Thai food, Family, Hednas and "night time adventures"

On friday my sister and my Mum came up to stay for the weekend- To go to Hednas with Michelle and I.

I've never been clubbing with my mother before so this will be a first!

They arrived quite late on Friday evening, and we went for Thai food at the Thai lagoon in Bedford- It was really awesome, I had thai red curry (I have a cold and I though something spicy would make me feel less bunged up! I was right but it wasn't pretty) Ray had yellow curry- which was awesome and my  mum had indian-thai fusion food which was also really nice- I did end up regretting my face-removingly hot dinner as their milder curries were more interesting to eat than mine!

However, I did enjoy my sticky rice!

Win!

I dropped my Mum and Sister back at their hotel and drove home, did my emails- and as I knew i'd have  a late night on Saturday night for hednas decided to hit the hay about 11.
Traff had been out with the boys, he got home about 1am, ate all the cheese out of the fridge and came to bed.
Sometimes, when he's had some beers he sleepwalks- even if he hasn't had a drink he often talks in his sleep.
but being as he seemed pretty compus mentus when he came to bed I wasn't anticipating an issue. maybe just a discussion about sunflowers or something.

I prodded him as he was snoring after he'd been in bed about 20 minutes and he was wittering on about something and "you're doing it too".
I thought "fair enough, I do have an awful cold, I probably am snoring"  so I wasn't too worried when he took some blankets off the bed and headed off to the front room. I remained dozing assuming he was off to sleep on the sofa and avoid catching my horrible cold.
Until I heard the bath running.
Actually, even that isn't true, I was definitely asleep, and I woke up because it was running. I dozed for a bit before remembering it was by this point almost 2am.
So, I got up.
I looked in the bathroom- no Traff. walked to the front room and the hall carpet was all damp.. and the front room carpet was damp.. and then, in the kitchen I found my beloved.
We was stood on a tea towel, one foot on each end shuffing up and down on the laminate floor with his  toes all curled up for grip.
I honestly almost burst out laughing.
When he saw me he looked so shocked! I asked him why he was running the bath, and he told me he "didn't realise what the distance was like". So I headed to turn off the taps- thankfully he hadn't put the plug in properly- and he didn't seem keep for me to turn it off.
In the end I persuaded him to go back to bed- about 3am.
I woke up about 7am and went to get a drink- I found all the blankets draped over al the radiators, the icing sugar all over the kitchen top, and I have no idea what he's done with the tea towel or the toothbrush mug.
His version of events is that he came to bed and remained there, so I have a feeling we'll be finding objects in interesting places for a while to come.
And I still don't know why our carpets are wet.

On Saturday we went and got our hair done ready for Hednas, Visited Fancy cake for bakewell tart and chai tea, and then headed up to the hotel to get dressed- because once you've set your hair 1940s styple it's actually very difficult to dress yourself.
I have a new respect for my grandparents era!

We headed back to mine for pizza and pims, and watched inspector morse whilst putting on all our make up.
I enjoy wearing full make up every now and again for events- I normally just wear eye make up- so I still enjoy my boyfriends reaction when I do my conceler and foundation, then contour it and set it with powder. then do top and bottom liner, and of course, red lips.
I'm always amazed by how flawless my skin looks- I know that sounds stupid as with that much base on my face it bloody well should be flawless!

Hednas was different to usual this time-
Normally there is a singer, a compare and dancing (with instruction) all of a typical 1940s dance.

Today we started with a compare, then a burlesque dancer, then a barbershop quartet (they started off quite serious but they also perfomed magic tricks and told jokes- mostly they sang silly songs of the 1940s or disney songs), A modern comic, A poetry recital and of course a compare.- then repeat.

It was good- I was pleased there was less dancing as we were with my mum (who's hip replacement is on friday!) so definitely does not have her dancing shoes on at all at the moment.

I enjoyed it for being different, although next time (March) I hope there is some Dancing! and a mix of acts. let's make a fusion!

How to make your own sherbet dib-dabs!.. and Fudge.. and rose truffles.. I know what everyone is getting for xmas!

For once, reading the daily mail has paid off as they've published this!
hurrah!
The idea of making my own lollies frightens me a bit- and I doubt my almost-stick-non-stick pans would be very much use- however, Sherbert intesterst me very much (maybe served with strawberry liquorice straws? you know I'm right!)

And, yes, I know it's too early to be thinking of xmas- but really, who wouldn't want to receive this?
fizzy goodness. :)

Anyways, I think these look like fun projects, and people are always willing to eat sweets- however misshapen - so as foody projects these are good. 

Homemade sherbet with lolly dippers

Makes 12

For the sherbet

• 500g (1lb 2oz) caster sugar
• 2tsp citric acid
• 1tsp bicarbonate of soda
• A few drops of lemon or orange extract and natural raspberry flavouring (from supermarkets)
• Yellow and pink food-colouring pastes

For the lolly dippers

• Sunflower oil for greasing
• 300g (10½oz) granulated or caster sugar
• 150g (5½oz) golden syrup
• ½tsp cream of tartar
• 1tsp orange or lemon extract
• Red or pink food-colouring paste
• Sugar thermometer

For the sherbet, tip the caster sugar into the bowl of a food processor and blend for 1 minute until the sugar is finely ground. Add the citric acid and bicarbonate of soda and blend again to combine thoroughly. Tip half of the sherbet into a bowl and set aside. Add a few drops of lemon (or orange) extract to the sherbet in the food processor bowl and a tiny amount of yellow food-colouring paste.
Blend again until thoroughly combined and the sherbet turns a delicate pastel colour. Tip out of the food processor and repeat with the reserved sherbet, adding pink food colouring and raspberry flavouring instead of yellow colouring and lemon flavouring. Store the sherbet in airtight jars until ready to serve.

To make the lolly dippers, grease a 12-hole lolly mould with sunflower oil or line a baking sheet with greased baking parchment. Tip the sugar and golden syrup into a small, heavy-based saucepan. 

Add the cream of tartar and 175ml (6fl oz) water and set the pan over a medium heat to dissolve the sugar, stirring frequently. Pop the sugar thermometer into the pan and bring the syrup to the boil. Continue to cook steadily over a medium heat until the syrup reaches 154°C (309°F) or the ‘hard crack’ stage on the thermometer. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and add the flavouring and a tiny amount of food-colouring paste to the syrup and stir until evenly mixed.

Pour the mixture into the moulds and place a stick in each lolly. Leave until solid and cold before removing from the moulds. If you don’t have lolly moulds, let the syrup cool and thicken slightly, then spoon neat circles onto greased baking parchment and place a lolly stick into the middle of each.

To serve, pour the sherbet into little jars or waxed bags and serve with lolly dippers. The sherbet will keep for a month in an airtight jar in a cool, dry place. The lollies are best served after 1-2 days and can be stored in individual cellophane bags at room temperature.

They also have a recipe for cherry brandy fudge, which is perhaps more festive than autumnal, however all my forays into fudge making end in my throwing out a saucepan because I've invented a new type of tarmac.

I cannot see how this will be more of a success.

Although, Fudge is my favourite kind of confectionary, so I'd save a fortune if I could only figure out how to make it!

Maybe I'll try again if Tesco have any cheap saucepans (I can see this being another case of the pan haggety again where I ruin a brand new pan and it has to be thrown away immediately)

Cherry brandy Fudge:

• Sunflower oil for greasing
• 100g (3½oz) dried cherries
• 3-4tbsp cherry brandy
• ½ a vanilla pod
• 450g (1lb) caster sugar
• 50g (1¾oz) golden syrup
• 2tbsp liquid glucose
• 170ml (6fl oz) evaporated milk
• 170ml (6floz) full-cream milk
• 50g (1¾oz) unsalted butter
• Sugar thermometer
• 
  

Grease the base and sides of an 18cm x 18cm  (7in x 7in) baking tin with oil and line with a sheet of baking parchment. Place the dried cherries in a saucepan and add the cherry brandy. Cut the vanilla pod to expose the seeds and add to the dried cherries. Set the pan over a low heat for about 3 minutes to warm the brandy but don’t boil. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. 

To make the fudge, tip the remaining ingredients and the brandied vanilla pod into a saucepan and set over a low heat to melt the butter and dissolve the sugar. Pop the sugar thermometer into the pan and raise the heat to bring the mixture to the boil – as it reaches the required temperature, it will turn a rich caramel. Stirring frequently, continue to cook on a steady low-medium heat until the fudge registers 114°C (237°F) on the sugar thermometer. Slide the pan off the heat and plunge the base into a sink of cold water for 20 seconds to stop the cooking. Using a fork, remove the vanilla pod and leave the fudge to cool for 3 minutes. Beat with a rubber spatula for 3 minutes until it thickens. Add the brandied cherries, then spoon into the prepared tin. Leave to cool completely then cover  with clingfilm and leave overnight before cutting into squares

Rose Truffles:

• 1tbsp dried rose petals (from delis)
• 70g (2½oz) caster sugar
• 350g (12oz) dark chocolate, finely chopped
• Crystallised rose petals (from delis)
• Tempering thermometer (from cook shops or online)
• 
  

Place the petals in a saucepan with the sugar and 125ml (4fl oz) water and heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Bring to the boil, simmer for 1 minute then pour the syrup and petals into a bowl and leave to cool. Cover and leave overnight to infuse. Line an 18cm (7in) square baking tin with baking parchment. Put 200g (7oz) of the chocolate in a bowl. Strain the syrup into a saucepan, discarding the petals. Heat the syrup until just boiling, then pour over the chocolate. Leave for a couple of minutes, then stir until smooth. Pour the resulting ganache into the tin, spread level and leave to cool. Cover and chill until firm. Turn the ganache out of the tin and on to a board covered with baking parchment. Using a 2cm (¾in) round cutter, stamp out truffles from the ganache block. 

Tip 100g (3½oz) of the remaining chocolate into a heatproof bowl and place over a pan of just simmering water. Pop the thermometer into the chocolate and as the chocolate melts, stir until it’s smooth and reaches 49°C (120°F). Remove the bowl from the pan, add the remaining chocolate and stir to combine. Leave to cool to 27°C (80°F), stirring frequently so it cools faster. Return the bowl to the pan of hot water and reheat the chocolate to 31°C (88°F). (These temperatures are for dark chocolate only.) Using a fork, submerge each truffle into the chocolate, allowing any excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl. Slide the truffle off the fork and on to a clean sheet of parchment. Top with a piece of crystallised rose. Repeat with the remaining truffles. Leave to set.

Maybe when the nights are cold and rubbish I'll attempt to make some sweet treats.

I can't see myself having time to make any of these any time soon!

I've missed the trick with the rose petals- Mrs Beeton has clear instructions for drying and Crystalising Rose petals, pansys and violets for use in sauces, syrups and decoration- I should be better in the summer at harvesting flowers to use for cooking as it's really not difficult.

I guess you just never really think about it until you come across a recipe which calls for them- and see the prices they charge online! eeek! 

Turkish pancakes

I am currently trying to persuade my wife- who is off this week- to make these for dinner sometime before friday.
In reality, I'll probably end up making them (I've sort-of earmarked this as tomorrow nights project).

I'm quite excited for the idea of adding lots of fresh herbs and yummy feta and maybe even some sun dried tomatoes or roasted peppers!
I've never been to Turkey so have no fear of making this without authentic ingredients! I'm just going for things I like.

I've been putting off going food shopping- so I'll make sure I go this evening and pick up the ingredients (it shouldn't be exactly hard to remember- there are only 6 including tap water!) and I'll update as to how they went at the weekend probably.
I'm working late thursday and will be at work until 6pm so if I make them tomorrow and they don't look too fragile I might take some to work with me for dinner.
win!


Turkish pancakes (makes 8)
You will need:

Dough

• 300g plain flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 250ml water

Filling

• 300g feta
• 400g spinach, chopped

Make it!

1. Put the flour and salt into a large bowl, make a well in the middle, and slowly mix in the water to form a slightly sticky dough. You may need to adjust the quantity of water - don't get the dough too wet. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for 5-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Pop back in the bowl, cover with a tea towel and leave for 15 minutes.
2. Cut the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll out the first into a circle about 20cm (8 inches) in diameter. Place the spinach and feta in the middle of the dough, then fold over the top and bottom to cover it. Then fold in the sides. Your dough should look like a delicious rectangle.
3. Heat a little oil over a medium heat in a frying pan. Cook your pancake until it starts to turn golden brown, then flip it over. Brush the top with a little oil or melted butter.
4. Remove from the pan and serve hot. If you're making a full batch before serving, keep them warm by layering them between pieces of greaseproof paper and placing in a very low oven.

I have been looking for some easy autumn crafts to try- As I've had enough of blackberries, and I can't really make any more alcohol.

And I refuse to make halloween bunting!

I have just spent all evening washing up jars in order to have a go at making these!

It's autumn leaves and mod-podge- which is basically watered down PVA glue, and then tea lights. all of these things we can do.

I think these look pretty cool.

Update 18/09/13
Just a quick note about the turkish pancakes- we had them for dinner and they're yummy but I'm stuffed after 2 so if you're only making these for 2 people halve the dough quantity!
We used peppers, chives, onions, Vegi bacon and feta cheese- they only thing I'd do differently next time is I'd have a dip to dunk them in!
I used reggae reggae suace today, but something salsa-y would have been lush.
They're quite chewwy- but in a good way- and really crispy on the outside.
The cheese melted completely but remained hot for about 10 minutes after cooking.
:(
I have a burnt lip.

Delicious though, I'll make them again- and they can be made in advance (the dough can be made in advance and you can keep it in the fridge) and fried ready for dinner- and they'd work really well with leftovers.
The dough is quite stretchy and not sticky - and it doesn't seem to mind "sitting".
it took us an hour from making the dough from scratch to plating up- we could only fit 3 at a time into the frying pan, and Traff was frying them as I was rolling the dough and filling them up!

This is a cooking win!

Soundgarden in Birmingham (with a side helping of gay bars, gin and dodgy hotels)

I haven't had much to write about this week- work has taken my life over again- I did manage to make a mountain of roasted vegetables on wednesday for dinner, so my cooking success was repeatable! yay! 

We went to the vietnamese restaurant on wednesday- Which was as amazing as ever! and I had fried pineapple for afters- and then we had to go for a massive epic walk to try and fight the food baby feeling.

On Friday I went for frozen yoghurt with Traff, Karl Ayesha and Salma I had oreos and strawberries on mine- Karl just had sweets and the girls had fruit- I'd deffo go again as it was lush! It made a good change from going to the pub on a friday anyway!

Traff made a vegetable curry with all the veggies left over from wednesday and Karly came and had dinner, followed by an evening of pirate biscuits and mooching.

So, it's quite good to be able to write about something that isn't food

On saturday Traff and I drove to Birmingham- we booked to stay at the royal george hotel- it looked snazzy on it's website.

It said it was a 4* hotel.

then when we went on to check the post code we realised its "self certified" 4*. So we were a bit worried.. sketchy and some odd reviews on trip advisor- but we just decided everything is an adventure.

:)

When we arrived the hotel was lush.

really really lush.

The whole place was brand new, the carpets were thick enough to break your ankles, the bed was massive, massive shower- even heated towel rails!

I went from worried to delighted.

it does back onto the blues ground though, so for home games I image it would be insanely busy! Thankfully they played away this weekend.

And had a nap for an hour whilst Traff watched the footy.

Just to test the bed like!

We walked into town, which was about 3 miles- to find somewhere to eat dinner- I dunno what happened because we started with loads of time and ended up with bugger all!

We had meant to eat n the bullring but it was jam packed, so we walked to the o2 academy and found a pub serving food opposite.

in honesty, from the outside it looked a bit run down and dodgy, but we were hungry and out of time.

Inside it was rather fabulous!

pub food- does what it says on the tin- and decent drinks prices! we had 2 rounds and got into the venue in time to see the second support act.

Soundgarden were awesome! they played a brilliant set!

my only gripe with going to see 90s bands is that there is a serious lack of gig etiquette. they bloke next to me was dancing like a teapot with his elbows out and now my side is all bruised, and all I could see all evening was the back of the bloke in front of me!

bah!

And my brand new boots got squished by so much being stamped on they've got chunks gouged out of them! bah!

After the gig we bought some knock off t-shirts from the bloke outside the venue. mine looks very small for a medium. 

Then we headed back to the gay bar for "one last pint" at 11pm.

First round, all went pretty normal.

I headed back to the bar to get the next round in and the barman was like "Do you want to see my c***?" and before I'd said anything he whipped a rubber ladies downstairs department out from under the bar.

I honestly didn't know what to do!

he was so busy playing with it he poured a thatchers gold instead of a McEwans.

 the gin took the edge off my surprise!

after those we'd run out of cash, so I went to the loo and Traff went to take the glasses back- when I came back the bar man was yelling at me and Traff was sat at the bar with another round in.

We ended up sat there chatting with the bar men an the regulars until 2am!

We drank quite a lot of alcohol.

we bought rounds, they bought rounds, someone gave me peanut brittle, it was very civilised actually.I have a recollection of eating many bags of crisps to try and sober up. clearly that is a drunk act. I doubt eating crisps would make a dammed jot of difference!

we were chatting with them and they asked where we were staying- so we told them- the looked horrified that we'd planned to walk back.

They were telling us the the pub under the hotel was where they filmed local gang members for some program on organised crime- some ross kemp type thing! eerk! 

We shared a taxi back with a bloke names Vince, who was lovely. he told us he'd been to prison, just casually, like it's something you tell people during the course of normal polite conversation.

I'm so curious what for!

He was so kind and polite!

We got back to the hotel not long before 3am, we had to let ourselves in through the side door- and we were so pissed we really struggled to be quiet.

As we'd just got into our room the stag party came in- they did not sound anything like as drunk as we were.

Infact, in the morning I was still drunk with a hangover and they all looked fresh as daisies! they'd upped and gone before I'd even managed to dray my sorry green self to breakfast.

We had a cooked breakfast at the hotel- normally I'm not into fried breakfast but today nothing else would have done!

Traff had to drive us back. I was too hideously hungover.

We stopped after about 20 minutes for emergency hangover curing mini cheddars and sprite. by the time we'd got into warwickshire my headache had subsided.

When we got back into bedford and nipped to morrisons to get pizzas made up for dinner. too poorly feeling to do real cooking.

Duvet. Sofa. TV.

That is all I am good for today!

Windmills and Gin

I started today really disappointed, because Traff promised we would go to the beach.
And then got called into work very early this morning and didn't come home until gone midday.

Beach = out.

I spent the morning doing bits and bobs for work and Ray said she's going to bring me some more bacardi so I have picked more blackberries for the jar!
:)
Traff came home and we had the apple and blackberry pie for lunch. it's pretty good- the vitalite pastry came out OK in the end.
it was tricky to work with though- very fragile- it was a bugger to roll out and ended up looking rubbish because I had to patch it back together where it broke- and it hasn't coloured like pastry made with margarine does- I'll just have to invest in a pastry brush to paint milk or egg onto the top to make it brown if we're going to keep up this vegetarian silliness much longer.

So, we ate our pie sat on the bed, and I bemoaned that it was too late to go to the beach, or to london. or anywhere good really.
So we racked our brains for places to go- and Traff hit upon going back to Stevington to see the windmill.
So, we did.

Via the Swan for a "road" drink- Then we started walking...
Last time we went to the windmill we drove, and it didn't take very long. So we didn't remember it being very far.
In fainess it's just over 2 and a half miles there and the same back again- so about 5 and a half in total, but the road is a slight incline, and its twisty! it felt like we walked forever!
And the sky was so grey! it really looked like it was going to bucket down at any second- luckily it held off until we got back to the car!



Traff and his "are we nearly there yet?" face.



It's much colder today than it has been in months- I've been able to crack out some of my excessive jumper collection today!
it feels like Autumn is here, Although until we got 2 miles into our walk (too far to turn back) it was actually quite bright and sunny- you can see some blue sky in the photos!

you can get the keys for the windmill from the pub in the village- I'm torn between being a bit gutted we didn't go in and have a snoop- and being relived that we didn't as we missed the rain by seconds! We'll just go back another day. but maybe not walk from Bromham.

How to cut and sew a 50s style cape, a la Audrey Hepburn.

I should preface this- 
I love 50s clothing- I enjoy 40s and 60s clothes- but the 50s have such lovely shapes!
All of them using a million miles of fabric.
50s seems to be fashionable still- which has made vintage shopping pretty much out. I love my £5 bargain dresses from 3 or 4 years ago- now the same dress will set you back £20! inflation!
I will jsut have to learn to sew.

I have a 50s style coat with a full circle "skirt" and (faux) furry collar but a cape would look really cool on my (early) 60s raleigh caprice. And I could make it out of a fabric which can go in the washing machine!
Bonus. somehow my bike has mudguards all over it and I still end up covered in more mud than I thought I'd ridden though.
I don't even think I have to ride my bike to get covered in mud. I just go near it and somehow I'm filthy.

I  this would be awesome right now, it's not cold enough for a real coat with sleeves yet, but in the evenings you need something to keep you toasty.

This pattern is taken from this incredible website:
http://www.projectrunplay.com/2011/09/audrey-cape-tutorial.html 

If you're wanting for sewing projects this is the place to be looking! I'm always so impressed with their projects- I can barely master sock puppets and these people are making blazers out of old curtains for themselves and 3 children! how?!

These instructions are for a child sized cape- the basic pattern for this is a circle skirt- cut as much fabric as you would need for a full circle skirt and you should have a cape that fits, unless you have either a massive bottom and no bazingas or all the bazingas and a flat bum. if either of those describes you, sorry, you'll just have to guess what size your cape should be!

A cape can be anything from elbow skimming to waist length- so however this turns out it'll still be chic- you just might have cold elbows.
reassured?
good.
lets get started.

One word of advice: This was a thrifting challenge, so I ended up making the linings of these capes from regular cotton fabric. In real life, I WOULD NOT. Take the time to get real lining fabric....it will look much more like a professional coat, and you will be much happier with it.

Also, I made two capes. I will give you the measurements for the Big Girl cape in the tutorial....and will give the Little Girl cape at the bottom. (It was too confusing to put them both in...) If you are looking for sizing, the Big Girl cape was put on a six year old but I am guessing would fit anyone up to about a size 8 or a small 10. The Little Girl cape could go anywhere from about a size 2 to a size 4 or 5.

(If you are worried you could always cut a muslin and then try it on your little one...)

Big Girl Cape Tutorial

*You should work on the folded edges....and not the selveges.

*One thing I forgot to tell you....you need to make to slit on one of the folds to make the circle open.

Now move on to the collar pieces for a minute.

HERE is a pattern for a peter pan collar if you need one.