New Baking Tins means better baking

Several years ago I bought what has continued to be my best baking tray from a Kitchen shop in Cirencester, which never warps or buckles.  As I have been doing more baking recently I decided to replace some of my older tins which had started to loose their non stick: I bought a new very heavy non stick baking sheet and tray baking tin from a local store.  However I was so disappointed that after a short time in the oven, there was  the undeniable sound of the tin warping.  I went on line and did my research and found to my delight that my best baking tray was made by Silverwood, which is still manufactured and in the UK too nearby in Birmingham. .  Whilst ordering some tins from Salamander I had to get a Madeleine tin too...but one from France.

So with my recent new recipe books, and old favourite recipes, I have been adjusting the amounts of ingredients to fit the new tins.  This is a honey, almond and raisin cake.  I cut it into three and freeze two portions.  That way there is cake for another time, and we can have a variety.

The madeleines too were light and tasty and really have to be eaten the same day they are made.

Brede Mouroum or Moringa Oleifera from a friend bearing gifts

Last week my friend Marie-Claire returned from her break in Mauritius, where she stayed at Pointe aux Sables and was able to visit her Mum, as well as going out and about. 

When I got home on Friday, there in a Sainsbury's bag by my front door, were a few hard green sticks.....What were they?  I could not guess but a phone call later I was wiser:  Brede Mouroum Sticks.  But I had not heard of eating the sticks.  I can remember that my Auntie Suzanne who lived next door had a tree, which from time to time, especially when times were hard, or it was too hot to walk to the bazaar for greens, she would pluck the young green leaves and make them into a 'greens dish' to go with rice and salt cod, poisson sale or whatever.  It took no time at all to cook, and was a gorgeous bright green colour, always lovely beside the local rougailles.  If I lived in the right climatic zone, this would definitely be growing in the garden.  I bet the tender small green pods are great to eat too!

With the wonder of the www, I found that indeed one can eat the pods.  Mine seemed to be on the hard side, so I chopped them up, boiled them.....and what a pungent smell.  I stripped the outer pods, and was left with some winged seeds.  They taste very mild, so I am going to dress them with some olive oil and have them as a starter with some roasted red peppers, olives etc.

Big bunnies in the window

Izzi has about five bunnies, that was last time I counted then, there may be more by now, she knows them all well, some are whitish, some brown, there is one with whiskers too!  They are all small, small enough to all fit in her rucksack if necessary.

In a shop window in Warwick we spied three really big ones!

Spring Flowers in the Garden

At the end of February the snowdrops are nearly over, but the hellebore and crocus are attracting bees, bumble bees, early hover flies and ladybirds. 

Insect life and birds can feel the sunshine on their backs, but I am holding my breath, enjoying the sunshine, but realising that we may still be in for some cooler weather yet.  On the way back from Hanbury Hall yesterday, as we drove from west to east with the sun behind us, and fine showers in front, we were driving into the most clear and strong double rainbow...what a joy, but I did not see the meteor...natural phenomenon such as clouds, etc give me such pleasure.

Another day playing tourist in our own back yard

With the sunshine and mild weather, rather than walking along our own pretty field paths, I suggested to Mr S that we drive out to Stoneleigh.  We made a circuit of the village, taking in the Manor,

the path over the river,

the church, the new community orchard, then back to the almshouses. 


Next time we go, we shall explore the foot paths which radiate from the village.