Category Archives: Snippets

A short post of a quick snippet, like a link

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.

Snippets, Thoughts, Video

Jade Bird

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There’s a lot wrong with the YouTube recommendation algorithm, especially with all the extreme videos it seems to push. Plenty of articles in the press about that. At the same time it can have its good side: Last year I discovered the Regrettes through it. This year I’ve found Jade Bird through it. I think the first song was this one:

This week this song and video followed (with a 61 year old stuntwoman doing the driving):

Her debut album is coming out on 19/Apr/2019, I’m going to pre-order soon. Here’s an interesting interview with three songs:

Snippets, Thoughts

Hemp, Cashews and Almond bread

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Another weekend, another baking experiment. Having made a few walnut breads in recent months I wanted to make something different. I came across a bag of cashew nuts which I had originally bought for snacking, but now decided to try them in a bread. I also had a bag of whole almonds (again originally bought for snacking) which I decided to use instead of the chopped almonds I usually use. And I remembered some Khorasan flour I had bought when the Spelt flour I usually use was sold out, so I decided to add that into the mix.

  • (1) dough for Hemp Cashews Almond bread
    (1) dough for Hemp Cashews Almond bread
  • (2) Hemp Cashews Almond bread fresh out of the oven
    (2) Hemp Cashews Almond bread fresh out of the oven
  • (3) Fresh Hemp Cashews Almond bread
    (3) Fresh Hemp Cashews Almond bread
  • (4) Cut Hemp Cashews Almond bread
    (4) Cut Hemp Cashews Almond bread

The ingredients I used:

  • 150g strong stoneground wholemeal bread flour
  • 150g strong white bread flour
  • 150g Khorasan flour
  • 100g hemp seed hearts
  • 100g cashew nuts (whole)
  • 100g almonds (whole)
  • ~10g fast action bread yeast
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • just over 1/2 pint warm water

Mix, knead, let rise as appropriate, then bake at 220ºC (fan assisted oven) for just over 35 minutes.

Turned out very nice, soft but firm dough with a nice crust. The whole Cashews and Almonds make it crunchy. Mild nutty taste from the Hemp and the nuts. Will be on my list to make again.