First needle- felting efforts!

These are my first attempts at needle felting - I know the dog looks a bit dodgy -good thing that the photo is blurred!! I was quite pleased with a couple of the flowers but think that I need a lot more practice . I'm enjoying it though and will keep on having a go...
Tell me what you think of them - your little bear, Boris , was so good for a first go. I could do with a tutorial from you- put one on YouTube for me- ha ha !!

First needle- felting efforts!

Pistachio Macaroons

These are the macaroons that I made from Nigella's Domestic Goddess book using pistachios instead of ground almonds- the texture was good but think that they could have had more flavour - perhaps next time I would make a different flavour filling instead of pistachio-coffee or vanilla might be good. They look pretty on your Gran's old "summertime" plate- don't they...

Raymond Blanc's blackberry crumble

We spent a few happy hours collecting blackberries from our local fields and hedgerows this week - something very satisfying about picking blackberries - must be some sort of foraging instinct and it is good to have "free food"!!! I made a delicious blackberry and apple crumble using a Raymond Blanc recipe which is in the October issue of BBC Good Food Magazine.. here it is -as requested- and the topping is not at all soggy and the texture is much lighter than on a traditionally cooked crumble. Let me know if you like it?

crumble topping

120g plain flour

60g caster sugar

60g unsalted butter

Fruit Compote

300g Braeburn Apples cut into 2cm dice

30g unsalted butter

30g demerara ugar

115g blackberries

pinch cinnamon-

Heat oven to 190c fan/gas 5

Rub butter into flour and sugar until breadcrumb texture.Sprinkle mixture onto baking sheet and bake for 15mins until lightly coloured.

For compote- peel,core and dice apples. Put butter and sugar into medium saucepan and melt over medium heat. Cook for 3 mins then add apples and cook for further 3 mins. Add blackberries and cinnamon and cook for 3 mins then leave covered for 2/3 mins to continue cooking in warmth of pan.

Spoon warm fruit into ovenproof dish and top with crumble mix then reheat in the oven for 5/10 mins. Serve with ice cream or custard- ENJOY!!!!

My latest cake creations!

Had fun making the Pirate cake and Bob the Builder and was pleased with the bride and groom on the wedding cake.

Home Grown Salad!!

Colin was very proud that everything on this tasty looking salad came from his allotment and was picked just minutes before being on the plate!! The only thing missing were the tomatoes but hopefully they will be ready to crop this week- yum yum! We have so many courgettes this year and keep looking for fresh recipes- also the runner beans are amazing and the cucumbers seem to appear overnight ready to eat!!

Union Flag Cushions!

These are the cushions that I made for Adam and Cath - they were very pleased with them. They are similar to some that I saw in a designer homeware shop in Notting Hill in London.