Wrap up warm folks, winter has arrived.

you still have the pretty snow GM, lovely pictures, thank you ~ have you got a picture of that lovely bread you are baking too???

Hello Sticki, There is no one but us to go out in the garden today so it will look nice for ages, hopefully! Bread still proving at mo. will be a while yet. Are you baking today?

might be doing some bread later, but im cheating i have a bread maker, would dearly love to learn to bake my own properly.
then maybe some flapjack with seeds and fruits in, unfortunately OH has decided he doesnt want to eat cake which is a bit of a nuisance!!!
anyone want some cake??

Sticki I have a bread maker and have not purchased a loaf since last September, I make a granary loaf and its delicious. Sorry if I have duped you all! I also have a great flapjack recip. which has apricots and pistachio in, yum, they keep for ages in a tin so one a day perhaps. Know what you mean when 'they' dont want cake, then mum eats it!!! Think I am made up of 95% sugar!

well that will keep you sweet grandmage!!!

i would make all my own using the breadmaker but OH seems to like bread with soft crusts [i dont], sometimes i make granary but currently sunflower, cos i bought sunflower seed flour.
if you have the recipes for both of your bakings i would love them please.

Lol. I shouldnt really eat sweet things but cannot resist! Ok no prob. will dig them out. Sticki I find that after the bread has cooled and i wrap it in foil its a lovely soft loaf anyway, I set my machine on medium (colour) and medium for sizing and its perfecto. I think bread is best toasted anyway!

Lovely snowy pics Gran and congratulations to your OH!
My OH discourages me from baking "we'll only eat it" he says . . . yup, that's what we do, and enjoy it too!

oh i agree, it makes brilliant toast!!! maybe i will make a BIG sacrifice and wrap it up to make softer bread next time??? thanks GM
if you do find the recipes that would be fantastic! thank you.
i only have small and large on my breadmaker but i hadnt thought to check the colour part ~ thank you

Oh Sheila there is no hope I'm afraid, I was not meant to be small, never have been either but I have to say no sometimes!! Lol
Sticki, wrap half the loaf, so soft for hub. and crispy for you!! recipes already sent via. pm. :~)

Lovely photos, Grandmage. I tramped round my garden this morning shaking snow off the conifers and various other overladen plants. Millie stayed indoors! I didn't go up into the woods this morning as every child (and a lot of adults too) seemed to be trekking up there with their toboggans. I have just made chocolate flapjacks so it seems as if the cold weather sets us all off baking :)

I am staying in even without snow. I too have a breadmaker and make bread in it twice a week. The smell is wonderful!!!!!! I am doing trials for cupcakes or buns to you in my new halogen oven. You add lemon icing and a fresh cherry on top.
Hope the snow doesn't stay too long GM.

thats a very good idea GM ~ off to look at the PM now.

chocolate flapjacks Gee? they sound excellent ~ please can we have the recipe?

Iv got a wholemeal loaf in the tin, the sun is out & thawing the snow, all good ! Great set of photos.

Don't do it Bilbo...it's certain death to waistlines!! lol...I did have one but ended up giving it away because it was sooooooo dangerous to my health!! Seriously though, there's nothing quite like the smell of yeast and freshly baked bread is there? YUM! Enjoy your breadmakers everyone! Linda, you show great self-control! :))

lovely photos GM :-))
so far up here we have had no snow at all !!!
bread sounds lovely I can nearly smell it from here lol

We still have the snow, the roads are looking very dangerous and will no doubt be ice later. Those lovely pink buds on the Camellia are beautiful.

I gave the bread maker away because you could not remove the dough hook, so it always left a big hole in the loaf....Have they fixed that yet ?

This is my recipe for chocolate flapjacks, Sticki, this amount makes a lot so halve the ingredients if you don't want too many.

Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4
Line shallow swiss roll tin with baking parchment

Step 1:
9ozs butter or margarine (or mixture of two)
6ozs light brown soft sugar
6ozs golden syrup

Melt butter, sugar and golden syrup gently in microwave. Leave until cooled

Step 2:
16ozs rolled oats
4-6ozs plain chocolate chip

Mix in oats and lastly, 3-4ozs of the chocolate chips

Place mixture in tin and press down with back of fork.
Sprinkle remaining 1-2oz of chocolate chips over top of flapjacks.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until firm
Allow to cool slightly before removing from tin
When cold cut into fingers or squares using a sharp knife.

Yummy and very moorish :)

Sounds extremely yummy Gee (or "yummo" as my Aussie daughter-in-law says!). Will definitely try this, once I've bought the ingredients . .

ooooh thanks Gee, that sounds like the next baking session sorted ~ Grandmage flapjack already in the oven!!!

my breadmaker is a morphy richards bilbo, not very big and was very reasonable ~ about £30 3 years ago ~ i thought if i didnt use it i wouldnt be wasting too much, in fact its on every week and sometimes 2 or 3 times a week, i love it! much better than bought bread.

Well you lovely folk, bread is baked and smells delicious and OH is watching the rugby!
Gee. thanks for the recipe another one for the list!
Linda, it is much cheaper and healthier making our own bread, no chemicals or nasties in there, let us know how your cakes turn out!
Thanks Bampy, hope your keeping warm.
Bilbo I have a Russell Hobbs got it from Tesco direct, its great and easy to use. Karen on most diets you can have bread and as I am on SW.diet most of the time bread is my only 'naughty' syn!
Helen no snow!!!!!!! how come? hope it stays away for you it only causes havoc.
Pim, my poor camellias, I hope they hold out, but I have my doubts. re. the bread, the dough hook is the same but we dont mind holy bread!!!
Enjoy the rest of your day, the nights are drawing out now! :~)

winter cant all be bad can it? lots of people on here today, lots of baking and pretty pictures to look at, as well as more birds than usual in the garden!!

Yes Sticki, thats a bonus, we should all enjoy.

:-)

lucky here in blackpool, no snow as yet, but paints a pretty picture :o))

Its melting fast here San. so only a quick burst!

Something about conifers that look great with snow on - lovely photos Grandmage - our Cameillia was just coming into flower - not now, never had one in flower ever - apart from one or two but not a whole shrub !

Oh Paul its such a shame, they are bursting at the moment and now........:~(
I agree about the conifers it makes them look majestic.

My breadmaker is a Panasonic...it is my second machine and I love it........expensive but really good. We have eaten all the buns Karen...I only make six at a time or Barry and I would look like two buns!!!!!

they are lovely machines linda and i know they are highly recommended, if i ever bought another it would be that one.

Linda, how long did your first machine last? Do they break down easily then? Havnt had a prob. with mine but then have only had it since Sept.

I've been researching GM and found one that you can take the hook out of...Makes jam as well. It's a kenwood, I will have too think as it is a bit pricey.

I had my first one for about six years. The Panasonic was recommended to me by a friend. It is a great machine. Sometimes I make three large loaves a week...it depends if Barry has porridge in the morning or toast. :o)) I couldn't go back to bought bread now.

i know what you mean linda, and the toast is the best ever!!!

I just bought it...Linda convinced me. Does cakes as well Sticki

i know pimms, its a great machine, at the time i was afraid it might be one of those gadgets you buy and dont use!

Mine is the Kenwood BM 450

I'm playing catch-up on blogs again.
Lovely set of photos, GM ...

Is the snow melting now ?
Still quite a lot around in my gardens.

its disappearing now, but the 'lawn' ~ made of moss; is still white.

i have the morphy richards, the little blade at the bottom got thrown out by mistake once ~ but i was able to buy a replacement with no problem.

My RH machine does everything, jam, cakes, BREAD too!! Lol. Think they are all very similar, surely Pim. you need the doe hook to kneed the dough!
Hi TT. we are chatting about bread at mo!! Yes our snow has melted almost, apart from the lawn etc. The roads look pretty clear but have not ventured out yet! Thank you.

Yes GM..I used to use the old one a lot, but the big hole caused by the dough hook was no good. I gave it to my sister, it is still going strong, must be eight years old by now.

well GM still no snow at all here.
In fact today I have sat out in lovely sunshine in a sunny spot .thermometer showed 28c believe it or not!!!!
I took photos of my daughter enjoying lunch [well a sausage roll !! ] al fresco.
strange isn,t it ?? as I stay in central Scotland !!
who knows what tomorrow will bring???
but it was lovely to feel warm sun on my face .....roll on summer.

Wow Helen thats weird but wonderful and you sat out!!!!!! Hey good on you, we have to grab what comes our way and make hay !! Long may you have no snow and yes spring/summer is on its way.
Pim. ours makes a hole but it doesnt spoil the bread!! I feel quite proud that I havent purchased shop bought for ages!

Well on Friday I will show you my bottom GM..See if it is worth it ;0)...It will pay for itself in 12 months.

Look forward with trepidation. Pim.

oooooooo love the pics madge !! just drizzerly rain here yuk .............. stiki i,ll have some cake ............... ;op
my camilia gona burst too , far to early ............ hope urs is ok . can u shake the snow off and flease it ..x

Hi Crissy, TG the snow has gone now and the temperature is rising! My poor camellias looked awful two weeks ago but they seem to be recovering and are now blooming, its unbelievable really they are pretty strong plants, was going to fleece them but kept forgetting! Lol x