Easter Baking

 

I've been busy in the kitchen this morning.  There are certain recipes that I will always associate with Easter, such as these delightful Easter cupcakes, decorated with mini eggs.  What better combination than 70% organic chocolate ganache and chocolate cake?

 

Other recipes may not be traditional Easter bakes, but more of a twist on the theme.  I have made a Simnel cake in the past, but it was not my favourite recipe.  Instead, I've taken the theme of fruit cake with marzipan, but used Nigella's recipe for Marzipan Fruit Cake from How To Be A Domestic Goddess.

 

 

This is a moist and delicious fruit cake and I'm looking forward to enjoying it with a cup of tea.  Care to join me?  I'll put the kettle on.

Vintage Knits

In amongst the chaos of continual snow clearance, I have maintained my sanity through knitting.  I took a break from Snowflake and started a new project from Vintage Gifts to Knit.  I'm making this sweet little jacket.

I am a little concerned that it seems to be knitting up on the small side, but the tension seems to be correct. I'm hoping that it will stretch out once completed, as it looks like a piece of corrugated cardboard at present.  I just love this rose pink yarn.

Snow

Do you notice a theme here?  All I seem to be able to blog about at the moment is the endless snow.  Last Wednesday, it looked like this (above) and it seemed like a thaw had set in.  It really felt like spring was in the air.

On Sunday morning, we awoke to this.  Is there no end to it?  I don't think that I can dig any more this year.  My back feels like it is about to break.

Blizzard Warning

The warnings started last week, but the reality of the latest storm took everybody by surprise.  In the last 24 hours, we have seen 70 cm of snow (more than 2 feet!) and that came on top of Sunday's storm.

We awoke to see snow everywhere.  Even though our drive was ploughed last night, there was no way that we could get out this morning, as strong winds had created huge drifts.

This was the view from our living room window.  The drive was somewhere behind the van....we have been relying on the kindness of neighbours to dig us out since my husband's surgery in Janaury, but this time there was just too much snow and nowhere left to put it.

We had to wait until lunchtime when we managed to get someone with a plough to clear it.

It may officially be spring at the end of the week, but there is no sign of it arriving any time soon.

This is the view of our back garden shed and the neighbour's swing set, almost completely buried in snow.  I am at the point where I never want to see snow again, but I have a feeling that it may be around for many weeks to come.

Snowflake

Progress has been painfully slow.  I can't seem to find the time to sit down and knit for many hours at a time, so I'm still on the second sleeve.  It looks like this sweater will not be finished in time for this winter, but maybe next.  I hadn't anticipated that it would take so many months to complete. 

Once the sleeve is finished, I still have the collar to knit....

The last few weeks have been brutal, with storm after storm.  My back can't take any more digging out.  Little wonder that I can't find time to knit.

Homesickness

LEARNING TO LOVE YOU

(ODE TO THE YORKSHIRE MOORS)

Your large expanses form a contrast 

To the stark white sky onto which you open yourself.

You are the chair of an exclusive club,

Seat of the heavens, 

Home to wild horses, to Cathy and Heathcliff, 

Dog walkers, writers, and early risers. 

You are beautiful, but unforgiving. 

It takes effort to reach your heart, 

Tearing the clothes from my hot skin 

Only to clutch them tightly again 

As the cooling sweat raises goosebumps. 

Instead of braving the gradients

I was content to grow restless in the valley, 

Awaiting my escape into the big busy world. 

But despite myself, I miss you.

I miss the unforgiving wilderness 

And the wind shocking the pink into my cheeks. 

You're wild and wily –

You got deep under my skin. 

And like a nagging, itching feeling, 

You're calling me home.

Poppy Turner

The longer that I am away from home, the more homesick I become.  Poppy's beautiful poem transported me straight back to the Yorkshire Moors.  I did brave the gradients and walked over many moors and dales when I lived in Yorkshire.  They got deep under my skin.

They are definitely calling me home...

Love

For Valentine's Day this weekend: homemade custard creams from a recipe in Feast by Nigella Lawson.  Far superior to the shop-bought versions and highly recommended.