I haven't blogged for absolutely ages, but wanted to share a simple breakfast recipe for fans of Slimming World. This uses a Healthy Extra B and part of the Healthy Extra A milk allowance (I used skimmed milk) - this is completely free on EE:
35g porridge oats
Frozen raspberries (defrosted of course)
1 Apple (grated)
1 Banana (chopped)
I soaked the porridge oats in enough milk to cover it for about one hour (overnight is best if you can). I then added the fruit and mixed it all together. Of course you can use whatever fruit you prefer and perhaps add a few nuts as well as part of your HE (A). Give it a try and let me know what you think. Happy Friday xx
Friday, 16 March 2012
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Bit of a catch up
Once again, it seems like time is passing so quickly and I barely have time to blog, (not sure anyone's even reading it actually) lol!
I've been busy baking cakes for the requests I've had, a couple 21st cakes and others. Pics available at Cakes and Bakes by Christine , so feel free to have a look and let me have some feedback (constructive of course). As I'm new to the cake decorating mullarkey, I always ask my customer's what the cake was like, as for me, it's not just about how it looks (although it obviously has to look good), it is about the taste.
I've been using the same recipes for a while so I'm hoping I get some spare time soon, to try a few different ones and also bake some cookies. I also need to start planning my Christmas cake and how I'm going to decorate that.
I'm booked on a cake decorating course which starts early next month and as there is sooo much to learn I know I will learn lots, but there will still be tons of knowledge and skills I need to gain. It is the Cake International at the NEC also early next month and I'm hoping to have a whizz around that and spend all my month's salary in one go!
I also spend a lot of time looking at other cake bakers websites and admiring all their work, they are all just so talented.
On another, completely different note, not much stargazing been going on as it has been so cloudy, although you could see Jupiter very clearly for a few nights as it is very bright. Hopefully with the colder weather on the way, we may have a few clear nights for skywatching and keep your eyes peeled skyward for the ISS passing over - it is usually around 7.15pm at the moment and travels from West to East, it is well worth a look, I promise. ;)
I've been busy baking cakes for the requests I've had, a couple 21st cakes and others. Pics available at Cakes and Bakes by Christine , so feel free to have a look and let me have some feedback (constructive of course). As I'm new to the cake decorating mullarkey, I always ask my customer's what the cake was like, as for me, it's not just about how it looks (although it obviously has to look good), it is about the taste.
I've been using the same recipes for a while so I'm hoping I get some spare time soon, to try a few different ones and also bake some cookies. I also need to start planning my Christmas cake and how I'm going to decorate that.
I'm booked on a cake decorating course which starts early next month and as there is sooo much to learn I know I will learn lots, but there will still be tons of knowledge and skills I need to gain. It is the Cake International at the NEC also early next month and I'm hoping to have a whizz around that and spend all my month's salary in one go!
I also spend a lot of time looking at other cake bakers websites and admiring all their work, they are all just so talented.
On another, completely different note, not much stargazing been going on as it has been so cloudy, although you could see Jupiter very clearly for a few nights as it is very bright. Hopefully with the colder weather on the way, we may have a few clear nights for skywatching and keep your eyes peeled skyward for the ISS passing over - it is usually around 7.15pm at the moment and travels from West to East, it is well worth a look, I promise. ;)
Monday, 3 October 2011
Cakes and Meteor Showers
Haven't blogged for absolutely ages, as I've been really busy baking cakes. I've had lots of commissions during September including two 21st cakes AND a wedding!!
I was very nervous doing the first 21st cake as it was a particular commission, but it turned out quite well and my client was very pleased and I had good feedback on not only the look of the cake and how it was decorated but also the taste.
The wedding cake was cupcakes and a topper. The bride wanted a lemon flavoured topper and I found a recipe that I'd never used before and tried it out the week before. It was really nice. I actually delivered the cakes to the wedding venue and set them up. I had a message from the bride the week after the wedding that the cakes were lovely and that she had some nice comments about them. I was so relieved as I was very nervous as I felt that it was such a big responsibility. I had a lovely e.mail from the bride's mum as well.
I've now set up a FB page for my cakes called Cakes and Bakes by Christine so please feel free to have a look at all of the photos I've put on there. I've also had lots of cupcake orders over the summer, but this week is a quiet week so I thought I'd catch up on lots of things that I've neglected and plan some things for the festive season.
Have a good week everyone and don't forget Saturday 8th October, if we have clear skies, there should be a fantastic meteor shower.
I was very nervous doing the first 21st cake as it was a particular commission, but it turned out quite well and my client was very pleased and I had good feedback on not only the look of the cake and how it was decorated but also the taste.
The wedding cake was cupcakes and a topper. The bride wanted a lemon flavoured topper and I found a recipe that I'd never used before and tried it out the week before. It was really nice. I actually delivered the cakes to the wedding venue and set them up. I had a message from the bride the week after the wedding that the cakes were lovely and that she had some nice comments about them. I was so relieved as I was very nervous as I felt that it was such a big responsibility. I had a lovely e.mail from the bride's mum as well.
I've now set up a FB page for my cakes called Cakes and Bakes by Christine so please feel free to have a look at all of the photos I've put on there. I've also had lots of cupcake orders over the summer, but this week is a quiet week so I thought I'd catch up on lots of things that I've neglected and plan some things for the festive season.
Have a good week everyone and don't forget Saturday 8th October, if we have clear skies, there should be a fantastic meteor shower.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Food for Thought
Haven't blogged for a while, but here's a little food for thought:
'Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace, divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus, he is the master of his enemy's fate'. Sun Tzu - The Art of War
I'll leave you with that thought, I really like it - don't know why, I just do.
Be back soon ;)
'Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace, divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus, he is the master of his enemy's fate'. Sun Tzu - The Art of War
I'll leave you with that thought, I really like it - don't know why, I just do.
Be back soon ;)
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Catching Up!
Well hello everyone, I wish I could say it is a lovely sunny Sunday morning, but nope it's definitely not, although gotta say at least it's not raining (yet)!!!
Haven't written anything for a while as I haven't been up to much, but have some exciting news. I've just ordered my chicken coop and I'm hoping to re-home some poor but very lucky ex battery hens next week. I can't wait, it's something I've wanted to do for such a long time the poor little ladies have had a horrible life so far, so giving up a little space in my garden is no hardship to me at all. I'll bore you all and post pictures when they arrive.
What I have been doing though is baking and decorating lots of cakes. I had my very first commission which was a 30th Anniversary cupcake tower with a topper. My customer wanted it to be very elegant and quite plain but I have to say she was overjoyed with it and it was really nice being at the party and listening to the compliments her guests were giving about the cakes. I was very pleased with it myself and my customer told me they were gorgeous to eat as well as lovely to look at. I have included a photo of the whole cupcake tower and the topper and also the a photo of the individual cupcakes. There were 30 of them. I made all the flowers myself and each one has a tiny pearl sugar sweet in the centre (the only reference to the 30th anniversary as my customer doesn't really like pearls). I couldn't have done this without the help of the lovely Kim from Angels Cupcakes and the tuition she gave me at the cupcake workshop. Sadly/disappointingly though, I haven't had any more commissions since, although did have another cupcake order but nothing since. Not sure what I'm doing wrong, unless the people who are giving me positive feedback aren't being honest and my cakes are really awful and they don't like them at all!! I also made a birthday cake for my daughter in May and also just made last week a cake for my other daughter's work colleague as a gift. I'll have to post those photos later as haven't uploaded them onto laptop yet - doh.. thought I had. Be back later with more photos. Have a lovely relaxing Sunday x
What I have been doing though is baking and decorating lots of cakes. I had my very first commission which was a 30th Anniversary cupcake tower with a topper. My customer wanted it to be very elegant and quite plain but I have to say she was overjoyed with it and it was really nice being at the party and listening to the compliments her guests were giving about the cakes. I was very pleased with it myself and my customer told me they were gorgeous to eat as well as lovely to look at. I have included a photo of the whole cupcake tower and the topper and also the a photo of the individual cupcakes. There were 30 of them. I made all the flowers myself and each one has a tiny pearl sugar sweet in the centre (the only reference to the 30th anniversary as my customer doesn't really like pearls). I couldn't have done this without the help of the lovely Kim from Angels Cupcakes and the tuition she gave me at the cupcake workshop. Sadly/disappointingly though, I haven't had any more commissions since, although did have another cupcake order but nothing since. Not sure what I'm doing wrong, unless the people who are giving me positive feedback aren't being honest and my cakes are really awful and they don't like them at all!! I also made a birthday cake for my daughter in May and also just made last week a cake for my other daughter's work colleague as a gift. I'll have to post those photos later as haven't uploaded them onto laptop yet - doh.. thought I had. Be back later with more photos. Have a lovely relaxing Sunday x
Monday, 6 June 2011
Sadness
Hi
I've just learned this morning of the sad death of a young man who worked with us at LJMU a few years ago. He very sadly took his own life. One can't even begin to understand how tormented he must have been to take such drastic action, but he must've been very unhappy.
He was such a lovely, vibrant and very popular young man and always made us all smile with his stories. My heart goes out to his family (although I realise this is a little late) and can only imagine the torment and grief that they must be going through.
I hope wherever you are now Luke that you are at peace. xx
I've just learned this morning of the sad death of a young man who worked with us at LJMU a few years ago. He very sadly took his own life. One can't even begin to understand how tormented he must have been to take such drastic action, but he must've been very unhappy.
He was such a lovely, vibrant and very popular young man and always made us all smile with his stories. My heart goes out to his family (although I realise this is a little late) and can only imagine the torment and grief that they must be going through.
I hope wherever you are now Luke that you are at peace. xx
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Skywatching / Astronomy
As the weather here as been so awful for what seems like forever, there has not been a clear sky for such a long time. Not even nice enough to go and look in between all the clouds as it has been windy and rainy nearly every night. I'm hoping that the weather will improve soon, even just stop raining would be an improvement on how it has been! Makes me wonder is that nice weather we had a couple of weeks ago our Summer, wouldn't be surprised as in the past when the weather has been nice during April it has usually been followed by an awful Summer. Oooh I sound like the voice of doom and gloom.
The shuttle that was delayed from about a fortnight ago is due to take off tomorrow not sure what time our time, but one of my Astronomer friends from Twitter is a font of knowledge so hopefully he'll tweet some information either later or tomorrow. Apparently we should be able to see the shuttle around about 15 minutes after take off not long after the main fuel tank blasts away from it, so may see two bits! How exciting would that be??
The shuttle that was delayed from about a fortnight ago is due to take off tomorrow not sure what time our time, but one of my Astronomer friends from Twitter is a font of knowledge so hopefully he'll tweet some information either later or tomorrow. Apparently we should be able to see the shuttle around about 15 minutes after take off not long after the main fuel tank blasts away from it, so may see two bits! How exciting would that be??
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