Make up your mind…

It’s gone from freezing to boiling overnight!

It was chilly when I got up for breakfast just before nine, which was expected. Then I went back to bed for more sleep and got up just before midday. By which time it was rather warm. I was quite confused as to what to wear.

I’ve spent the afternoon gardening, reading, gardening some more, preparing tea and, making soup and bread. The soup and bread aren’t finished yet, but that’s alright because I’m having belly pork and veg for tea. My mouth is watering at the thought. The meat and roast potatoes, onion and parsnips are in the oven. The carrots. peas, beans and broccoli are in the microwave. I might even save some for tomorrow.

I’m cooking the soup in the slow cooker. Since I used much the same veg (minus the peas, beans and broccoli) as I’m having for tea I prepared everything at once. There’s also garlic, water, a stock concentrate, various herbs, a tin of chopped tomatoes and some tomato puree in there. When the veg is cooked I’ll put it in the blender before returning it to the slow cooker.

The bread is simple.
500g wholemeal flour
1tsp salt
1tsp quick yeast
2tbsp oil
300ml warm water
1tsp each dried sage, thyme and basil

Mix the dry ingredients together then add the oil and water to form a soft but not soggy dough. Turn out on to a floured surface and knead for five minutes. Put back in the mixing bowl, cover with cling film and leave in a warm place for half an hour or until you remember to go back to it. Turn out on to a floured surface and knead again for five minutes. Shape in to a load or buns and place in loaf tin or on baking tray. I’m making plaits with mine. Cover again and leave for another half hour. Bake (I shouldn’t have to say this but, remember to remove to cling film first) until golden brown and hollow sounding when you tap the bottom.

In the garden, I’ve planted a lavender plant that mum gave me a couple of months ago, pulled up my pea and bean plants and added them to the composter, and spread some of the compost from the pea and bean bed on the flower bed in the front garden after weeding it. I went through my seed stash for early annuals to sow and I’ve just put them sown them in the flower beds so I’ll have some early colour next year. My plants from this year are still flowering slightly and have produced lots of seed heads. I’m really pleased with how the garden had turned out. I’ve got a few more jobs to to before I put the garden to bed for winter, but it’s mainly rearranging the layout of my pots and raised bed. Hopefully my back won’t be too offended by the work.

Right, my food smells cooked so I’m going offline to enjoy a hard earned meal.

I hope you’ve all had a good weekend. I have, even if I’ve been asleep for much of it (seriously, why am I so exhausted at the minute!).

Bye

Rose

xXx