Cookies, Cakes & Toast!

Well! It’s been quite a full on few days. Poor Finn, the sickness bug turned out to be Gastroenteritis! He’s been such a trooper whilst feeling so rotten. I’ve had him home all week, so hopefully he’ll be right as rain for school on Monday. His parents evening at school on Tuesday was fantastic, we couldn’t be prouder of him! Archie’s big meeting , also on Tuesday, went well too, although I have to say despite giving her the benefit of the doubt for the past 12 mths, I am ready to call our paediatric consultant for what she is – USELESS!!! She has one last chance at our appointment in April, and then we’ll be requesting a new one!

So, there’s not been much time for baking, or anything, that hasn’t involved the boys health/education in the last few days! However, I did manage a short spell of quiet kitchen time to make a few cookies and a cake. The cookies were scoffed by all 3 of my boys! The cake was a very small token of appreciation for Archie’s preschool staff, in particular his key worker Julie, who is utterly wonderful!

The recent freezing, but Spring-like weather inspired my colour & design choices in this latest bake fest!

Anyone for tea?

These cookies were iced with sugarpaste, then “painted” with  edible colour dust mixed with a little vodka (it evaporates as it dries!).

And because I have no other way of saying “Thank You” to our lovely Julie at Preschool …..

…. a zesty lemon sponge, and blossom flower decoration! Hope she likes it 🙂

Not quite sure how, but have also managed to read a book…a whole book… in the last few days! A good friend of mine was selected to distribute her chosen book for World Book Night. She chose Toast by chef Nigel Slater, a kind of account of his childhood and adolescence via food! She was given 50 copies to give out for WBN and I was one of the lucky recipients. The book was poignant, funny, sad and very real. It would be kind of interesting to think back over my life via the food & drink of my past! My beloved granny’s soda bread, apple pie, rice pudding, milky coffee (coffee made with milk, not water), Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Fry’s Mint Cream – all have wonderful, cosy, lovely memories attached! (I wonder where my love for all things baked comes from – lol!!!). I’m trying to think of “bad food memories” – I’m sure there many aside from the usual sprout/Marmite hating episode, but I’m drawing a blank right now. Maybe more in-depth analysis of my past is needed… or not! Although the faintest whiff of cheap cider will take me back about 20 years and make me feel instantly queasy, but in a good way!!! If you come across a copy of Toast, give it a read. I now just have to find time to get through the 11 (!) books piled next to my bed waiting to be read!!

Family Trials & Tribulations!

Thursday – a difficult day, following a difficult night. After a concerted effort to get to bed & be asleep before the usual midnight, we had a rude awakening at 11.30 with a very distressed Archie. All the usual tricks failed to console him, and after a couple of hours he’d just exhausted himself out, and finally went off until 6.30. Unfortunately, Rich was up at 5 for a 7.30 flight to Belfast (which he ended up abandoning at 9.30, when it still hadn’t boarded, and went off to the office in Manchester!). The day continued to be fraught, with Archie screaming lots: in temper, because I spoke to him, because he didn’t like what I’d said/not let him do, because he could!! It’s a difficult sound to live with & deal with.  I’d hoped a session at preschool would help with his mood, and give me a little time to have a snooze on the sofa. He’d been there an hour, and I’d just dropped off, when they called to say he was very distressed, head butting the floor, could I come get him 😥

We have a big meeting next week, with everyone involved with Archie, to discuss the way forward – an anxious few days ahead for us. May have to seek distraction in the pages of the new Baking book that Sainsburys had strategically placed at the till (so obviously I HAD to buy it – it was only £5 after all!).

Sainsbury's Baking Book - only £5!!

Friday – a better night for all thanks to anti-histamine for Archie (he scratches through the night!), and Rescue Remedy for me! A full 7 hrs uninterrupted sleep for me & about 10 hrs for the little one 🙂 Everybody feels much better today, we may even brave playgroup this afternoon!! Roll on 4.30 when I go for a Reiki treatment. I can’t wait.

Saturday – A vomiting Finn, sent home early from school yesterday, meant no playgroup. Although my mum stepped into the breach to look after him so I could go for Reiki – which was lovely, and recharged me for the very disturbed night ahead. Poor Finn, had nothing in him, but was throwing up all night (and still is 😦 ) & all the commotion kept waking Archie. A duvet day for us all today. The bright side to today – my lovely new cake books arrived this morning :). I terrified the postie at 7.30  when I opened the door bleary, panda eyes and with bad bed head – lol!!A cuppa and a half hour escape into the world of pretty cakes & biscuits, while Finn dozes on the sofa is called for I think!! 

Lovely new cake books!

The new books are:

• Bake Me I’m Yours – Cookie by Lindy Smith
• The Art of Cupcakes  by Nogra Hitron
• 1000 Ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cookies & Cakes by Sandra Salamony

And then we had bread!

Well, the breadmaker passed it’s first test! I did cheat a little and used a pre-mixed mix! Pour in the water, throw in the flour mix, close lid, select quick programme and 1hr and half later – a lovely warm Sundried Tomato & Parmesan loaf! Slightly more faff than just picking one off the shelf in the shop, but then the house wouldn’t be filled with the lovely bread baking smell!

new breadmakerBread Mix

1st Loaf

After a difficult day today, I may search for some solace in the kitchen tonight! Still have crazy amount of lemons lying around, so may chuck them into a lemon sponge, or may be I’ll crack open the Bailey’s (there is a recipe using this I’m waiting to try, honestly!). The cause of the difficult day was a hearing test  for Archie, fraught at the best of times and distressing for us both, not aided by horrid old man shouting at us in the waiting room as Archie was having a bit of a shriek (a trait of his ASD!!).

Right, off to get the kids an afternoon snack. S’laters 🙂

The tigers that became our tea!!

What started out as a pretty grey and bleak day, has in fact turned into a gloriously sunny afternoon. It feels like Spring is finally on its way – Yay!!! My lovely neighbour gave me some pretty tulips yesterday to cheer me up after a couple of sleepless nights with Archie, and they absolutely do cheer me up whenever I see them! It’s a shame they don’t last very long!

Pretty Pretty Tulips

After I’d got the Tesco shop done this morning, I promised the boys some cupcakes.  Inspired by one of our favourite story books “The Tiger That Came To Tea”, I made them some Chocolate Tiger Cupcakes. Simple chocolate cakes, a lashing of the finest Betty Crocker Choc Fudge Frosting (!), and a cute orange tiger face disc, with features painted on. I used Black Edible Dust with a smidge of water to make a paint! They ended up a little rough around the edges where the cases came away from the cakes a bit – but they’re only for us, so who cares!!

Tiger Cupcakes

Boys tuck into Tiger Cupcakes

 

Have managed to resist so far – still feeling full after tea out with girls last night at Chiquitos, followed by sweets at the cinema. “Just Go With It!” – Jennifer Aniston & Adam Sandler – very funny. Normally don’t like his films, but  it was easy to watch, very entertaining & a good laugh was just what the doctor ordered 🙂