Red, White and Blue

The time has come to emerge from the closet.
I cannot hide it any longer.
The urge to be myself is overwhelming.
I personally blame it on the bunting.
Here goes. I am a Royalist. I have succumbed to the lure of a Jubilee tea party*. I tell myself it's for the pups benefit but I'd be lying.

Generally my motto is less is more. I decided to ditch that for this weekend ;)

Some hastily scribbed notes about food. Parties for me are all about the food and since you already knew I was a lists girl are you suprised I wrote one? I thought not.
As you can see we don't do fancy. After all pups won't think it's a party if it doesn't cater for their immature tastes. When asked Pup1 declared he wanted crisps for his party food. Nothing else just crisps. If anyone has the answer to broadening the taste buds of a child with autism I am all ears. Thankfully I have a fair idea of what Pup1 will eat and will bung a bit extra on his plate so no need to call Social Services just yet.

I love bunting. Just as well I bought enough to hang inside as well as out. Inside the lounge Union flag mania reigns supreme. Note I referred to it as Union flag. My first boss was an ex Navy man and would staunchly reprimand us for referring to it as the Union Jack. Old habits die hard. Who knew it was only to be called "Jack" when aboad a ship? According to this site my old boss is mistaken but I'll humour him for old times sake.

Thank you Aldi for you cheap as chips mugs. Just perfect for what we Brits do best. Sit on our butts and drink tea.

Enjoy the Jubilee bank holiday, whether you're a Royalist or a Republican.

*I say party, it's basically myself, my Husband, the Pups, the cat and the dog. When questioned I had to inform Pup1 that it was unlikely that Killer Cat would actually be attending. Cue much crestfallen face pulling and "awww" noises. In order to boost the numbers I've invited my parents and their puppy too. So perhaps not a party in the traditional sense but not sure the Pups would understand "soiree" or "gathering" so a party it is. Lets just hope they don't expect party bags too........

Do you know the muffin man?

I love baking. Nearly as much as I love eating what I bake. However some things have eluded me over the years and muffins are one of them.

Time to face my muffin demons ;)

I could claim these are left over chocolates from Easter. But I would be lying. They were reduced in Aldi. Chocolate really doesn't hang around long in this house.

See the Lock 'n' Lock box for my flour......learnt my lesson a few years ago when we had an invasion of flour weevils. Never. Again. <shudders>

Many hands make light work. Pup2 decided she wanted to "help" so I set her the task of peeling off the foil. She then rather helpfully decided the chocolate should go straight into the bowl.

Now I could buy chocolate chips. But bargain priced chocolate and thrifty-ness win over every time. Besides it appeals to my cavewoman gene......I don't gut fish or skin animals.....me chop chocolate........

This is the part of muffin making I always struggled with. To mix or not to mix. How much is too much? As a victoria sponge girl at heart beating a cake mixture to death is in my blood, to deliberately leave lumps of flour made my OCD streak scream in agony.

Do you like my cheap plastic jug that is now my mixing bowl. Once upon a time I dreamed of a Mason Cash creamware bowl like Granny would have had. Complete with an old fashioned wooden spoon. Sadly I am far too lazy for that and hand mixer and plastic bowl it is then. A girl can dream though. Just like my dreams of a pantry....

 

Rise my darlings, make me proud :)

Not bad. They are never going to compete with shop bought, artificially pumped up muffins but that's good enough for me.

Mmmmm just out of the oven complete with melted chocolate. Lush.

Credit goes to Sue at The Quince Tree for sharing what has finally been for me a successful muffin recipe. Now I need to broaden my horizons for other flavours :)