and it made my five year old so happy and excited I thought she'd pee herself;
We have a proper tree (not up yet) but have old
mental confused cats who either try and climb it or pee on it so it lives in the 'front' room so we can close the door on it and the cats are only allowed access while there is someone to keep an eye on them. We 'live' in the back room where there are toys aplenty, a huge table and comfy (washable) places to sit. Francecsa desperately wanted a pink tree in her bedroom but there is little space and to be honest enough crap in there already. This is our compromise and it is now on the radiogram next to the fruit bowl. She decorated it after school with her friend Jodie and made her own angel.
And then, in the glow of merry christmas crafts with all the children being delightful, disaster struck. I had planned stew and dumplings for tea but when I went to make dumplings I realised I had no suet. Dum dum dum! Now, I could have dragged all the children out into the minus two degree darkness to the corner shop in the hope they would have some? I could have made a longer journey to the supermarket where they would have some but then run the risk of any one of the small people falling asleep en route? I even contemplated
the madeness of not having dumplings with the beautiful succulent lamb that had been bathing nicely in a bottle of good red plonk all afternoon! Then from somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind the idea of cobbler formed. A vague memory of stodgey savoury cakes. I didn't have time to google for a recipe and Prue Leith was of no help (on this occasion) so I made a usual scone dough (minus sprinkling of sugar and sultanas) and added a huge spoon of grain mustard and a good grating of strong cheddar, I then had a wobble as I couldn't find the frilly circle cutter (the one I use for scones) so had to use the cutter that I use for Francesca and Nathaniel's sandwiches. I put them all atop the stew, closed the oven door and held my breath.
Then was really rather pleased when I opened it again and found these;

Rather tasty they were too. So maybe not having suet in the cupboard isn't such a bad thing after all!!
Happy December!
Daisie xxx