Week 11 - Sticky Buns

Quote from book:  These buns, made with butter and an egg, filled and rolled, then baked on a mixture of butter, muscovado sugar, maple syrup and chopped nuts are hard to resist.

Faff Factor =7

Bake = 9

Keeping Up Appearances = 9

Total score = 25/30

This week I decided to make Iced Buns. But those don't look like Iced Buns I hear you say? No they are not! Yet again, I had another disaster with the mix - this disaster malarky is becoming a regular thing, tut tut tut.  I really really cannot say what went wrong, I followed the recipe and as soon as I added the milk, boommmmphhhhhhhh it went into an awful crumbly mucky mess which I could not retrieve.  So it was back to the drawing board (well cupboard actually) and as I only had one packet of yeast remaining I frantically looked through the book and decided that I had all the right ingredients to make Sticky Buns.  Basically, these are just like the monkey bread except you roll out into a rectangle, add cinnamon sugar, roll up like a swiss roll, cut and place in the tin then bake. They are also like cinnamon rolls (minus the currants) but with a maple syrup and walnut glaze, which you cover the bottom of the pan before placing the rolls on top and then once cooked turn upside down so it becomes the top (are you keeping up with me?)  

It's a funny old thing this baking, even though I haven't made this recipe before the result was so similar to cinnamon rolls and the monkey bread, I felt I had been there, done that. 

So will it be pastry next week?  Da da daaaaaaa....

Laters

Lynetta Xx

 

Britain's First Photo Album

Has anyone been watching this new series?  I have and I love it! 

Britain's First Photo Album is presented by John Sergeant on the extraordinary achievement of Francis Frith, the pioneer Victorian photographer who embarked upon a colossal project to photograph the United Kingdom during the 19th century. John Sergeant retraces Frith's photographic journey through history, hoping to find the exact spots where forty photographs from The Francis Frith Collection were taken and then take his own pictures, capturing the mood of the place as it is now.

Frith's poignant photographs are further brought to life in a series of interviews as John Sergeant meets people living or working in the same places today, who tell their stories as they work to keep Britain's social and industrial heritage alive.

I would love to do something like this and scrapbook all about it, just think what it would look like.  Perhaps I'll put it on my list of things to do when I get a Canon camera just like John's.  If you've not seen the programme you've only a couple of days left to catch the end of the series. BB2 6:30pm.

I've watched the series of The Great British Railway Journeys where Micheal Portilo travels around the British railway network with only a Victorian guidebook and compares how the destinations have changed in Victorian and modern times (I even bought Bradshaws guide) and now this new series, I really do think I should of become a Victorian Historian.

Bye for now

Lynetta

Xx

week 10 - Victoria Sponge

Quote from book:  See below!.

Faff Factor =10

Bake = 10

Keeping Up Appearances = 9

Total score = 29/30 (top notch)

My all time favourite cake, a good old fashioned Victoria Sponge, however instead of a large cake I used my new super duper pans from Lakeland (you can find them here) and sorry Mary I have to apologise in advance as I did not follow your recipe, even though I have had great success in the past with your Victoria Sponge, this time I used the WI method.  This consists of weighing the eggs (of which I used 3) and adding the same amount of flour, sugar and butter - and for those who really want to know it was 210g.  

I made these for my mum for Mothers Day and had a few left over for myself and they boys.  I whipped up some fresh cream (with a little added icing sugar) and used a home made jam which I purchased from the Farmers Market which I posted about here. 

I don't really toot or big myself up over my baking but I have to say they were delicious with a lovely light and airy soft sponge.  I marked down the appearance as I would of liked them to have been flat topped like the advert for the tin but I have been reliably informed that it may have something to do with my oven being too hot, even though it was at the right temperature as the recipe stated.  Next time (which maybe sooner than expected) I will drop it by 20 degrees to see what happens.

I've been looking at my Peggy Porschen book again all week and boy do I want to make one of her cakes.  With the Easter break coming up soon I will have a little more time to titivate so watch this space.

I have also been watching Martha Stewart Bakes on Good Food & Living and am really inspired to use one or two of her recipes too.  I think I'm getting a little obsessed and over the top with this baking and yes, I know, I need to make a pastry recipe!!!!

OK, I'm off to start creating the programmes for our School Production.  It's great to have a diverse of interests in my hobbies, it sure keeps me occupied.

Happy Mondays

Lynetta Xx

 

Mothering Sunday.....

 "In the United Kingdom and Ireland, there is a celebration called Mothering Sunday, which falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent (18 March in 2012). Most historians believe that it originated from the 16th century Christian practice of visiting one's mother church annually on Laetere Sunday, which meant that most mothers would be reunited with their children on this day when young apprentices and young women in service were released by their masters that weekend.

By 1935 Mothering Sunday was less celebrated in Europe. There were efforts to revive the festival in the 1910s–1920s by Constance Penswick-Smith, but it was not revived until US World War II soldiers brought the Mother's Day celebrations to the UK and it was merged with the Mothering Sunday traditions still celebrated in the Church of England. By the 1950s it had become popular in the whole of the UK, thanks to the efforts of UK merchants, who saw in the festival a great commercial opportunity. People from Ireland and UK started celebrating Mother's Day on the fourth Sunday of Lent, the same day on which Mothering Sunday had been celebrated for centuries. Some Mothering Sunday traditions were revived such as the tradition of eating cake.

For many people in the United Kingdom, Mothers Day is the time of year to celebrate and buy gifts of chocolate or flowers for their mothers as a way to thank them for what they do throughout the year." Information from Wikipedia

I love facts and can always remember a programme on TV years ago in which it told you all about our traditions and celebrations throughout the year.  I have always remembered the episode about Mother Sunday and have only ever given flowers and chocolates to my mum and only want to receive such gifts from my boys, (a simple traidional girl, that's me!)

I was a happy bunny today, not only did Jack go and spend alot of his hard earned allowance on a small bunch of flowers (it peeves me to know he was ripped off just because companies can inflate prices on Valentines and Mothering Sunday - that would be one law I would pass if ever I became politician) but I also received a wonderful fragrant rose bush (a pink one too). I have plans to plant this in my garden up against some trellis. I've never grown a rose bush before and I hope within hope that I can see it bloom year after year.  

I'm having a lovely quiet day just pottering around and relaxing but first I needed to make my mum's cake.

There's a sneaky peek on what I baked but I'll leave that to another post as my weekly challenge. My mum was really happy with them (and so was I) just something plain, simple and traditional. 

My photo and scrapbook layout at the start of this post is of my mum, one that I created 5 years ago (blimey doesn't time fly) just a little something I wanted to post as a tribute and honor to say "I Love You  MumXx"

Wishing all you mum's out there a wonderful day and hope it is filled with love, joy and happiness.  With Love

Lynetta Xx

Week 9 - Monkey Bread

Quote from book:  This is a great way for children to start making bread. Serve warm, thickly sliced, or toasted.

Faff Factor =8

Bake = 9

Keeping Up Appearances = 9

Total score = 26/30

My second attempt at making bread from the book and with better results first time.  I was a little sceptical about the quote from the book as it's listed as an easy bake for kids so I was more than happy it turned out right with no distasters.  I will admit to using Ken to make the dough, trusty old Ken.  I really enjoyed rolling the 70+ balls of dough, dipping in melted butter and rolling in the cinnamon sugar and walnut mix and then plopping into my bundt tin.  Turning it out was a breeze and we all got tucked in straight away ripping pieces off whilst it was still warm and sticky. 

I think the recipe needs to be adjusted a little as I would have preferred more cinnamon and less walnuts and I've noted this for next time.  I will also admit that I could not slice mine as suggested and realised that perhaps I needed to squish and squash it together a litte more before baking.  So all in all another lesson learned this week :-)  I do love it when I learn something new.

Moving swiftly along that leads me onto next weeks bake.  After my little jolly bakers jaunt at the weekend and purchasing Peggy's book I really want to have a go at a celebration cake and so I have decided my 52 week challenge will now include other recipes from other books (sorry Mary) I will let you know what book I will be baking from as and when I post the results.  I'm still up for the challenge and will more than likely bake more from the GGBO book than any other but I want to gain more experience in other techniques and recipes other bakers can offer.

And come to think of it, I really need to have a go at pastry - yikes -  now that it scaring me!

Toodle Pip

Lynetta Xx

 

A Jolly Bakers day out

Oh what a lovely day I had on Saturday.  Myself and Sarah went for our annual trip to Squires Kitchen Cake Exhibition in Farnham.  This year I was even more excited as one of the guest demonstrators was none other than Peggy Proschen.  I have admired her work since I first took up baking as a hobby.  I love her style as it is really girlie with a lot of pinks, blues and greens. 

The first demonstration was how to buttercream a three layered cake.  Just look at the piping work Peggy showed us, swoon.  Even with talking us through the demonstration this only took her 20 mins to decorate.  Something to aim for?

The second demonstration was a Raspberry Bomb.  Mmmm mmmm mmmm.  This cake was half filled with a German butter cream which is a combination of Creme Pattisserie and butter cream, and swirls of her own brand Jam.

It is jolly expensive at £6.95 a pot but boy oh boy does it taste good, and I'm not a lover of Raspberry Jam.  I think I may have to visit her Parlour to purchase a jar for special occasions.  During the second demonstration it was made known her new book was all sold out!, arrrhhhhhh.  I was a little dissapointed.  But half an hour later when we were doing a little bit of shopping Alison (#2 canny shopper) found myself and Sarah (#1 canny shopper) to let us know they had found a box of books.  Swoooshhh run run run over to the other side of the room and grabbed myself a book. 

and the really good thing

Peggy was there to sign my book.  One happy girl.

and I'll leave you with a happy photo of Sarah and Alison who obviously had the intention of shop till you drop with their trollies.

TTFN

Lynetta Xx

A little light exercise.....

I've never been one to jump on a band wagon but I really wanted to know what all this Zumba malarky was about.  You see I don't really 'do' exercise, I may dabble a little on the Wii fit but other than a light bike ride that's about the extent of my exercise regime.  One of my work collegues has been to a weekly Zumba class for over a year now so I thought I would give it a go.  It was really good fun.  Ok so I may have gone to the left when everyone was going to the right and may have slowed my pace a little after 35 mins but I think I did pretty well and after waking up this morning with only a slight ache in one of my hips I think I may give this malarky another try next week.

So shake your booty (which I did alot of) and move with the beat and go and give it a try, you never know like me you may like it!

I'm off to a cake show tomorrow with Sarah - how can I possibly say Zumba and cake in one post? - and hoping to buy some nice new things to improve my baking.

TTFN

Lynetta Xx

Week 8 - Double Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Quote from book:  A simple-to-make cheesecake that's not too rich or sweet,

this contains chips of both dark and white chocolate and is finished with more white chocolate.

Faff Factor =6

Bake = 8

Keeping Up Appearances = 9

Total score = 23/30

I have only made a refridgerated cheesecake before and have always been a little scared to try the baked method.  I have seen so many tv programmes where the cheesecake has cracked and crumbled it kind of put me off trying, but as I'm on this challenge I plucked up the courage to give a baked one a try. I am pleasantly pleased with the outcome but what a faff.  First after getting all the ingredients combined, then cook for an hour with another hour cooling in the oven followed by not being able to eat it until the following day, far too long a process for me and prefer the 3 hour fridge cake instead.  I want it in my tummy quicker!

So things I have learned today, weigh out all ingredients and never believe that a 200g pot of Philly is 200g, I could only get 184/187g out of each pot, and 300ml of sour cream is only 260ml,  do you think I should write to the companies to let them know they are short changing us? and, I would use a little more butter to bind the biscuit together as it is rather crumbly, as you can see from the photo I did not want to chance it falling to pieces by removing from my pan to plate.

Well that's another bake under my belt, how often I make this recipe I don't know, perhaps I should try a lovely strawberry one next time to compare.

I'm off to a cake show next weekend so not too sure if I'll get a bake done as time will be limited but if I have an evening spare I may just try something quick from my book.

See you soon for another edition of Eat Your Heart Out Mary!

Love to all

Lynetta Xx