Hello Blog Friends! Hallelujah, Christ if Risen!
Here we are at the close of Easter Week, but I’m really glad that the liturgical season of Easter lasts until Ascension Day (woot! woot!), so all the baskets of Pysanky get to be displayed for another month, YAY!
Easter Day was quiet, but very lovely. That morning, we had our little, online “Pod” Gathering and I had planned to follow that with a walk, however it was pouring with rain so I opted to listen to Easter Hymns, before logging on to the Eucharist from Canterbury Cathedral. In the afternoon, I listened to Stainer’s Crucifixion, a favourite of my father’s and prepared a Mini High Tea for myself. Throughout the day, my inbox was flooded with a number of special Easter messages, but, as I had opted to unplug from devices, except for Easter Services, I only saw most of them on Monday.
As Easter Monday is a holiday, I used the time for some intensive spring cleaning; defrosting both freezers and deep cleaning the fridge and stove. Once that was done, I enjoyed looking at the Easter E-cards and lovely messages.
Tuesday, was ”back to work” day, with quite a lot of extra tasks to do, relative to tomorrow’s Annual General Meeting, as well as further editing and prepping of various parts of the Day Camp Program Manual. Two DC committee members, have done a great job of proofreading and one of them has “refurbished” one of the Special Events (aka-wide games) so I shared all that with Jillian, who said she would be working on the Manual layout the next afternoon. I also completed the Games Sheets for the Backyard Day Camp Program (the half-day version, popular with a few smaller communities, who are short on both campers and helpers!). It was good to receive positive feedback regarding the donor letter I had set up for CTM’s sleepaway camp and the directors will now be able to tweak it and send it off, without further help from me.
Wednesday, involved more work around setting up for the AGM. The email containing a Meet Link and some final financial documents from our Treasurer, was sent off to all voting members, and a template for the meeting Minutes was roughed out.. I am still using my wonky old laptop and so am praying, fervently, it will hold up for the AGM Google Meet. Unfortunately, the way the CTM Google Suite is set up, mine is the only computer able to access the “Meet” function, so it is imperative it doesn’t crash in the middle of the meeting, slightly nerve wracking!
That afternoon, I received a special parcel. A dear friend was recently on a short holiday in England and visited Kew Gardens. The shop, there, had some lovely tea towels and my friend sent me a photo from which I could select my favourite. I chose the one in the photo ,above! I shall be saving it to display with my Harvest time décor.
I have not yet heard back from Jillian, regarding the Manual and so there is not much more that can be done in getting to ready it for publication but, having gone back into the file and seeing that the two eagle-eyed proofers have noted a few typos, it seems we are moving ahead, according to schedule!
Yesterday, more reminders to churches were sent out, in the hopes that, at least those who have promised to apply, would do so! We STILL only have 3 completed Applications, which is quite discouraging.
This week, there hasn’t been a lot of handwork, although I did complete the little Spring Shawlette I was knitting and cast on a headband that will (sort of!) match my, recently finished, Norwegian Mittens.
This morning, as it had finally stopped raining, I did a bit of garden clean up, but it was rather muddy work! Time, now, to get on with the Saturday Bake-Breakfast Custard, Date Butter Tart, 2 crusty loaves and an Apple Cake. Last week, to go along with Thai Clam dish, I baked Scallion Buns, they make a great Asian side dish, alternative to rice or noodles.
Scallion Buns
- ½cup milk
- 3Tbsps raw cane sugar
- 1Tbsp dry yeast
- 2⅓cups unbleached flour
- 1tsp sea salt
- 3Tbsps unsalted butter, cut into small bits
- 1large egg
- Sesame seeds
For the Scallions
- ¼cup olive oil
- 1 bunch scallions, very thinly sliced
- 1tsp sea salt
Heat the milk until lukewarm to the touch, stir in the sugar and yeast. Let stand until foamy. Meanwhile, place the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor Add butter and pulse to mix. Add the yeast mixture and egg and process smooth dough has formed. The dough will be a bit sticky. Scrape the dough into a greased bowl, and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Prepare the scallions: Heat the oil in a small saucepan, until shimmering, remove from heat, then add the scallions and salt. Stir well and let stand while the dough rises. When risen, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 20”x12” rectangle. Scoop the scallions onto the dough, reserving any excess oil. Spread them, evenly, leave an inch rim at the edges Line baking tray with parchment. Starting from the longer edge, roll the dough up in a loose spiral, pinch to seal. Cut the roll into 12 even pieces. Place them cut side up on the prepared tray, spacing evenly apart. Using your fingertips, gently pull the dough layers apart a bit, then sprinkle with sesame seeds and let stand in a warm place for 20 minutes. Heat oven to 375ºF. Bake about 20 minutes, remove, then brush with the remaining oil. Serve hot or warm.