Baking, Cleaning, Fish Tanks and Frogs!

Well after my few dark days the light is shining on me again, thanks mummy for giving me your strength, beautiful characteristics and great sense of humor, we always managed to keep each other sane and I know you are still doing that from whatever lays beyond for us all.

Most of yesterday was spent on the PC, had quite a few enquiries regarding the room, so thats looking positive, searched for my next crochet project and surfed about a bit, after suffering from a numb bum (must get new computer chair), I decided to get the fish tank out of the shed, which has been in there for over a year, the cardboard box I had stored it in had molded to it, there were snails everywhere and mud, then when I pick it up a bloody frog jumped out at me, ooh I hate those things, only because they leap about and surprise you, I quickly hid it before the cats saw it, could just imagine Tiffany fluffy bum trying to work out what that was!!!!  Anyway gave it a lovely clean, its all dried out this morning and I am pleased to say everything electrical still works in it, I now have a quandry, do I sell it or keep it.  It has a 3 way filter, a light and Tetranec filter and air bubble curtain thingy that goes through the ship, I recogn I could maybe get £30 for it????  Or shall I get some fish, have found a lovely spot on one of the kitchen worksurfaces for it, but I must admit I dont have a good track record with keeping them alive, maybe I should get a couple and if they die then sell it?

As I had my cleaning and domesticated head on I cleaned the grill, eugh layers of tin foil later and now its all sparkly so am too frightened to use it and dirty it now!  I then decided to make some muffins from my GI Diet book but had to improvise slightly as I did not have all the ingredients, they are low in fat, high in fibre and great for snacks as they are very filling, they take me a bit of getting used to as I have such a HUGE sweet tooth, here is the recipe incase anyone is interested in trying them:

Dried Fruit Bran Muffins

45g (1 1/2 oz) All Bran Cereal
225ml (8fl oz) Skimmed Milk
100g (3 1/2 oz) Whole Wheat Flour
5 tbsp Sugar or Sugar substitute
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt
1 tsp Cinnamon or Allspice
180g (6oz) Oat Bran
100g (3 1/2 oz) Dried Fruit
1 Egg
2 tsp Vegetable Oil

1. Mix the All-Bran and skimmed milk in a bowl and let stand for a few minutes
2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking power, baking soda, salt and spices.  Stir in the oat bran and dried fruit.
3. In a small bowl, combine the egg and vegetable oil.  Stir, along with the All-Bran mixture into the dry ingredients.
4. Spoon mixture into either an oil-sprayed 12 muffin tray or into 12 muffin cases.  Bake at 175°c/350°F/Gas Mark 4 for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
5. Nom Nom Nom Nom

Finally as my Tapestry Needle had arrived from my lovely friend Wendy, I decided to do some more of my cross stitch, I can do this quite easily now whilst watching the TV, its so relaxing, still have quite a bit to do and a birdie has landed!!!!

Today I am going to start on a Crochet blanket and ponder over what do to with my Fish tank............any suggestions regarding fish tank please comment below as I cannot make my mind up.

Happy Friday,
Shellie B