Stir Up Sunday

Today is Stir Up Sunday - the last Sunday before Advent.
I only recently learnt of this traditional day of Christmas pudding making from the lovely people at Yeo Valley who sent some ingredients, and that lovely Cornishware pudding bowl, so I could have a go at my first ever Christmas Pudding.

I followed their traditional recipe and as I type the pudding is happily steaming away.
Fingers are crossed.

Adding to the Christmas preparations, yesterday we headed into town for the Christmas lights switch on.
Manned by an amazing team of volunteers they did the town proud.

And a final message from my little helpers...

Have you been making Christmas Pudding today?!

 

x x x

 

Disclaimer: Yeo Valley sent me some ingredients and the Cornishware pudding bowl so I could take part in Stir Up Sunday. 

Muddy Boots & Honey Cake

 

The weather has turned a bit for the worse and the ground is now well and truly soggy.

Welly walks are calling despite the mud - that just adds to the fun.

 

We discovered electrical monsters looming up from the fields and created mud monsters of ourselves. The boy mastered the stiles with grace then nearly lost his boots to the mud.

Two hours later we deserved some cake.

 

Due to a new found love of honey on my girl's part, I used Greek style yogurt with honey which proved to be a good choice making the cake moist and, more importantly, delicious.

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130g SR Flour

100g caster sugar

150g Greek style yogurt with honey

30g Stork

2 eggs

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp honey

 

Mix all of the above until smooth.

Pour into a lined baking tray (approx. 28cm x 19cm)

Bake at 170-180c for about 18 minutes until lightly golden and springy to the touch.

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Eat and enjoy!

A tried and tested alternative is to replace the honey yogurt and honey with Greek style yogurt with vanilla.
Equally delicious.

 

 

x x x

 I'm linking up with the great Country Kids:



Lacock Abbey & Blood Orange Cake

It's been a busy week with the ever increasing build up to Halloween and all things pumpkin. For the first time we have been frugal with our pumpkins baking the flesh and roasting the seeds - the latter being a very pleasant surprise.
The weather finally improved and we had some lovely days out including a wander around the National Trust's Lacock Abbey...

 

A potion trail, clues all around, growth in the greenhouses, outdoor sculpture and tree climbing - one more thing to tick from our #50things list. There is always plenty to see and do here.

 

Back home potions were made.

 

 

And a cake was baked...

 

This delicious, moist and autumnal cake was made using Yeo Valley's Blood Orange & Caramel Yogurt - unfortunately a limited edition flavour. I adapted this recipe.

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150g caster sugar
230g self raising flour (I used half and half regular and wholemeal)
70g ground almonds
1 tsp baking powder
250g Yeo Valley Blood Orange & Caramel Yogurt
2 eggs
150g unsalted butter
grated zest of half an orange
glug of milk - if mix is thick and not smooth

Mix all of the above using an electric mixer adding milk at the end if not smooth.
Pour into a 20cm greased and lined tin.
Bake at 180c (160c fan) for 45 minutes until the top is springy.
My tin measured 18cm and the cake took nearly an hour.
Cut and serve.

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Enjoy!

I'm linking up with the inspiring Country Kids...

And the delicious Tasty Tuesdays...

x x x

 



My Dream Garden

On Tuesday we enjoyed the break in the dismal weather and spent a sun filled day at the lovely Organic Gardens at Yeo Valley.
I have basically found my dream garden.

Space for the children - and the chickens - to run free, pumpkins, acers, tea crab apples, beehives, landscaped gardens, a hidden heart in a bespoke bench, purple flowers of which I do not know the name, a rather befitting sunflower and of course, an upcycled Mini.

What more could you wish for?

I continue to dream...

But for now I'm linking up with the lovely Annie...

x x x

Yeo Valley {National Trust - 50 things to do before you're 11 3/4}

We have not long returned from one of the most beautiful corners of England having spent a lovely day with the kind folk of Yeo Valley and The National Trust. A collection of bloggers and their families had free rein of the Organic Gardens and Tea Rooms to explore and carry out activities - and get started with the 50 things list. The weather was pure English Autumn - a bit of a nip in the air with clear blue skies.

The day was designed perfectly for the children to run, explore, find pumpkins, hunt for art materials, hunt for minibeasts, build mini dens, blow a grass trumpet, meet the happiest hay bale I've ever seen, try not to fall off the ha-ha and eat the delicious lunch provided by the Yeo Valley kitchen - it was hard work but someone's children had to devour the serving plate of macaroni cheese. Then the children were ready to get creative; reunited with their pumpkins they decorated and filled their heads with cress seeds and got artistic with a piece of paper and a plethora of natural materials scavenged earlier in the morning.

Finally, we were dragged back to the tea rooms where we spotted a great use for your spare teacups and to be plied with more deliciousness, this time tea and cake - orange, almond and polenta anyone? Just perfect.

We were invited as part of the Trust's promotion of 50 things to do before you're 11 3/4 and their partnership with Yeo Valley giving shoppers a chance to win one of ten relaxing cottage breaks - just check the lid of your next Yeo Valley purchase (see packs for details).

x x x

 



Disclaimer: We were invited to spend the day at Yeo Valley with the National Trust. As always, all words and opinions are honest and are mine.