Alcohol Free Winter Warmers No 2

Designated driver or simply want to give the grog a miss then we have some ideas for you.  Simple and easy to achieve and you do not have to produce gallons at once! Evening or morning, Christmas or not these drinks are lovely.




Glockenspiel - non Alcoholic Glühwein
Serves 4-6

Study pan
4-6 small mugs or heat proof glasses
1 Carton of good quality cranberry juice - avoid cranberry drink you want pure juice
1/2 carton of quality fresh orange juice
6 Slices of orange
1 Sachet of mulled wine spices - on the spice rack in supermarkets you can boxes of sachets containing ready mixed spices (you can add two if you want it super spicy)
3 Cinnamon sticks - halved to create 6 short sticks
Sweeten to taste with either honey, sugar, or spoonful’s of redcurrant jelly.

Add all ingredients excluding the sweetener of your choice, warm through but do not boil, add slowly your sweetener a little at a time till you are happy.  Simmer never boil and serve ensuring each cup gets a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick piece but never the sachet.  

Keeps well, can be made up and heated later, keep the heat low if keeping warm.  Works on a slow cooker if you want to have it somewhere else than where your cooker is, likewise in flasks. 

ENJOY!

SIO Tips no. 28

Winter germs are easily spread, use antibacterial wipes on those things we use a lot but forget to clean, mobile phones, phone handsets, key boards, games consoles, etc.



SEEKITOUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time.

Alcohol Free Winter Warmers No 1

Designated driver or simply want to give the grog a miss then we have some ideas for you.  Simple and easy to achieve and you do not have to produce gallons at once! Evening or morning, Christmas or not these drinks are lovely.

Oxymel - dates back to antiquity but here is the 21st version!
Individual portion

Big mug
Two slices of fresh lemon
Two slices of fresh root ginger
Large glug of honey (amount to suit your sweetness preference)
Top up with boiling water, stir and leave to infuse, stir and drink when cooled a little. Leave all the ingredients in, as it will continue to infuse.

Reheats well - microwave or pan, leave all the ingredients in.
You can also add a sliver or two of lemon grass for an even more oriental taste.
Served infused and chilled on a hot summers day. 


ENJOY

Surprise Baubles for this Christmas

Christmas eve is going to be extra busy this year with all the nephews and nieces coming for dinner. Excitement levels will be sky high so I decided to arrange a little pre-emptive entertainment.

Pinatas are everywhere at the moment - for children's parties, Hallowe'en and festivals. So why shouldn't Christmas get the mexican treatment too?

Getting prepared

You will need:

Pack of small balloons
Scissors
Ribbon to hang
Shredded Newspaper/Brown Paper/Tissue Paper
Paste (1Cup flour to 2 Cups Water and pinch salt)
1" paint brush
2 Lengths of cardboard
Treats to fill the finished baubles
Embellishments to decorate

Mixing the paste

Firstly make up your paste: It's really very simple, boil together 1 Cup plain flour with 2 cups water - keep stirring until it starts to thicken then add a pinch of salt and take off the heat. I store mine in a used yoghurt pot with a sealable lid (keep in a cool place). Once this is made you're ready to set up a work space, be sure to lay down newspaper or a plastic sheet on your table and an apron to protect your clothes. Get comfy with a nice pot of tea or a glass of wine before you start.

Keeping things neat

I made a simple stand to hold the balloons as they dried by cutting two lengths of card (kindly decorated by my 2 year old nephew) I cut a slit down the middle of each piece and slotted them together to make a X shape. Along each side I cut two more shallow slits to hold the knots of the balloons as they were drying.

Now you can shred your paper and blow up the balloons to the size you prefer (I decided on keeping them fairly small and liked the varied shapes not being properly round)

Ripped paper is better

I found that the cut paper wasn't so easy to stick and blend in as ripped paper so forget precision and get stuck in - great for stress relief but noisy so not great if your family is trying to watch their favourite program in the same room but is fun if you have a little helper.

First layer going on

I brushed a layer of the paste onto the balloon as well as onto the paper itself. You'll find that the paste soaks through the paper this will give it strength when its dry. I left mine overnight to dry and did another layer the following afternoon.

Left out to dry

These take a little while to make because each layer needs to dry before adding the next. You can speed up the drying time by choosing a warm place to leave them to dry or perhaps a hairdryer?

Securing the ribbon

After the second layer is dry you need to add your ribbon. I taped it to the bottom and all the way around before adding another layer of paper. This way the hanging loop is firmly attached ready for the kids to bash them on Christmas eve.
Be sure to leave a gap either side of the ribbon ready for you to make the opening to fill the baubles when this layer is dried.

Ready to be filled & decorated

Another layer goes on top I finished some with Brown Paper ready to be embellished with sparkles, buttons, ribbons or metallic pen, some had a layer of white tissue to help masque the newsprint before painting and the others will have one more layer using christmassy gift wrap to make an easy decorative finish. When this layer is dry you will see the pinatas are now quite tough and ready to be filled. Take your scissors and cut a hole big enough to fit your treats through in the top, cutting the knot off the balloon and you can carefully pull the rubbery layer out.

Sweet inside

Now to fill with sweets and tissue paper pieces (only if you don't mind cleaning the confetti up) and seal the top to match the last layer before decorating.

Now really is the fun part - you can decorate these baubles however you like...so let your imagination run and get the kids involved too, they'll love decorating their own, though they may not want to bash them open on the night - they can always get to the goodies inside by poking through the thinner layer covering the hole.

Ready for the tree

Have fun being creative this Holiday season...

Ruthie
in South Africa

SIO Tips No 27

Pop a little dish of Bicarbonate of Soda in the fridge to rid it of smells, leave in it lasts a good while.  Also when cleaning the fridge wipe with a damp cloth and Bicarbonate of Soda to give a lovely fresh and clean finish.  You can still use a little washing up liquid but do not use harsh chemicals in the fridge or mixed with other chemicals / materials.

SEEKITOUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time.

Just because you're selling .....

Hi Janie here again with another guest blog - thanks SIO for letting me revisit you. 

Understanding business - unlocking the secrets of business

Just because you're selling today does not mean the person you meet or who sees your shop is buying today.  Often I meet small business owners who are confused by networking and building relationships, they assume pitch and do it enough then you will sell.  You cannot sell to someone who does not want to buy at that moment.  Pressure selling is a way to guarantee they will never buy from you. Coax, inform, keep your brand in the limelight, and remind, this way when they are ready to buy they will remember you.

Always put yourself in their shoes, do you buy a loaf of bread every time you walk past the bakers, of course you don't, and nor will your customers.  Too much pushing and you become like those pesky telephone sales folks reading from the script.  Remember less is more on the pitch but remember brand is key keep it in the public eye using multiple media multiple times.  Look at Marks and Spencer, just think how many ways and where you see their brand - from shop front to tags in the knickers, TV ads to sandwich wrappers - that is keeping a brand in the public eye.  Small or large same applies!

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© rodolphe trider - Fotolia.com

© Solomin Andrey - Fotolia.com

SIO Tips No 26

Leaky boots?  Desperate to wear but the water gets in.  Get two light weight carrier bags (no air holes in them) and cut down to make a bag that comes up to your ankle or above, slip your sock covered foot into bag and then into the boot, magic you’re going to have dry feet.

SEEK IT OUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time

Creative packaging

Lots of ways to make your pressies stand out from the crowd.  Inexpensive fabric remnants make for lovely wrappings. You can turn over and iron quick hems with wonderweb or you can stitch using zigzag or other pretty stitches in a contrasting colour.  Glue a remnant of the fabric to card and cut out designer gift tags to complete the look. 

Brown paper, wall lining paper or even newsprint (go for the glossy not the daily, it rubs off) makes for unusual and fun wrappings.  There are lots of £1 shops on the high street and chains offering budget craft supplies.  Look out for sticker books, ink stamps, discount ribbons and coloured pens.  Armed with this lot you can take simple brown paper and personalise it, to make a present special, thoughtful and unique.

Why not write a little poem to appear on your wrapping, personalise for each gift.  Old photo's also make great gift tags.  Use tubes from kitchen roll, cover and pinch the ends to make great necklace gift boxes.

You can buy simple card boxes which you can paint, decoupage or cover with sparkling beads, not only does it hold the gift, it goes on to be a second bonus gift.

Luggage tables, lino cutouts and even key rings can make brilliant gift tags.  The world is there for the taking, go on enjoy yourself.


SEEK IT OUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time.

Getting ahead of the game!

In a previous blog we talked about collecting and drying the autumn leaves to use for fab cards and gift tags.  That is possibly now past as the leaves are getting a bit soggy.

So next step for a natural Xmas is the branches and twigs you might want to use to create flower arrangements, hang decorations on or wrap lights around.  Before too much longer start to find those twigs and branches.  You might be doing some end of year gardening or out for a walk, so keep your eyes open.

Collect them now before they get mossy and slimy, giving them time to dry out so you can paint or spray them in good time for Xmas.  You will struggle to paint or spray onto damp wood, so it is important to get now and let dry fully. Just hang or place somewhere in a dry atmosphere.

Remember that your twiggy creations can last long after Christmas.  Use vases, fine twine or florists dry pack to hold your twigs and branches.  Lots if tiny little LED light sets on sale now, allowing you to make extra special decorations for a tiny cost and enjoy the extra bonus of having created something yourself.

Go off and have fun, stay safe and keep away from fire.

SEEK IT OUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time

SIO tips no. 25

Making a wash bag or makeup bag? line with thick polythene cut from a supermarket plastic bag for life or from Shower Curtain material.



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Eggless Wonder Cake

 This weekend set me a new challenge that worked so well I felt to share it with everyone who might be Seeking Out something special out there...

Choosing my mixing bowls

A good friend let slip on Saturday that it was going to be his Birthday the next day - I try to make a cake for any loved one on their birthday but this one had a catch...Jo and his wife Heidi are Lacto-Vegetarian and I had never tried to make an eggless cake before.

So, I did what all modern food lovers do...I looked online for a recipe! having no knowledge of where to start, I ventured into the unknown and gave this very simple recipe a go from: http://kitchenexhibitionist.blogspot.com/2006/09/baking-for-lacto-vegetarians-eggless.html

A little tricky to turn out...

Chocolate Cake 
3 cups flour 
6 tablespoons cocoa powder 
2 teaspoons baking soda 
2 teaspoons salt 
2 cups sugar 
2/3 cup vegetable oil 
2 tablespoons white vinegar 
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
2 cups cold water 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Combine the wet ingredients in another bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and beat well. Pour into an ungreased 9x13 inch baking pan. Bake for 35 minutes. Allow cake to cool before frosting. 

Chocolate Fudge Frosting 
1 cup sugar 
5 tablespoons butter 
1/3 cup milk 
1 cup milk chocolate chips 
(I used a cup of broken up plain chocolate)

In a medium saucepan bring sugar, butter and milk to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips until melted and frosting is smooth. Pour evenly over the cake that is still in the pan. Allow to cool.

Double-boiler to the rescue

I made the frosting far too soon so it started to set before the cake was cooked but I found that transferring the whole lot into my trusty double-boiler and warming it over a gentle heat soon brought it back to its silky smooth texture.

Caught licking the bowls clean

I found all the ingredients (bar the chocolate bar) in my cupboards and it took no time at all to whip up. I was naughty and iced the cake while it was still quite warm, I also dug out the candles and stuck them straight in too...just in time for Jo to walk in and see his surprise. The boys (grown men actually) tucked into the frosting pan with sheer glee and couldn't wait until after dinner to try the cake itself so we dug in while it was warm with a wish for Jo, I think he wished for another one just like it next year!

Yummy!

So, if you find you have friends who can't eat eggs or you need to whip up a quick cake for surprise visitors - this is a great 'go to' recipe.

Good luck and happy baking! 

Ruthie in South Africa

SIO Tips no. 24

Making your own Christmas cards this year? Try embellishing with odd buttons to give a new dimension to your designs. 



SEEK IT OUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time

SIO Tips no. 23

Polycotton sheets gone a bit grey and no longer white? Give them a second life - use for curtain interlining or lining cushion covers.



SEEK IT OUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time

Pumpkins past!

Pumpkins looking sorry, odd tooth missing and dumped out in the garden!  Just shows how time passes so quickly.  How fast the dark nights have swept in and the last of the autumn colours are fading away.  Life does not stop, it keeps going at a pace but a little less publicly.

Ready for the cold we have been busy here at SIO HQ making curtains, double lined ones to be exact. Fabulous Clarke and Clarke dotty fabric to the front, coloured sheeting to the back and just as our last tip told you, old poly cotton sheeting in the middle, hidden from view but adding a layer of warmth.
Often wonder why folks, especially in drafty old houses, do not have thick curtains, makes a great deal of sense.  After all, curtain linings need not be sewn in all round, they can if you make at a separate time, be a separate element, connected by a simple row of stitches just below the heading tape or even by single heading tape which can be hooked up at the same time as the main curtain.

You can make heavy curtain backing using fleece or old blankets, cheap picnic blankets or even mega thin quilts as long as you stitch them to stop sag.  Stop those drafts and keep toasty warm this winter, plus save a fortune on fuel.  Remember those sausages to put at the bottom of the doors, make them in fun designs, add little faces or pretty designs to spruce them up.  Everyone forgets to put them back in place, so when making add a couple of little loops so you can pin to the door.

Keep warm in front of the fire with a nice cuppa, not running around trying to plug draughts. Happy home making!  Remember to compost those old pumpkins.

SEEKITOUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time

Who says colours clash?

 Every day we are told that some colours just do not work together, who forgot to tell nature?

Just marvel at a few of the autumn blends, wild shades of orange mashed with pink, greens blended with gold.

The magic works despite different textures, levels of sheen or shapes.  This proves, if we dare, we can be a little radical and break the rules.
Marry the oranges and reds, say yes to the brown with black, cream with white, why not.  Nature pleases the eye, so careful combinations can work.

Every colour has a thousand shades and by using those shades you can make unlikely matches.  Fabric texture and finish also plays a part.  Rough with smooth, gloss with mat.  Try out snippets together  
to see the effects.

Remember if working on curtains, for example, then try out your snippets in that room in both the natural and the electric light.  Colours play tricks depending on the light.  Grey day and the autumn colours can almost look one shade of orange, sun out and the true range of colours shines out.

Have fun, go wild - it is only nature!