Putting things back together...

I got all my treasures back into the china cabinet yesterday. I am so glad I took pictures so I could put the jigsaw back together!

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plenty of cups of tea and coffee were drunk...

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I made a Date loaf...

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for my sister...all packaged up...

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...because she made a pavlova for me! We are having friends come to stay with international visitors from Poland. This cold snap of weather is going to put paid to us going beach driving and having a fire on the beach - it's just too cold!

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I have cleaned out our spare room for the guests - boy did that need doing! Its so easy to throw stuff in there and shut the door - we have been doing that since Christmas!  Everything has now found a new home and there are just two king single beds made up ready for the guests.

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I made this Date, apricot (and prune) loaf ... I didnt have many dates left so some plump prunes went into the mix...

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It turned out well.

Here's the recipe, my sister texted it to me...

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Its a great recipe as you boil everything in the saucepan then when cool, add the flour and egg and mix it in the saucepan.  Only one pan and a wooden spoon to wash up!

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It is yummy with nice chunks of fruit throughout...

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My friend, Pauline, who is coming to stay, is a coeliac so I am trying to make all the food we have gluten free. She is bring her own bread for breakfasts.

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Monday night -

Roast lamb

Potato bake

Winter fruit salad (savoury)

Watermelon, mint & fetta salad

Pavlova with strawberries, kiwi fruit and chocolate sauce

(I gave my sister GF cornflour to use)

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Tuesday night -

Beer can chicken roasted in the Weber

to be shredded

Taco fixings - salsa, corn, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, barbecue sauce...

Flour tortillas and taco shells (I may make GF tortillas if I can't let cate GF ones)

White chocolate swirl chesecake

(Biscuit crumb base using GF biscuits and cocoa)

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These should work for the biscuit crumb...

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This the cheesecake recipe...

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So we are in for a busy few days but it will be fun catching up with Mike and Pauline and Pauline's cousins, Ewa and Tomek.

Cheers - Joolz xx