On my own today

Today was the first time in over two months that I have been truly on my own at home. I miss everyone of course but it was actually a real treat to be able to get in and get things done that I had been putting off. While ever someone else is home, it seems like we are in holiday mode. Anyway, today there was no sign of holiday mode. The Down to earth forums decluttering/ cleaning focus this week is the office/ other bedroom and as Tom has temporarily moved out of the other bedroom/ office then I am giving it a good old clean out. Not too much clutter to remove thankfully but I have been dusting and vacuuming, washing walls and windows and getting a good workout.

 

I spent a chunk of the morning in the garden revamping a strawberry bed. It suffered a bit in the heatwave so I have spruced it up by culling some plants and adding compost. The numerous snails I found in the bed couldn't have been helping it either and they are history now.

 

Farm work was slow today. Just feeding animals in the morning and afternoon which has given me a great opportunity to do some cooking.

 

 

Tomatoes aplenty. They are really producing now and it's tomatoes everyday.

 Enough to make sauce. We have been out of tomato sauce for a while and this one is deliciously sweet and tangy. I will post a recipe if anyone would like it. I'm sure it is better with the seeds removed ( a seive or food mill would do the trick) but I really don't mind them.

 Made zucchini slice for the freezer. There were four zucchini in the garden which were too far gone for anything but grating or stuffing so it was slice and cake to make the most of them. There was a fifth zucchini which Tim mistook for a pumpkin it was so big. That one is too big and bold for cooking.

 And the zucchini cake. This time the chocolate variety and enough for two loaf type cakes. I packaged up into slices for the freezer. Just defrost in the microwave or even toast it before serving.

For lunch box sweet snacks, I made a honey jumble slice. I'm a big fan of ginger in sweets and this is a nice soft slice much like honey jumble biscuits only even easier to make.

 

Honey Jumble Slice

Ingredients

125 grams butter

2tbs honey

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1.5 cups plain flour

2 tsp ground ginger

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

 

Icing

1 and 1/4 cups icing sugar

two drops pink food colouring

enough hot water to make a paste(approximately two tablespoons).

 

Method

Preheat oven to 180 deg C.

Grease and line a square 20cm baking tin.

Combine butter and honey in a small saucepan and place on a low to medium heat until the butter is melted. Bring to the boil and remove from heat. Stir in the bicarb and allow to cool slightly.

Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Add cooled honey mixture and egg to the flour mixture and ix until well combined.

Spread mixture into prepared tin and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow to cool in the tin.

 

To make icing combine the ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.

Spread icing on cooled slice and allow to set. Cut into pieces and serve.

 

 

Tracy