August FNSI - Multi Crafting

 Not having a definite plan as to what to work on this FNSI I was pleasantly surprised how productive I ended up being.

In the continuing plan of working through WIPs I decided to continue with the toile for a pair of Tilly and the Buttons Jessa shorts (these have been a WIP for a year so far and if I was a betting person I'd say the finished article won't be ready for this summer!) I thought I'd just get the zip fly in. 

But I was wrong... 

... and actually got the toile to a stage where I could try it on for size. It fit. I have decided to stop making the toile at this point, without as waistband and cuffs, as the fabric is horrible to work with (cheap, thin, with a tendency to shrink if ironed), some of my pieces seem poorly cut (or could've been affected by the iron), and I need to re-use the zip from the toile for the actual shorts. Also if I stop here there's a better chance of the actual shorts being finished in 2020!

I then went on to a bit of baking prep. 

 Pasties are the plan for lunch this weekend and the recipe suggested that the pastry was best if left to rest overnight. 

And after all that excitement I even had timeto squeeze in a bit of sock knitting before bed. 

Hope everyone else had a successful and enjoyable FNSI. 

Making Cakes

I have always enjoying baking, making cakes and biscuits. But, I haven't done it so much recently for two reasons, firstly there's only two of us and we don't snack much so a batch of cake or biscuits would be wasted (in theory, practice has shown this isn't the case!), secondly recently my bakes have been hit and miss, the hits are definitely becoming the norm but there is still the odd issue (I blame a dodgy oven, too much bake off causing overthink and occasional miscalculation). Anyway we had some baking ingredients that were starting to get near the end of their life and work colleagues who like cake so I decided to do some baking. I also wanted to try out my mini victoria sponge tin, I've had it 3 years and never used it!

The tin looks like a muffin tin but it has vertical sides and loose bottoms. My biggest concern was the cakes sticking but none of them did. 

Filled with vanilla buttercream and raspberry jam, they turned out very nicely if I do say so myself (of course I tried one). The work colleagues have asked what's next on the list, I'm thinking mini carrot cakes.

I tried an alternative but of cake making this week too. 

With a recent increase in yarn buying I've treated myself to a swift and winder, not being sure if I'd get on with it I only bought a cheap winder with a view to upgrading if it was useful. 

Well I'm not sure if it's an upgrade that is required of just some practice but this cake doesn't look as good as the edible ones. Having said that it's usable and ended up like tv his quicker than if would have with hand winding. Think I'll look up some yarn winding hints and tips. 

Christmas Baking - Part 2

So after a few weeks of attempting to feed my Xmas cakes with brandy (they were fussy eaters!) I have finally got to the decorating stage.  I had forgotten quite how much time should be dedicated to this to allow for drying out.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

And finally they were popped in boxes as we're not eating them both ourselves.

I found these boxes in a local cake shop and think they're perfect for gifting.

Stir Up Sunday

Traditionally the last Sunday before advent is known as stir up Sunday when xmas puddings and the like are made. Now having no oven I didn't think I'd be able to cook anything for Xmas but I then realised puddings were boiled (for hours and hours and hours it turns out) and I have a working hob so a perfect excuse to make Xmas pudding.

I would love to be able to say they tasted fantastic, but I'll have to wait a while before I get to try them out! Though I haven't met a Xmas pudding I didn't like!

Chocolatier-ing

A few months ago I went on a chocolate making course, taught by one of the UK's best Choclatier's, with my friend and colleague.  Whilst on the course a plan was hatched to make some chocolates to bring in and share with our workmates for our birthdays (which are very close together).

This Sunday saw that plan come to fruition. In six hours, with tea drinking and lunch breaks, we managed to make (mostly) four different types of chocolate (caramels and truffles); to our surprise this was managed without spreading any of the ingredients over ourselves or the kitchen.

The outcome was very pleasing...

...and very tasty.

I'm now looking for any excuse to make some more, another addictive hobby I think!

Bakeathon

It's my turn to provide the cakes in the office tomorrow and so I thought I'd use the opportunity to do some baking rather than buy the cakes.  Hopefully the effort will be appreciated.

Gingerbread biscuits, banana and toffee muffins and chocolate brownie - I think I know which will go first!


The gingerbread men are a reminder of my childhood.  When I was about five I used to make gingerbread biscuits with my parents using my set of homepride men cutters.  Unfortunately the homepride cutters, as is the way with many similar items, disappeared.


Late last year in a fit of nostalgia I realised that e bay may be the solution and it was.

Along with Fred I also have a chef, king and Santa.

They look as good as I remember them.

Xmas Cake-athon Part 2

And with over two months prep may I present my completed Xmas cake...

Recipe and design taken from the Pink Whisk

Xmas Cake-athon

(Picture heavy)
For the first time this year I decided to make a Xmas cake courtesy of the recipe from The Pink Whisk.

The making process started over 2 months ago with the soaking of the fruit.

Then there was a lot of tin preparing before the cake could make it into the oven.



The cake cooked up beautifully...

...and having had to trim bits up to make it flat, it seems to taste ok too.

The next steps were to marzipan...

...and royal ice it (the icing only got stuck to the surface once and when I last checked it had a lovely smooth finish with no cracks).

And now its firming up for 24 hours before the final decoration.  It's a surprisingly time consuming process but seems to be worth it so far.