tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91544648157851201742024-02-07T04:46:59.073+00:00MysticBunnyMysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-78632665979593303172023-12-02T17:33:00.003+00:002023-12-02T17:33:32.090+00:00Crafting - well it's the new me!<p>Well I'm still here - yes, not much can make me go away, well other than time which seems to slip by unbelievably fast!<br /><br />I've had a lot of changes but best to keep looking for me on other platforms....</p><p></p><p>eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_ssn=thetwistedjunkjournal&_sop=1</p><p>Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheTwistedJournal</p><p>YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetwistedjunkjournal/videos</p><p>IG: @thetwistedjunkjournal</p><p>See you there! :)</p><p> <br /></p>
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<p> <br /></p><p><br /><br /></p>Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-33988260306707120292019-03-30T17:17:00.000+00:002019-03-30T17:17:38.206+00:00Gone but never for long....well it's all relative....Well I didn't die, leave the Internet, or any such thing but just haven't had much time to do this in addition to everything else that goes on in life. Work and home keep me plenty busy and of course finding all those bargains tends to keep one very busy indeed.<br />
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In the last few years I've kept to my cake making, jamming, and my latest interest is pickling, just about anything and everything I can. I also have been busy crafting and will be working on something rather big even for me. I have loads of pictures which I've put below with some descriptions underneath....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKV4W3vX8OKfps-JYujp6NbVcLWR94lnJBnfS3ELr79F1BY0CrApOS0Qlvf9bplPM8GFwnwy4Wt6jDcXp0M-imANe49v1lO7Jn2XzKD2lxIMLt0C3QHhE4fLJlrgiI7DmfXxxRioe7wow/s1600/20180711_080701-COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKV4W3vX8OKfps-JYujp6NbVcLWR94lnJBnfS3ELr79F1BY0CrApOS0Qlvf9bplPM8GFwnwy4Wt6jDcXp0M-imANe49v1lO7Jn2XzKD2lxIMLt0C3QHhE4fLJlrgiI7DmfXxxRioe7wow/s320/20180711_080701-COLLAGE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a chocolate box that I got naturally reduced and it was paper/card. I just couldn't throw it away so instead decoupaged it with some paper I had and old books. Well a monster was born I tell you!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZbH_vJDVMYBi4AW0sgkOfbyutQUXwrwHuJpoCPSiuzfODa8MAwxXY8BND4mNHGB8Q8paVTNj__-p1lUOiB1yJ1UQNFDR2l3-f1mql5fNf_rEMXEPuj2mwwJN-zzCvJVnrgWv9v-mdY4/s1600/20180716_012228-COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZbH_vJDVMYBi4AW0sgkOfbyutQUXwrwHuJpoCPSiuzfODa8MAwxXY8BND4mNHGB8Q8paVTNj__-p1lUOiB1yJ1UQNFDR2l3-f1mql5fNf_rEMXEPuj2mwwJN-zzCvJVnrgWv9v-mdY4/s320/20180716_012228-COLLAGE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a cardboard magazine box - it had gotten faded and yes, broken along one side. So glued/taped it back and yep, you guessed it, decoupage to the rescue. I think it is ever so cute and now it's totally usable again. What luck! </div>
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This was a gift that I used just plain brown paper I got in a package (no lie!) and then decorated it from my endless stash of crafting things - some are collected from charity shops others I get at the usual shops when they are super reduced (well you would expect no less of me right?!?!). </div>
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Just to prove I've been making jam and getting it all reduced, you can see the costings, yes, I'm very lucky in the reduced aisle.... </div>
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These two are Christmas presents I did one year - yes, I used up some of my coloured coffee filters and cut them up like snow flakes, taped to the plain wrapping and yes, gave it a bit of glitz! </div>
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This was a present for my sister, she had sent me all of my niece's photos and videos of her and I put them all onto CDs and then used LightScribe to etch onto the disk a photo and age for her. I knew she had lost a few of them due to a hard drive crash but yes, backups to the rescue! </div>
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Valentine's day....yes, I stamped the paper in red, rose, and white. It was plain but cute I thought. </div>
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Yup, more decoupage mad for me....! This was a wooden box I had for ages, nothing to do with it until yes, inspiration hit and well, like the magazine holder it just took on a life of its own. </div>
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Somebunny's <a href="https://vanillaandbean.com/vegan-chocolate-hazelnut-cake-whipped-ganache/" target="_blank">vegan chocolate cake</a> for their birthday....you would never know it was vegan I swear. Please visit this great blog - I've gotten a number of things to make from Traci and it is one of those that is easily adaptable.</div>
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All homemade crust and filling quiche. I surprise myself sometimes....and yes, all the stuff in it was reduced (silly - need you ask!?). </div>
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My birthday cake one year, my usual Chocolate Pistachio. Yes, lovely....*sigh* </div>
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A lovely friend gave me some small green tomatoes and decided to pickle them, I'm really into the pickling now..... We use them for nachos or salads if needed and to a few jars I added some chilies - yes, very good. And waste not, want not, the pickling juice is used for salad dressings. Nothing ever gets wasted if I can help it. </div>
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Plate salad in all its various incarnations - it is never the same at our house....but then why should it be? That would be most boring! </div>
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Yet another scoop at ASDA this time, yes, more jam! Sadly, everyone wants some so it goes just about as fast as I can make it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3Mj-b4KwKfSKPSrBx1S-MyE3RGvbFAg_OA7T4TNP68aeFiU54Xq4WT3hCWeS3VkH9p29llwUMpj8inyYGkzpnLUoMl7T4-mPY6_XUY16Tf-A26XAf1-pHo_PSbJAKxieyUz1xeHgF9k/s1600/IMG_20181001_213940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3Mj-b4KwKfSKPSrBx1S-MyE3RGvbFAg_OA7T4TNP68aeFiU54Xq4WT3hCWeS3VkH9p29llwUMpj8inyYGkzpnLUoMl7T4-mPY6_XUY16Tf-A26XAf1-pHo_PSbJAKxieyUz1xeHgF9k/s320/IMG_20181001_213940.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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These three pictures are of some quinces from that same person who gave me the green tomatoes. I've never had them and well they are the most delicious things ever. I canned them and we've had them in crumbles all winter long. I've mixed them with pears and apples, a bit of oranges, etc. All great and what doesn't warm you like a crumble and custard? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xen_sNVA7UIpiIYk3JghfrQJzUjY5yoYIP_TVWKyU_p7Cgv3Jx6ygB0K2tOh-zWu1UTl5D9mCccemU4b3VW0NN6V96_FF0ILyCd37NisEdMhYcCNcRF08enfyvOse-M0ZvH4K4zY51Q/s1600/IMG_20181227_185451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xen_sNVA7UIpiIYk3JghfrQJzUjY5yoYIP_TVWKyU_p7Cgv3Jx6ygB0K2tOh-zWu1UTl5D9mCccemU4b3VW0NN6V96_FF0ILyCd37NisEdMhYcCNcRF08enfyvOse-M0ZvH4K4zY51Q/s320/IMG_20181227_185451.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Well this might give you pause for thought, but it was for a turkey - post-Boxing day shopping and I just hit it right. It was a whopper of a turkey, but cut it up into pieces, and froze for future dinners. The carcass I made stock from (and included my frozen bones I keep for just such purposes) and made a lovely turkey soup with loads of meat from my admittedly bad carving and we had like two weeks of dinners on that alone. Another four from the two breasts and legs which was great. I still have the neck which I'll use to make stock as well when my next batch of bones comes due. </div>
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You might want to check back again, I have many surprises up my sleeve....</div>
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Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-64405576168139556582015-08-06T22:09:00.001+01:002015-08-06T22:09:54.488+01:00Tips, Hints, so you can save time and money (oh yeah, & some crafts)!After a while you begin to pick things up as you go along in life – some come to you only years after you’ve been doing the same thing day in and day out. Others you find in your travels – either watching some program on telly, surfing the web for that all important detail, reading it in a cookbook, etc.<br />
<br />Here I’ll try and put some of my best tips that have been honed over time and help me in doing what I want – cook but also not spend so long in the kitchen. I like it but hey – we have to have a life right?!?<br />First tip – when making your own pasta there are some rules I adhere to. First I let the pasta rest for at least 30 minutes before working with it. This gives it time to form the all-important gluten within the flour/semolina. I use Jamie’s recipe of 100gms of flour to 1 large egg. I tend to do a 50-50 ratio of pasta flour to semolina and you can do as you like but I’m not keen on 100% semolina. Then when I’m working with it initially in the pasta machine I use corn flour (corn starch on the other side of the pond) to keep the pasta from sticking to the rollers. I don’t heap it on but just dust lightly as I go – you won’t need too much. Then when I’ve got my finished product be it noodles or pierogi I dust them again with a liberal amount of corn flour. This keeps the past from absorbing any more moisture and they do not stick together. I usually set it onto a cookie sheet for this purpose – it’s easy to wrap all up with cling film when done and it’s ideal if you want to freeze them this way.<br />
<br />This is apparently a Chinese technique to keep wonton wrappers from sticking together – well it works great and allows me to make my pasta noodles in the morning and not cook them until later in the day – time saver! I’ve also read that you can make your wrappers and put corn flour in between and then freeze for later use. Not tried that as yet…still have not gotten around to make my dumplings (or Dim Sum)…but soon!<br />
<br />My second tip is save your bones for soup. This sounds a bit odd but it does work. If I have a whole chicken I roast it for dinner, usually we have the legs and then the white meat is left. I will use this to make what I call Mystic Chicken. This is usually just some sauce I’ve made with the chicken and served with rice. I add whatever is in the fridge that needs using up. I save the bones and any pan scrapings (I usually add water to the pan and scrape up and save with the bones – this is where all your flavour is!) to make stock. <br />I then can use this stock for risotto, doodle-noodle soup (my version of cup a noodles but way better!) or whatever I need stock for in the week. I never, ever throw out bones without doing this. Save them in a container in the freeze until you have a healthy supply and voilà instant stock! I also use them for my garbage soup – this is what I make when I’m at the last of everything in the fridge – that lonely carrot, stalk of celery, last onion, bits of parmesan rinds (again kept in the freeze until needed) and some beans from a tin all make a hearty warm soup. There is no recipe for this – it’s just thrown together and gives me enough meals for the week.<br />
<br />My third tip is save the parmesan rinds – I put these into soups (mentioned above) but I also add to risotto if I want an extra kick. They never go off in the freeze and I usually get quite a collection of them so have them to hand. I leave whole so I can fish out later but J loves them as they are chewy and full of that umami flavour. <br />
<br />My fourth tip is<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9154464815785120174#editor/target=post;postID=6791073480713458826;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=4;src=postname" target="_blank"> freezing herbs</a>. I’m all for fresh herbs when you need them but I tend to freeze mine as I find them reduced all the time. I have successfully frozen parsley, coriander, thyme, lemon grass –whole and chives. Rosemary does well if you chop it up and have a small amount – otherwise leave the leaf whole and chop when you’re ready to use. I’ve found mint doesn’t work well – it loses its oomph. Chillies are the same – they lose their intensity. This is OK if that’s what you want but this is what I’ve found. I never use garlic or onions frozen – they aren’t that difficult to do yourself and never taste the same at least I find.<br />
<br />My fifth tip is make your own sauces for pasta when serving as a side dish. There’s a famous brand here in the UK which I tried but it was way too salty for my taste but also it really wasn’t nice. So I now make pasta, save some water that it boiled in and add my own flavourings. This depends really on what I have in the fridge that need using up. Sometimes I have some cream cheese left over, some single or double cream so in that will go or a knob of cheese and then some herbs – use the pasta water to thin or bring it together. Voilà a sauce that’s 100 times better than any packet. I also use lemon juice, garlic, and butter as another. I’ve tried a bit of tomato puree and some cream with parmesan again lovely. Do not limit yourself – I’ve put in veggies like peas, courgettes, green beans chopped up in small bits, just about anything I can find goes in. These are the bases I use and really you can alter them as much or as little as you like to your tasting. <br />
<br />My sixth tip is making your <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9154464815785120174#editor/target=post;postID=317968777477970518;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=2;src=postname" target="_blank">own herb-y cream cheese</a>. I did a posting about this and it’s now a firm favourite in our house. I add what I like to plain cream cheese and in no time flat (especially if you’ve got them frozen – it’s like seconds into the bowl) you have a delicious treat. I have also done a cinnamon/nutmeg version for bagels and it’s fantastic as well. It really kicks up the flavour for cinnamon bagels.<br />
<br />My seventh tip is making croutons! I never, ever buy them – the mark up on them is extreme. I always have a bit of bread left over from something and they too make great croutons. I usually chop into smallish bites and then top with oil and my seasoning's. This is up to you what you want to add. I usually go for salt, pepper, garlic powder or onion powder. I then add some dried herbs such as oregano and some cumin or coriander. It’s really up to you and what the final salad it to be. I usually keep for about a week in an air-tight container but usually they don’t last that long.<br />
<br />My eight tip is make your own <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9154464815785120174#editor/target=post;postID=4529683389066229772;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=1;src=postname" target="_blank">sushi ginger</a>. It couldn’t be easier and it absolutely a million times better than the store bought stuff. I tend to make it in the fall/winter and let it sit in the fridge all this time till I crave it in the summer months. It’s mellowed and it is lovely. I re-use some of the old liquid when I make a new one – the old liquid I don’t pour down the drain – oh now. I use the liquid in my home made salad dressings it gives it a special ginger kick. Yes, I am thrifty to the nth degree! I also take the peels and make ginger tea - usually adding whatever tea - black or green I have in the house to it and voilà - iced tea!<br />
<br />And my last ninth tip is hard boiled eggs. Usually when I make a <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9154464815785120174#editor/target=post;postID=3092245136062028566;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=6;src=postname" target="_blank">big salad as I call it for dinner</a> – anything that needs to be used goes in. I always put a few hard boiled eggs on the top and usually buy some small pasta (orzo, stars, etc.) and cook at the same time the eggs come to a boil. I usually save my eggs that I know will be older and thus easier to peel for this job which is good. <br />
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However, sometimes I am in the mood for potato salad (American kind not the junk I find here) as well as macaroni salad. Hard boiled eggs are difficult to peel if they are new from the store. However, read a tip on line to put one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in the water and this will loosen them inside from the white membrane. Well yes, it does and thank you to the Gods for this tip! It works so well but can really only be used when you are doing a large portion of eggs or no pasta like I do (which I do to just save on pots). <br />
<br />Now the crafts – I’ve been making my <a href="http://mysticbunny.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/as-always-busy-living-and-being.html" target="_blank">book roses now for a while</a> and doing the pearls on them. So had to find something else to try and this is part of the result so far. I got some watercolour paints and coffee filters and well it just happened! I <a href="http://kuchnia-pelna-cudow.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/zapraszam-na-kawe.html" target="_blank">saw this link on-line</a> and thought I can do that surely. I’ve mastered the book paper – how hard can they be? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzGksRjy7nNYZjahB2Bg7o530Sf5tiAdfkhnF6niOdVObF3UUEtVvn3h-_sJy21024O-bDdbhxb66_G9mFigzrbcE639p-WtqOIGbr3pOiRBHj1LOdKzH5i8oP4gq46IOe-rugBCamQE/s1600/P6210624.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzGksRjy7nNYZjahB2Bg7o530Sf5tiAdfkhnF6niOdVObF3UUEtVvn3h-_sJy21024O-bDdbhxb66_G9mFigzrbcE639p-WtqOIGbr3pOiRBHj1LOdKzH5i8oP4gq46IOe-rugBCamQE/s320/P6210624.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZjy37VciBIWh828juhCNjvwiR7SbFb3UcrcOdDkQLrwejv3TRRzyn2QZJRwH3iqrvRNFvoQK1PrhiCAFgD1XPi70yL9EddoCLC-wvMHt8JgWOiXWg2jpCjnTil5bUi6F5p7oO0Ilg-g/s1600/P6210628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZjy37VciBIWh828juhCNjvwiR7SbFb3UcrcOdDkQLrwejv3TRRzyn2QZJRwH3iqrvRNFvoQK1PrhiCAFgD1XPi70yL9EddoCLC-wvMHt8JgWOiXWg2jpCjnTil5bUi6F5p7oO0Ilg-g/s320/P6210628.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUXes3rNqtIsXi_FrZ3pFBSN_QR5jdM8ke_JtetDHnKMRKBZ3w7vdykdPHfmSEtx3AVsdZkfXorfQPRQAIjd12R1zlkw_wO7-glE-x-hiiE6ieVMcor_loqz9QjIMkHUCvc60Tg83duo/s1600/P6210631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUXes3rNqtIsXi_FrZ3pFBSN_QR5jdM8ke_JtetDHnKMRKBZ3w7vdykdPHfmSEtx3AVsdZkfXorfQPRQAIjd12R1zlkw_wO7-glE-x-hiiE6ieVMcor_loqz9QjIMkHUCvc60Tg83duo/s320/P6210631.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Sb140M-QFMSR3r4HOY2KihLH3S3cqv9X-rB__m1nysRA14aXeDFG2wRnnweBliIfR2LPh5EjwRXwm_upqPHM6wD7sNRFqZ7W-alWJmH8mr4RYl4PMY35F6QyrRko7Nr8F30V8YqqVnM/s1600/P6210633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Sb140M-QFMSR3r4HOY2KihLH3S3cqv9X-rB__m1nysRA14aXeDFG2wRnnweBliIfR2LPh5EjwRXwm_upqPHM6wD7sNRFqZ7W-alWJmH8mr4RYl4PMY35F6QyrRko7Nr8F30V8YqqVnM/s320/P6210633.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Well not hard but they are a bit more time consuming to say nothing about space to dry all of them. I found them easier to leave whole first, dye in the paint (I even used chalks – they too came out great) and then spiral cut and roll. I found cutting them made them just too difficult to do the dying and I’m kind of an impatient girl! In any event, the white filters are obviously better but the natural ones work too. I found some of the white ones on eBay quite cheap and they were very large - so made a bigger flower than normal. I found depending on how strongly the watercolour paint is this makes a difference in the final colour. I used an old plastic tray to keep the paint contained. I then just littered the window sills with newspaper to dry all the filters on. I found a sunny day best for this aspect and I did all the dying in one day and did the rolling in another. <br />
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Now onto the best bit - found a load of fruit in the store reduced (as you can see) and made some jam. I got seven pundits of fruit and this made about 6 jars of jam. I like it a bit looser than most and also I had about half a kilo more fruit than the sugar which since these were sweet didn't matter. Lovely! I sure will enjoy it in the winter months on my toast. </div>
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The total cost for the fruit as well as the jam sugar was the princely sum of £6.22 so it cost me £1.04 per jar to make. I think it was worth it and to have my fruit whole or nearly is so much better than shredded fruit which is what I seem to get in most jars of the commercial stuff.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbCQtPbt1W50Zeov7pzKV-ToU6A230Gnok1X4J2Q5QjsiMcuZLhG02FfR-2O5ujbXfDo4GkWbMeGNIJS9ye6-2x8XqZIK2VitE3C03ugcpcdo5X5lmM-MkRl4MocRDI-OV-7u5gjF1t0/s1600/P7300634.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbCQtPbt1W50Zeov7pzKV-ToU6A230Gnok1X4J2Q5QjsiMcuZLhG02FfR-2O5ujbXfDo4GkWbMeGNIJS9ye6-2x8XqZIK2VitE3C03ugcpcdo5X5lmM-MkRl4MocRDI-OV-7u5gjF1t0/s320/P7300634.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And this is J's birthday dinner - yes, he's in love with the sushi! And
at least it was warm this year for us to enjoy it - some years it's not
and that's terrible for early August! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuCwj8QAGqOVypyUgBns2ASEqASU3h7NN0HxjsHTU0WkOGCoeLkUTbQoEm0oO5NSFklEW8RX4P6zVj8cAjnGB3_fQEPz4GiGKFO6kXgfcCrHZt4BQDzP9g7QEihs9TpaZ5HnUSFfXEfA/s1600/P8030645.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuCwj8QAGqOVypyUgBns2ASEqASU3h7NN0HxjsHTU0WkOGCoeLkUTbQoEm0oO5NSFklEW8RX4P6zVj8cAjnGB3_fQEPz4GiGKFO6kXgfcCrHZt4BQDzP9g7QEihs9TpaZ5HnUSFfXEfA/s320/P8030645.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Well that should keep you all going for a bit. I’ll think of a few more and post later on, yes I cannot stop there as it’s now just a habit that I’ve kept up with. Come and join me! Enjoy!<br />Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-52288688338662608132015-05-31T17:38:00.002+01:002015-05-31T17:38:42.484+01:00As always busy living and being...Oops...it’s again been a long time since posting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess with work and home and just trying to
do what has to be done I get caught up in the moments and forget to post
something here for posterity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll try
to be better but cannot promise – life is for living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I admire those who dedicate time to make or
create and then post weekly or even daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t know how you do it as I know I find it difficult.<br />
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I have been busy with work and being on-call one weekend a
month does mean less time doing what I want cooking/shopping wise but such is
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent a good portion of the
winter months rolling roses – to decorate my packages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I’m onto a good thing – I can at least
make them and they come out so cute!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here
are a few different pictures that I took of ones I did recently.</div>
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I then tried a new recipe for crab meat cannelloni – yes, I
did get the tin of crab meat reduced and had been keeping for just such a
dish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made my own pasta for this one
and the rest was quite easy to whip up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CJdMXxjSFVKM3IKJsuxMWhARxJNjcNEN05t_IGe2y9dWUD6VOIY9BghphqjIOcNlMmqwjmM_zA502k-FGzo3lO4EUTZ-zmbUT8mzPWPGzEN6Nfamw4q6oJ8crr8nI0IlypO5cLOSjes/s1600/P3150579.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CJdMXxjSFVKM3IKJsuxMWhARxJNjcNEN05t_IGe2y9dWUD6VOIY9BghphqjIOcNlMmqwjmM_zA502k-FGzo3lO4EUTZ-zmbUT8mzPWPGzEN6Nfamw4q6oJ8crr8nI0IlypO5cLOSjes/s320/P3150579.JPG" width="241" /></a> </div>
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I think the only difference I would do is use single cream instead of
double cream – I found that the original recipe was too rich as well as too thick – it needed to be a
bit thinner in consistency for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, something that I’d make again and I would probably use more
herbs in addition to the chives as I didn’t use the rocket on top – I just
served with a small salad in one meal and the other was broccoli as it made two
meals for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also since I used home made
pasta I’d freeze it instead of keeping in the fridge (although it was OK it did
get a bit ‘wet’).</div>
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That's it for the moment. I have a few other projects I'm working on and I finally got to go out with a friend of mine charity shopping for a day. We went from one end of Rayleigh to Shoeburyness - it was pouring down but we didn't care. I got loads of items and it's probably been the best charity shopping I've done in ages. Stay tuned - more to come yet! </div>
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<br />Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-45312924180158286082014-12-25T10:38:00.002+00:002015-05-31T17:33:28.738+01:00Happy Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflo-XbTaj_ZYaGFUiyl1S0TTZzBUPy0QtMVhs0RVIufwkZD8BAIGTahotV-noIT8xPJg5NTmxX52Qrg5MgtPD06dqyHmV8Wv19uXQj03PvB1_SLJJeMuUg7f5geY6nuTEwKIm-X-wekw/s1600/PC250555.JPG" width="320" /> </div>
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Yes, I did play with my food a bit to get this but what fun! I got this box of Alpha Bites on offer but had them this morning and thought could I find enough letters to say Happy Christmas - I did and more as you can see!</div>
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Well it is Christmas and I just wanted to show you a bit of what I've been up to lately. I've been busy the past two weekends baking my socks off as all my presents this year were home-made in some way or other. I bought only one present that at least was made here in the UK and the rest made by my hands. I did a vaiation on hot chocolate mix, vanilla shortbread, butter mahagony toffee crunch, and yes, double-chocolate flapjacks (I'll do a posting later on these). All have passed muster with J (they cannot make it out of hte house until they've passed this tough critic!) and hopefully are being enjoyed with their recipients.</div>
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We also took the time to reflect on how lucky we are to have each other and to have what we do that we decided to give locally to the chairty that works around here to provide food and help to families who cannot afford to have a Christmas or life as they should. We took what we didn't spend on presents and gave them the money to hopefully make it a better time for them. We also donated to our usual charities that I do each year instead of sending out cards to colleagues. </div>
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I took this picture as J usually makes us porridge at the weekends when it's cold. It sure does get you going and keeps you going the whole day. Anyway, a while back I found some flavoured porridge reduced - it was organic and one was chocolate and the other was vanilla/banana flavoured. I got it like for £0.50p a box so bought a number of them as it was going into winter. Anyway, we tried them and while they were OK I thought I can do this. So below is the result of porridge which has 2 cups of oats with 2 heaping tablespoons of cocoa added (this is enough for two - scale up for your needs). I soak the oats overnight or at leat 15 minutes before cooking - it does make a difference - it comes out so creamy. I have to say next to cinnamon and rasin this is my next favourite. Please do try - it really is lovely!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtNj5xP7LBJ4QTTuVWUc7tJo8EzNaev2CVyXV5iIGJBC3IXrhyphenhyphenTCsqvRido6-gl5hHDFy3mYy6fdvbz4Tz8LEME60j3BFlTO7TPmCYJe7d1Y9TT-Yz6Q8kglROT9aYZ615GEzCh_jJ5c/s1600/PC200528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtNj5xP7LBJ4QTTuVWUc7tJo8EzNaev2CVyXV5iIGJBC3IXrhyphenhyphenTCsqvRido6-gl5hHDFy3mYy6fdvbz4Tz8LEME60j3BFlTO7TPmCYJe7d1Y9TT-Yz6Q8kglROT9aYZ615GEzCh_jJ5c/s1600/PC200528.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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This is a cake by<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/marys_cherry_cake_17869" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Mary Berry called Cherry Cake</a>. I made for one of the people leaving work earlier this month. I had seen it in The Great British Bake Off and looked and sounded so good that I thought I've got to try that recipe. I had to improvise with the self-raising flour as I don't normally buy that kind - but in the end I found a conversion so did that and it came out really lovely - or so everyone told me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ikfBRmQZz-mt546N20kd43As2ay1kVUDKEdw-RXnVy_p-jPPTkE7jjYdRfg0dwJlaOH9BLmYUZviMg3Eup928J5IaJRTLHk5nwsPcV9GwEfeUZb6XPE_IKQWDIS1Y3Gs-uX1Ls6B3Iw/s1600/PC140524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ikfBRmQZz-mt546N20kd43As2ay1kVUDKEdw-RXnVy_p-jPPTkE7jjYdRfg0dwJlaOH9BLmYUZviMg3Eup928J5IaJRTLHk5nwsPcV9GwEfeUZb6XPE_IKQWDIS1Y3Gs-uX1Ls6B3Iw/s1600/PC140524.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a small tree I made out of buttons I had around the house. I did another one the same in white buttons with green pins - came out cute but forgot to take a picture of it before I wrapped it up as a gift. I thought it came out really cute - and it was so easy to make and put together. I did a paperback book which I decorated with glitter and pearls. I've got a picture somewhere - just have to find it and when I do I'll post it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7jnTbH-9x_CcvrTgK6TfAsKDimCCIc2FO79RQMTKUmiem1Xkfqa6oHF2NuXx7GwpQtUckisF6joyYz4Vw1XXkAvcAqi4-VTMil6WviZw2cEUWribhdDP2cymsS6lO7-aQwzaVEWcXjM/s1600/PC240539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7jnTbH-9x_CcvrTgK6TfAsKDimCCIc2FO79RQMTKUmiem1Xkfqa6oHF2NuXx7GwpQtUckisF6joyYz4Vw1XXkAvcAqi4-VTMil6WviZw2cEUWribhdDP2cymsS6lO7-aQwzaVEWcXjM/s1600/PC240539.JPG" width="158" /> </a></div>
And this finally is my reduced haul although not all of it as the cheese (fresh mozzerella) and a few other bits were in the fridge by the time I got around to taking the snap. The lamb roast is Christmas Day dinner (along with reduce parsnips, roasted potatos), the fish and lamb mince are in the freeze for dinner on other days, the eggs - well they always come in handy with a mad baking woman in the house, and the bagels and blueberrys will be breakfast during the days I'm off. The blueberrys will go into making some corn / blueberry / almond muffins one morning - I'll have to devise a way for the recipe as I tend to just mix it in my own way - measuring is sometimes the last thing I do. What a way to warm the house. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYC4BxJsIvI3Zglz6LQSAKk6HslEiqYvS1N4zJGLxcMIOIv4O__yegzvHYTiSWXFohQLkKZqqeSvpADOBFK0bv3GqbvRXgzfMHNbbc7aRPBFsKAuL_TENsqBRK3XtEdvOI5VrQMcDoMw/s1600/PC240550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYC4BxJsIvI3Zglz6LQSAKk6HslEiqYvS1N4zJGLxcMIOIv4O__yegzvHYTiSWXFohQLkKZqqeSvpADOBFK0bv3GqbvRXgzfMHNbbc7aRPBFsKAuL_TENsqBRK3XtEdvOI5VrQMcDoMw/s1600/PC240550.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Well that's all for the day - enjoy your special day with family and loved ones. It is after all what the time is about. Enjoy!</div>
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<br />Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-40838113134279093752014-10-12T18:08:00.001+01:002014-10-12T18:08:40.601+01:00Breadtastic!I know that’s not a word but what else can one say about something so simple in ingredients – Flour, Salt, Yeast and Water that make something so lovely. The only thing you have to do is wait – patience is the virtue and cannot harm your bread. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukAu4nCFJvZLERTomNYSis-ZjlLjCeEZnXXP235GDlzKjOWN00FrgwcLmW05rGOic6SqI_gD1vUOS70Xj2pjCC3rUfmQ9JYgvO1hhvsdDO7I-xDutMzQlEVL15MOPgOjLXj3riGy-ZkM/s1600/PA120499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukAu4nCFJvZLERTomNYSis-ZjlLjCeEZnXXP235GDlzKjOWN00FrgwcLmW05rGOic6SqI_gD1vUOS70Xj2pjCC3rUfmQ9JYgvO1hhvsdDO7I-xDutMzQlEVL15MOPgOjLXj3riGy-ZkM/s1600/PA120499.JPG" height="257" width="320" /></a></div>
I just took this out of the oven and it looks so lovely had to share a photo of it. I use my usual starter (as I do with anything I make) and added a bit of rye to the whole mix just to add texture and flavour. I mix it up each time I bake – why keep to the same recipe? I never tire of trying something different – sometimes it’s wholemeal, or brown, or whatever is in the cupboard that needs using. <br />
<br />And the smell well that too doesn’t go wrong and the radiant heat that stays in the flat also makes it homey. I just love baking bread – it is what gives you life! Enjoy!<br />Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-23946985944092234352014-10-04T21:20:00.000+01:002014-10-04T21:20:13.984+01:00That time of the year again...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpJgBjZvBzQE-uxWLrPQA3IqSrkUp0_7orq_Sk_JesshkjllT0c1Hx-t8ZND2-f2a1egv8y7QeVD6WFQsnCB75WqTHkLNbPNHAJDGwK8aTBzXPwEuXafwmwihSQLDmA5TJQ3Be0jD-FQ/s1600/PA030492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpJgBjZvBzQE-uxWLrPQA3IqSrkUp0_7orq_Sk_JesshkjllT0c1Hx-t8ZND2-f2a1egv8y7QeVD6WFQsnCB75WqTHkLNbPNHAJDGwK8aTBzXPwEuXafwmwihSQLDmA5TJQ3Be0jD-FQ/s1600/PA030492.JPG" height="310" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well it’s birthday time again this year and as usual I made
my favourite <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Chocolate-Last-Consuming-Passion/dp/0847815641/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412441398&sr=8-1&keywords=death+by+chocolate+marcel" target="_blank">White and Chocolate Pistachio cak</a>e.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I just kept adding the chocolate until it ran our - I hate to waste it and after all this isn't a professional bakery but home baked goodness! </span>I love it because the frosting isn’t too
sweet but also light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cake with the
raspberry vinegar in it makes it just that bit different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year I made some homemade raspberry
vinegar as I could not find it for love nor money at the grocery store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found it on-line but the cost was really more than I care
to pay to be honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Here's the recipe I used to make it and
really this is all that is on the ingredients listing - red wine vinegar
and raspberry juice in varying strengths - how hard is it to make your
own - not very! </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><b>Homemade Raspberry Vinegar</b><br />Ingredients:<br />2 cups fresh, organic raspberries<br />3 3/4 cups white wine vinegar<br /><br />Instructions:<br />• rinse raspberries. pat dry.<br />• place raspberries in a 1 quart ball jar.<br />• pour vinegar into jar, covering the raspberries completely.<br />• place lid tightly on the jar.<br />• store in your pantry, 2 weeks.<br />• after two weeks, place a mesh strainer over a 2 quart glass measuring cup and strain the liquid.<br />• discard the raspberries.<br />• transfer vinegar into a clean glass container and store indefinitely. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">And no</span> sooner had I found this recipe did I yes,
find organic raspberries reduced at the store – well this was a sign!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So of course I made it and you know it came
out really nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave it away to
another friend who like me enjoys the taste and we both had some of this lovely
ingredient for our recipes. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIgFbf4KRvzNQbCaiJcHa-wScen2hME95qJFfoJ5bye67AIZW_GSrviZtliPoHRqU8UKhtPSLiEWNhmadfuba6lkn6EU7LzQ-JMZDzvS7p5rf4eMCaYbSZSrAn8eT0ZZc9OgIbfA5Td4/s1600/PA020491.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIgFbf4KRvzNQbCaiJcHa-wScen2hME95qJFfoJ5bye67AIZW_GSrviZtliPoHRqU8UKhtPSLiEWNhmadfuba6lkn6EU7LzQ-JMZDzvS7p5rf4eMCaYbSZSrAn8eT0ZZc9OgIbfA5Td4/s1600/PA020491.JPG" height="317" width="320" /></a></div>
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The <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/316883/grammys-chocolate-cookies" target="_blank">cookies (or biscuits as they are called in the UK)</a> are ones
I baked for work – in the UK if it’s your birthday you bring in the goodies for
all to enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose this is a good
thing if all abide by it – which happens that not all do but this was my
contribution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used <a href="http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/black-cocoa-12-oz" target="_blank">King Arthur’s black cocoa powder</a> (a shirt did get a burst of it – which thankfully washed out!)
which makes them appear nearly black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you keep to 10 minutes in the oven they come out perfect if you like moist and
chewy cookies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I added chocolate chips to mine as I had loads of them left
over from another project and I cannot stand to waste anything, so in they
went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I had some nuts I would have
added those too but sadly, all out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
found them quite nice and J certainly loved them too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say we got some ready-made ‘homemade’
style cookies from the store a few weeks ago so he had something to contrast to
it with and of course mine won hands down (they cost only £0.14p for one so you
can see why he wanted to try it!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">That's it for now - more to follow as usual check back soon. Enjoy! </span></div>
Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-27718645897575362142014-09-27T16:19:00.000+01:002014-09-27T16:19:37.031+01:00Recent Projects and their results!Thought I’d give you a few updates on some of my projects I’ve been doing around the house lately. So you know from a previous post some of my paper roses. Well I’ve expanded them as you can only imagine (if you know me you know this is true!). So I found some really cute paper that is iridescent and made those into roses and then I decorated two presents I had to give recently. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuhHusLX8CbaI-QVflBNmY2Ct9bwQrlKWNNctr0HLxU77U5YJnmX9fuOB8jDGTrWK8q0WBIgp74ICjVsGRiq6ejzWVlw0OQA25in94M1mNToRTWGL0Wg0xq31iswkcmLYiiGAx-ZPZto/s1600/P9040470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuhHusLX8CbaI-QVflBNmY2Ct9bwQrlKWNNctr0HLxU77U5YJnmX9fuOB8jDGTrWK8q0WBIgp74ICjVsGRiq6ejzWVlw0OQA25in94M1mNToRTWGL0Wg0xq31iswkcmLYiiGAx-ZPZto/s1600/P9040470.JPG" height="236" width="320" /></a></div>
The first was just some plain Winsor Newton paper which was 160gsm – it was hard cutting it as well as keeping it rolled but I can say it came out quite good. This one you have to use a hot glue gun to get it to stick. I tend to do the paper ones with PVA glue - it isn't hot and doesn't burn my fingers. I also like that it allows the paper to unravel a bit and they all come out different.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuaNcvyUoVLnmXzR23MC4GTv7_ILwwhFkJrK2SUozvtuim1I_R6QPNkToZYrXV-zVBeOvpIDi2kzWqS2P9NFFCceCx9pk1r9QzW-xd50pMQa1TCvFcTH0zIt8donGl4GRLsRWadJF-kHg/s1600/P9260481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuaNcvyUoVLnmXzR23MC4GTv7_ILwwhFkJrK2SUozvtuim1I_R6QPNkToZYrXV-zVBeOvpIDi2kzWqS2P9NFFCceCx9pk1r9QzW-xd50pMQa1TCvFcTH0zIt8donGl4GRLsRWadJF-kHg/s1600/P9260481.JPG" height="204" width="320" /></a></div>
The second picture was of the iridescent paper – all three the green, blush and purple papers (they were about 120gsm in weight) which I glued to a present I wrapped in velum. I’m really pleased with them both<br />
.<br />My second project was to get away from commercial fabric softener. I had seen many recipes on these both on-line and in magazines. We have finally gotten rid of all of our store purchases and kept the bottles for this purpose. So we tried it and really I have to say it was quite good. The clothing came out quite soft and yes, there was a *hint* of vinegar smell – but nothing overt in your face and while I’m not adverse to this I mention it for those who might try this so you expect it.<br />
<br />Once the clothes are dry however, there is no smell – nothing at all. The clothes I have to say were just the same as those with the commercial kind only better and softer as I did my own side-by-side test feel. You’ll have to do the same when you try and I certainly like the much lower cost on my budget.<br />
<br />The recipe I used is enough to do about 3-4 loads which I found to be enough – you can double the recipe if you want more but I felt I wanted the softening ability of the bicarbonate of soda which I think peters out after a bit if left to sit too long. We tend to do full loads so while we can have 2-3 loads in one go this is an ideal amount for us. With this amount of a recipe you can at least try it and not commit yourself to too much hassle – if you don’t like it then you can just chalk it up to an experience. I’m glad I gave it a try as it certainly will help on saving those pennies!<br />
<br /><b>Homemade Fabric Softener</b><br />
<br />1/4 cup baking soda<br />1 1/2 cups vinegar (white kind not malt!)<br />2 cups water<br />Essence of choice – 5-10 drops<br /><br />Add vinegar and water to bottle; shake to mix as well as possible. Carefully add vinegar (it will bubble) and again shake to dissolve baking soda (be careful as it will bubble and shoot up the bottle!). Add essence of choice if desired, shake and dispense into your softener drawer. I used the max the drawer held and this seemed enough for a full load - use less if you do partial or half loads.<br /><br />Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-85650995410639046352014-09-20T21:59:00.000+01:002014-09-20T21:59:32.114+01:00Nothing Fishy Here....When browsing the aisles I found some fish I’d never had before of course reduced. As you can see each fish cost me £0.88p each – so for my main meal it was £1.76 for us both. That didn’t include my other bits but in total the whole meal (food and fuel) cost me £4.00. I don’t have a particular price point for my meals – this would mean I’d be limiting myself. Sometimes I find things reduced and just have to try them – this was gurnards. I just couldn’t pass them up. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwMr6SDzWju_zlAKJNIoGUaXKyYkwuZS8v4UIirhyphenhyphen-zEx4nW_D9IEyF7U6EUUXNx4gIrbLtZ3l9NIVF8l0n-qU7533Et0Ae5BPGXhwi5uLelWrhKrt4UCdHldge9XgL7esPreEgmORiI/s1600/PA170381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwMr6SDzWju_zlAKJNIoGUaXKyYkwuZS8v4UIirhyphenhyphen-zEx4nW_D9IEyF7U6EUUXNx4gIrbLtZ3l9NIVF8l0n-qU7533Et0Ae5BPGXhwi5uLelWrhKrt4UCdHldge9XgL7esPreEgmORiI/s1600/PA170381.JPG" height="191" width="320" /></a></div>
I hadn’t a clue about what to do with them – thank goodness for <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rick-Steins-Seafood-Stein/dp/056349347X/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1406763734&sr=8-11&keywords=rick+stein" target="_blank">Rick Stein’s Seafood book</a>! It showed me what to do and while I had a few recipes I kept it simple with just some parsley, white wine and a knob of butter (OK – some Old Bay Seasoning might have gotten in there too!). <br />
<br />
I hope the next time you see something reduced and don’t know what to do you’ll think again and get it and give it a try. I’m very glad that I did and yes, I found them again at an even cheaper price and yes, got them again!Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-15117755404727685052014-08-24T22:43:00.002+01:002014-08-24T22:43:46.602+01:00Oh my Samphire!I’m well known for my savvy shopping skills – as most of this blog shows the kind of prices I find things at while out on my shopping expeditions. However, this one really does take top some of my finds. <br />I can remember watching Rick Stein on one of his many shows going on about samphire. I thought shame I’ll never get to try it and just moved on as they say. <br />
<br />
So come one of my shopping trips out and about and stop into Asda and what do I find reduced? Yes, samphire! It was marked at 50p although I tore the sticker off – you’ll have to trust me on this. I didn’t know how to cook it other than boil it for a bit and to not salt it. So that’s essentially what I did and it was lovely. I’ll probably never get to taste it again but am so glad I was able to get it – and reduced! It was as salty as they claim and was most like asparagus I’d say in texture. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJZkRdzA747JxTPYuhsqzVSFx2d5oc8lgxjgisoCRJSxH-33vWngeaCB4LV8hDqreRUdmOMTYfQBeof_V_4I4WafjZYfXwbMmvcSoGBeFUzOLMgJQTvh1d70URsDu6Es3CfXuCiZPMH0/s1600/P4030038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJZkRdzA747JxTPYuhsqzVSFx2d5oc8lgxjgisoCRJSxH-33vWngeaCB4LV8hDqreRUdmOMTYfQBeof_V_4I4WafjZYfXwbMmvcSoGBeFUzOLMgJQTvh1d70URsDu6Es3CfXuCiZPMH0/s1600/P4030038.JPG" height="320" width="273" /></a></div>
<br />I’m rather lucky in all that I do find reduced and it just goes to show you can have a very varied diet if you are willing to experiment and also willing to just go with whatever you can find. I think what I try to do most is have options in the freeze for those instances we I don’t find anything but I’m always willing to exploit a find and maximise it’s potential. I’ve seen a lot of shows lately on just how difficult it is for people to make ends meet and how they have trouble finding good food – I don’t think this is true. I think you can do it all – you just have to be a bit more resourceful but you also have to WANT to do this – it’s not something that comes easy. But oh boy are the rewards worthy of the eating! Enjoy!<br />Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-81719469668579682562014-08-20T18:21:00.001+01:002014-08-20T18:21:10.421+01:00Being crafty in a new way!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Well I know I have many interests – who doesn’t?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love vintage things and have seen for absolute
age, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/search?q=upcycled%20clothing&ref=auto3">up-cycled
clothing</a> and love most of what I see (well you will always find something
that you think to yourself – what were you thinking!?!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m one of those who get’s something without
a particular purpose in mind but saves for that special something – this isn’t
always the case but you know what I mean.</div>
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</div>
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So ages ago when trawling eBay I found this rather plain
blue jean dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It went for a silly
price – something like £5.00 for the dress and shipping – so I figured why
not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it sat in the closet for a
long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pulled it out last winter
and thought – right I’m going to do something with it over the winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well that plan went to pot but there it sat
teasing me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then got a whole bunch of
sewing supplies from a friend who was getting rid of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this goody bag was some lovely glass bugle
beads along with a load of pearls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
instantly saw in my mind what I would do with them and this dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOwvGt0JjSvIMgSaPPXjc1heGBL99rWVJTz-_U1L2U3Zp8DyD1ab5_wFv28Bex1jZpbeiqe9JM8omYigcFMpkqc3dmPvpYaggtTOb8vVRP3vICmrdM2yDlGW2Hd3bUYzY-N3JH6IhdDs/s1600/P7300423.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOwvGt0JjSvIMgSaPPXjc1heGBL99rWVJTz-_U1L2U3Zp8DyD1ab5_wFv28Bex1jZpbeiqe9JM8omYigcFMpkqc3dmPvpYaggtTOb8vVRP3vICmrdM2yDlGW2Hd3bUYzY-N3JH6IhdDs/s1600/P7300423.JPG" height="320" width="148" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIL9TiyGRFjaxDO7wnMbTwbR1l0b5uffoJcMtYqplmpMdEgFXaYTNVGJbOl5Zd-GWwjeLhbtxq8uBgLT1VmUQ4MnzLpWI3rSRnfyBq_VsNKND8N46Hv5wpj93jp2YxlNpyUvxnrG2TeI/s1600/P7300424.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIL9TiyGRFjaxDO7wnMbTwbR1l0b5uffoJcMtYqplmpMdEgFXaYTNVGJbOl5Zd-GWwjeLhbtxq8uBgLT1VmUQ4MnzLpWI3rSRnfyBq_VsNKND8N46Hv5wpj93jp2YxlNpyUvxnrG2TeI/s1600/P7300424.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OH1ze3AZPc74Hgrm4nMALjstduf2Zxwxf-hBP13WIam4pj9xqFvdcwH0F1k3XXIb-QypzapKQHQLfl6BIhY8Su5355fgraMb6WdyUTdfXWHvnNI-aEdVtRE-uhsNtFWhgwyMQYz4SvU/s1600/P7300427.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OH1ze3AZPc74Hgrm4nMALjstduf2Zxwxf-hBP13WIam4pj9xqFvdcwH0F1k3XXIb-QypzapKQHQLfl6BIhY8Su5355fgraMb6WdyUTdfXWHvnNI-aEdVtRE-uhsNtFWhgwyMQYz4SvU/s1600/P7300427.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIL9TiyGRFjaxDO7wnMbTwbR1l0b5uffoJcMtYqplmpMdEgFXaYTNVGJbOl5Zd-GWwjeLhbtxq8uBgLT1VmUQ4MnzLpWI3rSRnfyBq_VsNKND8N46Hv5wpj93jp2YxlNpyUvxnrG2TeI/s1600/P7300424.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdokaRDcMl3nG4TDhTFFbp3GjEqp2Mx7ZtcutS9GEsTo_TQOKNTPU9xN6gUN6Nf_Srf67Ah3LEtWZDehb5k4eEOhu6hJt4ziDOtok7L1LbCcy17Ci0TQIhqEltRgI2B8Hk1TBF_CVf9Q/s1600/P7300431.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdokaRDcMl3nG4TDhTFFbp3GjEqp2Mx7ZtcutS9GEsTo_TQOKNTPU9xN6gUN6Nf_Srf67Ah3LEtWZDehb5k4eEOhu6hJt4ziDOtok7L1LbCcy17Ci0TQIhqEltRgI2B8Hk1TBF_CVf9Q/s1600/P7300431.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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As you can see from the pictures above I just added a bit at
the collar along with two glass buttons (yes, I’m still stock piled with them –
gotta use them up!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then had a
vintage doily and put that on there and then decked it out with the pearls and
bugle beads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then had a few other
buttons that I wanted to use and that was it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I looked at the rather plain blue buttons on there and well you know by
now they went and yes, the glass ones came out and went onto it as well.</div>
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I think it came out pretty cute and I can guarantee no one
will have anything like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rather
like that idea – a single one off creation that incorporates my love of
vintage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I'm now on the trek to making a cheesecloth rose - that one will be pinned to the dress in some fashion but I'll follow that up with a posting later.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
I then was decorating a present for a friend and just wanted
something different so brought out my crafting books stash and saw some roses
in paper and thought - yeah that would be cute and different rather just the usual bow or ribbon.<br />
<br />
So I did a search and you got to love You Tube – because at times
they really do have some good videos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
found a few and then began attempting to make them with my old dictionary that
was falling apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well in no time I had
some very lovely little items as you can see below. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6hyCKaQ5-9xbxe_abqdAFdhyjm5vi2eLxvWRzgMyx8vJy8xK7uCW3E8-9Egkuh158-SfLBAUAk0ajI3UnRz3ynIfBiw6AG-s1AmIyGUg8HNBKNoDkw2NZVTSGnnSo7xI0Fvmji0tpEg/s1600/P8160451.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6hyCKaQ5-9xbxe_abqdAFdhyjm5vi2eLxvWRzgMyx8vJy8xK7uCW3E8-9Egkuh158-SfLBAUAk0ajI3UnRz3ynIfBiw6AG-s1AmIyGUg8HNBKNoDkw2NZVTSGnnSo7xI0Fvmji0tpEg/s1600/P8160451.JPG" height="314" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then not I just had to bling them up a bit – they were after
all plain (but plain is nice if that’s what you want) it was jus this was a
special birthday so had to add a few pearls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think they came out great and when people saw the present they all
asked where did I buy those?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
they all knew the answer as I just smiled and said I made them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were so easy – and if you are interested
in doing your own <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFHun3tgZ0M">this is
the video I used to make them</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7j1LVu4-ZUJkbvPlQJgqXrOvT2ZiMq1FcfyLfJE0UiW7qqxFpdnf4vNR5WBmD0CZqo7CQcm_dXsjbOBojYp2t7M4kZItJQaZIhVF_MtM-bdyGIWSZjJn1gupGjmeDInJRCXibY6lByt8/s1600/P8160459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7j1LVu4-ZUJkbvPlQJgqXrOvT2ZiMq1FcfyLfJE0UiW7qqxFpdnf4vNR5WBmD0CZqo7CQcm_dXsjbOBojYp2t7M4kZItJQaZIhVF_MtM-bdyGIWSZjJn1gupGjmeDInJRCXibY6lByt8/s1600/P8160459.JPG" height="296" width="320" /></a></div>
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Go forth and get crafty!</div>
Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-4045723794952696282014-08-03T18:48:00.002+01:002014-08-03T18:48:56.412+01:00Birthday cake...Well you saw the chocolate in my previous posting - this cake took all that *plus* an additional amount. Yep to the tune of nearly 2 pounds of the lovely dark stuff. J sure is a lucky guy to get this one but he sure does deserve it! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVpW4p6wWsq8okp1wTefPZ1ViGYJWafI_jCWQAyj3W16LnHaeUWatGjujt8Vuoy5UYrQU8t2aQll-E1O_Or5c4hkHorxPAE77vNwl9sIrKFT8mb6gC4Vv1zbOS8F-m7aXwZRBv94pQpI/s1600/Birthday+Cake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVpW4p6wWsq8okp1wTefPZ1ViGYJWafI_jCWQAyj3W16LnHaeUWatGjujt8Vuoy5UYrQU8t2aQll-E1O_Or5c4hkHorxPAE77vNwl9sIrKFT8mb6gC4Vv1zbOS8F-m7aXwZRBv94pQpI/s1600/Birthday+Cake.JPG" height="265" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-9897364940642451412014-07-31T00:57:00.000+01:002014-07-31T01:00:23.686+01:00Blueberry muffins that won’t make you blue!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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OK – I’m probably not your average shopper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I admit I know my prices of my basics in my
head, use the web to get me the best prices but I also adjust my plans for what
I can find reduced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m lucky in that I
find a lot of variety reduced and thus get a varied diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Take the blueberries, I got them reduced but I also had some
milk that was on its last leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what
to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make muffins of course!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I don’t have buttermilk and often I don’t
– I just sour it with lemon juice instead but the milk provided me with the
perfect reason to use it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also had
some corn meal that needed to be used up so that got thrown in – voila –
muffins!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjageQOcWn8jwVHeQvDmfL0HR7t3qjzreTTxhV8IQaQ4LBMZqfbIbqgyV7ictVoSjo_JfJg8lpwCLYJ7-Df-wlJQiv4QWyj8mW0dYhxlqcveOhcfJy8FHvO2Ak32JNnRulD4fjsmvVzI/s1600/P8160378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjageQOcWn8jwVHeQvDmfL0HR7t3qjzreTTxhV8IQaQ4LBMZqfbIbqgyV7ictVoSjo_JfJg8lpwCLYJ7-Df-wlJQiv4QWyj8mW0dYhxlqcveOhcfJy8FHvO2Ak32JNnRulD4fjsmvVzI/s1600/P8160378.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuSv3PUSHaUXNzNBSpa8TFtDsdfpkO8cc-ioUBSrPGdp3ThnweeS5GpShUz2I2YDiS141oDuj4X5eKxG0JPDVIzGCo3xLzlp3-Xuwshee8qGnkv0mX7QLPQ7ZLB9yCZ31elxaUZpE9_o/s1600/P8160367.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuSv3PUSHaUXNzNBSpa8TFtDsdfpkO8cc-ioUBSrPGdp3ThnweeS5GpShUz2I2YDiS141oDuj4X5eKxG0JPDVIzGCo3xLzlp3-Xuwshee8qGnkv0mX7QLPQ7ZLB9yCZ31elxaUZpE9_o/s1600/P8160367.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not a complicated recipe as I have a basic muffin
recipe and I just alter what I put in depending on what I’ve got loads of or
found reduced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also am lucky that I
get some fresh rhubarb from a friend so I just add an apple or pear or any
other soft fruit I have that need using up into the mix and make a
crumble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDkfIMi1krO_TDoLICc8cTstV7lp6Gum86Ar1tAbqrps_sspOEJajD4DiUr1B_vIty9spmPoyuNDoHNbF-Ujb6ZfV8gtZFPVUToC3YUjJ2s37iCAj8emr1-cmX6c3C3TTodBMyDxaP6s/s1600/P7280358.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDkfIMi1krO_TDoLICc8cTstV7lp6Gum86Ar1tAbqrps_sspOEJajD4DiUr1B_vIty9spmPoyuNDoHNbF-Ujb6ZfV8gtZFPVUToC3YUjJ2s37iCAj8emr1-cmX6c3C3TTodBMyDxaP6s/s1600/P7280358.JPG" height="267" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And here is a teasing look at the chocolate that will be
going towards someone’s cake in early August!</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7t0-UOsdw1N3ackAETsG7lhj6qM6M6kdFnuf5AlzFNIHJwnF_h_AGgkLeI5W2-MSCR6-tCUwNiMrb72z4nLQvTnD4CuZ8tIzJn6tme0P12-aervuDJ8UV2U3K9HZEUihEAzE7-7g4xDI/s1600/P7280364.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7t0-UOsdw1N3ackAETsG7lhj6qM6M6kdFnuf5AlzFNIHJwnF_h_AGgkLeI5W2-MSCR6-tCUwNiMrb72z4nLQvTnD4CuZ8tIzJn6tme0P12-aervuDJ8UV2U3K9HZEUihEAzE7-7g4xDI/s1600/P7280364.JPG" height="297" width="320" /></a></span> </div>
Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-3179687774779705182013-06-15T23:01:00.000+01:002013-06-15T23:01:01.750+01:00Herb cream cheese and bagels….I’ve made my own bagels in the past but since they require some careful preparation for making at the weekend I often just get them from the supermarket when I find them reduced. Normally we like them with cream cheese which we used to buy at Aldi’s but since they keep changing the recipe we’ve long gone off of it. It’s a shame that we find something easy and convenient and not too expensive but once we do – it’s a guarantee that it will be gone when we next go looking for it. <br />
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I’m getting where I am making just about everything at home. Not that that is bad or anything but one has only so much time to devote to this. So fast forward to the other day when I found some bagels reduced and wanted to have that herb cream cheese with them but alas Aldi’s is not in the cards and wouldn’t be now that they’ve changed the product and we no longer like it.<br />
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Enter inspiration! I had some cream cheese in the fridge from another meal and <a href="http://mysticbunny.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/lovin-reduced-asile.html" target="_blank">of course I’m forever finding herbs on the reduced aisle</a> so there is plenty to choose from in the freeze. I’ll make my own I say! So armed with nothing more than a vague idea of what I’ll put in there I set off to the kitchen to create some fantastic herbed cream cheese for those bagels.<br />
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I must admit I’m rather good at combining things and just hoping for the best and usually I am rewarded with often very tasty treats. So for this cream cheese creation I envisioned some garlic (one clove, minced), some parsley, a bit of chive and coriander. I don’t have exact measurements – with this sort of blending I rarely do but about a teaspoon of each should do for those not used to cooking like this. I didn’t add any salt but a good few grinds of the pepper mill would not go amiss. I then tasted – it was good but missing something. Back to the cupboard I go and spy some ground cumin and coriander. I had a good measure of each – about ¼ teaspoon to my mix. I should state that I began with about 100 grams of plain cream cheese. Another mix and it finally tastes as I think it should and present to J with our bagels.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAa-D80sIwtRzZC-dj2CS6GmUkw7Cxr84EjgxvNLc80TI2NYyxR19PNOXsZNToeo13WxP6M04z_H10wIlhzhLA99FXQlDDjHSLviCUodvEO_2GFg9nki5KHbx3B_5ylUyfzJXgpw-ra8/s1600/P5240052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAa-D80sIwtRzZC-dj2CS6GmUkw7Cxr84EjgxvNLc80TI2NYyxR19PNOXsZNToeo13WxP6M04z_H10wIlhzhLA99FXQlDDjHSLviCUodvEO_2GFg9nki5KHbx3B_5ylUyfzJXgpw-ra8/s320/P5240052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqWBgwnOvKoHCgY38ZHqQMSR96oXSjGoQZKquS891k4ioXfVxSPoW6DeuRiwWXmDkB-6en_qRLk_bzk6t9d4htAHJWrYd7s9ugyeMX7jg_ew20l-gJ_Pb_wsRT5GYczEsIkZIwl5tJ5A/s1600/P5240057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqWBgwnOvKoHCgY38ZHqQMSR96oXSjGoQZKquS891k4ioXfVxSPoW6DeuRiwWXmDkB-6en_qRLk_bzk6t9d4htAHJWrYd7s9ugyeMX7jg_ew20l-gJ_Pb_wsRT5GYczEsIkZIwl5tJ5A/s320/P5240057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It passes the test for taste and of course expediency of
making it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all it took me only
about two minutes to get the cream cheese mixed and ready – how long would it
have taken to get the one we liked previously from the store?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely longer than two minutes I can assure
you. The best part is that I mixed just enough for our bagel
breakfast and that used up the last of the cream cheese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A win-win situation – gotta love those!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I just got these last night on my trip to <a href="http://www.marksandspencer.com/" target="_blank">M&S</a> as I was heading back home and saw these - knew I had to get them - the price was just right as they say! I know it's sickening - but just had to get them all as the chives just freeze really well. I've been using them up making my pasta side dishes and this is the first time I've tried rosemary - we'll see how well it freezes. If it doesn't work - well no great loss as you can see the price was really cheap!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65cFfGUhv3pD3PoCsn_43qahIIMgfQvMKqCpQ0iDEeyLqvXgR1mGiZvMyzebBDbqbQzy4aQhE0LLPwc4sa7ncvdtIEWJc3PLUVOQ1jRGKdjB1jk5fo-1KBRzgcWV8h9tyOKXSsmQCemk/s1600/P6150060.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65cFfGUhv3pD3PoCsn_43qahIIMgfQvMKqCpQ0iDEeyLqvXgR1mGiZvMyzebBDbqbQzy4aQhE0LLPwc4sa7ncvdtIEWJc3PLUVOQ1jRGKdjB1jk5fo-1KBRzgcWV8h9tyOKXSsmQCemk/s320/P6150060.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">And these lovely flowers were from some friends after I had a biopsy (not to worry - everything is OK!) - took it a few weeks ago but have only just downloaded them and they came out so pretty just had to share. I know - I'm lucky to have such wonderful friends!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5o914HBC8ZS-CoBO56USpX3BKvGb-zkaAKkFHnOOnRheXxDwf5mlCwo8-5lmFczXkHd3H9Kbwa4DYKV17Ji5_ybUTBEzOpTfs3y5L-YavD2FQSKTrJn5zGhClflxHOCzLnzZZ5bQdj7Q/s1600/P4150048.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5o914HBC8ZS-CoBO56USpX3BKvGb-zkaAKkFHnOOnRheXxDwf5mlCwo8-5lmFczXkHd3H9Kbwa4DYKV17Ji5_ybUTBEzOpTfs3y5L-YavD2FQSKTrJn5zGhClflxHOCzLnzZZ5bQdj7Q/s320/P4150048.JPG" width="303" /></a></span> </span> </div>
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I’ve now thought of a sweet variation for my home made cream cheese and
once I’ve had a chance to try that I’ll post all about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy!</div>
Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-84891588148069291262013-04-01T19:59:00.000+01:002013-04-01T20:00:42.587+01:00Bargains Galore!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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Well it is Easter and I just happen to need some lettuce for
some soft tacos I was making the day before Easter Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So off to the Co-op we go and what do I find
– yes, a bunch of reduced that I haven’t a clue as to the why but I sure did
take my share!</div>
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<br /></div>
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As you can see from the photo it was a big haul by even my
standards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got vegetable bouillon
which I use in a variety of ways from my doodle-noodle nights to making my own
pasta sauces (I mix this in with sour cream, or pasta water and lemon juice,
the list is endless).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also found some
dried mushrooms – which are always welcome in a risotto especially when it’s
still cold out as it is here in the UK.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0SGOlbH0i41qvoEz4XZWGJn_8K1WuPyAMWBWqDaqM_Nu8Tz6wXzivNXLPF06TERodNxANbo8GfCKmIppTITVB2mNshkIFORtq3__gmq5QLyPbCM-gWz6wMfl_0rrrW-sSQwoDreWe5Y/s1600/P3300030.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0SGOlbH0i41qvoEz4XZWGJn_8K1WuPyAMWBWqDaqM_Nu8Tz6wXzivNXLPF06TERodNxANbo8GfCKmIppTITVB2mNshkIFORtq3__gmq5QLyPbCM-gWz6wMfl_0rrrW-sSQwoDreWe5Y/s1600/P3300030.JPG" height="316" width="320" /></a></div>
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As you can see a wide variety of items and most had a long
shelf life – the bouillon was not too long but I’ve put them in the freeze to
keep it fresh but I’ll use this quite quickly with my cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of it fresh fruit and veg as well as
some Quorn for this week’s lunches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
also got some organic peanut butter which will go nicely into making some
cookies which I put in the freeze and then make ad hoc when we want fresh warm
cookies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I also thought I’d post this picture I took at Sainsburys
some time ago after I posted about finding loads of fresh herbs reduced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m still finding them and found it funny how
they sell them frozen now as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly
they will not get my money that way as I’m still finding them off and on in my
trips to the stores.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaRskRlWrVrABlEeixJAv4YgNaZrZ3GOyjwlFJLeaSPM5S-RDqyhACrC2tbBZhkUcr7jeVwwj-5rAVkIHWQ_IJNLxKnyemDb5zD5nCL71vvxscnEnXkCneaBHYGGqPc4moxVbeb1ZK94/s1600/Herbs+-+Sainsburys.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaRskRlWrVrABlEeixJAv4YgNaZrZ3GOyjwlFJLeaSPM5S-RDqyhACrC2tbBZhkUcr7jeVwwj-5rAVkIHWQ_IJNLxKnyemDb5zD5nCL71vvxscnEnXkCneaBHYGGqPc4moxVbeb1ZK94/s1600/Herbs+-+Sainsburys.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And finally this is a picture of the first snow we saw back
on the 5<sup>th</sup> of December.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
flakes were the size of small golf balls – it is true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They didn’t come out too well and sadly the
snow disappeared by the next day but it was fun to see it fall.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszMJgV0Th1GDLGFSCE2MYfJdu5_vehzl2DUbGDZbT0_9wroqZzJxWUrHdcUPjUEGZo6Y1jZD-f9FLfvLUSp7VE2nMS7IcdUe4AyKr2XsFlT6MmJHVgxqWOYQUglX7JqY2V8DNCXMi9ZE/s1600/PC050011.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszMJgV0Th1GDLGFSCE2MYfJdu5_vehzl2DUbGDZbT0_9wroqZzJxWUrHdcUPjUEGZo6Y1jZD-f9FLfvLUSp7VE2nMS7IcdUe4AyKr2XsFlT6MmJHVgxqWOYQUglX7JqY2V8DNCXMi9ZE/s1600/PC050011.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<br /></div>
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I’m off to make dinner – am still trying to get used to this
time change but slowly the body is kicking in and says time to eat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy!</div>
Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-72004633644298937492012-09-25T17:02:00.002+01:002012-09-25T17:02:44.183+01:00Lovely flowers....Big birthday this year and a friend gave me these lovely flowers. I especially loved the rose which has the most unusual colouring. I tried to capture it with the macro part of the camera - am still not that proficient with it as I should be but I do try.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Have a few other things to post in a bit but still working on the photos. Enjoy!Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-45296833890662297722012-09-02T20:26:00.000+01:002012-09-02T20:26:05.448+01:00Pickling some Sushi Ginger…<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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OK – my love of how quick and <a href="http://mysticbunny.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/birthday-dinner-and-cake.html" target="_blank">sushi is well documented</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, it came that I made sushi and completely forgot to get pickled
ginger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always wanted to try
making it myself and knew it was super easy but have always found it reduced so
never had to worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So now comes the time to attempt to make it, I did a few
searches and looked at various recipes on how to make it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have an exact recipe and really one
isn’t needed as I just kept to a ratio of 1 part of rice vinegar to ¼ of
murin/sugar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I added a bit of water and
allowed the ginger to marinate in some salt that I rubbed into it for about 30
minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heated the rice
vinegar/murin/sugar until just to the boil and poured over the ginger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I noted that they said it would turn pink if it was ‘new’
ginger – how you know this I haven’t a clue but the taste was really quite
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was pleased with it and other
than wishing I had done this a week before I had to use it I was impressed at
how easy it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent perhaps a total
of 10 minutes between the prep, salting and then getting the mixture into a
pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I left the rice vinegar to sit
until the ginger had waited about 30 minutes and then 2 minutes maximum to get the
thing to boil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYMUeQFeLQy1hJPPilgdyeFJvFDlVqDn1pZxL6i2h33rzpT1OUhyphenhyphenJKUSPY9VXSoa80FCmhkEE1qxpNSZSnq_DBtn42uvWIbjzyXtndBT2al98hXaPeymEzJB-OuZvtYsPAbUNU1udoe8/s1600/P8040049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYMUeQFeLQy1hJPPilgdyeFJvFDlVqDn1pZxL6i2h33rzpT1OUhyphenhyphenJKUSPY9VXSoa80FCmhkEE1qxpNSZSnq_DBtn42uvWIbjzyXtndBT2al98hXaPeymEzJB-OuZvtYsPAbUNU1udoe8/s320/P8040049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mine didn’t turn pink but it could have been from the murin
I used which was a deep dark brown in colour (it’s organic – not sure that
makes a difference?) but who cares.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
all about the taste for me and this was surely a good one – give it a try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much better than the stuff from the
store/packet and well you save a packet making your own!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy.</div>
Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-3035686322255210872012-08-25T17:08:00.003+01:002012-08-25T17:08:31.201+01:00Birthday and cake…Yet another birthday for J – and as usual another cake from that old favourite book Death by Chocolate. This year he wanted a simple chocolate cake and picked this one as it was rather simple to make and we had most of the ingredients in the house already. <br /><br />It was a pretty simple cake batter to make and other than a bit odd in it’s preparation it went well and cake came out really great from the oven. The frosting however, was beyond bad. I’m not a ‘big’ icing fan and will usually scrape it off the cake before I even eat it. It was a simple icing sugar/butter with cocoa powder. I’m not a fan of chocolate at the best of times (I know this is hard to believe but it really isn’t my favourite thing!) but the icing was bad. I cannot fault the recipe it just wasn’t a great pairing with the cake.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcugkRMPJzma4PABrxCGiz_p_Mul5jNtkMnCpb4Ups53Nthm4EBavyIlC_kZvFVQHVL0IiS9IVItKVqzgrvo8F8qw_1v_sSPgMQydeGSAbeOytHnRdfbviTEXaf9LS_3v1dyx4pc_JXU/s1600/P8030032.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcugkRMPJzma4PABrxCGiz_p_Mul5jNtkMnCpb4Ups53Nthm4EBavyIlC_kZvFVQHVL0IiS9IVItKVqzgrvo8F8qw_1v_sSPgMQydeGSAbeOytHnRdfbviTEXaf9LS_3v1dyx4pc_JXU/s320/P8030032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1F6Z5wnY6t5VbEIRorW3c9PWvibXAcfzuUc-f3133DhCRl77-CZR7kK25pkndNBeyAuW2-rzSjITWWBPjYooD52wS_VDHI0GnkIT5JmmetOuf_JWFlUW19512vTR1am7BRP1Dmv8MVlg/s1600/P8030041.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1F6Z5wnY6t5VbEIRorW3c9PWvibXAcfzuUc-f3133DhCRl77-CZR7kK25pkndNBeyAuW2-rzSjITWWBPjYooD52wS_VDHI0GnkIT5JmmetOuf_JWFlUW19512vTR1am7BRP1Dmv8MVlg/s320/P8030041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
So a disappointment that all my friends got to enjoy – so they are happy I’m sure. I think I’d try something different but exactly what I am not sure as it really was a very light cake and closely resembled Angel Food in that lightness kind of way. Oh well, live and learn but never this icing again!<br /><br />Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-19078699093311150772012-08-17T16:53:00.001+01:002012-08-17T16:53:25.275+01:00Rather disgusting I think....I am always following links of links and looking at various news sites and such - never one to commit to a single source I am constantly travelling around reading. I know this habit never dies! Anyway, I found this article about What half a billion in campaign spending would have bought. Here's the <a href="http://www.thewrap.com/tv/column-post/what-half-billion-campaign-spending-could-have-bought-52421" target="_blank">link to the article</a> but the main impact is this: <br />
<ul>
<li>Food for 9.2 million malnourished children for 50 days</li>
<li>Immunizations for 29 million children for life</li>
<li>Clean water for 500 million children for 40 days</li>
<li>166 million anti-malarial mosquito bed nets </li>
</ul>
It really makes you sick the amount of money being spent on this ONE campaign. While I still vote back in the US this just about makes me lose my cookies. What will really do it is whoever gets in as they both are nothing to write home about much less run a country. So sad and so wasteful.... I usually end with Enjoy but this time I'll end with CHANGE!<br />
Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-48005991227006407852012-08-12T15:57:00.001+01:002012-08-12T15:57:36.348+01:00Making a small difference....<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I recently saw the movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food,_Inc.">Food, Inc</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T0Zlzd19bUzyMA_qbLWi6VyQo_SR24qA-oPu3-zzaHm41vz6gnBQoX3xJT0JOb0rhc8L3oUy0vwzrQdIzVuU4G-qlz69glwEocCATgiIPPdcILGMjYK-I90QJxfydDql7X-INRHjhtQ/s1600/Food+Inc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T0Zlzd19bUzyMA_qbLWi6VyQo_SR24qA-oPu3-zzaHm41vz6gnBQoX3xJT0JOb0rhc8L3oUy0vwzrQdIzVuU4G-qlz69glwEocCATgiIPPdcILGMjYK-I90QJxfydDql7X-INRHjhtQ/s1600/Food+Inc.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, it was <a href="http://www.takepart.com/foodinc">made in 2008</a> and we are now in 2012
but hey this is what happens in the UK when movies are made – libraries are
slow but do eventually get them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Anyway,
I won’t make a big song and dance because there isn’t a need for one in this
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am the converted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I buy in season, local as much as possible or is available,
organic/free-range for my meat and eggs and just about everything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also buy fair trade so that people are paid
a fair amount for their goods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try to
do this in every facet of life – not just my eating but clothes, furniture,
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, it is more expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, you do have to sometimes wait for that
lovely bed (see posting below) but it sure was worth it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I kept someone in a job, someone had pride in their skill
and I get to sleep in it EVERY night!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
it came from China I’d worry about the person who had to sweat to put it
together, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wouldn’t even mind
paying the same amount for a Chinese good – but why pay that and know the
person who really got the wage was paid less than what you and I would spend on
a cup of coffee for the WHOLE day?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Enough said – enjoy the movie and THINK!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what our brains were made for!</div>Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-79283282015808321812012-08-04T16:33:00.000+01:002012-08-04T16:33:25.788+01:00Goldilocks and her 3 beds for real!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
OK this is not about cooking or what I got reduced at the
store – I document that quite a bit but thought I’d relay some of the recent
horrors we’ve had in attempting to get a new bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, we really needed a new bed frame and mattress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we’ve been looking for over 2 years at the
stuff in the stores putting it off because nothing really ‘sang’ to me or J.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then last Christmas when we could put it off no longer we
saw a frame/mattress at a local company – I’ll call them Bad Demons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We enquired where was the bed made and told
European and the mattress was UK made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, when bed arrived (mind you we had to move everything out of the
room for this) the box clearly said our not so favourite slogan ‘Made in
China’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we wanted to return it we
weren’t sure if we were going to keep the mattress or not but this ended up
from being made in the UK to somehow coming from Ireland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With all the will in the world that’s not the
UK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were in doubt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So back that went and refund dutifully made.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second place – now this time we took time to find what we
thought would be our ‘bed’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
handmade in the UK with FSC wood – and the mattress was also made in the
UK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you see a pattern here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, we are trying to keep UK businesses in
business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll call them Wanker
Beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even went down to the store in
London to see the bed ourselves, measure things, feel the mattress, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learned from Bad Demons or thought we had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>So second bed ordered and about a month later it comes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All wrapped in blankets so as not to use
cardboard or other materials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great care
taken to get it into the flat and again our old bed goes out into the hall
temporarily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The delivery men put the
bed together first wrong – it’s not in properly so have to unscrew the screws
now and do it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This leaves us with
severely chipped wood and looks a sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Upon closer inspection the slats are warped and some so split we’re sure
they won’t last a month much less a lifetime as we anticipated for this bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are screwed in – something we didn’t
think to check but think this is not a sound idea.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meantime in the hallway of our flats our old bed has now
walked off with a new owner so we have no bed whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mattress also isn’t right – one half of
it looks to be filled less and is at an incline, one roll and you’re off the
bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not pleased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wanker beds have to come back and take this
away – we are devastated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All we want is a bed – made in the UK that will last us more
than a year as we know flat pack furniture is not for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love all things old – it’s stood the test
of time – nothing new ever lasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we
are up against a wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our ‘new’ bed
goes in a month and our ‘old’ bed has walked off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll be on the floor sleeping because we
cannot find anyone who makes something so simple in this country.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Again I turn to the great Internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decide that we’ll have to put more money
into the frame because it looks like bespoke will be about our only
option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But wait – I do a search for
reclaimed wood bed and what do I find?! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, a company called <a href="http://www.eatsleeplive.co.uk/">EatSleepLive</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found others and in fact we narrowed it
down to three companies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I e-mailed each
company with a list of things we were interested in knowing – how is the bed
put together, who delivers the item, prices, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We figured those that did answer would be serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a test – sorry but as you can see from
the above by now we are prepared for disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So two out of the three we emailed initially reply – I guess the third company
couldn’t be bothered even to reply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
we kept this up as more questions came to us, we asked and replies were
received.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both companies were very
patient and kind in responding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
eventually put everything into a grid with a Pro/Con comments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both companies were in the running but what
made <a href="http://www.eatsleeplive.co.uk/">EatSleepLive</a> the final
winner?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was really the loads of
pictures we saw on the site and my gut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>J was in favour of the other company but I stood my ground – nope this
was the one I wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something inside
me said just ‘go for it’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gave us a
modicum of hope that finally we found a company that did things the way we
liked/wanted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we bit the bullet and put in our order for a bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be about 12 weeks for it to arrive but
we knew it would be worth waiting for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the meantime we slept on the floor on just about anything that
offered us an inkling of cushion-y effect. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is surprising how fast 12 weeks can go and suddenly we
got the call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our bed was nearly ready
and we needed to arrange delivery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh my
– we were nervous and then had to quickly get our mattress as we didn’t want to
have a mattress sitting in the flat until the bed was ready or here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furious times I must tell you. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
But finally the day came and our new bed ARRIVED!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh my, it was better than the pictures on
their site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just really could not
believe it was finally here and that the bed was far superior to my
expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll let the pictures do
the talking but all I can say is save for this stuff as it’s worth it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We've now had it just about 2 months and how the memories of sleeping on the floor have left - I shall never take that for granted again! The wood apparently comes from an old brewery in Peterborough which means no trees died in the making of this bed - it is 100% recycled. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are now looking at a chest of drawers but that’s going to
be a bit but well worth the wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
not paid by them to say this nor am I in anyway compensated for this
praise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am just pleased to finally
find a company that makes an honest living and provides a service that they can
be proud of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>All the time I am
disappointed in companies and every once in a while it is great to find
something you can say was done right and well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m also proud to say that I did my part and kept China out of it – can
you say the same?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enough said...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-67910734807134588262012-07-28T23:20:00.001+01:002012-07-28T23:21:43.768+01:00Lovin' the reduced asile....Sorry - still busy and even more so with the Olympics now on the telly! Have had loads of things at work to accomplish and home has been a whirlwind of activity which I cannot discuss just yet but soon! Nothing bad just cautious before I say it is a fait accompli.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOYXlXzliqdQxuxL5EV1ToTpCv8k01UPGM6kTcIKCinqLcXcsgRnt5QUHMRDH6G31JPfSTz-mPj15RnyiBUDXg97IA_e9BoEHTs9QBVQ36R5SFo64LQx2el-6CTlkf9pnhcb1qhSGWLo/s1600/herbs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOYXlXzliqdQxuxL5EV1ToTpCv8k01UPGM6kTcIKCinqLcXcsgRnt5QUHMRDH6G31JPfSTz-mPj15RnyiBUDXg97IA_e9BoEHTs9QBVQ36R5SFo64LQx2el-6CTlkf9pnhcb1qhSGWLo/s320/herbs.jpg" width="213" /></a> </div>
<br />
So I have lately been finding herbs reduced - parsley, lemon thyme, lemon grass stalks, coriander. As I've said before I go in spurts of something all the time then never. I know weird! So what to do with them and those lovely big bunches of them?<br />
<br />
Well I did a bit of a test on them as the one I had gotten I couldn't use all of the parsley I got reduced so chopped it up and put into a small baggie I had from home - they are half the size of a sandwich bag - so cute and great for those little some thing's that are too big for a container or larger baggie. Froze the parsley and used in a sauce a few weeks later.<br />
<br />
Verdict? Not a lot of difference in taste (it had lost a bit of it's punch but not enough that I didn't know it was parsley by it's taste) and excellent for when you want a bit of something to add to that sauce. Now I've tried a few different ones and thought I'd report back what ones seems to freeze well. Coriander, parsley, lemon grass stalks (for those lovely doodle noodles as I call them!), and lemon thyme so far all have worked out quite well. Chiles not so great and mint really did lose it's zing (not my words as I hate it but J loves it and he could hardly taste it in the final product).<br />
<br />
I know I've seen all these fresh herbs in the freezer section and I must admit that I looked at them but they stayed there for the price they wanted. And I've never understood the garlic thing - it's really not that hard to peel and it is nothing like the 'real' thing. So why bother?<br />
<br />
I have thought of trying to capture the flavour in an ice cube tray but that will have to wait until I have a bigger freeze - cannot spare the room for that at the moment. Unlike American fridges, British ones are in a whole other class!<br />
<br />
And when I say reduced herbs - I'm talking less than 25p for a huge bunch of corriander or parsley - otherwise it's not worth my time. I'm keen to try others but obviously only when found reduced so it's a wait and see but hope this is useful.<br />
<br />
Next posting will be the bed - sorry - haven't as yet downloaded the pictures from the camera nor the ones from the Olympic torch that went past my work a few weeks ago. Saw the opening ceremonies and really liked it.Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-90969654954310948412012-06-25T14:28:00.001+01:002012-06-25T14:28:34.321+01:00Busy as always...Well we've been super busy and thought I'd just come on to say I'm still around and all but life at the moment is very hectic.<br />
<br />
Usually we are buzzed quite a bit by the helicopters and such but lately our skies have had a number of unusual incidents. This was back in mid-May and then again in early June (just before the Jubilee weekend) when we saw the <a href="http://www.goodyearblimp.co.uk/spot-the-blimp/view-photos/" target="_blank">Good Year Blimp</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPmMjKZ70INLk99tuDD-hZuAFIQ2MCx35-OzMYRFndAYKcw60EYlIecqsQ6v79peb8Po3YBO3Y2rxJW5c1YDdBXwrHbm-kadbOChNM_4eZlxU2RLubnPny995pI85QesV-J2gRn3JHRc/s1600/18+May+2012+-+Blimp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPmMjKZ70INLk99tuDD-hZuAFIQ2MCx35-OzMYRFndAYKcw60EYlIecqsQ6v79peb8Po3YBO3Y2rxJW5c1YDdBXwrHbm-kadbOChNM_4eZlxU2RLubnPny995pI85QesV-J2gRn3JHRc/s320/18+May+2012+-+Blimp.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We've never seen it in America and I think it's rather funny that I first get to see this here in the UK! What a mind trip.<br />
<br />
Then last weekend we had another unusual event with a rescue helicopter this time by <a href="http://www.essexairambulance.uk.com/" target="_blank">Essex Air Ambulance</a>. A motorcyclist crashed into the barriers in the underpass which surprisingly is a common occurrence because of the way people drive around here (it's sometimes really like boy racers around here!).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ONR6W1fh4d2SzEPDFW83hWpshtTL_5R2xhSIyelpLbeMAt0WbS16WEOjsOTKe73F1JML8OZgovTgceDJKxd9r7vmZI35dAiaP2jw6CRapOghLa7AcEocfl7aT3nz8u_uUK0D2sSWU24/s1600/P6170003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ONR6W1fh4d2SzEPDFW83hWpshtTL_5R2xhSIyelpLbeMAt0WbS16WEOjsOTKe73F1JML8OZgovTgceDJKxd9r7vmZI35dAiaP2jw6CRapOghLa7AcEocfl7aT3nz8u_uUK0D2sSWU24/s320/P6170003.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Thankfully he was lucky according to the local newspaper and will have some life-changing injuries but has lived. But this isn't something you see every day around here even with the number of accidents we have seen over the years with this underpass. </div>
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My next entry will be about our bed saga so stay tuned - it is not to be missed I assure you! Stay safe and enjoy!</div>Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-50187558862394391882012-04-24T19:29:00.001+01:002012-04-24T19:29:44.080+01:00Our Daily Bread....<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I know I have talked before about making bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still make it every week or just about –
depends on what is happening in the house but also the need of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we often find breads I don’t make
(like a wholemeal rye or seeded) reduced that we’ll pick up just to have a go
at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We usually never buy just bog
standard white nor do we buy any of the normal ‘sandwich’ type pappy fluff.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcoy25wXXZeQAQuiznqATlI8F0ODNzlQJj83rvPcrwNyDTJq7R5VsQZbu-5qGfNzgsya2vT5SgVWg-KVqaEHKyMEtR_NZL3pifjXvVPLG5Ij_UPYXZIRtaML2SROFaq_x8P88_F24tFo/s1600/Saveur+-+May+2012+Issue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcoy25wXXZeQAQuiznqATlI8F0ODNzlQJj83rvPcrwNyDTJq7R5VsQZbu-5qGfNzgsya2vT5SgVWg-KVqaEHKyMEtR_NZL3pifjXvVPLG5Ij_UPYXZIRtaML2SROFaq_x8P88_F24tFo/s1600/Saveur+-+May+2012+Issue.jpg" /></a></div>
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But I saw in May’s issue of Saveur magazine Bread made the
cover and how it is being made more and more at home in America – after all it
is an American publication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually
fondle all the US magazines I can find at the newsagent just to have that small
connection of what is going on there – see all the new stuff, etc.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, Bread!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The article
was an interesting one and talks about the slow food movement at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also talks about baking bread and the
person who wrote the article about how they grew their own wheat, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I naturally haven’t taken it that far and I
don’t see the need to really unless you are a glutton for punishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, they go on to talk about starters and how this is
the next level of baking bread but never give you an idea of how to start your
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose to be fair it was about
making bread and they did include recipes on how to do just that – some jargon
for those not familiar with baking terms, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I’ve <a href="http://mysticbunny.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/its-all-about-starter.html">stated
in a previous posting</a> I started my starter now about 2 years ago. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must say it’s going as strong as ever – I
cannot kill it and it comes back no matter how long I ignore and don’t feed
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know BAD!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in a way it has relaxed my attitude
towards the starter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first when you
are beginning one – you cannot ignore it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It does need your attention for the first two weeks and after that every
week I fed it and after a few months I just fed it when I was ready to
bake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It now consistently out grows its
container.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it’s exceptionally warm
– well it’s even more active!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last night I did my first ever overnight rise – no real
special reason other than I had some time to do the kneading and thought I’d do
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it was a bit better tasting
than if I didn’t but to us the real difference is the starter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bread before I used the starter was OK and even good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the starter improves it to that bake shop
quality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone has their opinion on
the crust, or the way to knead but it doesn’t matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can even make bread I hear without
kneading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really do not put a lot of
time into making bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spend perhaps
3-5 minutes dumping the items into a bowl and mixing around to get the flour to
absorb the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then let it sit for
15-20 minutes – this is the autolyse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I then come in and knead it for 5-7 minutes – sometimes
longer if it needs it but this is usually sufficient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then let it proof once – depends on the day
and warmth (1.5-3 hours) and then form it into the loaf or basket and let proof
again, the same amount of time – just depends and then bake it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that is by my time clock perhaps 6.5
hours total but I’m not there watching it and certainly if you let it rise
overnight in the fridge then you are certainly not attending to it all that
time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So go on now and begin your loaf or make your own starter if
you don’t know anyone who has one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
sure they would share it and really it does make all the difference in the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy!</div>Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154464815785120174.post-74758756138999320082012-03-27T19:11:00.002+01:002012-03-27T19:13:06.554+01:00Been a while...Sorry - have been really super busy with some projects both at work and at home that have to be accomplished. I've been getting the bargains when I can and hope to show some of that when I get a few moments to compose/document them. Check back soon!Mysticbunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01381929965915353879noreply@blogger.com0