Mellow Yellow...

 The last day of September...

dawned dismal and grey...

with a chance of rain later

But there is still some summer sunshine left in the garden

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Let Your Light Shine...

 This girl....

She is a gentle and patient big sister...

does her very best in her swimming lessons and soccer practice...

to the extent that she scored a goal (kinda!)

and today won her class "Shine Award" for working hard at her lessons, 

being helpful, and being kind to her classmates

I couldnt be more proud

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

In the Kitchen ~ The National Loaf

My quest to make the majority of our meals from my 1940s cookbooks continues..and so far.. the results have been pretty good

So this week I was planning to make my weekly baking of bread and I thought to myself...

 "I think the time has come, and I must make the British National Loaf from WW2."  

In Wartime Britain most of the flour used to make “white” bread was imported from abroad, so there was a great shortage. A ban on commercially baked white bread went into effect on April 6, 1942 and The Ministry of Food introduced a grey and gritty bread that was to be the staple of British eating. It was even  dubbed “Hitler’s Secret Weapon,” 

So you can imagine I was quite dubious. But, I must say I am pleasantly surprised as the taste and texture is pretty good. It was particularly good spread with homemade strawberry jam and I will be making it again next week

The National Loaf

1 ½ lb wholemeal bread flour

1 ½ tbsp salt
1 ½ tbsp dried yeast
1 dsp honey or treacle (two teaspoons)
450 ml tepid water (about 2 cups)

• Mix together all the ingredients 
• Knead for about 10 minutes until you have a soft dough.
• Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover with a dish towel
• Leave until dough has doubled in size (around 2 hours).

• Knock back the dough, give a short knead 
• Cut into two equal pieces. 
• Place in 1.5 litre loaf tins (8 X 4 X 3 loaf pans) and allow to rise for a further 2 hours.
• Pre-heat oven to 200°C (400° F) 
• Bake loaves for 30 min. 
• To test the loaves, turn them out of their tins and give the base a tap; if it sounds hollow, they are ready. 
• Allow to cool on a wire rack.

Good Morning From The Blue House

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Just a Little Girl and her Cucumber Chunks...

Last Sunday Little Tufty was welcomed into her church family.

Wearing the little dress and fur lined coat her sister had worn five years earlier

she was christened in the pretty little church of St Cuthberts in Northumberland, England

She was as good as gold

only crying once once.. not during the baptism

but when everything went on too long and she got tired and hungry

But a little treat of a chunk of cucumber..

and a cuddle from her big sister

and all the tears were forgotten

Just look at that face...

She had so many gifts..including her very first bible

A wonderful day..which of course..was too far for us to attend

But we were there in our hearts, and with joy and prayer

for a little girl who will grow in the love of our Saviour

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

                                                                                           

Whats For Dinner ~ Meal Plan Monday

Happy Monday, and we slip into the last week of September. Fall is upon us and at last the temperatures here are cooler. The bad cold Ive had for the last few days is slowly getting better, but now MrD has started with the sniffles. I hope he will be ok for the dentist tomorrow...hes been waiting two months.

Dinners from the kitchen are becoming a bit more warming and filling. Im still striving to cook the majority of our meals from my 1940s cookbooks, and I just aquired another for my collection. A cookie recipe book from 1940. I think I may just work my way through it... 

By the way..it always looks like I make a lot of food...but I actually make enough for two meals. The extra either goes in the freezer for another day..or MrD it for his lunch at work. Nothing goes to waste.

So, have a great week and whats on your dinner plate this week?

Weekly Plan - 18th September 2023

Monday             Chicken  Cacciatore, Rice

Tuesday              Tacos

Wednesday        Corned Beef Pie

Thursday           Lasagne (leftovers from freezer) Garlic Bread

Friday                Vegetable Curry and Rice

Saturday            Chili Dogs

Sunday               Homemade Celery Soup and Toasted Sandwiches

Sunday Thought ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

 Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Its "Cold" Weather

 

The first day of Autumn.. where its darker longer in the mornings, and night times come earlier. And as I could have predicted.. Im sick with a streaming cold, sore thraot and ear ache. Well, temperatures ARE cooler... I mean its 80 degrees instead of 100 so what do you expect (wink). But seriously, I am happy summer is over..Im just not made for the high Californian heat.

Mr D spent time under the truck, as it needs a little work. It was a bit of a sight looking through the front door to see a pair of legs sticking out from under it...

Its a good little truck and runs well. it just needs a little 'tweaking'

As for me... it was great to sit down between the sneezes and do a bit of stitiching

hopefully if I keep dosing myself  I will feel better tomorrow

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

The Last Day of Summer...

Tomorrow is officially the first day of Autumn, and the overgrown vegetable garden is dying back

We were going to spend Saturday morning digging up all the old plants..

but I went out this morning and Im still getting a good harvest

There are still lots of tomatoes..both ripe..

and unripe

Plus the funniest looking cucumbers...

I think we may have to find something else to do ...

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

In the Kitchen ~ British Wartime Fruit Scones

For the last couple of months almost everything that has come out of my kitchen has been a recipe from my pre 1950s recipe box or my 1940s cookbook collection. I dont know if its because it was the era of rationing due to the second world war, but the majority of the recipes are frugal, and are incredibly tasty, probably because of the herbs, spices and flavourings used to compensate for the lack of quality ingredients.Anyway MrD has been thoroughly enjoying all the dinners, and there hasnt been one complaint. So I think..this the way forward from here...for both sweet and savoury

British Afternoon Tea woudnt be complete without the obligitory scone. This recipe come from Eating for Victory, a collection of Ministry of Food Leaflets from World War 2. It gives three varieties, plain, sweet and fruit. I chose the fruit, and used Golden Raisins..the closest thing to sultanas here in the US.

British Wartime Fruit Scones

The recipe is quite straight forward, and calls for a savoury or sweet sandwich filling. I dont know about a sandwich filling, but I do like a thin spread of butter, or a dollop of homemade preserves.

1 lb. self-raising flour or
1 lb. plain flour and 4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 oz. margarine
A bare 1/4 pint milk

• Mix the flour, baking powder (if used) and salt together
• Rub in the margarine.
• Mix to a soft dough with milk.
• Turn on to a floured board and roll out to 1" in thickness.
• Cut into 8 rounds or triangles
• Put on a greased baking sheet and bake in a hot oven for 15 minutes.
• Serve hot or cold with a savoury or sweet sandwich filling.

Variations:

Sweet Scones:
Plain scone recipe with 1 oz. sugar added after fat has been rubbed in. 

Proceed as before.

Fruit Scones:
Plain scone recipe with the addition of 1 oz. sugar and I oz, dried fruit added after the fat has been rubbed in 

Proceed as before.

Gentle Rain...

 I woke up this morning to the sound of gentle, soothing rain

It was unexpected, much needed and a blessed relief

The temperatures are cooler too

A teasing reminder that Autumn is almost here

Flowers are still blooming and Im enjoying them as long as I can

Before the Fall colours take over as a new season starts

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x