I've entered Narnia !!!

Cooking from scratch and writing a blog really  opens your eyes to what's actually happening in the world of consumers and the ridiculous choice we are brain washed to pop in our shopping trolley.
Today was a truly classic example of this.... I've no idea just how long this prodyhas been available... and if I new it wasn't 7th January it could have easily been mistaken today as 1st April.... April Fools Day........
Tomorrow I'll introduce you to my girls.... 5 beautiful speckled bantams... 🐓🐓
but today they let me down... every day they produce 5 of the most amazing eggs 🥚we've ever had... but no ... not today typical!!!
unfortunatly a vital  ingredient for my homemade pasta ....
As chance would have it I had to pop to the local supermarket...so decided to get some eggs while
there .... having never bought eggs  from there before .......I started scanning the vast variety of eggs ...I quote barn eggs, value eggs,  happy eggs, free range eggs, brown eggs, white eggs, small, medium, large extra large eggs, rare bread chicken eggs, duck eggs , quails eggs, dozen, half dozen, 15 and 4 eggs in a box.. which though crazy I understand.....
Until that is I came across a box of eggs that were nearly twice the price of  any box of of eggs on the shelf  .... consumerism marketing gone mad ..... was a display of "Eggs for Baking !!!!!" ..... Really ?
Am I being completely stupid .... but aren't all chicken eggs for baking ???

Having been baffled and somewhat stressed by all the different type of eggs available ... I decided to go to buy a dozen eggs from a local hen keeper... eggs were all shapes, sizes and colours... simple and perfect and a sensible price ....
Pasta duly made resulting in 3 yummy lasagna's made... as requested by number one son ...😇

A out of control or dangerous obsession !!!

I don't know whether to feel ashamed or embarrassed...
I was talking to a friend who has organised her wardrobe so she only ever has 36 items in use at any ony time ..... (bonkers or what ??) Her theory being it will take the stress out of your life and make you appreciate what you have ......really ???

With the new thinking, approach to life, love, de-clutter and back to basics her idea will fit perfectly into my new regime......or so I thought ......

This is one of my 3 wardrobes that to be honest more resembles a jumble sale.......
ok 36 items ... but which ones... ?

To my utterly horror and disgust in my 3 wardrobes I had 489 items of clothing (and if that's not bad enough that's just my winter clothes!!!!) 😧😧
Not to mention the 46 pairs of tights, 37 pairs of shoes and boots and 16 coats !!!!!😲😲
I had no idea more than half of it was even there.........😳😳
No wonder considering the sheer volume of stuff!!!
Deep breath taken wardrobes opened......
OMG !!!!!!!!!! Though I opened them every single.... today was different...today my habits needed to change and this was the wake up call I needed........

5 hrs, 6 bags heading for the charity shop, 3 bin liners of rubbish later my 3 wardrobes fitted into 1.....😇😇

Has this changed my life ....????  No
Will this change my life ......???? No
But do you know what .... I feel a weight has been lifted... in an odd way it's like admitting to an addiction.... I now need to work hard to make sure I never allow this never happens again..... greed, gluttony of a materialistic nature..... so ashamed.....😓😓
It can be hard to let go of what we think is important.... but often they are not...
Though we have no idea what tomorrow will bring.... never stop doing the little things that have a big impact... and stay true to your values, beliefs and those who are important to you.... self control and satisfaction is a powerful feeling which just makes you look up and smile ......😌

Are we losing the plot ??

I'm slowly beginning to realise....Whatever we do today will get us closer to our goals, dreams and where we want and need to be tomorrow... and important things will come to us when the moment is right.. we just need to be patient... but we need to work and focus on them..

Im  shocked saddened and  speechless by the sheer amount of adverts on tv and in magazines "everything you need to cook a homemade  meal delivered fresh to your door in a box. .!!!!

Really ??? ....

Do people really buy these ????

Isn't good basic food in everyone's cupboards....??? 

Anyone can basically cook  pretty much any meal , treat or snack. Totally additive free, fresh and
cheap !!
I fear for the next generation of children being slowly removed from reality and the pleasure of sourcing, cooking, experimenting and eating basic food with a bit of a twist and at times a bit quirky..

Homemade flat bread and stupid simple and cheap to make.... believe me if I can cook them anyonycan....





150g strong flour
1/2 tsp yeast
1tsp sugar
If you want add anything you have or fancy olives, garlic, onion.
Approximately 100mls tepid water (enough to make soft dough)
Mix together
kneed for two minutes
Leave to prove in a warm place 20 minutes
Divide into 4
Roll out to thin flatbread
Heat frying pan
Dry cook of 3-4 mins each side until golden
Utterly Delicious ....❤️🌮

Oranges, lemons and random rock cakes.....

It dawned on me today the sheer gluttony of over buying and stockpiling in preparation for the festive period ....
Before this challenge anything unused historical would be chucked away with not a thought and no
impact, consequences or second thoughts...
Not anymore........
So many leftover oranges and lemons ... utterly ridiculous....!!!!!
So began to think what on earth I could do with them all.....?
Simple orange and lemon rock cakes .....!!!
And do you know what? They weren't bad at all ... remainder duly sliced and ready to freeze....
A very satisfying result .. and still secretly chuffed with myself!!!

Today I experienced my first NCE or  (near coffee experience)
Is it subconscious habit or advertising fueled addiction ?
The lure of roasted coffee filling the cold winter air (which I'd never noticed before)
Was the conscious in me being tested or was the retail marketing just out there to wind me up ?
Then I got thinking
I can't  always control what is happening around me, (though believe me I'd like to !!)
I need to learn to challenge and control the way I respond....
It's just a matter of priorities really and what's truly important......
So whether is a coffee (or not to coffee dilemma... !!!) ... laying pray to a victim to the power of advertising or a life changing event.... we alone have been blessed with the power of choice... and when we stick to what is really important it's an amazing feeling !!!!

Orange and lemon rock cake recipe ;

225g self raising flour
100g butter
75g sugar
100g dried fruit
1 egg beaten
30-40mls lemon and orange juice fresh (or milk if you've got no fruit to use up !!!)
Rub butter into flour until looks like fine bread crumbs.
Add sugar and fruit
Mix in egg and liquid until a very stiff thick batter consistency is achieved.
Dollop mixture onto a baking sheet (should make around 12-15 cakes.
Bake gas 6, 200c or 400f for approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown
Leave to cool if you can resist before you eat.
Totally delicious!!!!

Thought for the day ......
"A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset !!!"
Ok ... can't be to difficult.
Just need to flip the things that irritate into happy, fluffy bunny thoughts!!
Aspire  tobe a "Temple of Tranquility "
New rule introduced.... will not make the same recipe twice... not too sure how that will go down ... but not my problem!!!!!
Last packet of 48 custard creams munched on 31.12.16
True to my word if it can be made..... "make it ..."
Having trawled through my Bodlian style library of recipe books... Oat and Honey Biscuits
Perfect......
And no culinary disasters
48 perfectly made really scrumpy biscuits made by 11am....

Even better recipe clearly stated "will keep for 7 days in an air tight container... Brilliant that
gives till next Sunday before my next batch of biscuits is needed.....
Oh how wrong can you be.... they didn't even make it to 5pm !!!!!

"Oh no".... this was not part of my plan.... biscuits made for 6 days not 6 hrs!!!!
Changing negative, destructive thoughts into positive... I secretly smiled to myself and enjoyed the momeyof self righteous satisfaction as I sat with a coffee starring at a solitary biscuit and a plate of crumbs!!!!
Oat and Syrup Biscuits
100g self raising flour
75 g oats
25g desiccated coconut
100g butter
125 caster sugar
30mls golden syrup
1tsp bicarbonate of soda
15mls milk
Method
Mix flour, oats and coconut in a bowl
In a saucepan on low heat melt butter, sugar and syrup...string continually until starting to boil.
Remove from heat.
Dissolve bicarbonate of soda in the milk then mix quickly into the butter and syrup mix.
Add butter and syrup mix to the dry ingredients and mix well.
Leave to cool.
Form mix into 24 small balls
Space well apart on baking sheet as they will spread
Bake gas 4 or 180c or 350f for appropriate 15 mins or until golden brown.
Leave to cool and enjoy......
Though I cannot guarantee they will last for 7 days in an air tight container !!!

Well day one nearly completed and so far all rules stuck to.
Gold star to me !!!
Friends over today... check rule book .. if it can be made.... make it !!
What could be a better way of impressing your guests than to make a chocolate cake... simple..
problem being just found out they are cealic... can't be difficult to make a gluten free cake ...right  ??
Easy recipe duely found...
Perfect......!!!!!

I would present my cake to them with gasps of eager anticipation.. oh while smiling sweetly and slightly smugly saying.."oh just a little something I knocked up earlier... well at least that was the plan.....
Sadly this is what emerged from my oven...

Oh dear .... and no plan B ... only option to disguise my culinary disaster with chocolate sauce.... good plan .....
End result....Ta da aaaaaaaaaa !!!!

Then this got me thinking... just maybe I am like my cake...
I strive for beauty, perfection and aim to impresss.... but why ????
The reality is a few jumps , bumps, imperfections and a bit deflated.....going from one drama to another.... but the fact of the matter is it's ok and it doesn't  matter.... those who are important to us don't really care and are not bothered in the slightest and to be honest nor was I... everyone enjoyed the here and now and being together, and ignored the imperfections, that's what we need to remember

and not the nonsense of impressing and just embrace who we really are. Xx

31.12.16 ok- not long to go now-planning completed...... Rules for 2017.... Right here we go
If it can be made..... Make it!!
If it can be grown ....grow it!!!
I will not buy absolutely  anything for myself !!!!
No make up, books, magazines, coffees (ahhhhhhhh) that will be a toughie
No snacks, breakfasts, lunches out, take aways, treats, clothes, shoes, holidays (oh apart from my trip to Finland which to be fair I've had booked for months long before I ever contemplated this ridiculous challenge)
My aim is to reduce my out of controlled spontaneous spending of things I don need and sit in my wardrobe unused for years.
Stop stockpiling the 3rd world  food moutain in my cupboards half of which I've no idea it's even there.
To appreciate who and what is really important in life.
To focus on what's important  and find happiness in the things that make me all smiley and give me that that feeling of contentment and satisfaction......
Appreciate The simple things in life... The outdoors, the dogs, the stars, those I love and are important to me, making jam and receiving random home made gifts for a very dear like minded and slightly bonkers friend....
Remove Facebook from my life....
Oh and to be in total control of who I am and where I want to be ...... Well at least that's the plan !!!!!