Week 7 - Chocolate Crackles

Quote from book:  These very dark and rich chocolate biscuits are

rolled in icing sugar just before baking. 

As they cook the surface cracks to look like crazy paving.

Faff Factor = 8

Bake = 9

Keeping Up Appearances = 9

Total score = 26/30

Phew, at last a result.  After having 2 weeks on the trot of not being very successful with my baking I needed to get back to something pretty simple to get my confidence going again and these little beauties did not disappoint.  They are a sort of a cross between a cookie and a biscuit.  Crispy and crumbly whilst soft in the middle.  They are very easy to make and I think a little bit different not to mention going down rather well with a cup of tea after watching Jack's football.  I will be baking these again but next time I will roll the balls a little bigger as as a preference I like my biscuits to be chunky. 

So onwards and upwards and back to looking to see what to bake next week. I feel my excitement returning for my challenge again as I was very very dispondent.

Happy Mondays.

Lynetta Xx

Thank you Mr Sunshine........

Your warm and generous rays have filled my weekend with joy

Oh thank you Mr Sunshine my Amaryliss is now in full bloom

Oh thank you Mr Sunshine

 I was able to open my windows to let in the fresh air

Oh thank you Mr Sunshine

I have hung out my first line of washing to grab your warmth

Oh thank you Mr Sunshine

you have highlighted how much my house needs a spring clean

oh thank you Mr Sunshine

You are bringing back to life my little herbacous border

and thank you Mr Sunshine

You have warmed my old and weary bones enough to

take my first bike ride of the year

I hope Mr Sunshine has made you feel good as much as it has me

Wishing you all a lovely week of warm rays, cheery days and happy smiles

Lynetta Xx

A Silver Celebration

This weekend we went to celebrate Ian's sister Lynne and John's 25th Wedding Anniversary.  The event was hosted in the quiet sleepy village of Alfriston, East Sussex at The Star Inn which is a 13th century timber-framed building noted to be one of the oldest inns in the country. Until around 1520 it was known as the Star of Bethlehem and was run by the monks of Battle Abbey as a shelter for pilgrims.  (Interesting fact #1)

Once we had settled ourselves into our room we went for a little walk around the village.  It mainly consists of a market square and 3 streets, North, East and High Street (interesting fact #2)

The town is popular with ramblers as it is a direct route through the South Downs Way (interesting fact #3)  I loved looking in the shop windows and was pleased to see they have already started to decorate in readiness for the Diamond Jubilee. Even though it is a small village there were plenty of places to eat a cream tea, and if you notice in the picture above one such establishment was directly opposite a small street of houses, I'm not sure if I fancy living so close to those tempting cakes in the window.

The wedding ceremony was heartfelt and emotional with readings from both Lynne and John, her 3 boys and many friends.  They are certainly a well loved couple.

We then sat down to a wonderful 3 course meal followed by a good old fashioned family disco. I really enjoyed myself and danced and sang to many a good tune. 

I'll leave you with these 2 pictures..........

mmmmm, should I be worried that Ian found the name of our suite amusing?

Ta 'ra for now.

Lynetta Xx

Week 6 - Profiteroles

Quote from book:  It's wonderful to watch small blobs of choux dough turn into

ping-pong balls of light pastry in the oven.

Faff Factor = 1

Bake = 1

Keeping Up Appearances = 1

Total score = 3/30

Oh dear oh dear oh dear!  Yet another disaster!  What is happening to me I ask myself.  Have I taken on more than I am capable of? But I wanted to push myself into the unknown so I suppose I will have a bumpy ride along the way.

As you can see from the photo my first attempt at making choux pastry was not a success, no ping-pong of balls came out of my oven, just a flat doughy unedible mess.  It was then I thought 'Lyn don't give up have another go' but this time I used a James Martin recipe and method which you can see had better rising results, but  (and it's a BIG but), on splitting them open after they had cooled down to fill they too were a soggy mess (Good job I didn't whisk up the cream in readiness).  Should I have gone for a third try?  I will, but not yet.  I know I was a little under the weather and probably not in the best frame of mind to bake but I was not expecting a disaster two weeks running.

I am now really questioning the book, or am I making excuses? Time will tell.

I really didn't want to come away from the kitchen with a defeated attitude so I quickly baked some apple and cinnamon muffins (Nigella recipe) as I had some apples needed using.

Success, and scrummy if I say so myself.  These went down a treat with custard for our pudding.

Quick apologies for not keeping up to date with the blog, I have been rather busy preparing for a club I run at school, but I'll tell you all about that in another post.

Toodle Pip.

Lynetta Xx

Love.........

Happy Valentines

I've never been one to celebrate Valentine (perhaps it's because I've never received an anonymous card to declare an undying love for me) so myself and Ian have never exchanged cards or gifts.  We just show our love 365-24/7 in other ways. 

When I noticed the Hearts sweets on sale I bought a few packets and had a little giggle of the wording though.  Looks like they may be made 'upNorth' as I found a few with Bonnie Lass and Canny Lad embossed on them and as I know these are terms of endearments for anyone north of Watford!

Wishing you all the hearts and kisses to enjoy your day.

xXx

Lynetta

For medicinal purposes only..........

I seemed to have been hit with the rotten bug that has been spreading around school recently.  I feel so under the weather and was glad we are on an inset day today so I could just wrap myself up on the sofa, watch daytime tele (what a load of rubbish) and generally feel sorry for myself.  At least the chocolate helps where the Beechams cannot touch :-) it's for medicinal purposes so I am allowed a few chunks......

We had another flurry of snow last night but it's nearly thawed out throughout the day, it was the fluffy slushy stuff, but then I'm tucked up inside so not to worry.

at least the forecast is looking a little warmer.  We are on half term next week and I have a few things planned, not to mention my baking.  I've still not decided on what to do for my challenge this week so I better head back off to my comfy sofa to have a read with a cuppa. 

Here's hoping I have a better nights sleep tonight.

TTFN

Lynetta Xx

Week 5 - White Loaf (Round 2)

Phew....I'm not a competitive kind of person by any means but on the other hand I do not like to be defeated and constantly beat myself up when things go wrong. So when I woke up in a better frame of mind on Sunday I knew I wanted to bake the bread again that I had such disaster with on Saturday (see previous post here.  So to be fair I have revisited the score

Faff Factor = 5

Bake = 7 (still room for improvement)

Keeping Up Appearances = 8

Total score = 20/30

I think I over stretched and kneaded the dough to death first time around so all in all a lesson learnt.  I will make this again but may get my trusty Ken out to see what he can make of it (or shall I invest in a bread making machine to cut down on the kneading and proving time!)

Let the bread see the butter........yum :-)

Lynetta Xx

Fluffy Stuff.....

Yippeee, the BBC Weather man got it right.  Right on time the snow started to fall at 6pm Saturday night through to the early hours of Sunday morning.  After a lovely lie in this morning (9:30am) both myself and Ian decided it would be good to get out and have a little walk to buy the Sunday Papers, so off we trot via the lake in the sludgy soft snow.

I think we are fortunate to live near a lovely lake which is well maintained, and the warden is, as ever, ever so thoughtful to the public.

The lake all frozen over and Ian hoped all the little fishes were ok (think he's going soft!).  One of my favourite parts of Maiden Erlegh Lake are the carved sculptures from the trees.  The flying goose above is very impressive.  I will have to remember the next time I am there to take a photo in some sort of proportion so you can see how huge they are.

On returning home after our little walk I decided I will give the White Loaf another go.  Wish me Luck.

Be back soon

Lynetta Xx

Week 5 - White Loaf

Quote from book:  A crusty loaf with a slightly chewy crumb and plenty of flavour isn't hard to make and you only need three ingredients.  You'll make this loaf time and again.

Faff Factor = 5

Bake = 1

Keeping up Appearances = 0

Result = 6/30

Oh dear, I hear you say, What has happened? It just didn't go to plan, that's what....  I was invited to go and spend the afternoon with my friend Sarah baking in her new kitchen and we wanted to do something together so I suggested baking bread.  We thought this would be a great way of baking and still be able to chat whilst the dough is proving. 

All is gong well, just look at that action I've got going!

All is going tremendously well, just look at how well my dough has risen.  I think I should of been a little worried from here on as when I tried to get it out of the bowl it was very wet and just deflated and shrunk immediately.  I knew then that I had over worked the dough but secretly thought it would be OK once baked. So into the oven it went, and look what came out.

DISASTER!!!.  The quote from the book could not of been more wrong for me.  To think Mr Allinson and Mr Hovis had some competition this morning too, (mmmm think again Lyn) they sure don't need to shake in their boots at the moment, ha ha ha.

The last line of the quote from the book was 'You'll make this loaf time and again!',  of course I will as I'm never to be defeated so I will try my hand at another loaf and hopefully I will post here of my great success. 

My scoring reflects my mood and sadness about this bake, but life is too short to worry so I will leave you with a success from this weekend

A Wonderful triple chocolate and fudge cake made in my bundt tin.

Any one for a slice?  Chocolate heaven to cheer me up.

Be back soon.

Lynetta Xx