Warm winter days

I love warm winter days. It's great to get outside in the fresh air after being penned inside so much. The kind of days when you have to wear your gumboots because the dew stays on the grass untill lunchtime, dew that sparkles in the sunshine.

The kind of days that you must get your mower and mowing hat out.

While little sister watches safely from the deck. (Don't worry I was holding on to her).

After some fresh air Liam and I did some baking while Isla had a nap. Liam loves to do baking. For obvious reasons.

We made Grammy's Chocolate Cookies and Pumpkin and Date Slice. The slice I adapted from a recipe I found on the internet. The chocolate cookies are very yummy but perhaps a little sweet for me (and I didn't even put in as much sugar as the recipe asked for). But the slice is perfect! I will definately be making this one again.

We are off on Saturday for an extended weekend visiting family and the idea was to make these to take with us (I'm trying to be organised incase the rest of the week gets busy!). So these were going to go into the freezer, but that slice is so yummy I'm not sure if any of it will make it to the freezer. Sorry about that guys. But here is the recipe if you'd like to give it a go!

:: Pumpkin and Date Slice ::

- 1 cup flour
- 3/4 cup brown sugar

- 1 tsp vanilla essence

- 1 tsp baking powder

- 2 Tbsp grape seed oil (or whatever you have)

- 1/2 cup cooked mashed pumpkin

- 1/2 cup chopped dates

- 1/2 cup coconut

- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (or other nuts or seeds)

Combine it all and push into a greased baking tin. Cook for approximately 20 mins or until it springs back when you push on the top of it. Sprinkle with a little extra coconut, slice it up and let it cool on a rack.