22.5 Degrees Shawl For Mary-Jane

I have completed Mary-Jane's 22.5 Degrees Shawl.  She was very pleased with it.  It is much bigger than I thought it would be, and it fits me a treat as well........I wanted it to be more of a shawlette than a shawl.  There is still some yarn left, I've not weighed it yet, I'm sure there will be enough to make her a small shawlette.  However, Mary-Jane is very pleased with her new shawl.  She knew it was hers when I was making it for her.  She looks quite the Lady in it.


The pattern is 22.5 degrees by Martina Behm.  It is free on Ravelry.com.  The yarn is James C Brett - Moonlight Sonata.  I am now pondering about getting a ball of pink colourway as well.  Hhmmmm.

The yarn has a metallic gold thread, which shimmers nicely.  I love the scalloped edging - very easy to do.  It is on the To Do Again List.  It is a very pretty, delicate edge.


I went to the doctors again last night.  I have a chest infection and am now on another course of anti-biotics.  What joy.  It hasn't quite bought me to my knees yet and hopefully it won't.  I do need to slow down a bit and rest.  And I need to be right for Tuesday as I'm going to the CCFWI Home Crafts Meeting in Carlisle.  I couldn't attend last time due to poor health, back in October I think it was. 

I've been out this evening, living the high life - Prize Bingo at Wath Brow.  I didn't win anything, although I came close a few times!

I want to knit something else for Mary-Jane.  I have a pattern and yarn for a lacy shawl. I also want to do her a couple more dresses, though not all the same.  I have in my minds eye, to do her a dress in a feather and fan style stitch, a wavy type on.  I'm not quite settled on the overall shape of the dress yet.  I shall go rummaging through the drawers and see what yarn I can match up to project idea.  The bulk of my stash is still in storage, and has been there since November, and may well be there at least a good few more months.  Never mind, I have plenty to be going on with in the mean time.  When I do get it back it will be like having it all a new!

Running Around

I think I have a chest infection brewing, failing that an upper respiratory tract infection.  I managed to get a GP appointment tomorrow tea time.  It is at a surgery linked to the one I go to.  I was told that if I wanted a pre-booked appointment, I would have to wait three weeks.  Otherwise, I would have to ring and be placed in a queue to be answered, at 8am each morning until I was successful at A. Getting Through and B. There being appointments left that day.  At least I have an appointment.

Yesterday was hectic.  I knew it would be and I was glad when it was bedtime.  Morning started off with Mary-Jane and I going to Playgroup.  In the afternoon, I went back to St Mary's Room, the place where the playgroup is held.  I attended the first meeting of a new knitting group.  There was about 15 or 16 of us.  When suggestions were made for a name for the group, I made a suggestion - Knitterati, after the Knitterati that I used to go to at Carol's at Great Gate, on the Staffordshire Moorlands.  Time spent there was very special.  My idea was taken up (yes I did smirk alot), and the new group is now called Knitterati. 

I have yet to get in touch with Carol and let her know.  I haven't replied to her last letter, which she sent me back in September, which is remiss of me, and I really ought to make the effort to write back to her.

Evening time was spent at the WI Group Presidents and Secretary's meeting at Keekle.  I was pooped when I crawled into bed.  Only to be woken an hour or so later by Mary-Jane crying, and again later in the early hours.  Not a bad bad night, but one that has room for improvement!

I have been running around again to day.  It was the WI's Soup Lunch.  I picked up a WI friend (and her partner and son) from Egremont, to bring them to the lunch, stayed for a little while, then back to the house.  HK signs on today, so I drove over to Cleator Moor for him to sign on.   We did the recycling then headed off to Whitehaven to Argos to pick up a Mickey Mouse Playdoh set for Mary-Jane.  This is her Valentines Day gift from Auntie Annie.  She will have it tomorrow. 

No wonder I am jiggered!

I am nearly on the final stretch of Mary-Jane's scarf.  I have two and a half rows to go, then do the scalloped edge.  So maybe a further two evenings work.

All my Lemon Curd got sold today, along with a jar of pickled eggs.  I am planning to make some more and to do some Raspberry Curd as well.  I have a couple of cake recipes that use curd, so watch this space.  My mind is also wandering to Lemon Meringue Pie.  Pumpkin Pie must come first.  It is top of the list!

Lemon Curd

There are many recipes for Lemon Curd.  Most are very similar.  I have previously tried Microwave Lemon Curd, with not as much success as I would have liked.  Last week we picked up some lemons that were on offer, with the intention of me having another crack at lemon curd.  I am more than chuffed to say that this time I have it sussed!  I have success.  I made two batches of the stuff.  I am toying with the idea of making some bread tomorrow as LC on doorstep chunks of homemade bread toasted is out of this world.  I'll see how the morning goes.  Tuesday morning is Play Group, so I may have to have my wits about me and put the bread maker on before I go out.  Busy Busy Busy!

My Lemon Curd

• 4 free range eggs
• 4 free range egg yolks
• 200g caster sugar
• 6 lemons - zest of 3 and the juice of 6
• 150g unsalted butter, in small cubes

1. Sterilise the clean jam jars, in a preheated oven at 140c/gm1, for about 30 minutes
2. Whisk the egg and egg yolks in a large heat proof bowl until combined.  Add the sugar, stir in the lemon juice and zest.  Add the butter.  Set the bowl over a pan of gently simmering water.  Make sure the bowl does not touch the water
3. Stir the mix with a wooden spoon until the butter is melted, about five minutes.  The use a whisk to continuously stir the mix for about 10-12 minutes.  The curd should be the consistency of custard and leave a light trail when the whisk is lifted.  The curd will continue to thicken in the jarss
4. Pour the curd into the warm sterile jars and leave to cool.  Cover the curd with a disk of waxed paper or parchment and seal with a lid.  Keep in the fridge and use within two weeks

With the left over egg whites, I bagged them up, four in each bag, and froze them, to use at a later time.  I think I will either use them for meringues or a meringue topping.  Adapt the recipe and make it your own!

Sliding in the sunshine

The sun has been shining today.  The promise that Spring my be just around the corner.  A day to take advantage of at least.  Mary-Jane has had a few trips into the garden.  The first was with Grandad.  I haven't spent any time in the field for quite some time.  I think that will be about to change, weather permitting.


Mary-Jane loves her slide still.  She asked if she could go on her slide, I said that it may be dirty and I'd have to wipe it.  I then looked at the slide and passed comment on how clean it was, Grandad replied that was because she had already been down it twice.........

Happy times for Mary-Jane and Grandad

Weekend Catch-Up

I've felt a bit grotty most of the day, mainly to do with my guts.  The IBS still hasn't settled and when it plays up it knocks the absolute stuffing out of me.  I think what triggered it in the main today was my Valentines Cake.  I think it is just too rich for me at the moment.  Three times I've had a slice of the cake and three times I've felt bad after.  Today was worst.  I was even thinking of lying down on the bed for a while, but persevered. 

 

I have felt tired all day.  We three actually had a good nights sleep last night.  Mary-Jane slept all the way through till just after seven.  I think because we all had a good sleep that we feel more tired - it is all catching up with us!  MJ has coughed a few times this evening.  I have caught her cough. I am aware of my airways (in the usual places), they feel tight, not that I have needed an inhaler, just I know that they are there and they are labouring. I'm trying to ignore it and put it down to being tired and a bit run down.  I still harbour a quiet paranoia about gettitng poorly again.  To be expected I suppose.

 

I had a lovely day yesterday.  I took Mary-Jane to the library in Gosforth to get some new books.  She had earned herself another Attendance Certificate.  She is now becoming aware of the cetificates and what they are about.  She knows the routine of handing her old books in and taking her new ones to the desk and stamping the date on.  This particular librarian is very good with her.

 

After the library, we went on to visit a friend who moved into her new home on Thursday.  She has only moved a mile  (.9 of a mile she informs me!) from her previous house.  Her new home is lovely, I'm sure she will be happy there. I certainly would be, without a doubt! We stayed till about three, when MJ was starting to get a bit tired.  We had lunch, ate biscuits and drank tea.  If I'd stayed much longer I would have been giving it some major Zzzzz's in front of the log burner.  On the way back, MJ fell asleep about half way, and boy was she flat out asleep!  The journey is about 20 miles each way.

 

I was going to bake and have some kitchen time - I want to do some Lemon Curd amongst other things, but as I said earlier, I felt grotty.  I started making a Shepherds Pie, HK came to help as I was struggling even doing that.  It did taste rather wonderful, and I don't have to worry about tomorrow tea!

 

Oh!  Did I tell you what HK got me for Valentines Day?  Paul Hollywood's Bread and The Hummingbird Bakery's third book - Home Sweet Home.  Very Lucky Me!  I have started looking through Home Sweet Home and am inspred to do at least 80% of the cupcakes.  I am now looking through the second part of the book - big cakes (as opposed to cupcakes).  I've only had a very quick look through Bread, and read the intro only.  Hopefully this will help spur me on to make bread from scratch.  I know I'm not far off taking a foray into bread making - last weeks soda bread was just the start.

Friday Afternoon Ice Cream At St Bees

We had a rare bit of  near sunshine accompanied by little wind and no rain, so Mary-Jane, Granma and I headed off to St Bees for an ice cream.  Mary-Jane was so excited.  We first went to Hartleys Beach Cafe, for ice cream, tea and viennese fingers.  The sea seemed noisier than usual, I'm not sure why.  The waves seemed louder crashing on the shore.  The sea wasn't rough at all, but the tide was in and was just starting to turn.  I could hear the sea gushing over the pebbles, almost seemingly to jingle them as the waves were going back in readiness for the next crash.


After the cafe, we had a walk down onto the shore line.  We didn't go onto the beach itself, but walked a short distance on the path, which is only about three feet above the stones and pebbles.

Mary-Jane must have really liked watching the waves, as she pulled to sit down and watch the sea ebbing and flowing.

Whilst sat, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds and the sunshine seemed to come directly to us.  I didn't move to take this, it was just there in front of us.  This will always remind me of my Auntie Cynthia and Cousin Fiona.  Always.  They will never be far away from me at times like this.

When we got back, Mary-Jane climbed into the drivers seat and wanted to drive, like Mommy does.  She was doing a good job, she knew where to out her hands - and to put her seat belt on!  I think she takes on board more than what I give creedence for.

Valentines Day Cake

I treated myself to a Heart Tasty Fill Cake Pan when I came out of hospital.  I had been ever so itching to use it since before it arrived.  Now I have.  I was kinda saving it for Valentines Day, just to make it a bit extra special.  The cake has taken a fair few hours to do, from start to finish, including making a quiche for tea at the same time.  I am very pleased with the results.  It isn't an everyday cake, and is quite rich and filling (nothing to do with me having a massive slice, mind!)  I put only half the buttercream on the outside.  I also made up nearly twice as much filling as needed, as I wasn't sure of conversion quantities.

I am really chuffed with how it turned out - very nearly like the picture in the recipe leaflet

I've mixed and matched the cake, filling and topping from different recipes


Chocolate Raspberry Valentines Cake - aka You Have My Heart Through and Through

• 3oz milk chocolate
• 3 tbps cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp instant coffee
• 1 1/2 cups hot water
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 3 cups plain flour
• 2 tsps baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup butter
• 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Filling

• 1 Cup raspberry jam
• 2 packs of Birds Dream Topping/12 oz frozen whipped topping, defrosted
• 1/2 pint milk

White Chocolate Buttercream Icing

• 1 cup butter
• 4oz white chocolate
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• 5 cups icing sugar
• 1/2 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 180c/350f
2. Melt chocolate and set aside to cool
3. Dissolve cocoa powder and coffee in the hot water, stir well.  Stir in the sour cream and set aside
4. Combine flour, salt and baking powder, set aside
5. Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time, mixing each well
6. Add vanilla, mix well. Add melted chocolate, again, mix well
7. Add flour mixture, alternating with the sour cream mix, until all is combined
8. Divide between the two prepared tins
9. Cook for 38 - 42 minutes.  Leave in tin for 10 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack to cool completely
10. Whisk up the dream topping, then fold in the jam
11. When cake is cold, place this in the cavities.  Carefully sandwich the two cakes together, then chill (the cake, not you, you've not finished yet!)
12. Cream butter in a mixer, add chocolate and vanilla, blend well.
13. Gradually add the icing sugar, a cup at a time.  Add milk and beat until light and fluffy
14. Ice the cake and decorate as desired, then chill - you and the cake!