Ginger Biscuits

Ginger Biscuits

.10oz,275g plain flour
2 teaspoon ground ginger
half-teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
4oz, 110g butter
8oz, 225g caster sugar
tablespoon treacle
1 beaten egg
a little granulated sugar
buttered baking tray
Sieve together the flour, bicarb. and spices. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add in the egg and treacle, then add the flour & spices. mix into a dough. Form into little balls, roll these in the granulated sugar and place on the baking tray. Bake in a moderate oven for about 12 minutes

Laughter!

Well they say that laughter is the best medicine and I surely have laughed my head off when I read my nephews blog from Australia! Of all the things to happen! Only half of a custard slice! Good job I wasn't there. I already get accused of slicing cake on a bacon slicer! It's good that they are all having fun though and they will feel so much better for the holiday.

I had another good laugh this morning when I saw the front page of the telegraph. Prince Charles and Camilla were at the inauguration ceremony for a new steam train. A great deal of steam was let off which totally engulfed Camilla. Charles was hysterical with laughter and her face was a picture!

Line Dancing is my latest project. See poster above, so I am busy at the moment.

If you read this Sonia I have already applied for the Saros thing.

sheila x

Chocolate brownies

For those of you who like chocolate...here's a recipe for chocolate brownies
175g, 6oz butter
175g, 6oz unrefined granulated sugar
2 eggs
75g, 3oz self-raising flour
175g, 6oz good dark chocolate
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
Preheat the oven to 180/350/Gas Mark 4
Melt all but 50g of the chocolate, by breaking into small pieces and placing in a bowl, over a saucepan of simmering water. Chop up the remaining chocolate into little pieces, and set aside.
Cream the butter and sugar. Beat the eggs, and add a little at a time, mixing well. Fold in the flour and cocoa powder. Mix in the melted chocolate.
Grease a baking tray, and line the bottom with baking parchment. Put the mixture into the baking tray, and bake for 30-35 minutes. Allow to cool for an hour before dividing into squares.

diabetes.

Yesterday I was visited by a researcher who is working for the council who in turn are researching for the world health authority. I must say it was very interesting to talk about food and the role it plays in the scheme of things. One of the things, which may interest my nephew in the U.S, was that their researchers have found that the more people are told what to eat and not eat, the more they resist. Could this be the case I asked? yes she said. It is born out in some of the quotes that people make about "food Police" and "Vegetarian fascism" I can only speak for myself, and I consider myself an expert on diets, having tried them all, the more I am told that I can't have something, the more I want that thing. I guess I am weak willed but hey I'm alive and can't be bothered with the guilt that people try to lay on me.! Anyway I expect to see the researcher back again this morning. We were so in to it that she left her coat behind when she went!
The weather is still being a pain. As soon as one lot of snow melts, another lot comes. Could be worse I suppose. Those poor people in Australia, caught up in the bush fires. Thank goodness it's not affecting S&M and S&S. I keep getting missives from Sonia telling me how wonderful it is. I'm glad it all worked out after all the travel traumas.
Have just made some orange marmalade and when I come back from the hairdressers I shall have a go at some made with grapefruits.
More later
Sheila x

Hazelnut and oat biscuits

A warm kitchen is very inviting right now. And inspiration struck after noticing some hazelnuts left over from Christmas lurking at the back of a cupboard; the only downside was having to crack all those shells!
It's a simple recipe...I like to make biscuits that only need forming by hand, no rolling and cutting out involved...easy or what?!
8oz SR flour
4oz butter
4oz sugar
2oz chopped hazelnuts
1oz porridge oats
1 beaten egg
1 tbsp milk
few drops vanilla essence
Rub butter into flour. Stir in the sugar, hazelnuts and oats.Add the the beaten egg, milk and vanilla essence.With floured hands, form balls of the mixture and press lightly onto a greased baking tray. Bake at 160C, gas mark 3 for about 10 minutes.

further travails

Sonia and Michael finally managed to get on a flight to Heathrow. Once on the plane they sat on the runway for an hour because there were no landing slots available at Heathrow. Anyway they are there now and ensconced in a hotel which they found with some difficulty.Tomorrow, all being well, they will fly to Brunei.
more when there is more.
Sheila x

The travails of Sonia & Michael

Yesterday S&M set off on the first leg of their journey to Australia. The snow was the worst for 18 years but they managed to get on the train to the airport thanks to muneer. however they were diverted to Manchester because the toilets weren't working! This meant they had to drag their luggage across the platforms to get on another airport train. They eventually arrived at the airport only to be told that Heathrow was closed, due to snow and would remain so for the foreseeable future. they had no choice but to try and get in a hotel. After a long search they eventually found a very expensive room in the Hilton which they took. The people at the airport said that they had definitely missed their flight on Royal Brunei and probably wouldn't get on the next one because there were only 3 seats left and they were in first class which was several classes above the class that s&m had booked. I think it fair to say that they were a little despondent at this stage although they now have the age and maturity to try and let it all wash over them as it's all out of their hands.
Meanwhile the country has come to a standstill. We on the other hand have had no snow and today is bright sunshine.
Telephone call this morning from Sonia to say that they have managed to get on a flight to Heathrow this afternoon at 5pm and have been given seats on the Royal Brunei tomorrow morning.This means that they can have one night instead of two in Brunei and still get their flight to Australia. All they have to do is find a hotel for tonight at Heathrow.
Thats the latest bulletin. More when I hear more
Sheila x