* Lazylol *

Happy Halloween Bloggers!!

Candles and pumpkins lit, I am being swamped my little monsters! I am running out of treats fast...oh dear

Maybe I should have made some of these Scary Pear Heads.........

or some of these groovy spider cakes from Not Martha

Hope you are all having fun!

I wish I had a Hallowig

Clocks Back.

I am getting ready to make my first ever Pumpkin Pie today.  I have been wanting to try it for ages but as far as I know, you can't get canned pumpkin over here in England (please let me know if I'm wrong about that!) My kind friend in the US found me a recipe using fresh pumpkin so I am going to give it a whirl.  Hopefully we will be eating pumpkin pie for dessert after Sunday lunch. If it is a success I will post the recipe later.

I've been drooling over this quilt block from allsorts Check out the great tutorial and beautiful fabrics. I so want to make a quilt but am scared to make a start for some reason.  I will carry on drooling a bit longer, in the hope that one day I will actually make one!

We had lots of family fun last night, playing the new Buzz Big Quiz game.  We already love the music version.  The new quiz version is all qusetions about lots of different subjects so everyone can join in the fun.  Buzz himself is very funny this one.  We are going to play this at our christmas party this year. 

So the clocks went back an hour and it will be dark much earlier tonight.  It will seem like winter now and we'll be able to cozy up in front of the fire, candles lit, watching TV and making plans for christmas.  emmmmmm.......

Teenagers!

This poster made me laugh

I am actually condidering buying this and putting it up in house.  My teens are driving me mad.  I have been trying in vain since they could toddle, to train them to tidy up after themselves. My 18 year old is not too bad but the 15 year old is a nightmare.  Ok, his bedroom looks tidy on the surface.  I told him if he keeps it tidy and I can get in once a week to vacuum and clean around, I would respect his privacy and not look in drawers etc.  This was about 6 months ago and all was well. Today, I opened a drawer quickly to pop something inside and OMG it was a big mess.  I then looked in all the drawers and the wardrobe.  All I can say is that he is a slob and have just spent my Friday evening filling bin liners with rubbish.  Have they no self respect?

Where are Kim and Aggie when you need them?

Halloween Ideas

I've just spent 5 lovely days at the seaside.  Just me and J, no kids. It was so restful and relaxing. I am glad to be back though.  It makes you appreciate home/family when you have a break from them.  The weather was surprisingly good for this time of year.  Now I'm back I am planning Halloween and Bonfire night....(but secretly wanting to get on with Christmas planning! haha) These are my Halloween cupcakes from last year.

I am trying to decide whether to just make the same ones again or do something different.  I will have to do some searching later today and come up with some ideas.

i just recieved my Crafter's Companion in the post!  Can't wait to read it with a cup of tea later!

I saw the new Adam Sandler movie - Click, while I was away....very funny...I love a good laugh!

Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding

To distract myself from starting my christmas plans, I have turned to Halloween and Bonfire Night.  My boys are too old to go anywhere with me so I will just have to enjoy the food instead (that was the best bit anyway).  I am thinking of making the same eyeball cupcakes I made last year for the trick or treaters. I couldn't resist making this recipe I spotted in a magazine at the weekend.

Go on, make it....it is totally delicious and so easy.....this is going to be a family favourite I bet!

Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding

• 3 oz butter, melted plus a little for greasing
• 5 oz self raising flour
• 4 oz golden caster sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 7 floz milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large baking apples, peeled, cored and sliced

For the topping

• 5 oz soft, dark brown sugar
• 2 oz pecans, roughly chopped

Heat oven to 180c/160c fan/gas 4. Grease a 3 1/2 pint ovenproof dish lightly with a little butter.Tip the flour, sugar and baking powder into a bowl and add a pinch of salt. In another bowl mix together the milk, butter, egg and vanilla extract.  Arrange the apples at the bottom of the dish, pour over batter and smooth over with a knife until all the apples are covered.

For the topping, pour 250ml boiling water over the sugar and stir until smooth.  Pour the liquid over the pudding mixture and then scatter the pecans on the top.  Bake for 40 mins until pudding is risen and golden.  Use a big spoon to serve up the pudding, making sure you get some of the gooey caramel sauce at the bottom.  Serve will pouring cream, ice cream or custard.  Yum.

Serves 6 adults.

Three-in-One

The latest addition to my wish list is this little beauty available from lakeland !

Isn't it clever?  Slow cooker, rice cooker and steamer in one.  I love gadgets and appliances.  The trouble is they take up too much cupboard space.  With this I can get rid of my old slow cooker and have this lovely new 3-in-1 modern thing in its place.  Now all I need is some money to buy it - if only i could stop buying fabric and craft books and save up!

It's love this too - it's only cheap but i am trying to cut down on cake so maybe not!

Have you ordered yours yet?

I can't wait to received this new book - I have just pre-ordered it.

Please Mr Postman - bring it soon xx

Flamborough

On Sunday we took a trip to the East Yorkshire Coast and visited the charming little village of Flamborough.  It was a rainy day but the grey sky made a lovely background for the lighthouse which was flashing when we arrived.  I'm just trying to squeeze in a few more day trips before the weather gets too wintery.