Simple Star Mince Pies

I do love mince pies, they are great to leave out for Santa, to serve to guests over christmas or just to relax whilst you have a cup of tea, however you enjoy them, it is important to get the correct mincemeat to pastry ratio.

So, on a mission to find the perfect combination and delight both to the eye and the taste buds, I set about searching the internet for inspiration. By combining the results of my internet searching, with my mum's recipe for sweet crust pastry, I created my very own star mince pies, you can enjoy them too by following the recipe below.

The recipe is simple:

8oz Plain Flour
4oz Butter or Stork if you prefer
2oz Sugar
1 Egg
Mincemeat

1. In either a free standing mixer or by hand, rub the flour and butter together (it should resemble breadcrumbs).

2. Mix in the sugar

3. Add the egg and mix until it has become a soft dough, if you need to add a little milk you can do.

4. Pop in the fridge for an hour to firm slightly to make it easier to roll out, this can also be made a day ahead an kept in the fridge.

5. Once firmer you can start to roll out, using plenty of flour so it doesn't stick to the surface or rolling pin. First of all take your round pastry cutter or if you don't have one a glass will do and just rub in a little flour, this will prevent it sticking to the cookie cutter/glass.

6. Cut out your circles and place in a baking tin, then do the same with the stars. Place a teaspoon of mincemeat into each of your round and then place a star on top, gently pressing down.

7. Place in a oven on 200c for about 8-10 minutes checking towards the end to ensure they don't burn. They should be a nice golden colour all over. Once cooled slightly remove from the tin, I find using a spoon the easiest way. Place on a cooling rack to cool and then sprinkle with some icing sugar.

And voila, beautiful star mince pies perfect for family, friends and the big man himself.

Merry Christmas to all my readers.

A Day Out Aboard the SS Great Britain

On our way from Weston we stopped in Bristol for the night, I had been there with a friend a few months back and it really seemed like the perfect place to take the kids.

With plenty of museums, eateries and lots to see and do it is a really vibrant city, which I feel we didn’t even touch the surface of.

We got up early on Saturday morning and headed to the SS Great Britain. We had seen this stunning ship on our way down into Bristol, with a view of Clifton Suspension Bridge too, we were most excited to learn about this magnificent feat of engineering.

The walk down the docks is really wonderful and you get a sense of the history of the place from the sheds, cranes, boats and trains that are still visible.

On arriving at the SS Great Britain we were greeted by a gentleman dressed in the clothing of the time the SS Great Britain was built, the tall hat that was so typically Brunel.

The shop was bright and airy and the kids ran off to look at what there was whilst I picked up our tickets. The tickets are really fun and a memento in their own right as they are in the style of boarding passes, for a journey aboard the SS Great Britain. 

We had arrived just in time for one of the Invisible Circus performances, this is a really great touch for the summer as it not only allowed us to see how people of the time would have dressed but also it added an element of fun for the kids. My daughter was in absolute awe at the performance and laughed with delight as they jumped and fell and were generally silly. With performances five times a day around the ship and yard it is definitely something to look out for.

You are given a map to follow around the yard and ship and it is well worth following as it allows the story of the ship to flow.

I have to admit, whilst I was aware of the ships existence I wasn’t aware of what it had been through in it’s life. From taking people to new lands, to being sunk off the coast of the Falklands and finally, being brought back to Bristol in the 1970s. As well as being ahead of it’s time, an amazing feat of engineering brilliance, it is also a tragic tale with a happy ending.

The ship looks as though it is on water, however it actually sits in a dry dock, sealed under glass the air around the hull of the ship is dried out to stop any more corrosion of the iron which makes up this boat. After about 100 years under water this area of the ship was so badly damaged it couldn’t risk being underwater anymore, so this system allows not only visitors to see the hull of the boat but allow it to be preserved for years to come. Getting to see the rudder and propeller which made this boat such an important part of history is fantastic, also being able to get to see the dry dock which was purpose built for the SS Great Britain was equally as wonderful. So much history in one place.

Afterwards we headed into the Dockyard Museum, here you learn all about the history of the SS Great Britain from who sailed on her to her use during the Great Wars and ultimately her sad demise. There are lots of interactive elements to the museum which keep the children occupied, including dressing up and collecting your card to learn about who might have sailed on her.

This grand ship looks out over Bristol Harbour and is a truly spectacular sight.

It is fascinating to see (a bit like you see in the film The Titanic) the lines on the boat which separate the First Class Passengers from the rest of the ship, the boat is big but I couldn’t imagine this being the only outside space I’d see in the many weeks it took to get from Britain to Australia.

As you head downstairs to the lower decks you really get a sense of the space, or at nearly 5’10 the lack of it, the beds are like open coffins and the rooms about the same size as my downstairs toilet, the first class areas were decadent and beautiful and everything you’d want from a cruise liner, but steerage would have been hell. The sheer noise of 100s of people, the engine, kitchens, animals and general sea noises would have been just horrific. But if it got you somewhere warm and new then it would have been worth it.

My children were really in awe at the sights and smells the boat had to offer, my son picked up a card that said he was the captain so he was showing us around the whole time. It really got their imagination going and it was really great to see that there was no need for technology to make this the immersive experience it was. Learning about what life was like back in the 1800s was interesting enough, throw in the realities of emigrating to new lands made it even more exciting.

Afterwards we headed back to the upper deck, tried to figure out why the wheel to steer the boat was facing backwards and then headed back down to the docks to explore some more.

There is a café within the grounds of the shipyard, which was ample enough for our requirements but should you need more there is a larger café outside and with your ticket allowing re-entry it meant you could get out and back in.

We finally went and had a look in the Being Brunel exhibition, it seems that during history lessons we learn very little about this man, I remember visiting Iron Bridge when I was younger and so knew who Brunel was and how important he was but that’s about it. To learn about the man himself was very interesting and I think more should be said about the personality of this man and how despite what people said he forged on with his inventions and ideas.

Tickets for the SS Great Britain are £17 for adults and £10 for children aged 5-16, under 4s are free. Even better your ticket is valid for a year so you can come back again should you not manage it all in one day. Perfect if you are staying in the area or are a regular visitor to Bristol.

Most of the site is wheelchair accessible which I think is wonderful and so it can be enjoyed by everyone.

We we given three tickets in return for this review, all words and opinions are my own.

A Day Out at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

A few weeks ago, I took the children to Yorkshire Sculpture Park. I've wanted to visit for ages, but the right moment and the right weather never seemed to coincide.

With a few sunny days forecast in the half term and what looked like the most amazing art installations, I decided to take us there.

I had seen over on Instagram images of a beautiful mirrored room at the park, along with some of Damien Hirst's work too, so it really did seem like the perfect time to go.

It is really easy to find just off junction 38 of the M1 and although the parking fees may sound a little steep at £12 per day, this also covers the entrance fee to the park and galleries. In my opinion, £12 for three people for the whole day is very reasonable 

The park itself is huge, I'd totally underestimated the size of it and we could have easily spent a few more hours exploring. We shall definitely be heading there again in the summer, and it's the perfect place to take a picnic.

After parking up and heading out into the park, we first headed down to the Chapel, this is where To Breath by Kimsooja was installed. The floor was covered in mirrors and the windows had a diffraction film on them, this created the most stunning rainbow patterns when the sun shone through them. It was truly magical and I could have spent the whole day in there.  To protect the mirrored floors, socks or special slip on shoes were required, and perhaps wearing a skirt isn't advisable ;)

It was truly a beautiful and unique experience that we all enjoyed, I don't think i'll forget the joy on my children's faces for a while either.

After we had finished enjoying the Chapel we headed down the hill towards the imposing sculptures we could see in the distance.

One was instantly recognisable as The Virgin Mother.  Having been to Ilfracombe and viewed Hirst's Verity piece there, the YSP piece is very similar, except the painting on this one is so bright and bordering on gaudy it doesn't look as though it is made of bronze! The beauty of it I suppose.

The other two sculptures we saw were equally as impressive; Charity  is based on an charity box from the 70s and appears scratched and emptied by a giant crow bar sitting alongside. It is really thought provoking of many of society's current shortcomings. She was definitely my favourite.

My daughter's favourite although she was a little bemused by it, was the unicorn Myth. Stood there with it's insides exposed, it was interesting to say the least.

Throughout the rest of the park there are so many wonderful sculptures, both within the grounds and the the main buildings, with beautifully manicured gardens to wander round too, it was a truly breath taking day out.

There are a couple of cafe's serving really nice food, including a good range of Gluten Free options, as well as shops selling wonderful work from local artists as well as those exhibited and beyond. 

Have you been to YSP before? If so what did you see there? 

Snowdrops at Hodsock

We visited the Snowdrops at Hodsock Priory several years ago and I have been desperate to go back ever since.

After a terrible time with rain last year the gardens were only open for a couple of weeks, so we made the most of an inset day just before half term and headed there for a few hours.

With the sun shining and the weather most inviting it felt like the perfect opportunity to go. And we weren't disappointed, the wind blew through the trees and the sun shone making it a very tranquil place to sit and reflect.

There is a small cafe in the centre of the woods with a log fire burning throughout the day, the smell of which wafted through the woods and made for a very back to nature experience.

My daughter wore her bridesmaid skirt from my brother's wedding last year and everyone stopped to comment on the small fairy princess darting through the trees and snowdrops.

Hodsock and the Snowdrops was one of my grans favourite places to visit, she loved those tiny delicate white flowers so it felt like we were there to walk amongst them with her.

Whilst the snow drops are now gone for another year the Bluebells at Hodsock will be making an appearance any time soon and they will be open again for a few days. So if you are local to the area or simply fancy a drive to some escape the hustle and bustle of life then do have a look.

With the Harley Gallery, Welbeck Farm Shop and Cressswell Crags a short drive a way this area is teeming with things to do.

Easy to Make Valentines Cards

If you are looking to get crafty with the kids for Valentine's Day and want a simple, easy to make card on a budget then this is for you.

Using some craft bits we already had in our craft boxes along with some left over sweets from my daughters birthday last week, we created these super easy Valentine's Cards.

We used Love Hearts, but you could use any sweet or heart shaped item from whatever you have already. However, I love that the Love Hearts already have words on them, so you don't even have to worry about thinking of something witty for the front of the card.

First up, choose your background for the Love Hearts sweet,  we are using some foam shapes that I picked up from Wilkos ages ago, it was a huge pack for only a few pounds and was well worth it for how long they've lasted.

Equally though you could cut your own shapes out of coloured card, paper or tissue paper.

We used the little Bostik sticky dots to attach the foam shapes and sweets, they are really simple for the kids to use, as well as being super sticky.

Once the shape is firmly in place my daughter opened and sorted (and ate) the Love Hearts, she chose her favourite and in my opinion the best out of some questionable wording on them (think modern day Fax Me) and stuck them to the cards.

...and voila, these really couldn't be any easier, I love that you could make these with any piece of card or paper you have lying round. You could add words to the front if you are feeling witty and you could adapt these with anything you have that is remotely pink, red or whatever colour you fancy.

The lovely Mum in the Madhouse has found some other great crafts and has handily linked to them on her blog. So if you are looking for some 'love' inspired gifts and activities for the week of love then do hop on over.

Finally, I know Valentines isn't everyones cup of tea,  I only ever received one card growing up and that was from my mum, dad and brother as they felt kinda sorry for me. So sod it, I will embrace this day of overly pink nonsense but not at an extravagant cost.