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)
Thursday, 5 January 2012
The Great Use It Up Challenge 2012
As briefly mentioned in the last post I have started on my usual January using stuff up mission. ;o) For the uninitiated (not that I think there are crowds of you scratching your heads over this!), the challenge amounts to trying to use up what I have in the pantry, freezer and fridge without shopping for anything other than essentials. My definition of essentials is milk, butter, cheese, fruit and veg to start with. As I progress through the month this list grows obviously. Reasons for doing this? Well....
- Money. I was in the lovely position of being able to clear my massive overdraft and credit card debt in October 2011 but I'm by no means out of the financial woods skipping through the meadow yet! I have to stick with my budget now! My current weekly food budget is £60. For the duration of the challenge I am planning on putting the difference between what I spend and my usual budget into our savings account.
- Pantry spring clean. I will be conducting a major spring clean of my pantry and the less I have to take out and put back for that process the better!
- Cooking from scratch. I love cooking from scratch but I sometimes slip into bad habits and the back end of last year fell into that category. I want to get back to cooking more from scratch and trying new recipes and having to use up what I have always makes me cook more creatively. :o)
- Blogging. Any excuse to share what may or may not be interesting to anyone other than me! Lol
- The feel good factor. There's nothing like knowing I'm being thrifty and creative. :o)
Pantry
(Anything in blue has been bought since the challenge started.)
Ackee, tinned
Beer, 1 small bottle
Black eye beans, dried
Banana chutney
Beluga lentils, dried
Black beans, dried
Black beans, tinned
Black treacle
Bread flour
Breadsticks
Brown linseeds
Butter beans, dried
Cake decorations, too many to list
Cannelleni beans, dried
Cannelloni
Chestnut puree
Chopped tomatoes with basil, carton
Cider vinegar
Cocktail cherries
Cocktail onions
Cocoa powder
Cornflour
Cous cous
Crab apple jelly x 4
Creamed coconut, sachet x 3
Crystallised ginger
Currants
Dark brown sugar
Dates x 2
Demerara sugar
Easy cook long grain rice
Evaporated milk large
Gelatine
Golden syrup
Gram flour
Green split peas, dried
Grenadine
Hazelnuts, unshelled
Herbs and spices, too numerous to list
Honey
Icing, ready made coloured
Icing sugar
Japanese rice crackers
Jelly
Kirsch
Large cous cous
Light brown sugar
Long grain rice
Macaroni
Malt extract
Malt vinegar
Marmalade vodka
Marmalade x 2
Marzipan
Mincemeat
Mixed bean salad
Mixed nuts
Mixed seeds
Nori
Oatbran x 2
Oats
Onions
OO pasta flour
Pasta reindeers
Pasta twists
Pearl barley
Piccalilli
Plain flour
Plum chutney
Plum tomatoes
Polenta, ready made x 2
Porcini mushrooms, dried
Port
Potatoes
Pudding rice
Red kidney beans, dried
Red kidney beans, tinned
Red lentils
Redcurrant chutney x 3
Rhubarb chutney x 4
Roasted savoury seed mix
Self raising flour
Semolina?
Seri kaya, tinned
Sesame halva x 2
Sesame oil
Sesame seeds
Sloe vodka
Soy sauce
Suet
Sultanas
Teabags
Tomato ketchup
Walnuts
Wheatgerm
Whole chestnuts
Wine, home made
Xanthan gum
Freezer
(Items in blue have been made and added to the freezer since the challenge started)
Baguette
Baked beans
Bananas, 2
Black beans, cooked
Blackcurrants
Breadcrumbs
Chicken giblets
Chicken legs, raw
Chicken liver pate
Cooked chicken wings
Filo pastry, 2 packs
Flat bread
Gooseberries
Leeks
Lentil loaf, 2 slices x 2
Lemon juice?
Liver cake (dogs!)
Mini mince pies
Muffins
Naan, 2 x 2
Paneer
Peas
Puff pastry
Redcurrants x 3
Seeded loaf
Shortcrust pastry, tiny bit!
Sloes
Soya beans
Spinach
White wine, 2 small pots
Whole trout x 2
I made these lists earlier this week so have excluded some items already. I will score through items as I use them. I have been using up stuff from the fridge too but I didn't make a list until today....
Fridge
(Items in blue have been made or bought since the challenge began)
Aubergine
Balsamic vinegar
Barbecue sauce
Beetroot, fresh
Brown sauce
Butternut squash
Carrots
Celery
Cheddar
Cherry jam
Dill pickles
Hoisin sauce
Lemons, 3
Mango chutney
Marmalade
Mayonnaise
Milk
Mint syrup
Mushrooms
Parsnips
Pickled beetroot
Pickled onions
Pickled red cabbage
Red onion relish
Redcurrant chutney
Redcurrant jelly
Redcurrant vinegar
Rhubarb relish
Root ginger
Salad cream
Soy sauce
Sun dried tomato pesto
Sweet tomato and chilli chutney
Tomatoes
So, barring a few odd things I may have missed and stuff lurking elsewhere other than in the pantry, freezer and fridge, there you have it! Quite interesting reading, well for me anyway! I seem to have a chutney fetish! Lol So, down to business, I will be endeavouring to use as much of what I have with minimal spending, watch this space for updates! If you've made it this far.... bloody well done you! Lol
Back to some foodie blogging!
Yay, here I am reclaiming my foodie blog after a hiatus of some months. ;o) No apologies, life just overtook me on this particular front!
A quick romp through my festive cooking adventures to start! This year I resolutely stuck with my food budget for over the Christmas period. (yeah, I know, I was somewhat smug! lol) That meant I did alot more baking than in recent years which can only be good in my eyes! I didn't buy any mince pies at all although sadly I didn't get around to making my own mincemeat but hey ho. I spent Christmas Day at my parents so no Christmas lunch cooking for me, booooo! I did however entertain on Boxing Day and made a big puffy pastried chicken pie followed by Jamie Oliver's artic roll....
I really enjoyed making this, it was aaaaaaaages since I'd made a swiss roll and it was fun rolling it up with raspberry jam, chocolate and vanilla ice creams oozing out! I dispensed with the crushed Crunchie, of course, but I don't think that detracted from the flavour at all. :o)
On New Year's Eve we rolled out the Raclette as is now traditional!
I must search out some more specific Raclette recipes though.
I have now embarked on my annual New Year activity of using up what I have instead of shopping for more. :o) A blog post specifically about this challenge coming up....
It's good to be back!
A quick romp through my festive cooking adventures to start! This year I resolutely stuck with my food budget for over the Christmas period. (yeah, I know, I was somewhat smug! lol) That meant I did alot more baking than in recent years which can only be good in my eyes! I didn't buy any mince pies at all although sadly I didn't get around to making my own mincemeat but hey ho. I spent Christmas Day at my parents so no Christmas lunch cooking for me, booooo! I did however entertain on Boxing Day and made a big puffy pastried chicken pie followed by Jamie Oliver's artic roll....
I really enjoyed making this, it was aaaaaaaages since I'd made a swiss roll and it was fun rolling it up with raspberry jam, chocolate and vanilla ice creams oozing out! I dispensed with the crushed Crunchie, of course, but I don't think that detracted from the flavour at all. :o)
On New Year's Eve we rolled out the Raclette as is now traditional!
I must search out some more specific Raclette recipes though.
I have now embarked on my annual New Year activity of using up what I have instead of shopping for more. :o) A blog post specifically about this challenge coming up....
It's good to be back!
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Kohl rabi coleslaw
Last week kohl rabi appeared in my organic veg box. Usually I would use it in soup or a dauphinoise style dish but there was a nice recipe on the leaflet which came with the veg so I thought I'd give it a whirl. As is my wont I adapted the recipe a little but it basically amounted to finely sliced kohl rabi, carrot and onion in fat free Greek yogurt mixed with a teaspoon of white wine vinegar, chopped fresh mint and a jigger of sun dried tomato pesto then, once mixed, sprinkled with smoked paprika. It was delicious although my husband wasn't very open to the experience!
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Hey man, I just want some muesli...
After months on holiday I do believe my Foodie Muse has returned, yay! ;oD
A little update if you can bear it, if not, feel free to skip over this bit! ;o) Most folk who know me relatively well will know that I like to cook, I like to try new stuff, I hate to waste stuff, I love using leftovers, I love to bake, I try to avoid processed foods, I have a thing about The Devil's Supermarket (aka Tescos) and a bee in my bonnet about organic food and I'm trying to be healthier and lose weight, to name but a few food related facts! Over the last few months, I know not what happened or why, but I slipped into some dirty habits... processed food has been creeping in, I've not been baking or cooking nearly as much as I'd like to, my health has suffered, I've put weight back on, yada, yada, yada! But, for a variety of reasons, the rot has stopped and I'm getting back down to it, yippee! ;o)
Yesterday my husband chalked cereal (well, he actually chalked CERIAL but his spelling misdemeanors are a whole different story!) on the board in the kitchen as he'd run out, he's pretty much the lone cereal eater in this house, his breakfast is always cereal, 365days a year he'll start his day (and sometimes end it) with a bowl of cereal. I try to ring the changes when I buy cereal, keep any boredom setting in and normally buy 3 or 4 different sorts each time but yesterday I'd just declared that we need to go on a serious economy drive so instead of going out to buy said cereal I rummaged about in the pantry and decided to make Maz's Marvellous Muesli thereby saving some money and using up various bits and bobs in the process. The hubster loves muesli, he favours Alpen and I don't blame him, I've bought cheaper stuff in the past and they've amounted to a bowl of dust with a couple of sad raisins if you're lucky! So, museli making it was....
I use my casual chuck it and chance it method when making muesli so no two batches will ever be the same! This time I used porridge oats, natural puffed rice (I found half a bag cowering at the back of the meat safe), a handful of nuts (husband isn't a big fan of nuts), shredded coconut, dried apple, mango, banana and pineapple, figs, sultanas, cherries, cranberries and I even threw in a jigger of chocolate chips. The wide variety of dried fruit was mainly courtesy of Graze boxes. I had a little backlog of these lovely little boxes and decided to put them to good use. Incidentally, if you've never tried a Graze box, go to the website and use this code, CR1BJYV, and you can have a free one. ;o)
And hey presto.... muesli.... ;o)
A little update if you can bear it, if not, feel free to skip over this bit! ;o) Most folk who know me relatively well will know that I like to cook, I like to try new stuff, I hate to waste stuff, I love using leftovers, I love to bake, I try to avoid processed foods, I have a thing about The Devil's Supermarket (aka Tescos) and a bee in my bonnet about organic food and I'm trying to be healthier and lose weight, to name but a few food related facts! Over the last few months, I know not what happened or why, but I slipped into some dirty habits... processed food has been creeping in, I've not been baking or cooking nearly as much as I'd like to, my health has suffered, I've put weight back on, yada, yada, yada! But, for a variety of reasons, the rot has stopped and I'm getting back down to it, yippee! ;o)
Yesterday my husband chalked cereal (well, he actually chalked CERIAL but his spelling misdemeanors are a whole different story!) on the board in the kitchen as he'd run out, he's pretty much the lone cereal eater in this house, his breakfast is always cereal, 365days a year he'll start his day (and sometimes end it) with a bowl of cereal. I try to ring the changes when I buy cereal, keep any boredom setting in and normally buy 3 or 4 different sorts each time but yesterday I'd just declared that we need to go on a serious economy drive so instead of going out to buy said cereal I rummaged about in the pantry and decided to make Maz's Marvellous Muesli thereby saving some money and using up various bits and bobs in the process. The hubster loves muesli, he favours Alpen and I don't blame him, I've bought cheaper stuff in the past and they've amounted to a bowl of dust with a couple of sad raisins if you're lucky! So, museli making it was....
I use my casual chuck it and chance it method when making muesli so no two batches will ever be the same! This time I used porridge oats, natural puffed rice (I found half a bag cowering at the back of the meat safe), a handful of nuts (husband isn't a big fan of nuts), shredded coconut, dried apple, mango, banana and pineapple, figs, sultanas, cherries, cranberries and I even threw in a jigger of chocolate chips. The wide variety of dried fruit was mainly courtesy of Graze boxes. I had a little backlog of these lovely little boxes and decided to put them to good use. Incidentally, if you've never tried a Graze box, go to the website and use this code, CR1BJYV, and you can have a free one. ;o)
And hey presto.... muesli.... ;o)
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Squash Soup
I had this beautiful beast of a squash in my veg box...
Don't you just love the glorious colour? Such a blast of sunshine in these dismal winter days! So, sunshine soup was on the cards. ;o) I used half of the beast, chopped up and then fried with chopped onion, garlic and cumin...
Then sploshed in a bit of stock and simmered until the squash was soft.
Then I whizzed it all up with a few jiggers of milk and served with a swirl of cream and some bacon flavoured bits, oh and some hot buttered toast of course!
Squashes make such gorgeously smooth, sexy soups! Soup-a-rama! ;o)
Don't you just love the glorious colour? Such a blast of sunshine in these dismal winter days! So, sunshine soup was on the cards. ;o) I used half of the beast, chopped up and then fried with chopped onion, garlic and cumin...
Then sploshed in a bit of stock and simmered until the squash was soft.
Then I whizzed it all up with a few jiggers of milk and served with a swirl of cream and some bacon flavoured bits, oh and some hot buttered toast of course!
Squashes make such gorgeously smooth, sexy soups! Soup-a-rama! ;o)
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Egg Bound!
Our chickens are giving it some! They are laying eggs like it's going out of fashion and consequently I have some serious egg cookery to indulge in! ;o)
Lunchtime today we had scrambled egg and baked beans on toast and for dinner this evening it was veg tortilla. ;o) Thinking about blogging earlier today I fell to pondering what the difference is between tortilla and frittata? It would appear they are the same thing, both omelettes basically but tortilla is Spanish and frittata is Italian. So, now I know! ;o)
Whichever this is, I can confirm that it was delicious! I love a simple dish and this is one of those. ;o) I just fried an onion in a little olive oil with some herbs, added it to a dish with cooked broccoli, potatos and carrots and poured over an ad hoc egg and milk mixture with some seasoning, sprinkle it with grated cheese and bunged it in the oven for about 40 minutes. Eggorama! ;o)
Now that we, well, my husband and daughter really, have ploughed through biscuits, cakes and mince pies leftover from the festivities I will be able to use up some eggs in some baking. I haven't baked since Christmas Eve and I'm feeling in need of a blast of baking therapy! ;oD I may indulge my husband in some custard tarts to use yet more eggs up, watch this space!
Saturday, 1 January 2011
New Year, Renewed Blogging!
It's been a while since I've blogged in a foodie manner and here I am set to pick up the reins as we gallop into 2011. ;)
For dinner this evening we had slow cooker macaroni cheese, a dish we usually have at some point over the festive period. I can't remember just who I got this recipe from, otherwise I'd credit them, but it was via one of the Yahoo groups I used to belong to. You need to get over the fact that it's not really akin to "real" macaroni cheese made with cheese sauce but it has a charm of it's own. Made as per the recipe it has about 300 calories per portion - if divided into four portions which is really a quite generous portion. So, the recipe...
Slow Cooker Macaroni Cheese
2 cups uncooked macaroni
2 cups cottage cheese
2 cups grated cheese
2 cups boiling water
Layer first three ingredients into slow cooker. DO NOT MIX. Pour the boiling water over and cook on high for three hours. Stir very well and serve.
That's all there is to it but, true to form, I do tinker with the recipe a little! I often make it with milk instead of water, just heat it up before pouring it in. It can be a bit clarty so if you like it a bit more saucy add another half a cup of liquid. It doesn't look very pleasant when it's cooked but perks up no end after a good stirring!To add a bit of variety, cottage cheese with onion and chives or other flavour is nice. This evening I served it with some grilled bacon and a speinkle of extra grated cheese. ;o)
For dinner this evening we had slow cooker macaroni cheese, a dish we usually have at some point over the festive period. I can't remember just who I got this recipe from, otherwise I'd credit them, but it was via one of the Yahoo groups I used to belong to. You need to get over the fact that it's not really akin to "real" macaroni cheese made with cheese sauce but it has a charm of it's own. Made as per the recipe it has about 300 calories per portion - if divided into four portions which is really a quite generous portion. So, the recipe...
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| From this... |
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| ...to this! |
Slow Cooker Macaroni Cheese
2 cups uncooked macaroni
2 cups cottage cheese
2 cups grated cheese
2 cups boiling water
Layer first three ingredients into slow cooker. DO NOT MIX. Pour the boiling water over and cook on high for three hours. Stir very well and serve.
That's all there is to it but, true to form, I do tinker with the recipe a little! I often make it with milk instead of water, just heat it up before pouring it in. It can be a bit clarty so if you like it a bit more saucy add another half a cup of liquid. It doesn't look very pleasant when it's cooked but perks up no end after a good stirring!To add a bit of variety, cottage cheese with onion and chives or other flavour is nice. This evening I served it with some grilled bacon and a speinkle of extra grated cheese. ;o)
Friday, 10 September 2010
New Passions
Summer has been busy and blogging has passed me by a tad but here I am catching up a bit now school has started back. ;o)
New passions....well, over the summer I have developed a passion for aubergines! ;o) I found a receipe for an aubergine dip, Baba Ghanoush (don't you just love that name?), in a library book called Easy Vegan and gave it a whirl. It is deeeeeeeeelicious! ;o)
2lbs aubergine
about 2/3 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 tbsp tahini
freshly squeezed juice of 1 – 2 lemons or to taste
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
To serve:
1 tbsp sweet paprika
3 tbsp oilve oil
2 tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
toasted pitta bread or other flatbread, to serve
Serves 4 - 6
Preheat over to 200C/Gas mark 6
Trim the aubergines, peel then slice thickly. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet and brush both sides with olive oil. Roast in the oven for about 20 minutes, until browning and soft, turning them once.
Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.Transfer to a food processor and add the garlic, tahini and the juice of 1 lemon. Process until creamy, then taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper and more lemon juice.
Pour or spoon into a shallow dish. Mix the paprika with the 3 tbsp olive oil and trickle it over the top of the baba ghanoush. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with strips of toasted pitta bread for dipping.
Note: For a softer garlic flavour, roast the garlic cloves whole and unpeeled with the aubergines then squeeze the soft flesh out of the skins and blend with aubergines.
I roast my garlic, love squeezing it out (must try it on bread, mmmmm!) and I used smoked paprika for the dressing. It's almost superseded my hummous passion! ;o)
My other new, not to mention astonishing, passion is COFFEE! Seriously, I love coffee! Anyone who knows me in the real world will know that I don't do tea or coffee, never have done, and in the case of coffee I can't bear the smell! Well, all that changed last month when at the ripe old age of 44 I took my first tentative sips of the brew I now adore! ;o) I've spoken before about how my tastes have changed over the last few years and how I eat lots of things I disliked in the past and coffee is another on the list. For a few months I had been thinking coffee smelt nice! That in itself is something of a surprise after loathing it for so many years! When I finally tried my first cup of coffee I was instantly surprised at liking it and since have been on a flavoursome trawl through the world of coffee! I even have my very own cafetiere now! ;o) I love it when new flavours burst into my life and I'm revelling in this one. By the way, for anyone I meet in real life....strong, splash of milk, one sugar please! ;o)
New passions....well, over the summer I have developed a passion for aubergines! ;o) I found a receipe for an aubergine dip, Baba Ghanoush (don't you just love that name?), in a library book called Easy Vegan and gave it a whirl. It is deeeeeeeeelicious! ;o)
Here's the recipe as written in the book....
Baba Ghanoush (smoked aubergine dip)
This creamy dip can be served as part of a selection of little dishes or a simple appetizer/starter. Normally the dish is made from vegetables that have been roasted whole and the flesh scooped out. In this version, they are peeled, then sliced and roasted, so the result is much more mellow.2lbs aubergine
about 2/3 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 tbsp tahini
freshly squeezed juice of 1 – 2 lemons or to taste
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
To serve:
1 tbsp sweet paprika
3 tbsp oilve oil
2 tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
toasted pitta bread or other flatbread, to serve
Serves 4 - 6
Preheat over to 200C/Gas mark 6
Trim the aubergines, peel then slice thickly. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet and brush both sides with olive oil. Roast in the oven for about 20 minutes, until browning and soft, turning them once.
Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.Transfer to a food processor and add the garlic, tahini and the juice of 1 lemon. Process until creamy, then taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper and more lemon juice.
Pour or spoon into a shallow dish. Mix the paprika with the 3 tbsp olive oil and trickle it over the top of the baba ghanoush. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with strips of toasted pitta bread for dipping.
Note: For a softer garlic flavour, roast the garlic cloves whole and unpeeled with the aubergines then squeeze the soft flesh out of the skins and blend with aubergines.
I roast my garlic, love squeezing it out (must try it on bread, mmmmm!) and I used smoked paprika for the dressing. It's almost superseded my hummous passion! ;o)
My other new, not to mention astonishing, passion is COFFEE! Seriously, I love coffee! Anyone who knows me in the real world will know that I don't do tea or coffee, never have done, and in the case of coffee I can't bear the smell! Well, all that changed last month when at the ripe old age of 44 I took my first tentative sips of the brew I now adore! ;o) I've spoken before about how my tastes have changed over the last few years and how I eat lots of things I disliked in the past and coffee is another on the list. For a few months I had been thinking coffee smelt nice! That in itself is something of a surprise after loathing it for so many years! When I finally tried my first cup of coffee I was instantly surprised at liking it and since have been on a flavoursome trawl through the world of coffee! I even have my very own cafetiere now! ;o) I love it when new flavours burst into my life and I'm revelling in this one. By the way, for anyone I meet in real life....strong, splash of milk, one sugar please! ;o)
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Redcurrant-o-rama!
Earlier this week I was given 10lbs of redcurrants. ;o) What's a girl to do? Well, this girl gets her preserving pan out! ;o) First on the menu was chutney. I've never made chutney with redcurrants so I hope it turns out to be tasty. The recipe consisted of redcurrants, cooking apples, raisins, sugar, vinegar and spices:
Then it's just cooked.....
...until it thickens up. Chutney isn't a fast moving thing, it bubbles away at it's leisure until it reaches it's destination. ;o) It probably wasn't my brightest idea ever to turn the kitchen into a steamy chutney den in this current spate of hot weather! However, eventually I got there...
I now have ten pots of redcurrant chutney gracing my pantry shelves, looking forward to trying it in a few weeks time when it has brewed. ;oD
On the evening of Chutney Day I started the process of making redcurrant jelly, which I love! I ended up with nine pots of jelly the next day and very yummy it is too. ;o) No pics of the jelly making process as it totally escaped me! I want to try making mint jelly this year as I adore that ~ my favourite sandwich is lettuce and mint jelly ~ but have never yet made it.
Next on the redcurrant hit list was muffins from this recipe. These turned out nice if a little flat!
Then it's just cooked.....
...until it thickens up. Chutney isn't a fast moving thing, it bubbles away at it's leisure until it reaches it's destination. ;o) It probably wasn't my brightest idea ever to turn the kitchen into a steamy chutney den in this current spate of hot weather! However, eventually I got there...
On the evening of Chutney Day I started the process of making redcurrant jelly, which I love! I ended up with nine pots of jelly the next day and very yummy it is too. ;o) No pics of the jelly making process as it totally escaped me! I want to try making mint jelly this year as I adore that ~ my favourite sandwich is lettuce and mint jelly ~ but have never yet made it.
Next on the redcurrant hit list was muffins from this recipe. These turned out nice if a little flat!
They panned out at only about 165 calories too so quite a healthy muffin at that. You can't really tell but the muffin papers are flower shaped ones that I received in a Swap-Bot baking swap recently.
Last to roll off the redcurrant production line yesterday was redcurrant vinegar. I haven't ever made a flavoured vinegar so I thought I'd have a go as I'm experimenting with salad dressings alot more these days. It was very simple, 1 1/2 cups of redcurrants into a jar with a generous pinch each of sugar and salt, smooshed up with a masher and then 1 1/2 cups white wine vinegar poured over the top. This is what it currently looks like :
It has to spend a week in a cool dark place and then be strained ready to use. Looking forward to giving it a whirl in a dressing next weekend. ;o)
And just a random foodie thing before I go on my way....if you've ever heard me rant about crustless bread you'd have been surprised to find me in Tesco yesterday buying a loaf of the heinous product! The reason? My lovely daughter had braces fitted on Monday and has been wasting away on a diet of noodles, rice pudding and yogurts but has now progressed sufficiently to be able to gently chew crustless bread and butter, bless her! My hone made bread isn't soft enough for her to tackle yet hence my crime against food yesterday!
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
When life gives you lemons....
.... make lemonade! When I was a little girl, every summer my mum would make home made lemonade and I've always loved it. When I left home I went armed with the recipe and I've probably made it every year since. Now, technically, I don't suppose it is a lemonade since it's not fizzy and you have to dilute it, so, more of a squash really! Anyway, here's the recipe:
My Mum's Lemonade
3 lemons
2 pints water
2lb sugar
1/2 oz citric acid
Put sugar and water in a pan, bring to the boil and boil for 10 minutes with the lid on (unless you like cleaning sticky stove tops!). Peel lemons thinly and place peel in a bowl. Squeeze lemons and reserve juice. Pour syrup over the peel and leave to stand overnight. In the morning, add the lemon juice and citric acid and stir until citric acid has dissolved. Strain and bottle. Keep in the fridge. Dilute to taste.
I usually bottle mine into empty plastic squash or water bottles but recently, whilst staying at a friend's holiday cottage, I bought a glass bottle of pink lemonade from the corner shop with this sort of groovy stopper (see pic), reusuable and it's perfect for my lemonade. ;o) Citric acid can be a bit tricky to lay your hands on but most larger chemists have it under the counter as it were! ;o) Oh, the times I've had to explain to the assistant just why I want citric acid! I've tinkered with the recipe over the years and have successfully made versions with limes and oranges although lemons remain my favourite. At this time of year it's lovely to add elderflower heads, I love the flavour of elderflower. ;o)
Now, then....if I feel stressed or low or cross (or a myriad of other things to be honest!) I will head to the kitchen to bake and soothe my troubled soul. ;o) This evening I did just that and made cheese and bacon muffins....
My Mum's Lemonade
3 lemons
2 pints water
2lb sugar
1/2 oz citric acid
Put sugar and water in a pan, bring to the boil and boil for 10 minutes with the lid on (unless you like cleaning sticky stove tops!). Peel lemons thinly and place peel in a bowl. Squeeze lemons and reserve juice. Pour syrup over the peel and leave to stand overnight. In the morning, add the lemon juice and citric acid and stir until citric acid has dissolved. Strain and bottle. Keep in the fridge. Dilute to taste.
Now, then....if I feel stressed or low or cross (or a myriad of other things to be honest!) I will head to the kitchen to bake and soothe my troubled soul. ;o) This evening I did just that and made cheese and bacon muffins....
My seventeen year old daughter has extreme (and I mean extreme!) trouble dragging herself out of bed in the mornings and as a consequence often misses out on breakfast before we head off for the school bus. ;o( Sometimes I make muffins to freeze so that she can grab one and go and that's what these are intended for. Quite often when I bake it's the baking process I require and not the end product but this evening I did partake of a warm muffin and bloody lovely it was too! It certainly hit the spot! ;o)
I also made some plain fairy cakes which I'll transform into butterfly cakes tomorrow with buttercream from the freezer. I only recently discovered that buttercream is freezable ~ yes, I know, I have BIG gaps in my culinary knowledge! ;oD ~ and this is the first time I've used some so I will be interested to see how it's fared in the freezer. On the subject of freezers....I also intended making some ginger thins this evening and I did indeed knock up the biscuit dough but being of an impatient nature I bunged it in the freezer (instead of the fridge) to firm it up before cutting into rounds for baking and then completely forgot about it! ;oD So, that'll keep for when I next have the oven on!
Feeling the pinch but not losing the flavour!
So, like many others, we find ourselves in a pretty unpleasant place financially speaking, boooooo! Without going into a long winded ramble about the whys and wherefores of it all what I will say is that our grocery bill is at least one of the places where I can attempt to make a few savings. I know there will have to be compromises and that's fair but they will have to be made working around my odd views! ;o) With a few exceptions, the meat I buy is always organic and I'm not prepared to make compromises on that one. I'd rather eat smaller portions of organic meat and more vegetarian fare (which I love!) than buy cheaper non organic meat. At the first day nursery I was cook for they used to make me use value mince and if that's not a crystal clear example of a false economy I don't know what is! Other than meat I buy organic butter, milk and fruit & veg. I usually try and buy organic flours and sugars, Fairtrade tea and coffee and other stuff as well but I may have to be alot more selective for a while.
I've posted before about my self imposed pantry challenges where I try and use up stuff from my pantry and freezer rather than buy new and I'm embarking on another bout now! I like a challenge and I especially like a foodie based challenge. ;o) So, you can expect tales of leftovers and inventive concoctions! ;oD Right now, I have a loaf of Courgette Country Grain Bread in my breadmaker, a recipe from Jennie Shapter's Ultimate Bread Machine book. It's not one I've tried before but I had a courgette fading fast in the fridge that I didn't want to waste! This morning I made a sugar free jelly from the pantry....yes, I know, I'm 44 but I love jelly! ;oD Lunch today will be home made smoked paprika veg soup and bought (well, it was 25p and I couldn't help myself!) cheese & tomato flatbread that have both been in the freezer for a wee while. Haven't considered dinner yet but I have plenty of salad to use up along with bacon in the fridge so it may be home made potato salad (with onion and bacon) and salad. ;o)
Well, that was all rivetting stuff wasn't it? LOL
I've posted before about my self imposed pantry challenges where I try and use up stuff from my pantry and freezer rather than buy new and I'm embarking on another bout now! I like a challenge and I especially like a foodie based challenge. ;o) So, you can expect tales of leftovers and inventive concoctions! ;oD Right now, I have a loaf of Courgette Country Grain Bread in my breadmaker, a recipe from Jennie Shapter's Ultimate Bread Machine book. It's not one I've tried before but I had a courgette fading fast in the fridge that I didn't want to waste! This morning I made a sugar free jelly from the pantry....yes, I know, I'm 44 but I love jelly! ;oD Lunch today will be home made smoked paprika veg soup and bought (well, it was 25p and I couldn't help myself!) cheese & tomato flatbread that have both been in the freezer for a wee while. Haven't considered dinner yet but I have plenty of salad to use up along with bacon in the fridge so it may be home made potato salad (with onion and bacon) and salad. ;o)
Well, that was all rivetting stuff wasn't it? LOL
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Tapas, Seasonal Eating and Lemon Loveliness!
I love a new food experience and last week I partook of Tapas for the first time. ;o) I'd never had Spanish food, mainly because the opportunity had never presented itself but also because I've always thought I probably wouldn't like it! Now I know better. ;o) I went to a La Tasca in Edinburgh with my lovely friend, Elizabeth. Not knowing much about the subject we elected for one of the set menus which consisted of eight dishes to share:
Tortilla Española
Spanish-style omelette with potato and onion.
Albóndigas a la Jardinera
La Tasca’s beef & pork meatballs, served in a tomato sauce
Pollo Marbella
Chicken breast cooked with paprika, chorizo, peppers, onion and a white wine & cream sauce
Croquetas de Pollo
Chicken croquettes, with roasted garlic mayonnaise
Chorizo Frito al Vino
Spicy Spanish sausage, flavoured with paprika, garlic and herbs, sautéed in red wine.
Gambas Pil Pil
Six king prawns, sizzling in a chilli-&-garlic-infused oil.
Paella Valenciana
Paella with chicken breast and mixed seafood.
Patatas Bravas
Fried potato, with a spicy tomato sauce.
Berenjenas Gratinadas
Fresh aubergine, baked in a tomato, garlic & wine sauce, topped with Cheddar cheese.
Ensalada Verde Mixta
Fresh baby spinach, lamb’s lettuce and baby gem, with avocado, cucumber and onion.
Preceding all that lovely yumminess was:
Pan de Barra Catalán
Fresh bread served with two dipping oils:
Catalán – a tomato & oil dip; picada – a garlic & herb oil
and
Aceitunas Mixtas
Mixed Spanish olives, marinated in extra-virgin olive oil, herbs, lemon and sweet pimento peppers.
And to wash it all merrily on it's way:
Fruity-Fizz Sangría
Extra-fruity sangría, with orange liqueur, peach schnapps, brandy and fresh orange slices, mixed with cava.
I have to say, I enjoyed every dish that we had! ;o) I think my favourites were probably the Pollo Marbella and the Croquetas de Pollo. The sangria was a new experience too and, my word, that goes straight to your head doesn't it? ;oD Staggering along to the station to catch the last train back to Lockerbie I was questioning my decision to drink but it was good fun! lol I'm a recent convert to olives - having loathed them for many years I recently tried them again and mysteriously I like them now! I don't know if I'm just more open to new flavours nowadays or it's hormonal or what but my tastes have definitely been changing over the last couple of years. Suddenly I love lots of things I've always disliked and a whole new avenue of flavoursome adventures has opened up to me! ;o)
I am a big fan of seasonal eating and I loathe that everything is available all year round, it's just not right! Now, if ever there was a case to be made for seasonal eating then surely the first plumptious English strawberries of the season is it? I had my first strawberries of this year a couple of days ago and they were just deliciously fabulous, why would anyone want to miss that taste bud tingling annual moment by eating the disappointing tasteless specimens wheeled in from sunnier climes all year round?? And if it needs seconding, what about the firsts of asparagus, new potatoes, rhubarb, parsnips? Come on, guys, eat seasonally! Check out Eat the Seasons! Ok, hopping down off my soapbox now....
To finish off my post a little baking... remember I made some luscious lemon curd the night before I went away? Well, this week when the baking urge was upon me I made some little plain cakes, sliced the tops and treated them to a goodly dollop of the aforementioned lemon curd each then topped with lemon icing and little lemon slices. ;o)
Friday, 28 May 2010
Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy
My chickens are really getting into their stride now and so I've had a glut of eggs to use up of late! This evening I hard boiled eight eggs (they're still quite small) for picnic sandwiches tomorrow and I also made lemon curd for the first time in ages to use a few extra eggs. I used to dislike lemon curd hugely but my tastes are definitely changing as I get older and I love it now! There's a recipe for honey curd in the book I used the lemon curd recipe from which I found interesting, never seen that before, worth a try me thinks. I also want to try passionfruit curd too, yummy! ;o)
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