Victoria Sponge

A few weeks ago I wanted to make a cake quickly and decided to try this recipe. I admit, I wasn't a huge fan of Victoria Sponge cakes as I've found them quite dry in the past but this recipe has certainly changed that opinion. It's delicious and so easy to make!  Big thank you to Mary Berry for changing my mind and for this recipe :o)

Victoria Sponge

225g (8 oz)  Butter or Marg
225g (8 oz)  Self Raising flour
225g (8 oz)  Caster Sugar
2 tsp Baking Powder
4 eggs

Lightly grease 2 x 8" sandwich tins (deep sided) and line the bases with parchment paper. Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4.
Put all the ingredients into a large bowl and beat for approximately 2 minutes with an electric mixer until the mixture is blended. (This can of course be beaten by hand but may take longer than 2 minutes).
Divide the mixture evenly between the two tins and level the surface with the back of a metal spoon.
Bake for about 25 minutes, until well risen and golden.
Leave the cakes in the ins for a few minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the tkns to free the sides of the cakes. Turn out on to wire racks, peel off the paper and leave to cool completely.

For the filling and topping
About 4 tablespoons of jam (strawberry or raspberry)
A little caster sugar

Choose the cake with the best top, then put the other cake top downwards on a serving plate. Spread with jam, put the other cake on top (top upwards) and sprinkle with caster sugar to serve.

Recipe taken from Mary Berry's Simple Cakes

Well worth making :o)

xx

Alice

Alice is such a funny little girl.  I was washing some dishes the other day when she decided she wanted to splash in the water.  I emptied the dirty water and put some clean water in for her then picked her up to sit at the side of the sink - thinking she was going to put her hands in and splash around. Oh no ;o)  she started putting her feet in! A bit of quick thinking and her trousers and sleeves were pulled up to be on the safe side. 

 It all started off quite gently but it didn't take long before the splashing became a lot more energetic.

 These photos don't do it any justice as they were all taken soon after she went in to splash. After a short time I had to put down my camera and be ready to steady or catch if required because Alice was standing up and having a great time.

 Slowly the clothes were stripped off as they became wet, first the trousers and top, then the vest and finally the nappy! She had us in stitches as she splashed and soaked us - the sponge became her shower and was held above her head and the water squeezed over her hair.

 Even Megan found Alice's antics amusing :)

 In the end I'd had to take her out because she was cold, her feet and hands were like prunes and she was covered in goosebumps. Fortunately after being towelled dry we could put her in her pyjamas and get her warmed up again.

I wish I'd had a video camera to hand, it would have made a great little film for when she's older.

xx

Claire's birthday

Of our three children, Claire has always been the one who loves her birthday - no matter how old she is.  The excitement starts weeks in advance and builds up to the day itself - with regular reminders along the way of how long it is till her birthday and a countdown for the last 10 days or so.  

Tuesday was Claire's birthday! We started the day off quite early with breakfast at Wetherspoons in town.  The last time Emily and I went for breakfast Claire had commented that she also wanted to go for breakfast, so it seemed like a good way to start her day.

By the time we got back to our house I think both Alice and Claire were more than ready to get the present opening started.  If Claire thought she'd get to open her presents herself, she should have known better ;o)  

I know a hoover/vacuum cleaner doesn't seem like a very exciting present but I'm happy to say Claire did like it! She'd been wanting a new cleaner since she moved into her new house so I knew it would come in handy if nothing else.

As it was, a couple of days before when we were talking to Alice about it being Mummy's birthday soon and she'd be opening her presents, Alice had piped up and said "And I'll be opening my presents too!!"  Oops!  Needless to say Grandma then went out to get Alice a present so she'd have something to open.  Alice's present was also a hoover - the same as Mummy's but miniature.  She doesn't like hoovers and I was hoping this would make it seem more fun but I'm not sure that it's worked.

Claire also got Photoshop Elements 11 because her trial version had run out and she'd got used to using it. Seeing as she's been doing Project Life this year I know it'll be something she'll use.  

Caught this one of Claire and Alice as they sat in the bay windown - hence the blown out background.

 Megan couldn't be left out so she also got a little present on Mummy's birthday but in this shot you'd think Mummy was enjoying it more (lol)

 It fell to Emily to bring the birthday cake in this year.  Megan was quite fascinated with the candles.

 Uncle Hugh had to pick Alice up to let her help with blowing out the candles

 and because blowing them out once is never enough, we had to light them again! (I love the expression on Megan's face in this one!) 
The balloon is a big hit with the little ones.  We weren't sure if Megan could see her reflection in it but she lay looking at the balloon for ages.

Megan is certainly a Mummy's girl and Claire gets lots of smiles and chuckles from her. We are so proud of Claire and the way she's bringing up her two little girls. They are absolutely delightful and such a credit to her. They're very lucky to have her as their Mummy :)

xx

Hello Monday

HELLO to the second week of half term.
HELLO to Jon starting a new contract - only a 5 minute drive from home.
HELLO to Claire's 23rd birthday on Tuesday :)


HELLO to Chinese take away for Claire's birthday.
HELLO to only 2 weeks on Tuesday till Norma and Caelen arrive.
HELLO to lunch with the coffee ladies on Thursday.
HELLO to starting to do the painting I didn't get round to doing last week.
HELLO to getting back to doing some course work.
HELLO to another week of Clean and Simple and possibly another layout made.

xx