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Archive for the ‘Food’ Category

Bara Brith.

I never realised how easy this cake was to make, or how cheap! I use the cheapest dried fruit mix I can get hold of, as you are soaking it overnight in tea!

10 oz Mixed dried fruit.

2/3 pint of hot tea. I made it in a pyrex jug. No milk!

3oz Soft brown sugar.

Grated rind of 1 lemon

12 oz of gluten free flour. (I added a tsp of gluten free baking powder as well)

1and a bit of a  large tsp of mixed spice.

1 large egg.

Soaked dried fruit overnight in tea.

Next day, set oven to gas mark 4, and greased some small loaf tins (I doubled up recipie again)

Strain the fruit, and keep the liquid.

Mix fruit and other ingredients in a bowl. Add liquid untill a soft dropping consistency. Pour mixture into tins, and bake for about 45 mins (depending on cooker, ingredients and stuff)

Cool and serve sliced and marged :d

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We didnt have a cooked breakfast every day. We did have baked beans and Sausage some days.

We did have cereals, however Mummy ran out of cows milk.

We did eat loads of home made cake.

Carrot cake made with gluten free flour is fine, I used a delia recipie adapted

I used sunflower oil, in place of groundnut oil, and dove farm self raising gluten free flour.

I adapted a recipie out of one of the

Welsh Teatime Recipes
Traditional Welsh Cakes, for both Bara Brith and Anglsey Cake.

Having looked on line, at others it appears to be missing some ingredients, however Asha enjoyed it.

We didnt eat as much fruit as i would have liked, however as I put fruit and veg in all the cakes, yes even the chocolate one, i didnt worry too much!

Frozen stew re-heated worked well. Trying to make a curry was hard work.

We will look into canned veg for the next camp. Fresh veg, is too hard to prepare in the wind and rain.

Crips worked well to keep us going. We didnt eat any of the lentils or tins of assorted beans.

Oh well, looks like cake and tinned food next camp.. Oh and fresh coffee, we need to take enough for three a day, not two!

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After a week, nearly of incessent pain on mummys front. Very little sleep for Daddy, and Asha waking up most nights either crying due to cramp, or nightmares, we called it a day today.

Camp has been wonderfull, but we are all suffering too much. Mummy can hardly walk again. Asha now has a snotty nose. and daddy is rather bad tempered. The kids and other parents have been great. The hosts have been truly angels, in what they have done for us. And I am greatfull for all the help and support. But I am suffereing.

So what did we do today?

got up. Steve and Asha had breakfast, I cant face it at the moment. I had cake later!
Slowly packed up, sorting out the washing, and things on the way. Asha fell asleep on Daddy for a while. She also couldnt stand up on the trampoline, her poor legs are that tired.

We sat and talked a lot, as none of us have a rush in us!. Steve played with the kids, and I pottered a bit. Eventually we got everything in the car, and went and dropped off some clothes someone had left by mistake, on the way home. We also opted for tea at petes eats, as we realised we had nothing in, and I couldnt face a shop!

Exhausted we got home. Asha had first bath, then spent two hours fighting sleep.. The silly girl.

Night all!

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And today its rocket making..

Plastic bottle, cork, one bycle inner tube, and a small valve. Wow the effects were fantastic.

the kids loved them, the older kids. thought they were brilliant, and all the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

At night, we had a communal food, which we got to late, as we had to nip home to feed the cat. We did however stay up far too late, and have a great evening.

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In snowdonia.

Well today we were in Bangor and decided to nip up to the play ground next to LLyn Padarn, and Asha enjoyed – was fascinated by a cyngnet.. why do we never have our cameras on such occasions!

She also spent a long time watching a couple sailing a remote control sailing boat. It was fascinating.

After a healthy run around on the excellent climbing frames and enjoying playing in the rain, when everyone else was hideing under the climbing frame :d I sat in the shelter off a tree and Steve played with her.

Tonight the swing has had a much needed re-paint and may be just may be Steve will get around to doing the dishes…

Asha now wants an ice cream cone with a banana in it… kids :d

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After a few year of consideration I have finally decided to start acting as a “stall holder” as they are a great publisher and I love there illustrations and subjects.

I hope you enjoy them as much as Asha and I do!
Go on, have a look.

Vicki xx

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Its back to full speed.

For a few weeks we have been playing outside, doing things like learning to skate, on roller blades, learning how to ride our push bikes really fast, and not get our legs jammed in the pedals, and how to play all sorts of games outdoors.

To some extent this has created a natural diverstion from reading, writing or any “formal” educational which one would get inschool. However this unformal education has included trips shopping, onto beaches and shows. Its also included numerous trips to friends to play with other children and learning from them.

Asha can now skate, unaided. Confidently rides her bike, and is a happy child. she also enjoyed having a tonne of people round for her birthday, and enough cake to swamp murcheson falls. I must check the spelling on that one.

Anyway, for a while now Asha has wanted to learn to read, we have done it is stops and starts and today we did some work on the letters using Edgard Lears ABC. Asha at least recognises all her letters and is able to read / recognise clusters of letters such as tt, ly, sy, nny, ky and lly.

I feel this has to be a healthy start to reading. I will play with these clusters with her over the next few days, and carry on from this.

She has also spent some time useing sewing cards, but I think I need to sit down with her tomorrow and do them with her, after we have been to meet Granny for the day.

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It was Asha’s Birthday yesterday and we made some chilli sauce. Most people liked it, so here is the recipe.

Handful of the green end of spring onions chopped
1 scotch bonnet (with seeds) chopped
2 or 3 cloves of garlic
Tablespoon(ish) of Paprika (sweet, not hot or smoked)
Juice of half a lime
Some olive oil
400g chopped tomatoes (approx)

Gently sautee spring onions in olive oil for a minute or two. Add garlic and chilli and sautee for another minuite or so. Add tomatoes, lime juice and paprika. Stir regularly and cook on a low heat until reduced slightly. Blitz with a hand blitzer thingy or similar.

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There was big crabs, and little crabs, fat crabs and thin crabs.. all on the beach today.

It was fantastic fun. I think Asha and I learnt more about crabs today than I have done in the last 28 years of my life

I think the main crab we saw was the “green shore crab” If anyone has a recipie for these crabs, so we can have another free meal.. Please let me know :d

Popularity: 18% [?]

Steve picked me some heads, and we have made some, and its YUMMY!

We used an Hugh Ferneley recipie, and it really works.

21 heads of elderflowers

two lemons (zest and juice) (so far)

one orange (just the zest)

1.5 liters of water

sugar.. not sure how much in tottal, as not made it all up yet.

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We had our normal thursday today. Asha and I made some cinnamin (sp?) buscuits, and she measured the flour, and margarine out. then enjoyed mixing them together, and naturally eating the mixture :d

We also made some bright pink iceing to put on the buscuits.. oh well the joys.

Asha also spent some time watching her just so stories videos. she really does love them. I watched an angelina ballerina video with her as a treat, but she didnt really enjoy it. We then talked about ghosts, castles and behaviour. It was interesting.

After Asha had enjoyed the videos, we read a noddy book, It was one of the old ones, and she did seem to enjoy it. I havent read a long story to Asha for a few weeks, so it was good to do that again.

Tonight we had a look at nutbrown hare (guess how much I love you) and mogs mumps. Asha seemed to really enjoy them both. It seems weird to be reading Mogs mumps to Asha, as it was one of my books from when I was little.

We have had a lovely day today. Asha has spent some time one on one with Me and Steve, played with the neighbours kids and adults tonight. done reading and colouring in, and cooking.. A restfull but productive day for us all I feel… Oh well, good night!

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On the way home tonight, we called into the local chip shop .

When we were pulling out, Asha asked where hers was. The reply oh the shop had run out of food, other than “nasty kebab meat, and you wont want that.”

Asha’s response… “Couldnt they go to the Cash and Carry!”

There you go.

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Asha got up with Daddy and did some TV, a rare treat these days. After she did breakfast mummy got up, and we wizzed to pwhelli, to do some small jobs.

Once home we played in the Garden, and Daddy did a bit of potting of plants.

Asha and I then came indoors and made some corn tortillas and had some sausage butties as we were all hungry by now!

Daddy made a beef curry, for when R and A were due around. Around 4 pm they turned up, along with a St Johns Wort Plant.. WOW! Steve rappidly got it into the ground, in the hole he had previously dug.

After the two girls had a play outside on there bikes, and then did some HAMA beads, and ate some curry and sausages. We took them for a walk on the beach at Aberdesach,  where we did a bit of water play, looked at some rocks, had a close up of a crab, and did some sea side botany research on return, in the pouring rain, and then along to Pwhelli.  Asha fell asleep on the way home, so I poped her straight to bed.

R and A had a drink before setting off home.

So what is this then?

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We’re going to the Zoo , zoo , zoo

You can come too, to , too.

Yep we went and met Granny and Grandad at Colwyn Bay, and Steve and I had a lazy afternoon in Colwyn Bay. We found a bistro, to have a proper coffee in, and enjoyed a wander around a second hand book shop!!,  < I know, I know!!  >amongst other things..

and Granny and Grandad braved “The Welsh Mountain Zoo”

Asha love it.

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Well we were out first thing this morning, enjoing the sun and rain, and sleet. Yes I know its April.. Its what happens in April!

Anyway, after our trip to see the MP, in Caernarfon.. isnt it funny how holiday towns never seem to have to deal with real life, untill you live in them. Anyway.. we called in to pick Asha’s tickets up for CLAYDAY tomorrow.

‘Claytime’ is a play with clay, where the audience are invited to participate. Presented by Indefinitearticles, you are invited to a place where the earth’s natural material meets with children’s imaginations: a world of fabulous forms, amazing animals and morphing monsters.

Each Claytime is totally unique – creating its own world, its own characters and its own stories drawn directly from its young audience. Truly, interactive theatre at its most engaging. This show is made with and for 3 to 6 year olds. Parent / guardian will need to stay throughout the performance.

http://www.galericaernarfon.com

I am so looking forwards to this, I think it will be great for Asha. She has ballet in the morning and then a small period of time out. Then a great afternoon doing make and do and theater, what else can a three year old want!!!

Anyway, after getting her tickets, and me collapsing in a heap, which I woke up from four hours later. We went for a drive down to Trefor Beach. Asha had a lovely walk and play, on the beach, Steve took some photos, and I enjoyed watching them both.

We piled some wood into the back of the van, and came home, prepared and ate tea, did some reading and sewing and then Asha went to bed, tired.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/7313316.stm

Martin Jeffries from Deganwy, Conwy, says the last straw was a four-fold increase in the rent for the Black Cat cafe at Glynllifon.

now whilst I agree such a substancial increase in rents is unacceptable, so is a cafe this day and age not being able to provide anything which is gluten, wheat and milk free suitable for a child!

I have taken Asha here three times, on one occasion I was told  all our products are bread based. On another occasion I was asked not to give her our own food, after being told that they dont sell anything she could have.  The third time I was offered ploughmans lunch for her, yes cheese, pickled onions and bread :d

Its a pity as we would use the whole area a lot more if we could get something there for Asha, instead we tend to drive past it now days, after all, we have tried!

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Since before Asha was born, we have regully brought there custard creams and bourbons, as they dont make anyone ill.

Quite simple really, no wheat no milk = buscuits and happy tummys!

Now I really dont know what to do as they have decided to add milk to Asha’s staple buscuit. We are in for big tears, as she even goes and looks for them when we go shopping these days, as she knows she can have them! Last time she chucked 4 packets of both in her basket

Link to there page

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So I look at familytreehouse, and realise we havent written down half of what we have been doing for the last two weeks. Why? because we have been so busy, doing nothing

Granny was 65.
Daddy was 6 – well that’s what he says :d
We did painting and made cardboard animals at C.L.A.S
We made food, and cooked.
We made goats milk cheese – yummy.
We went shopping.
We sat and watched Mary Poppins.. (what a great film!)
We discussed chimney sweeps, musicals, dancing… and asha wants to return to ballet – so we shall
We have played ball, made bags out of felt, managed to jump down firemans poles unaided!!!
We have started to recognise D,B,S,M,A in capital letters and small letters. Expertly!
We have drawn pictures of flaminogoes, daffodils, puffins, grandads, and made dens and nests.
We have talked about the moon and the sun. How to make electricity, Why people need glasses, Why people live and die, what the difference is between a leaf eater bee and a bumble bee. The difference between wild and domestic animals….

We have practiced ballet, and drawing. We have made mud pies, eaten in restaurants. Tried oysters, and scallops.

Seen Oxford, Stratford, and slept at uncle andrews house. In fact all things considered, its no wonder i cant remeber what we have done this last few weeks, as all I have wanted to do is sleep, sleep sleep!

We have read books, and discussed the moon, time, our bodies, and why we have skin. We have talked about why some animals have fur (like cats) and some have a hide (like rino’s)

And to add to this medley of life, Steve has read her Jonathan Livingstone Seagull !

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We decided that we could meet Granny and Grandad, have some lunch and they could have a play with Asha.

It was a windy day, but i got there on time 12.30

Asha had a lovely time, and we got the few things we wanted. I think everyone enjoyed them selves, and we got a job done, plus happy grandparents..

Success!

We also got the materials to make the ponchos for Gerwin Y Coed, so now feeling very pleased with myself.

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/default.asp

I however am totally exhausted, and have lost my voice!

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Ouch.. got up out of bed, feeling very rough, and with not a lot of rest last night.

Asha remebered where I had put Daddys birthday card, we had made yesterday, and gave it to Daddy whilst I was still in bed :d Oh the joys of nearly four, I get a lie in on Daddys Birthday! – I had planned on breakfast in bed for him, but erm, lack of sleep and a hurt foot put a seal of death on that idea!

We got ready for C.L.A.S and went on our way. On the way, we called into Mac D’s and Tescos. Armed with goods for C.L.A.S and Gwerin Y Coed, we were soon at our destination, and Asha was soon running around with friends, and having a go at makeing bracelets and having tons of fun.

Us parents, well we were doing our normal things, and trying to encourage some of the older kids into having a go at making cheese… Yes, steve did enjoy making the cheese didnt you!

Goats Milk Cheese

1 litre of semi skimmed goats milk. (not tried it with anything else)
bring to boil.
add joice of one lemon per two pints = i lemon.
It will curdle the milk.
Seive off the whey. ( and throw.. or if your creative do what ever with it)
the curds contents in your seive now.. is your cheese. allow to cool, and enjoy on a cracker / similar!

I dont know where the C.L.A.S lot get there ideas from, but this was brilliant!

I spent a bit longer on my feet than I ought to have done, but it was cold and I didnt want anyone outside with the kids too long. Plus I so needed some air!

Asha played well all day today, and tonight. I was very pleased with her!

At Gwerin Y Coed, she did some more cooking! Rice cakes are very easy for an A! She also enjoyed playing with the rest of the group, it was a very busy and big meeting tonight, but it did go well.

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