Cornbread Muffins

March 16, 2007 By Leave a Comment
cornbreadmuffins

I adore Cornbread Muffins but I admit I do not actually make them that often... in fact I have only made them the once with the following recipe. I´m just not an expert in this department and although they turned out OK they didnt exactly rock my boat. I´ve had better... So, if anyone is feeling generous and has a wonderful recipe they would like to recommend to both myself and my readers I would love to hear it! Just drop me a comment if you would - I would love to hear from you and will … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baking

Croquetas de jamon

February 19, 2007 By Leave a Comment
croquetas-jamon

I first had Croquetas de Jamon when I was on holiday in Nerja, Spain - granted back then they were of the store bought frozen variety but my god they were so very good! They were filled with Jamon de Serrano, a wonderful cured Spanish Ham (one of their greatest exports in my humble opinion). We would have them with a simple tomato salad for lunch. The salad would be drizzled with olive oil, sherry vinega and a light dusting of salt and pepper. Good things sometimes are the most … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Meal Ideas, Sides Tagged With: , ,

Roast Chicken with Pasta

February 19, 2007 By Leave a Comment
roast-chicken-with-pasta

I threw this dish together one evening when I had some leftover roast chicken, black olives and a selection of vegetables. It was the most wonderful dish I had eaten in a far while because I was living on a fairly tight budget at the time and, well, chicken was a luxury! I have to say that just frying off raw chicken would not have the same taste using pre-roasted has - especially if you have by chance kept some of those gorgeous heart stopping juices - which in this case I used to coat the … [Read more...]

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Carrot Cake

January 20, 2007 By Leave a Comment
carrotcake

I remember the day I had carrot cake for the very first time. I was in hospital. There were no other options left. I was devastated because all the chocolate cake and Manchester Tart had gone. But I was depressed and wanted something sweet. Despite my adoration of all things vegetable I eyed the carrot cake with apprehension. I was prepared to hate it. Then I took my first mouthful, and it was like a party on my tastebuds. The combination of flavours, textures and delightful vanilla cream … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baking, Desserts Tagged With: ,

Austrian Coffee Cake

January 17, 2007 By Leave a Comment
coffee-cake

There are some coffee delights in this world that cannot be matched - and this Austrian coffee cake is one of them. Wonderful served with coffee at any time of the day. Delightful served as an after dinner treat. Ingredients: 6 ounces Butter - softened 6 ounces Caster Sugar 6 ounces Self Raising Flour 1 pinch Salt 3 large Eggs Coffee Sugar Brandy ½ pint Double Cream Flaked Almonds Method Cream butter and sugar together until light and creamy, add the eggs one at a time and … [Read more...]

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How to make Homemade Butter

January 3, 2007 By Leave a Comment
butter

I was so intrigued to be asked this question via email that I just had to answer. I have only made butter once or twice in my lifetime, but both times it was so easy and the results so effective that I was sure I would never go back to bought butter again. Butter, as you are probably aware, is produced by churning cream until the fats separate from the liquid (buttermilk) and the butter is in a semi-solid state. Now the butter you buy in the supermarket is more often than not made by … [Read more...]

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How to cook Swede

December 31, 2006 By Leave a Comment
swede_best of all_1

I have received so many hits for this I thought I would address it with a few handy tips for cooking this under-rated vegetable [besides utilising it in my cottage pie recipe of course] Preparing Swede Always handy to have a potato peeler to hand for this. Peel it the same way as a potato, slicing off the root end first with a knife. Then just cut the swede into suitably sized chunks. Mashed Swede Cut it into 1 inch dice and steam for about 10 minutes, or until tender, then whiz to a … [Read more...]

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Scottish Shortbread

December 31, 2006 By Leave a Comment
scottish-shortbread

For a family who tended to bake their own we always seemed to buy Scottish shortbread in a large tin at Christmas. As a child I could never understand why this was the case, but I am told it was simply a family tradition - and that the tins they came in were utilised as storage for our own baking. So, I suppose, with that in mind they were considered useful. To this day I rarely bake shortbread myself, I tend to buy it from a traditional shortbread company known as Walkers. For me, it feels … [Read more...]

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Seed Cake

December 31, 2006 By Leave a Comment
dundee-cake

New Year or Hogmanay is still well celebrated in Scotland. I was blessed to spend one winter there and partake in their fine traditions. It truly is far more magical than Christmas, and there is nothing more wonderful to me than to hear the Scottish pipes playing. I find that these days I do become emotional at the thought of my New Year there, and each once since I have missed the playing of the pipes. Also eaten around Hogmanay is a traditional seed cake, served with tea or … [Read more...]

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Black Bun

December 31, 2006 By Leave a Comment
Black_bun_cut_open

A Scottish treat traditionally eaten at Hogmanay [New Year]. Its a little late to make it for this year, as it needs to be made several weeks in advance to allow it to mature. I love Black Bun, its a dense fruit filled cake wrapped in pastry. Its extremely heavy but suited for the cold winters of Scotland - especially the Highlands where the winters can be harsh and bitter. For me, Scotland truly is a magical place to be, and most importantly to experience. Ingredients for Pastry Case: 12 … [Read more...]

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