Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

Normal blogging service resumed.

Hope you are all keeping well and thanks for stopping

by for my weekly nattering.

Let's start...

Recipe:

With that sudden change in the weather I didn't need much excuse

to make a warming pud.

This is Plum Betty - equally delicious as Cherry Betty.

A 'Betty' is much like a crumble except you use breadcrumbs and 

you layer it, bit like a sweet lasagne! 

Filling: 750g plums, 75g light brown sugar

Topping: breadcrumbs from 3 slices of bread (granary is nice),

50g light brown sugar, 1tsp cinnamon,

75g chopped walnuts, 2tbsp melted butter

 Preheat oven to 180 C, 350F or Gas Mark 4. 

Grease a shallow glass or ceramic dish.

Filling: cut up plums and place in bowl with sugar.

Topping: Mix breadcrumbs, sugar and cinnamon in bowl.

Start layering: A third of topping mixture in bottom of dish,

add half the fruit mixture, second third of topping mixture,

remainder of fruit. Bake for 30 minutes.

Mix remaining third of topping mixture with

chopped walnuts and melted butter.

Remove dish from oven, sprinkle mixture over

and cook for a further 30 minutes.

Cool before serving, lovely with ice cream! 

The printable is available here.
And all the recipe links at the top of the blog are still in place - hurrah!

The plums I used come from a farm in Wormdale, just up the road from 

my sister's home, they have a produce table set out with a cash box.

Each week when I visit my sister I stop and buy something.

We've had the most amazing runner beans too.

Garden:

Still over the moon with my little pink rose, the buds keep coming.

A new Clematis is very happily growing with Honeysuckle.
I've ensured it is the correct group for pruning, imagine trying to
disentagle it.

My first attempt at growing tomatoes, all still green.
I've been researching this, I've now cut off the top of the plants to
encourage more growth into the tomatoes, time is running out for them to
turn red, it could be a case of picking them and allowing them to ripen indoors.
All a learning curve.

And another first - I'm using bulb baskets.


This will enable me to have the bulbs in one place and lift them for
Summer bedding next year.  I got the idea when looking up 'small gardens'
but I've yet to find a garden as small as mine! 

Crochet:

Zero, zilch, none! 
Well, not entirely true - I've done a little bit of the wide border on my
original Attic 24 Harmony Blanket and that's it.
This gardening and 'flat preparation' lark certainly eats into time.

I'm certain once Autumn arrives and my gardening will be limited
 I'll be crocheting like the clappers.

Telly:

It's been a 'bonnet week' for me, I've been indulging in all things
Jane Austen.  Whilst batch cooking for Elliott's new freezer
(lasagne and shepherds pie),
I've been re-watching these gems.
Pride and Prejudice - the Colin Firth version of course!



Sense and Sensibility



The 2008 version is my favourite, Hattie Morahan
playing Elinor Dashwood is superb
(in real life her Mum is Anna Carteret -
Inspector Kate Longton in Juliet Bravo - that may take you back).
I subscribe to BritBox but these can be found elsewhere I believe.

Home:

We celebrated Elliott's birthday last weekend in true style(?) -

fish and chips, cupcakes and Prosecco.
My Sister hosted and Bella was of course invited to the celebrations.

This weekend is the 'big move'.  Elliott going into his own flat.

I am excited but in true Mother mode I'm a little anxious and I will 

miss him greatly. I am very lucky with the bond I have with Elliott and he's

not going far so all my blessings have been duly counted.

And finally, it is Charity Kit Day on Sunday.
Here's a sneak peek ....

It's looking festive...
Please stop by for all the details.

Until then, wishing you all a wonderful weekend,
and, as always, take care, don those masks and keep safe.