Hello!!!! I know, I haven't written anything for days!! And believe me the spirit's been willing but the flesh has been pulled in all directions!!! First of all "THE QUILT" has taken up an awful lot of my time - and not in any grudging way either. I've thoroughly enjoyed making it and I'm delighted to report that it's now well and truly finished and will be on its way to its new owner very soon. I won't flash any photos around just yet though - don't want to spoil the surprise!!!!
There was a darn near catastrophe on Tuesday when I couldn't find my "How to do Christmas" lists! I like to jot down everything that we buy and eat for future reference - except I lost it!! Luckily after a frantic search (through my memory as well as every drawer and basket in the house) I found it where I keep the printer paper - of course!! Denise said I should type it out on the laptop, but I do have a thing about nicely written lists where I can grab 'em any time of day or night!!! Panic over, for now!!!!
Otherwise there's been a fair amount of tinkering about going on! I did get those ruddy drawers put together and then a week later embarked on a pair of underbed drawers to go with them. Plus several holes drilled in the wall to hold various bits and bobs that have been sitting around the house for a while and I think I've finished the DIY... for now!!!! (The next big chore is the Christmas lights and I am SO NOT looking forward to THAT job!!!)
We also did a little advance Christmas shopping, which I enjoyed immensely as usual. The BIG shopping day in next Friday and that's the best fun ever!!!! Tiring though!
Also there was Children In Need, for which I finished the fairy costume and half killed myself fancy dress weight training and the high-heeled aerobics was hard work but great fun and involved a fair bit of pole dancing!!! Of course!!!
That afternoon we had SIX little boys for a lunch and a playdate and made a "Pudsey Custard Sponge" (variation on Nigella's Birthday Custard Sponge minus the chocolate topping, but with an extra layer of buttercream and a LOT of Smarties!!!) which didn't go down as well with the kids as I'd hoped, but the cat liked it!! Miserable moggy nicked a great chunk off it when we weren't looking. Boy!! She didn't get any tea that night!!
Remember those Christmas cakes and puddings I made? Well there's one of the finished cakes at the top ready to be sent to it's new owner once the icing is rock hard. I loved the fact I could find a length of irridescent ribbon to match the sparkly glitter on the top and the little sugar snowflakes were a good discovery too - not great though!! They're very fragile and a swine to get off the card even after following the instructions to the letter.
Until yesterday every evening had been filled with activities or hand sewing so it was a relief last night to not have to do anything pressing and have David and Emma over for tea. In honour of the occasion (and Happy Thanksgiving for those across the pond) I made "Mars Bar Cheesecake" - a wonderful confection whose recipe I shamelessly plundered from Saffron's Brownie leader:
225g Maryland Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
50g unsalted butter
400g soft cream cheese
10 x medium sized Mars Bars (total weight 365g)
Something yummy to sprinkle on top
Melt the butter and blitz the cookies to crumbs. Combine and press into the base of a 20cms cake tin lined with clingfilm. Cool in the fridge.
Chop the Mars Bars and melt on a low heat (or in the microwave on a medium setting) being careful not to cook the caramel centre.
Beat in the cream cheese until well mixed and creamy.
Pour over the biscuit base and leave in the fridge to set.
Decorate with sprinkles or chocolates - these are Cadbury's Snowbites.
Try to make this the mornig before you need it to allow the filling to firm up nicely. Carefully peel off the clingfilm and place on a serving dish. It serves six generous portions or eight modest ones, but no more than that! I have doubled the ingredients for a party and used a 25cms tin.
So that's that for now!! Today I started making a cushion for a friend as a Christmas present so don't expect to see a photo of that for at least four weeks! Yes, it really is only four weeks until the shops shut! Now where's that list again...?
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