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Pictures, Thoughts

Steam Train passing Aldermaston Station

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After the (luckily short) heat wave this week it was pleasantly cool this Saturday morning, also a bit damp as it had rained most of the night and still hadn’t fully stopped by the time I decided to leave for the train station. For it was time to watch and photograph another steam train passing Aldermaston Station.

  • Picture of a steam train approaching behind a bridge
    (1) Steam train approaching from Reading
  • Picture of a steam train passing under a road bridge
    (2) Steam train under the A340 road bridge
  • Picture of a steam train passing under a road bridge
    (3) Steam train clearing the A340 road bridge
  • Picture of a steam train passing a rural train station
    (4) Steam train passing through Aldermaston station
  • Picture of a steam train passing close up
    (5) Steam train close up
  • Picture of a steam train from behind, steaming away into the distance
    (6) Steam train has passed on its way to Newbury

Since the electrification of the line watching steam trains passing through isn’t the same any more, but then again some progress is necessary and I certainly prefer the electric trains over the old stinking and noisy Diesels we had before.

I haven’t bothered looking up the details of the steam engine pulling the train today, I hope you’ll still enjoy the pictures without that information. If you do know more about the locomotive feel free to leave the information in the comments.

Pictures, Snippets, Thoughts

Blueberry & Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins

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As promised yesterday, today I made the third batch/version of muffins. After the Cherries & Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins and the Dark Chocolate & Almond Muffins it was time for Blueberries and Dark Chocolate Chips today.

Picture of Blueberry & Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins (before baking)
Blueberry & Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins (before)

The ingredients were essentially the same as for the Cherries & Dark Chocolate ones, replacing the cherries with blueberries:

  • 250g self-raising flour
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 150g fresh blueberries, washed
  • 200g dark (70%) chocolate chips
  • 100g golden caster sugar
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 150ml pot natural yoghurt
  • 100g butter, melted

Making them was also very similar:

  • Preheat oven to fan assisted 180°C, (200°C, gas 6)
  • paper cases in 12 hole muffin tin
  • sift flour and bicarbonate of soda into large bowl, stir in chocolate and sugar
  • beat eggs, add yoghurt, then molten butter. Add this mixture to the flour etc
  • add in the washed blueberries
  • stir to combine, but do not “overmix” (it’s fine if it’s a bit lumpy. Apparently if you “overmix” the muffins will turn out tough)
  • fill the mixture into the papercases and then bake for 20-25 minutes until risen and golden brown

Same as before the whole process took just over an hour. Again some will go into the freezer, some will be eaten over the next few days. And one I’ve eaten just now while writing this. Tasted very nice.

Picture of Blueberry & Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins (after baking)
Blueberry & Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins (after)

I’ll take a break from them now, I’ve got enough in the freezer for a while. But I’m sure I’ll be making some again. For now I’ve got two breads in the oven, baking away.

Pictures, Snippets, Thoughts

Dark Chocolate and Almond Muffins

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Following on from the Cherry and Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins from last weekend I decided to bake some more. This time I decided to improvise a bit to make some Dark Chocolate and Almond Muffins. I actually made them on Thursday, but only get round to write it up today.

Picture of Dark Chocolate and Almond Muffins in a muffin tray
Dark Chocolate and Almond Muffins (1)

Still based on the other recipe I replaced several of the ingredients, here’s what I used:

  • 250g self-raising flour
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 150g chopped almonds
  • 150g dark (70%) chocolate chips
  • 50g fine dark cocoa powder (100% cocoa solids)
  • 100g golden caster sugar
  • approx 17ml Moroccan Almond Extract
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 150ml pot natural yoghurt
  • 100g butter, melted

And making them followed pretty much the same process again:

  • Preheat oven to fan assisted 180°C, (200°C, gas 6)
  • paper cases in 12 hole muffin tin
  • sift flour and bicarbonate of soda into large bowl, stir in almonds, chocolate chips, cocoa powder and sugar
  • beat eggs, add yoghurt, then molten butter and almond extract. Add this mixture to the flour etc
  • stir to combine, but do not “overmix” (it’s fine if it’s a bit lumpy. Apparently if you “overmix” the muffins will turn out tough)
  • fill the mixture into the papercases and then bake for 20-25 minutes until risen

Same as before, took just over half an hour to make. I think they turned out very nice, although I have to say they are quite heavy. The chocolate and almonds are a nice combination I think, really like it.

Picture of Dark Chocolate and Almond Muffins on a rack
Dark Chocolate and Almond Muffins (2)

Some I put into the freezer for later, some I took into the office for Friday afternoon refreshments, some I’m eating this weekend. And if everything goes to plan I’ll make some Blueberry and Dark Chocolate Chips muffins on Sunday.

Pictures, Snippets, Thoughts

Cherry & Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins

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Not sure why, but I decided I needed to do something different again (although I have made muffins before, but for some reason haven’t made any for quite some time). And for some reason I felt like Cherry & Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins. So I made some yesterday.

Picture of Cherry & Chocolate Chip Muffins still a in baking tray
Cherry & Chocolate Chip Muffins in tray

Here’s what I used:

  • 250g self-raising flour
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 150g dried cherries (the original recipe had 140g, but they came in 75g packs, so I decided to just use them all)
  • 200g dark (70%) chocolate chips (the original recipe had 100g each of dark and white chocolate, but I don’t like white chocolate)
  • 100g golden caster sugar
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 150ml pot natural yoghurt
  • 100g butter, melted

Here’s how I made them:

  • Preheat oven to fan assisted 180°C, (200°C, gas 6)
  • paper cases in 12 hole muffin tin
  • sift flour and bicarbonate of soda into large bowl, stir in cherries, chocolate and sugar
  • beat eggs, add yoghurt, then molten butter. Add this mixture to the flour etc
  • stir to combine, but do not “overmix” (it’s fine if it’s a bit lumpy. Apparently if you “overmix” the muffins will turn out tough)
  • fill the mixture into the papercases and then bake for 20-25 minutes until risen and golden brown

That’s all. In total took just over half an hour. Put some in a freezer bag for deep freezing, according to the interwebs they should be good for 1-2 months.

Picture of Cherry & Chocolate Chip Muffins on a kitchen worktop
Cherry & Chocolate Chip Muffins on kitchen worktop

I think they taste nice, the cherries and the chocolate go well together. I think next I’ll try the same recipe with blueberries.

Pictures, Snippets, Thoughts

Ducks and other birds at Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve

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A few weeks ago I booked a ticket for a concert by Ross & Ali in Emsworth in the south of Hampshire. That’s about an hour and 15 minutes drive from where I live in West Berkshire. As the concert took place on a Saturday I thought I should combine the long drive with something else. And decided it was time for another visit (there third if I counted correctly) of Titchfield Haven nature reserve.

A variety of birds was around, in particular quite a few ducks. Some of the pictures I took in this gallery:

  • Picture of a pair of Shovelers
    A pair of Shovelers
  • Picture of two male Teal Ducks having a chat
    Male Teal Ducks having a chat
  • Picture of a male Shelduck
    A male Shelduck
  • Picture of a female Gadwall Duck drying off after a bath
    Female Gadwall Duck drying off after a bath
  • Picture of a male Gadwall
    A male Gadwall
  • Picture of a Mallard Duck leaving behind a splash when lifting off
    Mallard Duck leaving behind a splash when lifting off
  • Picture of some Avocets wading on the hunt for food
    Avocets wading on the hunt for food
  • Picture of two Avocets in flight
    Two Avocets in flight
  • Picture of a Curlew in flight
    Curlew in flight
  • Picture of a Magpie hopping on a food table
    Magpie hopping on a food table
  • Picture of a Magpie in flight
    Magpie in flight
  • Picture of two distant Marsh Harriers
    Two distant Marsh Harriers

Unfortunately didn’t see a Kingfisher this time, hope to see one again next time. A lot of the waders kept quite a distance, not sure if that was seasonal or just coincidence. The Marsh Harriers did’t come as close as I had hoped, but were still nice to watch in the distance. Quite a few Magpies around, hopping in the marsh outside one of the hides. Also saw a Fox brazenly making its way through the reserve, I think at one point it made a half-hearted attempt to get a bird (either a Goose or a Cormorant, can’t remember), but wasn’t successful. Unfortunately didn’t manage to get any decent pictures of it, at the time I was more focused on watching it through my binoculars (it was quite far away and better to see through the binoculars).

Before leaving for Emsworth for the concert I had a nice meal at The Osborne View (of course a burger). It being March it was too cold to sit outside, but I managed to get a table with a nice view over the Solent. I hope I can sit outside again for one of my next visits.