Scones and stuff

The recipe for the lemonade scones ...

3 1/2 cups SR flour (OR 3 1/2 cups plain flour with 7 tsps baking powder)

1 cup thickened cream 

1 cup lemonade.

Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix until just combined. Turn onto floured board and knead 5 or 6 times (don't overdo it). Work into a round about an inch thick. Cut into circles using a cutter about 2.5". Take care not to twist when removing the cutter or the scones will be wonky. Place on a baking tray lined with parchment/baking paper just touching each other and brush tops with milk. Bake in moderate (180C fan forced) oven for about 20 minutes until golden brown.

I am going to try with soda water and will report back.

It was craft today. The dynamic is certainly changing. I am going again tomorrow as there are some that can only make it on Saturdays. 

Our labor state government is privatising/selling off things it shouldn't be. The latest is our vehicle and licensing and registration body. I need to know more about what this means but it scares me. Officially it's not a sell off - it's being leased for 40 years for some exorbitant amount of money. The strange thing is it that's the labor (left wing) that is doing it. Something they bitterly complained about when the liberals (right wing) did it years ago. And for which we are still paying the price.

50% ain't bad

At the beginning of the year I set myself a task to put up a blog post every day for a year.

I have made it to 6 months. 

I am not sure if I have it in me to do everyday for a year. 

Some days I find it hard to talk to myself let alone anyone else!

Last night's pizza was meh. Again, I think I overloaded the base. I really need to practice with the oven a bit more.

The lemonade scones were a hit. Next time I will reduce the recipe by half as it made 14. I will also try it with soda water as I found the lemonade made them a bit too sweet for my liking. Three asked if they would work with raspberry lemonade. I can't see why not. They would be pink and small girls would love them.

Even the small girl with one tooth! Finally. She is 9 and a half months old.

I somehow stumbled on a blog written by an American chap with two severely disabled children. He stopped writing in 2015. His story is heartbreaking. Not because of the children but because of the hoops he had to jump through to ensure their care and safety. He looked after his daughter and his son was in residential care. I have spent hours over the past few days reading it from start to finish and I think that is one reason why I am feeling a bit flat. 

Tomorrow I plan to go to craft. Our group is shrinking. 

Wintery Wednesday

The beef was OK. It wasn't fall off your fork tender but it was very tender and with the mash and peas and gravy made a very acceptable dinner. But I won't be doing it again. 

A leg of lamb in the slower cooker on a bed of rosemary - that is really delicious. Like Angela said in the comments, a roast in the oven is the best way but if you are going to be out all day and want to come home to something yummy then I can heartily recommend the leg of lamb. 

Tonight we are having home made pizza. Using the flour I used to use and the pizza trays I used to use and I won't be using the pizza setting in the oven so hopefully we will have a warming winter meal.

Tomorrow I will need to bake some more biscuits and plan to make 3 ingredient scones for a treat. I've not done them before. SR flour, cream and lemonade. If they work I might try using soda water and cheese for a savoury version.

The aged aunt from FNQ rang today. The weekend saw the 25th anniversary of her husband's death and she was a bit down. She is very grateful for the handwarmers I sent her. She really suffers with the cold. Imagine what she would be like down here!

Himself has gone to the shed most days this week. He seems to be enjoying the interaction. Long may it last. As long as he stays away from politics he should be OK.

I am now going to have a look at a pattern for crocheted socks and see if I can find a benchtop oven/grill for the aunt. The grill in her 34 year old oven has died and she can't see the point in the expense of a whole new oven when it's just her.

I wish air fares weren't so expensive and it didn't take a whole day to get to her.

Tuesday bits and pieces

 

It's watery but it is there. And the air is still so if you can find a spot in the sun it's quite pleasant.

Himself went to Bunnings and bought the orange plastic fencing stuff tradies use to keep people away from worksites. He has put it all around the main bit of lawn the dogs have destroyed. I am not saying a word.

We have the Aldi roast in the slow cooker. Third time lucky (we had this in the fridge - we didn't go and buy yet another piece). It has been in there since 7.30 this morning and is still not tender. It will have another 3 or so hours. If it isn't tender after 12 hours - you guessed it - the dogs will eat well again! After all this time I would be expecting it to be falling apart but no, it's still almost brick like. Himself has gone to get spuds for mash and we will give it a go otherwise we will have chicken fillets with mash and peas.

I realised why I like home baked stuff more than bought stuff. It's not as sweet. The cake I made yesterday and sandwiched together with strawberry jam and cream tastes of, well, cake, jam and cream whereas the bought stuff just tastes sweet. Ditto my biscuits. I am going to have a go at making some chocolate icing for my chocolate biscuits. They have to be better for you than tim tams!

It has been 2 weeks since I last left the house. I am still feeling under the weather but nowhere near as crook as I was. Just weak as a kitten. Which is a silly saying cos kittens are anything but weak. If I was truly as weak as a kitten I would be chasing around the house attacking things.

Podcasts

If you love words and their history as much as I do give this podcast whirl. I have linked to their home page - you can select which platform you prefer. 

This is an excellent podcast if you would like to learn about some of Australia's forgotten history. As the title suggest! I listen to it on google podcasts but it's available on lots of platforms. The host does a really good job of researching and presenting. I was amazed to find out so much about our history and be reminded of things I had forgotten.

This is a fascinating account of a woman who went missing in 1997 and how her daughter, frustrated with the lack of interest by the police, enlisted Channel 7 news to help find what happened. It's been going for a few years now and is winding up. It's a real true life drama with twists and turns you won't believe. 

I have mentioned Conversations before. It is an ABC radio national program that is also podcast. Some really interesting characters and Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski are excellent interviewers. Unlike so many these days, they don't insert their own personalities into the conversation. Rather they gently direct. 

It's another damp day. Himself has gone for provisions. We are having mexican again to use up the precious lettuce! I have offered to bake him a cake after he enjoyed the cupcakes Sally and I made the other day. I just need cream. It is the easiest cake to throw together and always turns out well.

Cream cake

• 2 eggs
• cream
• pinch of salt
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup SR flour

Break the eggs into a cup and top up with cream. Beat well with the salt and sugar. (It won't go fluffly like butter does). Add the flour. Bung into cupcake holders or cake tin/s and bake in a moderate oven for about.25 minutes until done. You know how to check if a cake is done. Finish with your favourite method. Enjoy. This makes 12 cupcakes. It also makes a nice sandwich cake with jam. 

And on that note I am going to weave and listen to the latest episode of The Lady Vanishes.

The dogs will eat well tonight.

 And we will have takeaway pizza or fish and chips. While the roast smelled delicious it was a bit tough. It should have been cooked for longer at a lower temp. We will know next time. If there is a next time.

I didn't wake until midday today. I guess that's what happens when you don't go to bed until after midnight and then have to fight the animals for a spot in the bed.

It's cold, wet and miserable. Damp, actually. Just damp. You don't get hot and damp, do you? You get hot and humid. Damp is a winter word.

I have done nothing today. I was planning on weaving but have played games instead. I claim it will keep oldtimers disease at bay.

Later... Well I did get a bit of weaving done. And we are having BBQ chook for dinner. Himself does it like a roast with gravy, spuds and peas. An easy peasy dinner.

I am sure I would have talked about it but I can't find out where or when but a while ago Himself decided redo the back lawn grass where the dogs had worn a muddy track when they play chasies. At the time I gently questioned the wisdom but was assured it would be fine. He did a magnificent job building a couple of raised beds, getting the correct soil and laying instant turf. It wasn't a cheap exercise. Fast forward to wet damp winter days and - you guessed it - we have muddy tracks where the new turf was. Someone (Murphy judging by his huge muddy feet) has been having a bit of a dig as well. I am finding many ways of saying "I told you so" without actually using those words.

Too much thinking time today

Does anyone else find it a bit weird that the country that has copped the blame for Covid, that is holding us to ransom in many ways with imports and exports, that is setting up strategic footholds with our South Pacific neighbours, that has allegedly attacked one of our reconnaissance planes, that is laying claim to international waters in the South China Sea, etc etc is the country that is supplying our RATs, our thermometers, our pulse oximeters? Without which we would be really stuffed.

What is an earmark? I mean I know how the word is used but why?

Roses are mean bastards and fight back when being pruned.

Sally informed me yesterday that I suffered more with Covid than she did because I am "an old lady". 

I want to learn remember how to use my Canon camera that I haven't used in over 5 years. 

My new oven turns itself off if you leave the door open. I found this out when trying to be smart and prove the dough while warming the oven to bake said dough.

We are trying another roast from Aldi. By "we" I mean Himself thought it would be a good idea. The dogs will eat well tomorrow.

This old lady needs a glass of wine.