NOT CRAFTING.....BUT COOKING....CLOSE!!!!

I'm not back in crafting mode yet - I need to be before the weekend though, but I am in cooking mode.

I've just made some yummy pumpkin soup for a friend who is coming for lunch today - looks great put back in its own holder doesn't it! Definitely autumn then! I love making home-made soups - they are so tasty and quick to do. I made this one by:

Sweating down an onion in some butter and garlic until soft

Add the mashed up pulp and inside of the pumpkin, discarding the seeds I added some paprika and some chilli, but you could add nutmeg for a different flavour

leave it to soften for about 10 minutes

Add about 1 pint of good chicken stock - leave to cook for another 20 minutes or so until all the pumpkin is soft - blend and put back in the pumpkin. I've added a swirl of cream and some extra paprika! TaDa!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARTY GIRLZ

I've had a lot going on lately, all bad unfortunately, so I haven't been blogging or crafting.

But I couldn't let this pass as its HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ARTY GIRLZ - one year of fabulous inspirational crafts - how quickly the time goes. Thanks to my great cyber friends Julie and Crissi for their wonderful challenge blog.

The theme is Birthday and I've done a birthday book - to try and make sure I don't forget any of those important dates.

All materials used were from my Stampin Up stash, apart from the little stickers on the ribbons on the side to denote the months.

WHY I LOVE AUTUMN

I think Autumn has to be one of my favourite times of the year. We love going out foraging and yesterday took us out blackberry picking - although they're really not brilliant this year. We also have a favourite forest to go to for sweet chestnuts - we have to race the squirrels for them though. I also love making chutneys and this year I've grown my own tomatoes just so I could have some green ones for a green tomato chutney I make. The apples came from the garden too!

Here's the recipe I use if you fancy doing some - it really is the most yummy chutney and should be ready by Christmas.

2.5 lbs green tomatoes

2.5 lbs cooking apples

2 lb onions

1lb raisins or sultans

1lb 6 oz soft brown sugar

1/2 tablespoon cayenne - don't worry it doesn't make it too hot

2 dessertspoons ground ginger

about 6 cloves of garlic

1/2 tablespoon salt

3 pints malt vinegar - I use the white vinegar.

I used a food processor to mash up the tomatoes, then the apples then the onions and put them in a large preserving pan or large saucepan (remember not to add a lid though). I then add all the spices and stir well. Then add the vinegar and put to simmer for about 3 hours until all the vinegar has been absorbed. Leave to cool and store in clean sterilised jars. You can sterilise yours jars by washing in the dish washer and then heating in a low oven for about 10 mins. Cover and label and enjoy in about 2/3 months time.

We have a new addition to the family also - meet Pepper - he's 12 weeks old and loves to sit and watch the little arrow on the computer!

There's a new challenge this week over at INCHY blog - if you've never tried inchies come and have a go - you'll be surprised at what you can do on such a small piece of card!

I'M BACK!!!!

I'm afraid I'd lost my enthusiasm for crafting over the last few weeks. I just couldn't get motivated to do anything or even do any blogging, but I did some surfing this evening and came across a site which actually made me want to go and make a card.

This was the site http://willowandpaisley.typepad.com/willow_paisley/ - they asked us to use three colours and luckily I had those three in my Stampin' Up! stock. The colours shouted out Autumn to me - not normally a card we would send over here but I'm sure my mum will like it! LOL!

Let's hope I can go make some more!!!