The comforts of a rainy day

 Savoring simple daily pleasures




A cool dark morning greeted me this weekday. A day I deliciously knew I could mold into whatever I wished as I was not going to work, had no schedule and the house to myself. We spent the first night on our newly purchased (and freshly laundered of course) French linen sheets last night. Oh My! ....Just, Oh My! So divinely, lusciously, delectably, luxuriously cocooning and comfortable. I slept like a princess. 



The forecast was for rain which I was looking forward to, as I knew I'd planned a cozy afternoon. When the family had bustled out of the door for the day shortly after the lazy autumn light ascended, I headed out on a walk down to the local beach. The light was magnificent - bright over the inlet but filtered and watery, with a thick drizzly mist hanging just over the hills. 





I'd been home all of 30 minutes when the first raindrops fell. I popped out in the car after showering to run a couple of non urgent (And quite fun!!) errands, before getting back home, swapping my mules for sheepskin slippers, donning my apron and getting into some cozy baking as the rain steadily fell. 


The errands were the loveliest kind- visiting my local department store and my lovely Clarins consultant to restock a few bits- she always looks after me so I returned with many luxurious samples and tips. 

My rose on the front porch that keeps producing beautiful bold fragrant blooms. 


The latest home baked favorite at the moment is the Donna Hay Chocolate Chip cookies- so I made a double batch of them, filled the tins, lit some warming scented candles, and then made a French Gateaux au Yaourt (Recipe below) , followed by "Leek O Potato soup" - family name for it, ready for dinner tomorrow with crusty bread and started on the preparation for tonight's dinner. 



The laundry is folded, the cats are curled up happily indoors, the house smells clean and homely, most of my list is ticked off and I feel grateful and accomplished. The day has flown by and the girls are due home soon so for now I will take a quite moment to listen to the rain pattering- maybe even pick up the book I began last night, and then make a pot of tea and sample the still warm gateaux. (Makes it sound rather gourmet but it is truly one of THE simplest recipes!) 


Le Gateau au Yaourt

Ingredients

4 eggs
1 pottle of plain or greek yoghurt (150g)
1/2 pot sunflower oil (Or similar)
2 pots sugar
3 pots self raising flour
Lemon zest- optional

Preheat oven to 180degrees.
Whisk eggs then add all other ingredients, using the empty yoghurt pottle as your measure. Pour into a lined loaf tin and bake for 40-45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. 
This time I grated the zest of a lemon into the the batter before mixing through and baking, then I squeezed the juice over the hot cake. But you can add vanilla, or chocolate chips, or cocoa, (or dried fruit...but it may sink slightly. )

Dust with icing sugar and serve generous slices with yoghurt on the side and a pot of tea.

0 $type={blogger}