blah...

so, am not 'feelin' the need to blog and get real frustrated with myself for it, with my camera for having silly batteries that need changing ALL the time (rather than the cool rechargable ones that have just given up their will to live - or charge I should say)....I feel like there is so much I want /should/could say, but it has to have pretty pictures and without them, I get lazy and can't be bothered...sigh, perhaps things will improve soon?? I am keeping a grateful journal again this year and also writing down sweet moments I live rather than barraging through them (like so many lovely bloggers out there, I am trying to intentionally live/notice/ and breath moments of beauty that make up everyday life)....

....I am pooped (like all the time), and am enthusiatically bottling the abundance of apples and soon to be ready peaches - I've made plum jam, plum jelly, applesauce with cloves and honey, bottled apples, stewed and bottled apples, made courgette relish, marrow chutney, dug up about 60 square metres of potatoes, baked daily bread, laid out new gardens etc etc...summer is such a wonderful time for produce and harvest and I so don't want to miss any time that could be doing stuff towards that...but, I must confess a large sigh is escaping - shame on me I know!

....with the girls back in school, I can feel time winding up, like a large catapult of some kind, waiting to launch us into crazy-busy, and outside life busyness creeping in....my sweet almost 5 year old has announced that he wants to go to school with his sister rather then be homeschooled for awhile - EEK!!! He turns 5 mid-march, so much to ponder on, and decisions to be made....if I can bear to part with him, I will still see him lots and lots as I work in the kids school when I relief teach....but really! When did he grow up enough to think about school!?!....Its silly to feel shocked, but truthfully I do.... must embrace ALL of life is the mantra for the moment....for we a blessed.

pretzels

I mentioned on FB that I had made pretzels today...and how wonderfully simple they are to make, a few lovely ladies wanted the receipe, so thought I'd share it on here for you all.
Seriously scrummy!
3Tblsp oil
450ml warm water
6 c flour
2 1/2 tsp yeast.

If you have a breadmaker throw it all in on the dough cycle, if you don't then go ahead and treat this mix as usual bread - ie, yeast and oil in warm water , let it froth for around 10 mins, then add in your flour, mix it up real good, knead for 10 mins or so then leave to rise for about an hour+....you already know how, so I'll shush!

Preheat your oven to 220c, and pop about a litre of water and a teaspoon of salt onto simmer...once its gently bubbly, pop in 2 tsp of baking soda and watch is explode (FUN), this acts as a lovely brine for the dough....

Now while you are waiting for the water to simmer, divide you dough into around 12 pieces, these will make large pretzels, so double it if you want smaller ones...its really no trouble how you do it, just make sure that its evenish....roll each piece into a skinny sausage and pretzel its shape up....THEN,

pop each one into the simmering water for around 20 seconds and then take it out, putting it onto a cake rack to drain off....once they are all done, pop onto a baking tray, sprinkle salt over and into the hot waiting oven....for around 10 minutes....

If you can wait, once cooler split 'em and smoother them in cream cheese...bet you love 'em!
p.s. this photo is so not mine, as i didn't get one I found this on the net...you get the idea tho!