Tuesday 17 September 2013

My Five Minutes of Fame


 
 
Yes it's true!! I am basking in the glory of my five minutes of fame! As you can see above, this is the flyer used to promote this weekends Family Fest at The Glades Byford. And yes, those are MY owls!! I'm just a tad bit exited. If you follow me on either Facebook or Instagram you may have already heard how thrilled I am! Better be careful though.... I might get a swelled head!!

Wednesday 11 September 2013

The (not-so-healthy) Chicken Cheese and Bacon Roll

 
 
"Prepare to battle!!!!!........" well almost... that's how it seems most nights in my house at dinner times. I know I've said it before but I have a fussy family. Miss 18m is not too bad.... Mr 5 and 8 and hubby are pretty bad.
 
So... we tend to have the same things all the time. I get bored. I get bored preparing, bored cooking and bored eating the same things all the time. Me - I don't think I'm fussy. There isn't much that I wont eat, or at least try.
 
So the other night I had a success. I made a (not-so-healthy) Chicken, Cheese and Bacon Roll in puff pastry. Everybody ate it and no complaints! WINNER!!!
I got the inspiration from the blog The Organised Housewife. She made a very healthy Spinach and Chicken Roll. I knew my lot wouldn't have a bar of spinach so I used the ingredients I knew they would like.
And just to add a bit of healthiness into it, I added some pureed cauliflower to the chicken mince (cheeky, cheeky I know, but I've got to get those veg into them somehow!!) So I'll share my recipe with you, and for the healthier alternative, check out The Organised Housewife!
 
Preparation Time : prepare at least 1 hr before cooking
                               allow up to 1 hr for cooking
 
Ingredients:
2 pieces of breast chicken, minced (mine included hidden cauliflower)
1 sheet of puff pastry
1/2 tub cream cheese
1 cup grated cheese
4 rashes of bacon
 
Here's what I did:
 
- spread an even layer of chicken mince over the puff pastry
 
 
- Slightly melt the cream cheese in the microwave for a few seconds, just to soften it.
- Then spread the cream cheese over the chicken and sprinkle with grated cheese
 
 
- Lay your rashes of bacon on top of the cheese

 
- Carefully roll the entire thing up into a tight log. Use a touch of water to seal the pastry at the base if needed

 
 
- Then rap your "log" tightly in some glad wrap, and leave in the fridge for about 1 hour to allow the cream cheese to re-set. 

 

- Bake on 180 deg for at least 40 mins, or until pastry is golden. ( mine took a little longer, adjust time to ensure chicken is cooked through)
 

Definitely a winner in my house!!!
Do you have a fussy family? Whats their favourite dinner?






Friday 6 September 2013

Weekend Project - Bunting

Whats better than balloons, streamers, tinsel and tacky decorations?? Whats handmade with love and care and can be used year after year?? BUNTING of course!!

I think using bunting to celebrate special occasions is a great tradition to start! I'm going to make each of the kids their own special ones for their birthdays, as well as a Christmas one...maybe Valentines, Easter, Halloween.... oh the possibilities are endless!!!!

Making bunting is something that I find really therapeutic. Maybe it's because of the repetition? Not sure really, but it's something that I enjoy, so I thought I would share it as a Weekend Project for you to try too.

So firstly - gather your fabric supplies. Either co-ordinated or random, or make it all from the same piece, it's up to you. You'll also need some Bias Binding Tape or ribbon or something to string it all together, Plus a sewing machine and your usual sewing supplies.

 
Then, I like to make a stencil. This makes it easier to keep all the pieces the same size. Empty cereal boxes come in really handy for stencil making! My stencil is about 18cm across the top, and measures about 23cm from the top to the point.

 
You then need to fold your fabric in half, with the pattern facing in, and pin together. Then either trace around the stencil or pin it on and cut out. Do this until you have your desired amount of 'flags' in each of your chosen fabric.

 
Stitch around each set of flags leaving minimal seam around the edge. I leave the top of the flag unstitched as this will be sewn later. Then cut any extra fabric off, so the stitching is as close to the edge as possible.

 
Turn the flags in the right way ensuring you have a good point at the end. I like to use a knitting needle to poke it all out.
 



Then iron your flags flat and order them how you would like them hung.
 
 
I use Bias Binding Tape along the top of my bunting. I fold it in half and iron it flat. Then I slip the top of each of the flags into the fold and pin down. You could easily run a length of ribbon across the top if you didn't have the Bias Tape.
 

 




Then sew it all together!
 
 
And there you have it! A funky new bunting to hang around the house or to use for a special occasion!



 
Why not try one for yourself this weekend! - or if you would prefer head over to my Etsy Store where I have some for sale!!



Monday 2 September 2013

Bloglovin

So I've just joined Bloglovin..... not really sure what it's all about, but Im willing to give it a go!  So If your part of Bloglovin why not follow me, and I'll follow you- ( and let me know what it's all about!)