I've been creating fudge 19/02/2012

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I have to admit I have a sweet tooth so cooking and then enjoying my creations is so satisfying. Ok so things don't always turn out great but you never know unless you try.

I've tried making fudge before with mixed results mainly because I was guessing the temp and my pan probably wasn't up to the task so I decided to invest in a thermometer and a good sized, non stick pan.

Recipe:   (This will make about 1.5lbs of fudge)

450g / 1lb Caster Sugar
300ml / 1/2pt Water
397g / 14oz Tin Condensed Milk
115g / 4.5oz Plain Cooking Chocolate (small pieces)

So put the sugar and water in a large heavy based pan
and on a low heat allow the sugar to dissolve before turning up the heat to bring to the boil. Make sure you put the thermometer in the pan when the liquid is cool so not to damage it.

water & sugar in heavy based pan

Next add the condensed milk and continue to gently boil; stirring occasionally until the thermometer reads 115 C / 240 F

add condensed milk and gently boil

stir occasionally

keep an eye on temp

Now I've found you need to work quickly but carefully; bare in mind that the contents of the pan are very hot.
Remove the pan from the heat and with a wooden spoon mix in the chocolate until smooth. If you've got the temp correct you'll have time to do this before the 'drying' effect occurs. Pour into prepared non stick tin (I used a sillicone 'tin').

mix in chocolate

pour in non stick tin

Now patience is needed here; wait for the fudge to cool / set and then cut into equal pieces and 'Enjoy'

enjoy your fudge because it won't last long

I didn't try freezing this fudge because it was around long enough to try but I have successfully frozen other sweet treats so I don't see why it wouldn't.

 

Monthly Craft Challenge 11/02/2012

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I haven't really had much time to blog lately so now I've joined the Monthly Craft Challenge on Creative Connections I thought I'd better get back at it.

The idea of the monthly challenge is to create a new handmade item based on the chosen theme for the month.
Well it's February and the theme is LOVE.

I want to be able to make items that not only fit the theme but also fit in with my website shop.

After looking through my fabrics and supplies I remembered I had some red hearts cotton left over from last years Valentines Day.

I also had some ivory fleece so bearing in mind the weather we've all been experiencing the natural creation for me was a snuggly warm scarf.

I've found though that many scarves are just not made very long especially if you want to wear them in different ways. I like to wrap the scarf right around my neck with enough length left over to tuck well into the front of my coat.

So I joined the cotton and fleece RS together, sewed the two lengths and turned the right way. I over stitched the ends and the cut the tassles into the over hanging fleece.

Like a lot of ideas sometimes they don't always transfer from brain to item as straightforward as I'd like and this was no different. I'm very pleased with the finished result although there turned out to be a couple of minor stitching flaws along the way.

To see some more creations why not pop over to Monthly Craft Challenge

 

Busy Juggling Everything 14/10/2011

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Wow my week has been all over the place; I've been busy at the guesthouse 'Cwmbach Cottages', fighting seasonal germs, trying to get some crafting done, promoting 'Craftfest' and the 'Folksy' weekly listing club, not to mention working hard on my new website.

So now I've got a few hours to myself I'm going to get on with my latest range of cat corner beanbags similar to the one pictured that I made for my own kitties.

 

Meet my pride of kitties 11/10/2011

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I thought it would be nice for you all to know a bit about the inspiration behind All Things Blankets & More; namely my 4 kitties Cadbury, Angel, Salem & Seren.

Although I'd like to think that I'm mother of the pride anyone who has a feline friend knows too well that just isn't the case. They say cats are independent creatures well that maybe some of the time but not when they want feeding; litter clearing; want the back door open then closed then opened again; not to mention just when you've decided to do that delicate bit of crafting and it's time for a cuddle. Lo and betide anyone human who tries to deny a cat a cuddle when they want it!!

Anyway back to my pride; first and the eldest is our girl 'Cadbury'. A gorgeous dark chocolate brown and ginger tortie; named as such because of her colouring. Answers to 'Cabs' and is really hubby's cat. He rescued her when she was 12 weeks old and brought her home inside his coat. She goes everywhere he does. Once when still very small she followed him up to the loo and jumped up and fell straight in the bowl and got soaking wet. 12 years on and the toilet seats are still kept down...I'm not complaining:)

She 'chirps' away to my OH like they are talking needless to say she doesn't 'talk' to me.

Second member of the pride is the eldest boy called 'Angel' aged 11 years. Named after the tv character mainly because of his split personality. We took him on at 18 months old when he was terrified of humans and very defensive. I honestly didn't think that we would ever be able to get him to trust us and mix in with the other 2 cats we had but after alot of love and patience he gradually calmed down. He now loves having cuddles and being picked up like a baby resting on my hip. 

He's not keen on new people and like lots of cats hates the vets with a passion which is when he reverts back to 'Angelus'. 

He went in to have a couple of teeth removed many years ago and when I went to pick him up I seemed to be waiting ages for him to be brought back through. Then the senior nurse came out and ask me to go to the back because he had escaped from the trainee nurse and they couldn't get near him. Well he'd managed to get into the operating room and was up on one the tables and wouldn't move. Anyway after asking him what he was doing he crawled up on to my shoulder and clung on for dear life...think I still have the scars.

Third member and another boy is Salem now aged 10 years. Had him from 8 weeks old and straight away it was commented on about the size of his legs / paws. The vets mentioned that there might be siamese in him because of the shape of his face all I know is he can call out for Wales. The first few times he did it I thought he was in pain but he's just trying to get my attention a trait of the siamese I believe.

For a boy cat who thinks he's in charge he's a big softie when it comes to cold weather. He thinks nothing of hiding under the duvet to keep warm whether OH & I are in bed at the time or not. He's also a very clean cat; spends alot of time in the bath and has beautiful white and black colourings so I was horrified one day when he went outside and decided to roll about on the concrete right in front of the coal bunker. Let's just say he turned into a black cat for a day.

And finally our youngest girl; Seren (but answers to 'Baby') aged 3 years.  We had her at 8 weeks old and was just one bundle of fur. She's long haired and has the most beautifully soft fluffy tail imaginable. Although she was supposed to be my cat as we'd lost our oldest boy at 14 years a few months earlier she and my OH had other ideas. She loves my OH and goes to him to be picked up and cuddled like a baby. I only get a look in when he's offshore.

She has a little cat toy called 'Cat' and a rat toy; yes that's right; called 'Rat' which she loves carrying about with her.

Since we moved my 4 kitties now have their own room with a settee; their food and a floor to ceiling cat tree.

So there you have it my lovely kitties; all different personalities; that with my OH make up our little family.