What-No-Bread?

The Real Thing...

When there is no bread in the house, I make What-No-Bread instead.

I put about a cup of self-raising flour in a bowl.

Then rub in fat (usually butter) until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

 

Next is the exciting part, adding flavourings. Some of my favourites are...

• ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon & dried fruits (dates, sultanas, apricots, raisins)
• black pepper, grated cheese, rosemary, chopped onions
• sunflower seeds, pumpkins seeds, sesame seeds
• citrus peel finely chopped

Give it a good mix then add milk until 'dough-like'.

Shape & bake (in a medium oven) for about 20 mins, or until brown. 

If you are able to wait until the What-No-Bread (basically scone mix) is cooled then you have more will power than I do!

I like to slather on extra butter & jam (Quince jelly this time- Thank you Sue!)

A ball of string, a hook & a second-hand book...

Since having been taught to crochet by Notsogranny, I've been looking for a very easy project.

Aided by a great book picked up from my local second-hand bookshop, I opted for a cushion for my garden bench.

The instructions suggested using string. A string cushion seemed a bit strange, but I had a ball of string so I gave it a go...

I stayed thrifty & made the inner cushion pad from a piece of old sheeting stuffed with shredded textile remnants.

For a first attempt it's not bad...

Winter's gone...

Now that Spring is here, Winter seems far away...

It was really exciting to take part in the Making Winter Project. The photos were wonderful and all the links to cooking & creating were inspiring.

I'm thrilled that Emma felt more positive about winter. I'm hoping that she'll be looking forward to next winter with unbridled enthusiasm....?!

The only downside for me was the lack of consistent winter weather.

Recently, I've been having a blog-break. I've caught up on job applications, reading, creating & enjoyed time in the garden.

Here's my latest offering for the cut flower challenge (again I can't bear cutting anything from the garden so am offering up prunings of cornus instead)

Pie

Last week it was a very chilly minus 15 degrees centigrade,

tomorrow it's due to be plus 15 degrees centigrade.

I am totally confused...

So sought comfort by making pie (chicken, mushroom, leek, sweetcorn and barley)

Terrible photo but it tasted good...

The Making Winter Blog Hop is open until the end of the February.

There are also lots of wonderful photos over on the Making Winter Flickr page.

February Making Winter Blog Hop

Welcome to the last Making Winter Blog Hop...

 

The last few months have been unseasonably warm and it seems as if winter has only just arrived here in Cambridge. No sooner had the snow gone than spring promptly arrived...

First Daffodil of 2012

If you'd like to join in with the last Making Winter Blog Hop, please add your link below...

Scratched, Dented and Watermarked Wood

The table top after treatment

Our wooden floor looked wonderful until I mistakenly dropped the iron leaving a large dent. Our wooden table looked equally good until I over-watered a pot plant & the large watermark bore witness to my foolishness. Similarly the wooden surface of a box has been scratched...

The scratches were easily dealt with, I remembered, from long ago, being told that a sharpened brazil nut solves the problem. Use the sharp end like a pencil & 'colour' in the scratch. The oil from the nut is absorbed by the wood & will usually return the wood to the right shade.

The dent in the wooden floor was tackled in 2 stages. Put a damp cloth over the dent & iron gently with a low heat. The heat encourages the wood to absorb the water thereby re-swelling the dent. Once dry, the chipped wood was lightly sanded & wood glue smoothed over.

The watermark was the most satisfying and the easiest. I mixed a teaspoon of oil and a teaspoon of vinegar, then applied it (in small amounts) on a cloth to the watermarked surface. I massaged it in, left it to dry and then kept on reapplying it until the mark could no longer be seen.

Having finished, I admired the handiwork. 'Did you do a before & after photo?' enquired Mr TH...

'Erm...no'....

The last Making Winter Blog Hop starts here on Monday 20th February.

Mr TH does not buy Roses...

...but he did present me with these gifts...

Glorious sticks of delicately pink, forced rhubarb

A bag of fresh dates (which we promptly started to consume, these are all that's left- at the moment)

And a large bunch of egg yolk yellow Daffodils...

Mr TH knows me so well!

(I made lemon biscuits for him)

The next (& last) blog hop in the Making Winter Project begins here on Monday 20th February. Please join in and add links of anything to do with winter!