The British Homemaker - One day at a time

Last July, I took the plunge and set up a simple blog to share the short stories that I'd written over the years. It wasn't until I was having a clear-out on my pc that I came across them. I have tended to write them, stick them in the folder and then forget them. So, over time, there has been quite a lot built up. Through July and August, I shared summer and generic themed stories, but with September already upon us, I have themed back-to-school and autumn stories to keep in line with the moment. As you may see a pattern setting here, I will also be adding Halloween, winter and Christmas stories through the rest of the seasons too. All the short stories I share on A Writer's Journey are free to read. They are also included in compilation books that are currently being added to Kindle Unlimited and Amazon. The books have extra stories, as well as there being longer stories. The current average word count for the regular free stories is around 5000 words, so it makes for a g...

Last year was the only year I've really liked Halloween and that's because Charley got into it and wanted to do something slightly ever so scary but even though it rained it still turned out to be a great evening round here. This year I'm adding to our Halloween goodies and was looking for some ideas, {these are not credited to the rightful owners but I'm happy to if anyone knows whose they are} So lets begin....  1. Any old jar with what I assume to be a small candle inside. Raid your first aid kit for bandages {99p shop will also have some I'm sure. Add a couple of googly eyes and off you go. I'd be inclined to add some wire round the top to form a handle. Naturally not suitable for young kids. 2. Sausage mummies. If they make it to the table I congratulate you! 3. A collection of cakes, sweets and cake pops. Who wouldn't love these? 4. Yep I'm craving the sweet stuff this year. 5. I bought a baby pumpkin just for this purpo...

I meant to post this on 1st December to see if it could be added to and/or altered for other fun crafts. My teen isn't huge on crafting but the dude is, he will sit for hours making, drawing, designing, writing, colouring and creating something from almost nothing. Add that to the fun of Christmas crafting and it makes for a happy mommy! Every year we have our own little routine in preparation for Christmas, quite simple really and it keeps the kids happy on the colder days and longer nights. Goes something like this: 1st - Tree goes up and decorated 2nd - Decorations around the house From here on we have a rough sketch of what we want to do each day up to Christmas Eve: Make window decorations paper chains operation Christmas child boxes {between 2 ad 6} paper bunting felt ornaments bread and pastry goodies soap/hand lotion gifts teacher/church teacher gifts salt dough decorations personalised baubles chocolate and marshmallow chocolate gifts cookies, cake...

I l ove egg custard so when my mom offered me yet another super recipe I knew I had to try it out.... The preparation time is simple, the eating is delish! I have to admit, I did cheat and buy the case for this...next time though I’m going to make my own. So here is the recipe: 3 eggs 2-3 dessert spoons of sugar 2-3 drops of vanilla essence/extract 1/2 pint of full fat milk 1 tub small double cream Being the adhoc cook/baker that I am I threw them all into the bowl together and whisked it all together. You can heat this up as you stir and then pour it into your pastry crust or you can do it all cold....the heated version gives a less intense flavouring but is still flavourful and tasty!

    Kirsten had a Lakeland cupcake maker off my mom for Christmas and as yet I have used it more times than I should have! Now I think I should get my own…really. Cute design. I like cute Simply add your cases, then your mix and close the top After 10-12 minutes you get to decorate them. Here I used a fruit variety which was a perfect blend. But then the neighbours found out about them and put in an order!

Has it really been that long since I last blogged? Time flies when you are battling The Great Bug and it’s refusing to leave. After the 6 week visitor attacking both my kids and myself, holding me ransom in bed for just over 3 weeks I am so glad to say that it has finally gone. Now I just need to get my voice back to normal and all is good in the world again! This last few days, whilst I have emotionally crashed and burned I’ve been pottering round the house working on a new food menu including a variety of breakfasts that are not only nutritional but enjoyable and freezer friendly. Living on a limited income I have also been sourcing the best deals and the bulk buy deals v weekly supermarket deals. Feel free to share your menu’s, ideas and tips. Debs

Preparing for our camping trip I debated the options on how to cook, gas or bbq. In the end the bbq bucket won because I just love the taste of bbq’d meats. I had it all planned out in my head how I was going to serve a variety of good food whilst in the basicness of camping. This little baby got used twice! For these yummy chickens and for roasted marshmallows! My Bffffffff and F {secret joke} Michele {who’s tent we stayed in} allowed us to use her gas stove, cheating I know! But it was still the best £12 I’ve spent and I can see it becoming a permanent fixture in our lives. Kirsten and Charley love nothing more than to sit in the garden with me at night and now we have this they toast their marshmallows easily and safely. I picked this one up from Sainsbury’s just after their sale, but that’s ok, I did manage to snag me a water filter for half the cost at the same time! {Review on that another day!} Please remember that this should still be used under adult supervision...

The lovely Perry Perkins: If you don’t know Perry Perkins, you are seriously missing out! Read on for his intro.. Heyya peeps! So, first of all I'd like to thank Debs for the opportunity to be a guest blogger here on The British Homemaker! A quick bit about me: I'm a work-from-home dad, a freelance writer, and a passionate foodie. I'm a third-generation chef, and am trying to pass those skills on to a fourth generation (Okay, she's only 3, but where starting early!) Today we're gonna talk about a few tips I have for "Raising an International Gourmet" ( and maybe learning a few new things ourselves! ) I have gone through the following steps with children as young as five and, with a little flexibility and patience, it can be a lot of fun. Note: when it stops being fun, stop. You're not teaching at the Le Cordon Bleu, so tell your inner Iron Chef to lighten up! Forcing a kid to cook will only get you the opposite of what you're shooting for.....

Sundays are for roasts. Meat, potatoes, vegetables, stuffing (according to the meat) roasters and all that but today, knowing I was going to be late home from church we decided we’d have Sheppard's pie. My kids all time favourite. Remembering a meal I saw on Jamie Oliver’s 30 minute meals (well sort of remembering!) we opted for the following: 2lb ground mince brown off with a few thyme leaves (or a tsp. ground leaves if you have them) once mince is browned add 6 tbsp. Worcester sauce leave to totally cook till its a dark brown add in some chosen, sliced vegetables add a tin of butterbeans, including the liquid they soak in Let it all simmer for approximately 15 mins then serve with fluffy mashed potatoes. Different from Jamie’s but on the same track and just as delicious! Debs

Share this post : INGREDIENTS 100g sultanas 75ml bourbon or dark rum 175g plain flour 2 teaspoons baking powder half teaspoon bicarbonate of soda half teaspoon salt 125g unsalted butter,melted 150g sugar 2 large eggs 4 small, very ripe bananas (about 300g weighed without skin), mashed 60g chopped walnuts 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 23 x 13 x 7cm loaf tin, buttered and floured or with a paper insert METHOD Put the sultanas and rum or bourbon in a smallish saucepan and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat, cover and leave for an hour if you can, or until the sultanas have absorbed most of the liquid, then drain. Preheat the oven to 170ºC/gas mark 3 and get started on the rest. Put the flour, baking powder, bicarb and salt in a medium-sized bowl and, using your hands or ...