Wednesday 23 November 2011

Where's the cherries?

Never one to miss a cooking programme I have been catching up with the CBBC children's series of The Junior Bake Off, an exciting series where 32 bakers take on the greatest baking battle of challenges where they bake cakes, biscuits, bread and pastries all competing to be crowned ‘Junior Bake Off’ Champion.  It was an inspiring series to watch and I felt really proud to see these kids happy in the kitchen.  This also gave me the urge to make one of my tea time favourites, Yorkshire Tea Cake.  I just love this cake and it really goes down well with a nice cuppa on a sunday afternoon watching some TV. I soaked my fruit the night before, went to the cupboard for the rest of the supplies and realised I did not have any cherries.  Off I trot to the big supermarket, all sold out! 2 other shops too.  Then I realised, it's 6 weeks before christmas and everyone is baking their Christmas Cake but come on, how can 3 big shops be out of cherries?  Oh well never mind this time around I will have to do without.  You'll find the recipe from the link over there on the right titled Successful Recipes. 
Autumn is nearly over, it may of started late but it's finishing right on time ready for the colder weather to set in. We have been spoiled so far with glorious 17 degree days with plently of sunshine.  I think the only 2 things I do not like about the cold weather is the threat of my boiler breaking down again and having to get up early on Saturday mornings to watch Jack play football (like most people I would prefer to stay in bed for the extra hour snuggled up) but I enjoy watching him and very proud of his sporting career.
Tomorrow my friend Sarah is coming around to do a spot of 'Stich and Bitch', I am looking forward to starting my retro apron, trying to adapt the pattern above with a little bit of one ,and a little bit of the other, ready for my treat in a weeks time for my birthday.  I am a lucky girl as Sarah has bought me a class with Pretty Witty Cakes, I am so looking forward to this and will let you all know all about it.

TTFN
Lynetta Xx

Friday 18 November 2011

Plant a tree for Jubilee

Oh my, you can imagine my excitement whilst I was watching The One Show recently about planting a tree for Jubillee.  To celebrate the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth ll's historic 2012 Diamond Jubilee, the Woodland Trust is helping millions of people across the UK to come together to plant 6 million trees. So off I went to investigate a little more and spent a little time reading about The Royal Record .  It is an incredicble record detailing all the tree planting undertaken by thousands of schools, parishes, organisations and homeowners in 1936/37, in gardens, parks and public spaces.  The names were recorded  of who and where the trees were planted then a book was printed and presented to King George VI.  This book has now been digitilised so everyone can have the opportunity of reading.  You can see more HERE 
As this exciting project is happening again for our present Queen and I thought to myself 'I want to be part of this', so I have made a pledge to plant a tree (size and variety to be decided but I am looking for something small or even to go in a pot) and I will definitley be Planting a Tree for Jubillee. Will You? - go on you know you want to.
I'll let you know what I've planted next year and just think The Queen will be presented with a book with my name in it.  Makes me happy :-)
See you soon, have a great weekend.
Lynetta

Thursday 17 November 2011

Palindromic


A palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or other sequence of units that can be read the same way in either direction. I love to learn a new word and did not know what a palindromic number was until today.  So to document the event on 11/11/11 at 11:11am I was at work listening to the last post being performed by a pupil in the school hall along with 317 pupils for remberance of all those who have lost their lives in the battle of duty for our Empire.
Lynetta Xx

for the record the next palindromic number will be 12/12/12 at 12:12  wonder what I will be doing then but no doubt I will let you know.


Thursday 10 November 2011

Savoury Treats

I thought I would try something different in the baking department this week, something savoury but still a treat.  My inspiration came from Lorraine Pascale's home baking programme recently shown on TV, I kind of fell in love with these pancetta, cheese and mustard twists.  Scrummmmyyyyyy if I say so myself.  I think next time I will make them half the size as these were 10 inches long and all puffed up, but the boys loved them and commented that they were mansize, ha ha ha.  They didn't last very long I can tell you and will be giving them another go at Christmas (but only half the size, sorry boys).
Looking forward to my Bingo and Bhuna night at school tomorrow, eyes down look in.
TTFN
Lynetta Xx


Thursday 3 November 2011

51 days......

That's all it is until Christmas.  Oh my oh my,  I seem to be more disorganised this year than ever before.  I need to get myself into 1st gear and start making the lists.  Back in September I was hoping to get everything bought and wrapped by 15th December, so that's my Thought on Thursday for this week - ORGANISE.  The Quality Street and Roses are on the shelves, decorations are starting to be hung in the shops and Oxford Streets lights were switched on yesterday, and it's not even December!
Off to find pen and paper :-)
Lynetta Xx