Showing posts with label Cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cooking. Show all posts

Friday, 30 August 2013

Home Made Apple Pie...




Well this is a post I didn't think I'd be writing this week!

But what do you do when a juice detox goes pear shaped? (Sorry I couldn't resist)

You make Apple Pie of course!

I didn't have high expectations as last time I tried apple crumble it didn't go too well, it was ok but not great.

And I was even making the the pastry from scratch.

Also as I had two little helpers this could probably go into the records books as the longest time to make apple pie ever recorded :)






But I have to say it was delicious and I was very pleasantly surprised.

Here's the recipe I followed:

serves 6

Ingredients


  • for the pastry

  • • 250g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
  • • 50g icing sugar
  • • sea salt
  • • 1 lemon
  • • 125g cold butter, plus extra for greasing
  • • 2 large eggs
  • • a splash of milk

  • for the filling

  • • 5 eating apples (I used my left over Golden Delicious)
  • • 3 tablespoons Demerara sugar
  • • ½ a lemon

To make your pastry


 Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4
 From a height, sieve your flour into a large mixing bowl
 Add the sugar, a pinch of salt, and finely grate over the zest of the lemon
 Cut the butter into cubes, then add to the bowl
 Use your fingertips to gently work the butter into the flour and sugar until the  mixture resembles breadcrumbs
 Crack the egg into the bowl with a tiny drop of milk and gently mix with your    hands until the dough   comes together
 Wrap it in clingfilm and pop in the fridge to rest while you make the filling






To make your filling



  Peel all of your apples (do not nearly slice off your little finger like I did)
  Cut the eating apples into eighths, get rid of the cores
  Add all the apple pieces to a small pan with the sugar
  Finely grate over the zest of half a lemon, then squeeze in a little juice 
  Toss to mix then put the pan on a medium low heat 
  Simmer gently until the apples are just tender
  Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely






To make and cook your pie


Dust a clean work surface and rolling pin with flour 
Divide your pastry dough into two and roll out one half until ½cm thick 
Carefully roll your pastry around the rolling pin, then unroll it carefully over a 20cm pie dish




Finely grate over the zest of half a lemon, then squeeze in a little juice 

Ease the pastry into the dish, making sure you push it into all the sides
Don’t worry if it tears or breaks – just patch it up – it will look nice and rustic 
Pack the apple mix tightly into the pie dish




Separate your remaining egg and beat the yolk with a splash of milk and brush over the pastry rim 

Roll out the other piece of dough until ½cm thick 
Carefully roll the pastry around the rolling pin, then unroll it over the top of the pie


Fold the excess pastry back in then pinch and crimp the edges together using your finger and thumb 

small incisions in the centre of the pie to let steam escape as it cooks




Bake in the hot oven for 40 to 45 minutes until golden and firm to the touch 


Serve with custard, fresh cream or ice cream


Serve and enjoy








Friday, 28 June 2013

For Sale Laura Ashley Curtain Tie Backs...



Hand made beautiful Laura Ashley Curtain Tie Backs

£9.99 (free Post)

Currently available in

Josette Floral Linen Mix - Dove Grey
Gosford Plum
Millwood Leaf - Duck Egg Blue
Awning Stripe - Camomile 
Hydrangea Linen Mix - Camomile
Irving Stripe - Olive

Pattern will vary  
All seams are overlocked to prevent fraying

They are made to order so dispatch time is 5 working days 
To guarantee your peace of mind I operate a 14 day return policy

If you would prefer to buy through ebay..


Free Post and Packaging

Visit my Facebook Page to see full range

For Sale Laura Ashley Gosford Plum Door Stop..



Fabric Door Stop in the hugely popular fabric by Laura Ashley – Gosford Plum

£12.99 (free post)

Pattern will vary
*************************
YOU WILL NEED ABOUT 2.5 TO 3KG OF RICE (NOT INCLUDED) TO FILL IT
*************************
There is a velcro opening at the bottom to make filling very easy

All seams are overlocked to prevent fraying

To guarantee your peace of mind I operate a 14 day return policy

If you would prefer to buy through ebay...


Visit my Facebook Page to see full range


For Sale - Laura Ashley Gosford Plum Cushion Covers



Hand made 16 x 16 inch cushion covers in beautiful Laura Ashley Gosford Plum fabric with a cream fabric envelope back 

£9.99 (free post)

Pattern will vary on each cushion cover 
All seams are overlocked to prevent fraying

These cushions covers are made to order so if you require more please contact me 
I can also do other sizes if required

They are made to order so dispatch time is 5 working days 

To guarantee your peace of mind I operate a 14 day return policy

If you would prefer to buy through ebay..


Free Post and Packaging

Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Christmas...

Is it too early to talk about Christmas?

Ok, I know its only June (I say only, this year is FLYING!)

But whilst we have had all this beautiful weather, I have been sat in the garden planning my Christmas to do list

and here is a little taster of some of the things I hope to be recreating and selling this christmas.

Now of course they will not be exact replicas (please do not report me to the fraud squad) but they are my inspiration. (courtesy of the great and almighty Pinterest)

Let me know what you think?



Christmas Cushions....





If you haven't already discover Dear Lillie site please go and look its Beautiful with a capital B!








Christmas Stockings






Christmas Bunting





Tuesday, 11 June 2013

What a difference a table makes...






My very talented husband turned his hand to carpentry a few weeks ago and made a fabulous garden table out of old scaffolding boards that were originally destined for our log burner next winter (curtesy of my Dad, thanks Dad!).

I was trawling eBay for an old dining table that I could paint up and looking for inspiration on Pinterest (which will eventually be my downfall, remember this moment when you see me on Sky News defending my right to sell my own children for stuff I've fallen in love with on sodding Pinterest)

Anyhow I came across scaffold tables and showed them to my OH whilst I idly suggested that he could make one, thinking no way on this earth would he do it but he did!

And not only did he make it with enthusiasm, he made it in only a day and a bit AND it's great! I love it!

It has totally transformed how we use our garden, I have sewed on it, we have eaten virtually every meal at it (ok the beautiful weather has helped ALOT), we've had a family BBQ where 11 people comfortably sat around it, the girls have painted & drawn at it and if the apocalypse ever happens its easily strong enough for us to hide under...

It truly has changed our summer habits, just praying now that we get lots more nice weather to use it.

Saying that though, I was even planning autumn BBQs, cosied around the chimnea and eating at the table (I've gone mad!!)

I still need to sort chairs out for it, I think I'm going for a mix of wood and old wrought iron, I've not decided yet. Lots more Pinterest browsing to do....

My husband also appears to have "the bug" and is going to make me a pergola and a bench next.

All exciting stuff for my garden, what with new flower borders going in, my soon to be completed veggie patch, I am a happy girl.

I will keep you posted :)





Friday, 7 June 2013

We are going green.... Ish

And I don't mean like the Incredible Hulk, well not most days anyway.

Once upon a time a long time ago I developed a bit of an interest in Paganism. I was young so the magical aspect was the initial draw but it was the nature base of the religion that made a more lasting impression.

As time went on I changed my out look (as you do) and never really gave it much thought again... Until now

Not that I am particularly interested in the religion as such but I feel pulled towards a more natural, self sustained way of life. Maybe it's becoming a mother or maybe I'm just that way inclined I don't know but I would like my girls and I to follow the seasons, be aware of the changes that nature goes through, try to source produce locally etc etc

Now don't get me wrong I am really no earth mother, I have no plans to run around naked during the full moon (even though my husband may encourage this) and I shall not be ditching my car for a broomstick, no I'm definitely no earthly goddess, I like the finer things in life too much.

So here's the plan to introduce a bit of nature into our lives...

We have already started buying our fruit and veg from the local farm shop, which the girls love doing as they have chickens running all over the place which they find hilarious 




All meat products I am trying to source locally or at least be British, I tried my local butcher but I was a bit disappointed with the quality so this is a work in progress

We have started composting




Breaking myself in gently this year we are growing pumpkins (very badly), strawberries and sunflowers then next year a small veggie plot is the plan.






And last weekend we spent a thoroughly enjoyable day at a nearby forest collecting pine cones for kindling for the winter



We have been hanging bird boxes and lady bird houses



                                       


And of course making the most of the beautiful weather and working out doors.



With the summer solstice being only a few weeks away I need to get my thinking cap on as to how we are going to celebrate our first nature festival


Out of small acorns grow huge oak trees



:)













Monday, 29 April 2013

Home Made Yorkshire Puddings - Revised

Another food blog!!! 

As you know I am determined to start cooking things from scratch and next on my hit list was Yorkshire Puddings.

No more Aunt Bessie's for us (well that is the plan)

I trawled the Internet for recipes and they all looked pretty similar and easy enough and this is the one I went for.

125g of plain flour
300 ML of milk
2 eggs
Pinch of salt & pepper

Sieve the flour into a bowl
Make a well and put in the eggs
Then mix until firm
Add the milk and mix thoroughly

Leave to stand for 30 minutes

Oil and pre heat muffin tray

Add Yorkshire pudding mixture and cook for 25-30 minutes

Do not open oven door until they are cooked (as I learnt to my horror last week as I ended up with very flat stodgy yorkshires and I only opened the door for a second)

Makes at least 12 Yorkshire Puddings and I always have some mixture left.

And that's it! Simple and very tasty Yorkshire puddings. Amelia currently will only eat yorkshires so I am judging her as a bit of a expert and she says they are much nicer than Aunt Bessie's so that's good enough for me :)

Update

Ok after my early smugness my yorkshire puddings stopped rising (damn you yorkshire puddings!!)

So after much sulking and head scratching (and the power of Google) I know add 3 eggs rather than 2, make sure my oven is on full wack, get my oil sizzling before I add the mix and then turn the oven down once the mix has been in for 10 minutes and (touch wood) they have been great since.







Making real gravy.... Revised!

I was a bit nervous of this one for some reason, but in reality it was very simple and absolutely delicious.

I will not go back to instant gravy for roasts ever again, it made such a difference to the meal.

So here is what I did

Put pan with meat juices onto the hob and heated until fat started spitting

Then I added two table spoons of plain flour and mixed to a paste

I then added hot water from my potatoes and whisked

You can add a stock/oxo cube at this point if you desire (I did)

Then I whisked some more


I left to simmer on the hob whilst I dished out and it thickened up nicely

I will say that I struggled to get the flour to mix completely so I had to siv the gravy but for my first attempt I was delighted with the result.

Update!

I have figured out how to not make lumpy gravy (woo hoo) and its down what I stir with. If I use a spoon with holes in then viola I don't get lumps, which makes me a happy girl :)







Monday, 15 April 2013

Sunday catch up

Well it's been a busy old week

Spent lots of time with my sister, which is something I love doing and we don't do enough off, I think a little pampering weekend is on the cards soon.

Then it's been all cushions, cushions, cushions! Mad busy, which is fabulous. Well, apart from the girls wrecking my house whilst I sew (argh) but I am not complaining :)

I am currently buying new fabric for some lovely spring time cushions, bunting and I want to crack the door stop (bloody cube shape!)

Time to step it up a gear I think.

Cooking wise it's been a low and then high, I had the family around for lunch last Sunday and I was all smug about my Yorkshire Puddings and guess what.... They didn't rise!!!!!

How frigging typical!

Then Monday I made Toad in the hole and it was perfect YAY!!!

All comes out equal in the end...

But now we are all ill well the hubby and I are coughing and spluttering, feeling sorry for ourselves. A quiet weekend is on the cards with a visit to grandparents on Saturday and a little walk and the pub on Sunday.

Hopefully we will be back fighting fit sharpish.



Yummmmmy Toad in the Hole



Cushions, Cushions, Cushions



My very talented sister cutting Amelias hair



Cousins having fun!

Sunday, 14 April 2013

Real gravy....

Today I made gravy for the first time and all I can say is "Oh my god! Why have I not made gravy before!

(I didn't get chance to take pictures so proper blog post next Sunday)

It was simple enough to do (it did go a tad lumpy but my siv soon sorted that out) and it was by miles the nicest gravy I think I've ever had and I'm really not exaggerating it was divine.

In fact my whole roast was perfect (happy dancing), the lamb melted in your mouth, roasts were lovely, my Yorkshire Puddings were perfection and I got all my veg fresh from the farm shop yesterday and by god you could tell the difference. Poor Kit Kat had no left overs!

Even Miss "Fussy Pants" Amelia ate something other than just Yorkshire Puddings.

My homemade apple crumble is now in the oven so lets see if I can do a full house :)

Tuesday, 9 April 2013

Toad in the Hole

I was delighted with how well this recipe turned out.

Now I know it's a very simple one to do but I was surprised at how tasty it was and it looked great.

And of course as we know I am no Nigella so any success is to be celebrated :)

The Recipe

Toad in the Hole

125g plain flour
300 mil milk
3 eggs
A pinch of salt and pepper
Sausages

Siv the flour into a bowl and make a well in the middle

Add the eggs and then mix until firm

Gradually mix in the milk

Season with salt and pepper

The mix thoroughly until smooth

I also siv the mixture to ensure it is lump free

Let the mixture stand for 30 minutes

Heat oven to 240c

Heat oil in your roasting tin until the oil is smoking.

Whilst oil is heating I fried the sausages (but you can grill them if you prefer)

Once the sausages are cooked I put them onto a plate ready to quickly add them to my Yorkshire pudding mix.

Get your heated oil out of the oven and immediately add the Yorkshire pudding mix then sausages and put back in the oven.

DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DOOR UNTIL ITS COOKED

After 10 minutes turn the oven down to about 180/200

Total cooking time 25 minutes

Serve and enjoy!

I used Asda extra special thin Cumberland sausages which are 90% pork, since the meat scandal I have definitely changed my buying habits and these sausages where surprising good value at £2.50 for twelve, I pay more than that normally for sausages with no actual meat in them!




Saturday, 6 April 2013

I'm learning to cook (and bake)

Ok as you know I am not the best in the kitchen, if I had to describe myself I would say I was Susan from My Family, where I subject my own family to some terrible creations. Granted over the last couple of years I have improved but I rarely make anything from scratch so that is what I want to change.

I am setting myself a challenge to learn one new recipe from scratch a week starting this week with Toad in the Hole. A good old family favourite that hopefully won't be too difficult, lets break me in gently!

Other things on my list for the rest of the month are:

Apple Crumble
Spaghetti Bolognese
Real Gravy

So wish me (my family) luck, I will let you know how I get on.





Friday, 8 March 2013

Left Over Chicken Pie

This is a blog I never thought I'd write.... A food post... Me?? Thats laughable, as I am terrible in the kitchen!

I either burn things as I get distracted or I under cook it in the fear of burning it (you get the picture)

But I am determined to start cooking more things from scratch and this brilliant (and very easy) recipe was given to me by my sister (thanks Jo)

I was a bit dubious as I'm not keen on left overs but I gave it a go and it is delicious. If you are anything like us we always have a ridiculous amount of chicken left over after our Sunday roast, which makes it economical in these hard times as well, bonus.

Ingredients

Left over chicken
mushrooms
a tin of sweetcorn
carrots (cooked or tinned)
2 tins of condensed mushroom soup
Short crust pastry

Directions

Heat the soup, chicken, carrots and mushrooms in a pan
when hot add the sweetcorn
Put contents into your pie dish and leave to cool for 30 minutes

Roll pastry and add to pie dish
Brush with egg

Cook for approx 30 - 40 minutes until pastry is thoroughly cooked

and viola a hearty delicious chicken pie



Monday, 4 March 2013

Funday Monday... Making Gruffalo Crumble

Funday Monday was still a bit low key due to the girls still not being a 100% but a vast improvement on last Mondays trip to A&E!

We made Gruffalo Crumble...

Well it was apple crumble but the girls got me this delightful Gruffalo Crumble set for Christmas, which included the oversized mug for mixing, a Gruffalo wooden spoon and the crumble mix.




We just needed to add the fruit to the tin sprinkle the crumble on the top and cook for 25 minutes, easy as pie...


So we had to pad the time out a bit with squashing fruit and mixing crumble otherwise it would of been done in about five minutes but the girls had a thoroughly enjoyable time.













Now for the really fun part... Gruffalo Crumble and Custard anyone?