Here's to 2010

As 2009 ends and 2010 begins I am sure we all can look back with regrets or joy at the many things that happened. I got to make meringues and give them to some amazing friends I got to help out at an open house,at a herb shop. I got to laugh in the rain. I got to learn what it was like to see someone who liked my food and laugh at some disasters. God held my hand tight and as I enter 2010 I hold his hand even tighter not knowing so many things.
But I also got to cry a million tears. I have been down a long old road and as 2009 ends I do so hope that 2010 has a happier ending.
So where ever your road has lead you I pray you will look back and try to focus on the good rather than the bad and to one and all I say dance a little through the storm because after the storm there is so much grace. I pray that next year will bring much joy, much grace and here is to all of us to end up in a better place at the end of 2010.
Happy New Year
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights

The dancing meringue.

Well friends my life has been on a interesting road. I made lots of deserts for a good friend Lisa of the Little Herb house she is an amazing woman and if you ever come to Raleigh you should look here up. As we got ready to host her second Christmas tea party I was reminded that meringues are like life if you do not learn to make them just right then they flop and so it is like that in life if we do not learn to dance in the storms of life we too flop.
But with tender love and care one learns to make the perfect meringue and one learns to dance in a storm.
My friend has learnt to nurture her garden just right it blossoms such wonderful things. Lisa and Rosabelle an old friend of mine have learnt who is the true gardener of life it surely is not us.
I hope you enjoy making meringues and sweets this Christmas with your friends and if you are alone make some like me and my girls did and give them to someone who is in need it will brighten up the coldest December day. So to all of you please join me in dancing as we dance into Christmas.

Wishing you lots of tasty English delights.

Holiday Menu's from English Delights.

English Delights for the up and coming Holidays.

Royal Christmas and Thanksgiving 2009

Roast Turkey
Roast Potatoes
Veggie your choice

Menu for tea time

Meringues $1.00
Meringues with cranberries or mints added into the cream or just with cream
Shortbread $0.50
Truffles $0.50
Pastry with mince meat and cream filling $1.25
cupcakes $1.00
Home made ice cream various flavors
Peppermint cremes $.0.50
Peppermint cremes can be red, green or white.
Crushed meringues with cream $1.00
you can add white, dark or milk chocolates or even mints with this above item.

Added goodies for any season

Cherry cheesecake/ or peach cheesecake
Million dollar pie with pecans, pineapple and cream
Pecan cranberry spread.

Dinners

Classic penne with bacon, cheese, cream and eggs
Shepherds pie
English stew and dumplings
English potatoes and leek soup.

Drinks

Festive punch with apple, pineapple juice with spirit and ginger ale.

All orders require a 10% deposit

Gifts for the season.

Tins filled with shortbread, truffles or mints.

Let me come to your home and teach you how to make meringues and have an English Tea.

Menus and name settings for your parties can be designed at $1.00 per menu and $0.50 per name setting.

For all prices, reservations and orders please email me at
englishmum@nc.rr.com
Wishing you lots of tasty English delights.

Recycle those cans and become creative.

Here is a challenge I did a craft fair and I will be doing three more before Christmas. I decided to find something that did not cost much and turn it into something creative. I took a can and sprayed it red then I made one into an Autumn creation and the other a Christmas one. You can use your imagination to do anything and it does not have to cost much. You can give them as Christmas presents or use them as decorations.
As we change our clocks tonight here in the USA use these longer days to make something for someone and brighten up their day.

Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Autumn

Now is the time to start finding those warm winter gloves. My children and I pull out the box and work out which gloves fit and which one's don't. One thing you can do to add a new style to your gloves from last year is sew a bow on them or get some seasonal broaches and place them gloves , scarves or a hat . You can set your own trend.
Go into a craft store see what is on sale I like buying ribbon when it is on sale and then you can use it to make something have a new meaning for any season.
So as you bundle up into the Autumn remember to look and see the glory and wonders of this great earth we live in. In England I lived in the countryside and I loved hearing the leaves underneath my feet. We don't have many trees in our garden here but one year my husband surprised our girls by getting a load of leaves and putting them at the bottom of their swing set. It is one of the fondest memories I have them laughing and playing in some leaves. You might not be able to do that. But you can certainly look and smell that crisp wonderful air that Autumn brings.
So come on take a walk smile and laugh and just make Autumn special for you.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Man's Best friend.

England is known for loving animals especially horses and dogs. As a child we had a old English sheep dog. Shane was originally a sheep dog but was lazy and would not herd the sheep, so my parents bought her, we had her until she died when I was thirteen. She was a faithful dog.
I now have two miniature dachshunds Miss London and Miss Daisy. They are truly faithful and loving always a faithful companion and full of so much love.
Often a dog can bring such love where people can't, they speak volumes to us. Studies have found that animals can play a huge part in people been healed.
So as you have your tea today just think of how you can send a little kindness someones way.

wishing you lots of tasty English delights.

The rain we take for granted.

England is known for having quite a bit of rain. However many of the countries throughout the world are lacking in what we take for granted. I switch on my washing machine, flush the toilet, have running water for baths, I have an ice machine and I use water like there is no tomorrow. Now I do not have a sprinkler system. But regardless of what you use your water for, we as individuals can make a difference to make this world a better place by conserving the amount of water we use.
I go to a very large Church called Hope community in Raleigh NC. Last Christmas they asked us to give money to drill wells for people who do not have running water coming to their village less alone their homes. The website is http://www.icdinternational.org/
It makes you realize when you see these homes how fortunate we are. I would love to help there one day and provide the money to drill a well.
Here is my suggestion to you today. When I was a child every home that I can remember had a water barrel it might be called something else where you are. This collected rain water. You do not have to buy a fancy one get a rubbish bin/trash can and place it in your garden. Just remember every now and again to clean it out. With this water you can water indoor plants, your vegetable garden, rinse your car or as we did in the summer we washed our feet in it after we got our feet covered with grass.
Turn of the tap when you are not using it.
Take showers instead of baths.
Make sure you fill up your washing machine.
Simple things like this can make a difference.
I know I am preaching to myself.
But this blog message is for all of us weather we live in England or where a simple rain drop can double and double and make a difference.
Think of those villages that have nothing. So please help make a difference, it is people united that can change lives.

Wishing you lots of tasty English delights.

Autumn decorating.

Autumn has such amazing colors and weather you live in England or the States you can make your home feel a bit like the season. When I was a child and lived in Norwich we had a tree that had tons of conkers and when we lived in a small village called Aylmerton we had horse chestnut trees. You can gather these and place them into baskets or jars without the lids on them. You could also just get dried leaves crunch them up and put them in jars all those wonderful different colors of Autumn will make any room look wonderful,it will look like when you put sand in a jar and you can see the differant colors. Here below are some other idea's.
Place acorns or pine cones in baskets or jars.
Place favorite teddies around, jars of buttons,ribbons and marbles.
In the kitchen put different color macaroni, Cinnamon sticks, dried cranberries and nuts in jars it will make your kitchen look like autumn.
Collect rich color soaps and place them in your bathroom.
Change out and put rich colorful wash cloths/flannels and towels in your bathroom.
I have some hedgehog toys place them around the house. (or any toys that look like autumn to you.)
Rich colorful blankets.
Tea pots.
Draw and paint leaves. You can either leave them that color or write on them your favorite things about Autumn.
Take photo's of pumpkins and leaves.
I would make sure all the things you gather are fully dried out otherwise they may go a little moldy.
Open your eyes wide and be your own inspiration. You can do it.
Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.

Here we go. Ice Cream Treats

When I was a little girl, every Sunday we would have high tea. High tea is usually had at four o'clock in the afternoon. I took it all for granted having homemade cakes, ice cream and cucumber sandwiches. My mum was a fantastic cook, brilliant to say the least.
Recently, I have started up a business doing high teas. Whoever would of thought that I would be doing that.
I made home made ice cream this week.

Here is the recipe:
1 pint of whipping cream
2 tablespoons of confectionery sugar
You can add fruit to this. I got bag of frozen strawberries and then I melted them. (grated chocolate, nuts, coffee you can do whatever you fancy.)
Whip cream, add confectionery sugar and strawberries or whatever you desire.
Then freeze.
You can freeze it in small containers for parties, a nice Sunday afternoon treat or midnight one.
I love adding cream on top but it is up to you.

It is really simple and tastes so good. Let me know how yours turns out.

Wishing you lots of tasty English Delights.