Sea Treasure......

A lot of my teenage memories are wrapped up in a holiday home down the coast, a little way down from our fishing village. It is a holiday home that my parents have been going to for about 20 years. The house has two units in it, each unit sleeps about 10 people and is owned by a friend of my mom. So every year since I was about 15 we have all converged on this house over the hot  and humid summer in December. We all have many happy memories of Christmas dinners on the patio, loud and energetic games of cards and monopoly, sunbathing, cousins visiting and  food oh the delicious food we made there. My memories include...... telling my darling Stepmom Frieda about meeting LSO, we were  on the patio, I told her that I had met the man I would marry. My family all stayed at this house when said man and I got married, I laid on the patio and rubbed my very pregnant tummy a few weeks before Little Madame was born. There are so many wonderful memories invested in that house.

This year however, my parents went down a few month ago(not in December), my dad needed to recuperate after a gruelling back operation, so LSO, Little Madame, my cheffy sister Cindy and I joined them for a few days. It was during one of the above mentioned dinners that Frieda gently broke the news to us that the owners had sold the house and this was to be our last adventure there. We were heartbroken........     

  

   

The house is right on the beach. You literally walk across a road down some steps and you are on the beach. A small alcove type beach. The main beach is a little way down so it really is private and secluded. Often you have the entire beach and rock pools to yourself. When the tide is out the hidden rock pools are visible  and they become our playground and there are always many treasures to discovered

 

The rock pools hold beautiful sea life........

The sky is always bright blue, the crisp winds blow and the air is  humid......

 The sand is course, the shells are broken but earthy, and the sea glass is exotic.....

You find unusual bits and bobs, like a tiny little creature looking for a new home......

In the crystal clear pools there are star fish, crabs, beautiful corals and tiny fish.......

 

 The sand is for kicking........

And sisters are forever, just like memories........

 

Eyes were brimming with tears as we left on the last day, I dared not look back for fear of dissolving into sobs!  I am certain that our holiday home will be torn down to make way for new exotic luxury apartments, where new families will come and new memories will be made. The enduring memories of our many happy family holidays at our home-from-home will never fade......xxx



Growing too Quickly

As a mother, I think that we all have to stop once in a while, take a long hard look and realise that children grow up.... It's not something that is easy and I have had to be dragged kicking and screaming toward this stage of my Little Madame's life. She is getting big, growing up, becoming a little lady. However it is happening way, WAY to quickly. I see it everyday, in the way she talks, walks and her general demeanour. She doesn't want me to chose her clothes anymore - apparently, I have no fashion sense! HA! To me, fashion sense is not , and I repeat  NOT booty shorts on an 8 year old - however she thinks they are perfect! But I digress......  

 

 

 

A few weeks ago she asked if she could bake? This was nothing new. We have always baked together, this is why she loves baking! Sure was my answer, however the reply was unexpected. "BUT.....Mama, I want to bake alone please" I was honestly not sure how to react, we have ALWAYS baked together-always! I had to suck it up! She wanted to make a cake, so I got out my ancient, and I do mean ancient baking file ( for those of you that were at Manor and read my blog.... it is the small file, the one  we used in Home Economics - remember?)

 

I helped her chose a simple 3 minute sponge cake, got out the ingredients and then left her too it..... Well I retreated a few steps, into our dining room which is in eye sight of  the kitchen ( to be fair and really honest... its all open plan)   

   

So Tall

As I watched her, one of the first things to strike me was how tall she had suddenly gotten, wasn't it only yesterday that she needed a small chair to see over the top of the kitchen island, now she was taller than the island. As she  began to make her own cake, I also realised that instead of her being all over the place, throwing random things into a bowl, she really was doing it all herself, she knew what a cup measure meant and exactly how to weight things on  the scale. She was following all the steps methodically and with the utmost concentration, it totally floored me, had she actually been listening to me all these years. I thought I had just been babbling on into thin air.....   

 

  

 

I asked a few times if she needed help but the answer was always the same "I am fine thanks Mama" And although it pains me to say this she was doing perfectly! So I left her in peace (well.... except for the odd picture) The batter looked great and very soon she asked for help on the one thing she was nervous of doing  - putting the cake tin into the oven.  

Yummy Batter

At this stage of her baking journey, it became clear that she was very serious about all this. She kept checking the cake, exactly like they do on Britain Next Great Baker..... It was really sweet! She set not one but 2 timers and kept asking if they had rung yet?

That was when I realized that she was really nervous about her cake, she really wanted it to go well, and she REALLY wanted this to be HER first proper-I-baked-this-without-mama-cake. I began to worry too, however I need not have, when the timer finally rang and then then next one rang, we both bolted for the oven. I was asked to take it out, and my heart swelled with pride(and more than a little relief )when it was PERFECT!!!! Perfect I tell you.....

 

A little brown.... but perfect! Little Madame was truly delighted, she kept checking on it as it cooled, I don't think she believed that she had actually made it all by herself. 

Cooling time on a cake must be very difficult for little ones but eventually it was cool enough to frost, and she wanted to use buttercream AND fondant (she really has been watching me) And of course lots and lots and LOTS of ediable glitter. she made an Olaf and a baby in a blanket, she used my texture matts, and I left her to create and play.........

The final cake was a work of art. She then made tea and we had tea and cake. Not only was the cake pretty, but it tasted really good too. We had not one slice of vanilla sponge but two thick slices each and then after dinner we had some more!

Little Madame was ridiculously proud of herself, and so was I. She had done the whole thing by herself. I am going to say it again, I was PROUD! Years of her standing next to me on a chair while I talked her through measuring, beating and creaming have paid off. A life skill has been taught, I mean a girl really does need to know how to make a good sponge cake doesn't she?

Although I never like to end my posts on a melancholy note, I need to just say. My baby is no longer a baby, she is growing up into a well manners, happy and confidant girl. I wish with all my heart and soul I could slow thing down just a little..... but as I watch, teach and try to guide I cannot help but remember the tiny baby I held in my arms and marvel at the beautiful person that she is becoming and praise the Good Lord for the blessing that is my Little Madame.......xxx

The Best Part-Licking The Spatula!

Another Heavenly Cookies

I think that by ,  you  must all know, I LOVE A GOOD COOKIE! Its a very odd thing, I cannot resist a little home made cookie. Shop bought cookies do not  interest me in the least. purchase shop made cookies, I can happily walk past my cookie jar and not touch one, however if I make a batch of tasty yummy fresh home made cookies they are consumed, no not consumed.... hoovered up in a few days. Not only my yours truly, LSO and Little Madame are not far behind.

Finding a new recipe is always a very happy moment for  me.  I like trying new recipes I get excited about new recipes , honestly I do.  I think that I have admitted this before.... I  am just a  little OCD about cookies!

 

I was trawling for a tasty treat ago, when I looked in my Hummingbird Bakery Book, not expecting to find a whole section on Cookies.... a small section but a good one. . I was trying to look for something a little healthy, vaguely healthy .... I try and tell myself that I have to at least try, not only for my rear end but for my family too.....

So.... was it to be double chocolate chip? Peanut butter? White chocolate and pecan nut? Sugar cookies? Well ...plain ole oat and raisin won! They are billed as a 'lovely, cinnamon cookie made with rolled oats, what could be nicer?

 

Out came the trusty Kenwood and I got baking. Soon the mixer going - eggs, sugar, oats and butter were beating and whizzing. As with most cookie recipes it was simple. Actually I find with most baking, as long as you don't deviate from the recipe too much, you are ok!

 

As with most of the recipes I post..... credit must go to Hummingbird Bakery(one of my favorite places to visit when in the UK)

 

Oat and Raisin Cookies 

 

270g Butter(room temp)

160g Castor Sugar

2 Eggs

1/4 tsp Vanilla Essence

380g Flour

1 tsp Salt

1tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

110g Oats

220g Raisins

 

Cream the butter and sugar

Add eggs one at a time, beat in the vanilla essence

Mix the flour, bicarb, salt and cinnamon in a seperate bowl

Add to the butter mix-beat well

Stir in the oats and raisins

Place equal portions on a well greased baking tray - allow for spreading

Bake at 170degrees Celsius for 12 minutes

 

Soon the mouth watering smell of baking biscuits was wafting through our house, they certainly are cinnamony because that was the heady spicy smell that was permeating everything! 

 

 

As you can see they were being eaten as they came out the oven! They were light and sweet, the oats and raisins made them very homely, the cinnamon made them that little bit exotic. They were a winner with the entire family!I certainly will make them again.... and again and AGAIN......xxx

PS:: A few  cookies even made it into the cookie jar..... but not for long!