It is surprising how pain instantly sends me into a dark place of lethargy and loss of energy. Fatigue and lack of motivation do anything. Do we really need to eat? Why even bother to vacuum? Washing clothes? Really? Why even do anything today? Hopefully this will be over soon and my creative juices and energy levels will flow all back in like high tide.
Anyway, pain and bitter mumbling aside, I've been taking long walks in rain, wind , snow and sunshine. Because long walks is the only exercise I can do without hurting. I most often listen to Swedish Radio or podcasts and take my time to spot spring flowers, bugs and hairy cows. My daily walks have turned into great moments of "me-time" where everything is put on hold (clutter, dust bunnies, laundry piles and other boring chores and has to's) and I am able to just be in the moment. I love my walks. The naked trees stretching out towards the sky. Snowdrops spotted by the creek. Wood in rows, bee hives soon to be awakened...
A birthday tea party at my house with my dear Swedish girlfriends lightened up my week. We meet up too seldom. We need to talk more, laugh more, hug more and meet up more. So little time and so much chatter. So much love, coffee and Homemade Swedish Cream Cake with Berries. I had two pieces. Who can resist?
I have also been sort of creative. I started the joining process of my crochet patchwork project, bumped into first one problem and then another. I'll tell you more about that later. A while ago I finished the blue Olivia's Shawl. A project that was started in excitement and finished with deep disappointment... Using a 4ply sock yarn was not a great idea... The shape is odd, it wraps weirdly around my neck and it only looks good on pictures. Well oh well, I learned my lesson alright. This shows how an alternative yarn choice can put a pattern havoc. Lesson learned is: Always use the type of yarn recommended by the pattern. Or is this really a lesson learned? Last year I failed the Granny Cardigan doing the exact same thing if I remember it right... So silly. I never really learn do I?
So... things are what they are. The sun is shining and I'm going to hang some laundry outside to dry. Check my flower beds for spring bulbs shooting through and maybe, just maybe, I'll get around to tidy the house for the weekend. Or not. In the end I'm the only one who cares. The rest of the family are just as happy no matter what the mess looks like. There is something to learn from that, don't you think? Happy Friday my lovelies!
Swedish Cream Cake with Berries
4 eggs
200 ml sugar 😳 (I know... but it's really good!)
100 ml white flour
100 ml potato flour
2 tsp baking powder.
250 ml full cream
200 g fresh raspberries
200 g fresh blueberries
200 ml sugar 😳 (I know... but it's really good!)
100 ml white flour
100 ml potato flour
2 tsp baking powder.
250 ml full cream
200 g fresh raspberries
200 g fresh blueberries
Instruction:
1. Whisk eggs and sugar until fluffy and creamy white, a good 5 minutes or more.
2. Mix flour, potato flower and baking powder in a bowl and gently fold into egg mix until smooth.
3. Bake in breaded cake pan in the middle of oven for 30 min in 175C/350F.
4. When sponge is cool, whip the cream (no added sugar) until fluffy but not too stiff or too runny.
5. Splat (Yes! 😜) whipped cream on cake top with ignorance (the more imperfect the better!)
to cover top and let drip down on sides.
6. Sprinkle with even greater ignorance, your berries on top.
Enjoy!
🎂🎂🎂
Kärlek
Annette
Annette
I love the pictures of your beautiful country and the beautiful things you make. My husband suffers with back pain, too. I hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Back pain or any pain can be really annoying and have big negative impact on your life. My back is slowly getting better with help from stretches and long walks. The key is to keep moving and let the blood circulation do its job. I hope your husband will find his way with his back pain too. All the best.
DeleteXx
Unfortunately, it's not only about the right yarns, hooks or anything. It's also about tension. I end up frogging and recalculating for my yarn weight, because it never turns right :(
ReplyDeleteI'm planning to make your cake for my birthday. It looks very hard to resist :)
I know... Swatching is the key. However, when it came to my Olivia SHawl I thought that it would be only to add or remove rows to control the size but I was wrong. With a lighter weight yarn the shape gets more pointy as well... Happy to hear you will be making the cake for your birthday. It is so easy to make. If you want you can cut the base into layers and add custard or mashed banana in between, but I like it just the way it is as the base is super fluffy and light. Decorate with berries and fruit of your choice. Or chocolate sprinkles. :)
DeleteHappy birthday in advance.
Xx
So sorry you're in so much pain with your back again, I do hope it improves for you very soon. The cake looks utterly delicious, I think I shall make one next week, it will be a nice thing to have in the Easter holidays which start today. Have a lovely weekend Annette. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteHi CJ
DeleteThank you! Back is slowly getting better. I just need to be patient. We have Easter break staring after next week... One more week to go. I think the cake makes for an excellent addition to the Easter joy. Why not decorate it with pastel sprinkles as we all love pastel around Easter. And put some Easter egg candy on top. :o
Happy Easter and enjoy your break.
Xxx
Hi, the cake looks fabulous but I rarely bake these days otherwise I'd be getting the ingredients out!! Some beautiful pictures too. I live in the middle of England in the county of Warwickshire & the countryside is so lovely here too. I'm enjoying your blogs & can empathise with the frustrations etc of chronic pain as I never know when I'm going to have bad days of pain & fog. I hope you're feeling better and looking forward to warmer days when Spring really gets a zing in its step. I love the anticipation of waiting for the new flowers & greenery that will soon be delighting our days. Keep strong x
ReplyDeleteHi Ann
DeleteWarwickshire... I had to google it. IT is beautiful! The historical monuments, buildings, castles, green hills, rivers, bridges. You live in a beautiful place. :) I can only imagine what it looks like when spring blossoming starts. Enjoy it in full. I'm waiting for real spring to arrive here as well with anticipation.
Happy weekend.
Xx
I feel really sorry for you that your back is hurting again. I hope you feel beter soon
ReplyDeleteI love your photo’s. They are absolutely beautiful. And the cake. That wil be my thing with Easter
Have a nice weekend, Manon
Hi Manon
DeleteTahnk you for your sweet words. Happy to hear I could inspire with the cake. It will be a great Easter cake to indulge in. Sun is out today and I hope you will get some too. Happy weekend and thank you for popping in.
Xxx
Love your pics and to read about your life ! Louise D
ReplyDeleteThank you Louise!
DeleteXx
Suas fotos são lindas assim como tudo que você faz.
ReplyDeleteMelhoras na saúde.
Parabéns.
Um abraço.
Hi Annette,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to read that you hurt so much. I hope you feel better soon. Love all your pictures, makes me want to drop everything here and just visit your beautiful country. I will save the recipe for your cake. It looks amazing.
Have a great weekend Annette.
Sweet greetings,
Emily
(casacreaemilia.blogspot.nl)
Beautiful!! Happy belated birthday! Love the shawl and also that quilted table runner. Hope you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of making the cake but what is a 'breaded' cake tin please? I'm used to buttering the tin but breaded?
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow back sufferer I hope yours has improved.
Thank you!Kathy