When you only have limited amount of fabric.

This is felt, but this will work with any plain identical on both sides fabric.  If you cannot draw round the template because the seams are on the outside of the item, and the templates can only be placed a certain way because you only have limited fabric.  Stick the templates well down with sticky-tape.

Carefully cut round the templates

Cary-on following the instructions

Helen, who devised these sweet little deer's Holly and Berry gives a wonderful tip.  Place glass head pins where the eyes are to be placed.  I stopped making toys a few years back because they all ended up being called Issiah, because one eye was always 'igher than t'other!

Pattern for Holly and Berry can be found here

Cooking Blind

When cooking blind put the dried peas, rice, or the proper cooking blind beans in a cake liner.  

It makes it easier to lift out after the cooking.  Leave then to cool for re-use in the liner.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Take three or four large flat mushrooms.  Wash and dry with kitchen towel and place on a baking tray.  Fill with whatever you have.  These one are filled with two rashers of bacon, and some brie topped with leftover mash potatoes and a little grated cheese and freshly milled black pepper (between the three mushrooms).  Dribble with a little Olive oil. Cook at 180 degrees until cooked and the cheese has melted.

Swirly Marble Cake

Follow this recipe but use two eggs.  When the cake mix is ready divide into two cake tins just like the picture above.

repeat above but when you weigh the flour take out a table spoon of flour and replace with a table spoon of Cocoa,  do not use drinking chocolate.  Then divide the chocolate mix as above.

Then gently mix together.

Cook

sandwich together with your favourite jam or butter cream

Mmmmmmmmmmm!  3/10 for the mixing could do better!  But it tasted lovely and our friends enjoyed it too! 

Potatoes, Bacon and Brie!

My version of this recipe

Potatoes

Thick pieces of Bacon (I used cooking bacon from Morrisons)

 Onion - sliced (I prefer red onions, the choice is yours)

Brie (I used half of the triangle that is normally bought)

Olive Oil for cooking only

(You can use ordinary cooking oil, but I would drain the onion and bacon first)

Ground Pepper - optional

Butter

Gently soften the sliced onion with the chunks of bacon in a little olive oil.   Whilst they are cooking. butter a shallow dish and then thinly slice a potatoes (5mm or less if you can) and lay into the bottom of the dish.  When the onions* have soften add them and the bacon to the potatoes.  

Chop the brie and lay on top.  Don't overwhelm with the cheese.

Thinly slice more potato and cover the layer of onion, bacon and brie and sprinkle with freshly ground pepper, and a few small pieces of butter.

Slowly cook on 180 degrees (Gas 3) until the potatoes are cooked.

Serve while still piping hot with salad and cranberry sauce - optional

*Always cook onions first otherwise they will always taste and feel raw

The salad was reasonably priced too!

Altering the Waist of Children's Trousers

Carefully snip a slit on the inside of the waistband near the side seams, making sure you don't go through to the right side of waistband.  Repeat at the opposite end.

Thread the elastic through to the opposite slit.

*make sure the elastic is the width of the waistband* 

Machine the first slit closed by machining to and fro a few times across the waistband making sure you stitch through the elastic.  

(If stitching by hand make sure you stitch through the elastic and use a strong button thread.)

Pull the other end of the elastic to the width of the child's waist making sure it is a comfortable fit.

Repeat the machining of the other slit.

Cake & Cookies

Fruit Cake

Weigh three eggs.  

Weigh the same weight butter, light brown sugar, flour. 

2 teaspoons mixed spice 

1 desert spoon water.

12ozs dried fruit 

Cream together the sugar and butter until pale in colour.  

Beat in the eggs one at a time and add the water and beat.

Cover the fruit with two spoons flour and mix together.

Add the rest of flour to mixture and fold in carefully, 

then add the fruit and also fold in carefully.

Pour mixture into a prepared cake tin and cook 180 degrees 

for about 35 minutes, check cake is cooked, if not keep checking every few minutes

Peanut Butter Cookies

(Makes about 10)

3ozs flour

3/4oz Sugar

2 tablespoons Peanut Butter

1 egg

2oz Butter

1oz Peanuts (optional use if using smooth peanut butter)

Put all the ingredients in bowl and cream together.

Roll mixture into little balls and place on a prepared baking tray and press with fingers to flatten out.

Cook 180 degrees for 10 minutes.  Leave on tray until cold.

Breadcrumbs and a Lunchtime Snack

I like to keep breadcrumbs in the freezer.  I find French Stick makes the best breadcrumbs.  You don't have to defrost them before using them, so they can be used straight from the the freezer.  I use them for toppings and coating chicken.

4 x Chicken Portions or
Pack of Chicken Pieces for making curries etc
Italian Herbs
1 or 2 Eggs
Flour
Bread Crumbs
Cooking Oil

3 Bowls

Bowl one - Break 2 eggs and whisk, add extra one if needed
Bowl two - Breadcrumbs and Italian Herbs mixed together
Bowl three - Flour

Dip the chicken in eggs,

cover in flour the shake off excess,

dip the chicken back into the eggs,

cover in the bread crumbs

Gently heat a little oil in a frying pan,

fry just browning the breadcrumbs,

put the chicken on a baking tray

Put chicken pieces into a hot oven to cook
for about twenty minutes

200 degrees, gas 6 till cooked through,

MAKE sure the chicken is thoroughly cooked. 

This can be prepared to putting on baking tray prior to putting in the oven and cooked later

Bottom bag, three Batons - 9p each. top bag French stick with Sesame Seeds 15p. 

End of the day at Morrisons 

Poppy seed roll

Wheat Roll

both these rolls were from Morrisons from a mixed pack of Dinner Rolls also 9p, we had the other two for lunch.

Lunchtime Snack

Shepherds Pie, Cottage Pie No just a packet of prepared veg (Morrisons 20p)  Couple of tablespoons water unless you have left-over stock or gravy.  Top with mash potato. 

Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and finely grated cheese.