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Diary of a Country Girl

Living a country life in wonderful Norfolk. Gardening, cooking and farming – as keen as mustard and mad on dahlias…

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Tag: Great British Bake Off

This cake was no angel…
Baking · Cooking · Food & Drink · Great British Bake Off

This cake was no angel…

1st September 20191st September 2019 Kate1 Comment

On Tuesday I sat down in the snug at 8pm sharp – just as the Great British Bake Off credits began to roll. You see, I’ve decided to attempt each and every technical bake on this year’s show after doing so for the first time last year and loving it. I was paying more attention… Continue reading This cake was no angel…

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I need rhubarb recipe recommendations! This year I need rhubarb recipe recommendations!

This year I accidentally forced the rhubarb to protect it from the January frosts as it began to flourish - and it’s been the most successful force I’ve known.

I’ve been poaching it with orange to top my morning granola and today I’ve made a rhubarb syrup and whisked up a rhubarb mojito. 

I’ll be attempting a rhubarb cheesecake soon, as well as a rhubarb and beetroot ketchup and a rhubarb, cucumber and dill pickle to enjoy with oily fish. But please, do share your favourite rhubarb recipes with me!

#rhubarb #rhubarbseason #seasonal #seasonalfood #eatwhatyourgrow #growwhatyoueat #trugfull #kitchengarden #gardening #sundaygardening #norfolk #diaryofacountrygirl #forcedrhubarb
The farm is alive with leverets… Look at the si The farm is alive with leverets…

Look at the size of its feet!

Today, I’ve come across two hidden in the garden. One under a gooseberry bush and one nestled amongst the bluebells.

I moved them to a more sheltered and safe place close by and away from harm. 

Did you know that leverets are left to forage independently from about a month old and are generally born between January and October. 

We’ve seen a gradual increase in hares around the farm over the past three years and seeing this new life is just wonderfully joyous…

#leveret #farmcoat #farmlife #lifeonafarm #countrylife #acountrylife #countrygirl #leverets #hare #hares #wildlife #wildisles #norfolk #southnorfolk #spring #newlife #gardening #gardeningsurprise #saturday #saturdaymood #saturdayshenanigans #thumper #diaryofacountrygirl
My handmade circular vase made from off cuts of oa My handmade circular vase made from off cuts of oak and 24 test tubes to display flowers, cuttings and foliage. 

I decided to make it when I couldn’t find a vase that would display individual stems and small cuttings of foliage collected from the garden throughout the year -ones that would otherwise look lost or too small in a conventional vase. 

It’s a great centrepiece and it is my #bloomingoodwithwood challenge entry!

Today it’s gracing the table full of daffodils and rosemary…

@littlegaragewoodshop @rubiomonocoatuk @woodworksupply_uk @o3adhesives @thetimberrack 

#bloominggoodwithwood #rubiomonocoat #rubiomonocoatuk #woodworksupplyuk #woodworksupply_uk #o3a #o3adhesives #thetimberrack #timberrack #englishwoodlandstimber #littlegaragewoodshoo #woodworkingchallenge #woodworkchallenge #woodworking #woodenvase #vase #testtubevase #woodworkersofinstagram #upcycled #norfolk #crafting
Homegrown forced rhubarb, it’s so deliciously pi Homegrown forced rhubarb, it’s so deliciously pink. 

I’m always amazed at the intensity of colour as the rhubarb is revealed. The combination of pink stems and the green, curly leaves are just sublime.

Today this was poached with orange and sugar for topping my morning granola. It’s also delicious with a scoop of ice cream and also with Greek yoghurt. 

Simply cut up about 500g of rhubarb into batons about 4cm long. 

Pop into a large pan with strips of zest (made using a peeler) from two oranges plus their juice 🍊 and 4tbsp of light brown soft sugar. Ideally the rhubarb should be able to lay in a single layer.

Bring to a simmer and cook until tender. I often cook it until the rhubarb is falling apart.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Once cool remove the strips of zest. This will keep in the fridge for up to a week….

#rhubarb #rhubarbseason #rhubarbrhubarbrhubarb #rhubarbrecipes #forcedrhubarb #homegrown #seasonal #seasonalfood #growwhatyoueat #eatwhatyougrow #gyo #norfolk #norfolkfood #diaryofacountrygirl @crocs #southnorfolk #homegrownfood
Copse clearing this weekend has been mostly powere Copse clearing this weekend has been mostly powered by homemade Battenberg.

I’ve tried making Battenberg before but without much success. But the game changer came in the shape of a @silverwood_bakeware Battenberg tin - perfect little oblongs of sponge every time!

It will now become a regular accompaniment to weekend work parties… 

#battenburg #battenburgcake #baking #homebaker #homecook #bakinglove #bakingtime #bakingfromscratch #sunday #sundaybaking #norfolk #norfolkcook #diaryofacountrygirl
Crocuses in the afternoon sun - they’ve just abo Crocuses in the afternoon sun - they’ve just about come to the end of their flowering season here in south Norfolk but the snowdrops continue and the primroses are on their way.

With the lighter nights, even though temperatures are set to drop again, it really feels that spring is on its way. They’ll be a few hurdles I’m sure but we’ll get there! 

#crocus #crocuses #flowers #springflowers #spring #springgarden #norfolk #norfolkday #norfolkgirl #diaryofacountrygirl #flowerphotography #flower #flowerstagram
Apparently the key to a successful ride on the Pin Apparently the key to a successful ride on the Pink Ladles Tractor Run is…

…a sports bra!

Over the past month, two notable things have happened in my journey to becoming a Pink Tractor Lady.

One, my collection of pink paraphernalia has increased dramatically.

Two, I’ve tried to meet as many Pink Ladies as I can to find out what taking part is really like. They all had two things in common. Firstly, they were all utterly lovely and secondly they all offered the same piece of advice - wear a sports bra or two!

To read all about it, follow the link in my profile to my latest blog…

#pinkladies #pinkladiestractorrun #tractorrun #masseyferguson #tractor #tractorlife #tractors #tractorlove #norfolk #norfolklife #normalfornorfolk #norfolkfarming #diaryofacountrygirl #beret #pink #pinklady
I’ve started metal detecting! Inspired by The D I’ve started metal detecting!

Inspired by The Detectorists, history and a love of the Norfolk countryside, I’m away!

The first detecting session is over and I’m keen to keep going, I found a lot of scrap, but where there’s scrap there’s brass - or something like that!

The world of possibilities about what lies ahead is truly inspiring.

To read all about it click on the link in my profile…

#detecting #metaldetecting #metaldetector #detectorist #norfolk #norfolkmetaldetecting #metaldetectingfinds #metaldetectingnorfolk #metaldetectinguk #norfolkcountryside #diaryofacountrygirl
Walnut and caramel tart recipe… Getting my baki Walnut and caramel tart recipe…

Getting my baking on the go again after a little break. Starting with a joyous walnut and caramel tart.

Homegrown walnuts encased in a rich caramel in thinly, crisp pastry. Perfect with a morning coffee, an afternoon tea or a crisp white wine in the evening.

Recipe is in the link in my profile…

#tart #walnuttart #walnut #walnuts #tartoftheday #caramel #caramrltart #patisserie #baking #bakinglove #norfolk #norfolkfood #diaryofacountrygirl #homebaking
Hellebore heaven! These flowers are always the fi Hellebore heaven!

These flowers are always the first to grace the garden at the beginning of the year. 

They self seed really easily so I’ve taken to potting up the seedlings and growing them on to plant throughout the garden. 

Once the flowers fade the foliage stays strong and lush for months and months.

A stunning and versatile plant to add to the garden…

#hellebore #hellebores #helleboreappreciationsociety #flowers #cottagegarden #cutflowers #gardening #floweroftheday #norfolk #southnorfolk #diaryofacountrygirl
How to train a robin… For years I’ve thought How to train a robin…

For years I’ve thought about trying to get closer to the robins in my garden, to eventually feed them from my hand. 

Over the past week I’ve spent the odd hour here and there weeding in the garden and every time I do at least one robin appears. 

On day one of this escapade I’ve seen two robins appear to feed from my terracotta pot of mealworms - from a distance of about four metres. 

I’ve been chatting to them at the same time and hope they’ll get to know me!

It would be great to hear from anyone who has tried to do the same! 

#robin #robins #gardenbirds #gardenblog #howtotrainarobin #trainarobin #norfolk #birdtraining #countryside #cottagegarden #mealworms #britishbirds #britishbirdsofinstagram #countrylife #countryliving #countrysidelife #farmlife #diaryofacountrygirl #southnorfolk
Send help!!! Over the past month, one notable thi Send help!!!

Over the past month, one notable thing has happened in my journey to becoming a Pink Tractor Lady - my collection of pink paraphernalia has increased dramatically!!

I can’t pass a charity shop without rifling through it for anything I might be able to decorate my tractor with for the Pink Ladies Tractor Run.

There’s been material purchased to make bunting with, wool to make pom poms with and lacy dresses to turn into something yet to be decided!

But it hasn’t stopped there - I could pass these super amazing pink leather gloves and this beret when I poodled through @zara - what a find!!

I’m still on the lookout for pink tinsel and fake flowers 🌸 if anything sees any for a steal!!

Link in my profile takes you to my recent blog about the whole affair…

#pinkladiestractorrun #pinktractorrun #pinkladies #tractorrun #tractor #massey #masseyferguson #pinkladiestractorroadrun #norfolk #suffolk #southnorfolk #northsuffolk #farmingreels #farmlife #tractorlife #tractorlove #tractors #tractorporn #countrylife #acountrylife #normalfornorfolk #nfn #norfolklife #thisisnorfolk #thisisengland #farming #diaryofacountrygirl #diaryofapinktractorlady
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