Spring Clean

Afternoon peeps.

I am in the middle of a bit of a spring clean today. I had to wait in for a delivery, so I decided to do some cleaning, sort out the recycling and then attack the piles of stuff that seem to build up. Anyone else find this? I think when I tidy I often just put things in neat piles, but today I went through some of the piles- found some great stuff including a load of travel brochures for Norway (from 2010!).

After the delivery came, I popped out on a walk (but had to be back because our shopping is coming) but I might have another one later.  I have taken a few photos from my walks in the past few days.

The other day I went around the lakes. I used to love running around them, and had to go to the leisure centre to get some vouchers, so I decided to treat myself to a walk.

I saw several herons, and a rabbit! 🙂

I have also been doing my usual walk of the fields behind my house, and have made the walk a little longer. It is so lovely to see everything coming to life over the past few weeks.

I love the blossom that is around at the moment!

And I saw a little rabbit by the side of the path. I stood and watched it for ages, but then I felt a bit bad because it did not seem to see or hear me, and it’s eyes looked like they were shut, so I don’t hold out much hope for it surviving.

I was only about a metre away and it was hopping about, eating grass and things.

On my walks I usually listen to my mp3 player- I like to download podcasts to listen to, and usually use my running headphones. Last week I was sent some to try, so I have been using them on my walks.

These are in-ear headphones, whereas my usual ones have a band that goes around the back of my head. I tried them at first as they were, but they kept popping out while I was walking, which was very annoying. They come with 3 sizes of ear buds, so I swapped to the smallest size, and they stay in much better. I like the clip too.

It can also attach to a phone (side point- as my contract was up I decided to go for it and get a phone that can go on the internet! My transition to living in the 21st Century may well be complete! Oh, except my car only has a tape player…), and as there is a little microphone in the earphones you could take a call while out and about (although I have not tried that because I hardly ever phone anyone, and also only just got this phone and have no music or anything on it). I think they are meant to be more for an iPhone, because I suppose you would have music on them? Anyway, the earphones have been great for me, because to wear my running headphones I have to tie my hair up (the band gets in the way otherwise). The sound quality was very good too- I had to turn the volume right down. I could still hear what was going on around me, but the buds did fill my ears, so they did take a little getting used to as the sound was different.

Because the weather was so warm, I also moved away from normal hot tea, to iced tea.

This was with an apple and cinnamon teabag– part of my last i-herb order. I brewed the teabag in a little hot water (in a cup), then took the teabag out, added cold water and poured into the glass with some ice. It was lovely- so refreshing, so I will be trying that with some different teabags soon.

I have also been adding some fresh mint leaves to my morning mint tea- yum.

Although I did see on the weather today that it is getting colder and that it might even snow! Craziness!

Right, off for some more sorting out. 🙂

Is anyone else getting on with spring cleaning at the moment? Anyone else get a bit upset by poorly wild animals? When I was little I watched a lot of nature documentaries, and I remember watching one about penguins. One baby penguin was dying and I was so upset and I was saying to my Dad “why can’t the cameramen save the penguin?” and he had to explain to me that humans should not be getting involved in wild animals- the baby penguin might end up being food for a baby seal or something. Same with that rabbit I suppose, but it is still not nice thinking about it.

Olympic fever! And questions for Matthew Pinsent!

Hello all.

As you all know, England (London for the most part) is lucky enough to be hosting the Olympic games this summer. I am really excited as I think it is the event of a lifetime- although I remember when it was announced that we had got it and I worked out that by then I will be 31! Doesn’t time fly? We applied for tickets in the first round, but didn’t get any. I was determined, so for the second round we got up super early, had the website loaded up and ready to go, and managed to get some (a hockey match and an athletics session I think- both on the same day). I am also planning on going in to watch the women’s marathon (it turns out we are on holiday when the men’s one goes on). Anyway, I was lucky enough to be sent a guide to the Olympics to review.

This is London 2012 Olympic Games The Official Book, published by Carlton, £12.99, available from all good book shops and online (I have seen it on Amazon for pre-order).

The book is really fantastic. It is set out really well. It has a section about the different stadiums being built, what events they will host and what will happen to them after. This includes the venues that are not in London.

It has an overview of the games in a little grid, to show what events will be happening on each day, sort of like an “at a glance” guide.

Then it has several pages on each sport, including little facts, athletes to watch, current champions and when the events will be held.

At the back it has a few pages of Olympic records- most gold medals, most medals, most appearances, youngest and oldest medal holders and so on. And in the very back it has photos of the London medals. It is all very exciting! The only thing I would say is that the Paralympics are not mentioned very much. I personally think they should run side by side, and not after, so perhaps that is just me.

I think the book is really lovely (Andy called it “a posh programme” which describes it well)- I think it will be a lovely reminder of the games once they have been here. Plus the information about the different sports is interesting too (and probably handy for a quiz night). The price is £12.99 which I think is pretty good value as it is a pretty good sized book and is packed with information, not just a load of photos.

The book is being launched on the 18th April, and to help launch the book the publishing group are getting people to put their burning questions to 4 time gold medalist and legendary sportsman, Matthew Pinsent. The best questions will be asked to him on the 18th April, and people can win signed copies of the book too! Exciting!

If you are on Twitter (I am not, so I hope I explain it properly) you can tweet @carltonbookspr using the hash tag #AskMatthewAnything. You can also leave the comments at the bottom of this post, or on my facebook page, and I will email them on.

So, what would you ask to Matthew Pinsent? Are you excited about the Olympics? If you got tickets, what are you going to see? And anyone else planning on going in for any of the free events? 

Baking for swapping!

I was so excited when Tam posted about her blogger cookie swap. I took part in it when I had first started blogging, and it was fun. I need no excuse to bake, plus you get to receive a surprise in the post too- what could be better?

I could not decide what to make, and in the end made 3 types to send off.

I had my eye on this nutty apple loaf recipe from Hummingbird for ages, and decided to make mini loaves with the recipe.

I also decided to make some cookies (using the Millies Cookies recipe)- I used dried cherries and carob as I love that combo.

The recipe made a lot, but luckily I was seeing some friends on Saturday, and one of them cannot have chocolate, so these were perfect.

An awful lot!

I also made some peanut chocolate squares. These were based on the minty brownies (from Sweet Vegan ) but I made a sort of peanut caramel for the centre by mixing peanut butter with some brown rice syrup, heating it up, and adding a little icing sugar to thicken.

This was poured on the base.

And then left to set.

Then I made a topping by melting some dark chocolate with some dark chocolate peanut butter (it makes the best topping ever) and then sprinkling with white chocolate stars.

So pretty 🙂

Then I packed them all up and sent them off. As I made 3 recipes I had a lot of spare, so my freezer has quite a few baked goods in it now!

Today I received my parcel in exchange 🙂

It was packaged up so prettily- with strawberries on the box. Tam has made me some lovely peanut butter buttons (which I was so tempted to try before breakfast, but I did wait until just before lunch to sample (but I did not take a photo- too busy munching!) and they are amazing) and also some carnival cookies. She also included the recipes-(and a recipe card) thanks so much!

I love taking part in this, so thanks Tamzin for organising it 🙂

If you like baking, why do you think you enjoy it so much? To coin an Early Years Teaching phrase, “it’s the process not the product” and I think that is why I enjoy it so much. Of course I do enjoy eating the baked goods too, but actually it is reading the recipe books, weighing out ingredients, mixing it all up, and of course the lovely smell it creates too, that I most enjoy.

WIAW- loving Spring

Hello! I cannot believe how fast the weeks are going by now. I will be back at work before I know it!

Breakfast:

This has been my favourite breakfast recently- bircher muesli (sort of)- soaking muesli and chia seeds in almond milk overnight, with some raspberries (or sometimes peaches) and almonds, and then sprinkling on cinnamon in the morning.

Lunch:

Some home-made rye sourdough (Andy sliced them really thick so I had to toast it twice) with almond butter, apple and persimmon (4 for £1 at Asda- even cheaper than Sainsbury’s which do 3 for £1).

Plus some hazelnut chocolate.

Dinner:

Return of the bean wrap! Although I bake it open so I get lots of filling and not so much wrap! With salad and balsamic dressing.

At least there was green in my dinner (salad and green peppers) and of course I had mint tea for breakfast! Sorry Jenn I didn’t really manage the theme this week!

Dessert:

A pot of strawberry frozen yoghurt! This was lovely (and it was full too- Andy had some)- I love freeze dried strawberries and they were sprinkled on top. They also do a blueberry one sprinkled with pumpkin seeds which sounds like a fab combo too.

I have been loving this sunny weather!

My sunglasses have been making a regular appearance for my walks!

I have been going on one or two walks each day, and they are getting a bit longer too (well, I am going further not slower). This weather is making it easy to get outside, and I don’t even need a coat at the moment! I might even need to start making iced tea again.

Soon I will be able to crack out my sandals and some of my friends were quite surprised last year that I didn’t paint my toenails. So, would you have “bare” toenails or not? 

Baking Mad for Easter!

Yes, it is another baking post today (and there is another one to come!).

As I have been home alone a lot, I have been trying to stay away from daytime TV, but I came across a baking show that is shown over lunchtimes (called Baking Mad), so I started watching it. They have a website (bakingmad.com) which is jam packed with recipes, competitions (exciting), kids baking tips, offers and even a forum.

They have lovely seasonal sections too, so if you were looking for an Easter cake to make, there are loads to choose from. How about an Easter carrot cake? Sounds yummy.

Anyway, I decided to make some Easter simnel brownies. These are brownies with dried fruit, and topped with marzipan- my favourite!

It was a super easy recipe-  a tray bake (which I love anyway) plus like my best brownie recipe, it was made in a pan. You did have to soak the dried fruits first, but that is easy too- you just need to allow a little time. I love it when the chocolate melts. I used some Fair-trade 70% dark chocolate from Aldi.

It is 99p for 100g, which is not too bad for Fair-trade I don’t think, but as the recipe needed 300g it meant the recipe was a bit expensive to make (totally worth it though).

Yum- the chocolate smells amazing!

Then (once the eggs, flour and dried fruits have been added) it gets topped with marzipan. The recipe said grated marzipan, but I just chopped it into chunks. I think I would have had to freeze the marzipan before grating it. Anyway, as I love marzipan so much, big chunks can only be a good thing!

They are then baked, left to cool,and then refridgerated overnight. Yes, this recipe needs patience!

It was hard to resist picking the marzipan off the top!

Ooops, a bit of a blurry photo. Anyway, they sliced very well and were still gooey in the middle- nice and chewy like a brownie should be. I was not sure how the dried fruit would go, but they were lovely- a bit like Christmas cake crossed with a brownie. Marzipan and chocolate are fab together anyway, so it was a great combo. Plus much easier than making an actual simnel cake. I had marzipan and dried fruits left over from making Christmas cakes and stollen and things, so it was good to use some of them up as I don’t think they will last until next year.

I have saved the recipe into the “my recipe book” tab of the site, as they were very popular at Sunday tea and I am sure I will make the recipe again.

Also when you look at a recipe, there are more suggestions at the bottom showing other recipes you might like, so I have spent hours clicking from recipe to recipe 🙂

Do you ever make anything special for Easter? I used to love making those little chocolate nests with shredded wheat and mini eggs at school, and I sometimes make hot cross buns, but it has never been traditional to really do anything for Easter, unlike making a Christmas cake which is a must-do for me.