Shortie's DFW Diary

lurvlyloz

i've never got to grips with an electric hob. just didnt cook as well as my gas cooker.

elantan

i agree i dont like my electric hob either, its our first one, but we've had it for 11 years now, sooooo cant wait till we can afford a new kitchen so we can get rid of it all ( dont like the kitchen either)

glad its all finally fitted and working for you shortie,

Shortie

Thanks El. Don't get me started on our kitchen, lol. I went from my dream kitchen to a pokey, not very well kept one. Thankfully the units are white so we can easily get away with a new work top (this one has chips taken out of it - eeeewww) and a new sink (needed - we have no drainer, and the white round one we have is all scratched, and stained - niiiice), and then just refreshing the patchy fading yellow walls with white emulsion. At some point in my Debt Free future I'll be able to save to have walls knocked down and extend the kicthen into the annex off the side of the house. One day, one day..... <sigh>


What kind of kitchen are you wanting if you had the spare money?

Shortie

A little update from me So the kids, Mr Shortie and I made up some shortbread biccies last night - so easy and sooooo tasty - shortbread is such a good homemade win! We made little start shaped biccies and as well as the usual dredging in sugar, the kids had fun drizzling melted chocolate on them as well when they'd cooled. The kids went to bed and when the chocolate finally set, Mr Shortie and I set about cellophaning little bundles for the teachers - 7 teachers (3 teachers, 2 TAs, the head misteress and the office lady) later, and enough for both kids class mates to have 1 each and we're sorted for the school now. That was a pretty reasonably priced way to do pressies for the school, plus they look lovely with curled ribbon and the teachers won't have something else to plough through over Christmas / the new year! There were enough for 2 cuppas in there - for me anyway, but then I can really scoff biccies with a cuppa

But I was pooped. 3 weeks after the start of a cold / Christmas bug and while my throat isn't sore or anything, my chest has since been left really 'tight' and I'm pooped before I even get to work as I'm getting quickly out of breath. Roll on Saturday morning - I REALLY need a lie in. I just have to agree with the kids that they wake up Mr Shortie and not me, as I can't get back to sleep when I've been fully woken up

This weekend brings fruit cake making (christmas day dessert), chilli jam and lemon curd making (both for the parent's Christmas hampers) as well as more shortbread, some brownies, peppermint patties and (if I get time) some handmade solid handcream as I have the stuff in ready to make it (bees wax from my Dad's bees and Shea butter from eBay)

All systems go eh? :rotfl:

elantan

I think when we eventually do get a new kitchen whilst I want something modern with loads of gadgets I will go for the more traditional kitchen, it's got to last me till the day I die so I want something that won't date or break .... I really do like value for money for things tbh, I have pictures tht are 25 years old and I still love them as much today as I did when I got them, but I do also expect them to remain as fresh looking today as the day I got them lol

I have very very expensive taste ( probably not compared to some people's, but much more than I can afford lol) but once I get what I want I don't change my mind ... I'm kinda loyal that way lol

elantan

Shortie wrote: »

A little update from me So the kids, Mr Shortie and I made up some shortbread biccies last night - so easy and sooooo tasty - shortbread is such a good homemade win! We made little start shaped biccies and as well as the usual dredging in sugar, the kids had fun drizzling melted chocolate on them as well when they'd cooled. The kids went to bed and when the chocolate finally set, Mr Shortie and I set about cellophaning little bundles for the teachers - 7 teachers (3 teachers, 2 TAs, the head misteress and the office lady) later, and enough for both kids class mates to have 1 each and we're sorted for the school now. That was a pretty reasonably priced way to do pressies for the school, plus they look lovely with curled ribbon and the teachers won't have something else to plough through over Christmas / the new year! There were enough for 2 cuppas in there - for me anyway, but then I can really scoff biccies with a cuppa

But I was pooped. 3 weeks after the start of a cold / Christmas bug and while my throat isn't sore or anything, my chest has since been left really 'tight' and I'm pooped before I even get to work as I'm getting quickly out of breath. Roll on Saturday morning - I REALLY need a lie in. I just have to agree with the kids that they wake up Mr Shortie and not me, as I can't get back to sleep when I've been fully woken up

This weekend brings fruit cake making (christmas day dessert), chilli jam and lemon curd making (both for the parent's Christmas hampers) as well as more shortbread, some brownies, peppermint patties and (if I get time) some handmade solid handcream as I have the stuff in ready to make it (bees wax from my Dad's bees and Shea butter from eBay)

All systems go eh? :rotfl:

Wow sounds fantastic to me.... I'll need to get the recipes for them, I would love to do more " home made" things, I did make jam for years but left it the last two as mr el was ill and this year I found I made it and everyone took it leaving me nowt ( and that won't do ) I have had a few moans of where's ma jam but I stuck my foot down

I did miss making it though so probably will next year

Wish we lived closer I could come and learn at yours

Shortie

Aww, I'd happily share some baking time so you'd be welcome

I have the recipe links all stored so if there were any specifics you wanted, let me know and I'll pop them up. The shortbread one is here:
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/11609/shortbread

Shortbread is just so forgiving and easy though, as long as the kicthen's not too warm (I opened my back door in the end last night as the oven had been cooking dinner on low for a while and the heating was on when I got in so the kitchen was pretty toasty). We tend to cut shapes out of them rather than cook it as a block to cut, and when rolling it out if the dough 'tears' a little you can gentle squadge it back together and roll it back flat. The mix does make a lot though when they are little thin biccies, and while I could happily scoff it all, when I make some this weekend for hampers I said to Mr Shortie that we'll open freeze the remaining dough, ready cut, so that in the new year after all the over indulgence fasting has past, we can treat ourselves to some hm shortbread again

And the beauty of it is, we added to this mix the dreading sugar (not a great deal really) and about 50g of melted Mr T Value plain cooking chocolate artistically splashed over the top and it is pretty cheap and looks fairly fancy

Shortie

Oh and I love jam making - I haven't made it for a few years either but the smell is lovely and there is nothing quite like hm jam I tried hm marmalade earlier this year but it went just like previous attempts and never set! It's all buried in a box since we moved but when it resurfaces it might be quite nice orange conserve, lol

lurvlyloz

I MAKE THE CHILLI JAM FROM GOOD FOOD AND I LOVE IT. LOVE MAKING JAM AND CHUTNEYS BUT HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO THIS YEAR DUE TO TIME AND MONEY

ooops sorry for shouting.

your hampers sound delish! x

rising_from_the_ashes

Shortie wrote: »

Mr Shortie and I set about cellophaning little bundles for the teachers - 7 teachers (3 teachers, 2 TAs, the head misteress and the office lady) later, and enough for both kids class mates to have 1 each and we're sorted for the school now. That was a pretty reasonably priced way to do pressies for the school

I just don't get this having to buy pressies for teachers .. no offense to anyone but they're doing a job that they're paid to do - why should parents feel (in many cases) obliged to buy (or make) things that in many cases the teachers don't even want!

One of my friends has 3 kids - all in different years and all the teachers are job share ... so that's 6 presents she's having to do (and again at the end of session)...... sorry ... but .....

Surely it could be sorted by the Head writing to the parents and saying that presents aren't required & if wanted a donation could be made to a charity the school supports or something similar?

Shortie wrote: »

Oh and I love jam making - I haven't made it for a few years either but the smell is lovely and there is nothing quite like hm jam I tried hm marmalade earlier this year but it went just like previous attempts and never set! It's all buried in a box since we moved but when it resurfaces it might be quite nice orange conserve, lol

mmm I was determined to try jam this year ..... I've woods near me and usually manage to get MASSES of blackberries but in 2011 I'd just had surgery on my foot & couldn't go and then this year I was in hospital

Must add that to the 2013 to do list:D

I've always been put off by the time it seems to take? I can always remember my Granny and Mum spending (what seemed like anyway) days in the kitchen with pots & pans everywhere:eek::rotfl: