Home for Christmas 2013

In the first 24 hours I was home, I was kidnapped by my sister. She is in Edinburgh/Lincolnshire for Christmas with her boyfriends family.

SOOOOOOOOOO excited to watch Frozen with a gingerbread latte and brownie

She planned an early Christmas meal on the Sunday so we did it together...

This chappy had a nice brisk walk in the cold... We tired him oot wi all the hoose work

Nigel Slater's Christmas Trifle made by moi

One of my tasks was to draw up some novelty table decorations, was fun drawing again and considering it's from scratch it's no too bad if I do say so myself

She flew away on Monday so I was released back into the care of my parents where we cleaned the hoose, did a booze run to Mainland Stores, iced my Christmas cake, wrapped gifts etc.

My first ever Christmas cake, made by me (subtle ombré effect)

Once we wir finished we lit the fire and curled up in front of Scrooged with a dram. It's meant to be a rubbish day today (Christmas Eve) brally windy and rainy so I am hoping to get some serious knitting done even if I have to do it by candle light.

Molly trying very hard to get up on the new couch

What are you doing to keep warm this festive season?

51 Days of Summer: Week 2

I have set myself a challenge to take a picture each day of my holiday - to encourage me to do something exciting and help me remember what I've been up to.

Day 8

 Trip doon memories lane ... Making one of my favourites that my Gran use to make

 

Day 9

 

Watched Andy Murray win Wimbledon with a Pimms

and my take on Strawberries & Cream

 

Day 10

 

Having a cosy evening with Em and Bruiser reading ii magazine

 

 

Day 11

Our daily adventures at the back of the dam

 

Day 12

Only sunshine I saw this day, but is rather bonnie

 

 

Day 13

 

Half way with my Aztec quilt, really wanna finish it before the end of July

 

Day 14

 

Baking Dad's birthday cake it is a Rum and Fresh Cherry cake

...using Old Navy's proof rum



Tennis Ice-cream

After watching Andy Murray work his way to the Wimbledon final I decided that my Pimms needed some strawberries and cream to go with it. But I wanted to have a little fun with it so then thought ... ice-cream!

 

When I think strawberries I also think shortbread (very British) so here is what I came up with.

 

Strawberry Cream Shortbread Ice-Cream Recipe

 

 

Ingredients:

600 ml double cream

100 g caster sugar

4 egg yolks

1/2 tsp vanilla paste

150 g shortbread

1.5 punnets of strawberries

1 tbsp jam sugar

 

Method:

First I put the cream and vanilla paste into a heavy bottomed saucepan and put it onto a low heat and brought it to a simmer. Whilst keeping one eye on that I whisked the egg yolks with the sugar until they were pale and fluffy.

 

Once you start to see the milk simmering remove it from the heat and slowly ass it to the egg yolks, whisking all the time. I cheated and used the Kenwood Chef to do this ... as you may no by now Kitchen disasters are a habit for me.

 

Once combined pour it back into the sauce pan and return to the heat continually stirring until it thickens then pour it into a heatproof bowl and cover with clingfilm. Place in the fridge until completely cold and you are ready to use it.

 

Meanwhile cut up the strawberries (as small as you like) put two thirds into a saucepan with the jam sugar and put on a low-medium heat, soften the fruit for 10-15 minutes until it thickens. Put the rest in a separate bowl and set to one side.

Crush up the shortbread and put on a lined baking sheet and crisp up in the oven for 10 minutes then remove and allow to cool.

Once all your ingredients are ready add the custard to your ice-cream machine then when it is almost ready at the raw strawberries and shortbread then at the very end add the strawberry syrup.

And serve xxx

Auld School Granny Baking ... Take 2

On Saturday I decided that I needed a peerie nostalgic treat so I made my Granny's Beremeal Bannocks for the first time.

The only recipe that we have is a list of the ingredients with some measurements

so I used my memories

 

Beremeal Bannocks Recipe

 

Ingredients:

         4 oz       beremeal

         8 oz       self-raising flour

         1 tsp      bicarbonate of soda

         1 tsp      cream of tartar

         1 tbsp    treacle

         200 ml  buttermilk (roughly)

 

Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and add the treacle. Once combined stir in the buttermilk until it just comes together then turn out on to a well floured surface and roll out. Try not to over work it.

 

Cut the dough into your desired shape then place on a hot griddle (dry frying pan) on a medium heat. Once they puff up and colour turn them over, the timings of this will depend on the heat of your hob.

 

Like my Gran I shaped the dough using my hands

(they look more authentic like this)

 

The wee corners are always a treat for the baker

Eat these with what ever topping you prefer, my two favourites are salt beef &English mustard or rhubarb jam & butter ... splendid!!

If you try these please let me know

what you think

xxx

Apple & Cinnamon Overnight Oatmeal

 

I am an early bird at the weekends but during the week I have next to no time to get ready let alone make something healthy and filling but I try my hardest.

The other day I was thinking about all my options when it comes to breakfast and I remembered Jamie Oliver's 'Pukkolla' it is super easy and tasty. Here is my version to use up kitchen staples at the end of the month.

Apple & Cinnamon Overnight Oatmeal - Serves 5

8 large handfuls of oats

3 handfuls of sultanas

2 tsp cinnamon

Enough soya milk to cover

4 apples

1 tsp light brown sugar

Instructions:

1. In an airtight container mix the oats, sultanas and 1 tsp of cinnamon and cover with the soya milk,
     refrigerating until needed.

2. Cut and core the apples, place in a pan with the other tsp of cinnamon and the brown sugar, heat on
    a medium heat until they have softened and have a nice light glaze, refrigerate until needed.

3. When you are ready to eat, put a desired amount of apples in a dish and heat. Then spoon out a
    couple of desert spoons of the oatmeal into your bowl, top with the apples and a wee spoon of
    yoghurt and enjoy.

What do you eat for breakie on busy days? xxx 

Ploughman Inspired Pizza

I like to play around with pizza toppings and this came to me when I was wondering what to do with some left over mature cheddar.

Ploughman Inspired Pizza

Ingredients:

1 onion

4 tbsp passata

100 g ham

100 g cheddar

1 mozzarella ball

3 tbsp chutney

1 tbsp polenta

Pizza dough

First make your doughy, I adapt a Jamie Oliver's recipe, see older post, with flavoured oil and dried oregano.

Then I caramelise the onions. And set the to one side to cool.

Once the dough was ready I rolled it out using polenta and decorated with the rest of the ingredients.

Put in and oven of 250 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes.

I served mine with celery on the side.

My flatmateloves my chilli and blue cheese pizza so when he was sceptical about a new one but we both really enjoyed it and it is now gone ...   :o(

Sugar Free Bread & Butter Pudding

 

As I previously mentioned, I'm trying to icut down on processed sugar but had some buns that needed using up and have been thinking about bread and butter pudding since I realised I'd have left overs so I decided to use argave syrup to sweeten it. In the future I may put sultanas or autumnal fruit in it but my flatmate isn't a fan.

 

Recipe:

Ingredients:
5 small buns
20 g butter
300 ml soya milk
50 g argave syrup
1 egg
1/2 tsp cinnamon (more to sprinkle on top)

Method: Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius

1. Cut the bread and spread with a light layer of butter and place in the tray, overlapping the slices.

2. Warm the milk with the syrup and cinnamon over a low-medium heat until they are combined. Pour this over the egg and whisk until mixed.

3. Pour over the bread and leave for 10 minutes to soak up the custard. Transfer to the oven and bake for 40 minutes until it is golden on top and your kitchen smells amazing.

...hope you enjoy it!

Monthly Macarons (January)

Heya, long time no blog. Sorry guys it feels like ages since I last blogged, no excuse just a busy time at work.

Macarons No. 1

So my new project for 2013 is my mission to master the Macaron. I have tried it twice before with varied success. The first ones I made were plain with a chocolate ganache, they looked and tasted good the only problem was that I did not make the almond meal fine enough (see above).

Then me an my sister tried wir hands at chocolate macarons, these also had a good consistency but when we put them in the oven they developed a load of air bubbles.

Macarons No. 2

 

If you haven't realised yet I am a bit of a perfectionist so I am really annoyed by my recent attempt, they tasted fab but they looked like I'd thrown them out wir second floor window. So I am now on a mission to perfect the macaron, I will try making them each month until I make the most 'awesomest' macarons ever. As I have tried these in Paris and LOVED them and want to take a little of that Parisian luxury to my flat in Orkney.

Macarons No. 3

Any advice would be greatly received xxx

Christmas 2012

Christmas Vodka, looked super festive from day dot

 

Christmas this year seemed to appear from no where. I started to panic when I realised I had very little time to make the gifts that I wanted to give folks but I am happy with what I finally produced.

I first started knitting these gloves for my friend Gemma

 as she had said how much she had liked mine the year before

Then I found a recipe for a Spiced Aarancello (Christmas Spiced Vodka) from BBC Good Food App and thought that it would make a nice gift for some of my friends

- My flatmate makes amazing fruit liquors so it was nice to try my hand at something similar

 

As I mentioned back in October, I got a kindle pattern from a craft fair during Wool Week and was keen to make one for my Mam, Ii am really chuffed with the colours etc.

although it is a little on the large side

After the success of last years Christmas Jam I thought I would try my hand at my own recipe, Mulled Pear Jam, I liked how subtle all the flavours were although I would maybe put a little less

 sugar in it next time as it was super sweet.

I know that some people make/sell Christmas Pudding Hats but I thought I would try my own version. My own pattern so, again, proud of the outcome (would also make awesome tea cosies) can't wait to see pictures of the boys in them.

Ii also followed a Kate Davis pattern and knitted this hat for my Dad, thinking to make a girlie one for myself, once I have tackled the socks and jumper.

 

I really recommend homemade gifts, I got one this year (Blackberry Gin from Lynn) and I really appreciated that she has put time and effort into a gift that was for me.

 

Happy Holiday xxx

Peerie Catch -Up Before the Festivities

 

It's been a super busy month with several trips south and me maybe biting off more than I can chew with my homemade Christmas so I'm sorry that my blog has been quiet.

I flew home on Friday even though the world was ending and the weather was doing very little to disprove this.

Finally got my Birthday present from my folks (it was being knitted by Shetland Designers) .. I have worn it all afternoon and think it may be a permanent fixture in my winter wardrobe from now on.

 

My sister and Dave didn't manage to get sooth due to the weather so me and Em had a very nice afternoon making and eating Christmas popcorn and watching the very intellectual film 'Magic Mike'.

 

I was also faced with the welcoming committee who had lots of love and hugs to send my way - except for Meg who has decided that she isn't ready to forgive me for leaving (going back to Orkney)
.

Well I hope everyone has a Super Christmas and New Year and that you get to spend it with the ones you love!!!

... I will blog my Homemade Christmas post as soon as I know everyone has gotten their gifts

Mulled Pear Jam

 

Well today is the first day of December and my house smells like there was an explosion in a Christmas factory.

 I bought a large quantity of pears and was unsure what to do with them, then I thought Mulled Pear Jam for Christmas gifts.

After some experimenting I came up with this recipe:

Mulled Pear Jam
 

 
Ingredients

800 g small pears
450 ml mulled wine
1 orange
15 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
3 cups of jam sugar


Method

1. Peal and core the pears, putting them into some water with lemon juice to stop them turning too brown

2. Pour the mulled wine in to a medium heavy bottom pan and add the strained pears. Add the slices of orange, cloves and cinnamon then bring it to the boil on a high heat then reduce to medium and allow them to boil until the pears have softened.

 

3. Strain the pears, removing the orange and spices, keep the liquid as you can use it for some other festive recipes. Then return the pears to the pan and mash them to the consistency you like (I like a bit of a bite).

3. Add the sugar and bring to a rolling boil for 15 - 25 minutes until the jam doesn't run when put on to a cold plate.

4. Now transfer to your sterilised jam to the jars, be careful it will have cooled but it is still very hot. I use a sterilised jug and funnel to make sure I do not spill the jam.

5. Put a small disc of grease proof paper on top of your jam, then screw on the lid

 

6. Decorate your jars if you are giving them as gifts, this year I went paper lid covers instead of fabric (think I do prefer fabric though, just wanted to try these for a change) and a little pear shaped tag so that their are no questions about what it is.



If you like it please let me know...

Movie Moment

 

It's Sunday, I've completed my checklist, its horrible and wintry outside and I'm ready for bed but it's too early ... What to do?

Almost didn't want to pop it as it is a really bonnie colour

 

Well if you are me and my flatmate you stick on a movie. But I have a little addiction I am not proud of, I love popcorn!

Slightly disappointed it wasn't blue or darker after popping

but it was super tasty

 

The other weekend I was at a friends deli in Stromness (Bayleaf Delicatessen) and bought an amazing array of goodies including these blue popcorn kernels.

      

My Favourite popcorn has a mixture of sweet and salty, I used Beyond the Picket Fence's recipe and it was really nice and so simple to make. I thoroughly recommend popping into the deli and getting some if you are local!!!