Create

Summer  top

Last Friday night my hubby decided to go out and leave me on date night so I decided to keep myself entertained for the evening and start sewing. I went through my large collection of fabrics and came across this lovely embroidered fabric I had brought on the net. I decided to make a lovely  top for the Summer. I have to confess it wasn't really planned and I didn't use a pattern. I just cut two lengths of fabric and starting sewing. I used one the the pretty edges to make a frill at the neckline and also added button fastenings to the back to add interest. It took a few attempts to get it fitted but I got there in the end. I wore it on Saturday and received great comments...its now a favourite Summer essential!!

Bake

Summer fruits Pavlova

We went over to our friends place for a BBQ to watch the England match. I didn't want to rock up without any nice food and noticed we had lots of lovely free range eggs in the fridge. The best Summer pudding has to be a Pavlova...my Mum taught me how to make the best meringue. The ingredients are simple but they key is being patient and letting it bake in a cool oven for several hours. It made it here in one piece but needless to say we came back with nothing....it went down a treat.

Meringue

3 egg whites

6oz caster/ granulated sugar

Whipping cream

Summer fruits

Whisk the egg whites until they make soft peaks

Slowly add the sugar and continue to whisk

Line a baking tray with greaseproof- I also add a layer of rice paper to stop it sticking

Add the mixture onto the tray and bake in cool oven 100c for around 2 hours.

Whip the cream and spread over meringue (when cool).

Add the Summer fruits and grab a spoon and enjoy!!

Make

Homemade sweet pepper chutney

We had so many sweet peppers left in the fridge I knew I had to do something with them so I decided to whip up a chutney. I didn't really follow a recipe, just kept on adding bits that I found in the fridge and cupboard. It didn't take along and it is delicious....I don't think it will last long as we are eating it with everything.

It's so easy to make...

6-8 sweet peppers- all colours

2 tins chopped tomatoes

2 courgettes chopped

1 onion

2-3 garlic cloves

1-2 chillies chopped finely

Pink peppercorns

Turmeric

Paprika

Salt and pepper

1 cup white wine vinegar.

Put it all in a large pan and cook until peppers are soft.

Spoon into sterilised jars and seal.

Make

Flower charm bracelet

Here's another one of my charm bracelets made with pretty pastel coloured flowers, leaves, pearls and gemstones. I showed them to friends and family who have all fallen in love with them which is good to know. I will definitely give them a go on my shop. Now to place another order as I have used my stock already. :-)

Make

Flower charm bracelet

I received a parcel in the post last week full of pretty flowers in all sorts of colours. It also contained beautiful pearls and sweet silver charms. I set to making one or two charm bracelets and love the finished look. I have since then made a few more and also had a go at making some earrings too. They are now part of the Secret Garden collection and will be listed in my shop soon....go and take a look at http://www.folksy.com/shops/milliemooshu or click on the link on the left of this page.

Bake

Pain au chocolate and chocolate custard bake

It was my Mum's birthday yesterday and I decided that we would pop over and start the celebrations early by having a birthday breakfast. I wanted to do something different and came across this lovely recipe. I guess it designed for puddings but it was so nice for breakfast with fresh, juicy strawberries. It went down a treat, so much so Mum had some for lunch too!! Its a bit calorific but it was a special occasion. Here's how easy it is.

4-6 Pain au chocolat (or use choc croissants)

100g chocolate

300ml 1/2pint milk

285ml double cream plus another 285ml of milk

4 large egg yolks or 5 medium

170g tube of condensed milk

Grease oven proof oven dish

Cut each pain au chocolat into three pieces and arrange in dish.

Place chocolate, cream , milk in saucepan and gently heat until the chocolate has melted.

In large bowl whisk together the egg yolks and condensed milk, and then gradually beat into the hot chocolate cream.

Pour mixture over pain au chocolat and leave to stand for an hour.

Cook for about 30 minutes in oven at 180c until set .

Dust with icing sugar.

Yummy!!