Butternut Squash

If you love Butternut Squash try this....


Half the squash, scoop out the seeds and stringy bits, drizzle with olive oil and put in a roasting tin , cook until soft, this should take 40-50mins.

Meanwhile gently fry diced tomato, peppers, garlic and herbs of your choice till soft (you can add what ever you like to this leeks and mushrooms work well too)






Once the squash is cooked you add the veggies to basin in the squash or you can scoop out the flesh of the squash and mix it into the softened veggies before putting it back into the squash shell (this is a better presentation if your serving it to others)

Then dot with goats cheese and return to the oven till cheese has melted.

Yumm.... my friend Nicola also told me to try this, half the squash and prepare for roasting drizzle a little olive oil, sprinkle with Cinnamon and some brown sugar and roast.

Have not tried that yet but it sounds lovely.

Happy Cooking.

Shelly.

What's a girl to do....

When you are at home with only 'Mr Nasty Virus' (don't know why it is a Mr but it is!) for company....

Eat this....


Lay on this....

Read this....

just look at the loveliness inside....

Watch this....

Well that's what 'Mr Nasty Virus' and I did.

I have had enough of Virus's company now and I wish he would leave by the nearest exit!!

Have a good 'virus free' week.

Shelly.

Tis 'almost' the Season......

Halloween is done and dusted....

The bonfires have gone out and the firework sky's have dimmed....

It's getting forever closer....

for 'Tis almost the Season....

To wrap the presents....

I have made my Christmas present shopping list and have managed to tick off a few....

I am thinking about the food preparations and baking the mince pies....

I am dreaming about twinkling fairy lights, cozy and warm....

Plotting where to hang my treasured decorations....

I know it is a little early for some, I know how happy it makes me feel to 'feel ' organised!

I know how lucky I am to able to plan such a celebration with my family....

(all photographs from December issues of Country Homes and Interior's, House Beautiful and Homes and Antiques)

Do you know what??
It is never to early to count your blessings.

Shelly.

Lemon Tarts

These are the easiest mini lemon tarts and my family love them.

I love the tin I make them in!!
A 24 hole mini muffin tin. I bought mine from Pampered Chef but Lakeland sell them as well.
They come with a wooden dibber to press the pastry into the holes (a very therapeutic exercise!!)



Take a ready made packet of shortcrust pastry (sometimes life is just to short to make the stuff)
a jar of good quality lemon curd, and an egg ,that's all you need.

Roll out your pastry on a floured surface, use a medium size cookie cutter to cut the rounds, lay them over the holes (I lightly grease the holes in the tin first) use the dibber to press the pastry rounds snugly into each hole.
Put a flat teaspoon of lemon curd into each hole, top with a pastry shape of your choice, brush with beaten egg and cook for 15 mins in a hot oven.

With this tin you can make lovely sweet and savory morsels for any occasion, I have made all kinds of sweet tarts, little mini quiches, mini muffin cakes, homemade chocolate truffles.... it uses are endless.

Happy Baking this week.

Shelly.

Getting Ready .....

Carving the pumpkins...

Putting out the 'witchy lady'...

Mya, Emmie and Molllie are decorating pumpkin biscuits...

Trying on their Halloween outfits...

Mollie say's...

'One more sleep till....

TRICK OR TREAT!

(Pictures 1 & 6 Country Living)

What a fun day.

Happy Halloween

Shelly

Woman to Woman.

Life moves through so quickly, time moves on so fast....

This week has been a really sad time for my family I had to say my final goodbye to my much loved Nana, she was a remarkable women, one of the last of her generation. Born in 1912 she had lived through 2 World Wars and her courage in the face of adversity, her determination to keep her family together, her kindness to strangers, her generosity and her love of life have been inspirational to me throughout my life.

Then one of my dearest girlfriends came to spend the day with me,

It was so nice to have a 'girly' day, we talked (a lot), we had a browse round the town, we had lunch out, we had a look at some of your lovely blogs, we discussed clothes, cooking, house decorating, getting ready for Christmas...and so much more in between.

My spirits were lifted, the strength of friendship - woman to woman.

Also this week I discovered 2 brilliant 'lifestyle' websites:

www. forbesstyle.com

It is run by Emma Forbes (daughter of the talented and beautiful actress Nannette Newman)

and

consumerliberationblog.blogspot.com

This inspirational woman really simplified her life.

So woman to woman - call your family and friends this week, make a date to meet up because time moves on so quickly and true friendship is priceless.

Shelly.

When the North Wind Doth Blow...

This morning we woke to the first frost.

I didn't want to scrape the ice off the car window.

I just wanted to sit here...

(Country Homes and Interiors)

' Or let Autumn fall on me

Where afield i linger,

Silencing the bird on tree,

Biting the blue finger.

White as meal the frosty field-

warm the fireside haven-

Not to Autumn will I yield,

Not to Winter even!

R. L. Stevenson.

It is going to be minus 3 tonight.... Boots, coats, scarfs and gloves at the ready.

Shelly.