Wacky and Wonderful

 

Hello friends! How are you doing? Did you get a chance to try Lucy's bruschetta? Didn't they look delicious!

It’s been another busy old week here in Two Crafty Brownieland. First of all, Lu and I have joined the Women's Institute, or WI!

According to their website 'the Women's Institute (WI) was formed in 1915 to revitalise rural communities and encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. Since then the organisation's aims have broadened and the WI is now the largest voluntary women's organisation in the UK. The WI celebrated its centenary in 2015 and currently has almost 220,000 members in approximately 6,300 WIs. The WI plays a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities.'

We have been thinking about this for a while, we even started looking for a local group (there wasn’t one!). And then out of the blue, we found out that a local group was starting! The first meeting was in a local pub, and the three lovely founders were astounded that over 60 people showed up! We chose our name (Ladies of the Lock, as we are near the canal), drank prosecco and all got very excited about things.

This week we had our first proper meeting. The Committee had organised a bunting making activity once business was over. Now, some people we have spoken to have made faces and whispered ‘aren’t you a bit young??’ Well I’m happy to report our group is full of all ages of women from all walks of life. There is something very invigorating about spending time with other women, I find. Don’t get me wrong, I adore men, and live with three lovely ones, but I do like a bit of girliness too.

There was cake, wine, chatter and busy hands as we cut and sewed our bunting flags, and very pretty they looked too. We will hopefully have a walking group, interesting speakers, and of course Lu and I are very keen to be involved with the crafting group!

I have also been baking. Have you heard of Wacky or Depression Cake? Apparently dating from the Great Depression, when butter and eggs were scarce, this is a recipe with oil, vinegar and bicarb. Sound disgusting? I promise it isn’t! It is usually done with cocoa to make a chocolate cake, but there are many variations, and here I am sharing a carrot cake recipe. I first came across it when baking for a vegan friend, and was hooked. I have tried various carrot cake recipes, and really, lovelies, I prefer this one. I am baking it to take to the soup kitchen I volunteer in this weekend. I doubled the recipe below.

Wacky Carrot Cake

What you need is

2 cups plain flour

1 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 Tbsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

1tsp ground nutmeg

1 Tbsp vanilla

½ cup oil

1 cup water

1 Tbsp white vinegar

2 cups grated carrot (about 2 large carrots)

What you do is

Mix the dry ingredients together. Make a well in the centre and add the wet ingredients. Mix well and then stir in the carrots and raisins. Bake at 180C for 45 minutes. I use a 9cm x 9cm square tin.

I ice this with Peyton and Byrne’s

Honey Cream Cheese Icing

250g icing sugar

50g unsalted softened butter

100g cream cheese softened

A squirt of honey

Beat the butter till smooth, then add the cream cheese and beat a bit more. Sift in the icing sugar in three lots and mix till smooth. Mix in the honey, spread onto your cooled cake and enjoy with a nice cup of tea!

Look what dropped through my letterbox this week! Anne, who writes at Frayed at the Edge, and I are going to meet! I have read Anne's blog for years, and she has been a huge support to us, sharing our blog with her readers when we were just starting out, and commenting on every post. Anne sews the most lovely things, and I can't wait to see this exhibition.Best of all, my mum, who is a keen quilter, will be visiting from abroad, so we will both go along. Thanks Anne! I know Lucy is very envious!

 

Well my lovelies, that's all from me. Have a lovely weekend!

 

Jenny xxx

Comments

[Anne Donald]

Your WI group sounds fabulous - some years ago I joined The Rural (the Scottish WI) but it wasn't for me ...... some of the older ladies were just too set in their ways to welcome new ideas. Interesting cake recipe - and the icing sounds delicious.
I'm looking forward to meeting you and your Mum - and as I'm organising the kitchen, you will get the best of cakes!!

[Meredithe]

How lovely that a WI group was just starting in your area. I hope you and Lucy enjoy many happy times with the group. How exciting that you're going to meet my friend Anne! Anne has visited me a couple of times in Australia, but unfortunately I haven't made it over to her in Scotland yet. Have a fab time with your Mum. Hugs to you all xxxx

[Two Crafty Brownies]

Hi Anne! Thats wonderful news as I know youre a real connoisseur of cakes! Im hoping our WI doesnt go that way! Jenny xxx

[Two Crafty Brownies]

Thanks, Meredithe, my first time to meet a bloggy friend, I cant wait! I do hope you make it over here one of these days! Hugs, Jenny xxx

[Kelly]

I love carrot cake and must print out this recipe! I recently made a spice cake filled with raisins along the same line as this one and it was delicious. Perfect for plant-eaters like me! :)

I expect photos from your meeting with Anne!

[Two Crafty Brownies]

Hi Kelly, its amazing how delicious cakes can be without butter or eggs, isnt it! Yes, we will definitely take pictures! Jenny xxx