Caramello, Jeanne and Gary are hosting the Great Bloggers Bake Off on October 15th and 16th October. This is the Nyamake Family submission:
BANANA COOKIES
The banana makes them proper squidgy in the middle but crisp round the edges. They also have pecans and chocolate chips so that they are crunchy.
Ingredients
150g/5½oz unsalted butter
175g/6oz golden caster sugar
1 medium egg, lightly beaten
175g/6oz plain flour
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch salt
75g/2½oz pecans, roughly chopped
75g/2½oz dark chocolate chips
2 ripe bananas (200g/7oz peeled weight), mashed
Method
Cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat until thoroughly incorporated. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon and salt into the bowl and mix until barely combined. Add the pecans chocolate chips and mashed banana and mix everything thoroughly. Cover the bowl and chill for an hour.
Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4 and line two baking sheets with baking parchment.
Shape level tablespoons of dough into balls and place onto the baking sheets. Slightly flatten each cookie with your hands and bake in batches on the middle shelf of the preheated oven for twelve minutes until crisp on top and golden brown.
Remove from the oven and leave on the baking sheets – before transferring to your Mum’s posh cake-stand.
Caramello asked who we share the joy of baking with. Baking is a family effort in our house. If someone decided they want to make something, everyone gravitates towards the kitchen and wants to help. Most times, it is our family that do the eating too.
But Mum makes proper whopping sized cakes, which she takes to her Bible classes. We are totally onboard with sharing the joy of baking.
If you want to take part in The 2022 Great Bloggers Bake Off, then send your pictures into Caremello now.
I’ve been sitting down and working it all out – and I am not sure how I am going to afford it. I am going to have to give things up – here and there. I’m fed up. There is nothing I want to give up, but there are hard decisions ahead to avoid the bank taking away my credit card.
Then I step out of the door, and there it is…there it is again…the proof I need that life is for living, that life is precious, that I am rich beyond words. I have seen sunsets before. I have seen magnificent sunsets before. But it is one of those sunsets that stabs joy into my core and leaves me staggered.
I live on the most extraordinary and the most abundant planet in all the universe. I am wealthy beyond all measure. Somebody gave this to me and forgot to send the invoice. All they asked was “take care of it”.
Why wouldn’t I be willing to give things up, to make sacrifices to look after this? So what if I cannot afford the things the marketing dudes tell me I cannot live without? Humans survived thousands of years without those things.
I can’t afford a new phone. It’s as simple as that, cannot afford it. But I can afford to make banana cookies. So I am going to sit out on the front step and watch the sunset and eat one and remember I am blessed beyond all measure. I am in awe!
We were soaked to the skin in Wimbledon today, picking up
There are not many things I take seriously, but HOT SAUCE is one of them! So I was stoked to find a guy selling hot sauce that that knocked my socks off. The guy’s website is here:
There has been one question that we have asked over and over again during the past month:
“DO YOU HAVE ANY LATERAL FLOW TESTS?”
For months we have been able to order lateral flow tests from our suppliers, that is the same suppliers that deliver usually twice a day (once on Saturdays) our order of prescription medicines, devices, dressings etc. The size of our daily order/delivery of dispensary stock can vary. If we have a lot of prescriptions for a lot of medications that we do not have at hand on our shelves – the order is bigger. I guess the average is two-four boxes, but sometimes we have a delivery of six or more boxes of medicines etc.
When we ordered a carton of lateral flow tests (which has around 56 smaller boxes each containing 7 lateral flow tests) it would be brought by the same supplier bringing the dispensary order, and for most of the year, that carton would last around three or four days.
Until December. As the demand increased, we found that one carton of 56 test kits was not lasting a day. So we tried to order more cartons. Our suppliers explained we were not allowed to order more than one carton a day, because there is not space in the delivery vans to accommodate more than one box per pharmacy. We understood that. Do you think our customers could understand that?
There was no shortage of lateral flow tests waiting in warehouses, but unless they find another way of transporting them (during a time we know there is a shortage of drivers) the logistics of supplying enough boxes to meet a demand caused partly by people just wanting to test before seeing family during the holidays, and partly by a media ignited wave of panic – it made it seem like a crisis. A crisis it was not.
Then the media started reporting that there was a national shortage of lateral flow tests and that no pharmacies had any. That was not accurate. But it did seem to start a wave of panic (just like the paracetamol crisis, alcohol gel crisis, toilet paper crisis, and the fuel crisis) and now we found even more people rushing in to ask for lateral flow tests. Now one carton was only lasting an hour.
We told our customers about the gov.uk web page for ordering kits to be delivered to your home address. They told us there were none available. I have found that a few times myself, but I have been still able to order test kits for me and my family by being patient and persistent. I understood from official sources that again there was no shortage of test kits, but the logistics of getting them delivered was a challenge. All year the Royal Mail have been delivering them. But during December, probably the busiest time of year for the Royal Mail, the demand exceeded the capacity. I saw news reports saying that other delivery companies were going to help out with this challenge (even though they are probably working extra hours during December as well).
So….we did something that we don’t really like to do….but it seemed to be the most sensible option. We put up signs that read:
Do you think that worked? If I had a penny for every time someone had approached the counter and said, “I saw the sign, but I was wondering if you do actually have any test kits?” I would be a wealthy man.
Why would we do that? Do you think we are twisted? The sign disappears for an hour a day when we do have tests, and our customers come in and take one, and then presumably send a WhatsApp message to everyone they know, because we have a sudden rush that clear us out within an hour. Then the sign goes back up on the counter until our delivery the next day.
Yes….it is a crazy time for Pharmacy teams. Trying to keep up with prescriptions when we spend so much time on the counter responding to enquiries about lateral flow tests has been bizarre. I am hoping it settles now that the holidays are out of the way. In the meantime, I just ordered a box from the gov.uk web page. So if you really need tests kits, please try to order them online to be delivered to your home. Most pharmacies will be closed today.
I am going to try to start 2022 the way I mean to go on. So, here is my first post for Jim Adam’s Song Lyric Sunday for this year. One of the words in this week’s theme is “circus”, so I have picked an awesome singer – Emile Sandé.
This song is called “Clown” and I read it was all about when she was trying to get signed up for a record deal. She has said this song is about not letting others judge you or treat you like an idiot.
Song credits: Emile Sandé and Shahid Khan.
I guess it's funnier from where you're standing
'Cause from over here I missed the joke
Clear the way for my crash landing
I've done it again
Another number for your notes
I'd be smiling if I wasn't so desperate
I'd be patient if I had the time
I could stop and answer all of your questions
As soon as I find out
How I can move from the back of the line
I'll be your clown
Behind the glass
Go 'head and laugh
'Cause it's funny
I would too if I saw me
I'll be your clown
On your favourite channel
My life's a circus circus
Round in circles
Selling out tonight
I'd be less angry if it was my decision
And the money was just rolling in
If I had more than my ambition
I'll have time for 'Please'
I'll have time for 'Thank you'
As soon as I win
I'll be your clown
Behind the glass
Go 'head and laugh
'Cause it's funny
I would too if I saw me
I'll be your clown
On your favourite channel
My life's a circus circus
Round in circles
Selling out tonight
From a distance my choice is simple
From a distance I can entertain
So you can see me
I put make-up on my face
But there's no way you can feel it
From so far away
I'll be your clown
Behind the glass
Go 'head and laugh
'Cause it's funny
I would too if I saw me
I'll be your clown
On your favourite channel
My life's a circus circus
Round in circles
I'm selling out tonight
I have seen other bloggers publish posts to share that they have passed an anniversary on WordPress, so now it’s my turn. One year ago, 1st January 2021, I started this site.
I am proud of my site, and the different features I included for many months. During the National Lockdown I managed to write a lot. Since things have been opening up since the summer, I have been busy. Work has been intense and I want to see family and friends and make up for lost time.
But the one year anniversary notice from WordPress is a great reason to make a resolution to be more regular with writing.
Thanks for all the awesome bloggers who make WordPress welcoming.
I have missed my blog. I am hoping to spend more time during the autumn and winter nights ahead working on new posts. Of all the regular features I have built into my website, it’s The WEDNESDAY WRITER Series that I loved the most. Every Wednesday I was publishing an interview with a brilliant WordPress blogger. It’s been a great honour to be able to feature so many great bloggers.
Well last weekend, I had some time to chill and catch up on some of the posts I had in my drafts folder. The one I really wanted to concentrate on was an interview with the fabulous Val Portelli, writer and creator of the website Voinks.
Val sent me her answers to the WEDNESDAY WRITER interview questions ages ago, just as I was taking a break from my blog because work was exhausting and I needed to spend some time catching up with family after the Pandemic lockdowns. So this post is long overdue!
HI VAL. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DRINK WHILE WE ARE CONDUCTING THIS INTERVIEW WITH YOU? I’ll start with black coffee, no sugar, please, but if we’re still chatting later this evening, a whisky and lemonade would be nice. No ice. Thanks.
COULD YOU TELL US YOUR BLOGGING NAME AND THE NAME OF YOUR SITE PLEASE. I’ve actually got two blogs. The main one was originally under the pen name ‘Voinks’ which I used for my books, but I changed it recently to ‘Val’s Tales,’ to tie in with my audio project.
The other one has been rather neglected, but ‘Quirky Unicorn Books’ was set up as the publishing site for my own books, and to showcase the works of other Indie authors.
WHY DID YOU START BLOGGING? When my first book was published in 2013, my niece insisted I needed a social media presence so I set up a Facebook account, and then a blog. Initially it was intended as a site to shout ‘Buy my books’ but morphed into a place to post my short stories. From there it became somewhere to discuss writing and the joys and tribulations of being an author, and ended up as a mish-mash of whatever grabs my attention.
WHICH IS THE MOST POPULAR POST ON YOUR SITE? I have absolutely no idea. 😀
I’m sure there’s a way to find the stats, but since WordPress changed everything to blocks, I find it much more difficult to navigate. It’s not helped by the fact that since the changeover it’s developed a glitch which suddenly decides I’m not authorised to post. There’s no apparent reason, and half an hour later the gremlins will let me carry on again. Every response is valued but if I did find which was the most popular, I’d probably be quite surprised.
I looked over your posts Val, and based on “likes” alone, this one seemed to be the most popular post so far:
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BLOGGING? Reading other people’s blogs, and receiving lovely comments on my own.
FOOD THAT MAKES YOU SMILE? Chocolate…
Val, I am going to slide your whisky and lemonade over along with the chocolates.
…a party table full of nibbles waiting to be shared….
…in fact anything except eggs, (unless they’re the Easter variety.)
IF I WAS GOING TO SEND YOU FLOWERS AS A THANK YOU FORLETTING ME INTERVIEW, WHAT WOULD THEY BE? I love all flowers with perhaps a particular fondness for roses, carnations and lilies.
Sunflowers make me smile and wild flowers or tiny rockery plants are delightful, even cyber flowers are lovely. I saw on one of your other interviews the reason for this question, and have a feeling the shop you mentioned might be fairly close to where I live. Now my interest is piqued to know if I’m right.
I live in South London Val – and I work around fifteen minutes from where I live. Sometimes I have to go to other branches of our pharmacy chain when they are short-staffed. Whichever route I go, I get to pass my favourite florists, and they always make me smile.
DO YOU HAVE A SONG? ONE THAT FITS YOU AS A PERSON OR YOUR LIFE?
It would depend on my mood. Late night music might be ‘Tomorrow is a long time’ by Elvis, one of his less well-known ones but thought-provoking lyrics.
I love Rock and Roll, and it might be a cliché but Happy by Pharrell Williams always starts me smiling.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING IN LIFE? It’s good to have a plan but life can throw curve balls to completely change the destination. This was brought home to me about nine years ago after a freak accident, so for now I’m content to follow the yellow brick road and see where I end up.
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU WANT YOUR BLOG TO TELL THE WORLD? There are so many interesting people in blogland, and even if you never meet them, strong, supportive relationships can be built. Storytelling is universal, whatever your life style, culture, age group, ethnicity or background.
As Spike Milligan so aptly said ‘Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flu’. When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.’ I guess my message could be summed up by ‘Read, respond, smile and share.’
Thanks, Jacob. I’ve really enjoyed being your guest and answering your unusual questions.
_______________
Thank you Val! I loved your answers to the interview questions. Sorry you had to wait so long for me to get back to my blog. It’s been such a privilege to feature you.
I am still trying to find some regular time to get back into the swing of things with blogging. Now that we have started flu vaccinations as well as all the other work we have to do, my hours have increased and I am hardly ever home. But today is a day of rest for me. My parents have gone away and so I am chilling out and trying to catch up on sleep and my washing. Later on I am going to try to spend a couple of hours updating my blog and scheduling some new posts.
I have been reading other blogs in my spare time and I noticed what some of you are doing with Spotify – Lady Lewis and Pinkette gave me the idea of putting together my own Spotify playlist for all my Song Lyric Sunday picks over the course of 2021. So here it is:
Maybe I picked an obvious song choice for today’s theme – a tribute to Fandango, the blogger behind This, That And The Other. But this is a deserving song. It had international success and was top of the charts in many lands. It was popular on the radio, but even more popular in night clubs.
This is KC And The Sunshine Band, with “That’s The Way (I Like It)”.
Credits: Harry Wayne Casey, Richard Finch
Do do do do do do do do do
Do do do do do do do do do
Do do do do do do do do do
Do do do do do do do do do
Oh, that's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
When you take me by the hand
Tell me I'm your lovin' man
When you give me all your love
And do it, babe, the very best you can
Oh, that's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
When I get to be in your arms
When we're all, all alone
When you whisper sweet in my ear
When you turn, turn me on
Oh, that's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
Babe
Babe
(That's the way, uh-huh)
(That's the way, uh-huh)
Babe
Babe
(That's the way, uh-huh)
(That's the way, uh-huh)
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
Do do do do do do do do do
Do do do do do do do do do
Do do do do do do do do do
Do do do do do do do do do
Oh, that's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
I don’t know where time has gone over the past few months. Well, yeah I do. Since things have been opening up, we have been going here and there, doing this and that. Life has been busy man. Work is bust – now we have the flu season ahead so it is going to be hectic.
When I started this blog on 1st January 2021, I had an idea, a vision. I was pleased with what I was doing, but it became important to see friends and family, and to go places, have holidays and weekends in different parts of England and Wales.
I have no regrets. Life is for living. But I do have a lot I want to create – I want to get back to the blog. I reckon during the autumn and winter I will be indoors more and keen to put posts together. Meanwhile, I am still putting all my ideas into drafts, so I can come back to them and work on them later.
Did you see my Choco-Coconut Rum Banoffee pie in this year’s Great Bloggers’ Bake Off? We are waiting now to find out the results of the Bake Off.
But after all of the baking posts had been published last night, there was something amazing to round off the weekend – an enormous patchwork of collaborations from over a hundred people who were asked the question in the title of this post.
If you want to read one thing that is going to lift your heart today…read this post, published by Caramel:
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? 