Celtic designs and city skyscapes

Still on the theme of 'decorating for Samhain', the three of us (Himself was busy doing the loft conversion) got creative.

In between walking around the village for Lily (there has been several possible sightings of her  so we have been out all times of day and night in hope) Youngest and I have been carving pumpkins and Eldest has made a brilliant window display.

He first drew a skyscape on black paper, cutting many windows. He was definitely practising multi-tasking as he was watching Fawlty Towers at the same time.... !

We had, on one of our Looking-for-Lily walks, collected some very vibrant leaves, which Eldest then painstakingly taped and trimmed to fill the windows with colour.

I then taped it to our front window for him and we strategically placed fairy lights behind the windows and....

Just look at this!

before switching on the lights

The leaves made gorgeous colours and they really showed off all his 'windows' he had created - I am really pleased with his creativity.


Youngest and I ended up with two decorated pumpkins and a huge pot of pumpkin, chilli and garlic soup and home-made cinnamon bread - aaah heaven!

So, now the house is fully Samhain-ed and souped up.

PS - the possible sightings of our dear Lily are still coming in, I have just had another phone call saying that a cat was spotted - So without much of a thought apart from grabbing a coat and a torch, I set off, but  - nothing.  We do still have hope - how many deep red super furry fluff-cats live in our village?

Bread, biscuits and walking

Did anyone else notice the rain? Oh, so it wasn't just me then......

Fed up with being cooped up again over the weekend due to the rather moist weather conditions, we set about baking.

I made bread - not as virtuous as it sounds! I have had a serious case of the wanties for a bread maker for ages and this year, for my birthday I received a rather tasty one.  Over the weekend our house had a delicious warm bready-scent tickling our taste buds.

Youngest fancied making scones but a quick foray into the baking cupboard revealed a grave deficiency of baking powder. We reached for a baking cook book and found ourselves a very tasty quick and easy biscuit  recipe. Youngest was soon at work, much dusting with flour and decorating of biscuits occurring.

He is taking after his mom (me!!) coz half way through the recipe he 'tweaked it' as he knows his dad and elder bro love raisins and sultanas in their biscuits so he hurled a huge handful in for them.
The were super yum!
So yummy that I have included the recipe below:
All butter cookies**

275g/10oz plain flour
90g/3 1/3oz caster sugar
10ml/2 tsp vanilla essence
200gm/7oz butter

• Mix flour and butter until looks like coarse breadcrumbs.
• Add sugar and vanilla and process until it forms a dough.
• At this point the recipe calls for the dough being rolled into a thick sausage and chilling for half an hour - trying telling that to an 11 year old......
• So we rolled little lumps into balls and flattened, then 'stamped' to make decorated biscuits.
• Bake at 200deg c/400deg f/gas mark 6. for 8 - 10 mins.
• Try to cool on a baking tray alternatively slap backs of hands as they sneak over to pinch still steaming hot biscuits.
• Scoff with copious amounts of tea as you watch the clouds clear and decide that now would be a good time to go for a quick walk.
• Don boots and grab camera and go!

Last few instructions are not necessary to make the biscuits - they were our optional extras!

We are lucky where we live, not far from our door is this wonderful spot. Not that you can see with all this lush growth but on the right of the spout is a cave, my two boys and a dog! Told you, you couldn't see them, you'd have to wait till winter before anything would be revealed.

The meadows were full of wild flowers and in the breeze the grass waved and undulated like huge sheets of water - it was cathartic to be able to get out - I think I was beginning to suffer cabin fever!

And suddenly it's Monday again- how does that happen?
How was your weekend?
Good?
Wet?
Productive?

Have yourselves a lovely day and may the sun shine where ever you are xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

oops nearly forgot ** All Butter cookies came from this book and it was on page 400.

Cake - oh for some cake!

 Some time during the spring break I may have accidently had another birthday - I am still on the record as being '21 again' but I could not see the day pass without at least sampling a cake or two...... And ooh talk about YUMBLEDOCIOUS MAXIMUM!!

Youngest was in charge of the camera and must have taken a photo of every cake in the cafe -

I had the most heavenly carrot cake - it was gorgeously succulent and spiced ever so lightly. The cream topping was gorgeous and I would have (if allowed) licked the plate clean......

Himself had a plum and fig hot pudding swimming in a toffee sauce with a  huge lump of extra thick cream for good measure (you can just feel the calories can't you!!)

While the boys plumped (no pun intended) for rose scented cheesecake with a strawberry covered rose leaf jelly on a vanilla cake base

And all this calorifically wonderous stuff was washed down with copious amounts of tea served from a silver teapot and sweetened by rose decorated teacups and sugar lumps - a treat we have had before - we love Kitty's Cafe in New Galloway.

Yum-yum-Plum pudding and not a Jack Horner in sight!

A quick share - and a promise that photographed calories are not fattening - it is the eating of them that is totally disastrous but totally yum :)

I present to you my Plum Pudding Cake ala Nigel Slater - follow this link for the recipe Yum yum yum.

Top left - melting the butter, the honey, the syrup and the sugar (there wasn't much else apart from flour and spices and oh yes plums)
bottom left - the raw cake with the plums just prior to popping into the oven.
Main photo - the cooked cake with added plum sauce.

Delish.

Hope you all had a lovely Saturday day :)xxxxxxxxxxxx ❤ 

Therapy and redemption

I won't rant on about my knee - coz even I don't want to hear about it so instead - how about some eye candy instead?

The boys went out walking yesterday, so thought I would use the time by trying to subdue the yarn mountain that has amassed around my desk.  It seems to have plans to take over the entire room - got to nip that one in the bud..... So armed only with enthusiasm, tea and the all essential wool winder - I started.

There is definitely something therapeutic about winding up a colourfully tangled mess in my WIP basket  into nice neat squat balls of yarns, then placing them in their shades...... it kinda makes me want to stop tidying up and pick up my hook again - but no - I need my space back and I just have to show the yarn mountain who is boss (it won)............................

I succumbed.... so armed with yet another mug of tea I carried on with my blooming marvellous blooming cushion - inspiration and much better version -here.  The back of the cushion is whizzzzzing along nicely - so much quicker - Himself keeps looking at the flowery front of the cushion cover and giving me quizzical looks - I'm not too sure he can visualise the final effect - I will persist!

On a less eye candy note and with more of a calorific slant - last Thursday evening was knit and natter and at the last minute (and I really do mean last minute) I thought I would make some scones. I had only a week or so ago found a different version (I mean how far can you deviate from the basic scone recipe before it stops being 'a scone') and we all agreed it was rather yummy. So armed with this 'new' recipe, I decided that I would repeat my success.   My only change to the recipe was to double the ingredients - it had only produced a measly amount of 8 scones and I would certainly need a lot more.

I rushed around in a cloud of flour and managed to slam in to the oven a tray laden with scone dough just as the first ladies arrived. Some were bearing tubs and tins of delicious nibbles to add to the evening.The kettle went on, seats were chosen, coats removed and greetings exchanged. I joined them, chatting and catching up, all the time keeping 'my nose' on the kitchen - waiting for that wonderful aroma of baking scones.

They were ready, I heroically singed my finger tips as I carefully pulled the scones open, delicious steam curling up - I was feeling very satisfied at the thought of triumphantly walking (ok ok limping) in with a plateful of scrummy scones.
One of the scone halves crumbled - never mind I thought - cook's privileges, and I popped it into my mouth.

Ooh the delight of the cold clotted cream, hmmm the bitter sweet of the blackcurrant jam and urgh! what the H**L was that fizzy sherberty flavoured scone?!?!??

My two boys wandered in, also attracted by the scent of baking.....
Taste this I demanded, glazed eyes, flushed red face and palpatating heart - my children visibly quaked!
Hhhmm yuuuuum... goes the Youngest, seconds later his eyes widen and the chewy scone mush comes flying back out and lands in the bin - his horrified look confirms my fears, I turn to Eldest who stares worriedly at the tantalising scone in his hand.

TASTE IT! I repeat - his eyes screwed shut, he pops it in, chews, chews a bit more - one eye opens with a puzzled look, then it hit him - it too came out at high speed -

Mum! what have you done?!?

I had absolutely no idea what happened, I stare at the boys and they confirm my thoughts - there is no way I can serve fizzy scones at knit at natter. I hastily cover them over with a tea towel (out of site out of mind) and dash back with a plate of everyone one else's yummies - (thank you - Lovely Lady and Jak - you saved the day!)

By Sunday, I had recovered enough to try the recipe again, but in a smaller quantity. Carefully I weighed out and cross checked the recipe with my ingredients - then I realised what I had done - instead of using baking powder, in my haste I had grabbed the bicarbonate of soda (all 8 teaspoons worth) no wonder they were fizzy!! This time they were yummy and very quickly consumed - moral of the story - READ the recipe - CHECK  the ingredients - TASTE before offering round!!

Recipe and my baking reputation redeemed - phew.

Thank you for your lovely comments (which I am still receiving) for my blanket and my other crochet oddities - and your kind words about my knee :)

Have yourselves a sunny, smile filled day where ever you are .....

with love hawthorn xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      =^.,.^=

More cake any one?

Not that I need an excuse, but what an excuse to try a new cake recipe...........................

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!  

aka jak

Knitter

crocheter of squares for Japan

baker of cakes

Granny to my boys

gardener

friend

baby sitter

wife

mother in law

aunt

mother

my mom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !

oh, sorry, forgot to mention,

 all the cake has been eaten now - yum

You will just have to make it for yourself :P

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RICH CHOCOLATE CAKE

4oz (100 gm) plain flour

2 level tbsp cocoa powder

1/4 level sp baking powder

1/4 level tsp bicarbonate soda

pinch salt

4oz (100 gm) plain chocolate 

2oz (60gm) butter or margarine

3 oz (75gm) light soft brown sugar

1 medium sized egg

5 tbsp plain yoghurt

few drops vanilla extract

1. grease and line a 15 cm (6 inch) round cake tin with greaseproof paper
2. sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, bicarb and salt into a bowl
3. gently melt the chocolate in a second bowl with about 1 tsp water over a pan of hot water, stir until melted
4. put butter and sugar in another bowl (am glad I wasn't on washing up duty!) and beat until fluffy
5. beat in the egg and  fold in with the melted chocolate, yoghurt, vanilla into the sifted ingredients
6. turn into the greased tin and bake at 190 dec C (375 deg F, gas mark 5) for approx 45 mins until risen and firm to the touch.
7. Cool before icing.

I had been lucky enough to be given a jar of hazel nut flavoured chocolate coloured spread which I used as the icing and  then sprinkled on walnut halves and white chocolate stars. As I said before - yum and now all gone :)

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Sowing and Growing, Cooking and Eating, Walking and Breathing

Growing and Sowing

I have to admit to a feeling optimistic delight every time I go into my glasshouse. Daily, no - hourly, the seedlings seem to grow, transforming the pots of dark soil into mounds of verdant micro jungles all jostling for space. Some of the larger seedlings have been pricked out and potted on and they need even more elbow room. Outside I've got a large cloche type cold frame covering my square foot garden where beans, garlic, black kale and spring onions grow on, it won't be long before I fill that too. 

Oh yes,  there's still the potatoes to plant (soil is a bit cold), the spinach and onions to go out, the parsley and leeks, the garlic chives and ....................hmmmm my garden isn't small but it is too small for my enthusiastic seed sowing! (And I've not even started to take into account all the ornamental seeds I've sown too)

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Cooking and Eating

Ages ago I made 'veggie Cornish pasties' which is a bit of an oxymoron and is a recipe that needs a name of it's own, but it was rather tasty and I promised to share the nuts and bolts of it (not to worry they are not ingredients!).

The original recipe came from here but I did my usual and fiddled with the recipe to make it our own.

1. I used onions, courgette, carrot, potatoes and mushrooms.
2. As per the instructions I chopped, sliced and diced.
3. The vegetables were cooked over a medium heat and
4. The grated cheese and stock was added.
5. I cheated and used ready made short crust pastry and instead of making Cornish-pasty rounds I made a single large pie. The veg mix is lovely and moist and the pastry collapsed last time so this time, I lined a dish (not necessary could just grease instead) and made a double crust pie.
6. So, a quick photo before it was guzzled, with home grown salad (first decent crop of this year!) chips as a concession to  Youngest and who proclaimed himself most-starving-one and garlic bread - discovered hiding in the freezer. Yum.

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Walking and Breathing

Youngest has been away for a week at an outdoor activity centre in the Lakes, so he has had less energy than his usual firecracker self and our regular weekend yomp seemed to fizzle away. By Sunday evening I was pacing the floor feeling quite out of sorts. I kinda threw a wobbler and insisted we went out for a walk as soon as we had finished eating. Strangely all my normal walking conspirators were reluctant, preferring to podge out.

 It took a fair bit of firm talking to, to get the boys (all 3) to move but once they did, their dour moods lifted and the walk took on a refreshing cleansing feel to it. 

The evening sunlight gave everything a warm golden glow and the sky was full of dramatic flame coloured cloud. There were lambs everywhere, frolicking in the gentle warmth.

It was like meditation, my breathing connected with my footsteps and my feet connecting with the earth - wonderful.

As usual, our weekend was over in a flash. 

Here's wishing you a magnificent Monday (in the words of my fav sis in law) and a wonderful week xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Friday night and fairy lights, fire, food, feline and funk........

It's Friday evening - Woo Hoo! 

It's a funny thing, this working lark,  it's taken all week to get to Friday and now suddenly it's here and I have the whole weekend to look forward too. 

All my boys are out this evening and the house has taken on a solitary air. 

I've put on the fairy lights (we just couldn't let them go at the end of the festive season and so they remain draped and twinkling in our house) and they give a gentle kindly light. 

The fire is crackling away warming the house with a comforting protective feel to it. 

Himself has made and left for me his trademark tuna pasta recipe and I am tucking into it happily. 

The radio is hosting a 12 hour dance music marathon and I think the base line is beginning to get to me....might be time to change the station........

And the feline? Well, while I was taking photographs of my latest WIP (soon to be frogged back) her funny little furry face appeared.... I will leave you with the pictures, they say so much more that words.

.............Feed me please.......................

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And for all of you who asked for the recipe, here it is, the ..........

 'To-die-for-potato-salad'

1. 5 - 7 medium sized potatoes with their skins left on  - chopped into generous chunks
2. 1 large red onion, peeled and chopped
3. Handful of mushrooms - sliced
4. 2 garlic cloves - thinly sliced
5. Oil for frying
6. A few broccoli florets, snapped into nice 'pop in the mouth' size pieces
7. Tin of chickpeas - drained
8. Cucumber, tomato and celery - quantities to taste and all chopped into bite sized pieces
9. Cheddar cheese cubed - again to taste, I put in about tea cup's amount, there probably was more original, but I kept having to quality check it (erhem...)
10. 2 generous tablespoons of plain yoghurt
11. 2 generous teaspoons of your favourite wholegrain mustard
12. Salt and pepper

• Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender and ready to eat, drain.
• Meanwhile fry gently in oil the onion, garlic, broccoli  and mushrooms
• Once they are cooked, add the potato chunks and the drained chickpeas, mix well
• Toss in the cucumber, tomatoes and celery
• I kept the frying pan on the oven's lowest heat and stirred it enough to prevent the vegetables sticking
• Meanwhile make the dressing - mix the yoghurt, wholegrain mustard and season to taste
• Take the vegetables off the heat, toss in the cheese and mix well 
• Serve with a goodly gloop of the dressing.
• Serve to a hungry husband and be pleased at how it fills his hollow legs!!

The original recipe can be found here at Crochet with Raymond.

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Well, that's all for now, want to finish my tuna pasta off, so have yourself a good weekend where ever you are!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

4/52 - A made-to-die-for potato salad

I'd been wanting to try this recipe for a little while but not having the time (work), the inclination (viral what-evers) or the ingredients (kept forgetting to write down on the shopping list) I have had to make it wait. But tonight I managed to overcome all three obstacles. It was very tasty and very filling, although I did tweak it slightly for our palates.

I am a committed not 'a-100% -vegetarian' and have been for over 20 years,  Eldest happily dabbles and plays with his food while Youngest is a raving carnivore, well actually he and Himself are raving foodie-vores - their mantra is...it's food - you eat it!

It is often quite difficult to satisfy all our needs, so I am always on a look out for a recipe that can do that. Well two out of the four ate it happily, the other two preferred to have ravioli. Well, can't win them all!

Birthdays and broccoli

Sitting quietly in the early morning gloom, the only sound is the click of the keyboard and the back ground drivel of the radio. Upstairs Eldest sleeps off the last of his lurgy, Youngest and Himself have decamped to school and work. I am so very tired, still weary from my viral-what-ever.

Last night we celebrated a girlfriend's birthday here and it was lovely to see all the gang. We have been together for nigh on 20 years and every couple of months or so we meet up bearing news, food and increasing amounts of wrinkles. Last night's affair was lovely and relaxed, we can just pick up conversations and carry them on as if we'd never been apart.

Happy birthday Christine!!

Now to finish tidying up the detritus from last night.............!

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On the Revolutions front, I have finally started this year's 52 New Things Not Cooked Before - 

Broccoli cheese pie with grated potato crust

A simple enough recipe, shame about the cook (but that's another story) and when I served it at last night's birthday bash - it seemed to go down well. I will make it again with modifications and post the recipe.

Sorry there is no 'after' photo......it got eaten.....completely

A good sign me thinks.

21 and counting - Happy happy Winter Solstice!

Counting again, and today it is the 21st December.

A special day for us, Winter Solstice when we mark the longest night (ergo the shortest day) by lighting candles and eating some of our favourite foods. We usually tell stories or poems, the boys play the piano and if we can persuade Himself enough, he will sing for us.

This year was a little quieter than usual as Youngest is sporting the meanest and snottiest cold he has had in a very long time - poor thing, but he did try nibbling a thing or two before retiring to the settee with a blanket and pillow.

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After work this cold and frosty evening, I came home to a warm and heavenly scented kitchen. This morning I had prepared tonight's meal leaving it for Himself to finish off. And what a wonderful job he had done.  To celebrate, not only the solstice but also a rare lunar eclipse he had decorated the pastry on the salmon pie (another one for my 52 recipes not tried before) with a wonderful image of a smiling sun, earth and moon.  It was such a shame to eat it, but once we'd cut into it, making a wish as we did so, the wonderful aroma of the salmon and leeks just made us all salivate with anticipation. 

We love the idea that from now on it will gently gently start to get lighter in the mornings and stay lighter for longer in the evenings.  Each day nearer to spring. 

Eldest lights one of the candles next to the sun cake.

Mixed red berries, shortcake and Chantilly cream for desert (another new recipe!)

from a certain pukka chef 

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That's all for now, I am very tired and ready for bed. This week as been very long (and it has only been two days so far.......) Glad to share with you our Solstice evening, I now bid you goodnight and wish you a happy and blessed Solstice xx

Counting - 11

The snow has all gone, suddenly overnight on Thursday and now it is damp and cold rather than icy cold - not sure which is better.......


The house is filled with the smells of baking, Eldest has been baking mince pies, and apart from my help when I took them out of the oven for him, he has done himself - Well done!  Himself is suitably impressed and has sampled quite a few already.




I, with the help of the boys, have made our sun cake. We have used this recipe from a certain television programme we've been watching. The smell of the orangey-lemon scented fruit cake is gorgeous, so so delicious...yum. The amount it made was far too much for our largest cake tin (what a shame) so I have put the excess in a loaf tin - to sample you understand erhem.   As usual I have adapted the recipe to suit our tastes and what was in the baking cupboard! (this will be another of my 52 things not cooked before)







I started soaking the fruit with all the spices last night. The boys thought we were going to start the cake, and when I explained that it had to soak first they were disappointed until I promised a bit of tree decorating - the excitement was incredible!! I thought that as they grew older, the delight would be lessen, but this year they (particularly Youngest) have almost reached fever pitch and we still have nearly two weeks to go!!

As I type, I can smell the cake. It is ready, and looking good. And once tipped out of it's tin it looks quite dark and fruity......yum.  Tomorrow I will decorate it.

Also on my to-do list for tomorrow:
finish writing cards
deliver cards around the village
go to a 'living advent' hosted by a friend
start wrapping gifts
Get on with gifts I am crocheting/sewing/making

Am I ready? Am I heck! Bollywood night here we come ready or not :)

Our house is filled with part made costumes, sequins and ribbons. There are brightly coloured garlands tumbling out of vibrant bowls in shades of shocking pink and lime green. A freshly washed dhoti waits to have it's final decoration stitched on. I have learnt how to wrap a turban in a Rabari style. The boys Sherwanis are waiting to be finished. Fortunately I have been lent a Salwar Kameez but  due to a catalogue of  mini misundertandings - I still don't have it, let alone know if it will fit me. Himself is collecting it for me this evening while I am at work - finger's crossed!

The food is sorted - I have........... well sort of............. umm............ sorted it, well, I've thought about it........The house needs tidying and decorating, the list goes on.

When's all this for? Saturday.....day after Friday, which is the day after Thursday, which is tomorrow.... and in those few days I have a knit and natter evening, a bonfire party to go to (only just received confirmation this morning that it is going ahead!), shopping and cooking for the party and - oh yes - and still go to go to work............ something has just got to give - hmmm, me thinks it will be work! Now why didn't I think of that earlier :)

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The multicoloured jolly throw has finally gone to his new home. He seemed to be well received as he was stroked and patted and hugged. I took a few last photos of the blankie as he posed on the settee and then by the fire just before he said his last good byes.

The blankie showing his best side, or is this his best side?

Last cosy look as he waits to be taken to his new home.

I have just realised I have given this blanket a gender..................good grief - is this normal?? 

Actually most of our inanimate objects have a gender or a name, it just looks strange now I've see it written down! 

Oh well. 

(shrugs shoulders, if other folk have realised I am odd, surely it is time I accepted that I am!)

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Just remembered that I was going to henna tattoo my hands and feet - now where did I put that henna kit?