New Year's Resolutions

1. Reading

In previous years I've challenged myself to read new books, and not keep re-reading old favourites. Since I've had my kindle, that hasn't been much of a challenge. I've got a few paper books that need reading, so the new resolution is:

* read 12 paper books

2. Exercise

I really, really need to do more, as I'm far too lazy! Aiming to have the same resoltion as last year, but actually do it this year!

* exercise 52 times

3. Food

A favourite but one that caused the most thought! I'd like to be able to go to the supermarket less but sadly we don't have local shops except for a farm shop which I already use for meat and some veg. Will have to think further about that, but in the meantime:

* cook 26 new recipes

4. Charity

Last year I didn't do very well at this, and it wasn't money stopping me, just a bad memory!

* donate 12 times to charity

5. House

Still not sorted! However, when I look back over the last few years, we start each year in a better state than the  previous one so something is working! I still need to do some serious decluttering though so am dedicating Saturday afternoon to decluttering the house, one room each month.

* at least 4 hours decluttering in each room

6. Crafts

I've got piles of half started and not started things, so I must get things done and stop wasting time online.

* 12 craft projects

7. Family

We do so many things that we sometimes lose track and don't do things as a family. I'm going to find a way of recording family things we did this year. 

and as an aside, posting to here from my galaxy tablet is an absolute nightmare and the first thing I've found that I really dislike about it. It won't upload photos either!

Sunday 4th November 2012

Prompted by Liz and Helen, here's an update on this week's baking (if not making, but I've seen something in Tesco....)

Pear and ginger loaf

This one is the second one I've made this weekend. The first was double quantity and in a 2lb tin. This one is a 1lb tin and is gluten and dairy free. I'm hoping it tastes as good as it looks! It's for school tomorrow - senses poetry, based on autumn. We also have dairy free butternut squash soup (but not gluten free as I'd used a veg oxo cube before I realised it had wheat flour in). Yes, I have lots of allergies in my class this year. 

Also made this week are apple and ginger fairings (brilliantly crunchy but should've been pear - must look out for dried pears) and Malteser biscuits (squishy and cookie like), both from Miranda Gore Browne's book, Biscuit. www.mirandagorebrowne.typepad.com (Not worked out links on the galaxy note yet!) 

Both have been popular, but the malteser ones were the favourites. 

And if I ever get to the end of the job list, there's plenty of things I want to make!

Sunday 13th May 2012

There has been a severe lack of making (no time) and baking (diet) in this house of late. This has been partly rectified tonight by the baking of Apple Crumble Loaf from this months BBC Good Food Magazine. According to the magazine, the cooking time is 50-55 minutes. According to me it's 1 hour and 20  minutes!

There has also been a sort of making. Well, if you count sewing up the large hole under the arm of a blouse so I can wear it again as making!

Not at all exciting. And I have a very busy week or two coming up so don't hold your breath for anything exciting too soon. Three weeks to the next holiday - surely there will be making and baking then!

Sunday 18th March 2012

Making


Spring runner for the fire

Baking


Fruity Simnel Squares (from the April Good Food magazine). This was very time consuming! (and no, I've not cut it into squares yet!)

Sunday 11th March 2012

Baking


Hot Cross Bread and Lemon Pudding from April's Good Food magazine - delicious!

(sideways, but you get the general idea!)

Making

After a blissful trip to Hobbycraft (and lots of money - oops!) I have made Easter cards (no photos yet!), and have plans for Easter presents (including the packaging).

I've also bought bias binding in the right colours for my Spring runner for the fire, and for a Secret Project. I ordered the fabric for the runner from ebay, and the fabric is also ordered for the Secret Project. 

So the sewing machine has been dusted off and set up, and I have pinned the fabric for the runner. I am going to have a bath, and then come back and get sewing :)

Sunday 4th March 2012

Life has got rather in the way of making and baking lately, but this week it's all finally calmed down.

Baking


Last night we had a dinner party with some neighbours - we are working our way through different countries and last night's theme was Chinese. My initial reaction was to order food in, then I decided not to. I was responsible for main course, and with the help of Blue Dragon sauces we ended up with sweet and sour chicken, lemon chicken, beef and mushrooms in hoi sin sauce and pork in ginger and spring onion sauce. I also did noodles, boiled and fried rice. And it worked!! Hurrah!! No photos though sorry!

I bought an enormous bag of 15 ripe bananas for 30p in Sainsbury's yesterday, so today is banana baking!

Having asked for suggestions, and raided my cookery book collection and googled for ideas, I ended up with:

banana and date flapjack

banana, ginger and raisin cookies

banana and dark chocolate loaf

Well, that's 7 bananas used!!


Making


I finally feel like I've got time to do some making, so am pondering Easter ideas for home. This has involved pinterest, ebay and google! Sadly it hasn't included a trip to Hobbycraft... but am gathering ideas!

Sunday 22nd January 2012

Baking


Slimming world rice pudding (which is ok but a bit runny and a bit sachrinny if you get what I mean!)

Making


Learning how to do French knots

Padded felt heart

Needlepoint Fish

Sunday 15th January 2012

The Christmas Cake is now finished, and the cake tins are empty - but not for long!

Baking


Flapjack

Making

Mini Scrap Book

Felt flowers for a Christmas wreath (should have been for Christmas 2011 but looks like it will be for Christmas 2012!)

(the one with the stitched edge is waiting for a white button to hold it all together, but there is no light in the garage so I can't find the buttons!)

Am currently wanting to make:

 

 and

, there is a Christmas patchwork sitting there waiting to be made into a cushion, and a pile of jeans waiting to be cut into squares for patchwork (must buy a rotary cutter!) now I've finally found a block pattern I like

There's also a dolly in process, she might be this evenings job!

Sunday 8th January 2012

So, to start off the year...


Bake:

Still eating Christmas cake and Christmas chocolate, so the only baking is of the savoury kind this week.

Fish pie from the Magpie Cafe Cookbook. It looked and tasted good, but I should have made more sauce!

And the making this week is the start of a doll made from a kit. The instructions are a bit vague, which is presumably why it was cheap!