Sweet Offerings!

After my last post I've been asked by a few people to divulge my Banana Muffin recipe, so here it is, hope you enjoy! The original recipe is for banana loaf from the Dinner Lady book, she gives an ingredient list for servings for 4 people and servings for 96 people!! You just have to make sure you get the right list!!

2 ripe bananas

175g (6oz) butter or margarine

175g (6oz) caster sugar

3 eggs

225g (8oz) SR flour

Half tsp baking powder

Half tsp vanilla essence

Half tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4

Peel the bananas then crush with a fork. Beat together the butter or margarine and sugar, then add the eggs alternately with the flour and baking powder. Fold in the crushed banana, vanilla essence and cinnamon. Spoon the mixture into muffin cases (makes 12) or pour the mixture into a greased 450g (1lb) loaf tin. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30-40 mins. Cool on a wire cooling tray.

As an added treat I sometimes add a handful of chocolate drops to make banana/choc muffins - yummy.

I've actually managed to make a few pieces of seasonal jewellery over the last couple of weeks. I picked up some of these shell beads from a card making shop and the others from a garden centre - just shows you, you can pick up components from lots of different places, not just bead shops.

I'm afraid I've been a little distracted this week and the little fellows below are to blame! Aren't they gorgeous?

My youngest son made the bird box about 18mths ago at cubs. I noticed a few weeks ago that a bird was visiting every now and then. Earlier this week I noticed the pair were back and forth nearly all day. We can't see inside the box (lid firmly nailed down!) but I was able to get close enough yesterday to hear little chirping noises - we're just keeping our fingers crossed that the chicks survive and don't get pounced on by the local cats!! I noticed a big tabby this morning on the other side of the trellis trying to paw at the box, I don't think they've got a chance of getting inside. I think the problems will begin when they start to fledge. I can't go outside into the garden (or into the conservatory for that matter) without standing for about 10mins (minimum) to watch the parents flying to and fro with their tasty morsels.

We took a trip into Derbyshire last Sunday to visit a Well Dressing at the village of Etwall. For those unfamiliar with the art of well dressing, you can find out about the history and this years timetable here. We've not visited this particular village before and we had a lovely time walking up and down searching out the wells.

At the above event was an owl rescue group called Majestic Owls. They had some of their owls in an enclosure and you could get really close to them. When the owls have been rescued they can't unfortunately be released back to the wild so the rescue people care for them and take them round to groups/schools etc to talk about them and their protection etc. I think you will agree with me that they are stunning specimens. They had lovely names too, one was called TeaBag, which amused my youngest!

I think that's about it for this time. I hope everyone has a lovely bank holiday weekend. Hubby, eldest son and nephew are off to Wembley tomorrow to see Hull City in the Championship Playoffs against Bristol City - I just so hope they win otherwise it will be unbearable, mind you it will be equally unbearable with all the celebrations - come on Tigers!!! We're off into Derbyshire again on Monday to visit a few galleries who are taking part in the Derbyshire Open Arts. I will report back later.