Adventures of the Past Month: Code, Cooking, Swimming, and the Dog Dilemma
Hey there, lovely readers! It’s been quite a whirlwind of a month, and I wanted to share some of the exciting happenings and musings from my life with you all.
Coding and Culinary Escapades
In the past month, I’ve found myself delving into two worlds that couldn’t be more different: coding in Java and whipping up culinary delights in my kitchen. The former brought back fond memories of my coding days before my sabbatical, while the latter is my lifelong passion.
However, there’s a catch – I only truly relish cooking when it’s a break from the ordinary. Just as I don’t like dining at the same restaurant twice, I avoid cooking the same dish repeatedly. Variety is the spice of life, after all!
Swimming: A Dive into Fitness
As I’ve been indulging my culinary creativity, the need for a counterbalance became apparent. Enter swimming! I’ve always been a decent swimmer, thanks to those childhood classes at the United Club. But, truth be told, I never quite mastered the technique. My “swimming skills” mostly involved floundering with no control over my breathing.
As I embark on this aquatic journey, I find myself wrestling with some fundamental questions. Do I breathe through my nose or mouth? How do I stay afloat when I turn my head for air? Each stroke in the pool is a step closer to answers, and I’m excited about the progress I’ll make in the coming days.
To Dog or Not to Dog? That Is the Question
Lately, every walk or jog has been accompanied by a persistent chorus from my family: “When are we getting a dog?” As a devoted dog lover, I can’t help but admire every canine I encounter during my day. But the growing curiosity at home has placed me in a bit of a dilemma.
I’m fully aware of the responsibilities that come with being a dog parent, from grooming to insurance costs. The idea of welcoming a furry friend into our lives has been planted in our minds, but I want to carefully nurture that thought before taking the plunge. Rest assured, dear readers, I’ll keep you updated on this intriguing chapter.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake: A Special Birthday Tradition
This week marks a very special birthday, and it calls for a truly special recipe. Over the years, I’ve made pineapple cake a tradition for this occasion. From recipes inspired by Monoginis to indulgent delights from Howrah Bakery, and even English buttercream frosted creations – they’ve all been savoured and cherished.
Ingredients
- For the topping
- 50g softened unsalted butter
- 50g light Muscovado sugar
- 7 Pineapple slices syrup drained and syrup reserved
- 7 Maraschino cherries
- For the cake
- 100g softened unsalted butter
- 100g castor sugar
- 100g plain flour
- 1 tbsp sour cream
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp pineapple essence
- 2 eggs
Directions
- Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4
- Take a 20 inch spring form tin and melt the butter and spread it with a brush all around the tin. Sprinkle muscovado sugar and give it a good swirl to lightly coat all sides. Keep your cherries and tinned pineapple drained on a kitchen towel.
- Then line the pineapple on the cake tin as the bottom layer and add cherries in the centre of the rings.
- Add baking powder to flour and sift it once and keep it ready. Beat your eggs on the side with sour cream.
- In a glass bowl beat the sugar and butter until pale then slowly alter by adding eggs and flour and mix it with a whisk gently. You can also use an electric whisk to mix the ingredients.
- As a last step add your 1 tsp of pineapple essence with 2 tbsp of the reserved pineapple syrup.
- Spread the cake batter into the tin on top of the pineapple and smooth it out so it’s level. Bake for 35 mins. Leave to stand for 5 mins, then turn out onto a plate. Serving it with warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is my favourite.