Simplest Cake Ever!

This is a tried and tested cake which has been made on a regular basis in our household. It's ridiculously simple to make with the children and doesn't make a huge mess. Just bung the ingredients together, have it plain or add some fruit for extra taste (we added about 10oz of grated apple). I found this recipe in a superb little book called 'The Friendly Vegetable Book' (by Tina Deubert) which was given to me a few years ago. I think it's a great recipe worthy of sharing with busy parents and also gets aspiring little chefs involved in a bit of fun mixing and baking!

{Mixing the oil and eggs}

{Spreading the cake mixture}

{The end result - perfect!}

Quick Everyday Cake

Grease a baking tray measuring about 21cm x 25cm (10ins x 8 ins) and at least 4 cm (1 1/2 ins deep), or you could use two standard loaf tins.

Heat the oven to 180 Degrees Celsius/Gas 4.

Mix together:

• 150g (5oz) vegetable oil
• 100g (3 1/2oz) plain yogurt
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten

Add:

• 175g (6oz) soft brown sugar
• 280g (10oz) plain wholemeal flour or a mixture of white and brown
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Stir well, pour into tin and bake for 30-40 minutes. It is cooked when a knife stuck into the middle comes out clean, and the cake has begun to shrink away from the sides of the tin. Cool in the tin then cut into squares. It freezes well.

Things making me smile...

{Blossom on the apple tree in our garden}

I think it's fair to say that even though it's only Tuesday, this week is crawling along ever so slowly. That's not to say it's been bad, the weather is absolutely glorious and everyone seems infinitely happier. It's just that we have been anticipating a well-deserved rest over the Easter weekend from the Trumpety Trump shop and the moment is almost here! Things currently making me smile...

{Fun scarecrows at the Heffle Cuckoo Fair} 

{Our sunflower seeds are growing!}

Street Party

                                                                                                   
On Saturday I took the children to the 'Heffle Court Community Street Party' on Station Road, Heathfield (literally a 2 minute walk from the Trumpety Trump shop). For those of you who haven't heard of Heffle Court, it's a dementia care home providing care and support to elderly people. Being something close to my heart (my Nan has recently been diagnosed with dementia), I really wanted to support this event so we set off excitedly with some friends in tow and a little bit of pocket money.

To our delight, the place was bustling; the children treated themselves to face painting and we later enjoyed cream teas in the tea shop whilst listening to some great music performed by the Heathfield Silver Band. I was amazed to see that Heffle Court have their own little farm with pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and a new bird aviary and dove cote. Who would have thought that there's a gorgeous little farm tucked away in the middle of Heathfield? It's opening to the public every weekend from the 1st May until the end of September. Tea and cakes will also be available to purchase, always an added bonus! Such a lovely idea and a great place to take the children when you just want to do something different without travelling too far.

We arrived home late in the afternoon and, as it was such a lovely day, we soaked up some warm sun in the garden and welcomed the opportunity to debut some of our own new chunky wooden farm animals!

3Z4ZEYZRWJ46

Green Shoots

It's sometimes difficult for children to understand how planted seeds and bulbs will one day turn into a flower or vegetable. I thought a great way to demonstrate how seeds will only grow if they are given soil, water and light was to get my hands dirty and plant my own... with the help of my son and daughter of course!

I dug out the children's garden trowels and we put some sunflower seeds in some paper cups (not forgetting to poke holes in the bottom) and filled them with soil. To avoid disappointment (and tears) we planted about a dozen seeds in the hope at least a few of them would grow into beautiful, sun-worshipping flowers - fingers crossed! Names were enthusiastically written on lolly sticks and popped in each cup.

I thought it would be fun to plant something we could actually eat, so tomato seeds were picked by the children and lovingly planted.

Finally a variety of bulbs were examined and these were planted in some garden pots.

We are all now waiting in anticipation....