Boiled fruit and walnut cake

The decluttering gurus like Ms Kondo would have conniptions if they happen to go with me to the charity shops. I tend to donate a bag of clothes, books or toys about once a week, but I also do a weekly charity shops crawl and always end up buying a few little things.
Just this week I bought two paperbacks for myself, a couple of books for Eddie, a little porcelain bird for 50p (made in the USSR, and I had exactly the same one as a child) and a Neolithic hammer found at Beachy Head (as you do).
Well, technically the hammer was on display in the vintage shop, along the other Neolithic finds like scrapers etc. It was clearly someone's much-cherished collection, sold in bits and pieces.
Eddie and I watched 10,000BC on DVD recently, and I bought an old edition of Rosny's Quest for Fire on eBay, so it was all fitting perfectly well, according to my reasoning.

One of my recent finds was a cook book Cakes & Slices (The Australian Women's Weekly). It was priced 20p, like all the books in that charity shop (books for kids go for 10p each). I really don't know how they make money at all.
The cake recipes in this book are all rather old-fashioned and tasty. Nothing particularly fancy, not a single grain of quinoa in or Himalayan salt in sight.

A friend of ours was coming earlier today for tea, and she is usually happy to be a guinea pig for my untested recipes.
One of the cakes I wanted to try is called Wholemeal boiled fruit and walnut cake.

I have adapted the recipe, reducing sugar in half (I find that most American and Australian cake recipes use too much sugar), and changing some of the ingredients, but the main idea is borrowed from the book.

It turned out to be tasty, but definitely not a looker, as the top had split, which often happens when the cake batter is wet.

Boiled fruit and walnut cake
Ingredients:
50g dried apricots
40g currants
70g dried apple rings
1 teabag (black tea, like Typhoo)
150g caster sugar
3 medium eggs
235g self-raising flour
65g rye & spelt flour
200g butter, melted
45g walnuts
1tsp vanilla extract
1tsp baking powder

First finely chop the apple rings and apricots. Place the currants and apricots in a pan with boiling water and 1 teabag. Bring to boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Add the chopped apples and cook for another couple of minutes. Remove from the heat and strain the fruit using a colander or sifter. Discard the teabag. Let the fruit cool.

In a big mixing bowl beat together the sugar and eggs. Sift in the flour, baking powder, add the melted butter and mix well. Add the chopped walnuts and boiled fruit, and mix well.
Line the base of the spring cake tin with a parchment paper, and oil the sides lightly. Pour the cake batter in the tin.

Place the tin in the oven preheated to 180C. Cook for an hour and a half+ Check readiness with a wooden toothpick.
Cool in the cake tin.
Dust with icing sugar (optional).

You can use a different combination of dried fruit and nuts. My kids love apples and walnuts, and that's why I've chosen these ingredients for the cake.

It is a moist cake, fruity and not over-sweet. Judging by how much is left by now, my family (and friend) liked it.

I used Typhoo black tea which was one of the products in the latest Degustabox. You can use any other black or flavoured tea.

Photo diary: week 18, project 365

We said Good bye to April and welcomed May. As the spring progresses, our garden is changing its looks. There is lots of blues and purples at the moment, with a few bright pinks. Soon the white roses will begin blooming.

I didn't do it on purpose, but this week's photos can be grouped by colour blue.

I'm not sure what this flower is called. It's more of a garden weed variety, not exactly a cornflower, as it's pretty big. Does anyone know its name?

Lilac is still looking pretty good. I love its perfume, it makes me think of home.

Eddie was chatting to me and holding onto the wood beam over the fireplace. He made me think of Atlas holding the skies.

The weekend before I've been reading Rachel Roddy's column in the Guardian Feast magazine. She mentioned the book called The fruit, herbs and vegetables of Italy, which was written in the 17C by Castelvetro, who was in exile in England.
I found it on eBay, and bought it. It's a beautiful edition, with art illustrations.

A morning walk to school: this spot always makes me think of Venice.

More blue flowers from the garden. The bluebells and forget-me-nots are spreading like fire.

Today Eddie and I did some boring grocery shopping. We tried a couple of Costas in town, but they were unusually packed full, and we didn't fancy eating outside, as it was too blustery.
No cafe for us today, but Eddie was super excited to get a rare Pokemon card when we bought an Unbroken Bonds booster pack in the book shop today.
This was our late lunch - cheese, grapes, apples, Peter's Yard cripsbreads (my absolute favourites!) and some Higgidy tomato wheels ( we thought the pastries were so-so; a bit disappointing).

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The Suspects by Katharine Johnson #BlogTour

"We weren't bad people, we just made a bad choice. Or at least that's how it started."

The Suspects by Katherine Johnson is a taut, concise and deeply disquieting psychological thriller.

A group of graduates finds themselves embroiled in the immoral decision which will change their lives forever.
Five young people who'd applied for the journalism training scheme, decide to move in together.
They all have secrets from each other.

Emily, the narrator, has epilepsy, which she keeps under control, and doesn't want for the others to know about.

Stuart has a dark past of his own. During the new year's eve party he makes a drunken confession to Emily, only it's so noisy and she's so tipsy, she can hardly hear anything.

Stuart's grandfather dies and leaves him some money. It's enough for a deposit on a flat. He can't afford to buy a whole house on his own, but if he could find enough people to share, they would pay less in mortgage than they are paying in rent.

In principle it sounds sensible and tempting. In reality, Stuart, Zak, Imogen, Xanthe and Emily are not compatible as long term joint tenants/owners.
And then there's Rick, the most annoying boyfriend of Imogen.
The group dynamics is changing dramatically.

It starts with the petty things, and it doesn't take long for five personalities to clash.
But it was the party on New Year's Eve that changes everything.

"None of the stuff that came after would have happened if each of us hadn't already made some bad choices".

The novel starts with a funeral of a young woman named Xanthe. Only she is not actually Xanthe at all, her real name happens to be Charlotte.
She has been the proverbial pain in the posterior all through her life. An attention seeker, thriving on drama, she has reinvented herself and told the most incredible lies about her life (one of her preposterous claims was that her parents died in a plane crash, and her sister is a nun).
I suppose we've all met someone like that - a person who wants to be the centre of attention at any cost.

The narrative moves backwards and forward in time. Set against the backdrop of the late 1980s, the novel weaves the not so distant past with backstories of all the main protagonists, unraveling secrets and painful memories.

As the alarming tale progresses and the deceit deepens, one layer of lies by another, you're racing through the pages.

The novel is so well-written, you're completely absorbed. This psychological thriller is full to bursting with chilling twists and turns.

"We were strong at different times. One of us would be on edge and the others would have to cover for them but we were always aware that one of us could break down and bring things crashing down around us in a moment...
And yet we were bound together by what we'd done. It would always be there between us, this shared knowledge. No one would ever understand me as well as he did because they couldn't be allowed to know everything about me..."

About the author:
Katharine Johnson was born in Bristol and now lives in Berkshire. She's worked as a journalist on lots of magazines and has written a history book about Windsor. When not writing, you'll usually find her with a book in one hand and a coffee in the other, restoring a house in Italy, walking her spaniel or playing netball (though not usually at the same time.)

Katharine's social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katharinejohnsonauthor
Twitter: @kjohnsonwrites
Instagram: @katharinejohnsonauthor
Blog: https://www.katyjohnsonblog.wordpress.com


This review is part of the blog tour. Check out the stops at the following route:

Disclosure: Many thanks to Katharine Johnson and Rachel's Rare Resources for inviting me to take part in the tour. I received a free copy of the book for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are my own.

Best of British & Outdoors Degustabox (April 2019)

The Easter weekend was warm and sunny, but now at the beginning of May, the weather turned out to be colder. I even put the heating on the other morning, as the house felt damp after several days of incessant rain. I wonder what the coming May Bank holiday will bring on? Will it be all BBQs and picnics in the garden, or meals indoors?

The latest Degustabox was clearly created by optimists who expect a beautiful weather and eating al fresco.

This monthly food and drink subscription box is an excellent way to discover products which have only just appeared in the shops or those which might have been around for while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise.

Each time the box arrives, it's a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet and would like to have a go, I have a whopping £7 off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time) - just use a code 8EVI8 when you place an order.

What did we receive in the April'19 Degustabox? Let's have a look.

Robinsons Fruit Cordials (£2.49) is a concentrated pear and elderflower soft drink with sugar and sweetener. It is best served with ice and a slice of cucumber.
Nutrition information: 4.2g of sugar and 18kcal per 100ml diluted (1 part cordial to 6 parts water).

Robinsons has been making fruit drinks since 1823, and doesn't need an introduction. Their range is vast and varied, and has many fans.

Typhoo Black Tea (£2.20) is another British classic, a much loved British tea brand.
Their team of expert tea buyers and blenders carefully select only the finest tea leaves to ensure great taste, quality and freshness from every cup of Typhoo.

Heinz Organic Baked Beanz (£1) are packed full of the finest organically grown ingredients, offering an organic alternative to the classic tin.
Always useful to have in a pantry for when you fancy baked beans on toast or a proper English breakfast.

Heinz Cream of Tomato Pot Soup (£1.19) is the same tomato soup you know, only in a recyclable microwaveable pots.
We don't have a microwave, and if I do fancy a Heinz soup, I'd still go for a tin. But I can see it being useful for office lunches.

London Flavours Street Food (£1) crisps reflect the diverse flavours of the British capital.
We received a pack of Pho crisps, inspired by Vietnamese cuisine.
Vegan, gluten free, these premium crisps are a treat for spicy crisps fans.

You should receive one of 3 flavours in your box.

Cheerios Multigrain (£2.69) are made with 81% whole grain oats. They are naturally high in fibre & packed with 9 vitamins and minerals including Calcium and iron.
No artificial colours or flavours.
Nutritional information: 118kcal and 5.5g sugar per 30g portion.

My guys used to love Cheerios when they were little, but these days they are not big cereal eaters. I looked online at the recipes which use Cheerios and like the sound of Very Berry Cheerios Bars.

Skinny Food Co Not Guilty White Chocolate Crispies & Milk Chocolate Crispies (£1.49) are guilt and gluten free, with no added sugar.
#NotGuilty bites are high protein snacks, with 99kcal per pack.
You will receive one of two flavours in your box.
My suggestion for the package design is to change fonts to a black colour in the back of the pale yellow bag, or it's almost impossible to read anything.
My elder son enjoyed them. I had a small piece from both packs, and wasn't very keen on the aftertaste.

CRAFTED by Cracker Drinks Co Mango & Passionfruit (£2) is a fruit juice drink, with no added sugar or sweeteners.
Packed in an environmentally friendly carton, with a resealable pack.
All CRAFTED drinks count as one of your five a day.
Sweet and fruity, it's enjoyable straight from the fridge.

Pachamama Andean Berry & Raspberry/Cacao & Cashew (£1.39) are a lovely mix of cacao, dates, nuts, grains and seeds. A chocolatey hit with a taste of the Andes.
This mix of fruit, grains and seeds will release your inner energy.
No added sugar and 100% vegan.
Nutritional info: 134kcal and 20g sugar per bar.

Candy Kittens Wild Strawberry (£1.50) are gourmet sweets, which are totally free from gelatine and gluten. Think sophisticated Percy pigs, with more gourmet flavours.
My kids enjoy them.

Love Corn Smoked BBQ (£1.29) is UK's first premium crunchy corn brand.
These crunchy corn kernels are quite addictive and pack a good flavour.
They are GM-free, gluten free and are vegan.
Nutritional info: 190kcal per 45g bag. A tasty snack, which will be great with a glass of ale.

My younger son loved them, he said "Best thing ever!"

Bull's-Eye NY Steakhouse Barbecue Sauce (£2.49) is full of heart and ready to take on any red meat.
Bull's Eye brings the ultimate, authentic American BBQ taste.

And the last product - Eat Water Slim Rice Sushi (£2.55). This easy to roll sushi rice is made with natural ingredients including Japanese sushi rice and konjac rice.
It contains 9kcal per piece.
It can also be used as sticky rice.

What's your favourite product from the latest Degustabox?

National Stationery Week (29 April - 5 May 2019)

Custard creams... That's all I needed to buy, when I popped into Poundland yesterday morning. We're reading David Walliams' Fing with Eddie, and the little monster Fing loves custard creams. For some reason I never buy them, so my son begged me to buy some to enjoy with the book.
I got a bag of custard creams, but then my feet took me to the stationery isle, where I bought yet another Harry Potter-themed notebook and some fancy clippers.
Sounds familiar? Are you a stationery addict? Then this is our week.

National Stationery Week (29 April - 5 May) gives us a chance to celebrate our favourite notebooks, pens, markers, paperclips, highlighters, document wallets and all things paper and writing-related.

I've always loved drawing. My Mum's an artist, so it was a natural progression that I wanted to copy her from a very early age. I had my first art admirers in the kindergarten.
My Dad, on the other hand, couldn't draw at all, though he did an amazing jewellery. He once tried to draw a horse for me - it was a view from the back, a kind of an oval with two stick legs and a long tail. A genius idea.

Buying new stationery for school made the beginning of a new academic year that little bit more positive.

These days I buy stationery for many reasons. As a blogger, I'm always writing down recipes, ideas for posts, and just making lists of posts which I have promised to write, so that I don't miss a deadline.

I have dozens upon dozens of notebooks and notepads - from humble, unpretentious supermarket own products to the king of notebooks and diaries Moleskine.

And then there is a whole Universe of writing and colouring tools.

STABILO pens are well-known and much-loved around the world. They offer products for all ages, abilities and tastes.
"Pens with cult status - that is what STABILO stands for. The family-run enterprise STABILO is one of the world's leading manufacturers of writing instruments and stands for German quality, an extraordinary variety of colours and ground-breaking innovative strength".

STABILO has a whole host of pens and pencils in every colour you can think of.

To mark the National Stationery Week I am going to mention a few STABILO products which will suit anyone and everyone, whatever their writing style.

STABILO point 88 fineliner is an instantly recognisable classic pen. Great for writing, underlining, taking notes, sketching as well as working with rulers and stencils, the range includes 47 brilliant colours.
These pens come in a wide choice of pack sizes and packaging.

Let's look at the pack of 6 point 88 fineliners. The colours are bright and vibrant, the ink flows clearly and leaves no smudges (I've tried to smudge the writing immediately after application, and no trace was left on my finger). The ink dries instantly.

Perfect for doodles, black is my favourite colour.

STABILO Power Felt Tip Pen Wallet of 15 Assorted Colours is a set you can most often find in the isles of stationery for children.
STABILO power felt tip pens come in 30 colours and have a medium tip.
The colours are water-based and are supposed to be easily washable.

A big bonus is that it has an extremely long cap off time of up to 8 weeks without drying out. That is seriously impressive.

The pack suggests checking out a free 3D colouring App at stabilo.com/3dcolors

We received a few STABILO products only last Saturday, so didn't have much time to play with them yet.

My son is a big Pokemon fan, and has chosen to draw and colour in Detective Pikachu.

These pens have a robust large tip with a line width of 2mm. They are good for colouring, though check the paper first if you use colouring books, as some of them have rather thin paper, and the colouring pens might bleed on the other side.

I did a little sketch, using both fineliners and power felt tip pens.
I'm reading The girl who speaks bear by Sophie Anderson, and my quick sketch is book-related.

It is a lovely set. I particularly like the skin tone, which is often missing in children's colouring sets.

STABILO BeFab! Rollerball Pastel Pen is ideal for both right and left handers. The rollerball comes with one standard ink cartridge.
It has a medium nib width of 0.5mm.

It took me quite a while to figure out how to add the ink to the pen, but when I got it, it was pretty self-explanatory.

The nib is very thin, and would suit for either writing or doodling.

Do you have a favourite STABILO product?

Disclosure: We received a selection of STABILO products (see the top photo, minus the paperclips) for the purposes of reviewing them for National Stationery Week. All opinions are our own.

Photo diary: week 17, project 365

The Easter weekend was sunny and busy. We didn't have any guests, so it was less stressful, cooking just for us and not worrying about the state of the house.

Easter Sunday passed in a blur of too much chocolate. Eddie went to the church service in the morning with his Dad, while I stayed at home, cooking our Easter lunch. The weather was very warm, in fact it was so hot for several days that I had to water all my potted flowers.

We have two very old apple trees in the garden. While one is covered in blossom this week, the other one is pretty much keeping the buds unopened.

Back to school for Eddie, while Sasha's school had the inset day, so he stayed at home. We didn't have to hurry home after school, and Eddie and I popped into the Shake shop for the first milkshake of the season. We were sitting in the courtyard in the back.

The garden is full of forget-me-nots and bluebells. And the hated ground elder is getting on my nerves again.

The weather has changed for a much cooler one, with the rain going on and off.
Last autumn my Mum planted several bulbs of Ice Cream tulips in my garden, and I'm waiting for them to open up properly. They have creamy white insides and peony pink outside petals.

I picked a big bunch of lilac in the garden, and put it in the vase in the hall. Now our hall smells like a perfume shop.

While Sasha prefers to go to Cafe Nero on Saturdays, Eddie and I are more of the Costa people. Eddie likes to sit by the window, and keep an eye on Sasha, whenever possible, as Sasha likes to sit by the window at Nero, which is just opposite and across the road. And that's how we rock.

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Map of the Universe 1500-piece jigsaw puzzle from Ravensburger

"Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying."
Arthur C. Clarke

Earlier this month the whole world was astonished to see the first picture of the black hole at the centre of Messier 87, a massive galaxy in the nearby Virgo galaxy cluster. It is 55 million light-years away from Earth. It is an exciting and scary sight.

In the last few weeks galaxies and stars were pretty much on my mind, as I was working on a new stunning Map of the Universe 1500-piece jigsaw puzzle from Ravensburger.

If you enjoy challenging jigsaw puzzles, this is one fiendish puzzle, and I say that as a compliment.
It took me many days to complete, and when the last piece of puzzle was slotted in, I felt like celebrating.

This is an amazingly detailed image of the Universe, with galaxies, solar system, stars and constellations.

The colour palette is restricted, there is a lot of black, with small fonts and thin-line images.

Typically I start with finding the frame pieces, and once the frame is established I build inwards.
With this puzzle, I found it quite tricky to begin with the frame, as the pieces were all black.

My tips would be to start sorting by whatever jigsaw pieces with colour you can find, and assemble the bigger wheel with months in it.

This is the work in progress:

Then it's the turn of the inner circles. Gradually build in the corners with the Spectra, Galaxies, Stars and Solar System.

It might help if you have a knowledge of the map of the Universe, and move the pieces to their approximate locations (I'm not one of those clever people, alas).

The fonts for names vary, some are easier to read, some need a magnifying glass to read (I got one in the Poundland).

Like all Ravensburger puzzles, this jigsaw puzzle is made from strong premium grade cardboard, with linen finish to minimise glare on puzzle image.

The drawings of the constellations are beautifully executed.
My younger son and I are reading Greek Myths at the moment, and he was interested to see the names of the characters like Hercules, Orion, Pegasus, Centaurus, Andromeda etc.

This puzzle could be a great educational tool.

The attention to detail is astonishing. It's a true work of art.

This beautiful puzzle will make an excellent gift for any jigsaw puzzle fan. Work on it on your own, or as a family project, and learn about the mysteries and beauty of the Universe.

Disclosure: I received the jigsaw puzzle for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are my own.