Sylvie's Seasonal things

[Dr Frook]

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Tips on whipping cream:

Pour it in a bowl, whisk it until it's stiff and makes peaks.

You can add a drop of colouring for colourful cream - it looks very fancy!

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you're making me hungry

[Foopzheart]

YAYY. I'm never too old for trick-or-treating. At the tender age of 70, I have decided I will be a KILLER BANANA. Rawr.

[Sylvia]

Sorry I haven't been around - I've got parents to please

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~~ 10 steps to carve a pumpkin horrifically well ~~

1. Choose a good pumpkin - one that has a smooth surface and (in my opinion) is reasonably long, as it helps when carving a pattern on.

2. Pick a design - carving is harder than you think, so if you haven't carved a pumpkin more than once or twice before, pick an easier one than you think you'd use.

3. DO NOT use a normal knife for carving a pumpkin - get an adult to buy you a proper pumpkin carving kit, they aren't expensive and work better than knifes - and are much safer.

4. Now get the biggest saw in the pumpkin kit and cut off the lid - make sure it's big and it's even so you can pop it back on well after.

5. THE FUN BIT! - Use a spoon (or hands, like I do - messy duck) and scoop out all the seeds. Scrape down the sides a bit, it makes it easier to carve.

6. Put your stencil design down on the pumpkin, making sure it is flat (where a long flat pumpkin is quite useful) and stick it down on all sides.

7. In your pumpkin carving kit, you should have a long pin-like thing - you'll use that now. On the lines of the design, prick the skin in equal distances. ( It should look like a dot to dot picture) It should be quite close, and don't worry about ruining the design.

8. Take the design off and you'll see an outline of your design! If you did the spaces a bit too far apart, use the pricker and make it up so you have something to guide you.

9. Use the biggest saw to start with, and make sure it is always at a 90 degree angle when you cut. Don't twist the saw, take it out and reposition it when you need to make a sharp turn. Be careful at this stage, (obviously) they are sharp.

10. Pop a candle in the bottom and you're done! (I love sniffing the burnt pumpkin lids)

More tomorrow.

Duckie xx

PS, if you think I'm better than Nigella Lawson then comment on my topic here.

[sami]

mmm yummy
i think i could do with all of those right nao...
i hate being sick

well done syl, very nice

[Sylvia]

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~~ Evil cupcakes ~~

Now, basic cupcake mix - variations again for halloween and such.

150g of butter, caster sugar and self raising flower each
A teaspoon of vanilla essence
splash of milk
2 eggs! (Not duck eggs)

1. Mix that butter and sugar till it's white and fluffy. Will take a little time, keep at it lazies!
2. mix the eggs in a seperate bowl, then mix with the sugar and butter and whatnot - then add vanilla essence.
3. Mix in half the flour, stir well, mix in second half, stir well, add a splash of milk..

...done! Oh, oven at 180C - gas mark 4.

Now for variations -

1. Get a piper and make up some red icing with food colouring and caster sugar - like a doughnut, pipe into the middle for a bloody cake.

2. Put colouring in the cake mix when everything else is mixed in - really makes it look funny (hmmm, I seem to have an obsession with colours...)

3. Decorate them, of course. Icing, sweets, dinosaur spines... I love this one:


Another thingy thing thing tomorrow my quackers.

[paladin]

Oops, too late, I used duck Eggs.

[Sylvia]

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I've been dissapointed with my lack of decent ideas recently, so heres one that I really like doing (if you think I have no life, then it's probably because my life is so cool you can't see it.)

~~ Crafty halloween thingymabobs-turned-bunting ~~

You'll need:

Felt - colours like black, orange, and white. Halloween colours!
Small needle - Needless (get it, NEEDLE-ss) to say, be careful.
Thread - Black and Orange should be enough, as long as it contrasts with the fabric.
Ribbons of all sorts - you can buy them in bundles at sewing shops, or just scraps of fabric look good for halloween.
PVA glue - nothing to say about that.

To start:

For the felt, you'll need stencils. Here are some good ones:




Now, lots of other things work - dogs, moons, stars, cats, blah blah, as long as it's simple.

1. Starting - thread your needle. Google how to do it, it's simple once you get the hang of it!
2. Put 2 matching cut-outs together, and glue it down with a small amount of glue.
3. From the underneath, about half an centimeter from the edge, push the needle through the fabric so the point is facing towards you, and pull half an arms length of thread.
4. Do exactly the same in exactly the same place again!
5. This time, move the needle over a tiny bit and push it through the fabric.
6. Keep moving it over and doing it until the whole cut out edge is covered in the stitches.
7. you finish like you started - go over the last stich in exactly the same place, and pull gently.
8. Cut the not used thread on both sides.

You can sew these onto the ribbons, or keep them seperate as little decorations.
These are perfect for any occasion, christmas, valentines (it's really sweet giving out little hand sewn hearts) birthdays (with some skill you can make a felt present).

I came across these peoples version, which is very clever:


It's a fun way to pass the time! ~syl~

[Sylvia]

Oh, just a note - alot of non-food crafts I'll post will use this stitching method.
Now I know 0% of people will do anything I post, but it's a nice thing to focus my spare time on.

So here's a clearer picture on what it should basically look like:


Be careful not to pull tight on all except the first and last stitches!

[16hockjo]

I've Actually Done A Number Of Things You Posted
(P.S. Why Dont You Work For A Magazine?)

[Zados]

Now I know 0% of people will do anything I post

wrong ...

tried that cinnamon toffee bread and it tasted good but nest time ill add some chocolate coating