In The Oh So Charming Kitchen - Wartime Chocolate Biscuits

It's finally here! I'd intended to write this before lunch, but then soup-making got me distracted (red pepper, tomato and kidney bean - yum).

I don't know what to call this feature... Suggestions on a postcard to: Jennie Charm, c/o Charming Towers, Charmsville - I wonder what the Post Office would do with that?

Anyways, I am getting awfully distracted again, today I have the attention span of a... Ooh, look, a fox!

I'm a firm believer in having something baked for the weekend, and in these "tough times", an economical recipe is just the ticket.

I've adjusted this recipe as the original just didn't work, and that's not fair when you're desperate for biscuits!
These make spongy biscuits, a little cakey even, but so simple, and so lovely with a cuppa.

Recipe:

2 oz Margarine
1 oz Cocoa
4 oz Plain Flour (plus extra for dusting)
2 oz Sugar (plus extra for dusting)
1 Tablespoon Golden Syrup
1 1/2 Tablespoon Milk
1/4 Teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence

Pre-heat your oven to about Gas Mark 6 (200 c), line some baking trays with baking parchment and dust a clean surface with flour.

Melt the margarine and golden syrup, turn off the heat then add in the other ingredients and stir until a glossy dough is formed. If it's too sticky, add more flour - Too dry and crumbly, add more milk.

Turn out onto your floured surface and roll out to about 1/2 cm thick and cut into rectangles (or squares, circles...) and place them onto your lined trays. Prick the tops with a fork and dust with a little sugar (optional).

Bake for about 15 minutes, until they are firm, but the tops are still a little springy.

Once cool, then can be sandwiched together with chocolate spread or jam, or maybe even a little whipped cream!

They can, of course, be eaten as they are. They make excellent dunkers.

I'm afraid I don't know how long they last in storage, as they're usually grabbed straight off the tray!

I hope you enjoy. I'll try and think of what to make for next week's installment... Ideas?

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, I had a plan, but it involves an early morning... We'll see!

I'm off to grab another biscuit before my tea's gone

Jennie xx

The Queen And The Daisy Clutch

Hello!

I'm taking a bit of a break from the knitting (ta very much), a 3 2 rib frazzles me brain somewhat, especially when I'm not concentrating...
I did finish the collar last night, and have made a good start on the front. Though I'll still need to order some more wool, but I will have a lovely new jumper for the Autumn, which will go with a multitude of skirts and slacks - Yipee!

Last week, Friday I think, I was wandering around town waiting for my lift home when I decided to pop into a usually overpriced charity shop and found this little number, which was promptly picked up and hurried over to the counter - Though I don't think there was too much of a riot to buy it!

Love at first sight... Yes, more tat! I won't repeat what Ma said when she saw it, no taste!

Then I popped over to a shop that sells a bit of vintage on occasion and it was heaving, but I  fought my way through and found a little basket filled with bags, mainly stuff which doesn't interest me (too modern) and found this beauty!

I know, I know, a Summer bag... It may be used one day!
Just look inside...

Oh, how in love am I?

That's about it for my finds, I have picked up a few DVDs cheap, but nothing exciting.

Anyway, break over, back to work!

Have yourself a lovely day

Jennie x

P.S. How do you like my temporary banner? I'll get round to making a proper one some day!

Two Balls More

A Sunday post? Why yes me dearies, I find myself with a weekend completely free following the confusion over the weather. Had we been expecting good weather, I would have been out today for sure, and possibly yesterday, but the fine weather rather caught me out!

So I've been sorting through my knitting, and rushing myself to finally get that middy jacket finished so I can wear it - But I ran out of wool (again), so I once again picked up a 1938 number which I last worked on last year.

I ran out of wool and so ordered two balls more, but they were a different shade. The shade I had been working with is no longer available. I'm on the second sleeve, I really don't want to un-run it all and start again with the new shade. So I started knitting with the new shade, just to see how noticeable it would be, I'll let the picture speak for itself!

Why's this come out on it's side? Bah, one of those days!

Do I go round with a "faded" sleeve or re-knit? There is also a collar to knit, my knitting advisers, this one's up to you!

On the subject of not enough wool, I also ran out of wool on a 1936 cardigan, again, on the second sleeve! So I'm just going to ask, does anybody happen to have two balls of Wendy Kintyre (aran) in green? The code on the wool sleeve is 161 6678

Although, if I'm going to ask for wool (which I would, of course, pay for), the original brown wool I was using was Patons Diploma Gold 4-ply, colour 04218 - Which is available, but in a lighter shade (as shown), the one I was using originally, has a reddish hue to it, and little flecks of chestnut running through it. It also goes much better with the orange I'm using for the motif.

In my defence, I did weight both lots of wool before I started knitting, but it still wasn't enough, sigh.
So, just to reassure me, do tell me you have also come across this "not enough wool" problem.

So that's my story for the day, I'm planning on a spot of baking later in the week, chocolate biscuits alright with you?

So I bid you a relaxing Sunday afternoon, and wish you well for the coming week. I do have some outings planned for next week, and their indoors, so no worries about the weather!

Pip-pip

Jennie x

Where The Magic Happens!

I'm not quite sure where this past week has gone, busy busy!

Last Sunday was a turning point in my life, I finally became a grown up... well, maybe not, but I'm closer to being a grown up than every before!

My new (to me) bedroom suite was delivered, the delivery cost more than the suite, but it was cuch good value. Would you care for me to stop babbling and show you? More babbling did you say?

Please excuse that duvet... I've been in a bit of a flap and a duvet just makes life that little bit easier - When I'm feel better, back to sheets we go - Ooh, sheets and blankets and an eiderdown up top! Just a note here, the vintage eiderdown was a bargain, £3 as the seller was allergic to feathers and wanted rid of it!
You can just see my sewing table to the right and Lloyd Loom (style) chair on the left.

I'm thinking of a similar green for me walls... If we're staying here. It's all up in the air and I don't know where I am right now.

The reason for such a good sleep is down to my modern matress on top of the original bed springs. The delivery man had the cheek to suggest I'd better be careful on the bed as old beds have a tendency to squeek!
Having my matress on top also makes the bed rather high, I can sit on the edge and me feet are quite a way off the ground - I have to start the morning with base jumping!

The original paper tag is also attached to on of the springs. The bed has "Vono" on the side too, who apparently made a bed for Queen Victoria!

That was just the bed! Here's the rest:

Such an awful photo, and it doesn't even show the dressing table as a whole. Also, for those of you interested, have a close look at the mirror, those weren't visible when I took the snap!
I used to have a dressing table, but had to sell it when we moved, and the original owner still visited, in a spiritual form - Blythe Spirit has just come to mind!

And inside on of those drawers:

They won't stay this tidy!

And finally, the inside of the wardrobe:

I haven't put everything back in my room yet, so this "show room" is only temporary. I love having the oppertunity to sort through my stuff as it's coming back. My utility shoes are pride of place up front and so is my double breasted suit, made from a man's! Something I always fancied trying, then found this suit... in my size! Bingo!

This was only going to be a short pop in and say "hello" post...

I can smell dinner, pizza! Then back to me knitting sticks, a claret coloured frock on the go - Very quick (so far), another 2 weeks and I should be showing you all the wonders of knitted dresses

Catch you later alligator!

Jennie xx

Cake And Jelly

I do hope you're all having a wonderful cake and diddy sandwiches weekend!

I'd had so many plans, but due to rain and a bit of laziness, not much happened. Though please do keep your fingers crossed for some fine weather tomorrow, it doesn't have to be hot, just rain-free!

So, as it was a special weekend... Though I didn't see much evidence of that, the one weekend I really wanted the telly back! Where was I? Yes, food;

Did you happen to see the Chivers Jelly Crown here? I wanted to make one, but I didn't have enough jelly to make a proper big 'un, so it looks pretty.... child-like. No, that's insulting, a 4  year-old could've done much better! So among my excuses - Not enough jelly, over-whipped cream, the piping bag was leaking, the royal icing didn't set...

It's funnier every time I see it! But I've learnt my lesson, look at the picture and ignore the instructions!

I ought to point out that me and dairy don't mix, so I'm just going straight in for the jelly, cherries and jelly sweets!
My more sucessful delight was this Victoria Sandwich, which I have been told is "better than Sainsbury's".... There you have it!
I used a 1951 recipe, hence the sucess :)

We don't really have much cake, so this is a treat. Remember what I said about dairy and me? I feel awful after only one slice! I'm not ill, but I am trying to decide of that one slice is worth a headache?

Yes, yes it was!

Ma had seen some biscuits in Marks & Spencers, they call them "Jazzie Biscuits" and slap a nice price tag on them - So Ma made some "Jazzie Biscuits:

And finally, after moving around the furniture and trying to make the old dining room worth of a photo...

Please excuse the "home improvements", it was left in more of a state than this - We've actually tidied it up! But enough of that talk, home made bunting, Coronation mugs and one from the Golden Jubilee (10 years ago!)

I have to go now, but I just wanted to wish you all well on this long weekend. Hopefully I'll be back in a few days after having a lovely day out tomorrow... If the weather holds!

Happy Jubilee Weekend

Jennie xx

Canteen Girl

'Ello Ducklettes,

When do you decide a collection is already too big and doesn't need adding to?

That's my question for the day. This comes after planning to use my Woods Ware this weekend - The weather's not looking good, so the picnic is not going to happen and that day out on Monday is looking doubtful (it's an outdoor event with fields and walking involved), so I thought it'd be nice to bake a cake and use my favourite crockery...

But it was packed away, so Ma being the intrepid explorer went under the stairs into the cupboard to go and find the two boxes of Woods Ware - Two boxes later and some was missing, so back into the cupboard she disappeared, and found another three boxes! Five boxes jam packed with plates, bowls, tureens, cups...

Even with 21 dinner plates, 18 cups and 5 tureens (and the rest!) I still don't have a full collection :(

It doesn't look like much when it's neatly stacked, but I'm dreading the thought of re-packing and re-housing it all.

The one thing I'm really missing (apart from coffee pots, toast racks, egg cups...) is the guide/brochure to identify the various pieces. I saw one for free online, but didn't save the picture and can't find it again (!), so some of the pieces are, as Toyah Willcox sang, a mystery!

I'm trying to decide whether or not to open a canteen... Any vintage factories need a canteen, plus girlie to run it? Have Woods Ware, will travel!

Anyway, I thought you might like to see it all it it's glory before it goes away until Christmas! I'll show you the cake when I've baked it, plus the other treat I have in store.

Have a lovely evening,

Jennie xx

I'm Back, I'm Thankful And I Have Boot Sale Booty!

Hello Ducks,

Did you miss me? Don't answer that :)

Four weeks since he been gone, and more importantly, since I been gone from the blog! But fret no more, I am back, I am once again smiling like a cat with a hanger in his mouth and I have loads upon loads to write about!

First up however, I wish to say a heartfelt thank you for all your kind words and wishes, we have both taken a lot of comfort from them and will probably never be able to converse the appropriate words in which to thank you. Thank you x

Now, not much has "gone down" since we last spoke, the main news being: We no longer have a telly! It gets a bit complicated with the names on the licence etc, so Ma told them we no longer watch a live stream of telly (BBC are just repeating repeats anyway!) and unplugged the aerial so we no longer have a signal.
With that £145 a year saving (!!!), we can have a few extra DVDs every now and then the first of which being Open All Hours, a boxset for just £11.99 on Amazon! That's over 12 hours viewing for under £12.
We have seen a few things on the iPlayer (Not Going Out) and 4OD (Homeland, 2 Broke Girls, The Big Bang Theory), but not live... No need to dip into the pocket!

I've just realised how awfully boring I am! Apologies

Something more up our street? I've attended only 2 boot sales in 4 weeks - Shock-o-rama! Oh and a charity shop or two, Ma nabbed this rather nifty table for only... £8! The only reason she got it was because she's quicker at drawing her purse than me, thanks to her jumble sale practise!

I'm so embarrassed about that floor!

At the first boot sale, I found these buttons:

There was a whole big basket full of little bags, each filled with a few buttons. The prices were rather steep, so I allowed myself one bag only... I picked the best ones!

At the second, I actually turned some things down to try and avoid clutter... Too late really, but I am in the middle of the Mother of all clear outs, the C.A.T. charity shop will be doing really well out of me!
Anyway, the first bargain of the morn was this Silver Jubilee tin from 1935...

The condition leaves a lot to be desired, but none the less, I couldn't leave them there... Them?

I said to myself, I refuse to pay more than £2 for this tin, which was buried with the broken stuff on a bit of a junk stall... £1 lighter and I have my tin - My Gran thinks I overpaid!

Then the next item(s), I looked, then walked away thinking they were too expensive, but had a good ole think and returned, haggled and was victorious! They are mine...

A Coty compact alone would make my heart flutter! I think it's circa 1935 because of the stamp-y thingy on the back... Please words, return to me! However, it will not open! The lid moves, but the button press won't push in... Grandad suggested using a lump hammer, just to see the "noooooooo" look on my face! We'll get it open one day, maybe a crisp £20 is wedging it shut?

So, that was a rather long post! I honestly didn't expect it to be so easy to write today, maybe my Grandparent's visit today helped more than I realised.
I must get back to eBaying now, I have a huge pile of clothes to go on, and as soon as they're sold, I can buy some more!

Thank you once again

Jennie, Ma and Charlie xxx