Baked Project #11

We had a fruit basket full of apples that weren't going to be eaten, so before they rotted I decided to make an apple crisp (my husband calls it an apple crumble). The recipe was perfect. We both really liked it. The only thing I did differently than the recipe was to toss the apple slices in a bit of white sugar and cinnamon as I remember my mom doing that for apple pie.

I made it again on Sunday because baking is something I do to relax and stop thinking about bad things. I found out my co-worker was struck by a lorrie while walking home on Saturday night and well I was real sad. The second apple crisp didn't come out great because my heart wasn't really in it.

But now Billy is eatting the leftover and he is quite happy and that's all that matters.

FREEDOM!

So thus far thus blog has been a place for me to talk about the stuff I have made. Today I made something important though I don't have a photo to show it. I (along with my ever supportive and perfect husband) made the decision I should resign from my job. So I did it today. I handed in my resignation and now I have to wait out the four weeks until I am truly free of that place.

It has been a year and a half of misery working there. From office politics to the fact that I am too sensitive for certain subjects (who knew), and the hour and a half commute, it was not the easiest of jobs. The money was good so there was a plus and it allowed me to slowly purchase all the gear I need to go freelance (which is what I am doing).

I am so incredibly excited at the prospect of ending this part of my life (and it really took over my life for awhile) and entering a new phase. Yay!!

Baked Project #10

Victory at last!! I have attempted making Yorkshire Puddings so many times and each time ending with us throwing away a burnt eggy mess. I was told that in order to make Yorkshires, the oil in the cupcake tray had to be smoking and that I need to let the mixture sit for at least half an hour before using it.

God bless Delia because she says the oil needs not be smoking nor that you have to let the stuff sit. So finally my Yorkshires came out perfect! I also tried baking one big one in a tray and that came out perfect too! Yay to success.

So now I have to wait for my husband to finish the rest of the Sunday roast so we can eat them. For anyone not in the UK, Yorkshire Puddings are a crispy bread-like roll that has an indent in the middle for gravy.

My husband's granny used to make a roast every single Sunday and he started not to appreciate them. Now we have them occasionally and on Christmas so its a bit of a treat. MMM roast potatoes, roast parsnips (the best root veg ever!) and Yorkshires. The actual roast beef is my least favorite part of the meal funny enough. But the gravy that comes from it is amazing. I am in fact hungry while writing this so hence the major food love.

I am working on non baking things at the moment too. I haven't been to a sewing class in a month due to my and my sewing teacher's time conflicts but I'm due to go to class on Wednesday with people I haven't met yet. And for my cotton anniversary (which was on Monday) I am knitting my hubby a pair of socks. I'm at the heel on the first one so I've got ages to go.

But most of my spare time has been spent on redesigning my actual website! Every time I think I'm done something goes terribly wrong. Boo. Anyways that is a long-winded blog post. Hurry up dinner!!

Baked Project #9

So I am sick yet again and today I was craving something nice and kind of healthy. I baked Banana Nut muffins but they came out more like blah-nana muffins. This recipe was so tasteless! I usually use a different recipe to make banana loaves but I thought I'd try something new. Big mistake. I will stick with my old recipe.

Knitting Project #3

This wasn't the hat that I was going to make, but after having no luck finding double pointed needles US 10 in the UK, I decided to try something else. I usually shy away from things that are just purl or knit because I don't find them very challenging but I have to admit I really love this hat. It took no time at all and was a very relaxing project, which is what I need right now.

It's called the Republic hat and it was a free ravelry pattern. I actually knitted a bit more than I needed to because I was someone was visiting and I was knitting and talking at the same time (a bad combination for me!!). But it fits me perfectly. I used Big Softie yarn from Sirdar and I love it because its soft and its cheap!!

Baked Project #8

I finished another week off work by baking some cookies to keep my sanity. The recipe says the last chocolate chip cookie you'll ever make. I'm not convinced. It is not a bad recipe by any means but it is not the best. I've made it twice, the first time using the chocolate called for. It was far to bitter and I ended up throwing away the whole batch.

This time I used milk chocolate with a bar of white chocolate thrown in and it came out much better. I grew up making chocolate chip cookies based on an old aunt's (that I never met) recipe that was sneakily similar to the one on the back of the nestle tollhouse chocolate chip bag! To be fair to the aunt her small changes do make a big difference.

Anyways, I live in Scotland and I can't get nestle tollhouse here. And if by chance I do find it, it is usually in places like Harvey Nicks where you have to mortgage your place to buy anything. So I used Sainsbury brand chocolate and its just not the same.

So I think I will continue looking for a chocolate chip (or chunk like this recipe is) recipe.

Baked Project #7

I made cheesecake!! It was my first ever attempt at the cheesy goodness and it was really successful. I didn't even like cheesecake until I got married and then my husband extolled its greatness upon me.

It is made with strawberries in it and with a strawberry syrup on top. It was supposed to be raspberry but the shop didn't have any today. I am going to try it again with raspberries or maybe blackberries next time.

I haven't had much time lately to make anything due to a redesign of my website that is taking ages. But I did start a sewing class and am making my first dress! I have been to two classes thus far and I already have most of the bodice made. I bought gorgeous Liberty fabric and I want to wear it on my anniversary on the 27th. We are going to Amsterdam and I think the dress will be perfect for a night out.

Baked Project #6

Billy and I decided to make a three course meal tonight. Billy made the appetizer and the main (which were amazing) and I made the dessert. I opted for a shortcake with cream cheese frosting and fruit topping. I was going to make a blueberry pie but the timing for the main course and the pie wouldn't have worked out very well. And well we are in Scotland and shortcake is quintessentially Scottish.

I made the tarts in normal size cupcake tins which only made twelve. I had so much frosting left over it was such a waste. But overall it was a really nice recipe.

Embroidery Projects #1 & 2

I have spent the last week laying on the couch with a viral infection that made me nauseated every time I moved. So to fight the boredom I embroidered two projects from Sublime Stitching. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with them. The butterfly is for my mom and the rose will probably go on my wall somewhere. I really don't like leaving them in the hoop permanently as I think its a bit wasteful but it may just have to stay put.

Knitting Project #2

So this hat will look great on a 8 year-old. On me it looks like a small ski cap. But I really do like the pattern. I used US 9 double-pointed needles for the whole project. I will be making this hat again for me in the gauge recommended. I could see this hat in several colors so I might make many for the dark days of winter.

It is a super easy pattern to make. I used a cable needle instead of the stitch holder I have always used. Wow the difference is incredible! It is so much easier to knit straight off the cable needle. Why oh why did I not try this before?