Quote of the Day

If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin.

Ivan Turgenev

Beetroot and Chocolate Cake ( yes, Really!)

This makes a great Autumn cake and is a really unusual way to use up that glut of Beetroot!

Ingredients
1 1/2 ozs Cocoa powder
4 1/2ozs Plain flour
1 1/2 tsps Baking powder
Pinch salt
5 1/2 ozs Caster sugar
8 1/2 fl ozs Corn/ or Sunflower oil ( you can use light oil)
1 1/2 tsps Vanilla essence - NOT Flavouring
3 eggs beaten
9oz cooked peeled beetroot, pureed
4oz Plain dark choc (60% +), broken or crushed into small pieces

Method

Preheat the oven to 375F/190C/Gas 5 and grease an (7") round cake tin.
Sift the cocoa, flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl and mix with the sugar.
Add the oil, vanilla essence, eggs, beetroot and chocolate pieces and mix well.
Pour into the cake tin, put on a baking tray and bake for 50 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.

Turn It Off!

Here are some ideas for saving money when using everyday appliances

• Turn televisions and other appliances off at the mains. Leaving appliances on standby still uses energy.
• Turn off your home computer when it is not in use.
• Lagging pipes can save £5 to £10 from heating bills.
• Energy efficient light bulbs are more expensive than standard bulbs but they will last up to 10 times longer which conserves significant energy. They are most effective when used for lights that are left switched on for long periods of time
• Try placing foil behind radiators. Household foil will do, although it is possible to buy foil for this purpose from DIY stores.
• Don't put furniture in front of radiators, but if appropriate, fit shelves above them as this deflects heat into the middle of the room.
• Investigate further draught proofing of windows and doors.
• Look into cavity wall insulation, condensing boilers and loft insulation, all of which could save energy or money.
• If possible, buy the most energy efficient products possible. Ask retailers and manufacturers for information, and look out for the Energy Efficiency Recommended Logo.