The worlds best carrot cake?

Is this recipe possibly the worlds carrot cake?
I don't know exactly, possibly it is. All of our mob sure liked it!!

Here's where you find the recipe, right over here with Chef John at Food Wishes.

The only piece of advice I can add to this post tonight.........

Use a proper cake pan. Don't use a pyrex dish as I did.
The cake sticks to the pyrex dish, no matter how much you grease it.
I learned the hard way (I guess that's why there's no pictures of my finished cake then? It wasn't a pretty sight)

Ok, go off and bake people, don't blame me if you like the cake so much that you have to go off and eat half of it in one go. I almost did that, but then I stopped. Just.

Any wonder I'm joining weight watchers next week. *sigh*

Just to prove a point

pictorial evidence that I can actually crochet a little bit, well sort of.

I haven't done any more to this. Maybe this weekend, maybe not.

Just a Mum??

I spotted this on another blog I read and I just had to share it with you ......

JUST A MUM? 

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the Motor Registration office,
Was asked by the counter clerk to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. 

'What I mean is,' explained the counter clerk,
'do you have a job or are you just a ..?'

'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 

'I'm a Mum.' 

'We don't list 'Mum' as an occupation,

'housewife' covers it,'
Said the clerk emphatically.


I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Medicare office.

The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like,
'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'

'What is your occupation?' she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know.

The words simply popped out.
'I'm a Research Associate in the field of 
Child Development and Human Relations..' 

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and
Looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,
In bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. 

'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest,
'just what you do in your field?' 

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,
I heard myself reply,
'I have a continuing program of research, 
(what mother doesn't)
In the laboratory and in the field, 
(normally I would have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family)
And already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, 
(any mother care to disagree?)
And I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are 
More of a satisfaction rather than just money.' 

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she
Completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,
I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. 
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, 
(a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, 
Testing out a new vocal pattern. 
I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! 
And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mum.' Motherhood! 

What a glorious career!
Especially when there's a title on the door.


Does this make grandmothers 
'Senior Research associates in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations'
And great grandmothers 
'Executive Senior Research Associates?'
I think so!!! 
I also think it makes Aunts 
'Associate Research Assistants.'

Archery for beginners

I've recently taken up the sport of archery, I don't know if I happened to mention it before now? Maybe I did.
I've had an interest in the sport since I was at school but never could afford to take the sport up, until Christmas. Hubs bought me a set for my Christmas present and I then set about searching out a club locally.
I joined the club officially two weeks ago and love it!

Archery is really making me relax and focus, if you're not relaxed then you can't shoot properly, I can testify to that as I've had the bruises to prove it!

I can't wait each week for Friday night to roll round so I get to the club and start shooting.

Some people actually asked hubs did he have a death wish buying me a bow. I laughed, then I caught him checking out stab vests on Ebay!!!
He assures me it was a joke and he feels quite safe with me and a bow around! Sheesh! He really knows how to make me feel guilty doesn't he!

Freezer Cookies!

I found a really easy to make cookie. It's called a freezer cookie.

Here's what you'll need to make these little pieces of yumminess...

7 oz plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
5 oz butter
7 oz caster sugar
1 egg
vanilla extract

If you have a food processor, place all the ingredients in the bowl and pulse until a dough forms. If you don't have a processor then it's going to take you a little longer!

Rub the fat into the flour until it looks like breadcrumbs.
Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until they form a dough.

Now for both versions, when you reach the dough stage, shape it into a round sausage then wrap it in baking parchment or greaseproof paper. Place  it in a freezer bag or wrap it in cling film. Now place it in the freezer until you are ready to bake it. If you want to bake it the same day you make it, it's recommended that you leave the dough in the freezer for a minimum of 2 hours to firm up. You can then slice off 1 centimetre pieces and bake at 200 degrees celcius for 10 minutes until the cookies are golden.

Allow a gap between each cookie as they do spread during cooking, that's why my cooked ones aren't round in the top picture!!
Now remove the cookies from the oven, but allow to cool n the oven tray before moving to a wire rack. This allows the cookies to firm up before handling.

If using a fan oven, drop your oven temperature by 10 degrees and perhaps shorten your cooking time by 2 minutes to prevent over cooking.

The latest batch I've made included the grated zest of a lemon and they smell wonderful as I remove them from the oven!