Project 365 A photo a day - Weekly update (wk8)

It has been a week of chores and getting things done around here, then a great finale on Saturday evening with a local Rodeo in Katy, Texas

I love a small town Rodeo, they really are so up close and personal. You can get lost in the sights, sounds and defiantly the smells, hahaha

Unfortunately I didn't get a good photo of the rodeo with my feet but there are a few feetless ones on my Instagram that captures the fun

So here are my photos this week, from Where I Stand ....

Day 47/365 - Hubby cooked some amazing ribs this evening for dinner

Day 48/365 - Monday night means swimming lessons for my boy, here we are in the changing rooms

Day 49/365 - Doing chores in the house that aren't the norm, up the ladder, down the ladder (repeat)

Day 50/365 - Such a pretty day, waiting at the bus stop for the school bus to arrive - I love the yellow school buses, they are so iconic of life here in the USA

Day 51/365 - Buster our beloved Boston Terrier, he is always under my feet, this is a normal view for me most days, especially in the kitchen

Day 52/365 - I love walking bare foot on the new rug we bought recently, its so snugly and soft

Day 53/365 - Hanging in Pro Bass Shops trying out the boats for size just for fun - I love that little captain



Now pop on over to The Boy and Me and check out some other great blogs that are taking part in the 365 Project this year - just click on the "365" logo below

Scottish recipes - Gingerbread Cake

Gingerbread cake

Scottish Gingerbread cake

While making anything Gingerbread here in the USA is considered quite Thanksgiving-y and Christmas-y. In Scotland a nice piece of Gingerbread cake with your hot cup of tea is a must at any time of year.

In fact any cake or bread worthy of a spreading of butter or jam will do at tea time

This week I made Gingerbread cake, the house was filled with a beautiful warm fuzzy smell of baking and I was transported back home to Scotland for a fleeting moment

This made a large 8 x 8 cake tin of bread, plenty to share with family, friends and neighbours

Here is the instagram pic this week of me bagging up the gingerbread and other goodies to share (well I need to get some of it out the house - Jazzercise can only do so much)

bagging treats for friends

You will need

8 x 8 cake tin or similar (even a loaf tin)

450g/1lb All purpose plain flour
quarter tsp salt
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground mixed spice
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
100g/4oz chopped walnuts
175g/6oz butter
175g/6oz molasses or black treacle
175g/6oz golden syrup
200g/7oz brown sugar
1 large egg, beaten
300ml/half pint of milk

• Set the oven to 350F / 180C

• Grease the cake tin with butter or cooking spray, set aside

grease the pan

• In a large bowl, sift the flour, salt, spices, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda

sift the flour

• Stir in the walnuts then make a well in the center

a well in the flour

• Heat the butter, syrup, sugar and molasses or treacle in a medium pan, stirring until combined, melted and smooth

• Add this mixture to the flour mixture, mix then add in the egg and milk, mix thoroughly

treacle mixture

• Pour cake mixture into cake tin

Gingerbread cake mixture

• Bake for 1 to 1 and a half hours, until a skewer inserted come out clean

Scottish ginger bread

• turn out onto a wire rack and cool

• Serve and enjoy the Scottish way with a generous spreading of butter and a hot cup of tea

Ginger bread

Scottish Gingerbread cake

Store in an airtight container or zip lock bag for up to a week, if it lasts that long (wink)

linking to blackberryvine ; homestoriesatoz

Project 365 A photo a day - Weekly update (wk7)

Hello week 7

Hello feet, where did we go this week?

Well, I am stunned that we had snow last week and this week I put on a bikini - oh Texas your weather is crazy, here is my recap of where I have been this week

Day 40/365 -  Trimming the aloe vera - with the weather warming up it was time to work with the plants and tidy up the flowers beds and pots

 Day 41/365 - Rain, rain, go away, come again another day - the reflection of the trees at my home in a puddle in the driveway

Day 42/365 - Baking for my blog today, this is the Gingerbread cake I baked and I also made Peanut brittle (yum)

Day 43/365 - Bagging up the Gingerbread cake and peanut brittle to share with friends, so my calories consumption is reduced haha :)

Day 44/365 - Me and my shadow, the sun is so low at this time of year making my shadow really long, being 5' 2" this is a dream come true, long legs !

Day 45/365 - Mr TT had some of the most delicious and pretty chocolate covered strawberries delivered to the house today for Valentine's day, we don't really celebrate Valentine's and never do much so this was a big surprise - do you like my socks?

Day 46/365 - OK this is messed up Texas ! Snow last week and now this - scorching weather and blue skies (the pool is still very chilly though) My boy is playing with Lego's in the sunshine


What has your week been like? Where did your feet take you?

Now pop on over to The Boy and Me and check out some other great blogs that are taking part in the 365 Project this year - just click on the "365" logo below

Scottish Recipes - Peanut Brittle

Peanut Brittle

Peanut Brittle

So I told Mr Tartan tastes that I was going to be making Peanut brittle this week

His reaction? 

Blah! It's not my thing!! 

When I finally made Peanut brittle.  His reaction?

Me: Hey I made the peanut brittle today but you don't want any right?

Mr TT: (looks interested in the tray of peanut brittle)

Me: Hey don't touch it I haven't photographed it yet, it was dull today, I need to wait for bright light tomorrow

Mr TT (walks away with his mouth full of peanut brittle)

Five minutes later, Mr TT (walks away with even more of a mouthful of peanut brittle)

So much for it not being his thing

I think it is his thing

And that's the problem with peanut brittle, it is gone before we can barely manage a cute bloggy photo of the delicious sweet and salty stuff

So lets make some, its fast and easy and great for any time of the year, make some for Valentine's this week, the love in your life will love it even if they think they might not

You will need

400g or 3/4lb Granulated sugar (2 cups)
8 floz/ 1 cup water
4 floz/ ½ cup light corn syrup
½ tsp coarse salt
2 tbsp unsalted butter
½ tsp baking soda
1lb/500g salted peanuts 

Ingredients

•  Line a baking or cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray, leave to the side

• In a medium pan, add sugar, water, corn syrup and salt. 

sugar, water, syrup

• Bring to a boil then simmer over medium-high heat until deep golden for about about 20 to 25 minutes

sugar, water, syrup

• Once ready, remove from heat and stir in butter and baking soda (mixture will foam)

sugar with butter and baking soda

• Add peanuts once butter is melted, mix really fast until mixture is no longer bubbling and mixture is smooth, the mixture will harden fast so be quick

making peanut brittle

• spoon onto the prepared baking sheet and spread with a lightly greased spatula

Peanut brittle

• Leave to cool, usually 15 minutes then break into pieces

You can store the peanut brittle in an airtight container or plastic bag for up to 3 weeks


Enjoy

Peanut Brittle

Peanut Brittle

Happy Valentine's week my Tartan Tasters

linking to thelifeofjenniferdawn ; savvysouthernstyle :fivelittlechefs.com

Project 365 A photo a day - Weekly update (wk6)

Where have my feet taken me this week?

Well there was a lot of hanging with friends and plenty Jazzercise thrown in for good measure, the highlight was Friday night when we went to see The Lego Movie, it is a great movie, it's so funny and hilarious for kids and adults, we all laughed all the way through

Our Texas weather is still on the chilly side, too cold for a Texan and too cold for this wimpy ex-pat who used to brave the Scottish rain and winds like nobodies business

So without any hesitation lets get started with my week of feet

Day 33/365 - Preparing the veggies to go with the Steak that Hubby was grilling on the grill this Sunday evening

Day 34/365 - My boy and my Hubby had "Dinner with Dad" at school this evening, so I took the opportunity to relax in a nice warm bath with oodles of bubbles (This photo got featured on @Fromwhereyoustand on Instagram - I was so ecstatic)

Day 35/365 - Lunch out today to celebrate a friends birthday. It was cold and rainy here in Texas but nice and warm inside the restaurant with great friends for company, even little friends joined us

Day 36/365 - Jazzercise is my happy place. I try to go most week days. We used the big blue balls today

Day 37/365 - Well another flurry of snow and sleet this morning in Texas. My boy and I ran outside in our PJs to take photos and gather snow and put it in the freezer to show everyone later

Day 38/365 - The last of a sneaky stash of British chocolate. I figure I Jazzercise, therefore I get to have a treat from Scotland once in a while

Day 39/365 - My boy had a friends 7th birthday party today, so much fun in the bounce house place

Thanks for hanging with me for another week

Now pop on over to The Boy and Me and check out some other great blogs that are taking part in the 365 Project this year - just click on the "365" logo below