Just watched a programme recorded from BBC 4 about this piece of music. I will never forget the first time I heard it as a late teenager, it still moves me deeply, utterly beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR2JlDnT2l8
Friday, 6 April 2012
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
❀ Wedding cupcakes ❀
I was commissioned to do these for a friend of a friend for her wedding today.
She requested a white and silver theme, they are swirled with buttercream and dusted with a fine edible silver glitter, which doesn't really sparkle until the light drops. They look really pretty, and I am pleased with how they turned out. Hope the bride likes them!
She requested a white and silver theme, they are swirled with buttercream and dusted with a fine edible silver glitter, which doesn't really sparkle until the light drops. They look really pretty, and I am pleased with how they turned out. Hope the bride likes them!
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Hurrah! I passed my driving theory!!
After nearly 2-3 months of revising I passed my theory first time today, what a great feeling and no more boring revision in the evenings. :)
It has all sunk in anyway combined with the driving lessons, and is an essential part of driving these days, and is a good discipline for young people to learn.
I am clocking up lots of hours practising at weekends so hopefully by June /July I will be ready for my test. I would say I'm 3/4 way there now. It's all fine tuning . I never thought I would enjoy driving as much as I do, wish I had done it sooner, my fear factor has disappeared.
I SO want to pass first time... watch this space...
It has all sunk in anyway combined with the driving lessons, and is an essential part of driving these days, and is a good discipline for young people to learn.
I am clocking up lots of hours practising at weekends so hopefully by June /July I will be ready for my test. I would say I'm 3/4 way there now. It's all fine tuning . I never thought I would enjoy driving as much as I do, wish I had done it sooner, my fear factor has disappeared.
I SO want to pass first time... watch this space...
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Nan's bread pudding
If like me you can't bear throwing away food, then this is great for using up bits of stale bread, and tastes amazing, Save all your loaf ends up in the freezer until you have enough.
This is easy peasy and takes minutes to make, children will love doing this and no skill required, and counts as one of your 5 a day!
You will need:
500g ish of Stale bread-white or brown-wholemeal
500 g dried fruit-I used mixed, sultans or raisins are fine-whatever you have.
120 g melted butter
130 g sugar-light brown is best, but not essential
500-600 ml of milk
2 large eggs beaten
3/4 pot of ground mixed spice ( I like a lot of spice, ,most recipes will state 1TBSP, go by your own taste)
Good pinch salt
Demerera sugar for topping to add crunch.
You could add some Lemon and or orange peel for an extra zing, I prefer it with a plain traditional flavour.
Break all the bread up roughly in a large mixing bowl, add the fruit sugar, spice, salt, and milk and squidge up with your hands until well combined, then add the eggs and butter and combine again. set aside for 10 mins to let the mixture soak in.
Set oven to Gas 4-180 c-350 f
Grease and line a 12 inch square cake tin,or Pyrex dish, and add the mixture, smooth down into the corners and sprinkle with the demerera sugar. Bake for 11/2 hours, if the mix starts to burn on the top add a sheet of foil, about half way through cooking time.
Once cooked let it cool in the dish for 15 mins then turn out whole onto a wire rack and let it cool completely, then peel off the greaseproof paper,cut into squares and pop into the fridge in an airtight container. It keeps for ages.-Not here though ;)
Just the smell of this baking takes me back to my paternal nan's kitchen, she had a never ending supply of bread pudding, I liked a big chunk straight out of her fridge, much nicer cold!
Makes a good lunchbox filler.
Give it a go!
This is easy peasy and takes minutes to make, children will love doing this and no skill required, and counts as one of your 5 a day!
You will need:
500g ish of Stale bread-white or brown-wholemeal
500 g dried fruit-I used mixed, sultans or raisins are fine-whatever you have.
120 g melted butter
130 g sugar-light brown is best, but not essential
500-600 ml of milk
2 large eggs beaten
3/4 pot of ground mixed spice ( I like a lot of spice, ,most recipes will state 1TBSP, go by your own taste)
Good pinch salt
Demerera sugar for topping to add crunch.
You could add some Lemon and or orange peel for an extra zing, I prefer it with a plain traditional flavour.
Break all the bread up roughly in a large mixing bowl, add the fruit sugar, spice, salt, and milk and squidge up with your hands until well combined, then add the eggs and butter and combine again. set aside for 10 mins to let the mixture soak in.
Set oven to Gas 4-180 c-350 f
Grease and line a 12 inch square cake tin,or Pyrex dish, and add the mixture, smooth down into the corners and sprinkle with the demerera sugar. Bake for 11/2 hours, if the mix starts to burn on the top add a sheet of foil, about half way through cooking time.
Once cooked let it cool in the dish for 15 mins then turn out whole onto a wire rack and let it cool completely, then peel off the greaseproof paper,cut into squares and pop into the fridge in an airtight container. It keeps for ages.-Not here though ;)
Just the smell of this baking takes me back to my paternal nan's kitchen, she had a never ending supply of bread pudding, I liked a big chunk straight out of her fridge, much nicer cold!
Makes a good lunchbox filler.
Give it a go!
Monday, 6 February 2012
Triple- layered Carrot cake.
What with this cold snap I have been baking a fair bit the past week, despite feeling very poorly for nearly 3 weeks now, I have had chest infection, sore throat, cold, ear infection, bad sickness bug, and dodgy tummy this weekend, so hopefully am on the mend now. I find it hard to do nothing when I'm ill, I still have to potter...
Not much chance of getting out at all today, as pavements are treacherous from the snowfall over the weekend. So a cosy day in baking. I decided to make this Triple layered carrot cake inspired from a cookery programme I watched last week , the recipe is by Jo Pratt link here
It is rather decadent with three layers with all the frosting, but a small piece is all that is needed to satisfy a sweet craving, I myself really love the Clementine zest in the frosting , it really lifts it, and the roasted pecans on the top give a delicious crunch!
My brother just popped in for a haircut, and spotted the cake , so took a big slice, before I had a chance to take a pic of it whole!
I have just been commissioned to make somebody's wedding cupcakes which will be fun so will be planning that tonight, it's a white and silver theme. it's a bit more creative then everyday baking.
My two boys will be with me the whole of this week as their dad is away on holiday, we share time with the boys 50/50 usually. I have devised a menu for the whole week, much easier then last minute decisions, and will make plenty of snacky things as two teenage boys in the house means supplies dwindle very quickly.
Oh well on with dinner.Teriyaki chicken with crunchy veg and noodles tonight.
Whilst I sit here typing this my daughter has been outside building a little snowman, bless her. She went out yesterday but couldn't hack the cold in her hands for more than 10 minutes, so a result today, a mini Snowman. She did have gloves on by the way, she just took them off!
Hope your all enjoying the snow and being cosy inside!
Not much chance of getting out at all today, as pavements are treacherous from the snowfall over the weekend. So a cosy day in baking. I decided to make this Triple layered carrot cake inspired from a cookery programme I watched last week , the recipe is by Jo Pratt link here
It is rather decadent with three layers with all the frosting, but a small piece is all that is needed to satisfy a sweet craving, I myself really love the Clementine zest in the frosting , it really lifts it, and the roasted pecans on the top give a delicious crunch!
My brother just popped in for a haircut, and spotted the cake , so took a big slice, before I had a chance to take a pic of it whole!
I have just been commissioned to make somebody's wedding cupcakes which will be fun so will be planning that tonight, it's a white and silver theme. it's a bit more creative then everyday baking.
My two boys will be with me the whole of this week as their dad is away on holiday, we share time with the boys 50/50 usually. I have devised a menu for the whole week, much easier then last minute decisions, and will make plenty of snacky things as two teenage boys in the house means supplies dwindle very quickly.
Oh well on with dinner.Teriyaki chicken with crunchy veg and noodles tonight.
Whilst I sit here typing this my daughter has been outside building a little snowman, bless her. She went out yesterday but couldn't hack the cold in her hands for more than 10 minutes, so a result today, a mini Snowman. She did have gloves on by the way, she just took them off!
Hope your all enjoying the snow and being cosy inside!
Monday, 23 January 2012
Learning to drive
I was just looking back to my post from last year Time for a change . BOY! Was I eager to get my lessons started, but didn't have the means then.
I started in November just gone, so have nearly 3 months under my belt, I've had 16 lessons with my instructor. She is brilliant, I recommend her highly! I feel very relaxed with her. http://www.jaynessom.co.uk/
Last Saturday I bought my first little car, a black KA, and I love her! She is called Betty, an old girl at 14 years. She has done 65,000 miles, and runs really well. I Can't believe how much the insurance is though!!
I'm now at a level where I'm ready to go out with my hubby at weekends to practise, and that is exactly what I have done. I totalled up 7 hours this past week, so has really brought me on, it's very tiring though. I'm still finding roundabouts a bit tricky, and traffic lights at crossroads. I find some manoeuvres are a bit difficult, but my reversing/parallel parking is getting better. Practise is the key, this is the hardest most challenging thing I've EVER done. I wonder when I will be ready to take my test? I suppose you just 'know'? I SO SO want to pass first time, hope my nerves don't get the better of me!
I'm dreaming of my freedom in the months to come, and that is keeping me going!
Here she is... Black Betty. Not bad for an old banger hey?
A bit of T cut, spit and polish and came up lovely!
I started in November just gone, so have nearly 3 months under my belt, I've had 16 lessons with my instructor. She is brilliant, I recommend her highly! I feel very relaxed with her. http://www.jaynessom.co.uk/
Last Saturday I bought my first little car, a black KA, and I love her! She is called Betty, an old girl at 14 years. She has done 65,000 miles, and runs really well. I Can't believe how much the insurance is though!!
I'm now at a level where I'm ready to go out with my hubby at weekends to practise, and that is exactly what I have done. I totalled up 7 hours this past week, so has really brought me on, it's very tiring though. I'm still finding roundabouts a bit tricky, and traffic lights at crossroads. I find some manoeuvres are a bit difficult, but my reversing/parallel parking is getting better. Practise is the key, this is the hardest most challenging thing I've EVER done. I wonder when I will be ready to take my test? I suppose you just 'know'? I SO SO want to pass first time, hope my nerves don't get the better of me!
I'm dreaming of my freedom in the months to come, and that is keeping me going!
Here she is... Black Betty. Not bad for an old banger hey?
A bit of T cut, spit and polish and came up lovely!
Friday, 20 January 2012
' What's for dessert Mum? '
Well today it is Victoria sponge very distastefully decorated with icing sugar, coconut, glace cherries and silver balls with a few sprinkles for good measure. I know this will appeal to the 4 year old :)
This is my first Bake since Christmas, I think mince pies were my last offering.. I have been refraining from baking to give everyone's waistlines a chance to return to normal. Eldest son is always the one to say ''what's for dessert mum? Even though he Say's he's following a fairly strict high protein diet, as he's trying to bulk up muscle, being a rugby player. He complains if I don't make cakes and if I do, because he is the greediest child of the 3,and would eat 3/4 of it if could! He is a bottomless pit, whose hunger is never satisfied...
So a treat for my brood today then. ( I do secretly get withdrawals from baking too ;) )
This is so simple to make and it suprises me that so many people can epicly fail. I've been watching the Sports relief bake off and find myself shouting at the screen in frustration at the way the contestants make sponges, 'You HAVE to add some liquid be it milk or water or you will have dry cake! '
Henry-son 2, say's' you should go on there mum'. I would if were expert at baking bread but sadly I'm not, Tis one thing I want to perfect.
Anyway here is my way of making Victoria sponge: All in one method- Referenced from Delia.
6oz SF flour
1 tsp baking powder
6oz butter or stork
6oz Cater sugar
Tsp vanilla extract
3 large eggs
4 floz milk
Set Oven to gas 3 160 c
Grease and line 2 X 6 inch sandwich tins with greaseproof paper
Sift the flour and baking powder from a height into a large mixing bowl.
Add all of the other ingredients, and whisk on highest setting for 1 minute, or longer if by hand.
Spoon out equally into the sandwich tins and bake for approx 30 mins until slightly golden and firm to the touch.
You can fill with Jam ,buttercream, whipped cream, whatever you fancy, and same for your topping.
My friend was asking people on FB the other day, Is it dessert? Pudding, Afters? What's your preference?
This is my first Bake since Christmas, I think mince pies were my last offering.. I have been refraining from baking to give everyone's waistlines a chance to return to normal. Eldest son is always the one to say ''what's for dessert mum? Even though he Say's he's following a fairly strict high protein diet, as he's trying to bulk up muscle, being a rugby player. He complains if I don't make cakes and if I do, because he is the greediest child of the 3,and would eat 3/4 of it if could! He is a bottomless pit, whose hunger is never satisfied...
So a treat for my brood today then. ( I do secretly get withdrawals from baking too ;) )
This is so simple to make and it suprises me that so many people can epicly fail. I've been watching the Sports relief bake off and find myself shouting at the screen in frustration at the way the contestants make sponges, 'You HAVE to add some liquid be it milk or water or you will have dry cake! '
Henry-son 2, say's' you should go on there mum'. I would if were expert at baking bread but sadly I'm not, Tis one thing I want to perfect.
Anyway here is my way of making Victoria sponge: All in one method- Referenced from Delia.
6oz SF flour
1 tsp baking powder
6oz butter or stork
6oz Cater sugar
Tsp vanilla extract
3 large eggs
4 floz milk
Set Oven to gas 3 160 c
Grease and line 2 X 6 inch sandwich tins with greaseproof paper
Sift the flour and baking powder from a height into a large mixing bowl.
Add all of the other ingredients, and whisk on highest setting for 1 minute, or longer if by hand.
Spoon out equally into the sandwich tins and bake for approx 30 mins until slightly golden and firm to the touch.
You can fill with Jam ,buttercream, whipped cream, whatever you fancy, and same for your topping.
My friend was asking people on FB the other day, Is it dessert? Pudding, Afters? What's your preference?
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