Well, I made it five days in a row blogging, I'm quite proud of myself, but there was no way I could do it on the weekend too, it takes me at least an hour to blog with photos! Anyway I don't have a whole post to write about, so here are a few of my random thoughts. Also, I've not downloaded my photos recently so I'll post them tomorrow or Friday.
1. It turns out Chicken loves the park. The only thing she's big enough (and not even properly then) to go on is the baby swing, and man does that make her laugh and smile. She also loves watching the other kids, I think we could just sit in the playground watching the kids for a whole afternoon and she still wouldn't get bored!
2. I lost one and a half pounds this week, 680g in normal peoples amounts, which is 12.5 lb total or 5.5kg. And the good new is that I now fit into three pairs of three quarters that I didn't fit a month ago!! Can't wait to do some shopping when I get to Vermont.
3. I am sooooo excited about going to visit Scott and Panda in two weeks, I can't believe its only in two weeks, I've already starting looking at websites for clothes and shoes for Chicken and I!! We're having a week or so in Vermont and then a couple of nights in New York, I love NYC and already have a long list of things to do that we didn't manage last time.
4. I have to bake some biscuits tomorrow morning for a party. My friend is finishing her job as a breastfeeding supporter tomorrow so we are having a farewell lunch and then a little party at our group. I'm sad shes leaving but I'm looking forward to having mussels for lunch!
5. My computer isn't working at the moment so I have to borrow Andrew's which doesn't have a webcam which means no skype or skyping using my iPhone, which is super hard because Chicken wants to grab it all the time, and really who wants to look up a babies nose, not even me!
6. I've joined a reading club online, and I'm really enjoying it so far, its one of the first books (not counting kids books) that I've read since I've had Chicken.
Happy Hump day everyone!
Showing posts with label Baking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baking. Show all posts
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Pudding time
Yesterday my friend Liz hosted a BBQ at her house. We met Liz and her husband at our ante-natal classes, and we've been hanging out with the rest of our group on Tuesdays since our babies were born. Well actually thats not quite true, Liz was hanging out with us before her baby was born, her boy was the last of our group so Liz was our tea and coffee girl while we veged on the couch with very little babies. Anyway, once again I am off track. Liz's kitchen flooded before their baby was born and so they spent a long time getting the whole bottom floor of their house dried out and fixed, and to celebrate the 'new' house they held a BBQ. I asked Liz what pudding aka dessert I could bring and she said I could choose, oh the options!
For those of you who know me, you know I love to bake, actually I love cooking in general, but I love love love to bake. So I spent this week pouring through my cookbooks, canvasing opinions on FaceBook and generally getting my knickers in a twist because I couldn't decide what to make! In the end I went with three desserts, two of which I've made before and one that Andrew had. I would have loved to experiment, but a BBQ with people I don't know is not the time to take risks.
The first pudding I made was Chocolate Guinness cake from Cake Days from the Hummingbird Bakery. I have both their cookbooks and they are well thumbed, the recipes are very very tasty. This cake is rich, dark and moist, and most of all ridiculously easy. I may even post the recipe later on in the week! The most amazing thing to me about this cake is that it only contains cocoa powder, no chocolate!
This is the outside, it has a cream cheese icing which is is really yum! I made this cake for my friend Patrick's 30th a couple of weeks ago and it was also a huge hit then!
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| I'm sorry but after trying a bajillion times to post this photo the right way up, I give up! |
The second dessert was for my friend Jo, who can't eat wheat, so no flour. I'm really enjoying experimenting with cooking gluten free food for her (well cakes and cookies anyway) so I knew she'd love this Pavlova. Pav as it is more commonly known in NZ (where it was first created!) is our national pudding and everyone has their version. Most New Zealander's would put kiwi fruit on top or crumble a flake chocolate bar or slice strawberries. Not me, I love my pav with raspberries, which is what we had. Essentially a pavlova is whipped egg whites with sugar added, a meringue cake(ish).
The final dessert was profiteroles, and I have to say, I think they may become my dinner party staple. So so easy! Andrew made these for me on Mother's Day, and well if he can make them, I certainly can! On Friday night I made the choux pastry and piped and baked the 'balls'. On Saturday I filled them with cream and iced them with a classic chocolate icing. Mmmmm!
PS My friends bought me the cake stand as a party of my baby shower presents, not your typical present but very loved!
And now post of mine would be complete without some baby photos, this is Chicken in her party frock. Unfortunately she wasn't as lady-like as a wearer of such a frock should be. From stealing her boyfriend's toys to scratching the host of the party on the face she did it all and had a great time, coming home with grass stains all over the feet of her frilly bottom tights.
Sunday, 5 June 2011
A list on Sunday
I have a lot of mini thoughts to write about, but none of them by themselves would be a full post, so this morning, we have a list!
1. Its been quite nice in my part of England this week and today we are having some family over for a BBQ. Isn't it typical that I wake up and the sky is overcast. BBC says its going to be warm all day with a chance of rain in the evening, stay away rain!
2. I've been meaning to bake a certain cake for about two months now. Its a pistachio, lemon and polenta cake, the recipe comes from Sainsbury's magazine about two years ago and it looks good. Why do I keep putting off making cake? I mean, I'm quite good at that sort of thing, must do that today, it'll be nice for the BBQ.
3. We went swimming at the local pool last week. Now this would normally fill a full post, but since you are not allowed to take pictures in public pools (and cause I don't want photos of me in a swim suit on the net) it wouldn't be as much fun. We did have a great time and Chicken really loves the water and is becoming more and more confident. She also has the cutest outfit!
4. My father-in-law Graham (and MIL Moira) are staying with us at the moment, and we asked him to do some gardening to tidy up a bit. There is a privet tree out the front of our house and I said he could trim it as it makes me sneeze and it was quite over grown. This is what he did. Effective but it will take a bit of getting used to, and anyway, plants grow back. And I am very pleased that the privet has gone!
5. We watched Roman Holiday last night with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. This was the first time I've seen a Hepburn film, great eyebrows and I love the pixie hair cut, but what big ears! I got it at the supermarket for £3, and didn't realise till I got home that it was in black and white. I really enjoyed it, such a restrained love story, they don't make em like they used to!
6. Because the in-laws are stayingI have farmed out my child Chicken is spending quality time with them while I write this, makes things go much quicker. Thanks guys!
7. I made ribs yesterday, two different marinades even. And well, they were ok, I mean ribs, if not overcooked are usually nice, but these marinades didn't quite cut it. I like sticky ribs and they had potential but ... oh well, I'll keep trying. Apparently my little brother makes nice ribs, maybe he'll make some when we visit him in September.
8. Speaking of my brother, his girlfriend Amanda, who make this amazing quilt for Chicken got a kitchen aid mixer for her birthday recently. I am seriously jealous! I covet one, sooooooooooo much, shame the voltage is different for electrical things from the US to the UK, I'd put one in my suitcase in Sept!
9. I am going out this Wednesday coming at night time without Chicken. Since she now takes a bottle I am going to go scrapbooking for a couple of hours. I chose this time cause the in-laws will be here to help Andrew if needed. I'll let you know how it goes, a practice run for the hens party in a month!
10. I said to my friend Jo the other day (we are new friends btw) "I don't know if you've realised but my brain things about lots of different things at once, which is why the conversation changes a lot" and she said (in a deservedly slightly sarcastic tone, "No Jess, hadn't noticed at all, not!" She also said she likes it and it keeps her on her toes because she has to pay attention to the whole conversation. I hope she meant it and wasn't just being nice, I don't think so, she doesn't seem like that sort of person.
So, my point being, this list of ten is really just my stream of consciousness (I think that's what its called) on a Sunday morning. Hope you have a relaxing Sunday, wherever you are!
Oh wait!
11. My little girl was five months old yesterday, where has the time gone?
1. Its been quite nice in my part of England this week and today we are having some family over for a BBQ. Isn't it typical that I wake up and the sky is overcast. BBC says its going to be warm all day with a chance of rain in the evening, stay away rain!
2. I've been meaning to bake a certain cake for about two months now. Its a pistachio, lemon and polenta cake, the recipe comes from Sainsbury's magazine about two years ago and it looks good. Why do I keep putting off making cake? I mean, I'm quite good at that sort of thing, must do that today, it'll be nice for the BBQ.
3. We went swimming at the local pool last week. Now this would normally fill a full post, but since you are not allowed to take pictures in public pools (and cause I don't want photos of me in a swim suit on the net) it wouldn't be as much fun. We did have a great time and Chicken really loves the water and is becoming more and more confident. She also has the cutest outfit!
4. My father-in-law Graham (and MIL Moira) are staying with us at the moment, and we asked him to do some gardening to tidy up a bit. There is a privet tree out the front of our house and I said he could trim it as it makes me sneeze and it was quite over grown. This is what he did. Effective but it will take a bit of getting used to, and anyway, plants grow back. And I am very pleased that the privet has gone!
5. We watched Roman Holiday last night with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. This was the first time I've seen a Hepburn film, great eyebrows and I love the pixie hair cut, but what big ears! I got it at the supermarket for £3, and didn't realise till I got home that it was in black and white. I really enjoyed it, such a restrained love story, they don't make em like they used to!
6. Because the in-laws are staying
7. I made ribs yesterday, two different marinades even. And well, they were ok, I mean ribs, if not overcooked are usually nice, but these marinades didn't quite cut it. I like sticky ribs and they had potential but ... oh well, I'll keep trying. Apparently my little brother makes nice ribs, maybe he'll make some when we visit him in September.
8. Speaking of my brother, his girlfriend Amanda, who make this amazing quilt for Chicken got a kitchen aid mixer for her birthday recently. I am seriously jealous! I covet one, sooooooooooo much, shame the voltage is different for electrical things from the US to the UK, I'd put one in my suitcase in Sept!
9. I am going out this Wednesday coming at night time without Chicken. Since she now takes a bottle I am going to go scrapbooking for a couple of hours. I chose this time cause the in-laws will be here to help Andrew if needed. I'll let you know how it goes, a practice run for the hens party in a month!
10. I said to my friend Jo the other day (we are new friends btw) "I don't know if you've realised but my brain things about lots of different things at once, which is why the conversation changes a lot" and she said (in a deservedly slightly sarcastic tone, "No Jess, hadn't noticed at all, not!" She also said she likes it and it keeps her on her toes because she has to pay attention to the whole conversation. I hope she meant it and wasn't just being nice, I don't think so, she doesn't seem like that sort of person.
So, my point being, this list of ten is really just my stream of consciousness (I think that's what its called) on a Sunday morning. Hope you have a relaxing Sunday, wherever you are!
Oh wait!
11. My little girl was five months old yesterday, where has the time gone?
Monday, 18 April 2011
A list of ten things on Monday
1. My house was a mess at the start of the day, it is now much (but not completely) cleaner.
2. I have my ante-natal group coming over for lunch tomorrow, hence number one, I'll do the hoovering tomorrow.
3. Chicken and I had a huge nap this afternoon, from 5pm till 6:30pm, good thing we're not too big on routine!
4. I have pin-wheel scones and a cake to make tomorrow before the people arrive.
5. I'm probably only going to manage the scones, and I might squeeze in some biscuits (much quicker than cake!)
6. Andrew mowed the lawn tonight so we can sit outside if its nice. I should have found out how to put up the gazebo to make shade for the babies.
7. Now I've said there might be sun, it will probably be cloudy!
8. I have a £4.55 worth of fines to pay at the library, I hate library fines!
9. We are going to go for a walk on the moor tomorrow, hopefully my shoes don't get too muddy cause I'll have to get them washed in customs in New Zealand!
10. Thats right, I'm going to New Zealand. On Easter Sunday Chicken and I are going home for three weeks. My wonderful Mum and super Dad have missed their little Possum so much they had to see her again, I have the best parents ever, thanks G, and Pops!
And now for a few cute photos taken at Kew Gardens last week, Chicken enjoying the warm sunny weather!
2. I have my ante-natal group coming over for lunch tomorrow, hence number one, I'll do the hoovering tomorrow.
3. Chicken and I had a huge nap this afternoon, from 5pm till 6:30pm, good thing we're not too big on routine!
4. I have pin-wheel scones and a cake to make tomorrow before the people arrive.
5. I'm probably only going to manage the scones, and I might squeeze in some biscuits (much quicker than cake!)
6. Andrew mowed the lawn tonight so we can sit outside if its nice. I should have found out how to put up the gazebo to make shade for the babies.
7. Now I've said there might be sun, it will probably be cloudy!
8. I have a £4.55 worth of fines to pay at the library, I hate library fines!
9. We are going to go for a walk on the moor tomorrow, hopefully my shoes don't get too muddy cause I'll have to get them washed in customs in New Zealand!
10. Thats right, I'm going to New Zealand. On Easter Sunday Chicken and I are going home for three weeks. My wonderful Mum and super Dad have missed their little Possum so much they had to see her again, I have the best parents ever, thanks G, and Pops!
And now for a few cute photos taken at Kew Gardens last week, Chicken enjoying the warm sunny weather!
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Raisin Oatmeal Cookies
Today I baked raisin oatmeal cookies to take to my coffee group. Last week I made hot chocolate cupcakes and to be honest, they didn't go down that well. They tasted great but I think icing and wrappers are just a bit tricky while looking after a baby. These cookies are my all time favourites and I could eat them all the time! I even made a batch the day before I went to hospital to have Chicken and took some with me, and I can tell you at 3am they were the best thing ever!
Raisin Oatmeal Cookies
makes about 20 cookies
135g butter at room temperature
80g caster sugar
80g soft brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
190g self raising flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
55g rolled oats
110g raisins
1. Pre-heat the oven to 170c (325f)
2. Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, add in the egg and vanilla and continue to beat till well combined.
3. Add the dry ingredients and beat until well mixed.
4. Stir in the raisins with a wooden spoon until evenly dispersed (sometimes I just use the beater)
5. Using a dessert spoon scoop even sized amounts on to a tray (I have to bake this in batches) and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are going golden brown.
6. Leave on tray for a few minutes to cool and then transfer to a cooling rack to finish.
Top tip: You don't want them over cooked, chewy cookies are the best!
Enjoy!
Sunday, 3 April 2011
Happy Mother's Day part three
And for the final post, we move to my first Mother's Day! Chicken and I woke up early to Skype my parents to wish Mum a happy UK Mother's Day, and then I handed my girl off to Andrew so he could call his parents. And what did I do with that spare hour, zzzzzzz, yep that's right I had a glorious sleep in! After that Andrew baked pastries for my breakfast in bed (please excuse the messy bed hair)
I also got two amazing cards, I am one lucky lady!
Then Andrew bought me the presents he and 'Eilidh' got me, I've been very spoilt! Andrew got me a Links of London bracelet like my friend Amy's that I wore as my 'something borrowed' at our wedding. Eilidh got me some ornaments for the garden that I had been admiring last week at the local garden centre, a gnome, a hedgehog, and a sheep.
After breakfast we went for a long walk to the local car boot sale, and it has to be said, while the walk was really nice, the sale was a waste of time, talk about tat!
When we got home Andrew started to get my special dinner ready, steak and chips and profiteroles!
I have one amazing husband! I know I've used the 'a' word a lot today, but its because I feel very spoilt and I'm very thankful. I'm thankful for Andrew who remembered that I liked this beautiful bracelet and chose it all by himself, and that he was willing to make something as challenging as profiteroles, because I got it into my head that, that was what I wanted!
I'm also thankful for my lovely little girl, who even though she hasn't gone to bed tonight (and is snoring in Andrew's arms on the couch) is the most beautiful little Chicken in the world! And, check it out, she's learnt to grab and hold things, and is quite taken by this cuddly.
Happy Mother's Day to all the mums out there!
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Rhubarb, vanilla and sour cream crumb cake
I buy Delicious Magazine every month and really enjoy flicking through the pages, even if I don't make many of the recipes! The cover recipe really caught my eye, it was a tasty looking rhubarb cake and inside there was a whole selection of rhubarb recipes. I love rhubarb, and had real trouble choosing which one to make, pie, cake or cheesecake? In the end I went with the cake, but I think the cheesecake will be next (and soon!)
I was supposed to be going to have lunch with the girls from my ante-natal class today, and had decided to make the cake to celebrate the fact that all eight of us finally joined the mum club. Sadly, because of Chicken's snuffles, we couldn't go (didn't want to infect the other babies), but since I'd already made the cake I thought I'd share it with you. I made a few changes to the original recipe, using rice flour and gluten free baking powder because of of the girls can't eat wheat. Final verdict, it tasted great!
Gluten Free Rhubarb, Vanilla and Sour Cream Crumb Cake
225g trimmed rhubarb
50g caster sugar
2tsp rice flour
For the cake:
6tbsp sour cream
1 large egg plus one egg yolk
1tsp vanilla bean paste
100g rice flour
100g caster sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp gluten free baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
75g unsalted butter, at room temp
50g ground almonds
For the crumbs:
50g unsalted butter
25g light brown sugar
40g caster sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
100g rice flour
pinch of salt
1. For the crumbs, melt the butter (stove or microwave) add both types of sugar and stir constantly until dissolved into a smooth, toffee like paste. Stir in the vanilla paste, then the flour and salt to make a biscuit-like dough. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the bowl and set aside to cool.
2. Pre-heat the oven to 180c and grease and line a 23cm round cake tin with baking paper.
3. Cut the rhubarb into 1in pieces and put in a mixing bowl. Add the sugar and flour and mix till the rhubarb is thoroughly coated. Set aside for 15mins or so, stirring occasionally so that the dry ingredients sticks to the fruit. Set aside.
4. For the cake, mix the sour cream, egg, yolk, and vanilla in a small bowl. Sift the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt into another bowl. Add the butter and mix using a electric mixer until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the mixed almonds and gradually beat in the wet ingredients until smooth.
5. Spread the cake mixture into the base of the tin and scatter over the rhubarb mixture. Break the crumbs into small pieces and scatter over the cake.
6. Bake for 40-45 mins until golden and a skewer comes away clean when inserted into the cake. NB if the skewer hits a piece of rhubarb it will still be moist.
7. Dust with icing sugar and serve either warm or cool.
I was supposed to be going to have lunch with the girls from my ante-natal class today, and had decided to make the cake to celebrate the fact that all eight of us finally joined the mum club. Sadly, because of Chicken's snuffles, we couldn't go (didn't want to infect the other babies), but since I'd already made the cake I thought I'd share it with you. I made a few changes to the original recipe, using rice flour and gluten free baking powder because of of the girls can't eat wheat. Final verdict, it tasted great!
Gluten Free Rhubarb, Vanilla and Sour Cream Crumb Cake
225g trimmed rhubarb
50g caster sugar
2tsp rice flour
For the cake:
6tbsp sour cream
1 large egg plus one egg yolk
1tsp vanilla bean paste
100g rice flour
100g caster sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp gluten free baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
75g unsalted butter, at room temp
50g ground almonds
For the crumbs:
50g unsalted butter
25g light brown sugar
40g caster sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
100g rice flour
pinch of salt
1. For the crumbs, melt the butter (stove or microwave) add both types of sugar and stir constantly until dissolved into a smooth, toffee like paste. Stir in the vanilla paste, then the flour and salt to make a biscuit-like dough. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the bowl and set aside to cool.
2. Pre-heat the oven to 180c and grease and line a 23cm round cake tin with baking paper.
3. Cut the rhubarb into 1in pieces and put in a mixing bowl. Add the sugar and flour and mix till the rhubarb is thoroughly coated. Set aside for 15mins or so, stirring occasionally so that the dry ingredients sticks to the fruit. Set aside.
4. For the cake, mix the sour cream, egg, yolk, and vanilla in a small bowl. Sift the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt into another bowl. Add the butter and mix using a electric mixer until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the mixed almonds and gradually beat in the wet ingredients until smooth.
5. Spread the cake mixture into the base of the tin and scatter over the rhubarb mixture. Break the crumbs into small pieces and scatter over the cake.
6. Bake for 40-45 mins until golden and a skewer comes away clean when inserted into the cake. NB if the skewer hits a piece of rhubarb it will still be moist.
7. Dust with icing sugar and serve either warm or cool.
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