January 11, 2010

Sticky

I have spent most of the day today working on my neighbours website, not really building it as such but adding content. She's not really got a clue as to what to put in there so I've being doing some draft copy to give her a point in the right direction. To be honest, it takes quite a bit of time to do and all of the morning is eaten up contemplating and editing and getting a bit bored :)

I also do some other work that comes through and by the time it's 3PM I've completed everything that I needed to do today so I decide to do some baking.

When Phil's parents came over at Christmas they brought stacks of food with them, including some dates that I'd not gotten around to eating so thought it'd be nice to use them up somehow, and as it happens, Delia has a nice recipe for a Sticky Date and Walnut Loaf that I thought I'd give a go.

I need a few other ingredients that I don't have, like dark treacle and golden syrup so I go out and get those things that I do not yet posses and when I get home set about making up the cake. The recipe states to use a 2lb loaf tin but the last time I made such a big cake I was struggling to eat it all before it was getting to it's best before date so this time I plump for two 1lb loaf tins instead. It was a bit of a weird cake to make and a tricky one too considering just how much a pain in the arse treacle and syrup can be to handle and dates are a real nusience to chop up too since they are also sticky! I can see where the cake got it's name from! Anyway, after a tiny struggle the mixture made it into the tins and was plonked in the oven for about an hour to cook.

I have got to say, the struggle was worth it in the end. I tried a bit of the cake after it'd cooled and it was delicious! So much so I took the second loaf around to my neighbours to try out. The recipe states that the cake is better after it's been left a couple of days, so if it tastes this good now I can't wait till Thursday! :)

If anyone wants the recipe mail me as it appears that it's not on Delia's website. Boo!

Posted by Abi at 8:35 PM | Comments (0)

January 4, 2010

New Year, New Regime

Admittedly there is no excuse for the sever lack of postings to this blog since err November, but in fairness with the run up to Christmas and other things happening not really been much time to create posts.

I've also noticed that getting any more than a week behind means I am less likely to try and catch up as it seems so much work to do so and my memory is dross.

A quick summary in chronological order then of things that have happened since my last post:-

1. I had my arthroscopy done and they discovered I had a bucket handle tear in my cartiledge. I have since then spent the time recovering and only now after 6 weeks it feels like there might have been some advantage to having the op done in the first place.
2. My friend Brian passed away after a year long battle with cancer.
3. The UK was in the grip of avalanche levels of snow fall causing chaos and mayhem everywhere, with the exception of where we live
4. We have had 2 visits from Phil's parents, a pre Christmas visit and a last minute decision for them to join us over the festive period which was lovely!
5. I've discovered a new hobby, knitting.
6. We spent a lovely New Year at the Gardners, celebrating the arrival of 2010 with a home cooked Thai banquet curtosy of Paul and enjoyed marvelling over Cara's incredible hulk impression

Phil and I have also decided to get back to the sensible eating and trying to get to the gym when we can, but we are going to take a bit more of a relaxed approach to it in the belief that it is better to be a willing participant without any feelings of deprivation than begrudging every effort we make to try and have a healthier lifestyle.

I've also decided to try and update my blog daily... as I think this year is going to be one I'll want to look back on with fondness, so here is what I got up to today.

First things first and I caught up with some work that had be festering over the holiday period, not that I could get that much of it done as I was waiting on some confirmations before I started any work which didn't come through until the end of the day where I wasn't inclined to start a big chunk of photoshop madness.

So, in the interim I went out shopping and got some bits and pieces from the supermarket, mainly a few additional ingredients so I could bake a cake and use up some bananas that had gone past their best by baking a banana and walnut loaf, thanks to Delia once again! I also popped into the vets to get a wormer for Rupert and some flea treatment as he's due to be re-dosed on both counts this week, lucky him!

With the cake cooking I also started on making a lamb stew which will also use up the extra veg that didn't get used over Christmas and new year (can you spot another theme for 2010, waste not want not!).

I also managed to get my graphics tablet set up with the laptop again as it had been wiped when we installed windows 7, and with that working I was able to get a thing or 2 done for Phil that he'd asked me to get on with, one of those job which have a tendency to linger until you must absolutely do them to make any progress with other things! Anyway, it's all working now so no need to panic next time I need it.

I have also made a start on taking down some of the decorations, mainly lights and tinsel and will work my way through the rest of them this week, pack them up and put them in the attic ready for 12 months time yet again.

Anyway, tea is now cooking so I'd better keep an eye on it... I wonder if I can get another couple of rows of knitting in tonight...

Posted by Abi at 7:03 PM | Comments (0)