Other baking adventures included a birthday cake for my husband which my daughter and I had a great laugh decorating late one evening after rehearsal! She chose a hedgehog (my husband is into wildlife) and here is our finished creation...
Friday, 3 February 2012
Baking adventures
Last week I decided I'd try a recipe from my breadmaker book that I've been meaning to try for ages... Anchoy and Sun Dried Tomato Loaf. I didn't have any anchovies but I did have a tin of olives stuffed with anchovies just asking to be used up so I went with those instead. :o) The olives went in the dough mix but the tomatoes had to be chopped and put in the little compartment thingie in the bread maker to be dropped into the mix at a later point in the process. All was going well until, after the tomatoes had dropped in, I could smell burning and upon investigation I discovered that goodly portion of the tomatoes had missed the pan and had settled on the element happily smoking themselves! In order to divert a crisis I whipped the bread pan out quickly removed the offending tomatoes and shoved the bread back in to take it's chance! The resulting loaf didn't look super promising with it's crater top...
...but happily inside all was fine and dandy:
It was a pleasant loaf, not overtly tomatoey or olivey or anchovy ish. :o)
Other baking adventures included a birthday cake for my husband which my daughter and I had a great laugh decorating late one evening after rehearsal! She chose a hedgehog (my husband is into wildlife) and here is our finished creation...
Her eyes are currants and her nose and mouth are sculpted from dried prumes! Lol The baby hedgehog minus chocolate buttons was mine since I don't eat chocolate. :oD It won't win any prizes for professional cake making but it was great fun to do and much appreciated by the birthday boy. :o)
Other baking adventures included a birthday cake for my husband which my daughter and I had a great laugh decorating late one evening after rehearsal! She chose a hedgehog (my husband is into wildlife) and here is our finished creation...
Use It Up Challenge January Review
A little behind here (well, a vast one but that's another matter! Lol) but catching up on my January of using stuff up. :o)
In the last week of January my total grocery shop was £10.36 which comprised:
So, my total spend for the whole of January has been £58.66. On my usual budget I would have spent £240 so I am pretty pleased with that and, even better, I still have looooooooads of stuff yet to use up. :oD My daughter, bless her, has valiantly struggled along without some of her most favourite things to eat during January and my husband has been uncomplaining of some of the odd meals he's been dished up! Having got to the end of January I will be relaxing my grip slightly just to keep the family home harmonious! I will still be working hard to keep my spending as low as possible though and I will carefully consider any requests for inclusions on the weekly shopping list but they may have to state their case before an item is approved! Lol
In the last week of January my total grocery shop was £10.36 which comprised:
- milk £3.48
- cheese £4.38
- bread flour 60p
- margarine £1.90
So, my total spend for the whole of January has been £58.66. On my usual budget I would have spent £240 so I am pretty pleased with that and, even better, I still have looooooooads of stuff yet to use up. :oD My daughter, bless her, has valiantly struggled along without some of her most favourite things to eat during January and my husband has been uncomplaining of some of the odd meals he's been dished up! Having got to the end of January I will be relaxing my grip slightly just to keep the family home harmonious! I will still be working hard to keep my spending as low as possible though and I will carefully consider any requests for inclusions on the weekly shopping list but they may have to state their case before an item is approved! Lol
Sunday, 22 January 2012
Use It Up Challenge Week 3 Review
Well, the week has been easier than I suspected! I had forgotten I was away for a couple of days and my daughter took on the reins without any trouble. :o)
This week's grocery spend amounted to £10.66 which comprised:
Entering the last week of january I'm fairly happy with my challenge antics although I think I could be more inventive and have tried more new recipes and I will endeavour to do more of that this week. :o) This morning I made some beautifully smooooooth pumpkin and chestnut soup and there's some pumpkin to spare which I will use this evening with dinner. I forgot to take pics but I made arrowroot biscuits this week which used up the aging tub of arrowroot skulking in the pantry, unusual texture but great for dunking! ;o)
This week I dug out my silicone doughnut pan to have a crack at some doughnuts for pudding one evening. I haven't used it for ages and there was a good degree of rummaging about to find the recipe that came with the pan!
In terms of the finished articles being doughnut like in appearance it was a bit of a shambles but they tasted good and were marginally healthier than traditional doughnuts, being baked rather than fried.
This week's grocery spend amounted to £10.66 which comprised:
- milk £3.81
- plain flour 69p
- cereal £2.01
- cheese £4.15
Entering the last week of january I'm fairly happy with my challenge antics although I think I could be more inventive and have tried more new recipes and I will endeavour to do more of that this week. :o) This morning I made some beautifully smooooooth pumpkin and chestnut soup and there's some pumpkin to spare which I will use this evening with dinner. I forgot to take pics but I made arrowroot biscuits this week which used up the aging tub of arrowroot skulking in the pantry, unusual texture but great for dunking! ;o)
This week I dug out my silicone doughnut pan to have a crack at some doughnuts for pudding one evening. I haven't used it for ages and there was a good degree of rummaging about to find the recipe that came with the pan!
In terms of the finished articles being doughnut like in appearance it was a bit of a shambles but they tasted good and were marginally healthier than traditional doughnuts, being baked rather than fried.
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Use It Up Challenge Week 2 Review
That's week 2 of my challenge completed. :o)
Total spend on groceries this week was £7.96. This was comprised of:
Just as a record, and for my own self indulgent amusement, :o) I've started a list of everything I've made from scratch since I started the challenge. This may not be a complete list given my holey memory but I think it's fairly accurate! So, here it is:
Total spend on groceries this week was £7.96. This was comprised of:
- milk £3.48
- cheese £4.48
Just as a record, and for my own self indulgent amusement, :o) I've started a list of everything I've made from scratch since I started the challenge. This may not be a complete list given my holey memory but I think it's fairly accurate! So, here it is:
- lentil & ham soup
- bourbon biscuits
- jammy splodgers
- malt loaf
- chocolate biscuits
- cherry & pistachio biscuits
- Boston baked beans
- shepherds pie
- tuna pasta bake
- chocolate iced buns
- pizza
- vegetable & bean soup
- cheese & Marmita whirls
- peanut butter biscuits
- butterfly cakes
- mincemeat browns
- cheese & oat loaf
- ploughman's loaf
- wholemeal loaf
- pea soup
- cheese scones
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Use It Up Challenge Week 1 Review
A week and a bit in to my Use It Up Challenge so I thought a mini review was in order. :o)
I have crossed quite a lot of items of my list (see it here) and my fridge is looking a little bare! :o) Pantry stocks are decreasing although still plenty to be creative with! Pleasingly I have really enjoyed getting back to cooking from scratch and all the extra baking has been so very therapeutic. :o) As I go along using up my supplies I will have to be more inventive and creative and one issue I already have is that I have very little in the way of meat for main meals. Now, I eat alot of vegetarian food and could happily forgo meat most of the time buuuuut my husband and daughter like their meatiness much more! There maybe some compromises ahead! :oD
My total spend on grocery shopping for the week was £13.73. This comprised:
milk £4.10
butter £2.73
margarine £1.90
cheese £5
My current weekly budget for groceries id £60 so I have £46.27 to spare this week. :oD I was surprised at the milk consumption, I know my daughter is a big milk drinker and my husband has constant cups of tea and I do use milk in baking and cooking (and I do drink it too) but even so 14 pints seemed somewhat excessive! We have had rice pudding and I've made soup a few times but mostly it's been drunk. Something to look at reducing I think!
I have crossed quite a lot of items of my list (see it here) and my fridge is looking a little bare! :o) Pantry stocks are decreasing although still plenty to be creative with! Pleasingly I have really enjoyed getting back to cooking from scratch and all the extra baking has been so very therapeutic. :o) As I go along using up my supplies I will have to be more inventive and creative and one issue I already have is that I have very little in the way of meat for main meals. Now, I eat alot of vegetarian food and could happily forgo meat most of the time buuuuut my husband and daughter like their meatiness much more! There maybe some compromises ahead! :oD
My total spend on grocery shopping for the week was £13.73. This comprised:
milk £4.10
butter £2.73
margarine £1.90
cheese £5
My current weekly budget for groceries id £60 so I have £46.27 to spare this week. :oD I was surprised at the milk consumption, I know my daughter is a big milk drinker and my husband has constant cups of tea and I do use milk in baking and cooking (and I do drink it too) but even so 14 pints seemed somewhat excessive! We have had rice pudding and I've made soup a few times but mostly it's been drunk. Something to look at reducing I think!
Bourbons and Splodgers!
Did some baking this evening to replenish the stocks. :o) A friend of mine made custard creams yesterday so I thought I'd have a go at bourbons!
I've made bourbons once before, quite a few years ago, and it was a bit of a disaster! I rolled the dough way too thin and then burnt the little beasts so they were pretty inedible! Today's efforts were much improved! :o)
The recipe is from a Hamlyn book, Biscuits and Cookies by Nicola Diggins:
Chocolate Bourbons
6oz plain flour
1oz cocoa
3oz butter or margarine
2oz caster sugar
2 tbsp golden syrup
1 egg, beaten
granulated sugar for sprinkling
Filling
4oz butter
6oz icing sugar
2oz chocolate, melted
Lightly grease two baking trays. Sift flour and cocoa into a bowl. Rub in the butter or margarine until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar, then bind the mixture with the golden syrup and enough beaten egg to give a firm dough.
Knead lightly, then roll out the dough on a floured board to a rectangle measuring 12 x 16 in. Trim the edges and cut the rectangle into 32 biscuits measuring 1 x 3 in. using a palette knife, carefully transfer the biscuits to the prepared baking trays. Chill for 1 hour, or longer if you have time.
Bake in a moderate oven, 180C, 350F, Gas 4, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until darkened in colour and cooked. Sprinkle the biscuits with sugar immediately they are removed from the oven. Leave to cool on the trays for a minute before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
While the biscuits are cooling, make the filling. Cream 4oz butter with 6oz icing sugar and add 2oz melted chocolate. Sandwich the biscuits together in pairs with the chocolate butter icing.
Makes 16.
I didn't have plain flour but self raising worked just fine and I made the icing by adding a bit of cocoa instead of melted chocolate. They are yummy and I suspect they won't last long! :oD
I also revisited a recipe I haven't made for ages - Jammy Splodgers. It was given to me by a friend many moons ago and is scribbled on the back of an envelope so I can't tell you where it's from!
Jammy Splodgers
4oz butter
8oz self raising flour
2oz caster sugar
5 tbsp raspberry jam
1 egg, size 3
Set oven to 200C. Rub butter into the flour and then add sugar. Blend 3 tbsp jam with the egg, add to dry ingredients and mix well with hands. Divide into 18, shape into balls and place on greased baking sheets. Flatten slightly then make a dip in the centre of each with your thumb and put a little raspberry jam in. Bake for 12 to 13 minutes until just firm. Cool on a wire rack. Makes 18.
I've made bourbons once before, quite a few years ago, and it was a bit of a disaster! I rolled the dough way too thin and then burnt the little beasts so they were pretty inedible! Today's efforts were much improved! :o)
The recipe is from a Hamlyn book, Biscuits and Cookies by Nicola Diggins:
Chocolate Bourbons
6oz plain flour
1oz cocoa
3oz butter or margarine
2oz caster sugar
2 tbsp golden syrup
1 egg, beaten
granulated sugar for sprinkling
Filling
4oz butter
6oz icing sugar
2oz chocolate, melted
Lightly grease two baking trays. Sift flour and cocoa into a bowl. Rub in the butter or margarine until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar, then bind the mixture with the golden syrup and enough beaten egg to give a firm dough.
Knead lightly, then roll out the dough on a floured board to a rectangle measuring 12 x 16 in. Trim the edges and cut the rectangle into 32 biscuits measuring 1 x 3 in. using a palette knife, carefully transfer the biscuits to the prepared baking trays. Chill for 1 hour, or longer if you have time.
Bake in a moderate oven, 180C, 350F, Gas 4, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until darkened in colour and cooked. Sprinkle the biscuits with sugar immediately they are removed from the oven. Leave to cool on the trays for a minute before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
While the biscuits are cooling, make the filling. Cream 4oz butter with 6oz icing sugar and add 2oz melted chocolate. Sandwich the biscuits together in pairs with the chocolate butter icing.
Makes 16.
I didn't have plain flour but self raising worked just fine and I made the icing by adding a bit of cocoa instead of melted chocolate. They are yummy and I suspect they won't last long! :oD
I also revisited a recipe I haven't made for ages - Jammy Splodgers. It was given to me by a friend many moons ago and is scribbled on the back of an envelope so I can't tell you where it's from!
Jammy Splodgers
4oz butter
8oz self raising flour
2oz caster sugar
5 tbsp raspberry jam
1 egg, size 3
Set oven to 200C. Rub butter into the flour and then add sugar. Blend 3 tbsp jam with the egg, add to dry ingredients and mix well with hands. Divide into 18, shape into balls and place on greased baking sheets. Flatten slightly then make a dip in the centre of each with your thumb and put a little raspberry jam in. Bake for 12 to 13 minutes until just firm. Cool on a wire rack. Makes 18.
Friday, 6 January 2012
Use It Up Challenge Day 6
I've spent a goodly portion of today in the kitchen. :o)
Last night I put some beans in to soak overnight to make Boston Baked Beans, a much loved recipe from a Rose Elliot cook book. The original recipe is cooked in the oven but I like to do them in the slow cooker.
The recipe uses haricot beans, the usual bean for baked beans, but I started with butter beans, black eye beans, red kidney beans, black beans and cannellini beans.
I adjusted the recipe slightly as I had no dry mustard so I made them smoky beans by using smoked paprika and also added a splosh of apple juice as I had it to hand and thought more liquid was needed!
On the UIUC front I've crossed a few items off my list today as well. :o) The list is in this post.
I've been wanting to make a Treacle Ginger Cake since Christmas and finally got around to it today! It's a Nigel Slater (I think!) recipe from an old Sainsburys magazine. It involves black treacle, dark muscovado sugar and stem ginger and is just delicious! Even better is that it improves with age, I've put half of it in the freezer. :o) I've made it a few times before but for some reason this time it hasn't turned out as dark as usual. I'm not sure why, possibly the sugar wasn't as dark as usual? No matter though as it tastes as good as ever! :o)
I also made a Ploughman's Loaf in my breadmaker. The recipe is from the booklet that came with the breadmaker and uses apple juice and Branston pickle. Having no Branston but plenty of chutney I substituted caramelised onion chutney instead of the pickle. :o) Haven't had a taste test yet but it's quite a mountainous loaf! Lol
For dinner this evening we had home made pizza, using scone dough, with potato and sweet potato wedges. The pizza was a bit of a cheese feast jobbie as I used up a variety of small pieces of cheese from Christmas!
All in all a good foodie day! :o)
Last night I put some beans in to soak overnight to make Boston Baked Beans, a much loved recipe from a Rose Elliot cook book. The original recipe is cooked in the oven but I like to do them in the slow cooker.
The recipe uses haricot beans, the usual bean for baked beans, but I started with butter beans, black eye beans, red kidney beans, black beans and cannellini beans.
 |
| Post soaking hence the whiter beans looking purple! |
 |
| Yum! |
 |
| Ginger destined for the Treacle Ginger Cake. |
I also made a Ploughman's Loaf in my breadmaker. The recipe is from the booklet that came with the breadmaker and uses apple juice and Branston pickle. Having no Branston but plenty of chutney I substituted caramelised onion chutney instead of the pickle. :o) Haven't had a taste test yet but it's quite a mountainous loaf! Lol
For dinner this evening we had home made pizza, using scone dough, with potato and sweet potato wedges. The pizza was a bit of a cheese feast jobbie as I used up a variety of small pieces of cheese from Christmas!
All in all a good foodie day! :o)
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