tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42069534380878463332024-03-14T02:41:38.266-07:00Notes and Photographs from a Small IslandNotes, thoughts, recipes and photographs from the UKannhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.comBlogger264125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-40350895483517726042013-01-05T04:50:00.000-08:002013-01-05T04:50:08.818-08:00Yoghurt CakeThis cake is so easy to make and children will love to help in the kitchen. It is called yoghurt cake as it uses a 125ml yoghurt pot to measure out all the ingredients.<br />
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<br />
<strong>Yoghurt Cake</strong><br />
<strong>Ingredients</strong><br />
1 x carton natural yoghurt (also works well with flavoured yoghurt - just choose your favourite)<br />
1 x carton sunflower oil<br />
2 x cartons sugar<br />
3 x cartons SR flour<br />
3 cartons mixed ried fruit<br />
3 eggs<br />
<br />
<strong>Method</strong><br />
1. Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin with parchment paper<br />
2. Pre-heat the oven to 160C/Gas 3<br />
3. Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl until well creamed together - use either a wooden <br />
spoon or electric mixer<br />
4. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for one and a half hours until the cake is risen, golden and springs back when touched. a skewer inserted should come out clean.<br />
5. Leave in the tin to cool<br />
6. Store in an airtight tin - will keep for a few days<br />
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<br />
You could vary the ingredients and add cocoa to make it chocolate, or add different mixed fruits with some nuts. <br />
Whatever you choose enjoy this quick and easy cake to make.annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-18639748900905335362013-01-04T10:20:00.001-08:002013-01-04T10:20:30.691-08:00Fake-Away Chinese FoodLove Chinese food? but hate that false taste with high fat, high sugar and salt, then make your own in just 15 minutes. I love this easy recipe and you could make the sauce to go with any meat or fish you like. I use Chicken as it is low in fat.<br />
<br />
Sweet and Sour Chicken - (Fake-away)<br />
1 tabsp. oil (I use olive oil, but you can use veg oil)<br />
1 onion - peeled and diced<br />
1 green pepper - de-seeded and sliced<br />
1 yellow peper - de-seeded and sliced<br />
thumb piece of fresh ginger - peeled and grated<br />
1 can pineapple pieces <br />
1 can water chestnuts - cut in half<br />
2 chicken breasts - cut into chunks (I use scissors, it's easier)<br />
<strong>Sauce</strong><br />
100ml pineapple juice - drained from can<br />
150ml water<br />
2 tabsp. tomato sauce<br />
2 tabsp. brown sugar<br />
2 tabsp. white wine vinegar<br />
2 tabsp. soy sauce<br />
2 tsp. cornflour<br />
Rice - I use sticky Jasmine or Egg Fried Rice (bought from supermarket)<br />
<br />
<strong>Method</strong><br />
1. Drain the juice from the pineapple into a bowl, add the water, tomato sauce, white wine vinegar, soy sauce and brown sugar.<br />
2. Mix a drop of water and the cornflour together to make a paste, add to the bowl and mix well.<br />
3. Heat the oil in a large frypan and fry the onion and peppers for 3 - 4 mins<br />
4. Add the chicken and continue stirring until changes colour and starts to brown - don't over cook<br />
5. Add the grated ginger, water chestnuts and pineapple - stir well<br />
6. Add the sauce mixture and continu to stir until it starts to boil.<br />
turn the heat down and leave to simmer for 8-10 mins until the chicken is cooked and the sauce has started to thicken.<br />
7. Microwave the rice according to the instructions - I use 1 tub or 2 if we are really hungry.<br />
<br />
Place the rice on a plate and heap the Sweet and Sour over it.<br />
<br />
This is such a great recipe and I know what all the ingredients are. You can of course make your own rice, but I buy it on a Friday night ready for our Fake - Away.<br />
<br />
Enjoy!annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-69184784025990089712013-01-01T07:40:00.000-08:002013-01-01T07:40:09.077-08:00Cheese, Leek and Onion PastiesSo much rich food over the past week that I thought I would share this recipe with you. Make it from those store cupboard items and eat cold as a snack, or serve with a green salad. Whatever you choose enjoy!<br />
<br />
<strong>Cheese, Leek and</strong> <strong>Onion Pasties (makes 8)</strong><br />
<strong>Ingredients</strong><br />
400g potatoes - peeled and roughly chopped into small chunks<br />
300ml cold water<br />
vegetable stock<br />
2 me3dium leeks - trimmed and cut into 5mm slices<br />
1 onion - peeled and finely chopped<br />
500g white bread mix<br />
100g mature Cheddar cheese - grated<br />
black pepper<br />
<br />
<strong>Method</strong><br />
1. Put the potatoes into a large pan with the cold water, crumble over the stock cube and bring to the<br />
boil and cook for 5 minutes.<br />
2. Add the leeks and onion and continue to cook for a further 5 - 10 mins until the vegetables are<br />
cooked.<br />
3. Leave to cool<br />
4. Make the pastry by following the instructions on the packet of bread mix - until you reach the<br />
stage of shaping the dough.<br />
5. Divide the dough into 8 pieces, flatten out and into rounds.<br />
6. Stir the grated cheese into the vegetables, add some seasoning to taste.<br />
7. Pre-heat the oven to Gas 6/220C<br />
8. Divide the vegetable mixture onto the shaped dough.<br />
9. Brush with milk and seal the edges.<br />
10 Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown and hot inside.<br />
<br />
Serve warm or cold<br />
<br />
<strong>NOTE</strong><br />
I sometimes use packet pizza mix, which works just as well<br />
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annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-57436293478589235902012-12-31T12:28:00.001-08:002012-12-31T12:28:51.006-08:00annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-53057699212115488142012-08-28T05:32:00.002-07:002012-08-28T05:55:09.977-07:00Titanic Belfast<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsTHnw3eHYGH-gC7aO0hO7aaH1Xt-j4HUqfcbrjhotQxN_V_VlmoRnd4LOddwzHwYQ-VfqHtV9USQEXnkIBVA9afc3UOfflNg15lPI2N3MAzHdqEuQIleP8o7EdKLLFXKLFPv0BECx6mv/s1600/IMG_6263.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9g1OjlAzbC-axmoCakDN9q-b71uSewkjiEyYzQp8czWMW83mYVJGT1jTuLZ19DTIlOJeMc5cIACYP7TEsHA6bl0jCgff6nUcBcvBriQR9qt9YyUttREsldKSaiXHP5c7t04HzQ2Kx7I5H/s1600/IMG_6263.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781705063749553298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9g1OjlAzbC-axmoCakDN9q-b71uSewkjiEyYzQp8czWMW83mYVJGT1jTuLZ19DTIlOJeMc5cIACYP7TEsHA6bl0jCgff6nUcBcvBriQR9qt9YyUttREsldKSaiXHP5c7t04HzQ2Kx7I5H/s200/IMG_6263.JPG" /></a> The Peace Wall - Belfast<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgF3CY99dvFVo_KtYdHopeSw95C9K2vS0vygnP0X0OegIZ0fBq1QCrc9i9gQH2lTqMHyAQsiYg8Llkm_dzU58zFuet6PkLfV3_8ofcUQFGWZo2TN4EbKD9D1uYx9VLvDb1pNtlcnGaTQo0/s1600/IMG_6246.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781705051476311090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgF3CY99dvFVo_KtYdHopeSw95C9K2vS0vygnP0X0OegIZ0fBq1QCrc9i9gQH2lTqMHyAQsiYg8Llkm_dzU58zFuet6PkLfV3_8ofcUQFGWZo2TN4EbKD9D1uYx9VLvDb1pNtlcnGaTQo0/s200/IMG_6246.JPG" /></a> Titanic Belfast Exhibition Centre - Belfast Harbour<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYFKD3-68bW2HFKZDpbUqH9pxkn0uVYikeXYTQnO782dRAXKz83KwPIb4D0A0_OB5rtqzHjjmO4e_-R8De4F-NAKy0Q-BlWJTtvGiN2hyj_kcVS4dwxTrDsIqvUid7l03Ugne_F2ryZB_/s1600/IMG_6244.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781705043557641762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYFKD3-68bW2HFKZDpbUqH9pxkn0uVYikeXYTQnO782dRAXKz83KwPIb4D0A0_OB5rtqzHjjmO4e_-R8De4F-NAKy0Q-BlWJTtvGiN2hyj_kcVS4dwxTrDsIqvUid7l03Ugne_F2ryZB_/s200/IMG_6244.JPG" /></a> The two cranes at Harland and Wolf shipyard<br /><br /><br /><br /><div>What a wonderful weekend. We decided to visit Titanic Belfast after watching a programme on TV and of course it is a hundred years ago that the great ship sank on her maiden voyage to New York.We sailed from Cainryan on the West coast of Scotland straight into Belfast harbour by Stena Line.We managed to get a great deal: our price of £23.00 per adult included the ferry crossing, coach transfer to the exhibition and the entrance fee to Titanic.Our crossing was flat calm with the sun shining - a rare treat on the Irish Sea.On our approach to Belfast Harbour the first thing you see is the two giant cranes from the Harland and Wolf shipyard - they have been there forever and are a landmark to Belfast. The coach took approximately 10 minutes to the exhibition centre and as you approach you see the most amazing building - built to represent the Titanic.We had timed tickets, which means you can enter at the specific time and are then free to wander around, taking your time to see everything - lots to see and do.the tour starts in Belfast with the planning of the Titanic and her sister ship the Olympus and includes what life was like for the workers in 1900. The Titanic took 2 years to build and fit out before her launch in 1912. The exhibition contains photographs of the people who sailed and worked on the ship. Perhaps the two luckiest workers were fireman who missed the departure as they were drunk in the pub and a photographer, who was offered a passage but decided at the last minute to leave the ship and go home. The whole exhibition offers the greatest insight into the life of the Titanic. The last room to visit shows her as she is to-day, lying on the seabed. Photographs and images from a camera that were takern earlier this year. I really felt I was there, experiencing the sights and sounds as she wnet to her watery grave.The coach collected us again at the said time and we were taken on a tour of Belfast city. It muist be some 20 years since I visited the city and so many changes - new buildings and a more peaceful place. We visited the Peace Wall which still stands and thousnads of people from all over the world have written messages of peac over the many piees of art work. Still a bit spooky with the electric gates that close every evening and at the weekends, but peace is uppermost in everyones minds and who knows one day the wall may come down.</div></div></div></div><br />annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-37965297483307535342012-08-18T07:55:00.002-07:002012-08-18T07:55:44.659-07:00Hello and I am backOh! boy have got alot of catching up to do. Home for the summer and just never got back to blogging. Missed everyone who dropped by and now I have to make time for me and for you.
The Village Show leaflet dropped through my letter box last week. This is our annual village show where everyone can enter their crafts, baking, garden produce and almose anything really. I have decided to enter some of the categories for fun and will attempt to make a bag, a floral decoration in a jug, bake a traybake and some brownies and maybe have a go at a limerick. I have been searching for ideas how to make fabric flowers as I feel they will go well in a jug.
So better get back to being creative and will post my ideas once everything is completed.
Hope you all have a great weekend and good to be back.annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-38323650516302239712012-02-11T05:49:00.000-08:002012-02-11T06:03:38.184-08:00Lemon MarmaladeThe first ever national marmalade week is being celebrated here in the UK. It kick-starts in the Lake District on 25th February for two wweeks. Not wanting to miss an opportunity I am making Orange Ginger Marmalade and a new Lemon Marmalade. I will be selling them at school to help raise money for our new Fairtrade Tuckshop.<br /><strong>Lemon Marmalade<br />Ingredients</strong><br />900g lemons<br />3.4litres water<br />675g sugar per 450g pulp<br /><br /><strong>Method</strong><br />Wash and dry the fruit. Cut in half and squeeze out the juice. Remove the pips, inside skin and pith. Tie these in a piece of muslin.<br />Cut the peel finely or coarsley according to preference<br />Put the peel in a large bowl with the bag of pips and the juice. Add the water and leave to soak overnight<br />Weight the preserving pan and make a note of the weight.<br />Put the soaked peel, pith and pips into it with the water and juice<br />Bring to the boil and simmer until the peel is soft and the contents of the pan have been reduced by half - approx 1 hour<br />Lift out the bag of pips and pith squeexing it against the side of the pan with a wooden spoon<br />Reweigh the pan and subtract from this weight the original weight of the empty pan to calculate the weight of the remaining pupl.<br />Add 675g warm sugar to each 450g of pulp, stir until all the sugar has dissolved<br />Bring to the boil and boil rapidly until the marmalade is set when tested on a cold saucer.<br />Remove any scum and leave to cool slightly<br />Pot and seal whilst still hot<br /><br />Makes about 6-7 jars.<br /><br />Something a bit different try to celelbrate marmalade week.annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-39599351498794987722012-01-28T11:49:00.000-08:002012-01-28T12:14:13.043-08:00Time to RelaxWhere have the last few weeks gone? Back to school and busy , busy busy and then the I'nspectors 'arrived. Here in the UK we have 5 days notice that they are arriving. As teachers we do a pretty good job all the time, but during inspection its nice to just tweak things up a bit. I was all set a couple of weeks ago as I was running a Farmhouse Breakfast Week, making sure everyone had breakfast before starting school. I am also running a Fair-trade Tuckshop. I made some flapjacks using fairtrade ingredients which went a bomb. I will post the recipe later.<br />Happy week.annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-75841175057591844412012-01-05T06:40:00.000-08:002012-01-06T01:52:12.218-08:00Cutting and Folding<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl0PaJCs9VxePsjVFz-CJcoKN3I4onf4HuWtx6CvBbg2IvNOd8jTFTKZEyD2HOWLE_Ok9ylueOmQbLuEkBs6tolnj2QX3fiwMOuuuC31IvfFxh13fOxYJ6grPuqSILcfqW5won-mfUKTs/s1600/IMG_5495.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl0PaJCs9VxePsjVFz-CJcoKN3I4onf4HuWtx6CvBbg2IvNOd8jTFTKZEyD2HOWLE_Ok9ylueOmQbLuEkBs6tolnj2QX3fiwMOuuuC31IvfFxh13fOxYJ6grPuqSILcfqW5won-mfUKTs/s200/IMG_5495.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694159948724887826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWuAKt0Lt9uTVa1X3NmHR24LCoa9Nm-l4H1iiz5gakuZK8LV7nbItEjHYOeyC67NORi0qCavI5iK5vCnFHUf9V3wKDiKdpSwdMiA_kMOF46TbwO1wWaTXvQEZqI-B23jhkkqzC2h7BoCB/s1600/IMG_5497.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWuAKt0Lt9uTVa1X3NmHR24LCoa9Nm-l4H1iiz5gakuZK8LV7nbItEjHYOeyC67NORi0qCavI5iK5vCnFHUf9V3wKDiKdpSwdMiA_kMOF46TbwO1wWaTXvQEZqI-B23jhkkqzC2h7BoCB/s200/IMG_5497.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694159932679472482" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHY4suI_fHRRO93wCIXi0P904OlrknToBmJuFblQOgOxNP56LDh_viO4FSTpOGt7oErQrXMlCBHMg9FcRRL5l6U0pRPKD47x-jJll8OtGfpYANsuENOpIfwW4xPlz5dbNpKVdY6-naJxr/s1600/IMG_5493.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHY4suI_fHRRO93wCIXi0P904OlrknToBmJuFblQOgOxNP56LDh_viO4FSTpOGt7oErQrXMlCBHMg9FcRRL5l6U0pRPKD47x-jJll8OtGfpYANsuENOpIfwW4xPlz5dbNpKVdY6-naJxr/s200/IMG_5493.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694159928610384658" /></a><br /><br />Catching up on my blogs I came across<br /> <a href="http://sharedthreads.wordpress.com">http://sharedthreads.wordpress.com</a><br />I was inspired and set ablout cutting and folding my old calendar. However I decided to make individual flowers with buttton centres. I put each flower onto a stick. I then decided to have a go the same idea using fabric. No photographs of this as yet as I m going to make several versions and tie them together to make a bunch - looking quite good so far.<br />Hope you like the flowers, if so have a look at Sharedthreads as she is an expert.<br />Happy week<br /><a href="http://sharedthreads.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/the-everyday-one-a-day-how-to-recycle-old-calendars/">http://sharedthreads.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/the-everyday-one-a-day-how-to-recycle-old-calendars/</a>annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-42774610815975066202011-12-31T10:43:00.000-08:002011-12-31T10:49:01.770-08:00Hapy New YearWhere-ever you are, what-ever you are doing and who-ever you are speniding it with I wish you a very Happy New Year.annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-60466640751511707292011-12-27T12:28:00.001-08:002011-12-27T12:36:50.258-08:00Christmas Celebrations<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJoV-JbAO_ZQl-hMXC2oiURjDdC4bWDHE6MImgi4ZNe9_DLI5zfwxQSJLDf-OY086qLLuz1saeezdUD5yRjJk2Qh6_uVhaUPT2vEerbaKXRj16kB3DcVKiS9Iqb4vZ61hQ67WRK3FqZzN/s1600/IMG_5481.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJoV-JbAO_ZQl-hMXC2oiURjDdC4bWDHE6MImgi4ZNe9_DLI5zfwxQSJLDf-OY086qLLuz1saeezdUD5yRjJk2Qh6_uVhaUPT2vEerbaKXRj16kB3DcVKiS9Iqb4vZ61hQ67WRK3FqZzN/s200/IMG_5481.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690908145496253554" /></a><br /><br />Quiet celebrations sharing thoughts across the sea to Savannah. Not quite the same as when my son was at home for Christmas, but treasured moments. We opened our gifts whislt eating breakfast, laughed at the funny ones and said grateful thanks for the useful ones. We ate roast pork, with roast apples, parsnips and carrots, not fogetting the sprouts. This was followed by a snowy trifle made with blackberries harvested in the autumn. A late phone call announcing the arrival of a new baby boy for my neice - how wonderful and on Christmas day.<br />To-day we walked across Chanock Chase - 3 hours - with a friend and her two dogs. She gave us supper and I made a mincemeat slice which we had served warm with cream.<br />A perfect end to the quiet days of celebration.<br />A toast to absent friends across the world and those who are not with us any more. We love and miss you all.annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-60948497490636977702011-12-20T23:18:00.000-08:002011-12-20T23:27:46.315-08:00Epic Hot ChocolateI am packing a large basket of goodies to take with me to-day, as I am visiting my sister for the pre-Christmas chit chat. among the items will be a jar of Epic Hot Chocolate drink. I came across this recipe from Jamie Oliver. He was dipping waffles into his drink and it looked amazing. It is so easy to do and store in a jar until needed. Just make sure you have plenty of milk and once started you will find it difficult to stop, your guests will want more.<br /><br /><strong>Epic Hot Chocolate</strong><br /><strong>Ingredients</strong><br />2 tabsp. Horlicks (malted drink)<br />2 tabsp. cornflour<br />3 tabsp. icing sugar<br />4 tabsp. cocoa<br />100g dark chocolate - grated<br />good pinch of cinnamon<br /><br /><strong>Method</strong><br />Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl and then put into suitable storage jar with air-tight lid.<br /><br /><br /><strong>To Use</strong><br />Heat approx 2 pints of milk in a saucepan<br />Add approx 6 heaped tablesp. chco mixture and stir until just simmering<br />The mixture wil thicken slightly.<br />Pour into mugs and serve.<br />You can top with extra whipped cream and marshmallows, but it is very rich.<br /><br />I, of course double the recipe and make sure I have plenty of mixture - it really is that good.annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-11003642951209803172011-12-18T02:00:00.000-08:002011-12-18T02:11:12.571-08:00Christmas GameCame across this game from Normandy Life so come on join in the fun and play along.<br /><br /><br />Care to play along?<br />Simply cut & paste the questions below.<br />1. Hot Chocolate or apple cider?<br /> <strong>Hot chocolate - Epic Chocolate from Jamie Oliver</strong><br />2. Turkey or Ham?<br /> <strong>Neither this year we are eating Pork with crackling</strong><br />3. Do you get a fake or real-you-cut-it-yourself Christmas tree?<br /> <strong>Usually real, but this year tiny fake</strong><br />4. Decorations on the outside of your house?<br /> <strong>Holly wreath on the door</strong><br />5. Snowball fights or sleddin’?<br /> Snowball fights - we are expecting a white chritmas<br />6. Do you enjoy going downtown shopping?<br /> <strong>No, little places are best</strong><br />7. Favorite Christmas song?<br /> <strong>White Christmas</strong><br />8. How do you feel about Christmas movies?<br /> <strong>Magic to have a tear in our eye at Christmas time</strong><br />9. When is it too early to start listening to Christmas music?<br /> <strong>November</strong><br />10. Stockings before or after presents?<br /> <strong>Before</strong><br />11. Go to someone else’s house or they come to you?<br /> <strong> My house</strong><br />12. Do you read the Christmas Story? If so when?<br /> <strong>Christmas Eve</strong><br />13. What do you do after presents and dinner?<br /> <strong>Walk in the woods</strong><br />14. What is your favorite holiday smell?<br /> <strong>Mince-pies</strong><br />15. Ice skating or walking around the mall?<br /> <strong>Would prefer to read a book</strong><br />16. Do you open a present or presents on Christmas Eve, or wait until Christmas day?<br /> <strong>Christmas Day</strong><br />17. Favorite Christmas memory?<br /> <strong>Spending Christmas with my son who lives in USA</strong><br />18. Favorite Part about winter?<br /> <strong>Cold, fresh air</strong><br />19. Ever been kissed under mistletoe?<br /> <strong>Many moons ago</strong><br /><br />Christmas is coming, just a few more days to prepare. I am busy making new aprons and will put in my sisters bag of goodies.annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-15167835360244338872011-12-17T08:49:00.001-08:002011-12-17T09:12:47.897-08:00Christmas is Coming<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHPyl_holpOqsvRM2btq6XvqAHRYD4wPAG2XqhD2n1LA8B1V5PBrmcpbNeL8lo6K3FehY02ijB87EvjiA0refcx1kGzngVyujzFaS2p5P4qrZqFjISHkjftkplYSEtrh3QliAMsTdXeSF/s1600/IMG_5483.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHPyl_holpOqsvRM2btq6XvqAHRYD4wPAG2XqhD2n1LA8B1V5PBrmcpbNeL8lo6K3FehY02ijB87EvjiA0refcx1kGzngVyujzFaS2p5P4qrZqFjISHkjftkplYSEtrh3QliAMsTdXeSF/s200/IMG_5483.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687145573637892978" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoUO-_k1MyjoMffutLAyowkbyXMQ1nlHaFXnTQ4MORJjD2nBBA_HlAlY40qZ-Qkr9mgcRM2JQywF4qbGbrELNBFje-4EtcNtHjDH9gcTD1MeYTLXqJs35WqM1Ey_sWS-X57uv21YKBMlz/s1600/IMG_5480.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoUO-_k1MyjoMffutLAyowkbyXMQ1nlHaFXnTQ4MORJjD2nBBA_HlAlY40qZ-Qkr9mgcRM2JQywF4qbGbrELNBFje-4EtcNtHjDH9gcTD1MeYTLXqJs35WqM1Ey_sWS-X57uv21YKBMlz/s200/IMG_5480.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687145569523835138" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-o5pqXCTVyGVij-zWuNQ2zNrYM0GBuafozyRdryGR4Mbtxwp1em0A9a6fK0pvSOXaacYcqhlQNgFxiIWtirvZ9EuhpwPYtT-4iIFfz5uKjCnHW-w1YEwFgqNrLGfi7Hwv6jb8HveBHi_/s1600/IMG_5481.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-o5pqXCTVyGVij-zWuNQ2zNrYM0GBuafozyRdryGR4Mbtxwp1em0A9a6fK0pvSOXaacYcqhlQNgFxiIWtirvZ9EuhpwPYtT-4iIFfz5uKjCnHW-w1YEwFgqNrLGfi7Hwv6jb8HveBHi_/s200/IMG_5481.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687145551842060242" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJov4WdYhAPqPM1WQoViGkInw_SwKK4LK-e9MJpZZVkUZ9TtjGTGJv-E_1kZZTh0-l-Gtg1V8GQONl_PNBvLv0d6udKt0P0wgurogbAlQ3A6Fzmwq1iVtlXyzeyARMunsYx1zQPwp0LzRx/s1600/IMG_5479.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJov4WdYhAPqPM1WQoViGkInw_SwKK4LK-e9MJpZZVkUZ9TtjGTGJv-E_1kZZTh0-l-Gtg1V8GQONl_PNBvLv0d6udKt0P0wgurogbAlQ3A6Fzmwq1iVtlXyzeyARMunsYx1zQPwp0LzRx/s200/IMG_5479.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687145549592111410" /></a><br /><br />At last I can get back to blogging and catch up on all the news. I finished school yesterday for three weeks. Christmas cakes all made and despatched, apart from one which was left behind and the lady never came for it. Some presents bought and now for the big cook session to make gifts for family and neighbours. Some where I have read about the best ever mincemeat cake to make, but can I find it - I will spend another looking and then I may have to settle for second best. This afternoon I have made some lollipops and wrapped ready for the children.<br />Recipe is from Lorraine Pascale - Home baking made easy. Also from her book the peanut truffles - so yummy I am surprised they have reached the boxes.<br />Snow is expected, so I will making some soup later.<br />Made a start at decorating - not bad for the firts day of the hols.annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-41669818438822397592011-11-27T11:30:00.001-08:002011-11-27T11:52:46.077-08:00Chocolate Roulade<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZx056EOhQO3mldKNttc-AEPZu2ClnotVC66HP2YyEViY78i2vp6x0OLRhfnDRtIwr8owtrT7XCsCvASnsg8YCnEvqxwL5ch7j6hluUHUfCkQcmnGCk78VLHd0JsINqNQCfp0HvINAD8I/s1600/IMG_5470.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZx056EOhQO3mldKNttc-AEPZu2ClnotVC66HP2YyEViY78i2vp6x0OLRhfnDRtIwr8owtrT7XCsCvASnsg8YCnEvqxwL5ch7j6hluUHUfCkQcmnGCk78VLHd0JsINqNQCfp0HvINAD8I/s200/IMG_5470.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679765654861075010" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJC2jcUYHC3LhqbX8VgtINrSXLm9T1CCo9Y2c0qn2DYJliwJxS06wfaPSfWPV-DU2j6UPKxrUdIdPIZukPWDuPzo5AMN6WV27sIc1IrEQbhg0dTshiuYzePZmBNh-JxBi4TgFRj5O-ujZv/s1600/IMG_5469.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJC2jcUYHC3LhqbX8VgtINrSXLm9T1CCo9Y2c0qn2DYJliwJxS06wfaPSfWPV-DU2j6UPKxrUdIdPIZukPWDuPzo5AMN6WV27sIc1IrEQbhg0dTshiuYzePZmBNh-JxBi4TgFRj5O-ujZv/s200/IMG_5469.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679765652084841618" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84ceTDjzPXNM0PIwdn9CbWAly_IBkuAwd2Vh2Yg7qNuJjDeXNSIvdgSV0XcUOD14vXhsIDlpYGjCE0CtLG4ciFiCyhWe405Fw3YvCXk4Lnl04ufr1ENdFofWMK2HRy-wzIWEQy0_159f-/s1600/IMG_5468.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84ceTDjzPXNM0PIwdn9CbWAly_IBkuAwd2Vh2Yg7qNuJjDeXNSIvdgSV0XcUOD14vXhsIDlpYGjCE0CtLG4ciFiCyhWe405Fw3YvCXk4Lnl04ufr1ENdFofWMK2HRy-wzIWEQy0_159f-/s200/IMG_5468.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679765646055572562" /></a>
<br />
<br /><<strong>strong>Chocolate Roulade</strong>
<br />Ingredients</strong>
<br />6 egg yolks
<br />175g caster sugar
<br />175g plain chocolate - melted
<br />6 egg whites
<br />2 tabsp. cocoa powder
<br />small carton double cream
<br />small carton creme fraiche
<br />icing sugar for dusting
<br />
<br /><strong>Method</strong>
<br />Preheat the oven to Gas 4/180C
<br />Grease and line a swiss roll tin with greaseproof paper
<br />Melt the chocolate over a pan of boiling water and then cool
<br />Seperate the egg yolks and put the whites into a dry clean bowl
<br />Add the sugar to the egg yolks and whisk until thick and creamy
<br />Fold in the melted chocolate
<br />Whisk the egg whites until thick and firm
<br />Fold in half the egg whites and cocoa powder and then the rest of the egg whites
<br />Make sure the mixture is well mixed - use a metal spoon to avoid air loss.
<br />Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 20 mins
<br />Leave to cool in the tin covered with a t.towel
<br />Whisk the double cream and fold in the creme fraiche
<br />Tip the roulade out onto greaseproof paper sprinkled with icing sugar
<br />Spread over the cream filling and roll up.
<br />A good roulade cracks as you roll
<br />Sprinkle on extra icing sugar and admire your handy work.
<br />
<br />Put the kettle on to make a nice cup of tea and take a slice just to test you have made it OKannhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-984058722448281942011-11-20T04:40:00.000-08:002011-11-20T04:50:01.669-08:00Christmas Fayre<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqV1LtWck3W9U2HBr6G-ZABhzT9Yu-t739XHqw-GuJIYeQVqfcXMcjiFWe5egB5U-jZ8y6gVkD95HcurVtwmFPNp8MsTc3ENHZuAbRa5pMmTfDDht5wA8JhZUiPRuzNZ0Q669WvGNZzME/s1600/IMG_3009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqV1LtWck3W9U2HBr6G-ZABhzT9Yu-t739XHqw-GuJIYeQVqfcXMcjiFWe5egB5U-jZ8y6gVkD95HcurVtwmFPNp8MsTc3ENHZuAbRa5pMmTfDDht5wA8JhZUiPRuzNZ0Q669WvGNZzME/s200/IMG_3009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677058911203230466" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-46ovUdFHdqKnCz9Y-sofgpoDEAZovsShzM8jeGfw-xfYJbslxItXpSa1bgslgMDjC0qH9YAmtDPTxfVHBAilYGhyfQGxL5CLiDKxDuBLocP5hvtRVH-a4cdlPq2lRwWsiSEFhMglTsU/s1600/IMG_3005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-46ovUdFHdqKnCz9Y-sofgpoDEAZovsShzM8jeGfw-xfYJbslxItXpSa1bgslgMDjC0qH9YAmtDPTxfVHBAilYGhyfQGxL5CLiDKxDuBLocP5hvtRVH-a4cdlPq2lRwWsiSEFhMglTsU/s200/IMG_3005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677058897109128786" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5V2l2HpIa-uFcOo6Xd_GSYRLGQBKFlXSUG6AsesD2FksHftTLlSz5fCf1w7-wXcMy-hSGPNjnqoiUNDYtYWPrbM-eGmwPrrWZGOG8iM6bhiCF1BpjB4_sewMkDqegphm4V2e2q5HBe1X5/s1600/IMG_3004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5V2l2HpIa-uFcOo6Xd_GSYRLGQBKFlXSUG6AsesD2FksHftTLlSz5fCf1w7-wXcMy-hSGPNjnqoiUNDYtYWPrbM-eGmwPrrWZGOG8iM6bhiCF1BpjB4_sewMkDqegphm4V2e2q5HBe1X5/s200/IMG_3004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677058900224957058" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf81JYpN5mSX74Xe7SvA7RtH2de4_ZbrAZq0Ko6Q6CVoW3ChJ4i-Yrc0kDGMH18LcHpPYE2jrmWOnjnDwj9z5XwXQSDHP1K_db_37atFIrUmX1SkMbDYGzOn1sEfHzRBBgn3nsAe1tywml/s1600/IMG_3003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf81JYpN5mSX74Xe7SvA7RtH2de4_ZbrAZq0Ko6Q6CVoW3ChJ4i-Yrc0kDGMH18LcHpPYE2jrmWOnjnDwj9z5XwXQSDHP1K_db_37atFIrUmX1SkMbDYGzOn1sEfHzRBBgn3nsAe1tywml/s200/IMG_3003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677058886115707602" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2inGZHz4bS59dMDwOnmwsRxbPXPxfsLvdeqy8Ri78j0SOCWhz8UXSD9TxJZCLmo9chLcaRLwrdGxFsAE_t02NTFpyBLBQbiCtLpibsJtNN5wQI6irnBqcJdArIvZkGtFQ3LUTsogyAVaU/s1600/IMG_3002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2inGZHz4bS59dMDwOnmwsRxbPXPxfsLvdeqy8Ri78j0SOCWhz8UXSD9TxJZCLmo9chLcaRLwrdGxFsAE_t02NTFpyBLBQbiCtLpibsJtNN5wQI6irnBqcJdArIvZkGtFQ3LUTsogyAVaU/s200/IMG_3002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677058882956336466" /></a><br /><br />Hello everyone. I seem to have been away for ages. Time has been against me over the past few weeks as I was preparing for our school Christmas Fayre. The pupils helped me of course, but the fews days leading up to the event were pretty hectic. I also have 50 Christmas Cakes to make and decorate before the 16th December when we break for the holidays.<br />The Christmas Fayre was excellent, with lots of interesting stalls and very busy. People were actually queuing outside to get in. The atmosphere was vibrant, music playing and people buying. I sold out - well just a couple of jars of mincemeat left, which I can use as gifts. 'Cake Pops' and 'Candy Cones' were very popular.<br />Hope you like the photographs - will post recipes later as I have so many jobs to get done to-day.<br />Happy weekend to you all.annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-20451668972323424252011-11-13T14:59:00.000-08:002011-11-13T15:11:03.678-08:00Cake Pops<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTEvkir4c4ZzciaZLQGwGuGUr4rDBd9KLSEVuZLf5DMxsX6UrwgdPSLxcOAw4_yiFMvVG6PyYy2iKM_bDfxqWGheci2NDqDM6LjOI_uy9Qkk4cJFMZZ40AQc0dJYQxTv2UwDhCCkp7F_5/s1600/Cake+Pops+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTEvkir4c4ZzciaZLQGwGuGUr4rDBd9KLSEVuZLf5DMxsX6UrwgdPSLxcOAw4_yiFMvVG6PyYy2iKM_bDfxqWGheci2NDqDM6LjOI_uy9Qkk4cJFMZZ40AQc0dJYQxTv2UwDhCCkp7F_5/s200/Cake+Pops+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674620943702822146" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7JUVYBC51higJIe_nWjMyVyiI_WYNxm04luDnS6OlAnysXc7Db-kcKK69nP56pBIjUShWjJ5gbqyMU0PyXfDMGh-NaHDOb7r2ntWzKi4hBwylFHrse2y7NlfrRxiYVe8b8RSFicH_D8B/s1600/Cake+Pops+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7JUVYBC51higJIe_nWjMyVyiI_WYNxm04luDnS6OlAnysXc7Db-kcKK69nP56pBIjUShWjJ5gbqyMU0PyXfDMGh-NaHDOb7r2ntWzKi4hBwylFHrse2y7NlfrRxiYVe8b8RSFicH_D8B/s200/Cake+Pops+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674620936966066882" /></a><br /><br />Well I must be behind the times as I have only just heard of 'Cake Pops'.<br />Take a cake, make it into crumbs and add frosting to bind it together. Roll it into small balls and put onto a tray - leave in the fridge for a few hours until they are firm. Insert a lollipop stick and dip into chocolate - decorate and leave to set. I have our school Christmas Fayre next Saturday, so decided to make some - well try them out to see if they work. Brilliant - so easy. I even made 'Christmas Pudding' ones from a crumbled up Christmas cake,dipped in chocolate and decorated with a marzipan holly leaf. The reindeer ones are fun to make, but you must check out<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bakerella.com/category/pops-bites/cake-pops/">http://www.bakerella.com/category/pops-bites/cake-pops/</a><br /><br /><br />See what designs you can make. Enjoy!annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-24033734532394302602011-10-30T03:12:00.000-07:002011-10-30T03:31:33.158-07:00Curry Night<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQId70_UQg_l-DJAnVCJAH8TgSXQh9KTEU3SpF4iQKuLZOyOTvKjob_nHCsdXSZ4sjhy0MZTxD912V8Jhg06Jr6-9h5iLsaLLSMWOl2cn9aCIDeSign7C18cda0B888I927m7b2Q__A1T/s1600/775646_MEDIUM.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQId70_UQg_l-DJAnVCJAH8TgSXQh9KTEU3SpF4iQKuLZOyOTvKjob_nHCsdXSZ4sjhy0MZTxD912V8Jhg06Jr6-9h5iLsaLLSMWOl2cn9aCIDeSign7C18cda0B888I927m7b2Q__A1T/s200/775646_MEDIUM.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669229854791466146" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcAyt-sYXDDmLfQYES5TiqaNV9gYjQlAKE2wrO7DvOUtAweReeNcNxvo1E63zNzxiHDm5Zn43S87o537GqJptgMD3XV9ntSCbgxl825R39s6_s1IuNuWL1DeY6ao6Lt-OV0NC2QIZN5Ny/s1600/2746_MEDIUM.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcAyt-sYXDDmLfQYES5TiqaNV9gYjQlAKE2wrO7DvOUtAweReeNcNxvo1E63zNzxiHDm5Zn43S87o537GqJptgMD3XV9ntSCbgxl825R39s6_s1IuNuWL1DeY6ao6Lt-OV0NC2QIZN5Ny/s200/2746_MEDIUM.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669229850077470610" /></a><br /><br /><br />As a group of friends we met to swap news and share stories from the past few weeks. I made a selection of curries and another friend made the desserts.<br />What could be better than a warming curry on a damp evening just before Halloween.<br />I made Cumin-scented chicken curry and vegetable curry for a crowd. Such easy recipes that I wanted to share them with you and to save writing them all out again I have put links to BBC Good Food.<br />I served them with tumeric rice and naan breads and of course a glass of beer. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/775646/vegetable-curry-for-a-crowd">http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/775646/vegetable-curry-for-a-crowd</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2746/cuminscented-chicken-curry">http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2746/cuminscented-chicken-curry</a>annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-63524780356583142872011-10-24T00:28:00.000-07:002011-10-24T00:41:02.829-07:00Oyster Cakes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSw52SHkFNtt2zWQw-POGU9iAIkYXspA8mnwjoSk1shWFRFecquWGaFJzQc1FqIysJ2j9gpDg2DUmj82oVhl9tvsk5BA9Dypl3j774KprzG6NgfJBF6Y3dDs_itckzxwTpQC23aHiozMvN/s1600/Oyster+Cakes+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSw52SHkFNtt2zWQw-POGU9iAIkYXspA8mnwjoSk1shWFRFecquWGaFJzQc1FqIysJ2j9gpDg2DUmj82oVhl9tvsk5BA9Dypl3j774KprzG6NgfJBF6Y3dDs_itckzxwTpQC23aHiozMvN/s200/Oyster+Cakes+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666960396514520322" /></a><br /><br />Searching through my bookcase I came across a Be-Ro recipe book from 1967.<br />Be-Ro books were very popular in the 60's and were written by the flour manufactuer Be-Ro.<br />So many favourites but this one is absolutely delicious.<br /><br /><strong>Oyster Cakes<br /><strong>Ingredients</strong><br />Shortcrust Pastry</strong><br />8oz plain flour<br />4oz margarine<br />cold water<br /><strong>Filling</strong><br />3oz margarine<br />3oz caster sugar<br />1 egg<br />4oz ground almonds<br />drop of almond essence<br /><strong>Decoration</strong><br />Raspberry Jam<br />Fresh whipped cream<br /><br /><strong>Method</strong><br />Pre-heat the oven to Gas5/190C<br />Make the shortcrust patry by rubbing the fat into the flour and then add enough<br />cold water to make a dough<br />Wrap and leave in the fridge to rest whilst you make the filling<br />Cream together the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy<br />Add the egg followed by the ground almonds<br />Roll out the pastry on a floured surface and use a large cutter to cut out 12 circles<br />Line the patty tin with the circles of pastry.<br />Put a teaspoon of mixture on the top of each pastry circle<br />Bake for 15 - 130 mins until risen and golden brown.<br />Leave to cool on a wire rack<br />When cold slice off the top and fill with jame and cream<br />Place the top at an angle to resemble an oyster<br /><br /><br />Note: I made butter cream instead of fresh cream and piped it on one side of the jam<br /><br /><br />What could be better with a cup of tea in the afternoonannhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-52313686788272828872011-10-22T07:48:00.000-07:002011-10-22T07:59:21.007-07:00Chocolate Christmas Cake<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhshQ-bWTii6ovEw7wb0IfN-t_dNFssiH4lq-eEigF4ma_JzRNbZgVJ8JEXdGSUi7p0MM73u_wvf35_WYKdYxPl39bsQHmN9HEPWsh6wTNt81cS741OEEcSOm4mN_Ayk_Xa8Jzqid2LnB/s1600/IMG_5423.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhshQ-bWTii6ovEw7wb0IfN-t_dNFssiH4lq-eEigF4ma_JzRNbZgVJ8JEXdGSUi7p0MM73u_wvf35_WYKdYxPl39bsQHmN9HEPWsh6wTNt81cS741OEEcSOm4mN_Ayk_Xa8Jzqid2LnB/s200/IMG_5423.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666331153725099794" /></a><br /><br /><br />I was looking for something a bit different this year and came across this recipe for:<br /><br /><strong>Chocolate Christmas Cake</strong><br />200g butter<br />200g dark brown soft sugar<br />100g dark chocolate (80%)<br />75ml Brandy<br />250g raisins<br />250 currants<br />100g dried cranberries<br />100g dried sour cherries<br />200g SR flour<br />100g ground almonds<br />3tabsp. cocoa<br />1 tsp mixed spice<br />3 eggs<br /><br /><strong>Method</strong><br />Put the butter, sugar, chocolate, brandy and dried fruits into a very large saucepan<br />HEat gently, stirring occasionally until everything has melted together. Remove from the heat and leave to cool<br />Heat oven to 150C/Gas 2<br />Line a deep cake tin (20cm) round or square with a double layer of greaseproof paper(baking parchment). Wrap a few layers of newspaper around the outside and tie with string.<br />Mix the flour, almonds, cocoa and spice together in a bowl<br />BEat the eggs with a fork<br />Once the fruit mixture has cooled, stir in the eggs and then the flour mixture<br />Mix well together.<br />Scrape into your prepared tin and level with the back of a spoon<br />Bake for one and half hours or until a skewer comes out clean.<br />Cool in the tin.<br />Leave wrapped in the greaseproof paper until ready to decorate.<br /><br />Not sure if mine will get to the decorating bit - will let you know.<br /><br /><br />I am hoping to make several Christmas Cakes using difdferent recipes ready to sell out our school Christmas Fayre on 19th November.annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-42579970506240743722011-10-17T11:42:00.000-07:002011-10-17T11:47:56.649-07:00Baking WeekLast week at school it was bake, bake and bake. We love baking and to celebrate National Baking Week we made cakes and cookies to sell to the students for 50p each item. We made £120.00 to donate to children who suffer from malnutrition across the world. We certainly Baked a Difference.<br />The favourite recipe was for Chocolate Drop Biscuits - well who could resist chocolate.<br /><br /><strong>Chocolate Drop Biscuits (16)<br />Ingredients</strong><br />225g butter<br />140g caster sugar<br />1 egg yolk<br />2tsp vanilla essence<br />225g plain flour<br />55g cocoa powder<br />55g choc. chops<br />4 tabsp. chocolate spread<br /><br /><strong>Method</strong><br />1. Pre-heat the oven to Gas 5/190C<br />2. Flour a tray<br />3. Put the butter and sugar in a bowl and mix together with a wooden spoon, <br /> then beat in the egg yolk and vanilla essence<br />4. Sift together the flour and cocoa<br />5. Mix well together and add the choc chips<br />6. Divide the mixture into 16 balls and place on the baking tray – you may need <br /> 2 trays<br />7. Flatten the biscuits and put a thumb mark on each to make a small dip in the <br /> biscuit<br />8. Bake for 12-15 mins.<br />9. Cool on a wire rack<br />10. When they are cold put a tsp. chocolate spread into each dip and top with a<br /> chocolate buttonannhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-58627599354326729772011-10-17T11:22:00.000-07:002011-10-17T11:41:11.864-07:00Collection of Recipes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sj6irqYPrC9WKhYt611yNw3JYVvdh-CwRD0FAZyTbzyLCQhnnm3gsh0Kv3MMM43GvqwCgCSB8dZ8-EN9IRwujW2_DvU6JM02Z5ddsk_F6R_ujlaI0qEKrdSWHBETEKOfvgvGePtPtvro/s1600/IMG_5418.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sj6irqYPrC9WKhYt611yNw3JYVvdh-CwRD0FAZyTbzyLCQhnnm3gsh0Kv3MMM43GvqwCgCSB8dZ8-EN9IRwujW2_DvU6JM02Z5ddsk_F6R_ujlaI0qEKrdSWHBETEKOfvgvGePtPtvro/s200/IMG_5418.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664532284772185554" /></a><br /><br />My Mom collects recipes from all over the place. Recently she has made the decision not to bake anymore due to pains in her arms (she is 80 yers old) This is so sad, as her baking is legend. However she came across a recipe for Pear and Ginger Pound Loaf Cake and she asked me to bake it for her. I love baking as you know and my kitchen had that wonderful smell of warm ginger and pears whilst it was baking.<br /><br /><strong>Pear and Ginger Pound Loaf Cake<br />Ingredients</strong><br />7oz butter<br />7oz golden caster sugar<br />2 large eggs - beaten<br />1tsp. vanilla essence<br />7oz SR flour<br />1 tsp. baking powder<br />2 balls stem ginger - chopped<br />2 pears - peeled and diced<br />Glaze<br />3 tabsp. ginger syrup (from the jar)<br />3 tabsp. sugar<br /><br /><strong>Method</strong><br />Pre-heat oven to Gas 4/180C<br />Grease and base line a pounf loaf tin<br />Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy using a wooden spoon<br />Add the eggs and beat well.<br />Add the vanilla ess.<br />Fold in the flour, baking powder<br />Then mix in the ginger and chopped pears - folding<br />Pour the mixture into the prepared tin - level with the back of a spoon<br />Bake for approx 1 hour until a skewer comes out clean<br /><br />Make the glaze by heating the ginger syrup and sugar togehter over the heat.<br />Pour over the cake and allow to cool in the tin<br /><br />Remove from the tin and store in an airtight tin.<br /><br />Serve sliced with a cup of tea.<br /><br />I will be delivering the cake to Mom tomorrow - hoping for a slice (just to make sure it tastes alright of coure)annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-44350605104097510332011-10-04T14:14:00.000-07:002011-10-04T14:31:43.836-07:00White Chocolate CakesTo-morrow at school we are holding our annual McMillan Afternoon Tea, raising money for cancer.A chance to bake, share recipes, eat cake and donate money to a good cause.<br />Baking is the theme for next week as well as it is National Baking Week. To help that cause along my Home Economics Department is baking cakes every day. We will be selling Breakfast Bars/Muffins between 8.00am - 8.30 am, then cakes at break-time and after school until 4.00pm. The money we raise will help children who suffer from malnutrition across the world. Bake a Difference and join our good cause.<br />Post your recipe so I can share it with my students.<br /><a href="http://www.concern.net/en/bakeadifference">http://www.concern.net/en/bakeadifference</a><br /><br />One of my cake recipes is<br /><br /><strong>White Chocolate Cake<br />Ingredients</strong><br />25og butter<br />250g golden caster sugar<br />300g SR flour<br />½ tsp baking powder<br />4 eggs<br />150ml pot natural yoghurt<br />4 tabsp. milk<br />Few drops vanilla essence<br />100g white chocolate roughly chopped<br /><br /><strong>Topping</strong><br />250g soft cream cheese<br />100g icing sugar<br />100g white chocolate melted<br />Decorations<br /><br /><strong>Method</strong><br />1. Pre-heat the oven to Gas 4/180C<br /><br />2. Grease and line baking tin 20cm X 30cm<br /><br />3. Place butter sugar, flour, baking powder, yoghurt, eggs, milk and v. ess. in <br /> a large bowl and beat until lump-free.<br /><br />4. Stir in the chopped chocolate.<br /><br />5. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 25-30 mins until golden, risen and <br /> skewer comes out clean.<br /><br />6. Cool in the tin.<br /><br />7. Melt the rest of the chocolate. Stir icing sugar into the soft cheese, <br /> then the melted chocolate. Chill.<br /><br />8. Spread over the cake, then cut into squares and decorate.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLteVwimDcbl97FQwOJRjCLXwDWlTWPSNY6fpAsRKSmaD_xndlKQI_hCoUedwFMIcM2sXETG1hqFj3gZGkIcLHD8-BGqTRnk4Gwbu3xJ8Kr226kua0iMZID7LF3NlHG7bVHq9xbYVdgU4W/s1600/IMG_5415.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLteVwimDcbl97FQwOJRjCLXwDWlTWPSNY6fpAsRKSmaD_xndlKQI_hCoUedwFMIcM2sXETG1hqFj3gZGkIcLHD8-BGqTRnk4Gwbu3xJ8Kr226kua0iMZID7LF3NlHG7bVHq9xbYVdgU4W/s200/IMG_5415.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659752195726027682" /></a>annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-65174843325106998962011-09-29T14:42:00.000-07:002011-09-29T14:45:57.371-07:00Christmas CakeI was chatting to my neighbour last week and she was telling me that as soon as the children go back to school in September she makes the Christmas Cakes. I have never been quite that early and usually make mine during the October break, which happens to be in a couple of weeks.<br />I am looking for the perfect recipe - or at least something interesting to make. If you have anything to share then just let me know.<br />I am also planning to make Christmas Cakes with the children at school - a tradition that seems to be disappearing.annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206953438087846333.post-42477309638377546492011-09-20T11:17:00.000-07:002011-09-20T11:30:45.597-07:00New Home Economics Room<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkDXFguxcitjWqd1Rzlb1d2Mz_ry_DvGNg_4ruIftwHvQ9nKvMRFNnJRvZn0F5G344ZW3xVMU6fNHse5LUT9pZhU0Fo-wVO70J33A3PAn46Pge28nY1EpMD-HVOZnGtrRJwJ2VKHf_Jdf/s1600/IMG_5270.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkDXFguxcitjWqd1Rzlb1d2Mz_ry_DvGNg_4ruIftwHvQ9nKvMRFNnJRvZn0F5G344ZW3xVMU6fNHse5LUT9pZhU0Fo-wVO70J33A3PAn46Pge28nY1EpMD-HVOZnGtrRJwJ2VKHf_Jdf/s200/IMG_5270.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654510552020007346" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUIrXvj4h_36nUfcDTD3F12TvfwsWB5pSCPTJTbwoCMSZK_1Vtpl_W0ahVDbx4p7KAKKnGATABZxF0diUUOSfMJHuOh4AF8KSbJJC_4Gq5K3q8nZtqtdfJ4nzAcMOzxM3gwFdzpQuFOQ2/s1600/IMG_5274.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUIrXvj4h_36nUfcDTD3F12TvfwsWB5pSCPTJTbwoCMSZK_1Vtpl_W0ahVDbx4p7KAKKnGATABZxF0diUUOSfMJHuOh4AF8KSbJJC_4Gq5K3q8nZtqtdfJ4nzAcMOzxM3gwFdzpQuFOQ2/s200/IMG_5274.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654510541280876242" /></a><br />A place to work, enjoy cooking, developing new recipes, learning skills for life and of course having a chat about 'this' and 'that'.<br />My Home Economics Room has always been a hive of activity and now I have a brand new room. I returned to school in September and there it was, just about completed. A few more tweaks and I will be there. I can teach 8 pupils at a time and I just love it. We are having an open day on Saturday and as always we like to make Chocolate Muffins - always a favourite as the smell just wafts through the building and attracts lots of customers.annhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05260130508524583252noreply@blogger.com2