Birthday Goodies.....

I hope that everyone is warm and well as you read this!!

We have only had a small sprinkling of snow here though the moors have had icy roads.

I don't remember it being this cold so early- it is my Birthday at this time of year and it is usually pretty wet and windy!

Talking of Birthdays- I must  tell you about the cake I made this year....

Turkish Delight and Rosewater Cake.....

It was DELICIOUS!!!!

It may sound sickly sweet but because of using dark chocolate powder in the sponge and then melted dark chocolate on the top it really cuts the sweetness of the turkish delight....

So a simple chocolate sponge has cut up GOOD turkish delight added into the mix, then baked.When cooled, melt some dark chocolate over a bain marie then add rose water and pour over the cake- I topped it with rose creams- again dark chocolate ones so not too sweet!

It didn't last very long and I DIDN'T eat it all...

In between cake baking and celebrations I also got some lovely goodies.....

 I think people know me quite well.....

After celebrations were over time to get preparing for Topsham Market, I am doing an ordinary one and a Christmas one so time to get busy.....

 Here's Millie.....

And Mollie.....

And  a hot chocolate gift set.....

I was up until late last night sewing and decorating festive hearts- photographs to follow!

Warm Wishes for a Wonderful Week,

Weight Watching and Warm Wishes.....

Hello, I am a very happy bunny today! I am now in my seventh week of Weight Watching and I have lost...

......Drum Roll Please......

.........Exactly ONE Stone........

Hee  Hee...

So one stone gone, (I think another two to go realistically), but I am aiming for a stone a time and will see how I feel  when the next stone is gone. If you are wanting to lose weight I really think that 'Weight Watchers Is The Way'...

As you know I am a real foodie and love to cook, bake and eat, so any form of deprivation is just not going to work for me, can you believe that I can still eat this?

Homemade Strawberry Vanilla Cake..mmm...

Of course I have made some adjustments to my eating but I really think that not working full time anymore is the answer for me, being able to prepare all my own fresh food is a luxury that I am SO grateful for! And not only do I get to be pretty thrifty but I get to lose weight too!!

So let's hope that the next stone is as fun and delicious to lose too....

Warm Wishes for A Wonderful Week,

Diet food????

Well as so many of you seem to be leading by example and are well on the way to shedding those Christmas pounds, I thought I would join in and show you a recipe adapted from a Weight Watchers booklet for a scrumptious snack at 2 points a serving (if you are counting your points allowance) and those that aren't, well it's a lovely treat anyway!

Here are a few photographs of it in the making to tempt you....

Mix it all up...

Into the fridge for an hour or two.....

mmm......delicious.....

.....and good for you!

The recipe as they print it is as follows:

Chocolate Biscuit Refrigerator Cake

120g milk chocolate- I use dark as it is richer and better for you, if you find dark chocolate bitter - you won' t in this because the syrup sweetens it
1 tablespoon of golden syrup
50g butter/margarine/spread
150g shortcake/digestive biscuits - broken by hand into sizes of your choice
30g glace cherries - I don't like them so use sultanas
50g chopped dried apricots
30g cranberries - I use raisins

Melt the butter, syrup and chocolate over a bain marie or in the microwave if you prefer.  Add the remaining ingredients and stir until everything is coated in the chocolate.  Spoon into a square or oblong tin lined with greaseproof paper (I use oblong as it makes the cake thinner which I prefer).  Press into the tin with your palm - a messy but fun job!
Then put in the fridge for an hour or two and enjoy!  They say it makes about 16 squares but because I make it thinner it tends to make more.

It is good as a pudding too and if you use dark chocolate, one little square really is enough!  Promise.

So HAPPY WEIGHT LOSS!!

Warm Winter Wishes for a Wonderful Week

Cally

x x x