sorry i totally forgot to spell check that last post! oops..

That sounds awesome!  the table idea is great.

When i think of winter i picture scenes from Narnia (weird i know)- so lots of trees with snow on them, old lanterns, rolling hills etc.  If you have the budget you could get some pretend Christmas trees, paint them white or put pretend snow on them? Make your own forest and make it feel out doorsy!  You could have warm drinks (like mulled wine and hot chocolate - nice with amaretto in) and fun wintry foods like a chocolate fountain and gingerbread.  You could cover any furniture with white sheets and use holly and ferns to decorate and have lots of candles (not necessarily burning).

How about a secret Santa as well?

Hope it goes well Make sure you take lots of pics to show us all!

Lib

My first batch was a TOTAL fail!  Managed to somehow cook the mixture - when it came out it looks a bit like cake, absolutely solid and very crisp.  Into the bin it went...

Unfortunately my microwave is rubbish and doesn't have settings other than annihilate!  So the second batch i did in short bursts and kept checking.  They turned out reasonable well!  Success!

I rolled some of mine in chocolate sprinkles and had full intentions on making chocolate legs for them to turn into spiders. I didn't get that far (had to craft my costume).  The other half I rolled in some vanilla sugar which I coloured orange then put a blob of green icing on the top to look like pumpkins.

They've all been eaten so they can't have been too bad!  Thanks for sharing!

Lib

That's totally awesome! You really captured the essence of the chocolate.

I love Hotel Chocolat but I only get it on very special occasions.  Mm rocky road..

Wow these look awesome! I love everybodies pictures!

I think I'm going to give these a try and possibly make them into fun halloween shapes.  My only problem is I have vegan friends so I will have to do a soy alternative and if anybody recalls my attepmts at vegan fudge I am not a good confectioner!  I will endeavour to do my best!

 I have read through all the pages but I have a question - How long do they take to cool?  Shoul I put them in the fridge or leave on the side?

Thanks very much!

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! I was hunting for ages.   )

Lib

Afternoon folks!

So I've decided to dress up as a sailor for halloween.  Yes I know I've left it late (as usual!!) A proper sailor tho, none of this 'sexy sailor' malarkey.  I have the hat/shirt/trousers sorted but I need to make the collar.  I'm talking about the blue square which goes over the shoulders then looks like it folds over the lapels of the shirt/blazer.  It looks pretty simple to make but I can't figure out what shape to make it so that it is diagonal at the front.  Any suggestions?

here's a link to the Royal Navy website with the uniform.

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/conMediaFile.7999

Thanks very much!
Lib x

Have you tried House of Fraser? They have a haberdashery section that sells all sorts of random things, as do John Lewis actually.  Sorry this probably isn't much help!

Lib

Hi purple_girl

I'm so sorry for the lameness and lateness of replying! Clearly I was not outdoors enjoying the sunshine and have just been rubbish!

The first batch I used a cup and a measuring jug. The second lot I used a slightly different recipe with British weights and measures (again off t'internet) and sort of compared them and used both.  Generally the UK ones didn't use corn syrup and had more milk which was interesting.

Have you had any joy?  My mum has an amazing measuring cone which has possibly every dry ingredient you could need/imagine and has them in grams/ozs/cups.  AMAZING!
 

If only! I like in the UK, we don't know what humidity is!

Ice cream sauce now that sounds good!  I made another batch and it was too hard, more like butter tablet.  I can't win!  A confectioner I will not make.  Fun times though, and a good distraction from doing things I am meant to be doing..like unpacking my bag from Reading Festival...eugh...I really should get around to doing that...

I've seen some recipes without corn syrup in them - what difference does that make? Anybody know?