Louise Cake

Another recipe to use up jam is Louise Cake.
Traditionally it is made with raspberry jam but you could use any flavour.

100gr butter
½ cup sugar
2 eggs (separated)
1 ¼ cups flour
1 tsp baking powder

Raspberry jam
½ cup sugar
½ cup coconut

Cream the butter and first measure of sugar.
Add the egg yolks and then the sifted flour and baking powder.
You could make this in a food processor and process until it forms a lump on the blade. (Use cold butter)
Press into a tin about 20cm square. Or you could just roll it out onto a tray.
Bake for 5 minutes at 180ºC

Spread with raspberry jam.
Beat the egg whites until stiff and add the second measure of sugar and the coconut.
Spread carefully on top of the jam.
Return to the oven and bake for 25 minutes.

Double Chocolate Surprise Muffins

This is a lovely recipe to use up left over jam and it is a good recipe to use at Easter using small caramel eggs instead of the jam.
It is taken from Alison Holst's  More Marvellous Muffin book.

1 ¾ cups of flour
4 tsp baking powder
¼ cup coca
½ cup sugar
½ cup (100g) chocolate chips

75gr butter
2 large eggs
¾ cup milk
Jam
Extra chocolate chips

Stir the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
Add the chocolate chips and toss with a fork.
Melt the butter in a separate container, until just liquid.
Add the eggs and milk and beat with a fork until smooth
Pour the liquid into the dry ingredients and fold in about 14 times.
Do not over mix (some bits of flour may still be showing).
Put about a tablespoon of mixture into the base of 12 medium muffin tins that have been well greased. (I use margarine on a kitchen paper towel to grease them)
Place about a teaspoon of jam in a blob, in the middle of each muffin.

Carefully cover this with the rest of the muffin mix trying not to over mix the mixture in the bowl as you do so.
Make sure the jam is covered – that is why it’s good to use a blob of jam rather than a ‘spread’.
Sprinkle with a few extra chocolate chips if you like.
Bake at 200ºC for about 10 minutes until the muffins spring back when pressed.
Leave to cool in the tins for a few minutes before removing.

Special Mail

Don't you love receiving real mail and parcels through the letter box.
You open the box and there is something, other that a bill or organisation asking for more money, after you gave to them once before.

As I have mentioned in another post I am on a forum.
The magazine it came from is now no longer in print but the forum is still going as it the website that includes two other magazines. The members are all on-line freinds so we are still posting and keeping in touch.

We had another mystery KK, in that we have been given names and address for someone who wanted to be apart of it. We had to find a calender and post it to our mystery friend. Either one of our area or something the person you are sending to likes.
I have bought mine but am waiting on the address to post it to, but last week I got mine.
It's not quite so much a surprise for me as the others are all Australian so they have to put addresses etc on the packet, (and I will have to to them) but it is still so nice to receive that specail something in the mail.

Not only is it a beautiful calender of the sort of gardens, relaxing places to sit, but there was a post card of the area my friend is from and a lovely little Christmas decoration.
It will go on the tree each year and I will think of her.

When the plans turn around

Yesterday I had great plans to get some more work done in the vegetable garden and some baking done to use up the eggs that are mounting up around here. Katrina counted 37!

But then a good friend invited Harry and I out for the afternoon to talk and go for a walk.
As Harry had wanted to get back to watch a delayed broadcast of the rugby game played earlier in the morning, (All Blacks v England - shhh don't tell him the score) we went earlier so we could get back in time.
However once we were there it was a lovely lunch with a few families and Harry was able to sit and watch a DVD recording of the match on a bigger clearer screen.
Well wasn't he happy - no adds and the All Blacks won.



But a few of us went for a walk down the farm to the river. The small peninsular on the right of this pic.



It was great to go for a walk, something I haven't done in a long time. We all chatted and laughed and made out way back at our own pace.

The paddocks we walked through were lush with spring growth. On the way I picked some of the wild grasses and flowers growing and was surprised at how awesome even the weeds are.

God even takes care of what we call weeds that for others would be a blessing in their parched fields.

Motown Fever

Motown - Motown was a record label founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, USA, on April 14, 1960.

Motown played an important role in the racial integration of popular music, as it was the first record label owned by an African American to primarily feature African-American artists who achieved crossover success. In the 1960s, Motown and its soul-based subsidiaries were the most successful proponents of what came to be known as The Motown Sound, a style of soul music with a distinct pop influence.

Motown has owned or distributed releases from more than 45 subsidiaries in varying genres, although it is most famous for its releases in the music genres of rhythm and blues, soul, hip hop, and pop. 

Putaruru College where my daughter attends have just recently preformed a show called Motown Fever.
They have practised for months and the polished performances showed it.
Credit goes not only to the students of whom sung, danced, played instruments and introduced the night, but also to their dedicated teacher Miss Atkins.
Some of the groups they preformed were

Diana Ross and the Supremes

The Marvelettes













Stevie Wonder with vocals













Martha Reeves and The Vandellas 

The Jackson 5










Lionel Ritchie and Dianna Ross singing a duet "Endless Love"














At the end of the show the students present their beloved music teach with gifts as she is leaving this year.
Katrina is embracing her.

Another performance by Katrina that I am so proud of.

My Friend Rose

I have a dear friend Rose who's hubby has been very sick and is taking a long time to recover.
He has been in hospital for over a month now and its not known if or when he will go home.
But home as he knows it will not be here in our little town as their house is just not suitable for him and Rose will struggle with all the care he will need.
She is presently staying with one of her daughters and that is where they will make their home for the time being.
How ever it is over 50 kms away through rural country so not somewhere you just visit everyday.
To help with added costs and down sizing Rose and her daughter have been having a few garage sales.
One day I called while she was home and asked if I could buy some of her cups and saucer sets not just for me but for my daughters and she willingly let me help myself and charged me a lot less than I thought so I gave her more.

After I had washed them and was sorting them out I discovered one of the cups had a crack in it.
By the stain around the crack it must have been like that for awhile and I was a little sad.
I will use the saucer and plate as everyday plates etc and I am going to use the cup in my flour.
I have many cups/mugs that have broken handles that mean something and I am reluctant to throw them out so I put them to other uses.

• I use them for holding pens etc on my bedside table and by the computer

• One has ties for plastic bags etc

• I collect left of dripping to use to feed birds

• There are some as scoops in my bulk flour containers.

I like to have some things sort of eclectic rather than just plastic containers, scoops etc and enjoy the old fashioned way of reusing things.

Spicy Apple Muffins

These muffins are very tasty and healthy for you! They are still quite moist the day after making too.

1 cup of self raising flour
1 cup of rolled oats
¾ cup brown sugar
2 tsp mixed spice
2 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt

75 grams butter
1 egg
1 cup of raw grated apple (about two medium sized apples)
¾ to 1 cup of milk

Mix all the first eight dry ingredients together well, breaking up any lumps of brown sugar, in a large bowl.
Melt the butter and add the ¾ cup of milk in a separate bowl.
Beat in the egg with a fork.
Grate the unpeeled apple and press into the cup measure. Depending on how juicy the apple is will determine how much extra milk you need to add later.
Add the apple to the liquid and fold into the dry ingredients.
If the mixture is not wet enough for muffin consistency then add the other ¼ cup of milk.
Fill 12 medium muffin pans that have been well greased.
I use margarine on a paper towel to do this.
Bake at 200ºC for 12 to 15 minutes.
Leave in pans for 3 - 4 minutes before cooling on a wire rack