The Butcher, the Baker and the Candlestick Maker.

Brrrrrrr!  It is very chilly.  I have just read the weather forecasters are predicting a White Christmas.  Ooooh, I hope so.  Next week we are set for Arctic conditions that are predicted to last until the New Year.  We will see.  It will make a change from the terrible floods we have seen again in the UK over the last few weeks.  There were floods in Worcestershire, the county I live in, but personally I have not been affected by floods.  A work mate could not make the journey to work and the village my brother lives in regularly has it's bridge closed due to floods.  The only problem I have had is a very soggy back garden.  It has been like a sponge.  Each morning I have had to squelch squirch my way up to the chicken coop.  Out they run.  These chickens are happy to be alive whatever the weather.
              'Lavender' is over her broody month and I am very happy to report she is back to her usual self.  She is singing her pretty song again and bossing everyone around in the garden, chasing off the pigeons, magpies and blackbirds.  She seems to be good pals with 'Rosie' which is nice.  The two of them seem to be spending increasing amounts of time together.  Rosie was lowest in the pecking order and the most attention needy where I was concerned.  She is the one that likes to jump on me and climb onto my shoulder.  I am only getting two eggs a day as Lavender has not resumed laying and somebody is laying an egg a day but the shell is so thin it is always broken.  I have tried supplements and additions to the water but it has not helped.  The egg itself is fine, but I cannot get them to the house without breaking them.  I think it is indicating all is not as it should be with 'someone' I do not know who and as they all run around happily hoppitty skipping I am trying not to worry to much.
               I gave Henry and his friend a lift to work this morning.  Well, what is left of Henry:

This is Henry's hair 'Donation' for The Little Princess Trust.  He has raised in the region of £400 now for the charity which is really fantastic.  I am sad to see this hair go and would have liked to have done a weaving project with it.  Four days after having his first haircut in years Henry went for another haircut!  This made me chuckle.  He appears to be constantly preening and fussing over his hair now!  He likes it 'just so'.  This haircut has been quite a shock and the poor lad does not quite feel like 'himself' at the moment.  I am sure he will get used to it soon.
              Euan has been nagging me for months to use our 'Candle Making Kits'.  Today was the day.  He took all of the following 'Candle Making' photographs apart from the one of himself.

My Aunt gave me this kit for my birthday this year.

I bought this kit from a charity shop for £1.

We got out aprons on and got a serious look on our faces, ready to set about this important business.  I think my son could get a job in security or as a door man!  Would you cross this fella?. . . I know I try not to!

We dutifully followed the instructions and covered everywhere with newspaper and then we set about identifying the contents of the boxes.  I had to nag Euan a bit to read the instructions for himself.

We were both a little amused by this rubber mould. . . well I am the mother of two sons after all.  Say no more.

Euan manages to get Messy shots of the kitchen.  I bought the smaller of these two saucepans from a Car Boot Sale a couple of weeks ago.  It cost £1.50 and I got it specifically as the 'Candle Making Pan'.  It worked well as you heat the wax over a pan of boiling water.  We decided to go 'Advanced Candle Making' and add essential oils.  We made purple 'Lavender Candles' and Red 'Ylang Ylang and Cedarwood Candles'.

We liked the adding colours part.

We prepared the moulds with the candle wicks and poured in the molten wax.  Then we left the candles in the garden for hours to set.  Euan has decided a 'Lucky' recipient for each candle.  He will give them as Christmas gifts.

I am itching to have another try now.
           While we tried to wait patiently for our candles to set we did some baking.  I made some bread rolls to eat with Homemade Pea and Ham Soup for dinner.  We are determined to keep out the cold.  Euan made our favourite 'Cookie Recipe' of the moment.  He did a great job making 'Smartie Cookies'.  We used this 'Nigella Lawson' recipe Here.  They are a bit too quick and easy to make.  Euan managed it by himself.  I did the oven part.  They made the house smell lovely and were a welcome tea break.  Euan prefers 'warm cookies' with his cup of tea.  I however am not fussy. . . a cookie is a cookie is a cookie.  Eeeek cookies, Christmas and Weight Watchers do not mix very well do they?

 You would have to have a will of iron to resist one of these little beauties.  We have some wrapped and ready for Henry and his friend when we collect them from work.  He works hard and struggles to get a 20 minute break during the whole day.  So I am sure these cookies made with brotherly love will go down well. I feel like we have had a productive day at home.  The kitchen looks like a bomb has hit it!  I hope you are having a great weekend.
XXX

Pie Day Friday (4) 'The Queen of Hearts' 'The Humble Tart'

The Queen of Hearts

The Queen of Hearts

She made some tarts,

All on a Summers day;

The Knave of Hearts

He stole those tarts

And took them clean away.

The King of Hearts

Called for the tarts

And beat the Knave full sore.

The Knave of Hearts

Bought back those tarts

and vowed he'd steal no more.

According to Wikipedia this poem was first published in 1782.  A lot of tarts have been eaten over the centuries!  This little plate of Jam Tarts were made all the tastier for placing a little heart on top of each one.  It is like sandwiches in this house they always taste better in triangles, rather than rectangles or squares.  Everyone knows triangles taste better than squares!
Yeah it's Friday!

Quick and Easy Oat Cookies

I was lucky enough to grow up with lots of family within five minutes walking distance from my house, both sets of Grandparents, Aunties and Uncles, cousins and Great Aunties and Uncles.  These Oat Cookies remind me of my Great Auntie Marion.  She was affectionately known as Auntie Pauntie...I have no idea why!  I was rather spoiled by many of these relatives and saw many of them regularly, popping in for 'Egg and Chips' or a chocolate biscuit, home baked goodies, a chat to the budgie, a knitting lesson, a game of cards or a game of dominoes, a rummage through the button jar etc etc....I knew little treats would be waiting for me in the various houses.  I am sure I was a pest, but nobody ever let on.  Auntie Pauntie was a knitter.  She was also a smoker and she was partial to Whiskey and Brandy.  She was my Grandmother's Sister in law and I saw her multiple times a week.  My Grandparents were bombed out of their house in Birmingham in the Second World War and they moved in with Auntie Marion and Uncle Bill until they could get back on their feet.  They never bought their own home again, their next house they rented for the rest of their lives.  Auntie Marion was a very slim lady and knew how to budget...to fund her more pleasurable habits.  Her Oat Cookies were delicious.  They are very economical, very quick and easy to bake a batch and equally quick to disappear.  Euan has reserved a couple to take to school tomorrow.  I cook a batch in the oven when I am making the Sunday Roast.  (Chickens are rather partial to them too).
Here is the recipe for Auntie Paunties Oat Cookies:


Ingredients
100g Butter
100g Sugar
150g Self raising flour
50-75g Oats
2 eggs
1 tsp Vanilla Essence

Method
Cream together the butter and sugar.  Add two beaten eggs and stir well.  Add the Vanilla essence, oats and flour.  Mix well.  Using your hands roll the mixture into walnut sized balls and roll them in oats.  Flatten them out and place them on a baking tin, spaced apart as they will spread.  Bake them in a medium oven for 15-20 minutes until they start to turn Golden.  If you have the patience allow them to cool...but they are delicious warm or even hot!  (They are a naughty breakfast occasionally in this house).
Pour whiskey, light cigarette and enjoy!

Cheese Straws

These always go down well in my family.  They are very simple to make and use up pastry that is over from making pies, pasties or flans.  I just mix in 50g of Mature Cheddar grated, roll out into a rectangle and cut into straws.  Then I sprinkle them with a little more grated cheese and bake in a medium oven until they are golden brown.  (approximately 20 minutes).  You can add a half teaspoon of English Mustard Powder, or a pinch of ground cayenne pepper to the pastry dough both help to enhance the flavour of the cheese.  They make a nice savoury snack or a tasty accompaniment to soup.  They are also good for children to practice their baking skills.

Easy Love Heart Biscuits - Valentine Cookies

Easy Love Heart Biscuits /  Valentine Cookies



These are perfect for Valentines Day



Ingredients

200g/ 8oz of plain flour

100g/ 4oz of butter

100g/ 4oz of sugar

1 egg

Red Jam of your choice.

 Method

Rub flour and butter together.  Add sugar, then bind into a dough with 1 egg, the mixture may be to dry so you could add another egg.  Roll out the dough onto a floured board.  Using cookie cutters cut out Heart shapes.  Using a small heart shaped cutter cut a heart shaped hole from the centre of half of the cookies.  Place on a baking tray and cook them for 10 minutes.  (180C/300F/ gas mark 4)  when the cookies are golden brown remove them from the oven.  Spoon a teaspoon of jam on one half of the cookies and place the cut outs on top to form a Jam Sandwich cookie.