Gentle joy and ginger flapjacks

Today, in stark contrast to the last few days, was beautiful. Although still bitterly cold, the sun shone, the sky was blue, the mud was crisp and easy to walk on and when sheltering out of the cutting breeze - a delight to be out. We, Himself, Youngest and I plus a deliriously happy Moss, walked up and over into the moors behind the village and down into the neighbouring valley.

Sheltering between huge mill stone grit boulders, we drank tea and chatted whilst Moss snuffled and sniffled around following invisible stories and trails that only her nose could 'see'. 

En route, whilst we walked along 'Hare Lane' an ancient drovers track filled with rushes and hare tracks, I picked a few rush stalks and folded them into a Brigid's cross. Today, the 1st of February, is both Brigid's day and Imbolc. Both marking the coming of spring, so it seemed appropriate to craft a small token to acknowledge and celebrate.

Our path took us through a lovely woodland where bulbs were just beginning to break through the cold earth and past heavily pregnant ewes. But the best of all? Seeing the return of the lapwings from their wintering grounds. A flock of 20 - 30 birds whirled and twirled overhead and landed in a field near us. Spring is coming and that makes me so glad and fills me with such a positivity.

When, after our walk, we'd returned home I had such a strong urge to bake so apart from the weekly fruit cake, I made these ....

Ginger Flapjacks

The house smelt absolutely devine with the spicy fragrance of ginger. I added lemon juice to the topping and even more ginger to the oaty mix, because ... a) I can and ... b) I wanted to make it less sweet and more sharp.

Would I make them again? 

No,  far far far too sweet for us. I will make the flapjacks again, with the added ginger but instead of the ultra sweet fudgy topping I will make a simple lemon drizzle type icing and lightly zigzag it over the cold flapjacks.

If you have a sweet tooth and love ginger - these could be the perfect thing with a mug of tea. But for us, tooth curlingly sweet, I'll be cutting each square in half again and then they will probably be more manageable. 

Have you baked anything recently?
Good or bad - go on spill the beans (baking or otherwise!!)

And - here is to spring and the gentle joy and hope she brings, a season of promise and potential, stay safe❤

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