Pancake perfection

I cannot let Shrove Tuesday pass by without making some scrummy pancakes. I love them and we often have these for a weekend breakfast. Babypuddleduck (aged 6) loves to make it a treat with maple syrup or golden syrup. Me and my boy (2) can just eat them plain! 

As we are following a gluten-free and dairy-free diet at the moment, I've tried to create pancakes that we can also enjoy guilt-free. I prefer a spongy, fluffy pancake to the very thin crepe style, I think it's because they're a bit more filling and satisfying and can be eaten alone.

I've scoured Pinterest and tried a few recipes recently but tonight I followed the Doves Farm recipe for Scotch pancakes (dropped scones).  I replaced the milk with Oatly Oat drink and in my humble opinion these beat the rice milk and soya milk versions hands down.

They rose nicely and cooked well and got the thumbs up from all three of us.

Being the idealistic mother that I am, I tried to make some fun shapes for the kids' pancakes - with limited success.  They got stuck in the moulds (cookie cutters) and I burnt my fingers trying to flip them over! I then tried to do some shapes freehand - a car, a heart - but these were even worse. My boy had fun though trying to decipher what the mis-shapen ones were supposed to be..... a tree of course! 

Needless to say, they didn't last too long and we enjoyed the whole batter mix between the three of us! I ate mine with a nectarine slice rolled up in each round, the boy had yoghurt to dip in and babypuddleduck reverted to her default syrups.

I'd definitely try these with Oat 'milk' again as they had a lovely texture and taste. This poor gingerbread shaped pancake didn't stand a chance with my boy around! 

Gluten and dairy free, one bowl, simple chocolate cupcakes

This weekend we were invited to a family get together. My mum is one of seven siblings so it can be quite a gathering when the whole family turns up. 

This time it was relatively quiet, but with culinary skills running in the genes there was the usual semi-competitive bake off. 

A homemade chicken pie, a beautiful pork pie and two home baked loaves made my humble cupcakes pale into insignificance. But at least my offering was gluten and dairy free. 

When we arrived one of my Aunties proclaimed "I've weighed our breads and Sylvia's is the heaviest!" I mis-heard and thought she said "weighed our breasts"!! Oops! 

The beauty of these gluten and dairy free cupcakes is that you would never know they aren't 'normal'. It's the simplest recipe and if you use Doves Farm Gluten Free flour you don't need to worry about finding gluten free baking powder or Xantham Gum. 

I was really pleased with how these baked. They were soft and spongy and I defy anyone to tell the difference from a traditional chocolate cupcake.

I have to hold my hands up and admit they don't quite live up to The Pink Whisk's chocolate cake recipe in which vinegar is added to milk to cause a chemical reaction that results in a really rich and gooey texture that's just divine. If you're not dairy-free I urge you to try this.

However for a gluten and dairy free treat, these will do just fine!

I had some leftover buttercream from last week's orders so I topped half of them with icing roses so anyone not following gluten and dairy free didn't feel too hard done by.  

The allergen-free ones were topped with icing sugar using a (cheap) heart shaped icing template hence the rough edges and different sizes! 

RECIPE

120g Dove's Farm self raising flour

120g margarine or dairy free spread (check the ingredients, I used Pure Dairy Free Spread) 

120g caster sugar

2 eggs

4 tablespoons cocoa powder (I used Green and Blacks organic, it's just divine) 

1-2 tablespoons of dairy alternative milk e.g. almond milk, oat milk, rice milk or soya milk. 

METHOD

There really is no detail to the method. Put everything apart from the milk substitute in the bowl of a mixer and go. Start slowly and work up to full speed. You'll literally need just a couple of minutes and it's done. If the mixture is on the thick side, add a small amount of milk substitute and remix. 

This will make 12 cupcakes. 

Pop in the oven for 20 minutes - 190 C (170 C for Dan oven) / 375 F / gas mark 5. 

When the timer goes off, pop a cocktail stick in one of the cupcakes and if it comes out clean they're done. Bob's your Uncle and Fanny's your Aunt as they say! Although they're not - despite such a huge family there isn't a Bob or a Fanny! 

Happy Baking!

Map Coaster Tutorial

With the trend for maps being so mahoosive at the moment, and my brother being a travel-lover, this theme always springs to mind when I'm thinking of gifts for him.

Last year for his birthday, he got my first travel art frame, made up of the destinations he visited on his round the world trip. 

This Christmas I wanted to come up with something for his home. His style is quirky and utilitarian and now that his girlfriend has moved in, she's added a welcome feminine touch. So I wanted something to give to them as a joint gift along these lines. 

Once I'd thought of the idea, Mum's charity shop managerial credentials were called into action. She sourced me an old wooden block game - you know the one where you build up the blocks and remove one at a time and try not to make it fall. It was actually an incomplete set but that was fine for this project. I needed just 12 blocks to make the coasters.  You could also use tiles, or any wooden squares to make these coasters. 

It's simply a case of covering each block in map paper. I used the maps that were in the back of last year's diary, but any A-Z, streetmap or atlas will work just the same. 

I used Decopatch Glossy Glue but any PVA will do the same job. 

Once dry, I gave the blocks an extra coat of glue, just to make sure it was completely sealed, especially as coasters have to cope with spilled drinks.  

Finally I added vinyl lettering using my Cricut Explore. This is my absolute favourite gadget but if you don't have one, I can provide you with vinyl lettering at just £1 per coaster. What about personalising them with a couple's name for an engagement or wedding present?  Contact @mummypuddleduck on Twitter, Facebook or Etsy. 

I finished by packaging them in a box - again made using the Cricut (I really can't recommend it highly enough) and adding a 'Handmade' ribbon.  The gift was very well received but I think I heard my brother mutter that he was going to put these on his wall rather than use them as coasters!

I'd love to hear your thoughts and see your creations after following this tutorial. And if I've missed out any steps, or something is unclear, please let me know. Happy crafting.  

Flower power - simple folded paper flower tutorial

It's our turn to host the New Year's Eve party so it was thinking caps on for simple, but effective decorations. With the conservatory still adorned with tissue paper flowers and snowflakes left over from Babypuddleduck's Frozen Party, that was my starting point. I made some smaller tissue paper flowers and attached them to dowels so I could place them in vases, but I wanted to mix it up a bit so created some folded paper flowers. And they're so simple as this tutorial shows but please ask if I've missed anything or it's unclear. 

Folded Paper Flower Tutorial

Leave a gap between the fold in the centre of your strip and the start of the double-sided tape as you will need to thread the wire through when the flower is fully formed. 

  

By now all four edges should be attached to make the fully formed flower. 

Crafty Christmas

This Christmas we were once again invited to spend the special day with my Aunty and Uncle, my cousin, her daughter and my mom and dad.

Christmas is a very special time for us with many traditions that have established themselves into our day, such as the youngest member of the family placing baby Jesus in the nativity officially signalling the start of the festivities, a glass of champagne being handed to guests the minute they walk over the threshold and Santa's jingle bells making a second appearance after lunch. 

Washi tape bows

It's these little routines that make for such a special day and hopefully will make my children look back with the same warmth and fondness that I now do about my childhood Christmasses.

But the pressure to make Christmas special can be hard to manage. It's important to take a step away from it all and remember to enjoy the preparation, planning and the day itself. Whilst I have been lucky enough to never have had to cook a Christmas dinner yet, I do like to be involved in making the day go with a swing.

Monogram chair back decorations, created using Cricut Explore

This year I very much enjoyed the planning and preparation which involved making sweet treats such as fudge, marshmallow, gingerbread (Biscuiteers book of Biscuits recipe), Nigella's honeycomb, and not forgetting a dairy-free chocolate sponge with 'buttercream' filling (c/o Jamie Oliver) as well as the table settings and of course the wrapping. Gift tags, names and initials were designed and cut on the Cricut Explore with glitter card, and I made washi tape bows as well (via tutorial by NoBiggie who has a Washi Tape Christmas book - which is definitely on my wish list for next year!). 

They were all extremely simple, with time being a critical factor i.e. I never have enough of it but in my mind, very effective. Let me know what you think...

Cricut vinyl name monikers atop simple Christmas crackers 

Homemade marshmallow, chocolate fudge and honeycomb

Crafting matters

Whilst I count my nearest and dearest as supportive people I am not sure they are on my wavelength when it comes to making, baking and craft.

My husband doesn’t understand it (and often despairs at it). My friends share positive comments but would freely admit that they struggle to grasp why I would work into the small hours to finish a project when I have a career and family to keep me busy enough.

Colleagues at my real-world PR job smile encouragingly but similarly can't see the sense or understand the enjoyment I get from taking a pile of raw materials or ingredients and turning them into a 'make'.

I asked my five year old daughter why she thinks mummy likes to craft and she said: “because you like selling to people”. I think she’s half right. I enjoy giving to people. I enjoy the feeling of handing over, or posting if it's purchased online, something that I have made and receiving the feedback.

The sense of accomplishment when something I'd imagined would be beautiful when finished actually is a thing of beauty (in my humble opinion) will never grow tiresome. And that's multiplied when I make something that somebody else has parted with their hard earned cash to enjoy.

I’m probably a psychologist’s dream when it comes to putting a finger on what that really says about me, but I think a little part of me feels good about knowing somebody likes something I made. There’s a piece of me going out with each and every item I make and that leads to a lovely warm cosy feeling that I am doing something right.

And actually, I don’t think I'm alone. I believe that the digital age we live in, filled with social media channels galore, is feeding this sensation for personal gratification. We’re hungry for thumbs up, favourites and hearts on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts. We want more people repining our favourite things. We seek reassurance from others through our pictures and posts, rants and ravings.  

It's no different when it comes to the big brands, who are ravenous for interactions, engagement and commendation of their products. The only difference is that when it’s something I’ve made it's personal. That 'like' or 'share' means someone has appreciated the time, effort and creativity that has been lovingly injected into each make, whether it be a cake, word art, gift, card or anything else I've designed and made. I want my friends, family, colleagues and followers to love it as much as I do. 

Why I am championing homemade and handmade

I have been wracking my brain to put into words why I feel so strongly about handmade and homemade crafts, bakes and makes. I have always liked individual and bespoke items. From the fimo jewellery of my youth and salt dough models during my teens to the button art, papercuts and map art of today, I am naturally attracted to objects that have been made with love and care.

After moving into a new (bigger) home a year ago, I started surrounding myself with these items at a rapid rate and I think I have hit on the reason why.

I need beautiful things. Beautiful things that brighten my day and make me smile. It’s a necessity, not just a desire to fill my life with pretty, crafty or intricate handmade items. Things that I can look at and know someone has crafted an item so that I may enjoy it as much as they do. Maybe they were up until the small hours of the morning just to finish a new design. Maybe that was after a full day at work and putting two kids to bed, getting their kit ready for the next day, but still finding time to fit in an hour of craft in between cooking tea and catching up with Bake Off. A need to glance across the room at a wall hanging or tuck into a flavoursome cake, and know that someone put a little bit of their own soul in there to make me happy.

The ‘need’ has made me look at the things I buy very differently. Now before whipping out the debit card to buy a bag, a purse, a scarf, a photo frame, even a loaf of bread, there is a little voice inside my head asking “could you buy this handmade?”. The answer is often yes. In fact more often than I thought it would be, the answer is yes. For instance, I have refrained from buying myself a much needed new wallet after mine is fraying at the seams, and instead commissioned a designer I met at a craft fair to make me one. And she will make me one that is the colour I want, has the features I want and will be made to make me, her customer, happy. Last week, I did not hop on over to the John Lewis website to buy the, admittedly very attractive, doorstop that I saw in a home magazine, but instead looked through the crafters commenting on the Handmade in the UK Facebook page I follow and ordered one that matched my colour scheme and used the fabrics I chose from a selection the maker offered to me.

It couldn't be simpler really. When I need something for the house, an accessory, an item of clothing, a foodstuff, the little head voice just repeats its simple question. “Could you buy this homemade?” And when the answer is yes, I go and buy myself a little bit of the love, happiness and soul that will be crafted into my completely unique purchase.