I always seem to start like this but many, many apologies again for being away so long. There's been a lot going on over the last few months, and although I've kept up with the baking, I just haven't had time to sit down and blog.
On 11th September, we lost our precious Granny, 10 days after she suffered a stroke at home. We all miss her, while of course being glad that she isn't suffering any more. She'd managed to live on her own until the end, at nearly 95 years of age, and until recently liked to bake something whenever I visited. She passed on some great family recipes to me, which I'll post one day if I can dig them out! I love this picture of her looking so proud, with newborn Megan.
By strange coincidence, 11th September was my other Granny's 100th birthday. She also lives on her own, and is just amazing for her age (I think I've got good genes!) We had a family party for her the following day - she really seemed to enjoy herself and loved catching up with family and friends. Here she is with children and grandchildren, and a special letter from one grand old lady to another!
In yet another coincidence, Granny's funeral was held on our 10th wedding anniversary. We didn't have much time to think about it that day, but the following week we sneaked off to Brugge for 4 days, our first holiday without the munchkins! It was a lovely break, much of which seemed to centre around food! We had a wonderful first night meal of pig cheek with beer and cherry sauce, followed by a traditional 'Brugge swan' desert. Then there was a tour of a chocolate factory, and lovely fresh waffles, straight from the griddle. Yum! Plenty of inspiration for when I finish this little project!
Right, so here goes. This is what I've managed to bake over the last few months (with pictures where I could find them!)
1. Lime yoghurt cake
2. Rich hazelnut brownies
3. Baked Alaska
4. Mocha pecan meringue ice-cream sandwiches
Evan was oh-so excited about having ice cream sandwiches in the freezer, but sadly he didn't like the result. They're made with meringue, mixed with coffee granules, ground pecans and chocolate. You heap little mounds onto a baking tray, and bake - then sandwich with ice cream when ready to eat. I think the coffee and nut taste disagreed with Evan's palette! I enjoyed them though, and enjoyed having them in the freezer as a treat to pull out.
5. Viennese biscuits
These were hilarious - why I didn't get a picture I don't know. I piped them onto the baking tray with the wrong size nozzle. They looked very skinny, but "oh well" I thought, "they might spread". They didn't! They were more like French fries! Still tasted nice, and very moreish. I'll try again, and maybe read the instructions properly!
6. Eccles cakes
7. Finnish cake with caramelised ginger
An unusual sponge cake, made with crystallised ginger and soured cream. Seems so long since I made it, and can't remember much it about it. Just that it turned out well!
8. Lemon and passion fruit tart
9. Baked butternut squash risotto
Decided to make this for tea one night, when it was just me and the munchkins. Well, it was a change from what we normally have and a bit of a gamble... not a good one. They both turned their noses up, even Megan who isn't normally fussy. Luckily it's an easy recipe, so I didn't feel I'd wasted too much effort! (And I enjoyed it).
10. 30 day muffins
11. White-frosted coconut celebration cake
Another great alternative to the classic sponge cake for a party or special occasion. It has coconut in the sponge, then a coconut butter filling and is finally finished with an American frosting, and sprinkled with yet more coconut. Yes, you have to be a coconut lover! My husband is definitely not, but this went to church for our minister's leaving celebration, so was appreciated by many of the folk there. I cannot master American frosting, it never seems to be firm enough and sort of melts down the cake. It still tastes nice, just doesn't look pretty. Definitely one to practice when this challenge is over.
12. Roasted mushroom and goats' cheese tartlet
Hmmm... not so successful. Perhaps these just weren't great figs, but they were pretty tasteless. The idea is that you split the figs, pack tightly into ramekins, drizzle with honey and bake. Sounded nice, but the figs didn't really take on the sweetness. It's not often that one of Rachel's recipes lets me down, maybe I'll have to try again one day.
14. Festive jam cookie sandwiches
15. Oatcakes
16. Vanillekipferl
These are really light little German biscuits, whose name literally means 'vanilla mountain tops' - due to the fact that they are tossed in icing sugar, looking a bit like snowy mountain peaks. Very light and moreish, yum!
17. Cornish saffron bread
Didn't think this would work at all, as the dough didn't rise very well. Still, saffron being so expensive, I was reluctant to throw the mixture away. I'm glad I persevered, as it turned out OK. It's a fruity loaf, with a nice sunny yellow colour from the saffron.
18 & 19. Empanadillas/ Anchovy, goats' cheese & chorizo squares
20. Walnut and honey tart
Another favourite bake, and one that I'll definitely do again. It's so easy - having baked the pastry blind, you simply melt butter in a saucepan, add in honey; sugar and cream, boil and finally add in some chopped walnuts Pour into your case and bake. Easy as erm, pie! It's very rich and satisfying - Nigel and I enjoyed it warm with some vanilla ice cream.
21. Beef pasties with mint, ginger and peas
A variation on the classic pasty, which may have Cornish traditionalists shaking in their shoes! But we enjoyed them. Rachel describes them as having 'elements of Mexican empanadas, Indian samosas and classic Cornish pasties all rolled into one'. I'd probably spice them up a bit more (and that comes from me, who doesn't really like hot food!)... the spice was very subtle.
22. Baklava
Had a go at the treat which I enjoy in our local Turkish restaurant, 'The Mangal' in Syston. It's really easy, just takes a little time layering filo pastry, brushing with butter and layering nuts. If you haven't worked with filo pastry before, it's quite weird. I thought I was pulling layers of paper off at first, until I realised it was all pastry. Luckily, homemade filo is not a recipe in 'Bake'... so I got away with that one!
23. Kugelhopf
By strange coincidence, 11th September was my other Granny's 100th birthday. She also lives on her own, and is just amazing for her age (I think I've got good genes!) We had a family party for her the following day - she really seemed to enjoy herself and loved catching up with family and friends. Here she is with children and grandchildren, and a special letter from one grand old lady to another!
In yet another coincidence, Granny's funeral was held on our 10th wedding anniversary. We didn't have much time to think about it that day, but the following week we sneaked off to Brugge for 4 days, our first holiday without the munchkins! It was a lovely break, much of which seemed to centre around food! We had a wonderful first night meal of pig cheek with beer and cherry sauce, followed by a traditional 'Brugge swan' desert. Then there was a tour of a chocolate factory, and lovely fresh waffles, straight from the griddle. Yum! Plenty of inspiration for when I finish this little project!
Right, so here goes. This is what I've managed to bake over the last few months (with pictures where I could find them!)
1. Lime yoghurt cake
A really zesty, moist cake containing honey; natural yoghurt and lime juice. It's drizzled with a syrup made of water; caster sugar; more lime juice and rosewater. Definitely worth trying as an alternative to classic sponge cake! Struggled to find the rosewater, but then my friend in the local health food shop ordered it specially for me.
2. Rich hazelnut brownies
What can I say - chocolate brownies. Always a hit! I find it best to always slightly undercook them, so they're soft in the middle. Otherwise, they loose their squidginess and just become like sponge cake.
3. Baked Alaska
OK, so as you can see this was a bit of a disaster. I'm not sure quite what went wrong, but I thought my meringue was stiff enough - then it all melted when I spread it on the ice cream. I shoved it in the freezer quickly, and it set in the position you can see. Still, it tasted good! Evan re-named it 'ice-cream cake'... Nigel re-named it 'ice-cream splat!' I actually sent these pictures in to 'Great British Bake Off, Extra Slice' as I thought it looked so bad, and might make their disastrous bakes slot. Unfortunately I was too late for the last episode. Might submit it next year... watch this space! Oh, I found it much easier to use a blowtorch to brown the meringue, rather than place it in the oven, as Rachel suggests. I think that might have finished it off!
4. Mocha pecan meringue ice-cream sandwiches
Evan was oh-so excited about having ice cream sandwiches in the freezer, but sadly he didn't like the result. They're made with meringue, mixed with coffee granules, ground pecans and chocolate. You heap little mounds onto a baking tray, and bake - then sandwich with ice cream when ready to eat. I think the coffee and nut taste disagreed with Evan's palette! I enjoyed them though, and enjoyed having them in the freezer as a treat to pull out.
5. Viennese biscuits
These were hilarious - why I didn't get a picture I don't know. I piped them onto the baking tray with the wrong size nozzle. They looked very skinny, but "oh well" I thought, "they might spread". They didn't! They were more like French fries! Still tasted nice, and very moreish. I'll try again, and maybe read the instructions properly!
6. Eccles cakes
I've loved Eccles cakes for a long time, and these were much easier to make than I thought. I used ready made mincemeat (one of Rachel's filling variations), so I literally just rolled out discs of puff pastry, popped a teaspoon of filling in and gathered up the pastry edges. They're smaller than the Eccles cake you get in the shops, but taste just the same.
7. Finnish cake with caramelised ginger
An unusual sponge cake, made with crystallised ginger and soured cream. Seems so long since I made it, and can't remember much it about it. Just that it turned out well!
8. Lemon and passion fruit tart
Loved this, definitely one of my favourite bakes so far. I love lemon tart anyway, and the passion fruit adds an extra tropical sweetness. Best served chilled, with some cream for extra decadence!
9. Baked butternut squash risotto
Decided to make this for tea one night, when it was just me and the munchkins. Well, it was a change from what we normally have and a bit of a gamble... not a good one. They both turned their noses up, even Megan who isn't normally fussy. Luckily it's an easy recipe, so I didn't feel I'd wasted too much effort! (And I enjoyed it).
10. 30 day muffins
This is such an amazing recipe - if you haven't tried it you should! As the name suggests, the basic mix lasts in the fridge for a whole month. When you fancy a batch of fresh muffins, you just add in whichever flavourings you want, and bake. Voila, domestic goddess!
11. White-frosted coconut celebration cake
Another great alternative to the classic sponge cake for a party or special occasion. It has coconut in the sponge, then a coconut butter filling and is finally finished with an American frosting, and sprinkled with yet more coconut. Yes, you have to be a coconut lover! My husband is definitely not, but this went to church for our minister's leaving celebration, so was appreciated by many of the folk there. I cannot master American frosting, it never seems to be firm enough and sort of melts down the cake. It still tastes nice, just doesn't look pretty. Definitely one to practice when this challenge is over.
12. Roasted mushroom and goats' cheese tartlet
Made this for Megan's 2nd birthday tea. It's a very simple recipe, especially when made with ready made puff pastry. You just roll out your pastry, and top with roasted mushrooms; wilted spinach; and goats' cheese, then bake. It's finished with olives and herbs, and served with Rachel's oh-so-simple sweet onion jam. A great entertaining dish, although I think next time I'd make double - it came out quite small.
13. Baked figs
Hmmm... not so successful. Perhaps these just weren't great figs, but they were pretty tasteless. The idea is that you split the figs, pack tightly into ramekins, drizzle with honey and bake. Sounded nice, but the figs didn't really take on the sweetness. It's not often that one of Rachel's recipes lets me down, maybe I'll have to try again one day.
14. Festive jam cookie sandwiches
I didn't make these for Christmas, but just for fun, over the autumn. They're made with a simple biscuit dough - you cut it all into shapes, and then taking half the shapes, cut 'windows' to fill with jam. Rachel suggested round or flower shaped cutters. As you can see, I went for hearts and stars. The hearts worked well, the stars not so much. I didn't have a small enough inner cutter, and the tops were a bit thin and misshapen. Still, they baked well and tasted nice.
15. Oatcakes
Another one made in honour of Megan's second birthday. While I was pregnant with her, I used to carry around packets of Nairn's Scottish oatcakes. Great for an instant energy boost! My Scottish friend Lena says that's what made Megan a 9lb 4oz whopper! These were easy to make and pretty authentic. As you can see, little Meggie-Moo hasn't forgotten from the womb and still enjoys them!
16. Vanillekipferl
These are really light little German biscuits, whose name literally means 'vanilla mountain tops' - due to the fact that they are tossed in icing sugar, looking a bit like snowy mountain peaks. Very light and moreish, yum!
17. Cornish saffron bread
Didn't think this would work at all, as the dough didn't rise very well. Still, saffron being so expensive, I was reluctant to throw the mixture away. I'm glad I persevered, as it turned out OK. It's a fruity loaf, with a nice sunny yellow colour from the saffron.
18 & 19. Empanadillas/ Anchovy, goats' cheese & chorizo squares
I finally got over my dread of making puff pastry, yay! After hearing Jamie Oliver say "if you've got time to make puff pastry, you've got too much time on your hands", and reading that Mary Berry buys ready made... well I thought it must be really complicated. It isn't, it just takes a bit of time. And a lot of that isn't hands on time, it's just waiting in between rolling and folding. Rachel's recipe makes a bit batch, so I made these 2 recipes and also have plenty in the freezer.
20. Walnut and honey tart
Another favourite bake, and one that I'll definitely do again. It's so easy - having baked the pastry blind, you simply melt butter in a saucepan, add in honey; sugar and cream, boil and finally add in some chopped walnuts Pour into your case and bake. Easy as erm, pie! It's very rich and satisfying - Nigel and I enjoyed it warm with some vanilla ice cream.
21. Beef pasties with mint, ginger and peas
A variation on the classic pasty, which may have Cornish traditionalists shaking in their shoes! But we enjoyed them. Rachel describes them as having 'elements of Mexican empanadas, Indian samosas and classic Cornish pasties all rolled into one'. I'd probably spice them up a bit more (and that comes from me, who doesn't really like hot food!)... the spice was very subtle.
22. Baklava
Had a go at the treat which I enjoy in our local Turkish restaurant, 'The Mangal' in Syston. It's really easy, just takes a little time layering filo pastry, brushing with butter and layering nuts. If you haven't worked with filo pastry before, it's quite weird. I thought I was pulling layers of paper off at first, until I realised it was all pastry. Luckily, homemade filo is not a recipe in 'Bake'... so I got away with that one!
23. Kugelhopf
A lovely juicy, Christmassy tasting sponge cake which we all enjoyed. It's made with a bread dough, so you need to leave some time for rising and proving - apart from that it's quite uncomplicated. My KitchenAid with the dough hook made it easy-peasy! Didn't have the classic Kugelhopf tin, so I just used a round sandwich tin. But I think I might treat myself, as I'm keen to make this again.
I'll sign off here, as although I've got another 8 recipes to update you with, I've probably gone on for long enough! Back with an update very soon!
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