Thursday 28 August 2014

Journal Every Time, however short

Journaling can be long or short and you can still capture the moment with a quick reminder to the memory.  My second submission to Merly Impressions challenge shows that very few words are needed to capture the magic of a child playing in water.  On the same holiday our godson gained confidence in playing in a water fountain and reaching out further and further to touch the water droplets.  He was happy now to let me hold on before he toppled in ... although I'm sure he would have liked to go in!


There is not a lot of detail in the scrapping technique but it effectively used just one piece of paper which was 'gutted' to allow for a little fussy cutting of leaves.  Sometimes it can be good to put all the focus on the photos enhanced by the journaling.  It also helps when there isn't much time!

Thanks for looking

Time to Journal

The challenge this month on Merly Impressions  is to   feature jounalling.  For me my layouts do tend to be about capturing the moment and that often means the journaling. Sometimes the photo is sufficient but I like to capture the emotion and that isn't always possible with just a photo.



The photos I've used here are of my godson holding my hand ... that may be a normal everyday thing for most people with children, but as he lives in Australia and I am in England we do not get to see him very often.  On this holiday when he was 3 years old he did not really know who we were.  It was a special moment when he voluntarily held my hand and showed that he both trusted and liked me.  I wanted to capture how special this bond is to me.  As he is growing we face similar challenges on each visit as he has to get to me all over again.  I hope it will get easier as he gets older and his memory is better. This is my incentive to keep visiting every 2 or 3 years ... that and the opportunity go shopping in amazing scrap shops. Last time I discovered a Kaisercraft outlet store ... that is definitely a reason to return!  This layout features an old Kaiser collection and shows that soft colours can still work on a boy layout.

Thanks for looking and leaving any comments

Monday 25 August 2014

Cooking with Kids



I have taken a break from crafting to enjoy some quality Nanna time.  Our granddaughters are now nearly two and a half years old, and visiting us for the first time in a year.  I couldn't wait to cook with them as I used to do with my Nanna.  As I prepared the kitchen I realised that I didn't have aprons for them and didn't dare present messy chocolatey girls to their mother. I luckily found aprons that had belonged to two of my grandmothers and adjusted them as makeshift aprons for the girls. I chose to do chocolate cornflake cakes as it would not involve hot ovens and would be quick and easy.

As is usual for me these days I searched for recipes on line and then adjusted it to suit myself ... mainly because I didn't have any golden syrup in the house and couldn't leave the girls alone to go and get any ... and have you ever tried getting toddler twins organised for a 'quick' trip anywhere?

Method:

Prepare your child:


Prepare paper cake cases on a tray


Weigh all ingredients - 75g cornflakes, 50g butter, 100g dark chocolate, 4 Tbsp honey


Melt the butter, chocolate and honey over a gentle heat and then pour over cornflakes (do this safely away from eager children)
Stir thoroughly until well covered and then put one tablespoon into each prepared cake case


everything is always easier if there are two pairs of hands to do it

Place on tray in fridge and leave to set and chill.  Feel free to lick the spoon if it isn't clean enough!


I discovered that in one hour they will be set but still messy.  They were much better several hours later and easier to handle (for big fingers at least ... little ones will always find it messy)


Wishing you all a happy chocolatey time

Monday 11 August 2014

Yummy Onion Gravy



I have always loved gravy but have never known how to make it unless using the meat juices from a roast dinner.  Last year I discovered this recipe for onion gravy that is truly wonderful.  It makes bangers and mash a proper meal and in my mind it also counts as a vegetable portion if it has onions in it!

I've made it in extra quantities and then frozen it in portions so that we always have proper home made gravy, even for the rushed meals.

It may take time but is well worth the effort:

Melt 75g butter in a heavy pan.  Cook 2 thinly sliced onions for 10 minutes until soft. Turn heat low, cover and cook until onions are brown (30 minutes). Stir in 1 Tbsp plain flour and cook for 1 minute, add 100ml red wine (or bitter), 400ml meat stock, 1 tsp Worcester sauce and 2 tsp French mustard.  Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes, stir frequently.


I had never believed that it was possible to cook onions until they were brown without them actually being burnt ... but it is!  Slow cooking releases all those wonderful sweet flavours.  It is one of the most satisfying recipes I have cooked recently.  Add to your favourite meaty meal and enjoy!

Sunday 10 August 2014

last minute challenge

Where does the week go?  When I checked out CSI challenge 133 last weekend I thought it would be easy to enter but then time runs away with me.  With work and play it left me in a mad rush to create a layout by the skin of my teeth.

I loved the colours and was a little stumped by the testimony but hope I just about sleuthed enough to crack the case file:






The colours are all there and there are flowers and paints (or inks) and possibly a flair (although it's disguised as an old fashioned brad!) plus Polka dots on the washi tape. I had planned so much more but it didn't materialise.

The journaling was meant to be on a banner but that didn't happen either.  Instead the testimony is an amalgamation of the inspiration word 'simple' and a chore and a 'how to' list.

I started out with the thought of the simple beauty of an orchid and how beautifully simple it should be to keep one alive.  I have never managed to keep an orchid that has been given to me.  They look magnificent when you receive them and then the blooms die ... and then eventually the whole plant dies.  That has always been my experience. However, I had one over 2 years ago that did survive its first year and bloomed again although not as prolifically as before.  Watering plants is always a chore and one that I most often forget until the plant is beyond resuscitation. This year I was determined it would survive again ... and Wow, it did more than survive.  I nurtured it in the perfect conditions of my bathroom and fed it regularly, checking the water levels.  I watched it daily and admired it and then waited with baited breath.  This summer it has blossomed to create 4 sprays of blooms ... a total of 25 flowers!!  How amazing is that?  It is simply beautiful, it is beautiful in its simplicity.  Orchids are stunning flowers and I cannot believe that I have nurtured this incredible plant.  It brings pleasure to me daily and is the first thing I see when I wake up and what a wonderful way to start to my day.

I'm not sure if this fits the case file but I had to share this amazing plant in all its glory.

There is a mix of Kaisercraft products, prima flowers and an assortment of washi tapes and Ranger inks.  

The photo is on the slant again and this time I not only blame it on my camera but also on my DH photography skills.  As I was at work all day today I had to rely on him to catch the natural light to photograph it and I'm pleased to say that he struggled as much as I do in getting the camera level in all directions.  And that's before either of us start drinking!

Thanks of looking and leaving any comments.

Sunday 3 August 2014

Cat Attack

For a while I've been meaning to scrap about my cat deciding to live with me and the beauty of CSI is that you can interpret the case file in almost any way you like.  I had intended to use the photo in last week's challenge but ran out of time to take part so there was a little artistic licence to use it this week.



My interpretation took two attempts.  I had wanted to get messy with ink and paint and I stenciled and painted a tree with branches reaching across the layout ... it looked impressive even if I do say so myself. However it didn't work with the photo and after sticking down a lot of stuff yesterday, it all got peeled off today.  Today's finished article is nothing like I originally imagined but here it is:


Using all the colours was not easy but with a few embellishments I made it. The paper strips are actually more pale green than the blue that it appears to be in this photo. The final evidence did not include the original plan of trees, branches and leaves so have used string and a bird and a few stamped hexagons.  The testimony used the inspiration word 'cute' and was hand written around the page. The journaling reads:
Every day you stalked me.  You tried to look cute ... Often you looked quite silly.  You found every open window and door.  Eventually you found a crack in my heart and opened that.

Morpheus did not belong to me but to a family up the road.  For the best part of a year he tried to get into my house ... and usually succeeded. He would sit outside doors and windows and stare at me.  In hot weather when doors and windows were open he would come into the house and make himself at home.  The first time I ever saw him in the house he was sat in the middle of my dining table!

I tried my hardest not to encourage him but he was not to be deterred and I eventually succumbed and allowed him to be a permanent resident.  Unfortunately the other resident cat took umbrage and after many traumatic encounters she moved out and in with another neighbour.

A few close-ups show more detail.  I was pleased to use the stamps showing the days of the week and months of the year, as this summed up perfectly how long Morpheus persisted in joining our household.  It is now five years and we wouldn't be without him.  I still laugh when I see the photo of him on the fence as if to say 'Look at me, no legs!'

photo printing has left blemishes but love the little wooden kitty and tree with heart


wonderful Kaisercraft rubon
It's the first time I've used hessian on a layout and it certainly wont be the last.  I love the natural homespun feel it gives and it's really easy to unravel to get any length fringe.

Thanks for looking and leaving any comments.  I am constantly inspired by the talent that I see around and often struggle to create something that I believe is comparable but it's fun just creating and stroking pretty paper of course!

Friday 1 August 2014

Gingered Swordfish Steaks

New month ... re-discovered recipe.  I first used this recipe over 5 years ago and had forgotten about it until last month when I bought swordfish for the first time in ages.  I no longer remember where I found the recipe but am very glad that it is still stored in my pile of cut out recipes.


The recipe suggests serving it with a salad of apple and lettuce to balance the fieriness of the fish and warm rolls to mop up the juices.  We did an avocado and green salad with coleslaw.

The marinade tenderises the close textured  swordfish and gives its strong flavour a sharp, hot edge.  Since the flesh is so firm, the marinated steaks are suitable for cooking on a barbecue. Tuna also works well and I see no reason why it can't be used on anything that you fancy ... the flavour is great!

Ingredients:
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil                                      1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
2 tablespoons lemon juice                                       1 tablespoon dry sherry or water
2 teaspoons light soy sauce                                      2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 level teaspoons grated root ginger                         1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
freshly ground black pepper
4 swordfish steaks, about 4oz (115g) each

Method:
Make the marinade by mixing 2 tablespoons of the oil, the lemon rind and juice, sherry or water, soy sauce, garlic and ginger in a bowl.  Season with pepper.

Lay the swordfish steaks in a dish in a single layer.  Pour the marinade over the steaks and turn them to coat well.  Cover and put in the refrigerator for 2 hour to marinate.

Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan.  Lift the swordfish steaks out of the marinade and fry them over a moderate heat for 3 minutes each side.  Put the fish on a heated serving dish and pour on the cooking juices.



I have no idea whether anyone is cooking these recipes but I am committed to still sharing them and it reminds me how much I love good food, and that's something worth sharing. 
Would love to know if anyone else does enjoy them too.