Chocolate and Cherry Tiffin – Guest Post Recipe

Guest Posting for me today is Ruth, a 36 year old, mum of two from the West Midlands. Ruth’s a Lifestyle blogger, High school teacher and full time tea drinker.

Ruth blogs at www.craftwithcartwright.co.uk where she writes about recipes, reviews, parenting and crafts. Pop along when you’ve seen this yummy recipe and see her on her blog.

Chocolate and Cherry Tiffin Recipe.

Tiffin is a cold set hard pressed chocolate and biscuit combo. You’ll have to go far to find anything more deliciously chocolatey, sweet and crumbly. It is moreish beyond belief. In an attempt to make it slightly healthier I’ve added dried cherries, you could also try sultanas, cranberries or even figs. But be warned this is a calorific treat and should not be consumed in one sitting.

I also included in brackets how to make it gluten free, which is pretty simple with some ingredient substitutions.

You will need:

  • 225g digestive biscuits, (gluten free version) crushed
  • 100g dried cherries
  • 100g butter
  • 25g sugar
  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder (check gluten free)
  • 4 tbsp golden syrup
  • 225g plain chocolate (check gluten free, I use green and Blacks)

 

  1. First crush the biscuits in a food processor or a sealed food bag with a rolling pin.
  2. Then tip the crushed biscuits into a large mixing bowl and add the dried cherries.
  3. Melt the butter, sugar, cocoa powder and golden syrup over a low heat in a heavy based saucepan.
  4. Once melted, combine the butter mixture with the biscuits in the mixing bowl.
  5. Press the mixture into an 8” square tin and leave to cool.
  6. Once cool, melt the chocolate in a bowl sat over a saucepan of simmering water or in a microwave.
  7. Then spread it over the top of the biscuit mixture whilst still in the tin.
  8. When set, remove the tiffin from the tin and cut into squares using a sharp knife.

Chocolate and cherry tiffin guest post

5 from 1 vote
Chocolate and cherry tiffin guest post
Chocolate and Cherry Tiffin
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

You’ll have to go far to find anything more deliciously chocolatey, sweet and crumbly. It is moreish beyond belief. 

Course: Dessert
Servings: 12
Ingredients
  • 225 g digestive biscuits gluten free version
  • 100 g dried cherries
  • 100 g butter
  • 25 g sugar
  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder check for gluten free
  • 4 tbsp golden syrup
  • 225 g plain chocolate check for gluten free
Instructions
  1. First crush the biscuits in a food processor or a sealed food bag with a rolling pin.

  2. Then tip the crushed biscuits into a large mixing bowl and add the dried cherries.

  3. Melt the butter, sugar, cocoa powder and golden syrup over a low heat in a heavy based saucepan. 

  4. Once melted, combine the butter mixture with the biscuits in the mixing bowl.

  5. Press the mixture into an 8'' square tin and leave to cool.

  6. Once cool, melt the chocolate in a bowl sat over a saucepan of simmering water or in a microwave. 

  7. Then spread it over the top of the biscuit mixture whilst still in the tin.

  8. When set, remove the tiffin from the tin and cut into squares using a sharp knife.

 

Let others know about this chocolate and cherry delight, they will love it!Click To Tweet

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Turn your photos into awesome artwork with FotoJet. Giveaway and Review

I am one of those people that need as much help as possible with my photos when I want to post, print or display them in some form on my blog. I have just tried FotoJet and been impressed with the variety of functions the app can perform.

You can:

Create a Design

Make a Collage

Edit a Photo……

and so much more in-between! It really is one of those programmes that you need to have a sit down with to find out all of the features and what you can actually do.

Here are a couple of designs I whipped up while using the app.

FotoJet giveaway myrealfairy

The one below I can see being used in so many different ways; I have been thinking about something like this for a christmas present and having it printed on photo board so that it can be hung up and displayed. I can just see it with stories of our favourite trips out and about.

FotoJet Collage myrealfairy

Today I have got a premium membership to give away  which will upgrade the already cool and free version to the full account which has access to the full premium range of features. You will get additional fonts and templates for free and it’s well worth it without, but this is a bonus!

Good luck in the giveaway Please enter using the rafflecopter feature below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Entry open worldwide.

You can follow FotoJet on their twitter account here: @fotojetapp

FotoJet Giveaway My Real Fairy

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

If you have enjoyed this post and my blog, please vote for me in the BiBs 2017 Bloggers Awards in the categories:

Fresh Voice

Family & Lifestyle

Click here to vote

Details you will need are…….

Blog Name: myrealfairy.com

Blog URL: http://www.myrealfairy.com

Email: fairyqueen@myrealfairy.com

Twitter: @myrealfairy

Blogger Recognition Award …Let’s Party!

Wow, there are whoops of joy coming from the myrealfairy household this week. I am chuffed to bits to be nominated for the blogger recognition award by the lovely Jaki over at jakijellz.com The wonderful thing about this award is that it’s by a fellow blogger. To be rewarded by people who know what it’s like to be hunkered over a laptop trying to make sense out of the words we want to write is a real honour.

This award is also going to let you know a little more about me if you haven’t come across my blog before. Or, if you have then lovely to see you again and enjoy the post:)

So… here are the rules:

  1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
  2. Write a post to show your award.
  3. Give a brief story of how your blog started.
  4. Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
  5. Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to. (if 15 is pushing it a bit for you then do 10;)
  6. Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide the link to the post you created.

HOW MY BLOG STARTED……

It stated at the beginning of 2016. I wanted to have a creative outlet that was something completely different from my full-time day job and that wasn’t totally focused on the children. Something I could be in control of and didn’t answer me back!

My idea was to have a blog which incorporated a fairy, folklore, mystical, practical, lifestyle, parenting and reviews theme! Seems a bit much and really because I had never done anything like this before it was all far too jumbled at the start. I was trying too hard. Nevertheless it was an idea and little by little I made it happen and started creating my blog.

I even did two posts during those first few months called Tales of a newbie blogger 1 and Tales of a newbie blogger 2 – the logo trials to chart my progress a little. I love looking back at those posts now and seeing what I was facing at that time and relate it to how far I have moved forward. The blog is very different now and I have found my feet and the areas that I enjoy writing about. It’s far more in the lifestyle/parenting bracket.

ADVICE TO NEW BLOGGERS……

  1. Buy the biggest notebook you can and keep it safe! I have never taken so many notes in my life. Especially when you are first starting your blog and thinking about hosting, web domains, themes and all the bloggy techi stuff that you suddenly have in front of you. It can all become a bit overwhelming and I found it easiest to make brief little notes on different subject headings so that I didn’t forget. Then, when I had a moment I would flick through them and it helps all of this new information to settle in.
  2. Don’t break the bank starting your blog. There are a few expenses that you have to pay out for like your hosting package and buying your domain name. However, there are loads and loads of freebies going forward. Lots of free plug-ins and themes, scheduling apps and all sorts. It can be done very cheaply and for me that is important because I then don’t have to worry about money, I can enjoy it for the really exciting and creative outlet that it is for me.

My overall comment to make would be to have fun with it and enjoy how it makes you feel.

I’ve looked at the idea of adding nominations a bit differently and included blogs and twitter folks who are a mixture of people who are new to me, people who I have seen – loved their work but not made contact with and those that I regularly visit online. Please pop over to their twitter site and onto their blogs too to say hi.

MY BLOGGER NOMINATIONS ARE:

@cupoftoastblog

@LorimerPam

@barbsbooks

@HeatherKeet

@aMundaneSarah

@GorgeousGsmama

@musingstiredmum

@JaclynBree_

@four_acorns

@bringinguptheb

@makinghermama

@Tacticalmummy

@missingsleep

@Muffintopmummy2

I have put twitter handles here and will tweet you all in as it may take me into the early hours commenting on each blog. Hope you enjoy it:)

Share the list with the twitter world:)Click To Tweet

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

If you have enjoyed this post and my blog, please vote for me in the BiBs 2017 Bloggers Awards in the categories:

Fresh Voice

Family & Lifestyle

Click here to vote

Details you will need are…….

Blog Name: myrealfairy.com

Blog URL: http://www.myrealfairy.com

Email: fairyqueen@myrealfairy.com

Twitter: @myrealfairy

 

 

 

My Best Friends Notebook Giveaway 

I’ve got a fantastic giveaway for you today with this My Best Friends Notebook.

The time has come when we are getting near to the end of school term and some children will be making the big leap to senior school. This best friends notebook is just the thing to set down memories of childhood friends.

With pages to write contact details, to have photos and to pop little messages that are recorded forever, it’s ideal to take to school during the last week of term.

My Best Friends Notebook Giveaway

My Best Friends Notebook Giveaway

My Best Friends Notebook Giveaway

So, all you have to do to win this notebook is to enter using the rafflecopter entry below. Good luck and forget to come back each day for a bonus entry tweet!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to Worldwide entrants

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Easy Granola Recipe

This Easy Granola Recipe can be made with or without the seeds and berries depending on your preference.

What you will need is:

3 cups of Porridge Oats

1 Tablespoon of honey or fruit syrup

A sprinkle of:

Dried Goji berries

Pumpkin seeds

Sunflower seeds

Jumbo flame raisins

Here’s what you need to do using the photos and some very easy steps…

Easy Granola Recipe www.myrealfairy.com

Mix the honey or syrup into the oats in a large bowl so that they are covered.

Easy Granola Recipe www.myrealfairy.com

Line a baking tray with parchment. Spread the oats in a thin layer. Bake on a medium heat for 10 minutes stirring once after 5 minutes. Make sure you keep an eye on them as they can go from bronze to burnt very quickly.

Easy Granola Recipe www.myrealfairy.com

Mix in your choice of dried fruits and nuts and place back in the oven for 2 minutes. Take out of the oven and mix well.

Leave to cool before placing in an airtight container.

 

EASY GRANOLA RECIPE www.myrealfairy.com

 

Great Easy Granola, share with your friends this healthy recipe! Thank you!Click To Tweet
5 from 1 vote
EASY GRANOLA RECIPE
Easy Granola Recipe
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
17 mins
 
Course: Breakfast
Servings: 7
Author: www.myrealfairy.com
Ingredients
  • 3 Cups Porridge Oats
  • 1 Tbsp Honey or Fruit Syrup
  • Sprinkle Dried Goji Berries
  • Sprinkle Pumpkin Seeds
  • Sprinkle Jumbo Flame Raisins
Instructions
  1. Mix the honey or syrup into the oats so that they are covered.

  2. Line a baking tray with parchment.

  3. Spread the oats in a thin layer. Bake on a medium heat for 10 minutes stirring once after 5 minutes. Make sure you keep an eye on them as they can go from bronze to burnt very quickly.

  4. Mix in your choice of dried fruits and nuts and place back in the oven for 2 minutes. 

  5.  Take out of the oven and mix well.

  6. Leave to cool before placing in an airtight container.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

#mainyloveseaster Blog Linky Special

Hi and thanks for popping over to my one off Easter linky! As I enjoy a celebration and I love link ups too I thought that I would carry on the fun that I had holding the christmas linky and have a blogging good get together for Easter.

It’s all about sharing, reading and enjoying each others writing. Feel free to add up to 3 of any type of blogging post old or new.

Reviews, giveaways, recipes, parenting, lifestyle, poetry all manner of posts are welcome here.

Just let common sense prevail and refrain from anything outrageously offensive:)

I will tweet, pin and stumble your posts and it would be great if you did the same too:)

The linky will run from 8.00am 7th April until 8.00am 17th April so there is plenty of time to link and comment on lots of posts.

Suggested guidance for participating:

  • I’d love it if you commented on the host post and at least one more for every post you link up.
  • Tweet using the hashtag #mainyloveseaster @myrealfairy when you link up and you’re away!
  • Tweet, pin, stumble and share using all the wonderful ways you wish and let the blogger know when you comment how you have shared their post.
  • Use the hashtag #mainyloveseaster when you comment please.
  • Enjoy and read something you wouldn’t normally click on.
  • Have fun!

Tweet here to tell others about this link up, the more the merrier! Happy Easter! #mainyloveseasterClick To Tweet
 Loading InLinkz ...

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Lets kick ‘passive aggressive’ into touch….

 

The Passive Aggressive story ….. There’s someone I vaguely know who has been getting me really frustrated recently with, well just the way she is! She comes across as ok, a bit wet if I’m honest but ok. The thing is she just doesn’t perform very well. . She will arrive late, not really pull her weight and giggles alot. It drives me mad! I get so frustrated with her and I spend ages trying to figure out just what it is that makes her tick. When I try and get something a bit more firm out of her she gives airy fairy answers  just floats away and continues to under-perform. I’m often left fuming and feeling deflated.

I’ve been searching for an explanation and looking at the different management techniques I should employ with her when I started reading more on human behaviours. There are some great studies out there and I’ve realised that she is demonstrating some classic ‘passive aggressive’ behaviour traits.

Passive aggressive behaviour is a deliberate but covert way of expressing anger. It is designed to exert some form of revenge or point scoring on someone for perceived wrongdoing. In some cases people can get pleasure from this aswell as getting the initial anger out of them.

Passive aggressiveness can display itself in various ways, some of these are;

Being consistently late for appointments or meet ups.

Not doing well at something in order for their failures to reflect negatively not on them but on their ‘friends’ or supervisors.

Appearing to be accommodating to your requests but not actually doing anything that you ask of them. Nodding in all the right places but not making any push to do a thing.

The thing is about these types of behaviours is that the person will generally deny any knowledge of wrongdoing and be mock offended by any kind of finger pointing in their direction. If you’re not careful you can come off looking pretty bad in any direct confrontation so be careful!

 

passive aggressive funny statement www.myrealfairy.com

I’ve often wondered what this really means and I was having a discussion recently where I realised that this form of bullying or control mechanism over others is more widely used than you might think.

 

It could be that we feel a negative thought and instead of coming right out and saying it in a constructive or direct way, we instead say something which will subtly get our point across without leading to conflict…or at least we hope. The thing is, this type of behaviour can leave the person we are directing it to hurt and without a course of action. It can be useful to the giver but to the person receiving it it can bring them down which it is designed to do, usually with more questions in their mind than a direct comment.

Whether in the workplace, social situations or in the home, I think there are many instances that go by that we pass off as ‘normal’ when we are subjected to comments or actions designed to belittle us. We must try to be aware of our own actions and stay true to our values. Being frustrated at another persons personality will not be sufficient to change it.

Have you come across any of these traits or instances? How did it make you feel and did you manage to sort anything out?

 

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

 

Honeycomb Bird Decorations Giveaway

Spring is well and truly upon us now and as I sit here writing I can hear birds in my garden and its beautiful.

The giveaway I am pleased to be sharing with you today actually shows how you can have wonderfully elegant decorations in the house which can represent the outside wildlife so well.

 

bird decoration www.myrealfairy.com

They can be used as wedding party decorations, imagine a flock of these in one corner on a lovely summers day…beautiful!

Great at a christening, childrens party or any occasion that you want your decorations to stand out from the crowd. Much nicer to have your party talked about for all the right reasons.

These 3 birds can be used inside or outside and if handled carefully can be used again and again. The pack contains 3 x 6″ paper honeycomb birds.

They are beautiful and add a touch of something a bit different. You can enter using the rafflecopter widget below. Good luck and thanks for visiting today.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to UK entrants only. All entries will be verified

bird decoration giveaway www.myrealfairy.com

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

 

Audiobooks from BookBeat

I can now get to hear my favourite audiobooks wherever I am and whatever I am doing! This is going to be a big change for me. As you probably know, it’s a busy life in the myrealfairy household as it is for most of us. I do try and keep it all together, you will see by my attempts at making the school run go smoother that I give it a good go but as you know, there is always more to be done! So, the fab new site that will make me feel more connected with all the bestsellers that I have missed out on is called BookBeat and it’s full of literary gems.

audiobooks-BookBeat www.myrealfairy.com
It’s so cool it knows me!

BookBeat was founded and launched in Sweden in 2015 and has come to the UK in March of this year. It’s a digital streaming service that allows you to listen to a huge range of Audiobooks on your mobile device wherever you are. This is the key point for me as I have lost out on catching up with reading as I just don’t get the time between work and the kids.

You can stream the stories through your wi-fi and you can also download to your library and listen when you don’t have access to a connection. This is so handy for those waiting around times for the little ones. You can now sit back, relax and listen….bliss!

Now if you are like me then it’s good to try before you buy. I don’t sign up for much without really knowing what I am going to get for my money. So I am pleased to say that the BookBeat guys and gals also feel the same way and have given me a whole month for free to share with each and every one of you, whoop whoop!

Here is the link where you can get a whole month free of charge! Click: Free Month

BookBeat www.myrealfairy.com

There are lots of genres and titles to choose from, I took a screenshot from my phone for you to see how it looks on my hand-held device and I also love the look of the site so I wanted to show it off to you! There are 12 sections in all and then you can see the best sellers and editors picks too.

audiobooks-bookbeat-myrealfairy

I will be reviewing the children’s and classic Audiobooks over the coming months but I wanted to start with an overview of the site and so far so good. It’s easy to use, has lots of content and good customer service, what’s not to love!

Pop over and check out the social media sites and you can get a feel for BookBeat. I’d love to hear what you think and what stories you might like.

Instagram – @bookbeatuk

Facebook – @bookbeatuk

Twitter  – @BookBeatUK

Let people know how they can listen too and have a free month!Click To Tweet

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Easy Aubergine Bake Recipe

This Easy Aubergine Bake Recipe is not only super delicious but super easy to make. I find layering up bakes relaxing and what’s great is that you can get this ready in advance and then pop it in the oven when you are nearly ready to have your meal. It only takes 40 minutes in the oven.

What you will need is:

1 garlic clove

5 mushrooms

2 small or 1 large aubergine

1 ball of mozzarella cheese

8 pasta sheets

1 can tinned tomatoes or passata

A couple of sprigs of basil

Grated cheddar cheese

Easy Aubergine Bake Recipe

Crush the garlic clove and mix with the tinned tomatoes. Spread this as the first layer across your oven dish. Then place the pasta sheets, trying to close all the gaps as good as possible.

Easy Aubergine Bake Recipe

Tear the mozarella into chunks and place over the pasta sheets.

Easy Aubergine Bake Recipe

Place a layer of roughly 1cm thick slices of aubergine on top of the mozarella.

Easy Aubergine Bake Recipe

Next put another layer of the pasta and cover with the remaining tinned tomatoes. Spread evenly over the pasta.

Easy Aubergine Bake Recipe

Place the sliced mushrooms ontop of the tomatoes and cover with the second half of the mozzarella then sprinkle over the grated cheese. Season well with salt and pepper.

Easy Aubergine Bake Recipe

Cook in the middle of a pre heated oven on a medium heat for 40 minutes.

My top tip for this recipe is to get your ingredients prepared so that you Easy Aubergine Bake Recipecan layer the dish together a bit easier. Crush the garlic, cut the mushrooms and aubergines and unwrap your mozzarella. Place all of these in individual bowls and then relax and enjoy building up this tasty bake.

 

 

I’d love to hear how yours turned out and if you have any variations you’d like to share.

Share this Easy Aubergine Bake Recipe with your friends to spread the foodie loveClick To Tweet

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.