Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins and Knitting!!

I've been knitting a LOT recently, it's the most relaxing hobby for this time of the year. I can be found clacking needles in front of a roaring fire with half an eye on the television and the other on which row I'm on. 

It gives your brain a real work out though and I find that I get the munchies...it doesn't take long for my hungry brain to imagine steaming cups of coffee and some tasty, chocolatey muffins!  

 

I have fallen in love with this particular free knitting pattern, it's called the Swirled Ski Cap from the Craft Yarn Council and it is surprisingly easy and soooo pretty. 

It's basically a knitted parallelogram that when sewn up, gives this beautiful, buttercream swirl which can be topped off with a fun pom pom. I haven knitted it twice so far experimenting with different yarns and colours. This is my favourite combination, it matches a cowl I knitted late last year, I added the pink blanket stitch to the cowl to make them a matching set. They both stylish and extremely warm for these wintry days.

Squash and Coconut Soup

Well if ever there was weather for a vibrant and warming soup, then this is it! We woke this morning to a cool and rainy weather and a chilling 1ºC not to mention the wind chill factor...burr! Time for some warming comfort food.

Pumpkin Traybake with Cream Cheese Icing

I have a fascination with all things pumpkins and squashes in general, they are one of those ingredients that really surprise me, especially in baking, they are really, really tasty.

Homemade Pumpkin Purée

Oh I've been so busy, these past couple of weeks that I have been neglecting you, my good readers. Lots of changes happening here, one of which was that I bought a slow cooker. Wow, what a revelation it has been, such a difference it has made to everyday living! I no longer stand over boiling pots while my children do their homework, I can spend lots of time with them, that can only be good right?  

Spiced Pumpkin Bread

Photography has been part of my life, all my life! As long as I can remember, my father carried around a camera and before him my grandmother. My father talks about his mother lining them up as children and taking a family snap with her Brownie or as he calls it a Box Brownie. We still have some of those photographs at home, it seemed strange to me as a child seeing my father side by side with his siblings, not to mention seeing my uncles and aunt as children!

Hallowe'en Treats Recipes

Hallowe'en Treats

Hallowe'en Pumpkin Cake

Well it's my favourite time of year again, the countryside is awash with beautiful colours, the air is clean and crisp and All Hallows' Eve is almost upon us. I'd like to think of Hallowe'en as a a great time for children, why not celebrate it with a party, and this fun pumpkin cake as the centre piece. I bought the baking pan in Aldi, at the start of October, there was the choice of this or a skeleton's head, I decided on this one, although I think that next year, a bloody, decapitated skull cake will be on the top of the party food list!!

Hallowe'en Apple Pops

These easy party apple pops are an alternative to the traditional toffee apples. I love to dot these around the party table, the surprise on the children's faces when they realise that it's apple (or pear if you prefer) is priceless. It's hasn't stopped anyone yet eating the lot and begging for more!

Spooky Ice Cream in Chocolate Bowls

Boooo! These are frighteningly tasty (sorry!), what's not to like, creamy ice cream and chocolate! Well they certainly go down a treat in this house, with children and adults. I usually make them in advance which makes them the perfect party food. Older children could easily make these, perhaps they might need some help melting the chocolate.

Hallowe'en Severed Finger Cookies 

These are delicious, light and crisp. I have been making these for years now and they always mean the start of Hallowe'en in this house. They are a perfect activity of children, as the dough won't get tough even as it's shaped and reshaped. My son also loves to make skulls from the dough, marking out the eyes and mouth with small chocolate chips. Tasty and scary!!!

Hallowe'en Pumpkin Cake

Well it's my favourite time of year again, the countryside is awash with beautiful colours, the air is clean and crisp and All Hallows' Eve is almost upon us. I'd like to think of Hallowe'en as a a great time for children, why not celebrate it with a party, and this fun pumpkin cake as the centre piece.