Cherry takes the reins

Sun_Addict

I’m liking the sound of those gingerbread muffins 😋

charlies_tribe

Gingerbread muffins do sound good!

Shame about the secret santa. We do it with the children, they all choose a name and then get to choose a gift up to the value of £20 (I pay but it comes out of their Christmas budgets, although DD1 will buy her own this year) I'm hoping its something they carry on once they leave home so they don't feel they have to spend a fortune on each other. 

Cherryfudge

Thank you @Seasidegal58. @Sun_Addict alas they aren't vegetarian! I suppose you could make them for Mr SA but that sort of defeats the purpose, doesn't it? I can post the recipe if you want to try a vegetarian version, though WW just may not approve. I discovered today that they acquire their sticky tops overnight. Muffins, that is, not weight watchers.

What lovely weather today! Clear blue sky and bright sun after what was probably an early frost. I had an ophthalmology appointment at the hospital which went so well I'm now discharged. Apparently my optician can keep an eye open (:D) for any changes and the hospital would prefer not to see me unless anything changes.

Walking back with the drops that dilate the pupils was interesting - I had to shade my eyes most of the time and it meant I couldn't go out and enjoy the sun, but by the end of the afternoon it was back to normal so DH and I went for a bit of a run. This has probably saved me some money as I was going to pop into the shops, which I gather are busy everywhere in preparation for tomorrow's lockdown. I did, however, spend £1.99 of a voucher on an ebook.

I've finished my baking: toffee apple cookies, parkin and a bread mix for garlic and rosemary focaccia which has been sitting in the larder far too long. That means we have enough bread for a day or so, and I've parcelled up some of the sweet stuff to take round to the children (except poor DS2 who is too far away and is getting a fiver by bank transfer to buy his own). It's a way of celebrating bonfire night without the fireworks.

The alternative tree surgeon has quoted us £420, a bit of an increase from no-show's £175! However unless we can find someone cheaper (and reliable), that's what we will have to go with (at least we get free logs which will recoup about £75's worth).

Spending today:
Gift for DS2 £5
E-book £1.99

Things I'm thankful for: good report from the ophthalmologist, sunshine, a bit of exercise and a chat with a neighbour, plenty of time to bake.

Cherryfudge

Gingerbread muffins (makes 18)

175g/6oz dark brown sugar
2 tbsp black treacle
2 tbsp golden syrup
2 eggs
150g/5oz lard
250ml/8 fl oz water
275g/ 10oz SR flour
pinch salt
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp grated nutmeg
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger

1. Beat together the sugar, treacle, syrup and eggs.
2. Heat lard and water to boil.
3. Sift and mix dry ingredients.
4. Stir dry ingredients into the treacle mixture.
5. Stir in lard and water slowly, then mix very well.
6. Bake in 18 lined muffin cases (check after 15 minutes, I think it took about 20 minutes for muffins) - or in a greased, lined 1kg/2lb loaf tin, for 30 minutes in a moderate oven (160C / 325f / Gas 3), then 30 minutes in a cool oven (150C / 300f / Gas 2) until the top springs back if pressed gently.

(From 'Traditional Farmhouse Fare', pub. Chancellor Press, 1994). Apparently it was sent into a magazine having been inherited from a Scottish lady two generations older... so I've no idea how old it is but I'm guessing mid 20th century).

It gets better overnight but I don't know how long it lasts!

Sun_Addict

Thanks for the recipe 👍 Would have to substitute the lard though. I might have to look for a WW/veggie friendly version. I had an old shortbread recipe inherited from a Scottish neighbour many years ago. It was absolutely gorgeous, almost melt in your mouth. No longer got the recipe but I know it involved cornflour and butter. 

Cherryfudge

I think it would be worth trying Trex or similar. Apparently not suitable for bird food but I think it would work in this recipe.
@charlies_tribe, sorry, I cross posted with you. It's a good idea to do Secret Santa among the children. Otherwise it's a huge expense and far too much 'stuff'!

Cherryfudge

Very little to report today: I went on a long walk to deliver the baked goods, which was nice as well as healthy (the walk, I mean. The baking was certainly not healthy!)
Work was rather full-on for the first time since March. Some colleagues are struggling with things outside of work, just so many things that you wouldn't believe it of a fairly small staff team, but one colleague had good news that a suspected serious health problem in her family has turned out to be a mis-diagnosis.

This evening I'm thankful for a good long walk of about 6 miles and seeing my older children, people enjoying the sweet treats, coping okay with the client I was given charge of who can be intense, and a short shift tomorrow.

Cherryfudge

DH got the shopping today - always cheaper than when I do it! I don't know what he bought apart from sme green bananas. I have one ripe banana left to put in my overnight oats for tomorrow then the new lot had better hurry up and get ripe.

I've picked up a shift tomorrow. It should be the weekend off but I have plenty of days off around now and cover is needed due to one of the circumstances mentioned in my previous post. Good job we only have two people staying!

I also ran 5k in beautiful wintery sunshine above the misty lowlands. Lucky me. J and L have joined L's brother to run 100 miles in November which I worked out would be within my capacity but only if the weather stays fair and I run daily, which doesn't happen as I have rest days in between. Odd to think it's even a theoretical possibility! Not about to happen though.

I'm thankful for managing to eat healthily and get some exercise today, extra work this weekend but right at the start so I get the rest off, and a colleague asking if I'd work with her later in the weekend. (I'm not but it's nice to be asked. )

Cherryfudge

I did my extra shift this morning and came home to a lovely hot bath. DH then suggested a walk while there was still daylight which oddly enough was on my mind too, so I've had some exercise. A grey November day doesn't sound perfect for walks but somehow it's just the right thing to do, I suppose because it's exercise, natural light, a change of scene... This evening we've watched 'Strictly' and I remembered I'd resolved to doing other exercise to support my running, so I did a few arm exercises and a bout of star jumps. I don't think I'm ready for the Olympics just yet, but it was fun.

Nothing spent. This lockdown business is very money saving in that it keeps me out of the shops, but I need to get my head round Christmas shopping online.

This evening I'm thankful for extra work, the joys of a hot bath and a good read (Terry Pratchett's 'Jingo' suits me very well) and my 'duvet' coat for November weather.

Seasidegal58

This lockdown has saved me so much as well - we have to take some positives!