New Courses for the New Year

Really excited about the new courses for the New Year - doing a Life Drawing Weekend and a Quilting Day in January and finalising the Hedge Laying for the 1st weekend of Feb too! I feel sure the view from the house will prove inspirational and can be particularly beautiful in the deep winter. To get you in the mood - thought I'd share some wintry pics. The pic on the right is from the garden....to book click here.

Green Inspiration

I saw this on Saturday and it really did bring a tear to my eye. It shows that in even for the most difficult and unlikely places going green is the way forward. It reminded me of the power of the human spirit and of coming together to get things done. It is of course local to me and in my beloved Staffordshire but an inspiration to all. Take a look and feel the warmth...http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/19/stoke-on-trent-1010

Courses at Simply Staffordshire

The cutest Reindeer or what!?!

Thought I'd share some pics of the lovely Christmas Willow Weaving Day we had last week. Really got us in the mood for the festive season and I even did Mince Pies! The lunch was a hit and was able to impress folk that the salad and leeks were from the garden too. Turning my hand to the Quilting Course in January and the Life Drawing Course too. What to cook?? Thought that winter warmer soups would be essential - might do my Tuscan Bean Soup as it's packed with bacon and rosemary - central heating for the tummy. Although the Lemon Cake continues to be a hit - thought I should try a Carrot cake perhaps but have always produced bricks on past attempts...mmm.

Leek, Carrot and Potato Soup

Thought you might enjoy this on this grey old day!

4 leeks
2 bay leaves
1 clove garlic
1 tsp ground cumin
700g diced potatoes
500g grated carrot
2.8 litres veg stock
sour cream to finish

Slice and wash the leeks and soften in some veg oil. Add the bay leaves, garlic, cumin and stir through. Add the stock and bring to the boil stirring regularly. Add the potatoes and simmer until soft (15mins). Finally add the grated carrot and continue to cook for 5 mins until cooked through. Add salt and pepper to taste. Whizz with a blender and swirl some sour cream on the top of each bowl. Truly warming and comforting.

An Autumn Break In Staffordshire.

I have been trawling through accommodation sites for a house to stay in with all my old uni friends and it accured to me that there are only a few places on people's lips when thinking of an autumn or winter short break - Yorkshire, Peak District, the Lakes etc and I find myself shouting at the screen - Staffordshire!! We have beautiful walks, hiking, moors, deep valleys, hidden streams, history and fab shopping and some of the best cakes in the UK!! Added to all this we are good value too - an ideal choice for a few days away to recharge and relax me thinks.

Thought I would post a couple of lovely pics so you get the idea...come and visit us enjoy....

The madness of multi tasking

I am blessed with the ability to multi task pretty effectively and when I say blessed I mean cursed you understand. Instead of seamlessly floating around achieving all the items on a well honed list I hurtle from one half completed task to the next. Who would say that finding the correct items for sports club x 2 could nearly render me simultaniously wordless and howling?? I can feel the very subtle "vrummm" of the accelerator of Christmas as I start to speed up to the inevitable pre festive crisis that will occur after the 3rd performance of the school play when there are only 6 days left before the big day, I have a cold and the kids are so tired and vile they can barely function. Is it just me?
I have therefore decided to have an anti Christmas - one that is just about relaxing with some gratuitous chocolate eating. I am going to avoid the fraught "Food Shop" when I am persuaded, by who the hell knows, to buy enough meat to cause instant heart failure and goose fat??!? I am going to buy gifts ahead so that I don't have palpitations every time I do online banking. I am going to make time to have friends over for low key, home cooked food with no overpriced canapees or miniture bite size Christmas puddings. I am also going to buy a small tree in a pot in order to fit said friends into the sitting room and to replant for next year. In honour of my wonderful Grandma, who we lost last year, I am going to order all my cards from Traidcraft. Finally I am going to ensure that I have lots of time to slouch on the sofa and make Star Wars lego ships, play the really annoying board game someone will inevitably buy one of the boys and ignore the washing up! In the meantime back to the half finished tasks for today....

Scarefest Staffordshire style!

Alton Towers are doing a Scarefest this year for Halloween and it looks like they are focusing on the younger visitors this year too! It is a time of year that I love - apple bobbing, warm soup, hot toddies and walks through orange woods! The picture is of Dimmingsdale a favourite family walk on a Sunday. Lots of exploring for the boys and fabulous scenery and smells. It is a great place for mushrooms too.

Thought I'd share a fave soup recipe for after a cold Autumn walk.....

2 leeks chopped and washed through.

2 potatoes diced

2 carrots grated

1 tsp cumin

salt and pepper to taste

1 litre veg/chicken stock

Gently fry the leeks in a mixture of olive oil and butter. Don't allow to brown - just soften and sweeten. Add cumin and stock and potatoes. Cover and bring to boil and then simmer for 10 mins. Add the grated carrot and cook for a further 10 mins. Finally blend until smooth and add salt and pepper to taste. You can add a touch of sour cream if you're feeling posh!

This really hits the spot after a good walk and goes great with warm granary or soda bread!