CHEESE PUFFS for breakfast

A typical Sunday morning breakfast in South Africa, with a cup of hot tea, Cheese Puffs.  My mom made them, this is her recipe and I'll love them always.  If you're around when they are hot out of the oven, don't hesitate to eat, otherwise I will inhale the entire dozen.

CHEESE PUFFS

1 cup Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Coleman's Mustard Powder*

1 cup grated mature cheddar cheese

1 T chopped chives/parsley

1 Egg - whisked in measuring cup

Milk added to egg to make up 1 cup liquid

Method:

Sieve flour and Baking Powder, mustard powder, add 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper

Add grated cheese (I sometimes add half grated Parmesan for extra cheesy flavor),

fluff in with a fork.

For a kick, add a 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, but not necessary

Mix in egg/milk with a fork, do not over mix.

Spoon into a sprayed non-stick muffin pan - makes 12.

Bake about 12 mins at 400F till golden brown.

These can be served as is, or cut open and smear liberally with butter.

YUM

* If you cannot find the Coleman's Mustard powder in the Spice Aisle at the supermarket, you can use regular mustard, add it to the egg, whisk in before adding and mixing in the milk.

CHANTICLEER - the golds and oranges

Chanticleer Garden is located in the small town of Wayne, Pennsylvania - a 2 1/2 hour drive north of my home through farmlands of the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware, approximately 30 minutes NW of Philadelphia.  This has to be my favorite garden ever - it is 37 acres of exquisiteness, the most beautiful color combinations planted up and down undulating hills and lawns, spectacular trees, and the original historic homes on the property originally owned by the Rosengarten family.  I will start off with gardens around the first historic home that belonged to the daughter.  Visit their website if you can't visit their garden, it is a place of magic.  www.chanticleergardens.org 

Bright orange tulips, nemesia, poppies, heuchera, interspersed with red lettuce and herbs.

DESIGNER COWS

I love cows in a field.  In springtime over on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, USA, the fields break into glorious bloom in a blaze of yellow Buttercups.  There is a farm on the road driving into the town of Oxford that has these most beautiful black and white,  my opinion "Designer Cows", and matching black and white goats.  I can never resist the opportunity to stop and photograph them.  Beautiful huge creatures that they are!

The tufts at the top are not furry horns, those are the goats!! Buried in buttercups.

Some backscratching love going on there.

Just call me Buttercup

MAY BASKETS on Main Street, Annapolis, MD

Annapolis turns into floral festivities on May Day - the historic Main Street shopkeepers compete to see who can come up with the most original and luscious "basket" and it is wonderful to stroll the street, looking to see what they produce.  This year was just lovely weather and some beautiful work.

I thought these three were great - outside a pub.

Looking up the Main Street of Annapolis

In good old Irish Tradition

The Black Dog store - fun clothing

Not May baskets, just fun colorful masks for sale

At the Olive Oil Store, Seasons

The Alpaca Store - gorgeous clothing all made from Peruvian Alpaca wool.