Machiavellian Morello Cherry Loaf

Ingredients

50g mixed fruit soaked in Brandy etc (if you want)

2 cups of self raising flour 

1 teaspoon baking powder.

50 g soft brown sugar

350 g Morello Cherries

I can of condensed milk or a pot of plain yogurt .

Method 

Preheat oven to 180c

You can soak the fruit overnight mine had been soaking from earlier that day from when I made Eccles  cakes , I know I'm a busy bee!

Mix the fruit with 2 cups of flour and baking powder.

Next add the sugar, cherries and condensed milk .

Stir with conviction.

Put the mixture into a 2lb loaf tin which is lightly greased .

Cook for 65-70 minutes or until a  skewer comes out clean. 

Wallowing In The Sun

Worried I was getting stale.

Worried my blog was getting stale.

My photography also.

Worried I was getting rusty.

I took steps.


And what amazing steps they were .


It is amazing how sunshine can lighten the mood and take the veil of moodiness that you perceive others to put upon you.

Shaking up your mood is good.


Wallowing never did any one anyone any good.


Unless it is wallow in the sun.

The Bad Tempered Ladybird Craft Activity

I love the bad tempered ladybird book children can learn so much from it and I think a few adults could do as well !

The bad-tempered ladybird picks fights with every animal he meets, but soon learns the importance of friends and turns into a far nicer, happier bug. The beautifully illustrated pages of this entertaining book demonstrate the sizes of the different animals and the sun’s path across the sky as time passes.


As well as being an entertaining book that teaches a important message of tolerance and understanding and ultimately not to be so bossy. It is a book that learns itself to arts and crafts activities. For example last week at school during our handwriting lesson in reception we finger painted ladybirds, this is superb activity for their fine motor skills. To do this activity you will need

•  pieces of paper
• red paint
• green paint
• black pen

Pour the red and green pain into shallow dishes.  Make sure the children have their sleeves rolled up and an apron or old clothes on and away they go. You might need to demonstrate at first by putting your fingers in the red paint and printing round the paper for the ladybirds and then green for the leaves.

You can either get the children to draw the ladybirds legs etc in black pen or you can further the fine motor skills activity by perhaps using a matchstick ( one that has been used) dipped in black paint.

I cut mine out and put them through my cuttlebug where I can use various templates to emboss paper etc.

Even without an embossing machine this is simple and enjoyable activity for children and adults to do.

For other Ladybird inspired craft activity why not try this from the lovely Daisies and pie 

Mornings What Do They Say To You ?

Mornings what do they say to you ?

I know that some or most of you are running around at this time after your children  or getting ready for work.

My child who is a teen tends to look after himself.

Conservations are so " Brush the back of your head"

Met with an "ehh"

"What subjects have you got today ?"

"eeeeh , eeeeeh , huuuuh  ... science"

"Don't squeeze the cat , it's not a teddy bear"

"Meow... hisssss"

"Owwwh "

As the cat upsails my leg in  a cross manner and I am not the one to blame.

"We are going to eat out at a garden centre"

"eeeh , bleugh , grumble"

"What did you say?

"NOTHING it doesn't matter"

"What did you  say ?" repeat this process x 10

"Did you say you aren't bothered?"

"humhh , errmr rarrrr"

"Don't mutter under your breath"

"I need money please"

"OOOh now you have the powers of clear speech it's miracle "

And then when the house is silent , I step out into the glow of the morning sun. When he is gone is years to come I am going to miss the grunts, beeps and huuhs.

Percol Fusion Coffee

I am particular about my coffee you could say snobby I would rather pay a little bit more for my coffee for ethical and taste reasons than a quick cheap caffeine shot. I am not a regular coffee drink but  when I do drink coffee I want the experience to be an indulgence and with Percol Fusion that is exactly what I get.

I tested Colombian ( strength 3 ) coffee and found it both to be both nutty and fragrant , it is a coffee that is designed for ground coffee drinkers that you get in a instance merely by adding hot water.

I have used the Percol Fusion Coffee for more than drinking it can be used in recipes making it a very versatile commodity indeed. Drinking the coffee you are immediately transported to the rich environment from whence it came , with this coffee it tastes as if it has percolated through a very expensive coffee machine similar to the ones that you get on the high street or indeed at home now
.

A perfect way to start the day and the to bring a special meal to the close of an evening.


There are many coffees in the Percol Fusion range so which one will you try ?

Available in selected Tesco and Sainsbury’s stores nationwide and online at Amazon and Ocado retails at around £4.85

Disclosure ( I was sent a jar of Percol Fusion coffee to review and my view and opinions are my own)