Vegan Pumpkin Seed Energy Bar

It was the morning that parents of young children dread but I managed to embrace the clock change and made the most of my extra hour this morning. I woke at 6:30 and decided to hop to it and soon the smell of ginger and cinnamon roasted pumpkin seeds was wafting through the house - although the children didn't appreciate it as they were taking part in one major Sunday morning sleep in.

Every year, following our annual pumpkin carving day, I clean, dry out and roast the seeds from the aforementioned large orange vegetable ready for my daughter and I to nibble on over the following days. Today though I decided to use some of the seeds in some baking and having the usual over ripe banana situation going on decided to make some vegan energy bars loosely based on my go to flapjack recipe, but healthier and vegan friendly.

Ingredients:
125g Vitalite
150g soft brown sugar
75g golden syrup
zest of a lemon
1 banana
200g porridge oats
100g pumpkin seeds - I used a mix of my own roasted seeds and the traditional shop bought ones

Line a baking tin with baking paper - my tin measured approx. 19x29cm.
Pre-heat the oven to 160c.
In a saucepan melt the Vitalite, sugar and golden syrup.
Once all melted give it a good stir then add the lemon zest, mashed up banana, porridge oats and pumpkin seeds and stir into the mix.
Spread the mixture into the baking tin and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Once cooled I enjoyed a slice with a cup of cinnamon tea and a handful of extra pumpkin seeds before tacking the garden for it's annual Autumn makeover.

Enjoy and Happy Halloween!

x x x

Changing seasons at The Courts {National Trust}

Autumn is here in all its glory as we shift, all too quickly, through the changing seasons.
The Courts Gardens, Holt, Wiltshire is a favourite spot of ours where we witness the shifts of colour; from sunny green based days to the current welcoming hues of oranges, yellows, browns and reds.

Our most recent visit saw splashes of additional colour in the form of glass and steel sculptures from Jenny Pickford's SuperNature exhibition.

We wandered at a relaxed pace, with Grandma & Granddad, cherishing those moments of family time.
I watched the children studying the exhibits and garden hoping that they will never tire of days like these spent with their family.

I daydreamed of such a space to call my own with colours adorning endless flower beds, a hidden sunken garden - only just discovered after countless visits, trees a plenty and to forever have such smiling happy children!

For now I am thankful to have such a space close to home to visit.
I am thankful for the time to relax and enjoy.
I am thankful for my family and my crazy children.
I am thankful for life.

Joining in with HDYGG...

x x x

The Courts & Forest School Play {Country Kids}

So my favourite break from work, the October half term, is sadly over.
Now we are back on the treadmill and juggling the balls of school, work and family life.
Time to look back on those heady days of being a SAHM and sigh at how I didn't appreciate it at the time!
Anyway, we had a fantastic week with no alarms to dictate our days.
The children were keen to go The Courts gardens, a nearby National Trust location.
It has the perfect balance of gardens, lawns, orchards and Forest School area to keep the adults and children entertained.

Since I have been lucky enough to have my own DSLR camera the girl has been desperate to get her hands on my old compact. She is definitely my daughter as she spent half her time taken boot shots - blogger in the making maybe?!

 The leaves were asked to be explored; kicked, thrown and hidden behind.

The Forest School area here is a big hit with my two and they happily played for an hour. I noted some ideas for work whilst they explored the dens, played in the sand kitchen and clambered over the logs. It made me realise that this kind of area, and opportunity for outdoor learning, should be embedded in schools, no matter how old the children are. I don't think they ever grow out of this sort of play!

 

Linking up with the super Country Kids...

x x x

 



The Courts Garden {National Trust} #HDYGG

Last week I took the camera out to look for the Autumnal seasonal changes at The Courts garden. This is a 'go to' local location for us and I visited it here on the blog back in May half term too.
Autumn colour was still the strongpoint although there were signs that Summer was desperately clinging on - and this was the tail end of October!

Strawberries still waiting to ripen in the kitchen gardens alongside an array of potted plants - that I admired with no clue as to what they are.

 Happy to find some Autumnal scenes with carpets of leaves showing reds, browns and oranges.

 Trees and plants just call out to be explored - hug a tree, get up close to its trunk, touch its leaves - it's amazing how different how they all look, sound, smell and feel.

Finally, a look ahead to all things Christmassy and a sign that Winter is next in line. Bold red berries hanging like bells adding to the Autumn colours just perfectly.

Linking up with the amazing Annie and her How Does Your Garden Grow? #HDYGG

x x x

Autumn's Best Bits

Autumn has long been my favourite season.
A colourful window of burnt reds, browns, oranges and yellows nestling between the long, warm Summer days, of Saltwater sandals and tan lines, and the long, cold nights of Winter.
Crisp, yet sunny, days followed by a warming mulled cider to see me through the lengthening dark evenings.
Leaf peeping and spotting the Autumnal hues as the canopies of the trees change day by day.
The crunch of leaves beneath my boot clad feet.
The smell of bonfire lingering in the air.
The never-ending carpets of fallen leaves changing the green lawns to deep rich shades of browns and reds.

Then it all gets destroyed...
I hear the heart warming sound of infectious chortling.
Then I see how such a simple thing has made them so happy.
Because who can resist the temptation to destroy the perfect carpet in the name of fun?!

 

Those are Autumn's best bits for me.

What are yours?

 

x x x

 

Disclaimer: I am entering 'Autumn's Best Bits' with @Sykescottages. You can find more at tinyurl.com/autumnsbestbit 

Autumn colours at Stourhead {National Trust} #HDYGG

Yesterday we took our seasonal Autumn trip to Stourhead - although we definitely visit more than four times a year.

The Autumn colours were in abundance and when going through the day's snaps I smiled warmly at the hues of reds, oranges and browns that I had captured.

The colours of my favourite time of year.

Acers, chestnut shells and carpets of leaves just waiting patiently to be kicked into the clear sun streamed air.
Shades of red all around; up close and distant.
Fungi camouflaged against the brown leaf covered floor.

Everywhere we looked, and snapped, Autumn colours were all around.

I'll be linking up with the super Annie at #HDYGG

x x x