My Crochet Tale {and a recipe share}

Again...long time no blogging. But at least this time I was keeping myself busy! With crochet. I told you a while ago that I was going for this crochet lessons at a local Coffee Shop. We were 3 ladies for the morning,which I thought was a beginners class, since I don't know anything about crochet. The one lady finished the tasks quite quick and easy,but ME!! My word, what a struggle, I couldn't keep the wool in my fingers, when I thought now I am starting off nicely, the wool would split...so for the morning I made this funny pinkish pig tail thingie!!lol!! After the class,I was off to my husband, with a crochet hook and wool, the whole of that weekend I practiced, but produced nothing more than pinkish pig tails! 

The next week, I went again, this time the auntie had a little cloth for me, which I had to crochet a border for. I also struggled, but succeeded, but after 3 hours only. But I had it done!! I was very proud of this!lol!!

Then...this was my main focus!! To be able to crochet flowers! So in my third class, she taught me these little flowers, when I managed these, I couldn't stop!! By now, I have a plastic bag filled with flowers. I made some of wool and then the others out of cotton.

I then tried my luck at some headbands,by myself, made 3, but the third one I gave away already.

I am already buying wool by the dozens! As with the scrap booking goodies! I love all the colours and different textures.

Finally I decided to start a blanket, it started with a small Granny square, I thought I would do it square by square, but I know myself, I want to see the progress, so decided to do it all as one big square, it is now about 1meter in square.

Last but not least, I made this little black purse for Megan,embellished it with little flowers and some easy embroidery stitches.

I am really enjoying this, it is very relaxing and these days it is not old ladies that do this anymore, it is a modern craft again!

I have been wanting to share this recipe for a while, but keep on forgetting and since it is winter these BROWNIES are a real comfort treat:)Yummy!!

I actually have two... but I am a big fan of Eric Lanlard! He is a Master Pâtissier! I love his baking and his recipes are always foolproof!!

So HELEN!! This one is for you:

Double Chocolate Pecan Brownies

These lovely, rich , nutty and chewy brownies are an ideal indulgent snack, as well as making the perfect dinner-party dessert.  Served with your favourite ice-cream, of course!

Makes 12 Brownies

Preparation time: 45minutes

Baking time: 25 minutes

185g Unsalted Butter, plus extra for greasing.

185g Good Quality dark chocolate, broken into pieces.

85g Plain flour

40g Pure cocoa powder

50g White Chocolate

50g Milk Chocolate

3 large eggs

275g Golden Castor Sugar

100g Pecan halves, chopped.

Preheat the oven to 170deg C. Fan oven 150deg C and gas at 325F.

Grease a shallow brownie tray or regular square tin(22cm) with extra butter, and line with baking paper.

Cut the butter into cubes and tip into a medium heatproof bowl along with the dark chocolate pieces.  Sit the bowl over a pan of gently simmering water(the base of the bowl must not touch the water) and leave over a low heat until the butter and chocolate have melted, stirring occasionally to mix them.  Remove the bowl from the pan and allow to cool a little.

Tip the flour and cocoa powder into a sieve held over a medium bowl.  With a large sharp knife, chop the white and milk chocolate into chunks on a board.

Break the eggs into a large bowl and tip in the sugar.  With an electric mixer at max speed, whisk the eggs and sugar until they look thick and creamy.  You'll know it's ready when the mixture becomes really pakles and about double its original volume.

Pour the cooled chocolate mixture over the eggy mousse, then gently fold together with a rubber spatula.  Add the sifted flour and cocoa mixture, and gently fold in using a large metal spoon.  Finally stir in the white and milk chocolate chunks and chopped pecans until they're dotted evenly throughout the mixture.

Pour the mixture into the prepared tin.  Bake in the preheated oven for 25min. the brownies are cooked when you get a nice cracked and crunchy crust on the top, but still wiht a wet fudgy middle.

Leave the whole thing in the tin until completely cold, then remove, peel away the paper and cut into squares using a sharp knife.