Bryon's Pool

Today we went for a shot walk around Bryon's Pool where named after Lord Byron, who is said (by Brooke, at least) to have swum there. The pool is now below a modern weir where the Bourn Brook flows into the River Cam.  Autumn was clearly on its way and I got to see a Kingfisher. 

fridge cake

 Today P and I made Fridge cake for the girls' snack.

Ingredients: 

• 200g of your favourite dried fruit, (mine had cranberries, apricots and Pineapple)
• 150ml orange juice (or rum, whisky or Cointreau for grown-ups but I actually used apple juice as we had some open) 
• 200g digestive biscuits 
• 150g dark chocolate 
• 150g milk chocolate 
• 120g butter 
• 1tbsp golden syrup 
• 100g flaked almonds or other nuts, chopped (but as it is for school which is no nuts I used glace cherries which P chopped)

Method:
 

Put the chopped fruit into a small pan along with the juice or alcohol and heat very gently until the fruit becomes plump and squishy, and has absorbed most of the liquid. Set aside to cool. Break the biscuits into small pieces.

Line a roughly 20cm square brownie tin with baking paper (you can use a little butter to stick it down at the corners).

Melt the chocolate, butter and syrup in a pan.


Tip in the rest of the ingredients and stir until they're all coated with chocolate.

Spoon the mixture into your baking tin and press down firmly with a wooden spoon to make it as flat as possible.

Put in the fridge for a few hours until it has set solid, then lift the paper out, and cut into squares with a sharp knife.

Beetroot Flapjacks and Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Biscuits

Today for snack P and I made:

(1) Beetroot Flapjacks

• 150g unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp golden syrup
• 80g muscovado sugar
• 250g rolled oats
• 2 medium sized beetroots – peeled and grated

1. Melt the butter and syrup in a large saucepan.
2.  Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar until the mixture is well combined.
3.  Stir in the grated beetroot, followed by the rolled oats
4.  Press the mixture into an 8” square lined tin, using the back of a spoon. 
5.  Bake at 180C for about 30 minutes until golden and firm. Allow to cool before cutting into 12 slices.

 

(2)

Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Biscuits

. 125g butter 75g caster sugar 75g soft brown sugar 1 large free-range egg (beaten) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 175g plain flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 50g oats (I used jumbo porridge oats) 50g chocolate chips  Pre-heat oven to 190C and line a baking tray. Gently melt the butter in a large saucepan and then take off the heat and add both the sugars, mix well before adding the rest of the ingredients, stirring them well.   Using a large spoon, scoop the mixture into small mounds on the prepared baking tray, making sure they are set well apart as they spread during baking.  Bake in pre-heated oven for 10 to 15 minutes until just golden brown and just firm.   Allow them to cool for 2 minutes on the tray before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Fowlmere RSPB Nature Reserve

Today we went for a walk around Fowlmere Nature Reserve which is a 20 minute drive out of Cambridge.  It has reedbeds and pools fed by natural chalk springs, and a chalk stream runs through the reserve giving it a peaceful calm feeling.  We saw deer, heard lots of different birds and just enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Walk along the Roman Road (part 2)

We parked at Babraham where the Roman Road crosses the A11 at Worsted Lodge. We walked along for a couple of miles in glorious sunshine before turning back. The hedgerows were full of the most delicious blackberries (we wished we had brought a bag to pick them) and small birds darted in and out in front of us.

Dahlia Festival at Anglesey Abbey

Anglesey Abbey in Lode, Cambridgeshire is holding its annual Dahlia Festival. It runs until 4th October. Even if you are not a big dahlia fan, it is a fun focus for a visit, because of the bright colours and imaginative way in which they have created the displays around the lovely grounds.  I loved the pompoms hanging in the trees as well as one thousand little vases/test-tubes have been pushed into the ground in a line making up the Dahlia Line which we enjoyed following.

G also found a friend in the fallen leaves  - she really is amazing at finding nature.  

Wimpole walk and 40s weekend

Today in glorious sunshine we went for a walk to the folly and back.  there was also their 40s weekend so we enjoyed listening to a brass band whilst admiring some vintage cars and looking at an Anderson shelter.  There were more activities on offer but we had got their a bit late and wanted to make the most of a walk in the sunshine!