It looks like winters here!

"Keep Me Warm" Wholesome Veg Stew and Cheesy Scone

 

 

Yep it certainly looks like winter is on its way so for those cold days where all you want to do is curl up, drink hot chocolate and eat barrels full of satisfying junk! I found a tasty, healthy, filling main of a hearty veg stew with cheese scones and changed it to how I like it and this is what I came up with!

 

This picture was from dinner time in Scotland! we had been for long walks in the cold and rain and all we wanted was something to warm us up and easy to cook. All it took was some chopping and mixing and then to chuck everything into a pot and put the scones into the oven. Just enough time to have a shower and chill out before it was ready!

 

Also just to let you know when I make this I tend to make way too much and freeze the rest or, I am ashamed to say, have many bowls full, I will not judge you if you do the same!!

 



Simple but delicious, it's not winning any beauty prizes!



 

Shopping list

 

(You can use any root veg you want and at any quantity considering how many are eating but this is the veg I used)

Veg or Chicken stock

Celeriac

Carrots

Potato

Parsnip

Leek

Garlic

Celery

Kidney beans

Salt

 Pepper

Can of chopped tomatoes

Tomato puree

Rosemary

Thyme

115g butter

230g self raising flour (or plain and baking powder)

120g cheese (cheddar)

2tbsp chives

5 tbsp milk

 

 

 All it takes is to chop up all the veg into big chunks, I dice up one or two of the potatoes so they cook and disintegrate and thicken the whole thing just a little bit more.  Heat the oil and fry off the leeks, celery and garlic.  When the leeks are tender, add in the veg and fry for a minute covering all the veg in oil and browning some slightly.  Add the tomatoes, puree and enough stock to just cover the veg.  Add the herbs and spices (the herbs and spices vary to how much you make so add to taste). Stick a lid on and cook for 20 mins on the hob.  Finish the cooking in the oven for 15-20 minutes and add the kidney beans 5 mins towards the end and leave until deep red and bubbling.

 

Whilst the veg is cooking on the hob make the scones.  Rub the butter into the flour, add the chives and a hand full of cheese and knife in the milk until it becomes a dough.  Roll out to an inch thick and cut roughly into triangles.  Bake on a separate sheet lined with baking paper and cook along with the hotpot on the next shelf down for the remaining 10 - 15 minutes.

 

Its all cooked when the scones are done and the veg is tender!

 

Tasty!!

 

Enjoy!

 

Let me know what you think!

 

B

XX

 

Hand made cross stitch gift box

 

It was my friends birthday so I decided to make a hamper.  I love doing hampers for people and by making treats and gifts it doesnt always have to be expensive!

 

I bought her an Urban Decay eye shadow and decided to make an extra present of a cute little gift box that can be used afterwards. So, as I am a fan of cross stitch I decided to make her a cross stitch padded topped box. She loves florals so I chose a cute little flower design modelled on a similar print in an issue  of cross stitcher magazine.

 The eye shaddow came in a see through plasic box whcih made it esier to measure, so first measured the eye shadows length height and diameter and made a box that would fit it making it slightly shorter than the eye shaddow box so its easier to get out and also cut a piece of card slightly taller than the bottom box but shrter than the the eye shaddow so the lid can slip on top and stay on! The lid can be the same size as the bottom piece.

 

 

I measured the cross stitch to be the same size as the top of the box plus a few more squares seen as its going to be padded and obviously raised slightly. I used 4 cotton wool pads as padding just because they were pretty much the exact size I needed, also lose cotton wool is a good alternative, just enough to make a slight cushion. Place the cross stitch over the cushioning and fold the excess over two sides so you have two clean sides. Glue with pva and secure with pegs as shown.Trim exess and I chose a piece of card that matches the cross stitch to neaten up the bottom part of the box. All done!!

 

This is the end hamper I made my friend for her Birthday! as you can see the box is at the front.



I may be makng more hampers in the coming months for christmas so stay tuned!

Happy Making!!

B

XX

 

Face time

 

Hi everyone!!

I thought I'd let you know about my daily make up routine, there may be something you would like to try or let me know if you had problems with something I use and shouldn't be recommending it haha. But this is what I use and think they all are pretty good for makeup on a budget.

 

Base

 



Recently I have been using the new "Stay matte" foundation by Rimmel It goes on evenly and feels smooth but at first it felt a bit too clay like but that feeling soon fades and you are left with a nice even finish. Underneath this is "fix and perfect" primer also by Rimmel I really like this primer also with this, when I first put it on it felt a tad to wet but I left it to dry and the coverage is even and it feels smooth to the touch.

 

 

I use Bourjois blush and superdrug's own bronzer. I love both they can both be subtle or a bit more makes for a more edgy look. I use the bronzer just touching the underneath of my cheek bone and my blusher slap bang on the cheekbone nearer to the ear. I find this combination very natural. I also dab bronzer on my eye lid up to the brow and also on my neck and collar bone in the indents. 

 

 

 

Brushes

 

First things first I need some new brushes! I do like this black bronzing brush but it doesn't seem to blend the bronzer as well as I would like but the brown bronzing brush I use for my blusher works very well.

My sister has just bought some Real Technique brushes which she cannot praise enough! I have also heard nothing but good reviews about them. is this true? let me know if you use them and if they are as good as everyone says? They might be In My basket by pay day.

 

Eyes and Brows

 

I use Bourjois brown eye shadow and use it in many different ways either light or heavy (for a heavy brown I usually dab the brush in some water first this makes the colour deepen)  over the top lid depending on my mood and another is just in the crease of the lid and the bottom lid on the eyelash line. I also use this eyebrow pencil in "002 Hazel", obviously following the brow line. I also use a lip liner brush for my eye shadow, I told you I needed new brushes haha.

 

 

My Must have Mascara is "Lash Accelerator" by Rimmel, It is the best one I think I have ever used. I use it for every day and for going out and most of the time don't feel the need to wear false lashes. I only do this when I really want to glam up. I use Bourjois kohl eyeliner on my upper and lower inside lid and use this maybelline gel eyeliner with this Barry M eyeliner brush which I love! And clean regularly.

 

 

Going out.

The Left Bank

 The Left Bank

This June My good friend Charlotte started a placement at a studio in Huddersfield called The Left Bank. She is loving every minute of it and keeps telling me all the things she does to help out in the Left Bank studio. All of what she is doing sounds so fun and she seems to be learning a lot in the process, which is brilliant because she deserves every good thing she gets!

At The left bank they do everything! From initial ideas to manufacturing and do this to a very high standard, everything looks great! You only need to look at the reviews on the Asos market place to see what I mean. everyone likes what they order. I may not like all of their designs but there are a few pieces that I love! Like the floral beanie. I am a sucker for a good beanie and this floral beauty is defiantly going into my shopping basket! Along with the Skyline Cropped Polo which is also very pretty! As some things they make are one offs, I would keep checking their Blog on Asos marketplace to see what’s coming up or there may be something you miss!! If only pay day was closer!!
Also, their most recent fan is Plan B! Who was recently seen wearing one of their tees on stage! Check out more on their Blog!

Happy shopping!

B

XX