Goodbye to Yarn Along and Storms in the Kitchen

Ginny has decide the time has come to no longer host Yarn Along.  You can read about it Here

I will miss linking up with her (as I know many will) and seeing and reading about what others are doing. 

Guess I'll just have to do my own yarn along...

So...here it is...

Yarn Along...for one!!

Ran out of one of the colours for my 'extended' baby blanket, so have gone back to finishing off a lap blanket I had started for my lounge room.  Only a few more rounds and it should be finished.

Have been reading lots of theological books from the church library, but it was all gettting as bit heavy, so am reading a work of fiction.  I don't normally like fiction, but this one has historical content too, and I am finding it a real page-turner.  Saving Amelie.  Only a few chapters in, but very interesting...  Cathy Gohlke has written a number of books...all based on historical facts, so if I enjoy this one I will read more of her work.

It's raining today...

So a good day for some Kitchen Chaos.   This morning I made this Date and Walnut Loaf...

Here's the recipe:

1 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup brown sugar
60gms chopped butter

Pour over 1 cup of boiling water and stir to melt butter.
Add 1/2 tsp bi carb soda
Allow to stand for awhile to soften dates (if you have the time)

Then add: 1 3/4 cups self raising flour and 1 tsp vanilla essence and chopped walnuts.  Mix to combine.

Bake in moderate oven (350F/180C) in loaf tin for 30-45 minutes till cooked.

(My optional adds: cardamom, ginger, allspice, mixed spice, almond meal to replace some of the flour.)

And then eat some...while still warm...spread with butter...and a cup of tea!!

******

Last week I made this:  Ye Olde Choc Chews (or Weetbix Slice)

'Ye Olde' because I've been making it for 40? years...since the children were young...

The recipe:

Melt 155gms butter (I make it in the saucepan I melt the butter in)
Add: 
1 cup coconut
1 tsp vanilla
3 crushed weetbix (link...in case you are not Aussie and don't know what Weetbix are!)
1 tblsp cocoa
1 cup self raising flour
1/2 cup brown sugar

Mix all together and press into lamington? pan (the dish I use is 20cm x 30cm and works well).  Bake in moderate oven (350F/180C) for about 20 minutes.  Ice (icing sugar, cocoa and water) while still warm and sprinkle with coconut.  Eat!

Added bits: almond meal, dates, walnuts (I'm on a date and walnut kick at the moment!), cardamom, allspice...or whatever...

 

Too wet to walk this arvo...so...

 

I think I'm in need of another cup of tea...and perhaps a small slice of date and walnut loaf???

 

xx

Welcome to my world...

Today, on my early morning walk, it was...the world of fog...

 didn't seem to bother the ducks

 not much going over the spillway at the moment

  

 the road bridge (and rail bridge in the distance)

 

 

 

Our first fog for this autumn...

 

I love it...I love it!!!

 

xx

Yarn it!

Wasn't going to do a Yarn Along post for this week because I didn't think I had much of interest to say.  I probably don't...but will say it anyway...

Continuing to work on the crocheted baby blanket...

Continuing to read 40 Days in the Wilderness...and enjoying it.

 

And about to start Acquired or Inspired? from the church library.

 

Still working on my jumper (or sweater/pullover...depending where you come from) as the mood takes me...

 have the back and half the front done

The family (10 of them) will be here in June to do the Three Capes Track walk, and as it will be the middle of winter, I thought I'd get the real wool out and knit a few beanies...just in case they are needed...

Throwing this one in...just because...

the last of the beans and some of the first of the tomatoes...from the garden

 

 

That's it!!

 

Enjoy what your day brings...

 

xx

Cooking up a storm

Perhaps a poor choice for a title as some of you in the US are in the midst of literal storms...

I like to start and finish with a clean, tidy kitchen, but in between it does indeed look like a gigantic storm has come through...I'm a messy cook :)

I recently made these Coconut and Peanut Butter Breakfast Bars...

 sort of like what we call meusli bars here

Here's the recipe...

hope you can read it...it's a bit blurry, but saves me having to type it out

 

 

As usual...I made a few changes...

 

Added a bit of almond meal to replace some of the flour; also added some cardamom (of course!) and mixed spice.  Mixed fruit I used was sultanas, currants and chopped dates (that was all I had), and seeds was sunflower and sesame (all I had).  But you could pretty much use any fruit/nuts/seeds.

 

Now...about the banana...

 

I actually made the mixture, put it the pan and in the oven...re-read the recipe...and realised I'd forgotten the banana...because...although it's mentioned in the ingredients, when it comes to the method (mixing it all together)..they don't mention banana!! (well...that's my excuse anyway).

 

So I had to take it back out of the oven (even though I think it would have turned out ok without the banana, but perhaps been a bit more crunchy and not so soft), mash up a banana...mix it in...and put back in pan and in oven...

 

But wait...there's more...

 

I misread the quantity for the banana (thought it said 85g not 185g), so only put a small banana whereas it should have had a large or two small...

 

Anyhow...   it turned out really nice, and I don't really think it needed extra banana!

 

And believe me...it did look like a storm had been through my kitchen by the time I'd finished :))

 

And another thing...  I don't like having to weigh ingredients, so next time I make it I'll work out the cup measurement so I can just throw it all in ( and hopefully get it in the bowl and not on the floor...)

 

 

Thus endeth the saga...

 

Gosh...I've exhausted myself just typing about it...I need a coffee!!

 

xx

 

Out and about

In the garden...

The tomatoes are finally starting to ripen...

 

My solitary Lord Lambourne apple...

 It was just a bare rooted stick when I bought it in winter

And over the back fence...

the back fence boys

For Yarn Along

The cowl is finished...

 and browsing some old issues of An Encouraging Word

(I don't think it's published anymore)

Have started another baby blanket...in pretty pastels this time (as opposed to my previous 3 in baby brights!)

 

Continuing to read through 40 Days in the Wilderness (a chapter a day) and really enjoying it...

It was so nice and cool and fresh on my morning (7am) river walk.  I managed to get the lawns mowed and some weeding done when I got back.  Then the sun came out...and it's too hot again, so I'm inside.  But at least I feel like I accomplished something...

 

Hope you are all keeping busy...and happy :))

 

xx

It's here!!

My load of wood...

 delivered yesterday

And it has to go here...

I made a start yesterday...

progress

And more this morning...

 on to my 4th row

 

Bible study this arvo, but will finish it off when I get home.

 

A job well done!!

 

  And ready for winter :))

 

xx

Postscript

C'est fini!!!

All in the shed and ready to go... 

xx
 

short and sweet

For Yarn Along this week...

 

Browsing the latest Peppermint mag

 

About to start 40 Days in the Wilderness

 

And continuing to work on my cowl

 

From the comfort of my air-conditioned lounge room...because it is very hot outside!!

 

xx