Autumn leaves

Here's a post I started sharing in the Autumn, then Christmas and party planning took over and I totally forgot about it.

It was raining, and had been for days (feeling more like weeks) and the dreary walk home after dropping Monkey One at school was proving very little fun. Then I stopped for a minute and thought, it would be great to make use of those leaves. Monkey-Moo needed no encouragement to partake in this little game.We oooh'ed and ahhh'ed at the different colours, the shapes and sizes.

I was left juggling an umbrella and all the collected leaves. (apparently little Monkeys can only hold two wet leaves at any given time)

We arrived home, rather wet and later than usual, we place the collection out on the table to dry. I had to keep turning them so that both sides dried enough not to mark the paper. And Monkey Two kept a close eye on them through the morning, regularly updating me on which were still wet, or "little bit nearly dry"

A couple hours, cups of tea and school collection later, we got all the crayons out, our sheets of paper ready, and I set about demonstrating how to make leaf rubbings. Monkey-Moo loved it! Bigger Monkey-Moo didn't want to miss out either, and soon joined in.

What a great way to transform our we Autumn Days, and stay (mostly) dry!

Banana muffins- the Vegan ones!

This lovely sunny Sunday morning was calling out for some wholesome Banana goodness! I just couldn't resist making up a batch of these wonderful muffins. This recipe is one I'm always asked for, and it's simply a "No Fail" one for sure.

I've adapted and changed the original recipe to suit mine and littlest Monkey-Moos tastes. As an added bonus it's VEGAN friendly!

So in this glorious winter sunshine, I'm happily going to share, but do be aware that my amounts are not precise nor exactly the same each time. Occasionally I heap the sugar, sometimes I increase each ingredients just a little, and as a result some batches are not quite as good as other, fortunately none have ever been BAD!

It's simple and quick and often whipped up in a hurry for a mid morning baked snack. We do love our banana's and there is never a shortage of ripe ones in our home.

You will need:
4 Small ripe bananas or 3 Large ripe bananas
a cup of sugar (white or brown, whichever is handy)
1/3 cup of vegetable oil
pinch of salt
2 cups of flour
1tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

optional extras
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Walnuts
raisins
a little monkey helper!

Preheat your oven to 180'
Mash the banana's with a fork, mix in sugar and oil.
In another bowl combine Salt, bicarb, flour and cinnamon, as well as any other optionals you fancy. Lastly add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix.
Spoon into muffin cases and bake for 20-25 minutes

Allow to cool on a wire rack before you sink your teeth in!