Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Aunt Cynthia's cheese puffs


Aunt Cynthia’s cheese puffs

2 cups flour
3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
Pinch salt
1 teaspoon powdered mustard (prepared is fine too)
1 tablespoon sugar
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups grated cheese
Mix together in a bowl, then in separate bowl, mix
1 egg
3 Tablespoons oil
1 ½ cups of milk
Together now “cut it into” the dry ingredients by pouring it in the center and using a smooth blade knife (butter knife) cut through and turn the dough over till it is mixed. Don’t overmix or you will “kill” the baking powder
Spoon into mini muffin pans and bake 400 * for about 7-8 minutes till lightly golden may take a bit longer if your muffin pans are bigger

Banana Bread


Banana bread
3 ripe bananas
1/3 cup oil
2/3 cups of sugar
Mix above well in large bowl
Add
2 eggs
½ cup chopped nuts or 2 heaped tablespoons peanut butter
1 cup flour  (your choice)
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
Pinch of salt
Bake in loaf pan at 375 degrees about 45 minutes till golden and cake tester comes out clean

Monday, July 16, 2012

Rain


Rain
We have been having a lot of rain of late. Almost as if there is a tropical storm hanging around. I am not complaining mind you, as we need the rain and it mostly doesn’t bother me much except when a thunder clap goes off right next to my house and I jump, oh what 6 -8 inches in the air. But still we are being blessed and it is fun. Well yesterday I walked to the mail boxes at the end of the street as usual and boy was it busy everyone was out and about in the few bits of sunshine we were having.
Firstly (about that jumping thing I mentioned well) I was strolling past my neighbor’s house and suddenly there was a huge rustle right next to me. I looked at the tree and there sat Mr. Woodpecker in all his splendor. His plume was bright red and he just sat there and looked at me, even when I spoke to him he just hopped around in much the same place, turning his head to get a better view. Perhaps he was wondering why my hair was so boring and white.
 Then the squirrels were out and about and also not in too much of a hurry or scurry to escape my approach, almost as if the weather had them drugged into a false sense of complacency. I almost tripped over a butterfly, who was ambling along, about a foot above the path and seemed to be following the path ahead of me. Made me think of that line in the movie with Meg Ryan about the butterfly getting on the subway and getting off at Sachs to buy a hat. ( from you’ve got mail)
Then I saw soooo many birds and they were all calling and chirping and making a huge racket, it was wonderful.
A few days ago I did see the hawks and the squirrel dancing down by the mail boxes. I saw the hawk swoop and thought, oops there goes a squirrel, but no. the hawk missed and returned to it’s perch in a low branch to watch. Then it tried again and this time the squirrel reared up and actually sort of attacked the hawk and it backed down and went back to its perch.  That was when I noticed a second hawk. He squirrel made a mad dash for the tree and they both chased it around the trunk as t scurried up and into the thicker part of the tree that they can’t get into. I was really amazed and thought, wow I would never have thought the squirrel could win that one. Maybe it is because I am suspecting that is the enchanted clearing.
Well it is where the mushroom circle was last week. I mean I wonder why they always grow in a circle. Have no real clue but have noticed it often. Actually there is a mushroom circle in my neighbor’s yard right now. The one down the road and this one too have something in common. They seem to develop on one side thicker and larger than the other and I wonder is this a class difference like living on the wrong side of the circle?
Well it is that time of day and the thunder storm is rolling past my window chatting away and periodically scarring the whillies out of me. I am glad the guys came to mow today and managed to get it done in the sunshine window.
 Well hoping your summer is as fun as mine

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Milk tart


Milk tart
I cheat and use a pie shell already made like Pillsbury roll out and bake
Bake the pie shell empty and then fill with the following mixture

4 Tablespoons sugar
1 pint of milk (2 cups)
3Tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with a small amount of cold milk to a thin paste
Pinch of salt
2 Tablespoons of butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs separated and beat the whites like for meringues. Beat yolks separately
Bring the milk and butter and salt to a boil stir in the vanilla and sugar then remove from heat and add the yolks and then the cornstarch stirring all the time. It should thicken almost immediately if not return to the heat and stir on low till it thickens. Then fold in the egg whites and pour into the pie shell. Sprinkle with cinnamon and cool. Keep refrigerated till you serve it. Best served same day.

Rusks

Rusks
4 cups of flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup sugar
8 teaspoons baking powder
 Sift all the above together or place in a bowl and whisk to add air. (You can add raisins or aniseed or substitute a bit of the flour say ½ cup for Muesli or granola)
 Rub in ¼ # (one stick for the Americans) butter or margarine
Mix 1 cup of Milk and 1 egg together then add to the mixture (you can use Buttermilk)
Make into balls and place in well greased cake pan or pan with high sides
Bake for 35-40 minutes @375 degrees till golden
Allow to cool
Break balls apart and cut in half. Lay on a cookie sheet and dry in low oven about 200 degrees but watch them from time to time. When dry store in airtight container. Serve with a hot drink like hot tea or coffee. Dunking is the acceptable way to eat these. Also used for allowing babies to chew on for teething.
Enjoy

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Hello today I felt like posting a few of my latest pictures.
 I have been taking some Chinese brush painting classes and enjoying them. Meeting new friends and learning a new style


I also did a few for the Weekend Drawing Event on Wet canvas and did this on Yupo




and this is just a watercolour from this week



Hope you enjoy looking at them



Saturday, August 20, 2011

Life

LIFE

When I was little,
days were so long,
As I got older,
that was all wrong.

Now time is precious,
there's never enough,
Guarding each moment,
is sometimes tough.

Life now seems long,
but not quite like before,
Will that all be wrong,
when I go out its door.

Eternity now
I can't quite comprehend,
Where is the beginning,
and where's its end.

When life is eternal,
why do we fuss,
We're not disappearing
just leaving this muss,

Christ is the doorway,
To things not yet seen,
Things more wonderful,
than even our dreams.

We'll be there forever,
and life is so short
It may be tomorrow,
when we too are caught.

Why do we worry
when loved ones go on
It'll only be moments
till we are the one.



Astrid Beyleveld

This is one of the poems I wrote sometime back and thought I should add them here as well