Lots of water

It's been raining lots and lots today. This is what the river by my house looked like when I came home earlier. The water has risen several feet in just one day!

It's not raining right now, in fact, the sun has come out. The sky is still quite dark, though.

I went to the shop across the road to stock up on essentials in case it rains overnight (toilet roll, canned food, water). It's funny; I was up in the north-east last week where there was a big flood and people were stranded and the power went out. When we went to the shops, there were no potatoes, not much choice of bread, I think people had gone out to stock up and prepare for worse.

Here, on the other hand, the shelves are full and a lot of things have been heavily reduced. I think it's a case of "it's raining - I can't be bothered to go to the shops!"

Just by the river here, some police vans have turned up along with many onlookers and a helicopter overheard. I hope no-one's fallen in. :(

A tasty recipe (Mr Men cookies)

9oz /250g Butter
7oz / 200g Caster sugar
9oz / 250g Cornflour
12oz / 350g Plain flour
2 eggs
4 drops vanilla essence
4 - 5 tablespoons milk

Method

Cream butter and sugar, gradually mix in sifted flour, cornflour, eggs and vanilla essence.
Mix and add milk gradually until a firm dough is obtained .
Roll the dough to the correct thickness, using the dough gauge
Flour the moulds and then cut out the cookies by pressing firmly into the rolled dough
If painting the cookies before baking mix the food colour with an equal part of egg yolk
If painting after baking, brush the uncooked cookies with 1 part egg / 1 part water glaze
Place the cookies on a baking tray
Bake in a preheated oven for 12 - 15 minutes at 220°C / 425°F / gas mark 7

Chocolate Marble Cake recipe

225g (8oz) English butter
225g (8oz) caster sugar
3 (size 3) eggs
350g (12oz) self raising flour
Pinch salt
225ml (7floz) milk
25g (1oz) cocoa

Method

1 Cream together the butter and sugar
2 Add the eggs one at a time, beating well
3 Fold in the flour and salt, and the milk
4 Divide the mixture into two bowls, add the cocoa to one and mix well
5 Spoon mixtures alternately into a prepared 20cm (8 inch) cake tin to get the "marbled" effect
6 Bake - 160°c (325°F) mark 3 for 1 1/2 hour, until well risen. Cool and turn onto a cake rack.