A recipe to die for ( if you like your puddings sweet !!)

At last I got to use my new pie dish but for a very sweet and tasty pudding. I got the recipe from 'Country Living' magazine they have some good recipes in there which I am always cutting out and keeping, although not always trying ! anyway this one is called  'Raspberry Shortbread' and is extracted from a book called 'At Elizabeth's Table' by Elizabeth David ( and no I'm not reviewing it sadly ! as it sounds good)
Here is the dish just out of the oven

I wondered why it was called 'Raspberry Shortbread' as apart from a few different ingredients it seemed just like any old crumble recipe. However when I tasted it, sure enough it has a shortbready taste and is sooo delicious especially with custard.

Here it is GOING  GOING NEARLY GONE !!!

YUMMY  !! I expect you'd like the recipe ? so here it is

RASPBERRY SHORTBREAD

Prep time: 10 mins

Cooking: 25 mins

Serves 4 

INGREDIENTS

* 500g raspberries  ( I used frozen from my freezer, home grown of course !)

* a little white sugar   ( my sugar is organic unbleached granulated , so not white ! I used about a     dessertspoonful)

* 60g butter

* 175g flour

* 120g muscovado sugar ( which I didn't have so I used Dark brown soft sugar which I guess is similar)

* half teaspoon ground ginger

* 1 teaspoon baking powder

METHOD

1) Put the raspberries into a fairly large, shallow pie dish and sprinkle with white sugar. Cut the butter into small pieces and crumble it with the flour until thoroughly blended ( funny description! my version is rub together to resemble fine breadcrumbs !).

2) Add the muscovado sugar, ginger, and baking powder, mix thoroughly. Spread the mixture over the raspberries and smooth it out evenly, do not press down.

3) Bake in the centre of a medium oven at 180 C (160 C fan oven) gas mark 4 and bake for 25 mins.

SERVE HOT OR COLD

CSN Stores UK - Review

I have received the items I chose to review from CSN Stores UK and now I will give you my honest opinion of their online shopping experience.

First of all I would like to say that from ordering to delivery was a couple of days. I ordered on the 16th of March and had both of my goods delivered by the 18th March, so very speedy and ordering online was easy and they take all manner of credit/debit cards and even PayPal, so very straight forward.

CSN state that they are the cheapest online, so I shopped around and sure enough they were for the items I chose, even cheaper than Amazon and John Lewis.
Here are the two Items I chose:

A beautiful 'Raymond Blanc' by Anolon, top range, saute pan and it's just beautiful and so lovely to use.

The second item I chose is a French ' Emile Henry' Pie dish. I have always meant to buy a proper pie dish and this one is so lovely and will be well used.

I did look at all the Saucepan Sets in the store, but decide on the saute pan as it's something I probably wouldn't have bought for myself if I wasn't doing the Review for CSN, so a big thank you to them.

My honest opinion then is that I would shop with them again and would definitely recommend them to family and friends. They have a vast amount of goods ranging from an egg whisk to large items of furniture not all cheap, but definately competitive on prices and lot's of unusual things.

CSN Stores UK

CSN Stores UK

I have been looking at a shopping site called CSN Stores UK, you may have heard of it as I know other bloggers who have reviewed their products. Seeing as I have two wedding to attend this year one being in Italy, YEAH !! this shopping site is an Aladdin's cave of wonderful gift ideas to suit all pockets and tastes. Their cookware and especially the selection of  Saucepans are fantastic. So not only have I been looking for wedding presents, but I am going to review something for them from the store, which I will blog about soon.

If your looking to treat yourself or have a special present to buy take a look at their website.

Apart from browsing the CSN store I have also started on another bag YES !! another bag !! this time in lovely shades of pink, blues, and ?? not sure really I will have to see how it knits up.  I am going to sell them, I have decided , as I have already been asked if I do by a couple of people whilst out and about with mine

I hope you are all having a good week and lots of crafting done.
M x

Bag number Three finished at last

I have finished the third bag and I have to say I like this one the best. I crocheted and felted the handles and even managed to crochet, felt and sew in an inside pocket for my mobile phone.
I don't think I should make any more for a while as it's costing me too much. Trouble is I've seen a gorgeous new colour that has just come into the shop, it's shades of cerise, turquoise, blues and lilacs really lovely.  Anyway here is the finished bag.  I promise not to bore you any more with bags for a while.

I think it's time I finished my crocheted cushion cover.  The colours aren't great in these pics as I took them in a bad light this evening, plus I hadn't sewn the handles and button loop on (I have now) so excuse the pin's that are visable.

Bag number three !! I am well and truly addicted.

Here is the finished (well knitted stage anyway) of bag number three.  I made it the biggest so far, but it has now been felted and it isn't as big as I wanted it to be, so back to the drawing board and re-access my pattern which incidentally has been made up out of my head. The colours here have felted together to make a more subtle shade and I was disappointed that the bands of green in the main body aren't as outstanding as when I was knitting it up. But having said that it looks fab. I will show the results in my next post as I am crocheting the handles this time (again no pattern and made up as I go along !!! silly me )