Are we human...or are we strawberry?

Yep more strawberry stories lol.......we have had a bumper crop of them this year over 52lbs now and still picking. I have enough jam now to last us around 5 years! If I mention the strawberry word the family groan and vanish in case I put yet another culinary strawberry delight in front of them! We have had scones, victoria sponges, cheesecake, strawberry shortbread muffins (they were scrummy, I will put the recipe up at the end of this) strawberries in balsamic vinegar, mousse, ice cream and lots of bowls of the soft fruits with cream!


Having gathered up another 12lb on Monday I spend a while carefully washing them. As I sorted through putting perfect ones in a bowl for friends and family, small ones for cakes and tiny ones to turn into jam. I stopped to look at the misshapen ones and put them to one side,

Wondering what to do with these not so perfect ones It came to mind that just because they were not perfect strawberry shape, on the inside they would be as sweet and maybe even better than the ones I had singled out as perfect. I decided that would serve up a mixture of all shapes and sizes and figured that the odd shaped ones were actually not only more interesting but they tasted sweeter too.


This got me thinking so many people aspire to be perfect and tend to shun those who do not fit into the same box. We all come in all shapes and sizes with different aspirations,jobs, hobbies, personalities and ideas. Me being one of the the misshapes, struggle with being different. But these strawberries have taught me that no matter what our daily struggles are we are as sweet if not better inside despite our flaws!

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE MUFFINS

Ingredients

• 2 Cups plain flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 3/4 Cups. sugar
• 1/2 C. butter
• 1 egg
• 1 Cups double cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 Cups diced strawberries, well drained

Directions

Preheat oven to 180We  degrees. Grease 12 muffin cups. In large bowl mix together flour, baking powder and sugar. Cut in butter as for pastry until it is in small pea-size pieces. In small bowl mix egg, vanilla and cream then add all at once to flour mixture. Stir with spoon until blended. Gently mix in strawberries. Spoon into muffin cups and bake for about 25 minutes. Cool completely in pan before removing. Sprinkle with icing sugar to serve. 

Hello once again :)

Hello everyone....how are you all? I have been busy lately and have had little time to myself to write on my blog. The 3 groups that meet here have been busy and creativity is in abundance, which in turn inspires and motivates me to be creative myself. These past 4 years have been difficult and that has resulted in my mind closing down and not allowing me to live my normal life. Hey ho that the way it goes sometimes.


We drove back up to Aberdeen again, this time to help move my daughter out from her apartment. She has finally graduated after 4 years of study. Back at home now she is seeking a job, although I get the feeling it wont be long before she returns to education as she has spoken about doing a Ph.D......SO only one more trip to the granite city for her graduation day....I feel another new dress is on the list...he he.


Last weekend saw us at Royal Ascot once again. And guess what.......I won a small amount on my first race :) The money was irrelevant but the joy of at last backing a horse that did not come last or fall was a thing of wonder and joy! I was so excited and returning back to our table I shared my excitement with the rest of our group. A glass of Champagne was poured and that's where my clumsiness took hold! Waving my arms around whilst talking often gets me into trouble and today was no exception.My hand made a connection with the glass....you know one glass of bubbly can go along way when its knocked over. That soon brought me back down to earth, and I sat down with a very red face! 
The arrival of the Royal party brought lots of hand clapping and cheering, which was nice. Also the fashion show that was put on in our restaurant was pretty spectacular too, with my favourite being the Vivienne Westwood collection, she is always a source of inspiration for me!


The next day we attended the last of day of a 3 day Hindu wedding. It certainly was a feast for the eyes with the most wonderful colourful, glittery saris on display. Although we were given a sheet written in English with all the ceremonies that we were going to see during the 2 hours I was still at a loss sometimes to know what was going on. All the same I would not of missed the experience, or the curry and the hospitality of wonderful people! Oh and the bride looked stunning and was very beautiful. I wish them all happiness for a long and happy life together :) 


Well that's it for now....later I am going to bore you once again on the subject of strawberries. Watch this space!!! 
Hugs 4 smiles M xx

Sunday and Strawberry Jam

Ahhhhhhhhhh Sunday means tea and a read of the papers over a lazy breakfast of boiled eggs and buttered toast, and yep I let the fairy out of the egg....see an earlier post about that!
I prepared a big bowl of strawberries last night ready to turn into jam this morning. The whole house now smells delightful...I have home made bread on the way so I am sure it wont be long before everyone congregates  around the kitchen table for an early lunch of warm bread and jam....mmmmmmmmm  So much for watching our waistlines!!!
Looking over the strawberry patch this morning another large bowlful are ready to be picked.....time to share some with my friends me thinks. 
Have a great rest of Sunday, I am off to my studio now to do what I like best and carry on with my latest project. Hugs 4 smiles M xxx

Legends and Lore of Strawberries:

In provincial France, strawberries were regarded as an aphrodisiac. Newlyweds were served always served a cold strawberry soup.

The strawberry was a symbol for Venus, the Goddess of Love, because of its heart shapes and red colour.

Have you every eaten a double strawberry? Legend says that if you break the strawberry in half and share it with a member of the opposite sex, you will soon fall in love with each other.

In parts of Bavaria, people still practice the annual rite each spring of tying small baskets of wild strawberries to the horns of their cattle as an offering to elves. They believe that the elves, who are passionately fond of strawberries, will help to produce healthy calves and abundance of milk in return.

Queen Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII had a strawberry shaped birthmark on her neck, which some claimed proved she was a witch.

To symbolize perfection and righteousness, medieval stone masons carved strawberry designs on altars and around the tops of pillars in churches and cathedrals.

The strawberry, a member of the rose family, is unique in that it is the only fruit with seeds on the outside rather than the inside.

Bright Lights and Strawberries!

 Front of bag

Hello and a very happy weekend to you all :) Hope your week has been bright and happy? I have been really busy and the days have flown by. Nutty Knitters met on Wednesday and as usual more chatting, sipping tea and this week spoiling ourselves with a fresh Strawberry Cheesecake! My crop has started early and we have picked 12lbs of delicious berries....My family are already beginning to tire of cakes, desserts and savoury home bakes using yet more strawberries. 

Yesterday our textile group met up in my studio to discuss an exhibition for next year, and of course more tea and the offering was strawberry cream cupcakes. The brief we are working to is 'Bright Lights', its so nice to get together and see our creations coming together. We all work in so many varied ways, and certainly inspire each other :)

After sketching a few ideas I gathered up a selection of fabric, ribbons, and thread 'ingredients' and created collaged surface, which was then stitched to create a firm fabric. Having cut my design out of this new fabric it was time for the fun stuff....embellishments.....lots of beads, machine embroidered cords and fabric beads were created then all the components were stitched together to create the finished bag. 

   

These pictures show the back of my bag and some detail of the stitching and embellishments. I love working with these colours, and return to them time and time again...Happy colours! 

So I am on a roll now and having spent a day last week designing I was eager to get started today on the next piece towards a new collection of work.

Most of my day today has been spent in the studio, preparing the base for another stitched creation. Hopefully I will get to embellish it tomorrow and then finish it off during the week. So watch this space :)

Oh and no doubt I will continue to gather strawberries and bake....If anyone has a favourite recipe for strawberries....oh and blackcurrants, as they are on their way too....please can you post them up for me to try...Thanks xx

Have a good rest of weekend, hugs 4 smiles M x

Detail of fabric beads

Yummmmmmmmmmmmm x

A nice cup of tea and a piece of cake

Hello and a happy weekend to you :) I have just sat down with a cuppa, no cake today though as I am trying to loose those extra kilos that I gained at the weekend. Last weekend saw us in Aberdeen, to celebrate  my daughters birthday, and a nice time was had by all. We will be taking the long trip twice more in the next few weeks, one to help move her from her apartment, then another to celebrate her graduation. And in typical Maxine fashion I will bake cakes for each event! My two favourite things....baking for friends and family and a trip to the seaside...Both these activities level me out. There is something inside of me that just loves seeing people enjoying a table of plenty, its the Jewish in me I think! The waistlines in this house are protesting, but still I continue to bake.

Once a year my passion for baking is really challenged. We invite friends to join us in a 'nice cup of tea and a piece of cake' afternoon. Well pieces of cake actually, lots of pieces, and more to take home. Its lovely to see people enjoying this simple enjoyable feast, chit chatting and making new friends.
I am always on the lookout for new recipes, so if you have a special favourite you would like to share with me that would be brilliant! Maybe start a recipe swap....that would be fun and a good way of meeting like minded friends :) and hopefully to make and bake favourite cakes and bakes from around the world!
So look out you Nutty Knitters I could be baking a scrummy new bake next week for you to enjoy over a cuppa and a chat. Oh for those of you who don't know, Nutty Knitters are a group of ladies,(but men are welcome to come along) who meet up every 2 weeks to knit, chat and sip tea................ oh and most importantly eat cake around my kitchen table!
Try this all in one recipe below....its my favourite right now, and as our crop of strawberries has already ripened it makes this a perfect summer cake!

All in one sponge cake.

I use this recipe all the time and it rarely fails. You can change the flavours by adding lemons, oranges, or cocoa  powder, coffee, chocolate chips whatever takes your fancy really.

If you want to make chocolate sponge cake replace an ounce of the flour with an ounce of cocoa 

8oz flour, 8oz caster sugar

4 eggs, 8oz butter, 1tsp baking powder

Pre heat oven to gas mark 4 or 180 degrees.  Grease and line two 7 inch, deep sponge tins.  If using a food mixer put all ingredients into processor bowl and mix until the mixture is smooth.  If mixing by hand ensure mixture is thoroughly beaten (better results will be achieved by creaming together the butter and sugar first).  Divide mixture between the tins and bake in the centre of the oven for approximately 20 - 25 mins or until sponge is risen in the centre and golden.  Allow the sponges to cool for a few minutes in the tins and then turn out onto wire cooling racks to finish off.  Put the sponges together with the filling of your choice, I favour the traditional fresh whipped cream and strawberry jam filling then topped with cream and fresh strawberries......Bake Eat and Enjoy ' You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me' C S Lewis 'Talk and tea is his speciality'' said Giles. 'Come along inside... We'll see if tea and buns can make the world a better place.' The Wind in the Willows

     

Rainbows secrets and dreams x

This is not the best picture of a rainbow, but nevertheless  one that appeared yesterday  afternoon, and was a beautiful. colourful, magical arch across the back of my garden, a rainbow to make a wish on, one to dream on.  


I have always been a dreamer, somewhat a solitary child who was happy in her own company. I spent most of my time drawing, making up and writng stories with the most extraordinary creatures from my imagination, and of course daydreaming. And these 3 pursuits still stay with me...and always will. My mind conjuring up many a mythical creature, but one I am still outlining is about a cat....no ordinary cat, a lesser known Norfolk cat with exceptionally long legs which makes him stand out from his friends. He lives in a place called 'Hidden Dips' with his friend Talking Spoon. He has many adventures and learns through his journeys, self confidence and inner strength....Anyway watch this space, I am still illustrating and scribbling notes right now. I have a family who encourage me to follow this dream and a special friend who inspired it :)

Six years ago we went to Australia to celebrate a set of milestones that each member of my family had reached. The last family holiday together as the gang were growing up fast and reaching for their own dreams. 
I encountered a bit of a personal knock, but a good time was had by all. There was one activity that I did not join in with and once we were back in the UK I regretted not taking part in the Sydney Bridge Climb. My family had all enjoyed the day on the bridge and I wished I had been more adventurous and joined them in this once in a lifetime experience. Lucky me though had another chance and June 2009 found me back in Sydney. 

This time I braved up and took the challenge, and wow how good did I feel when I completed the walk. My smile showed it all. I felt very spiritual at the top and now knew that anything is possible if you really want to do it.


I wear a little charm of this magnificent structure which in times of uncertainty I  I take in my hand and remember how I faced my fears. I still waver from time to time, all of us do, but its such a wonderful feeling to of chased a rainbow and lived a dream. 
I have an ongoing dream that has lived with me a very long time, maybe the next time I see a rainbow I will embrace it, and follow that dream. 


A very happy bright and colourful week to all of you ...oh and to a very special friend thank you from the very bottom of my heart :) :) x 

So a wish was made yesterday  afternoon....silly me, am I just chasing rainbows of shall I follow my dream and take another leap of faith?

"In my world everyone is a pony who eats butterfly's and poops out rainbows"-Dr Seuss

How the first rainbow was created ..........

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favorite.

Green said:
“Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority.”

Blue interrupted:
“You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing.”

Yellow chuckled:
“You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun.”

Orange started next to blow her trumpet:
“I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don’t hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you.”

Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:
“I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life’s blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy.”

Purple rose up to his full height:
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: “I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey.”

Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination:
“Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace.”

And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak:
“You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don’t you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me.”

Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. The rain continued:
“From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow.” And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.

Author Unknown

Each one of us have our special purpose, unique and different and when we embrace them we can create something so beautiful that will stretch across the sky.

I'll go chasing after rainbows 
Living in my dreams 
I wonder now if anything's for real 
I'll go chasing after rainbows 
Living in my dreams 
How can I explain the way I feel 

Setting the Fairy free :)

So Saturday starts with a smile, the black cloud that hangs over me has lifted :) its so nice to see the world with open eyes and lots of colour! After a cuppa and a read of the papers in the comfort of a warm duvet breakfast was decided on.....Lightly boiled eggs with soldiers, for any of you who don't know they are not real soldiers, just sliced and buttered slices of toast, that you dip in the egg! A childhood memory indeed for many of us.

Breakfast was treated like a feast, with flowers on the table, napkins and as you can see an unexpected guest! The bear in the background is called Oddment, I knitted him at Christmas as a pressie for a family member, after opening he was sat on the chair and there he has stayed, watching all the family comings and goings. 
Our kitchen is the most important room in our house. My children have grown up eating countless meals sitting around our large table. Its a place for laughter, sometimes tears, a table to chat around and discuss current affairs. So many happy memories of Christmas's, Birthday parties, celebrations, entertaining friends, and of course its where my Nutty Knitters group knit, chat, drink tea, and eat cake every other Wednesday.

So back to breakfast....dipping all my toasted soldiers into the soft egg, and washing it all down with hot tea, the time had come to turn the egg upside down in the egg cup, crack a hole in the shell to let the fairy out! My mother used to say by letting the fairy have her freedom she would bring good luck and grant a wish! My family think I am bonkers to still be  cracking the empty shell at my age. And like one of my sons says, if the fairy is silly enough to live inside an egg then she deserves to stay in there, besides he adds,if I had of thought about it logically I must of killed her anyway during the boiling.....he has a point but I still continue to let her out anyway..just in case :)

Seems one wish was granted this morning.....having lost the dark cloud for a while I have been able to function a little better and creativity overflows...I am off to my studio now to draw and stitch....watch this space for a new creation :)


I still have one wish that I would so love to have granted, one that is in my heart and soul and been there for a very long time. So while I wait I will continue to eat eggs and let the fairy out......one day someday, who knows that is the future when it comes. xxx

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.Henry David Thoreau

Legends and folklore about eggs.


When you have finished your boiled egg, crush the shell or push the spoon through the bottom to avoid bad luck. This stems from the belief that witches collect up the empty shells and use them to go to sea and work spells against hapless mariners. 


The giving of Easter eggs and the use of eggs in all sorts of other festivities, both 


Painting eggs red at Easter is seen as good luck, as it is the colour of blood and life.

German and Slav peasants rubbed a mixture of eggs, bread and flour on their plows hoping to improve the harvest. 

To ensure a big family, a 17th-century French bride would crack an egg on her new home's doorstep before entering.

In the 19th century, builders in Bombay, India, put an egg and milk into the foundations of new structures to protect them from harm. 

Even before Christian times people colored, blessed or exchanged eggs as part of the rites of spring to welcome the sun's awakening from its long winter sleep. Early Christians adopted the egg, which represented the renewal of life, as a symbol of Christ's resurrection from the grave.

Several folk tales explain the origin of dyeing Easter eggs. One legend from Poland recounts how the Virgin Mary herself painted boiled eggs in bright colors to please the infant Jesus.

Eastern Europeans may exchange eggs bearing the letters "XB" for :Christ is Risen". Russians exchange a decorated egg and three kisses.