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DESSERT: Apple Roses
Apple Roses are a delicious dessert and although they look intricate, they are actually quite simple to make! I will guide through making them step by step and I will show you exactly how to create these pretty and delicate desserts. They are delicious served with soft vanilla ice cream or warm custard. Read on to find out how to make them… To make 8 Apple Roses you will need the following ingredients: 1. 3 apples, cored and sliced width ways 2. 1 sheet of ready-roll shortcrust pastry 3. 3 tbsp caster sugar 4. 2 tsp cinnamon powder 5. 1 egg to glaze before baking 6. Icing sugar to dust…
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MAIN: Onion and Garlic Bread Rolls
My onion and garlic bread rolls are easy to make and delicious too! They can serve as an accompaniment to so many dishes, from heartwarming soups to tasty stews, you could even simply use them for making sandwiches for lunch or a picnic. So why not give this easy recipe a go! The ingredients you will need for my Onion and Garlic Bread Rolls are as follows: 1. 500g strong white bread flour 2. 7g fast action yeast 3. 300ml warm water 4. 3 tbsp olive oil 5. 1 tsp caster sugar 6. 1 tsp onion granules (or half a fresh onion, finely chopped and browned in a frying pan…
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DESSERT: Lemon, Lime, Ginger and Coconut Cheesecake
Cheesecake is a classic dessert and can become a blank canvas for adding different flavours. From fruit toppings and rich red berries right through to orange or even chocolate, the scope for variety with the humble cheesecake is endless! I love the citrus punch that my lemon, lime, ginger and coconut cheesecake provides, whilst being slightly softer in texture than say your average ‘New York Cheesecake’. It is certainly delicious and has gone down extremely well at my dinner parties. I hope you enjoy making (and tasting) it too! Enjoying baking with fruit? Then check out my delicious Blueberry and Raspberry Sponge Cake recipe here too! To make this cheesecake,…
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MAIN: Classic Beef Lasagne
Lasagne has got to be one of my favourite family meals, it’s a classic dish in our home. Today, we usually make ours with vegan quorn mince. The smell of onions frying in the pan and the simmering mince really conjure up family meal times for me! My lasagne recipe here is simple and easy to follow and although I say ‘beef’ in the title, you can substitute the beef for whichever meat or meat substitution you desire. There is always some room for creative interpretation when it comes to lasagne isn’t there? Some people love adding chilli, mushrooms, additional garlic, carrots or even peppers or courgettes into their version.…
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Baby, Christmas, Craft Activities, Easter, Family, Halloween, Jungle, Myth, Penny Saving Mum, Rainbow, Shapes, Special Events
Cardboard Box Doll’s House
Sometimes, children love nothing more than using their imagination and playing with an old cardboard box. Just think of all the adventures they can have, from turning it into a racing car, a play house or a castle, the list is endless! Sometimes it’s nice to go back to basics with creative play. So why not escape the iPad screens for 10 minutes and get creative with an old cardboard box now! Check out my Three Uses for Recycling a Nappy Box here too for more ideas. To make this easy and inexpensive play house you will need the following: 1. An old cardboard box, (clean) 2. Sellotape 3. Scissors…
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Birthday, Christmas, Craft Activities, Family, Food, Halloween, Mains, Penny Saving Mum, Recipes, Shapes, Special Events
Homemade Napkin Rings
Napkin rings can add a lovely touch to your dining table. However, they can be expensive and if you have lots of guests coming over then this can soon add up! If you like to vary your napkin rings for each season or special events such as birthday parties, Christmas and Thanksgiving then why not make your own? You can choose the colour scheme, pick the decorations and embellishments and make them as simple or extravagant as you desire, saving money in the process! Check out my Homemade Paper-Mache Bowls craft here too! Whats more, you can help to recycle old plastic bottles to make them! Read on to find…
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Birthday, Calendars, Craft Activities, Family, Numbers, Penny Saving Mum, Rainbow, School Subjects, Shapes, Special Events
Homemade Salt Dough Birthday Cake Number Toppers
If you want to save money on buying birthday cake candles and number toppers, then have you ever thought about making your own? Using salt dough, you can create these fantastically bright and colourful numbers to use for many years to come! (I will keep using them until my children deem them ‘uncool’). They will save you money and are inexpensive to make too! Check out my Homemade Paper-Mache Bowls craft activity here too. A great D.I.Y craft bowl to store your number toppers in! Read on to find out how to make them. To make my Salt Dough Birthday Cake Number Toppers you will need the following ingredients: 1.…
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DESSERT: Mince Pie Parcels
Mince pies are synonymous with Christmas and the festive build-up to Christmas. But if you fancy a change from mince pies, then have you ever tried making Mince Pie Parcels? They are very easy to make and can offer an alternative way to jazz up the humble mince pie! I hope you like this simple five ingredient recipe. Read on to find out how to make them. To make nine mince pie parcels, you will need the following ingredients: 1. 6 sheets of ready to roll filo pastry 2. A jar of mincemeat (approximately 411g) 3. 1 large egg (to stick the filo pastry sheets together) 4. 1 tbsp butter…
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DESSERT: Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies
My Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies are so good you just have to try baking them! Colourful and light in texture, they are extremely moreish yet not too indulgent. Great for parties, bake sales and school fairs, these sprinkle cookies are a winning snack! My children love adding their own sprinkles and making patterns and shapes with them. Why not get your children involved in baking with you too. Read on to find out how to make them. To make 22 Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies, you will need the following ingredients: 1. 100g butter, softened 2. 100g caster sugar 3. 200g plain flour 4. 1 tsp vanilla extract 5. 1/2 tsp…
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Beach, Birthday, Craft Activities, Family, Garden, Penny Saving Mum, Rainbow, Shapes, Special Events
Happy Pebbles
Making your very own ‘Happy Pebbles’ is a great, simple and inexpensive craft activity to. Not only are they fun and creative to make, they could also make sweet and thoughtful gifts for family and friends. Happy Pebbles also have practical uses as well as they can be used as paper weights or weights for picnic blankets or towels. They make a lovely ornament, decoration or keepsake from a special memory too! What makes the pebbles ‘happy’ is the fact that you can put motivational, uplifting or inspiring quotes or messages on them! Check out my Homemade Salt Dough Birthday Cake Number Toppers here which you can also decorate and…
