Last Chance

Pedlars have announced that they are discontinuing their famous Keep Calm & Carry on range. They have discounted the whole range which you can view here

New Rug! How to

Just saw this How To from Apartment Therapy via Mabel& Violet

Garden Heaven & Hell

Having spent the last 3 years, since we moved in, we have worked hard. Battling slugs, greenfly, carrot fly, blight, weather too good, weather too bad, stony soil and dandelions, (I hate dandelions), and other weeds, it has turned into a place to sit and relax. Heres the before and after.

Before



After

(Ok, it's not exactly the same place but you get the idea)

Car Boot success

This weekend I went to 2 car boot sales and really had to restrain myself from buying lots of things! But I did buy these :)

All that Glitters

Wow this rock knocked my socks off! Can be bought from the Theo Theo site.

Chocolate Whoopies with Fluffy Marshmallow

This recipe is from Claire Ptaks beautiful Whoopie Pie Book. The chocolate whoopie with marshmallow is the original and is definitely one of the most delicious things I have tasted.
Chocolate Whoopie
175g plain flour
100g unsweetened cocoa powder
11/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 p salt
125g unsalted butter
1 large egg
225ml buttermilk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 180oC & line 2 trays with baking paper.
In a bowl sift together the flour, cocoa powder, bicarbonate of soda & baking powder. Stir in the salt and leave to one side.
In a separate bowl cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and mix well. Add the buttermilk & vanilla and beat until well combined. Slowly add the dry ingredients in two batches mixing until just incorporated. Then chill for 30 minutes. ( I forgot to do this with this batch and they turned out ok but not as smooth as the whoopies illustrated in the book).
Drop 48 small scoops of batter about 5cm apart onto the baking trays and bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire tray.

While they are cooling make the yummy marshmallow filling.

For this you will need 3 egg whites
150g caster sugar
2 tablespoons golden syrup
1 tsp of vanilla extract

Weigh all the ingredients in a heat proof bowl and place the bowl over a saucepan of boiling water. Whisk continuously by hand until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is frothy and slightly opaque ( 10 - 15 mins ).
Remove from the heat and whip on high speed until it is white, thick and holds it's shape.
Use straight away

And watch those Whoopies disappear.

This weeks projects

Make bake and transform is the plan for this week!
Starting with blueberry muffins and Whoopie pies (chocolate pies with marshmallow filling), then make some kids aprons for my fabby nieces and transform the long crappy table which everything gets dumped on in the bedroom. Busy week ahead then so resting up tonight :)