We adore Yorkshire puddings. We even have them with Christmas Dinner. Whatever the meat, whatever the occasion.

My sister in law who lives in America, absolutely loves them too.

But instead of serving them hollow with a roast dinner, why not try making them into a dish in themselves.

This dish works as one large pudding to slice like a quiche or make mini versions, perfect for children's teas.

To make the batter mix whisk together 6 eggs and 350ml / 1 and 1/2 cups milk. Add 190g / 1 and 1/2 cups flour and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. This would make approximately 2 large puddings or 12 small. Bake in a preheated oven at 220C/425F/Gas Mark7 for 30 minutes.

If you make your own batter, grease your tin well and half way through baking add your other ingredients.

Or you can totally cheat and save time buying frozen one. Ssh don't tell my husband he thinks I slaved over them.

Ingredients:

• Frozen Yorkshire puddings
• Eggs - allow 1 egg per 3 puddings
• Chopped pancetta
• Chopped mushrooms
• Diced avocado
• Chopped chives/parsley
• Prosciutto if making a large version 

Preheat your oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. If using frozen yorkshires you want to cook them more slowly in a more moderate heat, to allow the eggs to bake and set.

Crack an egg into a small bowl. Spilt the egg between 3 small yorkshires. Add the chopped mushrooms, pancetta, herbs and avocado. Season.

If making one larger version use 3 eggs and avocado fingers wrapped in prosciutto.

Bake for 10-15 minutes until the egg centres have set. 

Serve warm. I had to wait patiently whilst they cooled a little as I was desperate to try one!

Serve warm from the oven. I almost burnt my mouth being impatient! 

Have you ever filled your Yorkshires with anything?! I'd love to try out some other ideas.

Linking up with Twigg Studios, #recipeoftheweek and #TastyTuesdays

When I was growing up we had family best friends called the Lally family.

Our Mums met at antenatal classes and we used to spend big occasions together, always had an annual Christmas party and shared weekends away and holidays together.

The funny thing is we are still friends now, 32 years later! And what's even stranger is that I count his wife as a very lovely friend. I feel so comfortable with them, with someone I've known my whole life. And even if we don't get to see each other as often as we'd like, we just slip back into a friendship that has very deep roots.

We were so lucky when we were pregnant with Sammy, that our best friends were pregnant at the same time. Just a few months ahead, their little girl was born in the January and Sammy followed in May. 

They adore each other. At birthday parties they have been known to completely ignore all the other children and it's like watching the "Katy and Sammy Show"!

On Friday we had a special sleepover as her birthday present instead of a toy or game. We had a trip to the village Post Office for penny sweets, had a "midnight feast" in bed (at 6.45pm) and then enjoyed their first experience of bowling and lunch at Frankie and Benny's.

Sammy actually introduced her to the lady behind the Post Office counter as his cousin.

Because that's exactly their relationship, they genuinely are best friends, they love and adore each other, but sometimes squabble like siblings!

It's so precious watching their friendship develop, watching how they do now include Ollie, now he can talk and join in.

Ordinary moments like sitting in the back of the car together are a magical adventure!

And we all adore how innocent their relationship is. Uncomplicated, just real love and affection between them. Don't you just wish adult relationships could be like that?!

I really hope they are still friends in 28 years!

Of course they think they are getting married... well that would be fab - we'd love the in laws!

I adore having fresh flowers in the house.

I try and make them last as long as possible to get the maximum enjoyment out of them!

And I always get so frustrated when I see people posting pictures of beautiful bouquets on Facebook and Twitter still in their paper wrapping or just plonked in a vase. The reason being they would last twice as long if you spent a little time preparing them.

Don't you just hate slimy stems and stinky water?!

Follow these simple steps and you will have beautiful blooms for longer.

These tips are for woody stemmed flowers, which at this time of year seem so appropriate. Winter greens and hardier flowers. For most other types of flowers just skip the step where you cut up into the stem.

Step 1 • Condition

It might seem like a hassle or a waste of time, but giving your flowers a proper drink when you get them home will work wonders.

Take them out of their wrapping and remove any elastic bands.

Take a knife and cut the bottom of the stems at a slant and cut up into the stem. Do not be tempted to twist and snap the ends off. 

Snip off any excess foliage.

Place them in a clean bucket (or large vase if you don't have a bucket handy) filled approximately a quarter full of luke warm water. Add a packet of flower food.

Leave for 4 hours of overnight is best.

Step 2 • Cutting 

Post conditioning repeat the cutting process. 

Step 3 • Arrange

Remove all foliage below the water line. If you don't it will encourage bacteria to grow and that leads to the dreaded slimy stems.

Ensure you don't over crowd your stems. A full arrangement looks wonderful, but they all need room to breathe! 

You can add a teaspoon of liquid bleach or neat alcohol to help keep bacteria at bay.

I always arrange from the centre. I start with my middle stem and work around it, building the arrangement up in concentric circles.

That way, when you look at an arrangement straight on, you should be able to see every bloom.

I like to get as many arrangements as possible from one bunch. So I will use lots of little vases or bottles, as well as one larger but more sparse arrangement for the centre of the dining table or middle of the sideboard.

Who is hoping to get some flowers next Friday?! 

Once Rich sent me an enormous bouquet of long stemmed roses to my office. I was so overwhelmed I almost cried! That was before we were married, last year he bought me red wellingtons instead. And I love them just as much!