lazylol

As I've mentioned before, we are really lucky to have both my Father-in-law and my parents who are keen veg growers and allotments owners.  They keep us supplied with a delightful selection of fresh produce all summer long.  Lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, sweetcorn, beetroot, rhubharb, green beens, runner beans, broad beans, potatoes, cabbages, cauliflowers, onions, carrots, courgettes, bucket loads of tomatoes and lots of other goodies. We also get a dozen free range eggs from one of the other allotment owners every week for a £1! 

Last week we visited the allotment to collect the first veg of the season and I took some pictures to share with you all.

This chair made me smile...so grand in the middle of all the mud and tomato plants.

I'm really looking forward to all the lovely salads and tasty soups to come!

Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding

To distract myself from starting my christmas plans, I have turned to Halloween and Bonfire Night.  My boys are too old to go anywhere with me so I will just have to enjoy the food instead (that was the best bit anyway).  I am thinking of making the same eyeball cupcakes I made last year for the trick or treaters. I couldn't resist making this recipe I spotted in a magazine at the weekend.

Go on, make it....it is totally delicious and so easy.....this is going to be a family favourite I bet!

Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding

• 3 oz butter, melted plus a little for greasing
• 5 oz self raising flour
• 4 oz golden caster sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 7 floz milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large baking apples, peeled, cored and sliced

For the topping

• 5 oz soft, dark brown sugar
• 2 oz pecans, roughly chopped

Heat oven to 180c/160c fan/gas 4. Grease a 3 1/2 pint ovenproof dish lightly with a little butter.Tip the flour, sugar and baking powder into a bowl and add a pinch of salt. In another bowl mix together the milk, butter, egg and vanilla extract.  Arrange the apples at the bottom of the dish, pour over batter and smooth over with a knife until all the apples are covered.

For the topping, pour 250ml boiling water over the sugar and stir until smooth.  Pour the liquid over the pudding mixture and then scatter the pecans on the top.  Bake for 40 mins until pudding is risen and golden.  Use a big spoon to serve up the pudding, making sure you get some of the gooey caramel sauce at the bottom.  Serve will pouring cream, ice cream or custard.  Yum.

Serves 6 adults.

Three-in-One

The latest addition to my wish list is this little beauty available from lakeland !

Isn't it clever?  Slow cooker, rice cooker and steamer in one.  I love gadgets and appliances.  The trouble is they take up too much cupboard space.  With this I can get rid of my old slow cooker and have this lovely new 3-in-1 modern thing in its place.  Now all I need is some money to buy it - if only i could stop buying fabric and craft books and save up!

It's love this too - it's only cheap but i am trying to cut down on cake so maybe not!

Fluffy White Rice

I love cooking and will attempt any recipe without hesitation.  That's not to say I haven't had my share of failures, but on the whole I can usually come out ok.  Cooking rice, however, is another matter completely.  It never comes out right.  I've tried numerous different methods but can't get it quite right.  Last night I made some and it was the worse I have ever eaten. Mushy mess. A flop. 

So it is my aim to cook perfect fluffy white rice.  I refuse to let it get the better of me.  Any tips?

Well back to lying on the settee (don't you just love Sundays?) and reading this -