Sunday 3 June 2012

Folksy sale at last!

Well what do you know, after joining Folksy almost a year ago and not having a single sale, all of my listings had expired. So, yesterday I thought "What the hell" and popped a listing on in the morning. And guess what - sold in the afternoon. Now that's what I call a result. If only it was always so simple...

With CRAFTfest almost upon us I've got my organised head on. I'm busy ploughing my way through everyone's stall albums pinning selected goods, tweeting and Facebooking. I've tried to approach this as systematically as I can but even so it's a long road I'm travelling. And I don't think my laptop is appreciating the endless application switching either. Never mind It's all in a good cause. I just hope everyone is putting in the effort to make the event work.

Take a look at some of the items for sale by visiting my CRAFTfest Pinterest board and please feel free to repin and share with your friends.

What's for dinner?


Slow roast shoulder of lamb

Servings - depends on the weight of the joint

Whole or half shoulder of lamb
4 cloves of garlic, sliced
2 large sprigs of rosemary
4 anchovy fillets, cut into strips
Maldon salt
Freshly ground black pepper

  • Using a small sharp knife, make 1cm incisions all over the lamb joint
  • Insert a slice of garlic, a strip of anchovy and a small sprig of rosemary into each incision pushing in firmly
  • Season the meat with salt and pepper
  • Roast in a low oven for 3 - 4 hours until meltingly tender. The meat should fall away from the bone.
  • Serve with roast potatoes and green beans drizzled with lemon juice

Saturday 2 June 2012

Oh woe is me...but victory is mine

Oh dear, the dreaded hangover didn't get any better. Never mind I battled on, pulled myself together and finally defeated the dark side of cushion making - the round one. I'm quite pleased with it. So, now the fun starts with disembowelling square duck feather inners to make round ones. Choking hazard aside it's good fun!

Have you all remembered CRAFTfest is almost upon us?


Don't forget to drop in during the week for a spot of leisurely shopping. I still have a lot of promotion work to do. How am I going to fit that in while finishing my bespoke order and babysitting two grandchildren? I feel a bit of serious multi-tasking coming on, so with that in mind here's a brilliant and super quick dish...

What's for dinner?

Chicken with pesto and lemon pasta

Serves 4

2 chicken breasts cut into strips(or use leftover roast chicken)
1 jar of good quality pesto (or make your own using olive oil, garlic, toasted pine nuts, parmesan and basil)
juice and zest of a lemon
500g spaghetti

  • Cook the spaghetti in a lrage pan of boiling salted water for 8 minutes until just tender
  • Meanwhile, in a large saute pan fry the chicken in a little olive oil until golden
  • Drain the cooked spahetti reserving a little cooking water and add to the chicken
  • Stir the pesto, lemon zest and juice, and reserved cooking water through the pasta and simmer for 2 mins
  • Serve in warmed pasta bowls with a sprinkling of grated parmesan, black pepper and a scattering of freshly torn basil leaves