The Making Granny

As it was raining today, I thought some hearty baking was in order! I had small amount of mincemeat left in the ‘fridge and thought it was time I used it up.  I used an easy recipe I found on Pinterest at www.yummly.co.uk ( https://pin.it/5DOOubX ). Mix the dry ingredients together: 1.5 cups plain flour 1.75 cups of porridge oats 2 teaspoons of baking powder 1/4 teaspoon of salt In a separate bowl, mix 1/2 cup (110g) of butter with 1 cup of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence, Then combine both mixes together. Spoon half the mixture into a greased 13”x9” tin and press down firmly (I use a potato masher). Spread one cup of mincemeat over the top and cover with the rest of the mixture, firming down again. Bake at 170°C for about 20-25 minutes until lightly browned. Leave to cool slightly before cutting. Delicious!

With the prospect of our lock down being relaxed in the near future, I thought I would research mask making! There are so many types that it wasn’t easy to choose the most suitable, but eventually I went for the popular 3 fold type with a wire insert and pocket for additional filter. This one seemed to make the closest fit to the face. My research suggested that closely woven fabric was ideal so I went for cotton, using an old shirt belonging to my other half  ( he’s unlikely to read this post, so will never know!). If you’re running short on ‘making’ supplies don’t forget that most small local craft shops are providing a postal and delivery service and really need your support at the moment so why not give them a ring. Our local one can be found at www.crispincrafts.co.uk and can be reached on their mobile number at the moment on  07867673105. So first you need a rectangle 12 inches by 9 inches. I found it easier to fold the material in half and use a 6 inches by...

So here we are in lock down all trying to keep busy and upbeat. As the weather has been so good we have been busy bringing the garden back into shape after it’s rather wet winter and so my ‘making’ has been rather curtailed. However, my daughter and son in law have a wedding anniversary coming up and as we’re self isolating there’s no chance of buying them a card. I had a look on line but decided to make my own. First I went through my stash of used greetings cards which are usually cannibalised by my granddaughters, but I don’t think they’ll be visiting any time soon as there is no end to the lock down in sight currently. Next I pasted over the writing inside the card with coloured paper. I used two separate pieces as the card didn’t crease correctly in the centre when closed with one continuous piece. I then cut out 4 large hearts in a contrasting colour, folding the paper so I could cut them out all in one go using a template. I folded each heart in half and stuck hal...

My eldest granddaughter loves to lie on the floor and watch TV and usually takes all the cushions from the sofa, much to the annoyance of the rest of the family! So, l decided to alleviate the situation with a simple pillow bed. I used an old double duvet cover which I have had in the airing cupboard for the last 15 years at least! I cut it in half across the middle, as it is the bottom half of the duvet cover we need, so we can use the fasteners along the side to enable easy washing! Once you’ve cut it in half, turn it inside out and sew up the long seam, leaving the fastener side open. Turn it the right way again and place 4 pillows on the right side. Make 4 compartments for the pillows by pinning into quarters using plenty of pins to get the straight lines. I also used tailor’s chalk to ensure the lines were straight. Sew the 3 lines across the cover.  Pop the pillows into the cover and if needed, open the seam at the bottom of the cover to enable the end ...

With spring around the corner and needing to come up with a house warming idea, I thought it was time for some chainsaw carpentry. I had to enlist the help of my other half for this project as it was a 2 person job! First we wandered around the field searching for the right log. Sadly we have a number of dead elms and ash trees in our hedgerow thanks to Dutch Elm Disease and Ash Die Back, so we had several to choose from. Next we had to cut into the log to mark the cavity, ensuring we didn’t go right through to the bottom. We found it easier to cut additional slots into the cavity, which would make it easier to chisel out later. Then start chiselling a block at a time. Continue until you have a good size cavity for the plants and soil. Finally fill with good soil and plant up. Ta da!

My granddaughters stayed over and loved their Bunny Pancake breakfast. I thought I would have a practice run with Easter fast approaching. I used a Scotch Pancake recipe which has been in the family for over 40 years! Ingredients 4oz Self raising flour 1oz Sugar 1 egg (beaten) 1/4 pint milk Chocolate chips for the toes Raisins for the tails Mix the flour and sugar together and add the egg and milk to make a batter. Drop the mixture onto a lightly oiled frying pan and use a spoon to get the required shape. One large circle for the body, a smaller circle for the head, 2 small ovals for the feet and 2 pointed ovals for the ears. After 2-3 minutes the surface should bubble and it is time to turn them using a spatula. After a further 2-3 minutes lift them out of the pan. They should be golden brown on both sides. Arrange them on the plate as the photo and add the chocolate chips for toes and a raisin for the tail. Enjoy!

I have to thank my daughter for this super simple dessert which is delicious and can be made the day before you need it. I wanted to make a tasty dessert to take for lunch with friends, but it had to be able to withstand a 2 hour car journey - this dessert passed the test with flying colours! You will need: Jaffa cakes 10 Cream cheese 400g Custard 300ml Orange jelly 1 First melt the jelly in half a pint of boiling water and leave to cool. Meanwhile place the Jaffa cakes in the bottom of your tin or dish (I lined the tin with a cake liner as it makes it so much easier to get it out later) Once the jelly starts to thicken, put it in a bowl along with the custard and cream cheese.  Mix until smooth. Pour over Jaffa cake base and put in the ‘fridge’ for 2-3 hours to set. Just before serving, grate chocolate over the top to give a nice finish and you’re done! Enjoy!