What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #443

November is a month with five Wednesdays, which finds me with no class and a little breathing space this week.

Yesterday I completed a few cards for upcoming birthdays. I always get more requests at this time of year. The selection of birthday cards in the shops diminishes as Christmas approaches.

I'll leave you with this matching set we made in class a couple of weeks ago.

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers on this frosty morning.

What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday #440

A production line at the kitchen table this morning. Scoring and punching.....

.....ready to assemble closer to the time.

That involves gluing along one side and tying the ends with ribbon to make the basic cracker. Very quick to do.

We fancied them up a little more in class last week. The bear decoration took longer than the cracker!

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers 

Butternut Squash and Chickpea stew

I haven't shared a recipe on the blog in a very long time. A few people asked me for this one, after I posted a picture on social media, and it seemed the easiest way.

one onion, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, crushed
thumb sized piece of fresh ginger, grated
one butternut squash, peeled and chopped
one red pepper, chopped
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp tumeric
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp cinnamon
one carton of passata
750ml vegetable stock
one tin of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
150g of lentils

Fry the onion in oil of your choice until softened.
Add garlic, ginger, pepper and squash and fry for a few more minutes.
Stir in the spices.
Add the passata and stock followed by the chickpeas and lentils.
Give it a good stir, bring to the boil, then cover and simmer on low until the squash is tender and the lentils have absorbed the liquid. Season to taste.

This makes 6 good portions to serve with couscous or 4 if you're laying off the carbs. Excluding the spices, which I already had, it cost just under £2 for the ingredients.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wedesday #439

Last Wednesday passed me by, but I'm back this week to share the cards that were in the making when I last showed you my kitchen table.

Simple, yet effective. Looks like much more effort went in than actually did. My favourite kind of card. Ideal for mass production at this time of year.

More work in this one, of course, but I need something a bit interesting to break things up. Masking, sponging and stamping. One of my favourites so far this year.

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers this afternoon.