Yesterday was a horrible, wet stormy day in our neck of the woods. I haven’t been able to do any gardening. I need to remove the basil from the polytunnel and do some weeding around the garlic but it was just not inviting.
The garden looks a bit sadder every day but there are berries to cheer the wintry days to come.
The leaves were flying off the fruit trees and the hawthorns. There will be mounds to sweep up as soon as we can go out again. We put them in the leaf bin to make leafmould, a valuable resource in the garden. I use it for mulching, mixing with compost when I’m planting and to use in seed trays in Spring.
A leaf bin is easy to make. Just drive four posts into the ground in a spare spot and fix wire netting around the sides to make a square container. The rain, frost and bacteria break down the leaves until there is a fine crumbly, sweet smelling substance in a few months time. I have tried putting leaves in polythene bags and piercing holes in them but I never found they work as well and I’m trying to reduce my use of plastic.
When it’s a horrible day I usually like to bake. The other day I made my super- quick brownies. If you like chocolate cake, you will like these and they’re so easy.
4 large eggs 200g Caster Sugar 200g Self-raising Flour
2 heaped teaspoons Baking Powder 2 and a half heaped tablespoons Cocoa Powder
3 tablespoons of Milk (I use Oatly but dairy is ok) 200g Sunflower Oil
Heat the oven to 180C/ 160C fan oven. Whizz all ingredients in a food processor or with a hand mixer. (You can use a wooden spoon, but beat well). Grease a large baking tin. I use a roasting tin measuring approx. 30 x 26 cm and about 5cm deep. Spread the mixture in the tin and bake for 20 – 25 minutes. Test the middle with a skewer. If it comes out clean it’s done. If you haven’t got a skewer press the cake gently and it should spring back. Allow to cool, then cut into squares.
Good as they are but if you want a sweeter treat or a fancier brownie try one of these:
Spread with jam. Cherry jam is good for a Black Forest taste; or make buttercream topping and sprinkle with nuts; or use glace icing ( just icing sugar mixed with a drop of water) with or without nuts; or melted chocolate drizzled on top.
Hoping to get out into the garden soon but if not I’m fancying a bit of knitting. Landscape magazine has some nice knitted Christmas crackers to make. Might have a go.
Earlier in the year I crocheted two small blankets for winter naps. I bought a large pack of yarn ages ago and decided to use them at last. I just did simple stripes in a range of colours. They’re so cheerful.
Be with you again soon. Bye for now.
Living a contented creative life. 