Showing posts with label cake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cake. Show all posts

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Ode to a Goldfish

Yesterday was frought with drama; the day started pleasantly enough very pleasantly actually, even though I did my headless chicken act for an hour beforehand but hey, that's life as a mum, isn't it?   So is rambling, apparently, as my friend Shona picked me up to take us into town for coffee and shopping.   We had some toast, chatted and then went our separate ways, on the hunt for gifts, knick knacks and sundries.

On looking at bags in Debenhams, they had a 20% sale on, you'd think they were offering them with a Faberge egg and a year's supply of lottery tickets, a scuffle broke out between two women I say women, one was growling so much, she may have been part Rottweiller over one, frankly, rather tatty looking creation and they turned to me for 'advice' by advice, I mean a decision.   By decision I mean they both wanted me to tell them that they were right.   I suppose you got all that from the quotes anyway and there is really no need for me to explain further...well, tough, I'm in a lyrical mood....by lyrical I mean....oh never mind.   On stating that I wasn't getting involved, they both decided to 'involve' me anyway by turning their lovely mouths to terms of endearment in cursing form; that was fun.   By fun I mean not fun.   By cursing, I mean swearing ....oh, you got that?   Good.   Just wanted to clarify.   One called me a bitch.   Can you believe that?   Me?   Lovely, unbitchless wee me.   Man, that bag was fugly.

I had no phone with me to tell the time I don't wear a watch, I'm a rebel without a Cassio.... and didn't worry about it too much, considering I left the house at 9.15am and didn't have to be back until 3.30pm.   On entering a very calm, sedate establishment who sell nothing but white yes, white....just white...I became aware of a man becoming increasingly angry.   He'd been back three times looking for 'pomegranate' you don't want to know and they STILL didn't have it?   It was an OUTRAGE.   The girl suggested he go to Jo Malone, they did Pomegranate apparently...   Her manager wasn't too impressed.   My outrage managed to surface for a brief millisecond when I realised Pomegranate was what I wanted too or had he just put the power of suggestion into my mind? but quickly subsided when I realised Ginger was better.   I wanted to call after him "HEY!   Ginger's better!   Pomegranate SUCKS!" but thought better of it.

You'd think that would be it for my day, wouldn't you?   Nooooooo.   I've not even started on the food yet and there's some way to go.   For those of you waiting for pics, just scroll down to the bottom and ignore the rest of this diatribe.

Asking someone the time, you'd think I'd asked for a kidney, the way she sighed and told me it, eyes raised to the sky, reluctantly looking at her watch, as if lifting up her arm caused her enough activity to have to go lie down for an hour, I realised that I was, in fact cutting it fine and headed for the train station.   On waiting at Partick, the hub of all activity in Glasgow....it's like the Rail version of the Bermuda Triangle....strange things gather and drama abounds....the usual token nutter comes up the escalators, shouting abuse at rail staff at the top of his voice.   We're used to this sort of thing, it doesn't happen every day but usually, the nutter will go sit somewhere away from everyone and continue to shout until he falls asleep and is removed by local authority.

When the train pulled in, everyone headed for one carriage, away from the shouting bearded man and that was fine, until he got lonely and came looking for us, so he could shout some more.   What's the point after all, without an audience.  

So eventually the train pulls to a halt.   The man is wrapped round a pole, refusing to leave.   Twenty of them mingle round, scratching their heads and drawing up plans on How To Remove A Nutter From A Pole.  

Some time later, the Big Man gets on the train.   He surveys the scene, look of bored disgust on his face, arms folded in front of him.   He assesses the situation and without even looking at anyone, he simply kicks out his foot, just enough to make the man fall over so that he is caught by the other twenty and dragged out of the carriage.   The Big Man shakes his head at the Little People, annoyed to be taken away from his sports fixtures and goes about his business.

The train continues and I arrive at the station, a 30 minute walk from my destination.   So to cut a long story a tiny bit shorter, I've been walking for hours, I get the kids, we go food shopping, I have ten minutes to get organised for yoga and even refuse an offer to go to the pub...unheard of, I can assure you...and go home to normality.   I open the door to find the youngest wee lass crying her eyes out, the other two looking crestfallen and an upside down fish being given resuscitation by an anxious dad.   So the rest of the evening is spent massaging a fish, comforting children and falling asleep exhausted.   Our lovely wee goldfish died, after six years, just as two baby gerbils arrived.   What HAVE we done?

 Raspberry Shortbread and Whisky Cream Cupcakes for Burn's Day.

 Vegetable Lasagna being prepared; recipe to follow, this was delicious!

 Helen's Calzone Attempt.

 Caramel Apple Granny; wish I'd got a better picture but, mmmmmmmm.  This was good.

 The Apply Granny; you can't find a recipe for this so I made it up ans was pretty happy with the results...I promise to share.

 Making Chicken and Potato Chimichangas...frying the potatoes in a little turmeric, salt, pepper, thyme, garlic clove.   I used leftover chicken which had been breaded.

 Filling the tortilla.

 Adding the cheese, Monteray Jack if in the US, grated Mozzarella if in the UK.

 Folding up the chimichangas.   From here, fry for a minute or so both sides in a little oil then bake in oven for 10 minutes.   They go lovely golden brown, the cheese melts and everyone enjoys.   Normally, I'd make this with chillies, salsa, etc. but sometimes you just have to use up those leftovers the best way you see fit!

 This looks like a blob but man oh man, was this good; chocolate orange cake, recipe to follow.   I'm making one tonight so more photos...as a whole cake this time!  

 Pork, chorizo, roasted pepper,s new potatoes, tomato sauce, thyme, olives....the list goes on.   This dish was so easy and very tasty.   Again, recipes to follow.

 Wholemeal chocolate cupcakes with Nutella Icing.   Grand.

 Aunty Marion's cupcakes.

 The cupcakes were lemon drizzle with lemon icing.   They were well tasty!

Root Vegetable Gratin....another winner, recipe to follow.

In memory of our wee goldfish.  

Friday, January 21, 2011

Some Food

Well, bloggy peeps, another year is well underway, another chance to eat well, work hard and play.   I've been warming up the cold, frosty days  with lots of stews, soups and broths as well as a few salads and cakes because lets face it, everyone needs cake in their life
!.    
 Lemon Chicken Stew
 When I first made this, it looked wonderful but didn't taste so great; I went against my instinct and stuck to the recipe.   I realise now, my instinct is probably pretty good when it comes to food and although I should probably act on it, I have been surprised before.   I remade it by marinading the chicken in lemon, ginger, thyme, sesame oil and olive oil with a tiny bit of chilli and lots of salt and pepper.  The full recipe to follow.

 Patatas Bravas with Chorizo....mmmmm.

 Helen's Samosas
 Coming up this week: Haggis Samosas!   

 Scallop Salad...a wee bit of sunshine amidst the stews

 Biryani

 Will's Cheeseburger Cakes!   Yup, cake....very clever and tasty.

 Brooklyn Blackout Cake filled with cream and berries, covered in Nutella Icing

 Grandpa's Steak Pie!

Friday, December 3, 2010

December Already

I took the bull by the horns some time ago and decided to get busy with my paintings, my cooking and my cupcakes.   I cook all day and night on a Monday and Tuesday morning with yoga inbetween afternoon deliveries, I draw and paint on a Wednesday and weekends when I have commissions, bake on a Thursday and deliver on a Friday.  Hence my lack of posts, dear friends.

It's been a revelation: I've discovered a certain style to drawing that people seem to really like which I'm delighted about and I've attended many fairs this autumn/winter and intend to travel next year further afield (any fairs near you?).  It's all very busy and exciting.

I make family meals on a Monday for busy mums and dads and made a few new discoveries: stews are always a success, the humble cannellini bean is great for slow cooking, I now know 101 things to do with a tin of tomatoes, whereas many meals are great for reheating, some don't quite work and trying to ban children from the kitchen on a Monday is a laborious task.  I've found out that you should never cook a meal for others that you've not tried first; if it isn't to your taste, don't serve it and trust your own judgement at all times.

It's been a busy, eye-opening time but I feel it's all taking shape and I'm getting into a routine.   It all went up in the air this week with the annual sickness bug affecting all three kids but I managed.   We cheered ourselves by putting up the tree and lighting Christmas scented candles yes, Christmas scented....Christmas has a smell!...with Helen's Hot Hottie Chocolate although the kids couldn't have any because they were ill.   I felt it was evil to drink it in front of them so Brian stood in a cold kitchen, sipping his with a bobble hat and gloves on.

It's -12 and very, very snowy here in Scotland.   Brrr.   But here's some cake to keep you warm....you need to go put the kettle on. 

 Grandpa's Victoria Sponge and Buttercream Icing Birthday Cake, November 2010

Angela's 40th Birthday Party Cake, November 2010. Bit of a weird picture, it was dark!


Monday, July 19, 2010

Oven Disaster and Complete Randomness

My oven hates me.   She expressed this opinion by blowing up but not until after the chocolate cake was ready so har har to you, oven lady, I get the last laugh! 

 Well...it didn't actually blow up, it just kinda stopped working.   I think it needs a holiday from all the toiling and striving it's done over the years.   Just a pity I have lots of food and cakes to make for various events.   I think I'll be pushing my wee camping stove to it's limits.

So today I'm going to show you some complete randomness so here goes; a picture of a crazy cupcake I baked:

Psychedelic Cupcake!

A very tasty chicken khorma wot I made.....

Chicken Khorma....oh yeah!

A picture of Lucy reading Keats:

Lucy reading...well, Keats......

Poori Bread...mmmm!

Deep fried Indian Poori Bread.   Heaven...I'm in heaven....

Yet more cupcakes.....

Cupcakes

Tartan creatures.....

Tartan Sheep

 Lambs, just getting their tartan in.....

Tartan Lambs

Kids outside the Tardis.....

Hello Doctor!

Don't want to really say too much about this one...........

Falling asleep with random hat

And finally........

Evening outside our window.

True randomness can only come from within.  

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Happy Belated Easter!

I have such a craving for something but I don't know what it is; I've tried salty snacks, savoury slices and sweet pieces of pie.  Seafood, wholefood, meat, chips and rye.  None seem to work.   The last time I had this kind of craving, I was pregnant  no, I'm not and I worked my way through a half ton of food trying to find out what it could be.   No complaints of course, I enjoyed every minute of it but was a wee bit surprised when it turned out to be Cheesy Wotsits; I couldn't get enough! 10 packets later and I scunnered myself; I haven't eaten them since. 

It may take me days, months or even years to work it out but I'm up to the challenge..............

Our Easter was lovely; on Thursday, the last day of school we were invited round to a friend's house with the kids and enjoyed snacks, chat and a wee glass of wine.   On Good Friday, grandpa came to stay and on Saturday, my lovely niece joined us too.   We bought dvds, popcorn and sweets and cooried in for a film fest, venturing out for the occasional walk in the sunshine and lunch.   Easter Sunday, I cooked roast lamb stuffed with feta, mint and lemon cooked in lemon juice and white wine, roast pork stuffed with chorizo, onions and fresh herbs, roast potatoes, boiled potatoes, roasted root vegetables with honey and maple syrup and steamed greens and baby sweetcorn.   It was a good day and enjoyed by all.

 Roast Lamb: looks messy, tasted lovely!

Roast Pork; hmmm, not a great pic but again, tasted gooooood!

I made an Easter cake, with help from the kids and it turned out pretty well.   My friend Shona gave me a wonderful cookbook, from the Hummingbird Bakery which is where I got the recipe from a wonderful recipe it was too and spot on but the decor was inspired by Sarah Magid's Organic and Chic cookbook a few little basic recipe mistakes within but was worked out failry easily; very good for inspiration and her vanilla buttercream icing worked really well.

Pretty AND tasty!   Brooklyn Blackout cake, Nutella icing inside.

Easter dinner.

I think they like!

Other food this month:

Scallops with roasted tomatoes

More cupcakes....

Mmmmm!

Beef and sausage stew with Yorkshire Puddings

Kids own homemade pizza!   Good job.

Mini feta, spinach and pine nut tart

Tomato Sauce for the pizza

Mmmm, pizza..

More tart...

More scallops..I'm going through a phase; that's an artichoke heart in the middle

Lucy is pleased with her own wee pizza