Nailed it?

For a while now I have been seeing videos on social media of quick and easy things to cook.  And then you also get the feed of the nailed it pictures of trying out said 'this is easy' projects.  A while back I happened to have a go at one, it was for a Nutella star bread.  I have to say I was rather chuffed with how it turned out, but then I have to admit that I do like baking and happen to enjoy the sweet stuff.  So, on my list are lots of things that look simple, and tasty, that I vow to try out.

Here's the video and below is how mine turned out

Not bad and it was delicious!

So, this week I have also had a bash at the chicken and parma ham cups, and today the pineapple mini upside down cakes which have been saved in my things to do list.  However, my lad happens to not like pineapple, so we used apple instead!  Although I didn't tell him that at first, and he was most put out when he thought I was forcing him to eat pineapple!  He did report back that the apple ones were very nice :-)  and I agreed with him that they needed some clotted cream.

Not having parma ham, I used good ole bacon instead!  So in many ways, just like I find it difficult to order off menu, my cooking always seem to take a different turn than the recipe calls for!  But then at times you just have to go with the flow and use what you have got.  Which takes me back to my recent revival of wartime cookery.  As soon as the breast of lamb is in the bargain section, that will be in the menu.  I did consider doing this as a meal for my sister and brother in sin, however, they have treated me to some sumptuous dishes.  So felt it a little unfair to serve them wartime favourites. 

Will be doing the super tasty short beef rib for the celebration of uncovering my dining room table!

I do feel however, that should I attempt craft projects, it would be a different story.  Already this week I have knitted a glove that would fit no one!  Everyone has their own talents best to leave the home knits to my awesomely talented sister!

Wartime cookery!

Many many years ago I really enjoyed the Wartime Kitchen and Garden series with Ruth Mott and Harry Dodson.  A particular episode stuck in my mind where Ruth made some Breaded Lamb and a Leek Pudding.  To this day though I have never tried out that recipe, why I have no idea!  This will be rectified, and soon!

Now, whilst looking at various wartime things I stumbled across a recipe for Irish Potato Cakes.  Something that my 10 year old is a huge fan of.  Looking back of the years where I wasted mashed potato, I am delighted to have found such a simple recipe to avoid such waste in the future, mainly as I really am awful at the cooking for two amounts....

Looking through the cupboard (quite a nerve wracking job at times!) I happened across some regrowing spuds, excellent!

I set about peeling and boiling them for some mash, whilst they were cooking I clear up the kitchen and prepared the rest of the ingredients of Salt, pepper, melted butter and flour.  it did actually call for melted margarine, which is something that I never have.  So probably ended up using the entire weeks rations of butter in this one meal...ooops!  But seriously I just cannot use Marg, it's vile!  And thankfully I am not living in the 1940's

After mashing said boiled spuds, I added the other ingredients to form a stiff dough which I patted into a round about quarter inch thick and then cut into 8.

Tah Da!

Now, the 'dough' i felt was not quite stiff enough.  This I feel was due to the freshness of the mashed potato, I can see it being much better with leftover day old mash.

So, into the pan they went, with a very eager Alex who said that they smell like pancakes, and that all Irish food has that smell.  Where the hell that came from I have no idea, so I asked him how often he had been around Irish food......strange boy!

Here they are cooking away

(am sure that all food bloggers do these kind of images)

The finished articles presented lovingly on an authentic green plate!

Now, any food can look good, but how did they taste to the highly critical foodie that lives in my house and can eat me out of house and home!  Especially as his favourite are those by either Warburton's or Paul Rankin.

He ate 4, so they can't be that bad!  

Me, I preferred them to the shop bought and will definitely be making them again.

Recipe used was from this blog where there are many more that I will be trying out :-)

Stepping out of a comfort zone!

Back at the beginning of the year it was the Beauty Show 2015 at Birmingham, after getting an invite for it through the post I had looked around the website and found out about the National Make-Up Awards!  Wow, I thought, and on closer inspection they had a Student category.....  Could I push myself and enter a competition?

Being a make-up artist is a new career choice for me, it has only been little over a year that I decide to take a change of direction.  This was due to using the makeup from Arbonne, and having my interest in make-up application reignited.

In the past I have been complimented on my own personal make-up, at school I partook in Drama classes and dabbled with creative and effect style looks (I must dig those photos out as my best friend has forgotten!)  So, I spoke to college, who then offered to pay the entrance fee, and I entered into the two categories.

My good friend and fellow student Emy, agreed to be my model, which was fantastic, as had practiced on her beautiful face many times. Typically me, I left it until the night before the show to do my mood boards, I kept putting it off as I had never done face charts before, but I found it very therapeutic and was quite pleased with the outcome.

With this being my first ever competition for Make-Up, I was rather nervous, but excited :-)  And I have to say the morning just flew by.  And little did I know I was being observed by someone very special (more on that later)

First look, ws the evening glamour.  Emy was a fantastic model.  We had pre-rolled her hair and she was so supportive as I got down to work applying the glitter to her eyes.  I was chuffed to bits that most things went smoothly, apart from the initial losing of the silver glitter shadow, so I mixed one up, and then dutifully found it behind the makeup remover.  However, I felt proud of myself for adapting rather than crumbling in a heap

Apologies for the quality of the light in these images, the lighting in the arena was very poor.

The first image is the look for Cocktails and Glamour, the second I choose the brief for the flowers 'Bleeding Heart' as inspiration

Whilst we waited for the judging, I was alerted by a steward to a lady who had been standing patiently watching the competition, when I looked over I was delighted and at this point brought to tears that it was my best friend Sabina.  She had come over from Beeston especially to see me, overwhelmed is an understatement.  Together we waited for the results, and I was delighted to have come fourth, which I felt for my first ever competition wasn't half bad.  Of course having my best friends celebrate with me was priceless.

Would I do it again, oh yes!  Roll on 2016..