Nutty Biscotti

We are heading down South for a weekend of visiting friends and I thought it would be a nice idea to bring some home baked treats- nutty biscotti, chocolate hedgehog slice and some homemade preserves and sauces.

Biscotti are surprisingly very easy to bake so I thought I would share the recipe.

Nutty Biscotti

Ingredients;

50 grams almonds

25 grams cashews

25 grams unsalted pistachios

25 grams hazelnuts

1 egg white

125 grams caster sugar

100 grams plain four

Method

1. Pre-heat oven 180 degrees (gas mark 4/350F). Grease and line (with baking paper) loaf/bar tin.

2. Spread nuts onto baking tray and roast for 2-3 minutes, and then leave to cool.

3. Using an electric beater, beat eggs till stiff, then slowly add sugar and continue to beat till sugar has fully dissolved and mixture is glossy.

4. Sift flour into a large mixing bowl, add nuts and egg white mixture. Fold through using a metal spoon and spread evenly into lined tin.

5. Bake for 25 minutes or until set. Then leave to cool completely in tin.

6. Once cool, pre- heat oven 160 degrees (gas mark 2-3/315F). With a sharp serrated knife slice the baked loaf into approx 1/4 inch slices. 

 

7. Place slices onto baking tray and bake for 15 minutes turning them half way through or until golden brown. Leave to cool and enjoy!

* Biscotti will keep for a week in airtight storage container

* Use any sort of nuts to your liking- with the total weight of all nuts equalling 125grams

* Original recipe sourced from 'Cookies, Muffins, and Cakes.' Bay Books.

Chop, Chop, Pin, Pin, Sew, Sew!

Chop, Chop!

Cutting up the fabric had my heart in flutters as there was no going back.

I re-checked and double checked that fabric was right/wrong side up, pattern and grain line facing the correct direction, pattern was on or not on the fold and so on.....

Finally I braved the scissors and I did it! It was quite a sense of relief when nothing major went wrong- so I continued to cut the lining and interfacing required.

Pin, Pin, Sew, Sew!

So the tedious and boring bit aside- time to start building this dress.

Starting with the front of the bodice; I did the required ‘Stay Stitch’ along the top, then pinned the sides of the bodice and sewed the seam. I then continued to pin the 2 middle and side section of the bodice and sewed the centre seam.

Onto to the back and rear side section- (similar process to the front) applied ‘Stay Stitch’ along the top, pinned and sewed seam of rear side sections.

Front and back of the bodice is complete- well sort of they still need to be sewn together via the side sections.

As I only have 2 hours during the day (while toddler forage has her nap), my sewing projects regularly get interrupted, so until next time.........

Pink Sultry Moda Fabric

Pattern Me a Dress: Pink Sultry Moda Fabric

Choosing a fabric for my dress has actually proven to be a difficult process. This is probably due to me having the irritating habit of changing my mind way too often, to the annoyance of Mr Forage.

Patterned or Plain Fabric???

The advice from friends was that it should be BRIGHT and BOLD and preferably patterned, which has the added benefit of masking any mishaps (not that there will be any!).....However, taking all that into consideration (and as I prefer to be a wallflower) the bright/bold may be pushing it.

Finally found this fabric, its pink (not quite bright – but a bold choice for me) and it’s patterned!

This particular fabric was purchased through http://www.eternalmaker.com/ and they have a wide range of gorgeous fabrics and other sewing essentials.

 Now to get creating!

I will continue to document my progress - Next step Measuring and Cutting!!!

Wuthering Heights

I really enjoyed Andrea Arnolds previous film 'Fish Tank', a gritty urban drama set in London. With Wuthering Heights, she's applied some of the same docu-drama visual and narrative story telling techniques to give (to some degree) a modern spin on the classic text. There are some beautiful moments when the film manages to blend the wild, untamed environment of the Yorkshire Moors with that of the characters that inhabit the landscape - and  there are some definite visual nods to Terrence Malicks 'The Thin Red Line'

But it's the story presented in it's fragmented form, flip-flopping from past to present and the destabilising of narrative expectations I think where the issues arise. Oddly enough, I would preferred to have seen the film as a series of still images or an installation, if it needed a contemporary re-imagining at all.. 

Anyway, off the soap box! This is the only modern spin on Wuthering Heights you'll ever need :)

Pattern me a dress!

With a close friends wedding coming up, I have taken the bold decision to make- well attempt to make myself a dress to wear (just for the record,  I have never made a dress before!!!).

My reasoning for this: Firstly I have always wanted to learn to dress make, secondly I tend to find it difficult process to find a dress I like and that suits me, and finally because it would be nice to have dress that I know is a ‘one off’. However this may be a one off disaster....... Or a new found love......:) I will keep a record of my dress making process, as it might be of help to others -  all positive comments will be welcomed as I may require further support, advice and a whole heap of encouragement!

Above is photo of the pattern I will be following- now just awaiting for fabric and other dress making essentials to be delivered :)

Morning stroll

A nice early walk this morning to to try and clear out the last dregs of a Saturday night/Sunday morning hangover :) Not that we have much chance of a weekend lie in these days!

We're also putting together some kitchen wear for the shop under the name of 'Kitchen Geek!' Starting out with a small range of his & her branded aprons, handmade with silk screen printed designs.