Banana & Raisin Loaf

8oz Wholemeal Self Raising Flour

4oz butter

3 oz caster sugar

5oz Raisins

2 bananas, mashed roughly

2 eggs, beaten

2 tbsp honey

Gas mark 3, 160 C/  325 F

Grease a 2lb loaf tin and line with grease proof paper, (I use a greaseproof liner)

Put flour in a bowl with butter and rub with fingertips until resembles fine breadcrumbs

Stir the sugar, raisins, beaten egg and honey into the dry ingredients. 

Mix together to form a soft dropping consistency.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin, level the surface with the back  of a knife.

Bake in the preheated oven for about an 1 hour or until golden and a fine metal skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Leave the loaf to cool in the tin then transfer to a wire rack.

The loaf can be served warm or cold cut into slices

The loaf will keep for several days if stored in an airtight container and keep in a cool, dry place

My first knitting attempts

After getting a lovely lot knitting equipment from my daughter for Christmas, I decided to have a go.

I looked at all the lovely shiny needles and balls of yarn and thought that I must try them out,  so what to knit first?.  After lots of  debating of what to start with, I decided on beany hats.

I did a lot of unpicking and cussing but soon got the hang of it again, in fact, I quite enjoyed it.

So what to knit next?

Watch this space..



Here are a couple of photos of the end results ...

I have advanced since this blog entry and taught myself to crochet too .. just to prove it here are a few examples of my other projects..

A baking day

Yesterday, I decided to have a baking day, so on went the apron and the chaos began, I love to bake but I am just a little untidy and not only does the flour go into the baking but on the floor as well...

So here folks are the end results..

                                                              Mincement Slices..

6oz butter

6oz soft brown sugar

8oz Self Raising Flour

4oz oats

half a jar of mincement

1oz sultanas

Gas Mark 6 / 200c / 400f .. cook for 25 - 30 mins

Cream butter and sugar together and then add flour and oats, stir until mixture forms rough breadcrumbs, sprinkle half the mixture over the base of a baking tin - lightly press down - spread mincement, and sultanas over the base and then sprinkle over the remaining mix, bake for 25 - 30 mins or until golden - allow to cool and then cut into slices

These can also be just as tasty with Jam or Lemon Curd in the middle...

After getting in the swing of making a mess in the kitchen, I went on to make sponge cakes...

 Here's how they came out of the oven and then with a little butter and icing sugar they look a little tastier !

Recipe for  Sponge Cakes

6oz Self Raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

6oz caster sugar

6oz butter or soft margarine

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Gas Mark 5/6 - 200c / 400f bake for 15- 20 mins

I use the no nonsense method, put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix with a hand mixer until well mixed, put into muffin cases in a muffin tin and bake for the time above ...

Butter Icing

2oz butter

4oz icing sugar

half teaspoon vanilla extract

                                      Mix all ingredients together until nice and creamy

Cut off the top of the sponge cakes, put on a little jam and then top with the butter cream and finish with a shaking of icing sugar..

                                                                                           Enjoy

Rock Drops

7oz (200g)  plain flour

2 tspn baking powder

4 oz (100g) butter..cut into small pieces

3 oz (75g) demerara sugar

5 oz (125g) mixed dried fruit..

(I used a combination of Sultanas, cherries apricots, cranberries I also put in a few walnuts)

I beaten egg

2 tbspn milk

Lightly grease a baking/ cookie tray 

Sieve the flour and baking powder together into a mixing bowl.  Rub in the butter with your fingers until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs

Stir in the sugar and mixture of fruits 

Add the beaten egg and the milk into the mixture and bring together to form a soft dough

Spoon 8 mounds of the mixture on to the baking tray, making sure that they are spaced well apart as they will spread during cooking

Bake in a preheated oven 200 C/400 F/GM6, for about 15-20 minutes until firm to the touch when pressed with a finger

Remove the rock drops from the baking tray.  Either serve piping hot from the oven or transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool before serving.

These are very easy to make and  I can confirm that they wont be in the cake tin for long!!!

Greetings Cards

I make all my own greeting cards, I have lots of  ideas in my head, some don't turn out quite like I had in mind but it is always an original!

I would recommend everyone to have a go at making their own creations as it is always so much nicer giving a card that is made personally for that special person...

Here a few of my creations...

Here are a few Christmas Cards ....

My cards are very plain, some people go in for very complicated designs but whatever you decided to do I can confirm that the person you make the card for are always pleased that you have taken the time to made something just for them...

My Patchwork Quilt

I made this memory quilt from odd bits of materials obtained from people who meant a lot to me, mainly materials from my two children's outgrown clothing.

I can look at the quilt and have lovely memories of times when the children wore the clothes that I used

The quilt took me 10 years to make and I made lots of mistakes but I am quite proud of the end result.

I have now started another one and fingers crossed it doesn't take so long this time. 

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