Carrot Cake and Concern

 Book Review 

There's a body at the allotment...

After years on a waitlist, Julia South Brown's husband, Barker, has finally got his hands on the keys to his own allotment. And just in time for spring. Despite knowing little about gardening, the whole family lends their hands to create a thriving vegetable patch they can all reap the rewards from for years to come, but things take a turn with the discovery of a shallow grave among the carrots. With planting schedules and fertiliser quickly becoming the least of their worries, can Julia and her family bring peace back to Peridale's glorious spring?

A FUN British village cosy/cozy mystery packed with HEART, HUMOUR, FAMILY DRAMA, and plenty of TWISTS and TURNS! The 26th book in the BESTSELLING Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery Series. Standalone but will be enjoyed more as part of the series. A cat loving and cafe-owning amateur female sleuth set in a small village setting with quirky characters. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes.

KU Book Review

I have read all of the Peridale mysteries. Very nice and comfortable to revisit the characters and locations. The story line was well written; however, the use of British terminology and slang was about 90% more than the other Peridale stories. It made me wonder whether Agatha wrote the book or just provided the outline. Im looking forward to the next book. I've enjoyed watching the character development from Book 1 to this current book (26) but each book is good as a "stand alone" book as well.

Easy Carrot Cake Recipe

 

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• ▢2 cups grated carrots
• ▢½ cup water
• ▢3 large eggs
• ▢1/2 cup vegetable oil
• ▢1/4 cup raisins
• ▢1/2 cup crushed pineapple, do not drain
• ▢2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• ▢1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. (If you have a convection oven heat to 325°F.)
• Prepare (butter and flour, spray with pan release, or use GOOP) two 8-inch round cake pans.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, add all the ingredients and beat at low speed just until everything is just incorporated, then increase the speed to medium and beat for another 2 minutes.
• Divide the batter into the two prepared pans and place in the oven for 35-40 minutes.
• Test the cakes at 30 minutes; if a toothpick comes out clean, the cakes are done.
• Allow cakes to cool for about 10 minutes in the pan, then invert onto a cooling rack until the cakes cool to room temperature. Do not frost cakes until they have cooled completely

Paper Bag Carrot Treat bag

 

• Brown Paper Bag
• Orange Craft Paint
• Large Foam Paint Brush
• Green Cardstock Paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Crinkle Paper or Recycled Paper

Directions:

• First things first – go ahead and paint your paper bag completely orange with the craft paint. You only need ONE painted bag per carrot craft.
• When done, set aside to let it dry completely.
• While the paint is drying, go ahead and grab your green cardstock, pencil & scissors.
• Trace your child’s hand on the green cardstock and trim out that piece with scissors. Again, you only need ONE handprint cutout per carrot craft.
• When you are ready and the paint is dry enough, grab your painted paper bag and crinkle bag.
• Fill the paper bag with the crinkle paper {or scrunched up recycled newspaper pieces} until it’s about half way full and can stand on it’s own.
• Twist the top a little bit and go ahead & staple the bag shut.
• Finally the last step is to staple the handprint cutout to the stuffed paper bag to really make it look like a carrot.
• Now display your paper bag carrot proudly for ALL to see!

Paper Carrot Treat Bag

 

The supplies I will be using are:

1. Brown paper lunch bag

2. Scissors

3. Hot glue

4. Raffia

5. Paint brush

6. Orange and green paint

7. Paper towel roll or anything you have that is a similar shape

The first step is to cut the bottom off of the paper bag. You can use just a sheet of paper for this idea but I seem to craft a lot with these bags.  The next step is to paint the bag.  I painted part orange and part green. I came down about 3 inches from the top of the paper and covered the lower part orange. I then painted the top part green. You will now want to use the paper towel roll as your form for the carrot shape. I wrapped the paper around the paper towel roll and then cut my piece of paper to the length I wanted.You will add hot glue to only one side. Bring the hot glue end up and around and secure it to the other end of the paper. Be sure not to glue it to the paper towel roll.You will then slip the paper towel roll out of the paper.I then added hot glue to the inside of the orange end.Squeeze the end all together to form the end of the carrot.You will then place the candy down into the carrot. I did not let my candy come up past the green part.I tied a few strips of raffia around the top part of the carrot.

Decopodge flowers

 Daffodils Decopodge 

I made this from a plate board from dollar tree I painted white. Then Decopodge my daffodils paper from Temu on to the front.  Then I used a cloth and brown ink to distress the pallets board, edges and image. 

Thanks for stopping bye 👋 

Lent : Seafood Burrito

 

• 1/2 tsp old bay seasoning
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 2 tbsp avocado oil
• 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
• 1/3 cup black beans, drained/rinsed
• 2 tbsp chopped red onion
• 1 cup shredded leafy lettuce
• 1/3 cup shredded jack cheese
• 2 (12-inch) flour tortillas
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1 tbsp hot sauce or sriracha
• 1/2 tsp old bay seasoning

Stir together mayonnaise, lime juice, hot sauce, and old bay seasoning in a small bowl. Refrigerate until serving.

Blot shrimp dry with paper towels and add to a bowl. Add old bay seasoning and cumin. Stir to coat shrimp. Heat avocado oil in a skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add shrimp to hot skillet and cook for 5 minutes or until shrimp is fully cooked, stirring regularly. Divide brown rice, black beans, red onion, lettuce, shrimp and cheese in the center of 2 tortillas. Fold and roll tortillas to secure. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and grease with cooking oil. Place burritos on skillet seam side down and cook for 1-2 minutes. Flip and cook 1 minute longer. Slice burritos in half and serve warm with spicy mayonnaise for dipping.

Crockpot Pulled Pork

 

• 4 lb. boneless pork shoulder/pork butt
• ▢1 small yellow onion, diced
• ▢1 cup apple cider vinegar (use less for a less vinegary flavor )
• ▢1 cup ketchup
• ▢3/4 cup dark brown sugar
• ▢1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• ▢2 Tbsp. yellow mustard
• ▢1 Tbsp. kosher salt
• ▢1 tsp. chili powder
• ▢1 tsp. paprika
• ▢1 tsp. garlic powder
• ▢1/2 tsp. black pepper
• ▢1/2 tsp. cayenne
• ▢slider buns and desired toppings i.e. pickled onions, slaw, bbq sauce.
• Add the pork (fat side up) and onions to the slow cooker. 
  4 lb. boneless pork shoulder/pork butt,1 small yellow onion, diced. Whisk the remaining ingredients together in a measuring cup.
  1 cup apple cider vinegar,1 cup ketchup,3/4 cup dark brown sugar,1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce,2 Tbsp. yellow mustard,1 Tbsp. kosher salt,1 tsp. chili powder,1 tsp. paprika,1 tsp. garlic powder,1/2 tsp. black pepper,1/2 tsp. cayenne, Pour the sauce over the pork and onions. Be sure to get the pork nice and covered, tossing it once or twice if needed, keep fat side up. Cover and cook on high 5-6 hours or low 9-10 hours. It should be fall apart tender, low and slow is the preferred option. Trim and discard any fat, shred pork. Carefully blend the liquid leftover in the slow cooker either with an immersion blender. (Optional step: pass is thru a sieve to get the sauce nice and smooth)Toss the pork in the liquid to keep the pork nice and moist. Serve as is with your favorite sides, build a sandwich or sliders with bbq sauce and your favorite toppings! Enjoy!
  slider buns and desired toppings i.e. pickled onions, slaw, bbq sauce.