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Philadelphus

by thehomelyyear @ 04. Jul 2008 - 10:46:05 pm

Philadelphus
There's such a heady perfume from the philadelphus (or mock orange, to give it its common name). I like the way that white flowers show up particularly well as the light falls...we've a white rose that really glows at dusk. And walking past neighbours' gardens this evening, I caught beautiful scents of summer...ah!

Strawberry flan

by thehomelyyear @ 03. Jul 2008 - 07:46:00 pm

Strawberry flan
It's Wimbledon, Andy Murray did his best and we must have strawberries to celebrate...now there are juicy English strawberries in the greengrocers we can really enjoy them. This flan has shortcrust case filled with custard and covered with either whole or sliced fruits. Just need the Champagne now!

6oz eslf-raising flour
3oz sunflower margarine
half pint full cream milk
2 eggs
1oz sugar
4oz strawberries
a little strawberry jam or recurrant jelly for the glaze

Rub the margarine into the flour until it resembles fine bread crumbs. Add a little cold water and bring together to make the pastry. Wrap in clingfilm and place in the fridge to chill.

Grease a 9ins flan tin. Roll out the pastry to fit. Bake at 150C, gas mark 2 for about 15 mins.

Warm the milk but do not let it boil. Beat the eggs and add to the milk. Stir in the sugar. Pour into the pastry case and bake at 150C, gas mark 2 for about 25 mins.

When cold, arrange the strawberries on top. Warm the jam a little and brush over the strawberries to glaze.

Home-made Lemonade

by thehomelyyear @ 02. Jul 2008 - 08:40:42 pm

Homemade lemonade
This could not be easier to make...and tastes good
3 unwaxed lemons
5oz/150g sugar
2 pints/I litre & 140mls boiling water
half-oz/10g citric acid (health food shop)

Scrub the lemons. Using a potato peeler, thinly slice the rind and put into a large jug. Add the squeezed lemon juice, the citric acid and the sugar. Pour on the boiling water & stir until the sugar has dissolved. Strain and put in the fridge.

Its head in the sun

by thehomelyyear @ 01. Jul 2008 - 07:52:31 pm

Its head in the sun
The white clematis is a picture still...at least it was an about an hour ago when this was taken. It was sunny then; not now though. We've just had darkened skies and blustery rain. Trust me to forget that I'd opened the big window in the conservatory...some mopping up there. And I've left the washing on the line - huh!

Anyone for tea?

by thehomelyyear @ 30. Jun 2008 - 07:35:30 pm

Anyone for tea?
You wouldn't get much tea though. I couldn't resist this bargain dolly's tea set...all bright, spotty and perfectly formed. Isn't it dinky? And I love the little hamper with it's red gingham lining. Milk and sugar?

A treat in the post

by thehomelyyear @ 29. Jun 2008 - 09:32:14 pm

A treat in the post
A Ladybird book I'd wanted to get my hands on for ages arrived in the post this week. At the summer festival in Much Wenlock there was a book fair in the Priory hall and I asked for a copy of The Farm. So here it is at last.
I like this particular book because of the Tunnicliffe illustrations and it's one I most remember from childhood. Isn't it wonderful how certain books, the pictures and being read to stay in the memory so clearly...to the point of being able to recite the story practically word for word.

Strawberry pot

by thehomelyyear @ 29. Jun 2008 - 03:54:47 pm

Strawberry pot
These were planted in pots last year, and are just beginning to ripen. I suppose you can have a little taste of home-grown, even if you do not have a garden - which seems to be the "on-trend" message! Oh, how I hate current sayings..."on-trend"...yeuck!

Wild rose

by thehomelyyear @ 28. Jun 2008 - 08:20:25 pm

Wild rose
Like many people I absolutely love wild roses; we used to know them as dog roses, for some reason. They are so sweetly-scented and seem to be everywhere at the moment.

Comfort food...

by thehomelyyear @ 27. Jun 2008 - 10:32:41 am

Comfort food... hspace="5" />
In our book this has been put in the winter section, but what the heck?. With the best sausages from the butcher and some stir- fried or steamed vegetables, it is serious comfort food!

1lb good sausages
4oz, 110g plain flour
Pinch of salt & pepper
1 egg
275ml milk

Preheat the oven to 220/425/Gas Mark 7. Make the batter by sifting the flour, salt and pepper into a large bowl. Beat the egg, and using a wooden spoon, beat well into the flour. Gradually incorporate the milk. Put the sausages in a dish and place in oven. Cook the sausages until brown, turning ocassionally, (about 15 minutes). Remove the dish from the oven and pour in the batter. Reduce the oven temperature to 180/350/Gas Mark 4. Bake for about 30 minutes until the batter has risen and turned a golden brown. Serve immediately.

A summer garden

by thehomelyyear @ 26. Jun 2008 - 09:44:56 pm

A summer garden
Every year when the well dressing takes place in Litton there's a garden open to visitors. As you can see it's a riot of colour, bursting at the seams with all my favourite plants. It's only tiny, no lawn, but a quintessential cottage garden...must have a very enthusiastic gardening owner.

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