...because i found a spare 5 minutes in my day...

Herby Shallots pickled in Balsamic Vinegar...
Yes, i did have a few spare minutes to whip this jar of pickles up. It's no hassle my time-keeping friends. I was at home yesterday anyhow - putting 7 loads of washing through the washing machine >>>washing line > >>back upstairs 'routine' (long story involving sick child and many washed duvets and bed linens)
Let me BEGIN by clearly stating, i don't think this is the very 'best' use of a bottle of expensive Balsamic vinegar...! I am not made of money but i had 2 un-opened bottles from Christmas gift sets so this seemed like a fine use for 1 of those spare bottles... So... about 500g (when peeled) of the smallest shallots i could find
250ml Balsamic vinegar
2 large teaspoons brown sugar
A few sprigs of Thyme
(I am not a huge Thyme fan. I have a large bush of the stuff but don't use it a great deal as it isn't to my tastes but i think it will suit these pickles)
A few twigs of Rosemary (LOVE this stuff - i have so much to tell you about Rosemary...)

Bung it all in a large heavy based saucepan>>> this is my BIG pan 'for all culinary occasions' everything gets cooked in here and it wasn't expensive...

Simmer for about 30mins till the onions are tender but still with a crunch to them - not all soft and saggy.

...Cool them off.

Pour into a Kilner Jar (or whatever you're using) i always sterilize my jars. I put the rubber rings into boiling water. I wash the whole jar in hot soapy water. I then put them in the warm oven for about 20mins.

I have only made this one jar with these ingredients.

Now it is sealed and i'm going to put it in the back of my cupboard for a month or two before opening at some impromtu family food gathering (of which there are many in my family!)

I worry they'll be quite over powering having just used the Balsamic vinegar but i imagine the brown sugar will ofset that.

Next time i will add Coriander seeds and Black Peppercorns too....

I got me some amazing friends...

I took an exhilerating Country walk with the fat pooch this morning. I looked out of the window from my cosy bed, cup of tea in hand.... i could easily have decided that today wasn't a good walking day (i would have been so wrong) The countryside never looked as pretty as it did this morning.... And on my return from the walk, the Postman was just headed in my back gate to leave a parcel in my 'etsy bin' at the back door.... OOOooohhh, i know you all understand the excitement of that brown envelope / paper parcel....

Cute tissue paper, cute tag, cute stickers... it was an anticipated gift from my friend meplusmolly...

NO, it wasn't from myself - my friend is also called Kirsty (because it is a wildly talented and creative name you know!) I LOVE the tag Kirsty x

Oh FRIEND! that tweedy fabric is so nice. The colours are divine. You know how to get everything just right! Star Anise (sp?) such a touch x

Stretching down to a LLLlooooooonng 'skinny long stocking' in pink french style fabric with little heel and toe details. Vintage buttons... Kirsty, you just have an 'eye' for what you're doing.

Did i mention it is stuffed with Lavender too? Just dreamy x x x

And i love that it is such a contrast to my Uber-bright items. There is a place for sobriety, for sweetness, for subtlety in my creative life! And, being a Pisces, the contrast suits me.
I wish you lots of success and happiness, especially in your new move x and a really big THANKYOU! I love it.


P.s. I have to remind blog readers that my friend MrsB sent me this prior to Christmas... just because i admired hers so much.

See? I am truly blessed that i have such amazing friends. Thankyou x

Why i love Nigella x

My beloved 'Nigella' (Lawson - the TV personality and Recipe Book writer for the Un-initiated)
She gets a bad press by some but i want to tell you why i love her...
My Christmas Party - held yesterday - at my house, i sooo wish you all could have come. Nigella made hosting a small Christmas gathering SO much pleasure.

Mini Christmas pudding truffles, individually decorated by my sister, my daughter, my man and me. So much fun and they look gorgeous x a crafters dream cookery project. MMMmmm licking the chocolate bowl (even the dog got in on this action)

Peanut Butter mini-cupckaes x my younger Sister (BabyFish) has just returned from 12 Months travelling the world. What better way to catch up than spending the afternoon on cups of tea and making chocolates from Nigella's Christmas Book? It was pure JOY.

BabyFish fiddling with the mini-holly decoration on 48 individual puddings. I don't care if Nigella pouts at the camera or *eats cold left-overs during a nightine fridge raid* (or only does that for the camera)

Nigella doesn't make me feel inadequate or envious. She is a joy to watch and her books are a joy to cook and bake from. I love to feed my family and my friends and Nigella knows really that the 'event' and the people are far more important than the food.

Drinking, eating, talking, laughing, creating... these are things that i see Nigella promoting and these are the things that make me happy too.

Nigella's Christmas Chutney.... mmmmm x she maybe very Middle-class, she even be Upper-class, i don't really know. I just love her class-i-ness.

My friend MrsB really does get the bus or walk to her supermarket WITH 2 babies under 3 and she cooks and entertains Nigella with so much style! (Click HERE to see MrsB loving Nigella)

Dressing the table in OOOodddles of my Christmas crockery all thrifted and Sale found throughout the years.

SO, Merry Christmas!

Don't *hate* Nigella x love her for what she stands for...

Camp creativity, eating, taking life with a pinch of sugar, entertaining, eating, laughing, creating and generally putting in a little bit more effort than your local McDonalds could offer.

Cheers x