The dishevelled garden

Again plans have gone awry.
It was lovely four hours ago on the walk to school and upon my return home my thoughts turned to pottering in the garden; sitting with the chickens, getting another coat of paint on the shack.
Then the heavens opened.
In between the downpours I popped out to say hello to the chooks and ended up contemplating the state of our garden.

 

I found unripe tomatoes, a memory of the summer, a flash of colour amongst the greenery in the pot, the forgotten bird table, a hint for one more courgette, runner beans we forgot to pick, the roller we unearthed many years ago hidden inside a conifer, the unruly rosemary bush and Emily - not looking her best.

How is your garden looking in the rain?

I'm linking up with the rather lovely Annie:

Malt chocolate traybake

It's been ideal baking time what with the nights drawing in, the weather getting chillier, kiddies lunchboxes needing filling and my diet clearly going down the pan. 
Yesterday I pulled out my 'go to' chocolate traybake recipe and played around with it a bit due to running low on drinking chocolate powder - the kiddies have been having to have hot chocolate every night lately. I did, however, have Ovaltine on the shelf. This gave the traybake a nice malty taste and actually worked really well.

Here's how to make it:

4oz Stork or butter
2 eggs
4oz dark brown soft sugar
5oz drinking chocolate powder (I used 50/50 Cadbury's and Ovaltine Chocolate Light)
1.5oz SR Flour
Milk

Cream the Stork and sugar together until soft.
Beat in the eggs.
Stir in the flour and chocolate powder.
Beat in a splash of milk if stiff.
Spread into a greased and lined tin - mine was 26cm x 18cm - and bake at 170c for about 25 minutes.
Leave to cool.
Slice and enjoy!

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