Baby Blanket No. 2 - Ripple Effect

Its nice to have something good happen, and finishing my second baby blanket is a happy occasion. This week has been extremely busy as I have been working full-time for the past 3 weeks. Last night I collapsed into bed at eight thirty and actually went to sleep before the children. I just couldn't keep my eyes open.
I haven't spent a lot of time crafting and have been missing the recreational activity of hooking or sewing.

This week has also been soured by my daughter and I being fooled over the internet into thinking we had sold a product on eBay and we were really responding to someone's fraudulent activity. Needless to say my daughter has lost her electronic game she was selling and I'm out of pocket for postage, but it could have been worse. Just goes to show how naive I am in the cyber world, that's why I love shops. Won't fall for that trick again, I hope!
You kind of just hope that the person that finds the need to steal will hopefully be able to improve their life in some way and find other means of making a living. Otherwise I hope their computer, Iphone or other electronic device gets drowned in water and falls apart.

My faith in mankind / womankind has by no means been soured as I see the good in people everyday. I get to witness acts of kindness by collegues and friends through small simple actions and words.

So I'm looking for good and smiling at all those that try to help others.

Good Friday Cooking

I have never really done any cooking especially for Easter before but this year with the encouragement of my daughter Jordana I have actually made hot cross buns. In the past I have tried to make yeast products but failed miserably, probably due to the yeast being too old. Anyway this year success!! I used 2 different recipes, one from a friend at work whom wrote the recipe from memory and the other from the women's  weekly cookbook.
Jill's recipe utilizes half wholemeal flour and half white flour - this appeals to the colorectal nurse in me: providing a little more fibre to the diet. The other recipe is a basic hot cross bun recipe that we added chocolate to, thus appealing to the appetites of my children. Anyway Yummm... love the smell of yeast buns cooking in the oven and devouring a bun with homemade blackberry jam and cream, the best.
(Recipe at the end of text)

Jordy glazing the hot cross buns

Choc hip on the left and wholemeal to the right

 Also another first, home-made toffees as found on the Quince Tree which found it on http:www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/toffees.pdf. For the recipe follow this link:  they were really easy. (I wrote the full address because I don't know if I have enclosed the link properly)
 I didn't have any golden syrup and substituted honey in the same quantity and it worked out fine. Next time I'll try to find a smaller mould to shape them in just to make them a more manageable size to eat. Each batch made 12 in a small muffin tin shape.

Homemade toffees

Shades of Easter colours in baby blanket no.2, Ripple Blanket in bright colours.

Wholemeal Hot Cross Buns

Quantity made 16-18

2 cups plain flour
2 cups wholemeal flour
1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
3/4 teaspoon salt
75 grams butter melted
250ml warm milk
2 1/2 teaspoon yeast
1 tablespoon mixed spice
1 tablespoon cinnamon
3 tablespoon brown sugar

Mix milk, 1 tsp sugar and yeast. Sit for 5 minutes to activate yeast
mix dry and wet ingredients together allow to rise to double size in warm place.
(The front seat of the car is a good place just ensure you protect your seat covers and cover bowl with clean cloth to maintain moisture)

After proving dough add 1 cup of sultanas/ currants if desired (I add 3/4 cup chocolate)
Knead dough
Roll out to rectangle
Cut hot cross buns and allow to rise again for 15 minutes

Cross the Bun
1/2 cup plain and 1/2 cup water mixed to thin paste
use cake decorating tool to drizzle cross over bun

Bake in hot oven 190 degree C for 15 minutes

Glaze bun with
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon hot water
1 teaspoon gelatine

mix together and brush over bun

Enjoy!!
And Happy Easter