Eggshells and Sprout Tops

We had a powdering of snow again. Barely covering the ground but enough to look pretty. The flowers were a little bowed but still giving me the utmost pleasure.

Definitely not gardening weather. I thought, what could be nicer than baking in my warm kitchen? I had some dates to use up and a couple of lemons so I got my thinking head on and invented a recipe. Always a gamble of course but when you’ve been baking as long as I have you have a pretty good idea of quantities and flavours.

This what I did. I’m pleased with the results so I’m happy to share the recipe.

Date and Ginger Squares

You will need a large baking tin. I use a roaster.
200g chopped Dates
100ml boiling water
juice of a lemon or 2 small ones
4 large Eggs
200g Caster Sugar
275g self-rasing Flour
10g Wheat Bran
2 heaped teaspoons ground Ginger
2 heaped teaspoons Baking Powder
200g Sunflower Oil.

Grease the baking tin. Put 100ml of boiling water
into a heatproof jug or bowl. Add the chopped dates
and the lemon juice and leave to soak while you mix
the rest.
Beat the eggs and sugar to mix.
Heat the oven to 180c/160C Fan oven.
Add flour, bran, ground ginger and baking powder.
Then add the oil. Pour in the dates and soaking liquid.
Mix well. Put into the baking tin.
Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Allow to cool slightly then cut into squares.
They freeze well.

A little tip here if you grow tomatoes. Don’t throw your eggshells away when you bake. I learned this a few years ago from someone else. Bake them in the oven while your cake is cooking. When they’re cool, put them in a bag and smash them up. The finer the better. Then you can sprinkle these in the soil around your tomato plants for extra calcium.

Seems to work for me. My plants have looked healthier since I’ve been doing it.

Talking of plants. Have you ever used the leaves from the top of homegrown sprouts? If not try them. They are so deliciously sweet and tender. I picked some of ours the other day and steamed them. I put them as a layer under my cheesy potatoes. Really tasty.

As we’re all confined to home it’s so important to enjoy our surroundings. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a garden or be able to enjoy the satisfaction and hard work of looking after one. I hope my garden photos will give you pleasure, either as a gardener yourself or as someone who enjoys looking at other people’s gardens. Here are some more of mine.

Here’s a painting I did of poppies in the garden. They had raindrops on them. One of my favourite flowers, especially when they are fresh from the rain. Their petals are like crushed silk, shimmering and delicate with the most beautiful colours. I tried to capture the light coming through them. Sadly, the petals fall all too soon but that brief life is so beautiful.

That’s it for today. I hope you stay safe and well. With you again in a few days.