icklebabe.com, it's in the blog

I made these lovelies a couple of weeks ago and promised to post the recipe, so here it is!

Now,  I know that this one looks a bit mishapped on close inspection. Like all rubbish work men I am going to blame my tools, as my cupcake tray is about fifty years old (and from my mum).  I think its more for Yorkshire puds but I am coveting a new fancy rubber one, in pink.

So hopefully next time they will be peeerfect!

I cannot take any credit for it either as its Women’s weekly  recipe (not very rock’n'roll I know  but too, too fabulous none the less! ;D).

 It is a treasure and well worth the little bit of effort they take to make!

(more…)

Worryingly I seem to have become a bit of a  meatball aficionado!?

After several different “meatball” posts I have been  inundated with meatball conversations and requests. The first and most strange is from the lovely Becky @babybugeting (who’s blog indecently is a very good read;)) and its for veggie meat balls… kind off a contradiction in terms perhaps but I am always up for a challenge, so here they are!

They are like yummy spicy cheesy balls made with Halloumi cheese, as this stuff keeps its shape perfectly when cooked.

Even if your not veggie I urge you to give em a try, they are really good honest. (more…)

This week has been a toughy with my middle son Ten Boy Jack. As his name suggests he’s Ten, and just hit that age.

He hates school, he hates his big sister (who teases him relentlessly) and I think sometimes he hates me too.

I know he is just flexing his baby man muscles and trying to find his place in the family now he’s growing up, but the constant answering back and always knowing better stuff can get a bit waring at times.

Last week he was banned from anything with a screen, an ingenious plan that Big J came up with. It meant that for a week he had no TV no INTERNET, no i pod touch, no x box 360 and no Nintendo ds…. for Jack, this basically meant no life!

But still by the end of the week he was  muscling up and giving all the back chat, so even though painful he got banned for another 3 days, gutted!

Sometimes its hard, I’m a big softie so he has a few big doe eye and even bigger tears tricks that he likes to pull on me.

And I also have a irrational fear, as a split family and somehow especially as he’s a boy, I have this horrible fear in the pit of my stomach that he’ll want to go live with his Dad some day. (more…)

Just a little note…. I have had so many lovely comments from part one of this post, just wanted to say a quick,  BIG thankyou to everyone who took the time out to read and comment. It cheered me up no end.

And here, as promised in part one, is the recipe.  I have lovingly named it ,  “Old Mother Hubbard’s Pie”.  Due mostly to a slight lack of the usual ingredients,  also I just love the rhyme!

Firstly I need to  tell you the story about how it began. Are you sitting comfortably? ( tea in hand? earl gray or builder’s? I’m found of a builder’s cup  myself,  …. anyhow…..)

Then I’ll begin…..

(more…)

Have you ever had a month where you feel you have run the gambit of emotions from really happy to terribly sad, all in one roller coaster of a time? Well that’s kind of  how April has been…..

The Good? -

The good has been finally finding my  Mojo again!

Firstly of the Nigella variety… I absolutely love to cook and while I lost my culinary spark I have been miserable.

But somehow it returned last week with an absolute vengeance, I have been cooking up a storm like a Sophie Dahl on acid and I have watched so much cooking  TV porn, with The Food Network  on permanent sky plus overload! Granted it has helped that the Milsta has kept me up into the wee hours. The only adult in charge of the remote has its bonuses and a little sweet satisfaction to it!

Anyway my biggest triumph came this evening with what I am affectionately calling “Old Mother Hubbard’s pie” . It might not sound too delightful but trust me its really good, I  will post the recipe here for you tomorrow to have a look at and maybe try.

The good is also that I have finally managed to stop stressing about getting my website up and running. I have so many things to create and I am so nearly there, its been a steep learning curve and not an easy one while trying to juggle a very lively none sleeping toddler. But I feel like I am nearly there, and I have butterflies…. I really cant wait! Hope you’ll all join me on opening day!

The Bad- (more…)