Nothing quite like the feeling is there? Passed on my 3rd attempt yesterday, and haven't been out the car since.
FREEDOM IS SWEET!!
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Sticky Ribs birthday feast
My son has just turned 17, and this was the meal he wanted for his birthday. A stack of ribs with sweetcorn, homemade coleslaw,and potato wedges. Followed by Pavlova.
To make the ribs you will need:
1 rack of ribs per person-I bought extra because we are all greedy!
For the sauce-bear in mind this is just guessed I don't really do proper measurements
1 carton passata
1 cup red wine
Half jar honey
Few glugs dark soy sauce
As above of Worcester sauce
1 bottle shop bought BBQ ketchup
Half small jar chinese 5 spice
4 whole star anise
Tbsp fennel seeds
Tomato puree
4 cloves garlic, squashed
Mix together all of the above.
I cut all the ribs away from the bone and marinade in this mixture and cover with foil , leave in fridge overnight. Leave ribs out for an hour at room temp before cooking.
Preheat oven to gas 6, 200 c. Put ribs and all the marinade onto a large deep roasting tray, cover with foil and place on middle shelf of the oven, cook for 3 hours approx, lower the heat a bit an hour before end of cooking. I like my ribs falling off the bone. Cook for less time, if you prefer to chew off the bone!
All that was left was a pile of clean bones...
For the Pavlova
Set oven to Gas 4.
For the Pavlova I whisked 6 egg whites until soft peaks form, then gradually added in 300g caster sugar, with a little splash white wine vinegar, and a splosh of good vanilla extract. Whisk on high until thick and glossy and spread onto a greased and lined- baking tray in a circular shape about the size of a dinner plate. Put into the oven and turn down immediately to Gas 2, and leave for 1 and 1/4 hours. Turn oven off and leave the pavlova to cool completely. Once cooled invert onto a plate whip up some double or whipping cream, spread over the pavlova, add fruits of your choice.
My greedy son nearly ate half of this in one sitting!!
I also made him a rugby player birthday cake as a surprise, I don't think anyone really grows out of birthday cakes, I would love it if someone made me one, but I would probably be too critical! Although these goal posts are rubbish! I needed some straws, but forgot to get them, so tried to cover chopsticks with icing but failed:(
My Son loved his cake. I even matched his team colours.:)
To make the ribs you will need:
1 rack of ribs per person-I bought extra because we are all greedy!
For the sauce-bear in mind this is just guessed I don't really do proper measurements
1 carton passata
1 cup red wine
Half jar honey
Few glugs dark soy sauce
As above of Worcester sauce
1 bottle shop bought BBQ ketchup
Half small jar chinese 5 spice
4 whole star anise
Tbsp fennel seeds
Tomato puree
4 cloves garlic, squashed
Mix together all of the above.
I cut all the ribs away from the bone and marinade in this mixture and cover with foil , leave in fridge overnight. Leave ribs out for an hour at room temp before cooking.
Preheat oven to gas 6, 200 c. Put ribs and all the marinade onto a large deep roasting tray, cover with foil and place on middle shelf of the oven, cook for 3 hours approx, lower the heat a bit an hour before end of cooking. I like my ribs falling off the bone. Cook for less time, if you prefer to chew off the bone!
 |
| Finger lickin good! |
All that was left was a pile of clean bones...
For the Pavlova
Set oven to Gas 4.
For the Pavlova I whisked 6 egg whites until soft peaks form, then gradually added in 300g caster sugar, with a little splash white wine vinegar, and a splosh of good vanilla extract. Whisk on high until thick and glossy and spread onto a greased and lined- baking tray in a circular shape about the size of a dinner plate. Put into the oven and turn down immediately to Gas 2, and leave for 1 and 1/4 hours. Turn oven off and leave the pavlova to cool completely. Once cooled invert onto a plate whip up some double or whipping cream, spread over the pavlova, add fruits of your choice.
My greedy son nearly ate half of this in one sitting!!
I also made him a rugby player birthday cake as a surprise, I don't think anyone really grows out of birthday cakes, I would love it if someone made me one, but I would probably be too critical! Although these goal posts are rubbish! I needed some straws, but forgot to get them, so tried to cover chopsticks with icing but failed:(
My Son loved his cake. I even matched his team colours.:)
 |
| Birthday boy |
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Jerk chicken
This Jerk chicken is yummy and has a good bite. I had to leave out the scotch bonnets as my children are wimps 😁 but did add some crushed dried red chillies as these are a bit mellower. I looked at a few recipes online then kind of just made up whatever I fancied to go in. Not rigidly measured.
To make this you will need:
2kg chicken pieces, cut 3 slits into each piece so they absorb the marinade.
For the marinade:
1 large onion sliced
Half pot 50 g of Jerk seasoning (I used Asda brand)
360g bottle BBQ ketchup (Asda brand)
1 large glass red wine
1 TBSP crushed red chillies
4 -5 garlic cloves crushed
Few squirts tomato puree
1 cup water
2 tsp salt
Big handful fresh chopped coriander
Add all of the above -except the coriander- into a large bowl and mix well into the chicken pieces, cover and leave overnight for best flavour .
Heat oven to gas 6 / 200 c
Line a large roasting tray with foil, add the chicken and marinade-don't waste a drop- and cook for 1 hour, maybe 10 mins more,it should look black, but won't be burnt.
Transfer into a large dish pour on all the juices and onion left in the pan, add a handful of chopped coriander and let it cool a bit before serving.
This would also be fantastic cooked on the BBQ. We had ours with salad and mash, it would be nice with proper rice and peas, potato wedges, corn on the cob, whatever you fancy really.
Give it a try!
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
Carrot cake
I have tried various recipes for Carrot cake and have been disappointed many times, I find many far to sweet.
I can't remember where I found this one, but like it and have tweaked it to my own taste.
You will need:
An 8 Inch cake tin-I used a silicone one
Set oven to 180-Gas 4
150 ml sunflower oil
130 g light soft brown sugar
4 eggs
200g SF wholemeal flour
1 tsp bicarb
1/2tsp salt
3 tsp cinnamon
1tsp fresh grated nutmeg
zest of an orange
100g sultanas
200 g grated carrot
220 ml orange juice
Lightly toasted pecans or walnuts for decorating-of which I had none!
For the icing
200g tub full fat cream cheese or mascarpone icing sugar,
140 g Icing sugar
30 g butter
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
30 g butter
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Grease and line cake tin.
Put the sunflower oil, eggs and sugar into a large bowl. I have my little helper today :)
 |
| Cracking eggs |
Whisk on high until well combined, then add the sifted flour, bicarb, salt and spices, fold in gently, then add remaining ingredients.
Pour into a cake tin and bake for 1 hr or until after testing your skewer comes out clean. turn out onto a wire rack to cool.
Whisk all the icing ingredients together until smooth and creamy.
 |
| Tongue out concentrating! |
Spread onto the cooled cake, and decorate with the toasted nuts.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
Dippy eggs and soldiers
This simple breakfast/tea/supper never loses its appeal does it? Always reminds me of childhood. It's my daughters favourite. If there is nothing she fancies for tea, and I suggest this it up always gets gobbled up!
Its a great cure all when little ones are poorly too, It makes them better, and say's' I love you' when you put it on their lap on a tray. :)
Yolks have to be super runny though!
Its a great cure all when little ones are poorly too, It makes them better, and say's' I love you' when you put it on their lap on a tray. :)
Yolks have to be super runny though!
Monday, 4 June 2012
Spongebob cake for daughters 5th Birthday.
I made this for my daughters 5th birthday, It was fiddly and took a few hours but was worth it!
For anyone that its interested this is how I did it.
I made a 12 x 12 ratio of Victoria Sponge mix :
12 oz SF flour
12oz Caster sugar
120z Butter
6 large eggs
2 tsp baking powder
2 level tsps Vanilla essence
400 ml milk or water
Grease and line 2 X 8 inch square cake tins.
Combine all the above in large mixing bowl, whisking on highest setting for 2 mins, spoon mixture equally between the 2 tins, bake bake the 2 together for 30 mins approx, (do skewer test- leave for 5 mins more if not clean)
Let cakes cool for 5 mins then turn out onto a cooling rack and leave to cool completely.
I bought 2kg, of white ready roll icing of white and dyed a big portion of it yellow,and smaller portions to match Spongebob's coloured parts , red for his tye, black for boots and belt, brown for shorts, blue for eyes etc.
It is expensive to buy all these coloured icings ready made, especially as you only need a tiny bit for some parts.I use gel colours which are very thick so you don't need a lot, just keep kneading in to the the icing until well mixed NB to get brown you will need to mix Blue, red and yellow, with more red as it will look khaki otherwise! My knowledge of mixing oil paints came in handy here!
Now sandwich the cakes together,one with jam the other with buttercream, spread a little buttercream over the cake so the icing adheres better.
Now to shaping the cakes, Sponge bob is not completely square he is wider at the top so cut the cake down at the sides to angle his body slightly, then cut out sections on the sides with a big knife so you will have a wiggly edge once you ice the cake.
Before you place the cake onto the foil board, write your message with a writing icing pen,as you won't have room to lean on once the cake is on there. Then spread a little buttercream onto the board so the cake doesn't slide.
Next roll out the yellow icing until about 6-7 mm thick, make sure its big enough to cover the sponge then gently smooth over and tuck down the edges, then smooth over with an icing smoother, cut off excess icing at the bottom.
Now use you finger or some other rounded implement to make the dents in Spongebob so he looks sponge like. Careful not to poke right through!!
The rest is self explanatory, just copy what you see, I used a picture of Spongebob from Google images to reference from. I just carefully carefully cut out the shapes with a knife, always make sure your worktop is constantly dusted with icing sugar, and don't have black icing near your white!! Keep the areas for lighter colours separate. Before applying each part to Spongebob, you will need to brush the icing with a little water each time bit by bit, so the piece you have cut out sticks.
I did his face first and worked my way down, doing arms and legs,and boots last. Lastly I used a black writing icing pen to do his eyelashes, and the little stripes on his socks.
My kitchen looked like a bombsite afterwards...
My girl had a lovely girly party, despite feeling unwell, it was at home again as it was last year, the sun shined, and we played party games, and had lots of fun finger foods.
The kids loved the crocodile cheese and pineapple holder in the centre of the table. Another idea pinched from Google images. I LOVE the Internet.
My how they grow so quickly....
For anyone that its interested this is how I did it.
I made a 12 x 12 ratio of Victoria Sponge mix :
12 oz SF flour
12oz Caster sugar
120z Butter
6 large eggs
2 tsp baking powder
2 level tsps Vanilla essence
400 ml milk or water
Grease and line 2 X 8 inch square cake tins.
Combine all the above in large mixing bowl, whisking on highest setting for 2 mins, spoon mixture equally between the 2 tins, bake bake the 2 together for 30 mins approx, (do skewer test- leave for 5 mins more if not clean)
Let cakes cool for 5 mins then turn out onto a cooling rack and leave to cool completely.
I bought 2kg, of white ready roll icing of white and dyed a big portion of it yellow,and smaller portions to match Spongebob's coloured parts , red for his tye, black for boots and belt, brown for shorts, blue for eyes etc.
It is expensive to buy all these coloured icings ready made, especially as you only need a tiny bit for some parts.I use gel colours which are very thick so you don't need a lot, just keep kneading in to the the icing until well mixed NB to get brown you will need to mix Blue, red and yellow, with more red as it will look khaki otherwise! My knowledge of mixing oil paints came in handy here!
Now sandwich the cakes together,one with jam the other with buttercream, spread a little buttercream over the cake so the icing adheres better.
Now to shaping the cakes, Sponge bob is not completely square he is wider at the top so cut the cake down at the sides to angle his body slightly, then cut out sections on the sides with a big knife so you will have a wiggly edge once you ice the cake.
Before you place the cake onto the foil board, write your message with a writing icing pen,as you won't have room to lean on once the cake is on there. Then spread a little buttercream onto the board so the cake doesn't slide.
Next roll out the yellow icing until about 6-7 mm thick, make sure its big enough to cover the sponge then gently smooth over and tuck down the edges, then smooth over with an icing smoother, cut off excess icing at the bottom.
Now use you finger or some other rounded implement to make the dents in Spongebob so he looks sponge like. Careful not to poke right through!!
The rest is self explanatory, just copy what you see, I used a picture of Spongebob from Google images to reference from. I just carefully carefully cut out the shapes with a knife, always make sure your worktop is constantly dusted with icing sugar, and don't have black icing near your white!! Keep the areas for lighter colours separate. Before applying each part to Spongebob, you will need to brush the icing with a little water each time bit by bit, so the piece you have cut out sticks.
 |
| Half way there! |
My kitchen looked like a bombsite afterwards...
 |
| Icing carnage! |
My girl had a lovely girly party, despite feeling unwell, it was at home again as it was last year, the sun shined, and we played party games, and had lots of fun finger foods.
The kids loved the crocodile cheese and pineapple holder in the centre of the table. Another idea pinched from Google images. I LOVE the Internet.
 |
Musical statues! |
 |
| Loving her swing |
My how they grow so quickly....
 |
| Happy 5th birthday to you.... xx |
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Jubilee Cupcakes
I'm kick starting the Jubilee celebrations!
It's my husbands birthday today so made these for him to take into the office for staff to enjoy instead of the usual shop bought cream cakes.
Just looking at them makes you feel like cracking open the Pimm's!
Hope you all enjoy the long bank holiday :)
It's my husbands birthday today so made these for him to take into the office for staff to enjoy instead of the usual shop bought cream cakes.
Just looking at them makes you feel like cracking open the Pimm's!
Hope you all enjoy the long bank holiday :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)