Frost and Fire

The frosts have kicked in although we have been lucky this year. The weather has been very mild. Even though the plants will finally give up their flowers it’s nice to see those wintery scenes.

Frosty Morning

The crisp, curled leaves
Lie frozen on the garden path.
Their steamy breath rises
In the morning sun.
Silver-edged, their crumpled beauty
Enfolds the icy remnants
Of nature's latent bounty.
Too cold to shiver in the breeze
They stiffly stand guard
Above the sleeping soil.

Now that the nights are colder and the darkness comes early we have started the woodstove for cosy evenings. I have been cutting down the woody stems in the garden and using them for kindling.

It’s wonderful to see the flickering flames and to hear the gentle hiss of the logs as they burn. It took me a while to get the hang of lighting the stove at first. Over the years I’ve developed techniques for easy starting and no need for those horrible smelly firelighters. I found that standing the logs vertically at either side with paper, dried woody stems and small sticks from our trees with another log placed horizontally across the top worked best. Like this:

It makes for a quick blaze and the logs ignite very well. When it’s going sufficiently the top log fits down between the others for a good satisfying fire.Then we can toast our toes for a couple of hours, watch the fascinating flames and soak up the atmosphere of a cosy winter evening.

When we first had our stove I rubbed and scrubbed at the glass door in an effort to keep it clean but it was a struggle. I thought I needed some expensive cleaning product. Then luckily I saw a marvelous tip in Permaculture magazine. Dip a damp cloth in the wood ash from the previous fire and rub the glass with it. Hey presto! Works like magic! All the smoke and tar just dissolve away. Since then we’ve had a lovely clear view of the fire through a sparkling clean window. Thank you Permaculture.

Despite the occasional frost I was pleased to find some late autumn raspberries in the garden. Protected by the fruit cage, the blackbirds hadn’t been able to steal them. I brought them in and enjoyed a small bowlful.

I often suffer sleepless nights but at least I find my best ideas come to me when I lie awake. I thought up a recipe the other night and couldn’t wait to try it. Orange and cranberry buns. I baked it the next morning and was very pleased with the result. Here is my recipe. Very simple and easy. Christmas flavours but good to eat at any time.

Orange and Cranberry Buns

1 Orange  2 large Eggs  100g Caster Sugar
100g self-raising Flour  1 heaped tspn Baking Powder
100g Sunflower Oil  75g dried Cranberries (Whitworths
or Ocean Spray craisins)
Makes about 10

Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan oven

Grate the orange peel. Put all ingredients except the cranberries into a bowl and beat well. Add cranberries and beat again until well mixed.

Put into the bun tins (I use paper cases to line the tins)
Bake for 18-20 minutes.
If you want to double up they freeze well.

Nice with a cup of tea or perhaps a glass of your favourite wine.

Some Christmas cooking ideas coming soon. Enjoy your preparations even though Christmas may be a lot different this year. It all helps to raise the spirits.

Bye for now. With you again in a few days.