How Do You Like Yours?

As today is Shrove Tuesday, I thought that we would have some pancakes.  Although I enjoy them, they are something that I only make once a year.

After preparing the batter in advance and allowing it time to rest, I set to work.

At one time, my mum used to serve us pancakes with Llye's Golden Syrup.  I suppose in some ways, my tastes haven't matured all that much, as I now enjoy mine with Nutella.

 They were very good and a real treat!  Did you have pancakes today?  How do you like yours?

Choose Joy

 

Keeping with this year's joy theme, I've been trying to put this post together for a week, but I've had issues with downloading photos from the camera and uploading them to Blogger.  Watching a raccoon, which I spotted in a tree outside our window.  They tend to be nocturnal creatures, but this one was out and about in daylight.  He obligingly posed for a photo, though I think that he was watching our bird feeder.  

 

Our daily bread - freshly baked at home and enjoyed whilst still warm - with butter, of course.

 Sunrise on a cold morning.  The sky went from pink to orange faster than I could find the camera!

Finally getting my Christmas photos processed (am I the only one who has digital photos on the computer, but don't get around to getting prints?) I keep a Christmas memories book and I'm a bit slow at updating it this year.

Custard Creams

What can you make with a heart cutter and a corn holder?  Custard cream hearts, of course!  

This is a favourite Nigella recipe from Feast and very simple to make, though requiring a lot of patience to make all those holes!

Definitely worth the effort for Valentine's Day.

Walk 1,000 Miles - Weeks 5 & 6

The best-laid plans don't always work out and my plan to walk on a daily basis certainly hasn't during the last two weeks.  I've had one of those viruses which is still lingering and has resulted in my feeling breathless and coughing with the slightest exertion.  

At the moment, I'm trying to take the time to feel better and not worry about weekly totals.  If I feel like a short walk, I'll take one and if not, I'll wait until I feel well enough to resume the 1,000 mile challenge.

Everyday Joy

Joy has been a bit thin on the ground for more than a week because I've been fighting a virus.  In an effort to boost my intake of fresh vegetables, and at the same time enjoy something that has some flavour, I made tabbouleh from The Little Book of Lunch.  This is a recipe that I've been intending to try for ages, but never actually did until now.  Although I cut down on the onion, I think that it still requires less, as even a third of a red onion is a bit overpowering.

Marie Soderberg's book arrived at the library and so I've been reading a bit more about hygge.  The cover of this book is a joy to behold and I found a couple of recipes inside which I plan to try at a later date.

Last Wednesday morning dawned with a dusting of snow on the trees.  I was actually awake long before dawn due to my cold symptoms, but I must admit to feeling more than a little relieved that I didn't have to go anywhere and could stay at home under a blanket.  There is definitely something joyful in being cosy and at home on a winter's morning.

In the kitchen again at the weekend and I finally perfected my raspberry scones.  I discovered that the secret to a successful scone is to use frozen berries rather than fresh.  They are delicious with a cup of tea and I'm still enjoying them because I'm the only one who likes raspberries and I put them in the freezer to reheat in the oven whenever I fancy one.

Back to the weather and this was yesterday morning.  We got home just as the weather turned nasty with freezing rain frosting the trees - suspended water droplets on every branch.  What a relief to be warm indoors again!