Friday 6 March 2015

Builders tea with a cinnamon stick




I love tea, and I drink far too much of it. You just can't beat a good cup of strong-but-milky builders tea. Miggins next door is always telling me off for making hers too strong ... "Just show it the tea bag gal, don't stew it for gawd sake!" So when a friend of mine (who is of Greek origin) recently told me to go ahead and drop half a stick of cinnamon into my tea, I told her she'd lost her tiny mind. She insisted it's very popular in Greece and said people also like to add cloves to the mix! So I humoured her, and dropped half a stick into my tea - well oh my days, it transformed my plain ole cup of tea ... it was like trying on silky pants after years of old scratchy cotton briefs! I'm not sure there's any turning back now. Not only does it give tea a sweet exotic kick, cinnamon also has fantastic health benefits. It can lower bad cholesterol and blood sugar levels, it has anti fungal, anti clotting properties, and can reduce the proliferation of leukaemia and lymphoma cancer cells, and it can also eliminate headaches and migraines. But before you start chomping into it like a mars bar be aware it is toxic in large doses, but 'a little a day will keep the doctor away' - according to Miggins.

JM x



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Thursday 8 January 2015

VIDEO: How to make gloves from an old jumper - in minutes!


Hi all! Here's a brand new video for you, which will show you how to make a pair of fingerless mittens from an old jumper (sweater - to my American friends ;-) in a matter of minutes!
This is ideal for absolute beginners and no sewing experience is necessary.

NOTE: I'll be following this video with another very soon, showing you how to make a snood (neck scarf) and headband out of the same jumper so don't throw your jumper away after you've made the gloves!

Enjoy! 
JM x



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Friday 19 December 2014

Last minute Christmas gifts for food lovers


I'm always getting stuck for gift ideas, and often find myself in that awkward situation of seeing friends last minute, yet I have nothing to offer them. So here are a few foodie goodies that have saved  the day in recent years. Presented in brown paper and tied with ribbon, they make a lovely last minute gift, and they'll never know you whipped it up last night ;-)  x


Last minute Chritmas gifts for food lovers

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Tuesday 9 December 2014

A Winter Spiced Biscuits Recipe


 It's about to get VERY Christmassy here at AHC headquarters! Now as you well know folks, my cooking skills are pretty dire at the best of times (I recently failed to boil an egg correctly - I blame Delia) but I am very good at eating! So let me introduce to you, the lovely Laura from We made this home blog. Laura is a graphic designer and lover of all things handmade and vintage, and she's the bringer of this most scrumptious 'christmas-in-a-biscuit' Winter spiced biscuits recipe. Prepare to fill your homes and bellies with seasonal goodness! Over to you Laura ...


Winter spiced biscuits



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Wednesday 29 October 2014

My month in pictures + An autumn story + October


An autumn story



Well hello my little autumn lovelies. Today I'd like to introduce a new feature to the blog!  Life can get a bit overwhelming sometimes, and I have to remind myself to slow down and take stock. So I thought a nice way to do this is a look back over the month.  There may be some projects you missed, so I've included links should you want to make any of them.
Here is my October - an autumn story :-) 

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Friday 12 September 2014

How to make Blackberry jam


How to make Blackberry jam



I made jam for the first time this week. Now you know I'm a self-confessed terrible cook. I can make a hash of the easiest of recipes so it's no wonder I haven't attempted Jam before. But then I found out how you make it ... put berries in a pan + splash of water + lemon and sugar = pot of jam. I had no idea it was that easy. So under the guidance of my crafty jam & jewellery-making pal Yidan, we made jam!

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Friday 20 December 2013

Cheesecake mince pies at Poppyloves.com

This week I've been lucky enough to guest post London lifestyle blog Poppyloves.com
Poppy (AND her blog) are just lovely, so I decided to share my very special recipe for ...

* CHEESECAKE MINCE PIES *


How to make cheesecake mince pies


The recipe was handed down from my ninja-chef of a mother in law and they are simply the best I've ever eaten. So if you'd like to sample these melt-in-the-mouth bad boys (and see me licking the bowl) pop on over to Poppyloves by



Enjoy and have a wonderful Xmas, 
JM & Ralphy the dog
X




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Friday 6 December 2013

Orange and cinnamon stick decorations


We're putting our deccies up on sunday!! Eeeeee I am so excited. It's killing me just walking past the boxes. I have been wearing my santa hat around the house though, and just because I don't have a tree (yet) doesn't mean I can't prepare my deccies for it! I make these every year. They're SO easy, quick and very rustic. 

You will need:

Oranges
Two contrasting ribbons or brown string
Cinnamon sticks
Cinnamon powder (optional)


Orange and cinnamon stick decorations

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Sunday 6 October 2013

How to make sloe gin - 'the wintry tipple'


  Well last weekend I successfully made my first tipple of Sloe Gin! It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday and I can't WAIT to taste it while my chestnuts are roasting on a chilly December eve. Christmas will never be the same without this lovely wintry Liqueur and it's a lovely way to enjoy our bountiful hedgerows. It's far more satisfying to enjoy something you've gathered / made yourself than to get it from Tesco and I've no doubt this autumnal ritual will become a firm favourite in our household. It's easy to prep, easy to make AND you can blot out Xmas with it! (if need be).  So get the kids off their phones, grab your baskets (guys - your plastic containers) and enjoy a day in the wilderness together! 

Note - Sloe gin is a sweet berry liqueur and can be enjoyed on the rocks OR with a mixer ... perhaps Soda water or sparkling wine Kir Royale-style, so don't be put off if you don't like Gin. I don't but I do LOVE this drink.




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Monday 9 September 2013

The cottage guide to BLACKBERRY picking!


I LOVE this time of Year! When blackberry picking time comes around I get so excited. I do love summer but I love autumn more. It's such a beautiful time ... the colours, snugly blankets, fires, hot chocolate and BLACKBERRY AND APPLE CRUMBLE! we're also allowed to get a bit fat as we need the warmth : ) I realise I haven't talked about craft much lately but I'm just too distracted by the pick n' mix of berries in our hedgerows at the moment. Thanks to a glorious summer the bushes are jam-packed (see what I did there?) with fruit this year which means? ... 'one for me, one for the basket, one for me ...' 





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Monday 2 September 2013

Making Sloe gin - How to tell when Sloe Berries are ripe



So it's been a wonderful summer and the hedgerows are bursting with bumper crops this year ... 'one for me, one for Ralphy, one for me ...' I'm determined to make the most of mother natures bounty this year. So today I want to give you a heads up on the SLOE berry. It's not picking time yet but it will be soon so here's a guide to picking at the right time.


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