A recipe for today

I've just made this apple cake and can't wait to try it - it smells delicious.

DORSET APPLE CAKE

1 large Bramley apple (cooking apple), about 225g

225g self raising flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp mixed spice (I added a little more)

125g cold butter, diced

125g caster sugar, plus 1 tbsp for dredging

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

2 medium eggs, beaten

Preheat the oven to 190C, 375F, Gas mark 5 and lightly grease a 20cm/8in springform cake tin.

Peel the apple, cut into quarters and remove the core. Reserve one of the apple quarters and dice the rest.

Sift the flour, baking powder and mixed spice into a large bowl.

Rub in the diced butter to form fine breadcrumbs.

Stir in the sugar, diced apple and lemon zest, then gradually stir in the beaten eggs to form a stiff mixture.

Spoon into the prepared tin and level the surface with the back of a spoon.

Thinly slice the reserved apple quarter and arrange on top of the cake.

Bake for 30 - 40 minutes, until springy to the touch. Dredge with the remaining sugar, then leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes.

Turn out on to a wire rack to cool completely.

Slice and serve with clotted cream.

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After getting a taste of spring recently, it was a bit of a shock to the system to have it raining again today. Claire and I wanted to go into town and Alice didn't have any choice ;o) - fortunately, Claire had found a little jacket when she was sorting through Alice's clothes the other day and today she got to wear it for the first time :o)  

 She certainly didn't seem to mind having it on.

Another cute photo of Claire/Mummy and Alice :o)

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Jon should be home shortly and it'll be time for us to head out for dinner ;o).  
When we get back I'm looking forward to chatting to Deb on Skype for the first time.  

xx

This week

Alice is 17 weeks today or 4 calendar months tomorrow.

 She started on solids on Monday and although she wasn't that keen on just baby rice, she seemed to really enjoy the baby rice mixed with stewed apples that she had on Tuesday (when these photos were taken)

 The time is going so quickly but it's lovely to see all the milestones happening.

 By this stage she had her mouth open waiting for the next spoonful and got quite excited about it :)

Daddy also got a chance to feed her some of her food.

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I've :

Been doing a bit more sewing on Alice's quilt; 

Started a new log cabin block where you quilt as you go

Been doing some knitting (a 9 - 12 month cardigan - might take me that long to finish :) )

Been moving the kitchen around a bit (or rather Craig has) and had a new drawer unit fitted after our old one collapsed.

Been helping my parents with Skype and chatting to Norma in SA. And today, I got to speak to Amy on Skype as she happened to be on line when I got to my computer this morning. Thank you for the chat Amy, so nice to be able to see you and hear you talking.

I hope you've had a good week so far too - whatever you've been doing. :)

xx

How time flies!

I don't know where the time goes these days. It seems no sooner has Jon left for Milton Keynes on a Monday morning than I'm saying Friday tomorrow so I'll see you then! Where did Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday disappear to?  Of course I do have a very cute granddaughter and I get distracted very easily ;o) 

When she smiles and chuckles like this we all stop what we're doing :o)

Sitting with Daddy in the evening 

And in her pretty dress given to her by her Godmother, Lauren.

Having a little bit of tummy time

and playing with toys :o)

I did get the chance to make Mel's Malteser cake last week. Let me warn you, it's quite fatal! Once you start eating you just want one more little piece! The recipe itself was really easy and I can see it's one I'll be making again! Thanks Mel :o)

Mum and I also managed to squeeze in a bit of retail therapy last week at The Craft Barn in Lingfield. We walked in to a warm welcome from my friend Sarah. I didn't think she worked Fridays but her days have changed and it was a lovely surprise to get to see her as well as do some shopping. I got a bargain on a Bind It All ~ now I just need to learn how to use it ;o).

On that note I'll end off for now and get a move on with the quilting I need to finish before I start anything else.  Hopefully it won't be as long before I post again :o(

What have I been doing??

Well, apart from the usual - washing, ironing and housework - I've been shopping ;)

 where I couldn't resist this little outfit in M&S

 and Claire got these :)

 I've been spending lots of time with this beautiful little girl

 who is growing up way too quickly

 and is such a happy little girl (though you wouldn't think so from this photo ;o) )

 She loves being talked to and chatters away back to us

 And this one is just because it's cute and was what she looked like after being out with Mummy

 I've been enjoying the blue sky and the new leaves forming on the trees

 And taking Cloud out for walks

 Today we were joined by Claire and Alice - which started out well

 Cloud was waiting for me to finish taking photos here ;o)

 3/4 of the way round, Alice wasn't quite so impressed any more and let it be known

 then fell asleep just as we were about home :o)  She did sleep for half an hour after we got back so it wasn't too bad!

And finally, the sewing machine is back in use and I'm busy quilting again. Hope to have the finished item to show soon.

Now it's your turn, what have you been getting up to?
xx