Hiya bloggers,


It is just a short one today. I had fully intended on doing some baking last weekend but it was just to hot to be doing all that in the kitchen and with no air flow would have been not enjoyable. (UK homes are not equipped with AC)

However I thought I would give a little post about some up and coming things!! (yay)

I have signed up for evening sewing classes in Sept. (very excited) as well my old inherited sewing machine has kicked the bucket and for the class we need one. So a good excuse to buy a new one and all sorts of little accessories to go in a new sewing basket. (Don't worry pictures will be posted :) )

I hope to start being able to make my own things as well as provide others with my creations. Do you think you could see yourself in a creation by Divine's Homemade vintage?

Please keep popping back for updates!


Ooh and one more thing, with all this hot weather remember to drink lots of water and do not leave your animals without fresh water daily  (Is a big animal lover)

Sweet as...

Cherry Pie

Afternoon bloggers and readers! As promised here is a post about my first cherry pie making experience. (from scratch) I researched multiple recipes throughout the week and found a recipe I liked the ingredients of, printed it, clipped it…and made it better!

Now, I know what you are thinking…why spend that time researching and not using it. Well I did…kinda…it was a guideline more than anything. I am the type of person who likes to cook by taste, yeah their recipe may be lovely but I may want a bit of vanilla in mine as well as almond extract or…well you get the idea. So let’s get down to it…

Filling:

4 tubs of Cherries (250g each)

½ cup of granulated sugar

1 tbls of almond extract

1tbls of vanilla extract

2 tbls corn starch (corn flour in the uk) *I couldn’t find any so I used normal plain flour tasting the stewing cherries to make sure I didn’t loose the taste.

Crust (doubled up the recipes):

1 ½ cup of Plain (all purpose flour)

¾ cup of Lard (Crisco)

1 good heaped tbls of salted butter

½ cup of water.

2 tsp of sugar.

*My pie crust though very tasty turned out to me almost like the texture of a graham cracker crust instead of the flaky effect I was hoping for. It’s a learning process and to any new cooks just always try different routes till you find the one perfect for you.

1. I mixed all my dry ingredients with the food processor.

2. Put in the lard and butter in cubed or pinch and blended till it was crumbly. I tipped into a bowl and formed into 4 balls each weighing between 3 to 5 oz.

3. I put them in the fridge to chill, while they chilled I removed the seeds from the cherries. (best to put on a movie as you do this, it can get a bit old quick.

4. Take the pitted cherries and place into a pot with ½ cup of water, sugar, extracts and corn starch into a large pot. Reduce down on a medium heat.

5. While simmering down I removed the dough to a floured surface. (I found this easier to do between two sheets of grease proof paper to keep them from sticking to the rolling pin.)

6. When the dough is flat I removed the top paper and put the pin tin on the top and flipped it right side up. I found this easier to keep the dough from coming apart.

7. Make sure your cherries have reduced down enough as you don’t want a lot of juice in the pie. (The corn starch helps to thicken it)

8. After the pie base it ready and your cherries have cooled some placed them into the pie and rolled out the lid for it and place it on top with a light brush of butter over the dough.

9. Bake at 350deg F 175deg C for about 45minutes (or until golden brown)

10. Take out when ready, let cool and then enjoy.

It has turned out wonderful!

There are a few things I may try differently. I might prebake the crust next time and do an egg wash over the top and try some lemon juice in the cherries and use milk instead of water.

Past, Present, and ...

Something inbetween

As I have mentioned 2012 was a horrible year for me and from chatting with many of my friends the feeling is mutual with them. The year started out fairly normal…except my step daughter was taken to hospital again due to neglecting her diabetes. She is a teenager and I know she hates having this but the sooner she comes to term with it instead of fighting it the better off she will be. I know teenagers are rebellious but she needs to find something else to rebel with instead of her life. Not even the dust from this upset had settled when I received the news that no child wants to her. My mother had passed away. I was devastated, being in the UK and she in the States I had not seen her eight years, it was horribly gut wrenching.

Of course there was the self-blame I pushed upon my shoulders, the “why didn’t I do…”, was she happy with me? I won’t say I am at peace or have accepted it. Even in the UK I expect to see her poke her head around the door or call my name. Something tells me she is with me and the selfish side I would love to see her again and hug her just to tell her I love her. After her funeral I returned back to the UK and have continued on. Not really showing the desire to immerse myself into great task but doing the few odd crafty things here and there.

Well...what has been going on recently, you ask.

On Facebook I have been keeping a watching on the lovely and interesting Hey Doll Vintage Mag. First issue à  http://glossi.com/vavoomvintage/4618-issue-two-march-spring-cleaning . The gym has become a major time consumer with hard work and decent eating habits I have managed to get three inches off my waist and legs and two from my arms. It’s not easy but worth it so this will be on going.

My husband and I have recently returned from Tunisia, it was lovely to get a bit of sunshine as England was lacking in that. Judging by this weekend and the week to follow we have brought it back with us, so let’s make the most of it shall we? Ever since I have been back I am constantly thinking of what to do or make and I have been just enjoying my evenings watching movies and making some lovely hair combs. These will be available on my Etsy shop DivinesVintage for £4.00, it is a working progress just like the blog so bear with me while I iron out the wrinkles.

As well as my arts and crafts I have tasked myself with making a homemade cherry pie in tribute to the 4^th of July for the folks back home. Please see tomorrow’s post for ingredients and details, until then sleep tight ladies and gents.

Divine Di

xoxo