Mannheim or Bust

Just back from our long weekend in  chilly Mannheim Germany. Ken was doing his 5 km run as part of his company's relay event at the Mannheim Marathon. We had a great time and Ken managed his run with flying colours.

We visited Heidelberg and went to the castle and had a ride on the Funicular railway, all in all a great time was had by one and all. Watch out later when these pages get scrapbooked.

Getting the Greenhouse Ready

Well, I finally got the plants potted up for the greenhouse. I have four different types of tomatoes, Alicante, Moneymaker, some small yellow Sungolds and some small black cherry tomatoes. I also planted a gherkin which my husband was keen to see grown, and sowed my cucumber chili and pepper seeds. I am hoping that I get the harvest I did last year, as I was able to keep my whole extended family and friends in cucumbers and tomatoes throughout the summer.

The chili,peppers and cucumber seeds sown.

The tomato plants all potted up

 Whilst I was gardening I also potted up some herbs for myself and my daughter, and a pot of flowers for her balcony at her new flat. Lets hope all grow well. 

Coriander and basil seeds sprouting well

A tub of herbs, rosemary,thyme chives and parsley
plus a Fuchsia with Lobellia and a re-potted Azalea

Finished at last now on to the next job

Finally got my scrapbooking done for 2015 amazingly and a few ones into 2016. I now have to get on with all many other projects to numerous to mention.

Summer 2015 Nearly Completed

Well my New Years resolution to get more posts done for my blog have sadly already not been kept. I know I'm an awful slacker, but honestly I have been busy and productive so I'm not too disappointed in myself. 

I have almost completed my scrapbooking of my holiday for 2015 plus I've been on a machine embrodiery class, Danish pastry cooking course, and attended the Knitting and Stitching Fair at Olympia, so not that shabby. Plus I've done loads of gardening, washing, ironing, cooking cleaning etc etc. You know all those lovely jobs we try to put off when crafting.

Well here are a few more pages.

Baking Day

Yesterday, I had a great afternoon learning how to make Danish pastries, Chelsea buns, iced buns and croissants at the Cinnamon Square 
http://www.cinnamonsquare.com/. 

We made two lots of dough one of which we used to make Chelsea and iced buns and the other, which we laminated, to make the croissants and Danish pastries. Here is the process in pictures.

The basic dough which you then must laminate with butter.
We did four half turns including one in which we added the sheet of butter

Sheet of butter

Fold in butter then make three more half turns 

Roll, fold  and rest between turns 

Prepped ready to go into the oven

The finished product 

Little leftovers of dough which we made into monkey bread.
Its coated in butter sugar and cinnamon Nothing is wasted.

Basic dough which we made into Chelsea Buns and iced buns 

Before going into the oven 

The finished product

                                     

Not only did they look good but by goodness the tasted good too.