Monday, March 8, 2010

The best use of my time...

Mondays are my favourite day because I get to clean up after the unhurried hours of the weekend have left their evidence (yes, I do like housework), plus, it's baking day!

Today I made Rock Cakes (you can find the recipe link on my right hand side-bar) - some with sugar sprinkled across the top, and some with little pockets of raspberry jam...
While they were in the oven I began making Honey Cakes, a family favourite we haven't had since moving here. How remiss of me to have forgotten to make them recently for my beloveds!

I started with 80g butter, 1 lemon rind, and 1/2 cup honey...
Whip them together until creamy, before adding 2 eggs (one at a time), and beating them in...
Toss in a 1/2 cup of self raising flour, 2 tablespoons of currants, and 2 tablespoons of almond meal.
Pour between 12 patty cake papers (or tins), scattering some flaked almonds across the top, then bake for 15 minutes at 180C.
 Once cooled, sift some icing sugar (confectioners sugar) across the top and serve with a smile. 
They do not last long, so snap a photo very quickly!!
~~~~~
Frugal living is high on our priority list this year, and one way I save money is to make my own almond meal. I use it in a lot of recipes, but to buy ready prepared is *very* expensive in Australia.

I have a coffee grinder that has never seen a coffee bean - it is used only for grinding nuts and seeds. Today I used it to make the almond meal for my Honey Cakes...
This is so easy and economical!
I also grind my fresh LSA (Linseeds, Sunflower & Almonds) to have on my morning cereal, and the flavour that comes from grinding your own cinnamon sticks is amazing!! 
I buy cumin and coriander seeds whole at bargain basement prices and grind them fresh when I make a curry or spicy meal, and sesame seeds ground and added to homemade hummous is truly delicious. 
~~~~~
A lot of stitching was done over the weekend - amazing how much is achieved when I avoid the internet. That's another high priority for me now. I love blogging and chatting with you all, but I have found that the more I respond to comments via email, the longer the hours I sit in front of my computer each day - which is less hours I spend with my family and with my stitching...two things that need to be nurtured with my time.
So, please forgive me for not replying to all your comments from now on. 
I love to hear your voices through comments, and to be honest they are some of my best inspiration to keep on doing this 'designing gig', but I am only one little wife/mumma/friend/teachers aide/designer/stitcher and the good Lord has seen fit to limit my days to 24 hours and I'm learning a lesson now to *live* within them. 
To LIVE with my family, and not exist around them. To LIVE each moment to the fullest and be available when someone needs an ear to hear, arms for a hug, and cookies and milk to ease the weariness of a troubled heart. That's top priority stuff. :-)
 ~~~~~
Before I head back to the ironing (have I mentioned that I LOVE ironing?) let me share some sneak peeks from my sewing baskets...
Love life, live long.
Hugs,
Jenny
xxx

PS: Have a look at entries so far in the March 5" Charm Square Challenge HERE at our Flickr group - and please upload your own challenge items for us to admire! :-)
Every item you make is one entry in the March giveaway!!

14 comments:

Elyte said...

Thanks for all the goodies. It is cool and very wet in Melbourne and I can almost smell those little treats as they come out of the oven. Would rather have you spending time with your dear ones and designing and creating rather than emailing. It's a matter of priorities!

Deb said...

Jenny, how and why can you and od you love ironing? I'm feeling a strong urge to say - stop, forget the ironing, its not a priority anymore-lol (I must admit there is nothing nicer to look at than something all ironed beautifully and looking crisp and smart-BUT I never said that)
Yummy baking. You actually sounded a bit more relaxed in that post.
hugs Deb

Jude said...

Hello, yes, I agree, much better, cheaper to get whole nuts/seeds and grind yourself...
Have a good week.

Jude said...

Your bikkies look yummie I wish we had taste-e-net to have one with my coffee. i agree limit the time on the internet to spend time with your family. Thankyou for the cracked jug pattern.

Jilly said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jilly said...

Jen you have inspired me I am off to bake some rock cakes and perhaps a chocolate cake. I hope you are enjoying your day!
{hugs&blessings}
Jilly

P.S. Sorry Jen I posted it first time with a mistake!! :=)

Abby and Stephanie said...

A delicious place to visit this morning. I just bought a coffee grinder separate for spices. Daughter needs freshly ground beans for her morning coffee when she's home. The aroma of freshly ground spices is amazing.

Anonymous said...

Love the recipes and will give them a try, they look so yummy.
You are a talented mum and a super busy one so anything that gives you joy is what you should be doing! And I consider family pure joy!

Allie said...

Hey Jenny, I enjoy housework too - there's something very satisfying about seeing a fresh clean room, a delicious dinner on the table, or crisply ironed clothes. I just wish it all lasted longer. *G*

Your rock cakes look delish! Very smart of you to cut back on internet. Loving the peeks into your sewing basket, sweetie!

Colleen said...

I think I just gained 5 pounds reading your blog today. Thanks for the pattern on Etsy, I am going to make it for my night table.I used to love ironing until I got married and had to iron my DH's Starched white shirts. Now I avoid it whenever possible. That's why they make permanent press.

Cattinka said...

Hi Jenny,
I have been wondering how you manage to answer all your comments anyway. You have 783 frequent readers, and if they all leave comments you must be extremely busy reading them already. I will understand if you don´t write me, its okay, I will still enjoy reading your blog, because you are a great source of inspriation to me.
KATRIN W.

Jilly said...

Hey Jenny, I enjoy housework too -

Wow! I am not the only one, I love house work I love watching it come together! My friends and family laugh when I say I love house work. I feel so good that I am not alone anymore thankyou so much Allie!
{hugs&blessings}
Jilly oxo

Phyllis said...

Hey Jenny,

I couldn't comment last evening, but thank you so much for the new pattern. This one is my favorite for sure.

Cath Ü said...

You love ironing...can I please send mine.. I hate it with a passion....

Your cakes look yummy..... I am still loosing weight so they are out for us at the moment.... sigh...

The coffee grinder idea is terrific...

Caths Blog

Cath Ü