Monthly Archives: July 2012

Small World Syndrome

30 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by in Clyde Coast

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Back in 2007 while I was still the other side of the river and city at East Kilbride I blogged about Craigend Castle here.  Now 5 years later it is just up the road from us and very much more overgrown.

Those who know me, know that I enjoy trudging through cemeteries and even more so old church graveyards reading headstones and taking pictures of unusual of different headstones, so it will be no surprise to hear that when Hubby and I took a drive down the north side of the Clyde a graveyard attracted my attention.  As we looked we discovered this:

This memorial which is part of the second parish church in Rhu (The third is the one now standing with its clock chiming out to remind the village of the passage of time.) is to members oft he family which lived at Craigend Castle.  Why they lived in the shadow of the Campsies but were buried overlooking the Clyde is a mystery to me.

Date and Walnut Cake

27 Friday Jul 2012

Posted by in Rectory Kitchen

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This is easy but you need to have everything ready before you start.  Experience has taught me it rises better and is a softer texture if you can get it mixed and in the oven within 2 minutes!

        • 11 oz (300g) plain flour + 3tsp baking powder (you can just used self-raising but I perfer to mix my own)
        • 10floz (300ml) milk
        • 5oz (150g) chopped dates (easiest to use kitchen scissors)
        • 4oz (110g) dark muscovado sugar
        • 2oz (50g) chopped walnuts (I prefer to break them rather than chop so you still have decent sized bits)
        • 4 tbsp sunflower oil
        • 2 tsp ground mixed spice – optional
        • Walnut halves to decorate

Preheat oven to 180/gas 4 and grease and line 2 x 1lb loaf tin, or a deep square tray bake tin.

Sift the flour and spice together into a bowl add the sugar (sometimes that needs sifting too) quickly now add the oil and milk and mix – don’t fuss about lumps – add the dates and walnuts and stir thoroughly, now there wont be any lumps.  Quickly spoon mixture into the tins and place walnut halves on top bake for 40-50 mins.