Week 34 - Chocolate & Pistachio Tart *shopping list*

This one is a kind of marmite cake - youre either going to love it or hate it!

Personally it wasnt worth all the messing around for what it was so ii wont be making it again but since its a Martha Stewart recipe i had to give it a go.....

Shopping list for week 34For the crust...

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup unsalted pistachios, chopped
1 stick of butter (4oz)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
For the pistachio paste...

1/4 cup unsalted pistachios
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp safflower oil (same family as sunflower)

For the filling...

5oz milk chocolate
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup whole milk
1 large egg

garnish - finely chopped pistachios.

Sold out in less than 24 hours!!

OH MY GOODNESS this is beyond what I imagined!! *picture me happy dancing*

I have spoken with the owner this morning and we have added another date..

20/21/22 of May 2011

...teachers may be subject to change but i will update the website as soon as i have confirmation from all of the girls :)

There is a forum now live on the site too where you can ask any questions or add suggestions etc. Each retreat date section will only be visable to those booked on that retreat for security reasons but there is a general forum section open to all.

Thank you for believing in my dreams and I cant wait to share them all with you...we are going to have so much fun! :)

Caramelized onion dip - week 33 *step by step*

This one is so simple its ideal for a last minute party snack and keeps for 2 days in the fridge :)

Peel and dice your onions very small. Heat the oil in a large pan and gently fry the onions for 30 minutes until browned slightly.Pour 4tbsp of water into the pan to deglaze the base and leave to cool for approx 30 minutes,
Add the sour cream, greek yogurt and seasoning, stir well and refridgerate for at least 1 hour before serving! :DEnjoy xxx

We are officially open :)

Thank you so much for all of the fantastic responses to my new venture - i am so excited about it and i really hope that follows all the way through to the smallest detail :)

Creative Heart and Soul - luxury weekend retreats :)

Week 33 - Caramelized Onion Dip *shopping list*

Sorry i havent been around over the weekend, things have taken on a whole new life here! LOL

OK, here is the shopping list for week 33 and we are making a caramelized onion dip - it makes LOTS and will keep for up to 2 days in the fridge :)
1tbsp olive oil
3lb onions
3tbsp water
1 1/2cup greek yogurt
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4tsp cayenne pepper

Chocolate Chip Marble Cake - week 32 :) *step by step*

First up though a bargain to be had at Sainsburys for all those planning cupcake displays at a party. Reduced to £3.99 each and oh so cute!!
Ok, check click here for the shopping list for this recipe...

Place all of your ingredients except the cocoa, hot water and chocolate into a mixer and mix on high for 3 minutes until light and fluffy
Grease and line a 9in tray and preheat oven to 180 degrees c.
Using half the mixure, dot it around the lined tin making sure to leave spaces between.
Melt the cocoa powder with the boiling water and add it to the remaining half cake mix.
Mix well.
Fill the spaces of your lined tray and smooth over the top.
Sprinkle with the chocolate chips and place in the oven for 35 minutes.
Wait until it cools and serve (dont put your hand on the top to feel the heat as the chocolate chips are soft and will scald your hand!!) *yes im talking from experience* LOL
To finish up for today here is my little.......or now not so little Princess Evangeline Hope at 4 months. Arent those shoes just the cutest - start her early with a healthy obsession just like her mummy! lol

Creative Heart and Soul - launching soon!

Imagine driving away from the sound of traffic, preparing to spend some well deserved YOU time creating projects you will cherish and that have meaning.
This is a private driveway to a 300 year old Georgian house where we are to hold workshops and more for 18 ladies...
So, now tell me.

How does a luxury weekend away sound....

How about local produce cooked in a purpose built BBQ Lodge...

How about a champagne and chocolate supper...

How does 5 workshops, lots of make & takes and so SO much more sound to you??

Just take a look at these teaser pictures....

The orangery, where the workshops will be held...
...one of the many bathrooms...
...one of the stunning bedrooms...
...this has been a dream of mine and it is coming soon...very soon! ;)

Get ready to bookmark creativeheartandsoul.com and be amongst the first group of ladies to experience a retreat like no other! *I will pop a message here as soon as the site is live*

Ribbon Girl Giveaway :)

One of my lovely friends has opened her own store and a very pretty store it is too! All ribbons, twine, dotty buttons and other yummy goodies!!
To celebrate the opening she is having a give away - go check it out, follow the blog and leave a comment to be entered :)

*Im on the design team too* ;)

Week 32 - Chocolate Chip & Vanilla Marble Cake *shopping list*

Ok, first up Home Bargains have the big bags of Be-Ro flour (self-raising and plain) at 59p a pack!! Thats almost as cheap as the shops own makes!! Use by date is Nov 10 so still plenty of time to use it :)

Shopping list for week 328oz soft margarine
8oz caster sugar
10oz self-raising flour
2 tsp baking powder
4 eggs
2 tbsp milk
1/2tsp vanilla essence
1/2tsp cocoa powder
2 tbst hot water
2oz plain chocolate chips
2oz plain chocolate
2oz white chocolate

Bye bye bunny...

Well, this layout is official my final project as part of the Bo Bunny Team.All of the flowers are handmade and either cut freehand, with the Hello Kitty flowers Sizzix ie or with the scallop flower Sizzix die. They are attached with brads and silicone. The lemon and white fabric ones are Prima, as are the page pebbles :)
I have thoroughly enjoyed this past year and all the girls who I have become great friends with! I want to give a huge shout out to two girls who were chosen for the new team - Mireille and Carin (2angels)

Huge congratulations, you are so going to enjoy your time on the team :)

Cocanoffee Pie - Week 30 Step by Step.

Shopping list is here :)

Start by crushing your digestive biscuits until they look like fine breadcrumbs.
Meanwhile melt your butter in a bowl over the top of a pan of boiling water.
Add your coconut to the crumb mix and stir well.
Pour in the melted butter and stir to combine.
Empty your mix into either a large loose base flan tin or a greased ceramic flan tin.
Press firmly to form the base.
Mix together 3 chopped bananas and your tin/bottle of caramel sauce.
Pour over the base and spread to the edges.
Whip up your double cream, coconut milk, coconut and vanilla essense. Try not to drink it no matter how much it smells like Malibu!! LOL
Spread onto the top of your banana/caramel mix and run a fork across the top to make random patterns (ok this isnt needed but is fun none the less!) ;)
Crumble a whole Cadburys flake and dice up some Fudge - sprinkle both liberally on top of the cake and watch those calories fly to your hips! :)
Heck its the summer holidays and if you cant enjoy food like this now when can you - go grab a fork and dive in :D

Kids.....

Today was spent making playdough for the boys....

Its nice to know they have inherited my creative streak but it was kind of freaky to see this appear in Scotts ice cream!

Yes he was messing with his food, yes he is only 12, yes I do mess with mine too and im 36 so i cant really tell him off can I! LOL
It goes from ice cream.....
...to scary clown face ice cream monster!!
Sheesh who said kids dont have imagination nowadays!! LOL ;)

Week 30 - Cocanoffee Pie *shopping list*

Ive gone off savoury food for the summer - the boys are all about dessert right now so im indulging a lot of sweet teeth!

This is my own recipe so if you do make it please be as crytical as you can - feedback is good :)
Shopping List for week 30!

300g Digestive Biscuits
50g Dessicated Coconut
150g Melted Butter

1 (425g squeezy bottle) Nestle Caramel Sauce

284ml (1pot) Double Cream
1oz Dessicated Coconut
2tbsp Coconut milk
1tsp Vanilla Essence

3 Bananas

chocolate flakes and mini fudge cubes to decorate :)

Bang goes the diet! ;)

Super excited....

Yesterday we went to look at more venues...

This past week I have been talking with teachers...

Coming in 2011...


heART AND SOUL

Its all about YOU!


Excited..moi?? Just a little!! :D :D More info to follow soon!

Box of memories...(and pretty bad recipes!)

This box is something that brings back a lot of memories for me. There are hundreds of cards inside, all numbered and categorised. I can remember spending hours mixing them all up and then having to sort them all out again!

This box was my mums but when they moved it got passed on to my sister. I always wondered where it went so when i asked my sis if she had seen it and she said it was in the back of her cupboard and wouldnt be used I jumped at the chance to take it! Im not sure i will be making many of the recipes though...Its like one of those tins of buttons you always had to get out Grans house. I love it and im going to restore it to a new glory....I cant give it a painted make over as the plastic housing is smashed so im thinking some pretty papers and new dividers, add some bling and hopefully i will be able to pass this box of memories on to my own daughter :)

Start as she means to go on.....Happy to be me t-shirt!! lol
(who by the way just gets cuter every day and is a thumb sucker!! I FINALLY HAVE A THUMB SUCKER!! Too cute!!) ;)

The winner of the Banana Frog giveaway is...

Dogsmom

Congratulations!! I will pass your details on to Bev at BananaFrog :)

I have so many parcels here that need to be posted including all the goodies that were won last week so i will get them out to you all first thing Monday :)

Banana Frog Sale and something i thought would never happen...

Go check it out and save up to 70%!!


I know youre going to find this hard to believe but ive RUN OUT OF FLOUR!! I know!! I was shocked too...its a sad day today (well at least until i finish feeding Evie and make an emergency dash to the shops!!) ;)

Happy Thursday everyone - enjoy the sun, it seems to have made an appearance today :)

Bo bunny card Sunkissed collection.

Raspberry Cheesecake Brownie - Week 29 step by step.

Recipe taken from Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook. :)

Preheat oven to 170 degrees c. Prep baking tray 33x23x5 cm greased/baking paper.

For the Brownie...

Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Leave until melted and smooth. Put the butter and sugar in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment and beat until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well and scraping any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula after each addition. Gradully beat in the flour, mixing well after each addition, turn the mixer up to high speed and beat for a little longer until you get a smooth mixture. Slowly pour in the chocolate and mix thoroughly. Pour into the prepared baking tray and smooth over with a palette knife.
For the Cheesecake...

Put the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract in a freestanding mixer with a paddle attachment and beat on slow speed until smooth and thick. Add one egg at a time, while still mixing. Scrape any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula after each addition. The mixture should be very smooth and creamy. The mixer can be turned up to a higher speed at the end to make the mix a little lighter and fluffier, but be careful not to overmix, otherwise the cheese will split. Spoon on top of the brownie and smooth over with a palette knife. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the cheesecake is firm to touch and light golden around the edges. The centre should still be pale. Leave to cool completely, then cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight if possible.

For the Cream Topping...

Put the cream, sugar and raspberres in a freestanding electric mixer with a whisk attachment and beat until firm but not stiff. Turn the brownie out onto a board. Spread the topping evenly over the brownie and decorate with more raspberries :)Enjoy xxx