Recipes...Some work out and Others don't.

 Over the weekend I made my first batch of Easter bread (Paska) which I make using my breadmaker. Traditionally Paska was made in round pans and looked like this.  I make mine looking more like oversized hotdog buns. The reason for this is to have more icing. The old way once sliced just had icing on the top crust. I ice the flat side of each slice and make them relatively small.

Above is the traditional Paska.     

 

Below are the ones I made. I'll be making more before the month is over.
 

The strange looking apple crisp on the right was definitely not a success. I had found a recipe for crisp topping that sounded interesting. It had mashed banana  and cornstarch in the ingredients. I should have known better. The topping was so firm ( hard) and it was weird with the banana in it. Why don't I stick with my tried and true recipes???

 Continuing on with recipes....as I've mentioned before Middle Son likes to bake on the weekend and this last weekend was no exception. Besides the usual bread that he makes for his family he tried a recipe for Japanese Melon Bread. Neither of us had heard of it but he wanted to make it. Apparently Melon Bread is a classic Japanese sweet bread  with a crunchy and sweet outer crust and a soft and fluffy inside. There is no melon in it but it is meant to resemble one. It involves taking a ball of bread dough and covering it with a crust of sugar cookie dough before baking.

It was quite tasty and although it might not have looked too much like a melon it was a far more successful result than my strange apple crisp.

 

 Do you stick to your usual recipes, the ones you know will always turn out?

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

Norma:  You wondered about  Amaryllis Nymph. Here's what the internet has to say about it. 

  The "Amaryllis Nymph" refers to a distinctive, carefully-bred class of Amaryllis bulbs known for producing exceptionally large, heavily petaled, and fully double flowers, often with striking color combinations.   

 

Amaryllis

 Two of my Amaryllis are blooming at this time. The Terra Cotta has 4 flowers and a second stalk with 4 more buds.

 

This was Amaryllis "Nymph" on Tuesday.....

...and here she is today.

I used to force my Amaryllis to go dormant every Autumn but after I found out that that step isn't necessary I no longer bother. I just treat them like any other house plant.

Yesterday (Saturday) we had the most beautiful weather. 20C with clear skies and warm sunshine. We spent as much time as possible outside. Today it is once more cloudy and although it rained around 6 A.M. by the time we went walking at 8 the rain had stopped. Heavy rain is in the forecast for the next 3 days. That will give me time to catch up on housework.

Thanks for visiting

 

 

 

Just about Flowers

 

 I know it's too early to sow any seeds but I couldn't resist buying these flower seeds when I walked past the seed display in Walmart.  Every year the orange California Poppies self-seed in the front yard even in the gravel parking area. I thought maybe these pretty coloured ones might do as well.

 from the internet:

 Jelly Beans is a mouth-watering mix of huge blooms in shades of orange, salmon, rose and gold. Easy to grow, just scatter in prepared well-drained soil. Attracts beneficial insects such as hoverflies. Self-sows. 

 I saved seeds from my very tall zinnias last year but I thought I'd add these striped ones that only grow 20" high.

*      *    *    *    *   *    *    *     *    *   *    *     *    *    *    *     *   *    *    *      *    *    *    *      *     *     *

Right now in the front of the house there are various early flowers....

Chionodoxa  also known as Glory of the Snow  have spread willy-nilly across the flowerbed
 

as have the Scillas (which the grands called Sillies)

A few Hyacinths came through the winter. I think our winters may be too wet for them.

I have exactly one daffodil in the front. Others have leaves but no buds nor blooms.Better luck with them in the back.

That's my flower report for the beginning of April.

 

I was reassured by the many comments about needing a day of recuperation after a day of work. It seems we're all unable to keep up with past energy levels.  We keep doing as much as we can. 

🌼🌷🌸🏵️💮🌻🌹

 

Thanks for visiting

 

 

This and That

 

On Monday I was full of energy and got so much done both inside and out in the yard. Yesterday 
( Tuesday) I basically recuperated from Monday. Today I'm busy again doing what I do most Wednesdays which is trying to figure out what we need as far as groceries are concerned for the coming week. We have several days of good weather coming ( if the forecast can be relied on). One of those nice days I hope my helpers will be here. There are always things that need doing.

Helpers deserve to be fed. I made an apple/pear pie  ( there was too much filling hence the little ramekin)

 Concerning the Banana Pudding that I made. Some comments mentioned bananas used should not be too ripe. I totally agree. Over ripe bananas are only good for muffins in my opinion.

Hope your Wednesday is a good one. Thanks for coming by.

 

 

Hello April and Banana Pudding

 

Here we are at the beginning of another beautiful month.  By the time it's over hopefully we'll all be enjoying flowers blooming outside and sprouting seeds on every windowsill indoors.

8C with a fine mist this morning. Lovely walk but fewer walkers than usual. Spring break is over so I was expecting more seniors walking now that child care is done (if they had to help in that department).

I had extra bananas and some digestive-type cookies that had sat around for a while so I made a Banana Pudding. It was my first try but after reading the different recipes I realized it was just cookies, banana slices and pudding layered with whipped cream on top.  The above picture is one from on line. Below is the one I made and I think mine turned out very well.  It was delicious.

I put out a few decorations on the bench by the front door.  Easter seems late this year but apparently it can be as early as March 22 and as late as April 25.

from the 'net

Easter's date each year is determined by the first Sunday following the first full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox (March 21st)

Thanks for visiting