 150g self-raising flour and 3 tbsp cocoa powder
* 1/2 tsp baking powder
* 2 tbsp milk

What to do with these things:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C.

2. Put the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla into a bowl or mixer. Then add the flour (and cocoa), baking powder, and milk and mix thoroughly until it becomes a smooth, thick batter.

3. Half fill the cake cases and put into the over for 12-15 minutes until golden and springy.

4. Munch away!!

Now just to decide on my toppings :)

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Scones

Ever since visiting the vintage tea room the other day I have wanted to stuff my face with cakes and scones on delightful little tea sets. Unfortunately, being lactose intolerant, I can't just nip out and purchase a big fat cake. So this week, I have actually had some time to bake and decided to make them all!!
Today I am starting with Scones. Some people pronounce them Skons, some Scones (as in stones), I don't mind as long as they are in my tummy!

From looking around at recipes and from what people said, they were difficult to make. But I found these so quick and easy, and even my man complimented them.

So, what do you need:
(to make 8)
* 250g self raising flour
* a pinch of salt
* 50g caster sugar
* unsalted butter, cold
* 1 egg
* 100ml full fat milk
* 50g sultanas (optional)

How do I make these:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 200C.

2. In a bowl mix the flour, sugar and salt.

3. Then cut the butter up and add to the mix. Using your hands rub the butter into the flour until you get breadcrumb like mix. If your using sultanas, add them here.

4. In a separate bowl, mix the egg and the milk together. Then add this to the flour mix. Use a knife and cut into the mix, this prevents the mix from being over kneaded.

5. When mixed into a rough dough, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently kneed for a few seconds.

6. Pat the dough down until roughly 3cm deep. Then using a 6cm cutter, cut out your scones. Lay on a baking tray. The will rise up, but not expand outwards very much.

7. Using a bit of milk wash the top for a nice golden colour. Then pop them into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until lovely and golden.

When they come out let them cool slightly, then serve. Preferably with strawberry jam and clotted cream!

Now depending on where you are from, you need to make sure  you have your cream and jam the right way around. In Cornwall they butter their scones, then put on jam, and then clotted cream on the top. In Devon, where people argue the cream tea started, they have clotted cream first and then the jam on top.
If you can't get your hands on clotted cream, or can't have it like myself, lightly whipped cream can be used. Some people also have something called 'Thunder and Lightning' which is when you take half of your scone, put on your cream, and then top with honey, or syrup. Yum, yum, yum!

Now to eat mine with a lovely pot of tea :)

One year on

I can't believe that it has been over a year since I started doing this blog. I started it as a reason for doing all the little bits a pieces that I do. But there was another reason too; to gain confidence. This past year has been a tough one for me, and as silly as it sounds, my craft has done a good job at keeping me going, and so has this blog. I have decided to keep going and through doing it, test myself to do things that I wouldn't normally do. I love One sheepish girls blogging for confidence series and I am taking it as inspiration. This next year I am going to challenge myself to as many new things as I can that I wouldn't normally do. I have sort of being doing this so far this year, I gave a crochet lesson in public. I found that lots of people came and asked what we were doing and genuinely seemed interested in it. The cafe we were in even said they should start up a knitting/crochet knit and natter night. I improved my baking skills, tried new things. Became the soup dragon and perfected my soup making abilities. Tried lots of new crafting skills including embroidery, and started a big project (no it's not finished yet) with my crochet skills. I thank you all for continuing to read my blog, and hope that you carry on. :)

Here are some of my favourite projects from this past year

Crochet bag

Bracelets

Embroidered frame

Owl Fascinator

Purse

Crochet Slippers

Crochet Snood

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