Just Another Manic Monday

Can you believe it's only a matter of weeks until Christmas? It seems like this year has flown by faster than ever before and that summer sprang into winter without giving fall a second thought!

It's also been a busy year and with that in mind what's a crazy Brit to do when it comes to cooking something delicious, nutritious, yet quick and easy? The following is a simple recipe requiring very few ingredients and minimal preparation, yet it tastes fantastic and combined with a favorite vegetable even my fussy husband love its!

Creamy Chicken Bake

Ingredients:
3 boneless/skinless chicken breasts
1 1/4 cups of regular long grain white rice (I like to use Uncle Ben's)
1 can Campbell's condensed 98% fat free cream of chicken soup
Fresh oregano (dried if no fresh available)
1 tsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Basil
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
2 cups of water

How To Make It

Place your rice, soup, water and half of your paprika, basil, oregano and black pepper into a good sized Pyrex lidded baking dish and mix together. Once mixed together, lay the chicken breasts on top of the mixture and sprinkle the remaining paprika, basil, oregano and black pepper over the top. Cover and place in a hot oven at 375F degrees and bake for approximately 45-50 minutes.

Serve with your favorite vegetable, personally I love fresh steamed broccoli made in those fabulous steam bags you can now buy at the grocery stores!

Enjoy!!

New Wacky Wednesday Goodies

After a week of having my tushy kicked by some odd affliction I'm back in the land of the living and making up a storm of new lollipop shapes and crystal jewel candy flavors!!

First this week are three new exciting and delicious flavors for you to enjoy including bubblegum, strawberry smoothie and honey and lemon.


Of course I didn't stop there! I also decided it was time for a few new lollipop shapes to be introduced and of course we had to do something for the boys AND the girls so spaceships, rockets and ladybugs all made their way into the store yesterday for the first time.


Lots more new flavors and shapes coming over the next few weeks so keep watching for updates!

Halloween Ducky Soaps Giveaway

Well you didn't think I'd only have one giveaway for Halloween did you???!!

This giveaway is from our DuckySoaps store and it's for a set of mini Halloween glow in the dark duckys soaps valued at $21!!

Entry is easy, just visit my Ducky Soaps Etsy shop then come back here and post telling me which ducky soap you like the best.

*Want more entries?*
-Post this giveaway on Twitter/Facebook.
-Follow me on TWITTER
-Become a fan on facebook Sweet Lollipop Facebook Page(you could win a second mystery box of lollipops, see facebook page for details)
-Blog about this giveaway and leave a post that you did and where.(2 EXTRA ENTRIES!!)
-Add my button to your blog
-Subscribe to and/or follow my blog (Make sure you activate your subscription!)

Each of these can give you another entry! Please leave a separate comment for each one and what it is for!


Rules: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to me with their name and address. If this information is not received within 24 hours new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is opened to everyone, everywhere.

The winner will recieve a package containing a set of mini halloween glow in the dark ducky soaps valued at $21.

Giveaway Ends: Sunday 25th October 2009 @ 10am EST

Halloween Lollipops Giveaway

It's almost Halloween and what better way to spook it up in a sweet way than a brand new giveaway!!

This time around it's for a box of Halloween themed lollipops in mixed shapes and flavors valued at over $10!!

Entry is easy, just visit my Sweet Lollipop Shop Etsy shop then come back here and post telling me which flavor or sweet treat you like the best.

*Want more entries?*
-Post this giveaway on Twitter/Facebook.
-Follow me on TWITTER
-Become a fan on facebook Sweet Lollipop Facebook Page(you could win a second mystery box, see facebook page for details)
-Blog about this giveaway and leave a post that you did and where.(2 EXTRA ENTRIES!!)
-Add my button to your blog
-Subscribe to and/or follow my blog (Make sure you activate your subscription!)

Each of these can give you another entry! Please leave a separate comment for each one and what it is for!


Rules: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to me with their name and address. If this information is not received within 24 hours new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is opened to everyone, everywhere.


The winner will recieve a package containing over $10 worth of delicious handmade crystal barley hard candy lollipops just in time for Halloween.

Giveaway Ends: Sunday 25th October 2009 @ 10am EST

October Team EEAT Bake Sale

It's that time again! Time for Team EEAT to get together and have a Virtual Bake Sale!

October 14th, 7pm EST

Etsy Virtual Labs

Come join us! Get to know the members of Etsy's Edible Arts Team, Play Games, and Win Prizes! As always, we have a fun night planned!

North School Bears Cross Country Win!

Caity has been training at school since she went back in September twice a week for cross country and today was race day against the other two local elementary schools.

Sprinting the final 100 meters to the finish line!
(she's the small one in the red tshirt)

She did absolutely fabulous, despite getting a cramp right at the start she "pushed through it" as she told me because she was determined to do her best, I'm so totally and utterly proud of her I could burst!

North School Bears Cross Country Team
(Lil Bear is 1st row, 2nd from left)

I find sports locally in the schools here sometimes too competetive and I have always tried to encourage her just to do the best she can and above all else have fun. This was one sport I felt she could be part of without so much of the pressure on winning, rather than taking part and doing your personal best although I'm very happy to report that the North School girls actually won the plaque for the overall best score for a girls team.

Celebrating Winning Overall Best Girls Team

Compared to most of the 5th graders she's a tiny lil bear with a heart as big as infinity and determination to match and today was one day I won't forget for a long time to come.

More From Our Visit To The UK

Sandcastle Building Competition at Paignton Childrens Week

So I promised I'd update with some more pictures from our trip back home to England at the end of the summer. One of our favorite parts of the trip was our week in Paignton where we visited with my step mom Denise and took part in childrens week. Caity took part in lots of the activities including the sandcastle building competition which was a lot of fun.


Caity with Nana Denise

The day we left the skies grew dark, I guess the weather picked up on my sadness to be leaving, but the view from the train window was breathtaking and photographed beautifully dark and mysterious.


The View Taken From The Train Across Torbay The Day We Left

And The Winner Is!

Thank you to everyone that entered the Back To School Super Giveaway!

The winner is:

Post #27 which is LoveCharlesVintage!!!

Congratulations

New Halloween Giveaway coming soon, so keep checking back for more chances to win

Back To School Super Giveaway!

It's that time of year when we're getting the kids back to school and back into our regular routines and what better way to celebrate than a brand new giveaway!!

This time around it's for a mystery box of lollipops and candy jewels valued at over $20!!

Entry is easy, just visit my Sweet Lollipop Shop Etsy shop then come back here and post telling me which flavor or sweet treat you like the best.

*Want more entries?*
-Post this giveaway on Twitter/Facebook.
-Follow me on TWITTER
-Become a fan on facebook Sweet Lollipop Facebook Page(you could win a second mystery box, see facebook page for details)
-Blog about this giveaway and leave a post that you did and where.(2 EXTRA ENTRIES!!)
-Add my button to your blog
-Subscribe to and/or follow my blog (Make sure you activate your subscription!)

Each of these can give you another entry! Please leave a separate comment for each one and what it is for!
Rules: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to me with their name and address. If this information is not received within 48 hours new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is opened to everyone, everywhere.

The winner will recieve a package containing over $20 worth of delicious handmade crystal barley hard candy lollipops and jewels.

Giveaway Ends: Wednesday 30th September 2009 @ 12pm EST

The Butterfly Jungle

So because I was unable to post updates & pictures from our trip whilst we were away, I have decided to post some highlights with pictures now that we're home.



We're starting with our first day in the UK, we headed down to London on the train and found this beautiful and magical place called "Butterfly Jungle". It's on the same grounds as the Natural History Museum and the cost is reasonable - 6 pounds for adults and 4 pounds for children which includes a donation to the museum(which is free to get in).



When you enter it's like going inside a tropical paradise along with the intense heat and humidity, walking through the butterfly trail, the butterflies are everywhere and you can literally get within inches of them with your camera to get photographs. Take a seat on the far side near the feeding station and if you're lucky they will actually land on you!



Need an escape from the heat, you can pop outside to the jungle play area, it's small but big enough to let the kids blow off some steam whilst you take a break for a few minutes.



Back inside you can look through the windows of the butterfly house and see butterflies actually emerging from their pupae before finishing along the end of the butterfly trail and heading back outside. Definitely worth a visit and one of our favorite places to visit during our trip.

We're Back From Summer Vacation!

Caity riding the carousel on Paignton Green

After almost a whole month in the United Kingdom visiting with family I am back in sunny New Hampshire and ready to begin making delicious lollipops and sweeties once more!!

The visit back home was wonderful, I took my lil Caity bear with me to meet all my family for the very first time as I haven't been home in over 12 years and everyone fell in love with her right away - but then I never expected anything different!

We had 2 full sight seeing days in London which was hectic but fun, then spent some time at my mothers in the Lake District, followed by some time in Manchester visiting my sisters and their children, then a week in Devon visiting with my brother, dad and step mom and then finally a few days back in Manchester to see my sister and grandad and back home to NH.


This is Caity with her great grandad Ron.

My mothers husband Bernie was a gem, teaching Caity how to ride a bike without stabilizers - this makes two new firsts for her this summer as she also learnt to swim the month before thanks to some fabulous lessons at the local sports center! I was so proud of her, she practised until she could get it right, refusing to put the bike down despite having blisters on her hands from gripping the handlebars AND 19 bruises and scrapes on her legs!!

Been back a few days, still adjusting to the 5 hour time difference and getting back on track with orders - lots of new flavors and shapes coming this fall so keep watching, and of course lots of new giveaways!!

And The Winner Is!

Thank you to everyone that entered the Celebrate Summer Vacation giveaway!

The winner is:

Post #61 which is Ladytink_534!!!

Congratulations

New flavor correct answer was
Blueberry Vanilla!

New Giveaway coming soon, so keep checking back for more chances to win

Celebrate Summer Vacation Giveaway

It's time for a brand new giveaway to celebrate the start of summer vacation!!

This time around it's for a mystery selection of jewels crystal barley hard candy valued at over $10.

Entry is easy, just visit my Sweet Lollipop Shop Etsy shop via the link below and then come back here and post telling me which flavor or sweet treat you like the best.

To Enter: You must visit Sweet Lollipop Shop and come back here to tell me your favorite item!

*Want more entries?*
-Post this giveaway on Twitter/Facebook.
-Follow me on TWITTER
-Blog about this giveaway and leave a post that you did and where.(2 EXTRA ENTRIES!!)
-Add my button to your blog
-Subscribe to and/or follow my blog (Make sure you activate your subscription!)

Each of these can give you another entry! Please leave a separate comment for each one and what it is for!
Rules: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to me with their name and address. If this information is not received within 48 hours new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is opened to everyone, everywhere.

The winner will recieve a package containing over $10 worth of crystal jewels candies

Want to win more?

Then guess the new flavor being introduced into the store this week and win that flavor of jewel crystal candies also!
Giveaway Ends: Friday 3rd July 2009 @ 12pm EST

TASTY TUESDAY!

Starting this week I'll be featuring a new weekly foodie post, featuring a delicious recipe idea or other great food recommedation. This week I decided to share my quick and easy leftovers recipe for "chicken curry".

Being British I absolutely LOVE curry and rice, unfortunately here in New England you just can't find a good take-out curry so I learned quickly it was much easier to make my own. I have various recipes, this is my fast and easy version using leftover cooked chicken breast and any style rice you have available. It's a favorite of my kids and doesn't last long in our house!

Ingredients:

Leftover cooked chicken breast (diced or roughly chopped)
Third of a jar of Pataks Mild Curry Paste(available in grocery stores & online)
Reg Size Can Tomato Sauce (approx 16oz)
White Rice
Corn Starch (optional)

Directions:

Spray a little pam in a deep non stick saute pan and add chicken breast warming slowly. Add curry paste and stir to coat chicken and continue warming on low/medium heat. Add can tomato sauce and continue to heat, using empty tomato sauce can fill to about half way with cold water and add to pan, continuing to stir and heat. Bring to boil and simmer for 20 minutes on a low heat setting stirring occasionally.

You can add more water for a thinner curry sauce. If you need to thicken your sauce, mix a little corn starch in some cold water and then add to hot curry sauce stirring in immediately.

Whilst sauce is cooking, make up your rice according to package instructions and serve sauce over cooked rice.

Serve and enjoy!

Makes about 4-6 portions.

And The Winner Is ...

Thank you to everyone that entered the Ready For Summer giveaway!

The winner is:

Post #51 which is Donna!!!

Congratulations

New Giveaway coming soon, so keep checking back for more chances to win!