Sunday 14 October 2012

Nice and Cosy Treats

Hi everyone hope you are enjoying the weekend!

As the weather gets more and more autumnal my thoughts always turn to one dish - Pumpkin Pie!  It is quite difficult to get hold of canned pumpkin here in the UK (and lets face it, who wants to be struggling with carving a pumpkin up for cooking??) so I stock up with it when I see it.  I managed to snap up a few cans (together with Marshmallow Fluff) at one of those American style sweet shops that seem to be springing up in many city centres these days.

So, yesterday, we had visitors so I made the first pumpkin pie of the season:


I always add a bit of extra cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg than the recipe on the can suggests as we really love our spices in this house! 

My daughter set to and baked a delicious victoria sponge as well (these particular visitors are always very very hungry) and she filled it with raspberry jam and whipped cream

 
 It was so light and fluffy.  The visitors declared both pie and cake very delicious and not a scrap is left of either!!

But before the visitors arrived my daughter had an opticians appointment.  So after that we had a nice browse around the shops and then decided to go to a lovely little chocolate shop and cafe for a little treat.

I had a lovely hot chocolate and she enjoyed a milk shake made with belgian chocolate




And then as a final treat we had some hand made chocolates


the one in the foreground is pistachio cup and the other is chocolate brownie (we each got a little bar of complimentary chocolate with each drink).  The other two chocolates which had already been devoured were eaton mess and sea salt caramel.  All made on the premises by the shop owners.  So, in total we had

  • hot chocolate
  • belgian chocolate milk shake
  • 2 mini bars of dark chocolate
  • 4 hand made chocolates
and the price for all this lusciousness?  £4.93!!!!!!  I have paid almost that for just a coffee at one of those faceless world-wide chain coffee shops.  I know where I will go next time when I need a little pick-me-up when out in town!!

Well, must away, I need to do a bit more research for an assignment Im writing - Im getting towards the end of my MSc course so the end is gradually beginning to come into sight, but Im feeling slightly snuffly and under the weather so we will just have to see how much my brain can take in today!  At least dinner is sorted - Ive made a huge veggie stew and popped it into the slow cooker - it is making the house smell lovely and cosy!

Have a great day!

Helenxx

12 comments:

  1. Oh wow! That price is great for all those goodies! AND well done on your MSc ... you're almost there! Brilliant ma sha Allah. What are you studying?
    I hope you're having a nice weekend xxx

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    1. Yes, I thought it was excellent value! My MSc is in Educational Management and Leadership - Im on the research methods final assignment then its just (!!!!) the dissertation left. And the good thing about this assignment is that it actually completes 30% of the dissertation which appeals to me greatly ;)

      Helenxx

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  2. Pumpkin piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie! Oh, I am drooling now. I always forget how much I love pumpkin pie until this time of year. I tend to do a version with the pumpkin filling stuff on top of flapjack as a traybake. Super rich but delicious. You temptress.

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  3. I love your pumpkin pie! It's a favorite of hubby and mine too -- you are inspiring me to bake one! My mom was well known for her delicious pies but I never got the hang of making them.. I need to fix that. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  4. PS - I've added your blog to my blog list. :-)

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    1. Thank you! I just follow the recipe on the back of the Libby's Pumpkin can - it seems to work out great everytime. And if Im pushed for time I buy a ready baked pie crust, but this time I made my own.

      Hope you are having a great weekend!

      Helenxx

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  5. Your pumpkin pie has me drooling xx

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  6. I'm coming to visit you if you are having all those yummy things to eat and drink. Hope you feel better, I am just getting over a cold its the pits!
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  7. Ooh all that deliciousness! Hope you feel well soon.

    Hugs, Estelle xx

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  8. Mmm... chocolate heaven! The pumpkin pie looks delicious too, but chocolate wins for me every time.

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  9. wow, I can't believe the price of that! I always got for the independent cafe over the chains as I find they're always much nicer - I'd love to visit this one!

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