Spelt

Hi All

From my post on Sunday I was going to explain way I was using spelt flour in my recipe.

A few years I was informed I had an intolerance to wheat which for me results in bloating, tummy pains, slow digestion, and some ahem! Anti-social side effects. While my head was spinning with thoughts of cakes, cookies, thick slices of toast soaked in butter I now had to avoid, I was also informed I could eat spelt flour instead, as I didn’t know what spelt was I wasn’t filled with any excitement, however I learned the following:

Spelt is an ancient grain which was originally grown in Iran around 5000 to 6000 B.C; it was more widely used then than the current wheat grain we use today. It is similar in appearance to the wheat grain, however it has a tougher husk and has a slightly nuttier and sweater flavour. Spelt contains more protein and lower levels of gluten than wheat; however it is not suitable for those with a wheat allergy or gluten free diet. However if you want to get deeper into spelt check out the Wikipedia link!

So although I was given this information a few years ago it didn’t mean I adhered to it. Due to research purposes (and lack of resistance) I will eat the wheat, as I know my whole body isn’t going to swell up, or I break out in a rash all over my body, I always think the discomfort is worth it!? Although you can now get more slightly wider range of spelt products in health food shops and one and two items in larger chains of supermarkets it isn’t enough. So most of my recopies will be made using spelt flour unless otherwise stated.

However if you see me out and about eating a massive wheat baguette, please do not wag your finger at me and say I shouldn’t be eating that! Remember it is for research purposes and it’s worth it!?

Bye for now!

PBx

Butter, syrup, pancakes oh my!

Hi All

I woke up this morning and thought about what I would really like to eat for breakfast if I had the time and didn’t need to stay alert at the 9-5! I thought of these!

Mmmmm! Pancakes, dripping with syrup and butter, oh well a girl can only dream! Although my instant 2 minute microwave porridge is considered a better option, it's not as much fun.

Happy Monday!

Bye for now!

PBx

Prune & Chocolate

Hi All

I spend the week counting down to the weekend with plans of spontaneity and excitement however it is here and I am too knackered to even pronounce those words let alone to fulfill them! However after dragging myself out of the house I found I wasn’t too knackered to give my purse a good workout at H&M! And to bake cake!

I had a look around in my cupboards too see what I have and decided to make a prune and chocolate torte.

You will see in the picture I have used spelt flour (I will explain why in a later post) however you can use plain wheat flour.

Ingredients

250g prunes, halved

4 tbsp brandy

25g cocoa powder

100g 70% dark chocolate, broken into pieces

50g unsalted butter

100ml hot water

175g caster sugar

4 large egg whites

85g plan flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp icing sugar (optional)

Soak the prunes in the brandy for at least 30 minutes. Butter a lose bottom sandwich tin put to one side until needed. Pre heat oven at gas mark 5.

Put the cocoa powder, broken pieces of chocolate, and only 140g of the sugar in a pot. Pour over the hot water and heat gently, stir until everything has melted and is smooth. Leave to cool slightly.

Whisk the egg whites until they are soft peaks then add the remaining sugar. Sift the flour and cinnamon gradually over the egg whites; gently fold in with a metal spoon until slightly combined. Fold in the chocolate mixture evenly, do not over mix. Pour in the tin then arrange the prunes over it and sprinkle any of the remaining brandy.

Bake for 30 minutes until just firm. Leave to cool in the tin for 10-15 minutes then knock it out of the tin and cut a huge slice and serve with sprinkle of icing sugar on top or big dollop of cream and a cup of tea.

It is Fathers Day today, I am sure this would go down a treat with your pops!

Bye for now!

PBx

Ooo! So pretty!

Hi All

I went into Habitat the other day looking for table runners and place mats. I came out with these instead. I thought these tapes were so pretty. They will add a little special touch when wrapping up presents. The small pink tape is £1.60 and the large Peacock is £1.44, bargain!

Bye for now!

PBx

Birthday Bakewells

Hi All

I made a batch of cherry bakewells over the weekend for a friend’s mother birthday these are one of my favorite recipes, anything bakewell, pie, tart, cake, flapjack. It is something about the mix of flavours of almond and cherry together that make my taste buds go mmmm!

Bye for now!

PBx

For the love of coffee

Hi All

Most of us love to start the day with a cup of coffee. How about one that gives you some love back!

Bye for now!

PBx

D'oh!

Hi All

Do you ever go against your gut instinct? Well that was me on Friday night having a serious Homer Simpson moment. I have wanted a Kitchen Aid for years! When I decided I could justify spending over £300 on one, they put the price up to over £400 and now I am back in the same position. However I got leered into getting a Magimix which can do so much, juicing, making dough, making cake and cutting chips! I thought I was quid’s in as it had gone down in price to just over £100! However their method for making cake are mainly mixing all the ingredients together all at once. So for that I should of known I couldn’t make butter cream in this machine but I was tired and didn’t want to use my hand mixer and thought why not? It might work? Look at the results!

The one on your right is the one I used in the Magimix, it started creaming together in the beginning then when I added the rest of the icing sugar it started turning into clumps and the oil from the butter looked like it was separating. So in the end I made another batch ( the one on the left) with my hand mixer. So the lesson for this story is to listen to your gut and not be lazy as it will give you more dishes to wash up, and you all know I don’t like that!

Bye for now!

PBx

Those things!

Hi All

I was reminded by one of my family members the other day, of something I used to make many years ago the conversation went like this:

F M: How comes you don’t make those things anymore?

Me: What things? (Slightly confused)

FM: You know those things! (Dumbfounded at my lack of memory)

Me: You need to be more specific; I used to make a few things before. (Even, more confused)

FM: You know! Those things!! Those things that taste like Twix! (Annoyed and impatient)

Me: Ooh! Millionaire squares, caramel shortbreads? (Light bulb moment)

FM: Yeah them! (Eyes glazed over and no longer mentally in the room)

Yes it was those things! I used to make these at least once a fortnight, for a friend who used to eat the whole tray to themselves! (Yes, they still have their own teeth!) So over the weekend I thought I give them another go however instead of staying with the original recipe of plain shortbread base caramel middle, and chocolate top, I wanted chocolate all the way through. Chocolate shortbread, chocolate caramel and chocolate top, feast your eyes!

These need a name, I think I will name these Trillionaire Squares. Hopefully my family member will remember it!

Bye for now!

PBx

Happy Monday

Hi All

Monday mornings if you’re like me and have a 9-5 to go to, can usually feel slightly lack luster, so it is always good to start you day with something that will put a smile on your face. So on Monday’s I aim to have something that will make your day/week start with a treat (I know cheesy!).

Bye for now!

PBx

Cupcake in a tin?

Hi All

While taking a stroll down my local high street, I always like to have a look in the 99p store as they sometimes have some brand name bargains and some random things that catch my eye. I first saw the picture of the cupcake and realised it was on a tin. I've seen cupcakes in jars, push pop cupcakes, and cupcake pops, so now you can buy tinned cupcakes that will last for years? On closer inspection I found it was a vanilla cupcake scented candle. While I was paying for it I was thinking it was cute, but all so, I was thinking, oh pleeease! What else is going to be stamped with a cupcake tag? Cupcake deodorant? Soap powder? Although I do love making (and eating!) cupcakes I do think the hype for them may have now hit it's peak? Especially with all these other byproducts saturating the market.

Anyway if you want to get one of these candles, which has a very sweet vanilla smell, however a not convincing cake smell. Get down to your local 99p store sharpish as their stock turnover is very quick!

Bye for now!

PBx

I'd like to buy the world a coke.....

Hi All

When I started secondary school I used have many an insult thrown at me due to the fact I was taller than the rest of my peers, rather choppy looking and was extremely short sighted oh! And because I used to wear my long socks pulled up to my knees, Ooo! the crime! But the main one was my short sightedness not only did I have the displeasure to wear NHS frames (if you were a child in the late eighties early nighties you will know the horror of the designs of theses!) but due to my poor eyesight my lenses were thick and therefore earned the name Coca-Cola bottom, yes, children are very cruel!

However the Coca-Cola bottle is such an iconic design, that everyone knows it ( I never got called Sunny D bottle bottom) even songs about it's shape have been made about it. A few years ago I got some limited edition ones by the Scissor Sisters which I really liked and have been trying to build up my collection, so when I heard they had the original bottle celebrating their 125th year, I had to get it. I got this from Selfridges for £1.99. Now I'm off down to Harvey Nichols to get the Karl Largerfeld collection.

Bye for now!

PBx