Showing Off

The postman arrived this afternoon with my copy of  Ruth Clemens aka The Pink Whisk book.  The Busy Girl's Guide to Cake Decorating.. It s divided up into sections. From the quick to the longer projects. It is clear and easy to follow. I have to say I'm impressed and can't wait to try out some of the decorating ideas.

http://www.thepinkwhisk.co.uk/

Spring Gala

On Monday night the flower club had it's Spring Gala. It was a fund raiser for St Brigid's Hospice.
The demonstrator for the night was Therese Collins with a demonstration called " Tapestry of Flowers"
Theresa believes in using mainly garden foliage in her arrangements when ever possible. As you can see she made some beautiful arrangement's.
Theresa is involved in bring the WAFA world show to Ireland in 2014. Check out the web site 

http://www.wafaireland.com/
http://sites.google.com/site/aoifaireland/

The total raised on the night was 1200 euros

Sticky Gingerbread

This is one of the 1st recipe's I collected. I have been baking it for 26+  years. I still bake it useing  imperial measurements.  It is one of those recipe's that always works and a big favourite in my house. It  keeps very well and gets lovely and sticky the longer you leave it. I double up the recipe for holidays and bring it away with us. It also make a great desert by warming slices adding some orange segments and a scoop of ice cream.  It freezes great too.

Line a 2lb loaf tin.
Preheat the oven to 160 fan.

8 oz Plain Flour (225g)

½ tsp Salt

2 tsp Ground Ginger

½ tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

½  tsp Baking Powder

¼ tsp Mixed Spice

3 oz Butter (75g)

4 oz Soft Brown Sugar (110g)

4 oz Black Treacle (110g)

4 oz Golden Syrup (110g)

¼ Pint Milk (150ml)

1 Egg Beaten

1” piece Root Ginger grated (optional)

Put the sugar, butter, golden syrup, and treacle into a pot.

Weigh out your flour, salt, baking powder, bicarb, ground ginger, mixed spices,  and mix together.

measure out the milk beat in the egg and grate in the root ginger if you are using it.

Gently melt everything together in the pot.

Stir in your milk mix. and then your dry mix.

Giving a good stir to remove any lumps.

Pour into the loaf tin 

Bake for 45 minutes.

Enjoy.

A Big Thank You

The post has just arrived and in it was a packet from Little black Fox Here  with seed from her brown envelope giveaway.

 And some lovely tea for me to try. There is so much hard work gone into the presentation. They are lovely.
Thank you so much.

A New Garden Bench

 Looking forward to many a cuppa in the garden.