Cupcakes

Opposite the new art venue in Middleport is a small unit called Nickiebees Cupcakes. I popped in to see what they had. I asked about cakes without frosting (too much sugar in it) and we had a chat about whether it’s possible to use a sugar substitute to make the butter cream icing. Afterwards I went back and bought a couple of freshly baked cupcakes. They looked like perfect Victoria sponges. When I got home I went and got some clotted cream and blueberries. I cut the tops off the cakes, cut the tops in half, spread the cream over the cut surface. Then I put the tops back on like butterfly wings. I spooned a little more cream on top and studdied the cream with fresh blueberries. What a tasty treat! Had with a cup of decaff coffee. Tasty and not as sugary as fully frosted!

Home grown

Basically windfalls, five rough pears, two apples, three green walnuts and a single green tomato. The wind must have been blowing.

For the first time we have a good crop of apples on the main tree, the pear tree is bent over with pears that are growing slowly larger. The walnuts are being stolen by squirrels who bury them and the tomatoes are growing in a hanging basket and in a grow bag surrounded by other plants. They are all having to take their chances while there is less rain, but they are well established plants and I think the fruit trees have deep roots. We plan to do some pruning of the garden. The blueberries are gradually ripening, the gooseberries have all been eaten as have the raspberries. I saw no strawberries this year, but I think they have been shaded out by other plants. We even have redcurrants although I misidentified them as woody nightshade (not a good idea). Earlier in the year we had a small crop of cherries and we might get a few elderberries. So all in all not a bad year of fruit and veg.

Frazzled but surviving

Our back yard is a bit frazzled. The plants are brown in places but we have watered them in the evening. The tomatoes in a little hanging basket have developed but are yet to ripen as are the blueberries that a friend loaned us a few years ago when she moved. I’m still caring for them, I hope she’s OK but we have got out of touch with her. Anyway cool and thundery weather is on the way..

Guess what we had for tea.

Yes, another trifle. I used sugar free jelly, but I added blueberries. Of course there was fat in it, but I made strawberry blancmange with semiskimmed milk and a sweetener instead of sugar. I used half the amount of whipped cream than I usually do. So I guess it was reasonably healthy, especially compared with other festive treats, such as stollen, mince pies and Christmas pudding (which I sadly indulged in too!).

Half made trifle

Made another trifle today, I used sugar free jelly (not jam) which I added blueberries to with a small amount of port. Then topped with strawberry blancmange. Now it needs a topping of whipped cream… Yum!

I think it’s the cold weather and boredom that has drawn me to making my favourite dessert. The trick is to let the jelly cool and set before you add the topping of blancmange, and to let that cool before you add it to the jelly so it doesn’t melt it. Plus I add slightly less liquid to each bit so I know it will thicken properly.

Tasty.

Garden today

Just when I think the plants can’t get bigger we get torrential rain and they grow! And it’s hot, they are happy.

I think our back yard is full. The hanging baskets are pulling the old fence down. But I turn round and my hubby has snuck an Ash tree in! I love it. I hope some of it survives into the autumn. I will continue to post pictures as it grows.

We even had three ripe blueberries today.

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Trifle dipping?

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Oh dear! My blancmange was too warm when I put it on top of the jelly. And I got extra thick cream which I over whipped.  The whole thing is a delicious mess!

Now, trifle dipping, what is that? The act of knicking an extra spoonful of trifle after you’ve had your fair share! I’ve been known to slice a thin sliver off our Christmas trifle late at night. It is my favourite dessert.

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Blueberries

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We have two small blueberry bushes on loan from a friend. They sit either side of the back door. One bush is sad and half died off. The other is healthy.

But it’s the blueberries on the tatty bush that are starting to ripen. As you can see they start out green, gradually swell and then the blue works it’s way over the fruit from the top to the base where it is attached to a stalk. I think they will get darker blue than this.

I haven’t been on line much today because I’ve been tidying up the jungle if a garden we have. Deadheading my hanging baskets. Watering the plants and tidying up the shed. I’m pooped! DSC_2140

Here are a couple of the baskets I’ve been working on. I like the multilayer look. There is ivy growing up the wall so it looks quite nice.