2 years old

On Sunday 3 May this blog will be 2 years old!  I can hardly believe how quickly time has flown past.  I see a difference in myself and the things I am looking at.  I see cycles in creativity, sometimes going out to look at things in the world, being inspired, or wanting to pass on things that inspire me.  Thank you if you have followed and supported thepatchworkdress!  To celebrate I'm going to pass on a wheat/gluten and dairy free carrot loaf recipe which is an old stalwart - it never fails.

(one loaf for each year of the blog!)

On the siskin front, I was quite concerned about one of their number.  On Thursday it was all puffed up and uncomfortable looking, it's feathers all extended, and it kept dropping off to sleep in the most vulnerable positions, on the ground in the open.  It seemed to be happy eating, pecking at dandelions, or eating the seed I'd put out.  At times it seemed to nod off with it's head in the seed or at the peanuts.  It flew off when approached, but at times was flying into fences or hopping around as if confused.

I was quite convinced it was going to die, and the next day was preparing to see its little body lying in the garden, even if it hadn't been caught by a cat before then.  Initially it was nowhere to be seen, but as I opened up the blinds, it appeared on the bird table, where it pecked, and promptly fell asleep again, but at least this time undercover of the bird table roof.

I'm glad to say I saw it this morning, and it is looking much better.  Although still puffed up a little, it looks perkier - and although it was hard to tell over the last 2 days, because most of the time it looked drenched by the rain, I think it could be a young one who has no parent, or whose parent has split up from it.  I noticed a sparrow land beside it today, it hunkered down and almost hissed, or was it asking for food?  So think it may be a young one after all.

Wheat, Gluten & Dairy free Carrot Loaf (contains eggs)

I adapted this recipe from an old carrot loaf recipe from a book (now forgotten), so thank you to the original author, and hope you don't mind my adaptation - this recipe has never failed me, despite cooking in different ovens or varying/omitting the spice/fruits when I didn't have them in.  I have shown the 'free' version, but obviously you can make it with normal flour and dairy ingredients too!

4oz (100g) margarine (any veggie type will do, some are dairy free)

3oz (75g) caster sugar

3 eggs

8oz (100g) self raising flour (I use Doves gluten free plain flour & 2 tsp of baking powder - many (Tescos) are now made with rice flour, check the packaging)

half teaspoon mixed spice/or cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

half teaspoon salt

8oz (225g?) grated carrot (about 3 average size will do)

handful each of raisins, walnuts, apple sweetened cranberries

6 tablespoons of rice or soya milk 

Grease a 2lb loaf tin.  Line with baking paper if desired.

At this stage I like to grate the carrots and beat the eggs in separate bowls, leave to one side.

Cream the margarine and sugar together.  Beat in the eggs gradually.

Alternately sift the flour, baking powder (if required - when using plain flour add 1tsp for every 4oz of flour) spices and salt into the creamed mixture, adding handfuls of carrot inbetween.  

Fold in the dried fruit & nuts with the milk.  (At this stage you can substitute whatever you have available for the fruit/nuts - sometimes just almonds or ground almonds will do, depends on the texture - the cranberries really add a delicious tang to the cake).

Pour into the loaf tin.  Bake at 180C/350F/gas mark 4 for 45 minutes.  Try the centre with a skewer or knife - if it comes out clean it's cooked, otherwise give it another 5 mins and try again.

Turn out and cool on a grill rack.

Delicious sliced with spread for tea, if you like! 

Keeps for a couple of days, wrap in tinfoil for freshness.

Enjoy!!

Comments

[ginny]

happy 2 years blog birthday Caireen... golly doesn't time fly! i am so pleased i found you - I saw you listed on her side bar and was intrigued by the name ... so thanks to Carolyn!
thanks for the recipe too... i shall be sure to try it soon.
have a lovely long weekend x

[myrtle]

sorry meant to say i saw you listed on Carolyn from Willow house's blog...
x

[dottyspots]

Happy Birthday to your blog :)

Thanks for the recipe - I'll have to try that out. My fav. gluten and dairy-free cake so far is the chocolate brownie recipe in Arianna's Bundys "Sweet Alternative", eaten by all (and they probably don't even realise it's dairy and gluten free).

[Pebbledash]

Congratulations - 2 years of the lovely Patchwork Dress. You've been an inspiration to me, Caireen. And doesn't time fly...
The recipe looks delicious, I'll definitely be giving it a go.
Happy weekend!
Diana x

[melissa]

wow- two years?!
happy, happy birthday to your blog. i love it here. xx