Words on Wednesday

Thistles and Kiwis

With temperatures hovering around the 13C mark during the day, and crisp, light frosts in the early morning, it really feels like winter in this part of the world. We have also been blessed with some sunny days as I mentioned on Monday, and yesterday was another such day. I was working at home in online meetings, so needed a walk at the end of the day to stretch my limbs and get away from the screen. I walked around the corner and the first thing I saw was this clump of very early daffodils, so bright and cheerful. I also came across lots of ducks, including this one, walking without a care along the pavement.

The sun was shining again today, and when I got home after Pilates and lunch, I set about making some soup for dinner, with leek, carrots, mushrooms, butter beans, spinach, a touch of citrus and left over chicken from last night’s roast chicken breasts (which were marinated in orange juice and roasted with fennel, served with potatoes and the red Brussels sprouts, roasted). To have with it I made peppery lots-of-seeds scones from Australian Women’s Weekly Muffins, Scones and Muffins, a book I have had for so many years, the cover has fallen off.

The scones are full of poppy, sesame and sunflower seeds and black pepper, with smoked cheese. I topped mine with a few pumpkin seeds and more cheese. I used as recommended self-raising flour but they didn’t rise as much as a ‘normal’ scone, no doubt due to all the cheese and seeds. Anyway, they were very tasty and will go on my ‘make again’ list.

You just need to sift 300g of self-raising flour, rub in 30g butter, then stir in a good mix of poppy, sesame and sunflower seeds (about 6 tablespoons) along with a good pinch of rosemary, a good spoonful of ground black pepper and 60g of grated smoked cheese. Beat together an egg with about 250ml of milk, then combine with the dry mix to form a stiff dough. Turn on to a floured surface, cut into rounds, then bake at 220C for about 15 minutes.

Also entered in Wednesday Words and Whimsy #wwwwhimsy hosted by Min of Write of the Middle.

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.

You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. If you want to get in touch, go to Facebook or Instagram or email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com though I don’t check it that often.

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

44 Comments

  3. Daffodils and duckies would certainly brighten up a cold day. Your scones look really great. All I’ve been wanting to eat here lately is soup, due to the very cold days we’ve been having.

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  13. Hello Barbara, Daffodils always make me feel happy and think of my Mum. The yellow is such a happy colour, isn’t it? I saw a family of swans on my walk the other day. Thank you for the recipe for the scones, I have everything except the poppy seeds which I can buy. As always, we appreciate you joining in for #WWWhimsy. Have a lovely week.
    Sue #TeamWWWhimsy

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    1. Daffodils are definitely happy flowers. How lovely to see a family of swans so early in the season – or is it for you? The scones were good I must say, and nice toasted for breakfast today. Enjoy your week!

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  22. Pingback: If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea… – Thistles and Kiwis

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