Burnbrae Blues

Lucy and Fraser have social lives to beat the Royal Family. Therefore, it is not surprising that tonight, they had another party to attend. It was for two boys in their class and they celebrated by trying to blow each other up, along with a dozen other little boys and girls at Laser Planet or Laser Death or some such establishment. A lot of fun was had by all.

They were dropped off and Brian, Kelly and I made our way to The Burnbrae for a bite to eat. Kelly wasn't too keen, having witnessed a previous attempt at family dining in the place and remembering that it left us wanting...did I listen? No, I did not. Kelly, being a good little girl who does as she is told, simply shrugged and said "ok, mum".

So off we trundled, looking forward to a night off and a bit of reasonable fare. We kept it simple, Brian ordering Ham, Eggs and Chips, and since I didn't want to put all our eggs in one basket.....!....I went for the sausage and mash. Kelly was reluctant to pick anything as it was a fairly dodgy looking child's menu but plumped for BBQ chicken and chips.

The Burnbrae isn't known for it's speed but the meals arrived in what seemed like a few minutes...never really a good sign. That being said, Brian's ham and eggs were lovely looking, the eggs cooked to perfection and the ham...well, ham. My sausages were enormous and three huge links were more than this gal could manage. The mash was translucent, never a good thing as it means cheap white potatoes and no butter. The gravy was passable but lumpy and get this: no onions with it. What is the point of sausage and mash without onions? It's like Haggis without the Neeps or Posh without Becks.

Kelly's food was a sight to behold; dried bits of chicken with a bowl full of lumpy bbq sauce from a previous era. Her look of horror said it all. The ice-cream...the tiny scoop they gave her...tasted of vomit, apparently...an exaggeration no doubt but who leaves chocolate ice cream uneaten?

The charming, attentive and lovely waiter (Andrew?) with the long ponytail was so good however that I didn't complain. How very un-Helen like of me.

To make up for this ahem, meal, I made cupcakes. I was supposed to go walking after the party pick up but I thought of others for a change (ROTFL) and stayed at home to make cakes. I want an award.

These were lemon cupcakes with a plain, white royal icing and little flowers atop. They went down a treat.

Recipe to follow.

Wordless Wednesday

Snicker Doodlies or Peanut Butter Squares.

These are not the cinammony, lovely snickerdoodles that we make at Christmas time. These are Snicker Doodlies, so called because they remind me of a cross between a Snickers bar and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I made them tonight as a surprise for the husband, off fighting with a stick somewhere. He loves a Snicker Doodly, so he does...who wouldn't?

Snicker Doodlies
For the base:
50g dark muscovado sugar
200g icing sugar
50g unsalted butter
200g smooth peanut butter

For the topping:
200g milk chocolate
100g plain chocolate
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 square brownie tine, lined, approx.23 cm square.

Stir all the base ingredients together until smooth, either in a mixer or with a wooden spoon. Don't worry too much about lumps. Press the mix into the tin trying to make the surface as even as possible.

To make topping, melt the chocolate and butter together and spread over the base. Put in fridge to set. You may think you can eat all of this at one sitting but you can't. No-one can. Homer Simpson couldn't. It is very rich but incredibly more-ish so be careful. Do not say I didn't warn you.

Sunshine and Sandals.

I've not been shopping this week yet as there seems to be plenty of food left over from the weekend's celebrations. I can't seem to sit still even though it's been so busy; my energy levels are fluctuating between very high and crash and burn so I'm thinking a slow and steady pace all week will keep me going.

Yesterday, I took most of the remaining basil I had left and made a pesto by blending together garlic, Parmesan, salt and olive oil. I didn't have pine nuts, yet again because I can't seem to find them anywhere! It's like they've suddenly become extinct or as rare as...well, a rare thing; the labels are there in the shops, taunting me: 'pine nuts', 'organic pine nuts', 'not quite organic but still ok pine nuts'. Yet the shelves are empty. Has there been a national shortage, a crisis I'm unaware off? Is it something to do with the disappearing bees? Who knows? Any thoughts? So, yes, back to the point, my pesto had no nuts but still tasted delicious.

I also had a good pile of tomatoes left so yesterday I slow roasted them as I did for the brunch, with basil, Parmesan, salt, olive oil and balsamic vinegar and placed them in the fridge, once cooked (after eating some straight from the oven and burning my tongue...greedy wench).

When I was hungry later on, I boiled up some fusilli and added a spoonful of the pesto, a handful of the tomatoes and a wee amount of olives to the cooked pasta.....talk about a taste sensation! It is so true that the simplest dishes are just the best...it was wonderful.

After such a great meal, Kelly, Lucy and I walked to the park whilst Fraser was at his last 'Beavers' meet. It took us around 40 minutes and Kelly took her bike; she is becoming really confident and was very safe which was good to see. After a play around the park, we wandered down to MacDonalds for ice cream...the extra ten minute walk in the sun was lovely and I only had a spoonful of the white stuff.

Today, as usual, I had a mad dash out the door to get to yoga in time and was buoyed along by the sunshine and sandals; there is something wonderful about having your feet out in the sun, not something we get to experience too often in Scotland! Yoga was wonderful and really instructive; I learnt a lot about my breathing and bandhas and felt great, if in dire need of coffee and lots of it. Afterwards, I walked down to meet Ann for our usual activity which instead of leading us all the way to Milngavie, a town a few miles away, led us instead to the Burnbrae for a plate of their wonderful antipasti and an afternoon of chat.

I shall come up with some inventive pasta for the return of the clan from swimming and give it some name which sounds Italian and like I've been cooking it for years...as long as it tastes good and is said with authority, they should believe but there are too many dishes with 'a la Helen' these days.....

Potato Scone Recipe

Those of us who enjoy a potato scone usually just purchase them from any nearby shop...woe betide the corner shop who runs out of Morton's rolls or potato scones...sausages we can do without, bacon at a push but not the humble tattie scone.

Bought pre-cooked, we like to re-heat them in a frying pan and eat with our fried breakfast or Sunday Brunch with a sprinkling of salt or some good old tomato or brown sauce. Potato scones however are the simplest thing in the world to make and taste even better fresh. Most traditional Scottish recipes are made from cheap, local ingredients, particularly those that come immediately to hand from the cupboard. The Potato Scone...or tattie scone as we like to call it, was a way of using up left over mashed potato and this is the only time I make it too. I can't help eating one as I cook them but as is the tradition, I let them get cold and reheat them for everyone later.

Potato Scone

Ingredients:
Half pound (225g) boiled and mashed potatoes (Maris Piper is what I always use)
2.5oz (65g) flour
3 tablespoons melted butter and a meagre tablespoon milk
Half teaspoon salt

Method:
Mash the potatoes while they are still warm and add the butter, milk and salt. Add in enough flour to make it a pliable dough but without making it too dry-this is very important. Add more butter if this happens but the type of potato will also affect this.

Turn out onto a floured surface and roll until about quarter of an inch thick. Cut into six inch circles and then into quarters. Prick all over with a fork and cook in a heavy pan which has been lightly greased. Cook each side for about three minutes or until golden brown. Try one with salt and sauce, say mmm and then let the rest get cold to re-heat later.

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home,
Nothing brings this back than the taste of a scone.

Just call me Rabbie Burns........!

The party's over.

It has been a wonderful weekend. Really. Even with yesterday's hangover. The hair of the dog at Ricky and Irene's was totally unexpected but actually seemed to help. Worrying.

The tea party today turned into a brunch as everyone was arriving at 12.30. It seemed appropriate, being a Sunday and having a fridge full of bacon and a cupboard full of eggs and tomatoes. I served bacon, sausages, potato scones, potato frittata, (the potatoes first cooked in olive oil, thyme, rosemary and garlic, all removed before adding the eggs), a cheese omelette cooked in oil and an omelette with spring onions and Parmesan cooked in butter.

I cut large tomatoes in half and roasted them with olive oil, a large handful of chopped basil, a sprinkling of thyme, a grating of Parmesan and a drizzle of balsamic. I added a great big pinch of Maldon sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and popped them in the oven at 150 degrees Celsius. I slow roasted them for an hour and they really were delicious; the tomatoes were soft and sweet, the basil crunchy...I really recommend these. We served rolls, bread and butter and great steaming mugs of tea, what else?

After brunch, we had birthday cake and coffee. It was a calm, chatty, lovely birthday brunch. When everyone left, I knew I had to move and move fast. I realised if I didn't keep moving that I might fall down in a little heap and not move for a few hours, bar some twitching. So, I went upstairs to repair the damage 10 or 12 kids can amazingly inflict in such a short time.

By then, I wasn't fit for cooking even though Frank my wonderful father in law was here. I suggested pizza at Massimo's as a birthday treat and everyone thought it was a grand idea. Hallelujah! We bumped into the lovely Jo and family who, amongst almost all of Bearsden, had had the same idea as us: they were seating them out the door! The sfiziosa pizza was lovely although not as spicy as normal and I ate only a few slices. The kids hardly ate anything before running outdoors to play. Sigh. Thank goodness for take out boxes.

I laughed heartily when Brian 'suggested' making snickerdoodle cake. Instead, we went to Asda where the kids got to spend some of their birthday money and mini chocolate muffins were bought for those who wanted to partake in a sweet. I know, I hear you all cry...but they didn't even eat their dinner! Look, it was their birthday, we're all allowed a day off from the norm. So yes, I let them have muffins and sweets too. Thrrp.

After all this and feeling slightly faint, I stumbled inside, grasping about in the haze for coffee. But I had a revelation last night. More on that later. The revelation came back to me and I crawled up the stairs at 8pm, shouting instructions for baths (for the children) and went for a 30 minute walk in the sun. The day still isn't over as uniforms need to be found but you know, I'm alive, I'm well and I have three happy children, a smug husband and a reasonably contented father in law. Life is grand.

A small party glimpse...

...I can't believe no-one took pictures of the BBQ party food for me but such is life and we have a small glimpse.

Birthday cake!

Parachute Games organised by Val...great fun!

There sure were a lot of kids!

Exhaustion

What a wonderful bbq; the kids had a ball, the parents were laughing and even the sun shone...well, for some of the time. The treasure hunt went down a treat as did the wonderful games Val played with them...thank you Val, who also cooked!

80 sausages, 80 burgers, 100 hotdogs, 40 ribs, 12 veggie burgers, 8 veggie skewers, 6 prawn skewers, 24 chicken breasts, potato salad, mozzarella and tomato salad were all consumed in their entirety. Most of the pasta was eaten as was the fruit salad and there was not even a crumb of chocolate cake left. It was a lovely night.

Some friends came back afterwards but I eventually succumbed to tiredness (apparently...oops) and woke in a dehydrated and tired mess. That's when I realised I had kids staying over and there was a fun day planned at the bear factory and then food, drink, sweets... It's 4pm and I'm just home. Exhaustion is creeping in. The kids were wonderful though and it was a nice day. I must away and get showered again though as we are heading to Ricky and Irene's. Oh, and then there is tomorrow's tea party....................!

Oh oh, we're halfway there....

The marinades are done, the food is all bought. I made veggie burgers (recipe to follow), marinaded some yellow peppers and onions, spiced up some prawn skewers, bbq sauced some ribs and the potatoes are boiling for the potato salad. This is the point I wonder what I've forgotten.

Veggie Burgers (Non-spicy)

Boil peeled and quartered potatoes with a cupful of washed lentils. Once soft, drain. Peel and finely chop an onion, add some fresh thyme and fry gently in vegetable oil. Once soft, add some thinly sliced garlic and yellow pepper, chopped small. Add salt and freshly ground pepper, a tiny sprinkling of cayenne pepper...it makes the onions look wonderful...and stir. Cook for another few minutes.

Add to the onion mix the potato and lentil mixture and add a few good wedges of unsalted butter. Coarsely mash with a fork...you want little chunks of potato left...and transfer to a bowl. Add some more butter if required, a good grinding of nutmeg and adjust seasoning to taste. Cover and place in fridge until cold.

I plan to make these into small patties and roll in flour...I won't bother with the egg as it should stick fairly well and to cook, I'll place on a bbq foil tray with holes, brush with a little oil and cook. There is a possibility I may need to put a little oil onto the tray; these cannot go directly onto the barbecue as they would fall apart.

Now to make the potato salad....only 5 hours left til bedtime!

Staying In

Today, I am cleaning, finishing off a painting commission and creating the menu and food for Friday night's barbeque. There shall be no deviation from this plan or else the world will cave around me. So far, I've spent an hour on the computer, had three cups of tea and two of coffee, chatted with Brian, sent five texts and read Sunday's Style section of the Sunday Times. It's not going to plan. I have also cleaned a bathroom though and it isn't yet noon. I really need to get my bum into gear and stop this procrastination malarkey.

Lucy and Fraser are turning eight this weekend and there will be approx. 30 families coming along to help us celebrate but of course that means food, and lots of it. Lots of food means planning and that is something I sadly, yet happily enjoy doing. Yay.

I had a simple list to begin with but simple lists are made to be laughed and pointed at and therefore I'll no doubt come up with new ideas every 30 minutes or so until shopping tomorrow. I'll have to take in a budget, i.e. clutching the notes in my hand with the cards left at home or else I'll be buying smoked salmon, caviar and Madagascar prawns galore....hmmm.

So far, I'm making up two marinades for 12 chicken breasts, one made of garlic, lemon and olive oil with the other a home-made bbq flavour concoction. I'll batter each chicken breast until flat and tender and cut into two. I'll marinade them tonight until Friday. That way, they will cook really quickly and hopefully be very tasty. I thought instead of the faff of trying to fry onions to go with the burgers, I'll make some onion confit which can sit in a metal bowl over the heat, to be added to dogs, burgers or chicken as required.

I'll be doing my goats cheese pasta with lemon and pine nuts, tomato pasta and am thinking up a new one, possibly with some spicy sausage or chorizo. There will of course be the obligatory salads, one of sliced tomato, mozzarella and basil, a potato salad and homemade coleslaw.

Mairi and Sarah suggested Pimms as a good summer drink so I'm thinking of adopting it into some kind of punch with fruit but I shall wait and see what the weather is like. There will of course be plenty of wine, beer and Bombay Gin!

Birthday cakes will be two of the chocolate cakes I made the other week and I'll place them together to make an 8. I thought I'd also do a few lemon cupcakes, some brownies and a fruit salad. Wow, I hope they'll be hungry. I know the kids will take two bites of a hotdog and that will be it. Excitement, friends and games will get the better of them. We have a treasure hunt planned and the lovely Val has borrowed some sports bits and bobs as have I for game time.

I made up these party bags, if you can call them that; I bought mugs and filled them full of sweets, covered them in lovely wrapping and there we have it; 40 bags of sweets I've had to look at for a few weeks without being able to eat. Woe is me.
_____

I feel like chicken tonight...

Two of the three children were ill today. I blanketed them into the sofa, made them french toast and fed them fruit, orange juice and lots and lots of water. By 3pm, they were feeling a bit better so I picked Lucy up from school and took her to Mairi's house for a splash about the paddling pool for her and a jug full of coffee for me.

I was feeling restless after missing the active day I had planned of yoga, walking and swimming (sorry Ann!) so after taking Lucy to her swimming lesson, I had a brief walk about the area.

Kelly was out with Fraser and dad for some food as she was feeling a bit better so I left Fraser to finish eating and took Kelly for a stroll through the walkway which used to be a very old wood and now is only a tiny patch of woodland, just by the Allander Sports Centre and the old bus station. We heard a rustling in the bushes and a baby deer came bounding out, froze and then quickly turned away, leaping over the stumps and occasional crisp packet! We felt honoured.

Brian and Fraser came and picked us all up and we went home to soup and fruit. I put two chickens in the oven to roast, one rubbed with ginger with a few slices of the fragrant stuff stuck inside the cavity, the other with the usual halved lemon and salt. I rubbed some butter over the lemon chicken and drizzled over some olive oil then sprinkled on some salt to make the skin extra crispy...that's Lucy's favourite part.

On the Ginger chicken, I rubbed the smallest amount of butter...a smear, shall we say...over the bird and then drizzled a few drops of sesame oil. I roasted them in the oven for 2 hours at 220 degrees Celsius. When there were 30 minutes remaining, I added in the half of the sweet potato I had left from yesterday, cut into chunks just as I would for roast potatoes.

Once ready, I covered the birds with foil and left to rest...meat should always be left to rest, it stays hot for at least 30 minutes and the flavours intensify...and then sliced the lemon chicken for the kids to have for supper. They kept asking for more and more, it was so lemony and tasty with a tiny hint of ginger from the other bird.

I had the ginger chicken without the skin and with the sweet roast potato..how wonderful these were, with the golden, sticky sauce from the chicken clinging to them making them sweet and salty with a tiny bit of a crunch and then the soft centre. I served this for myself only as Brian is dancing on the dojo (and beering at the Burnbrae) and added some steamed broccoli. I highly recommend this simple, tasty dish and no sauce or melted butter was required as I spooned over a teaspoon of the delicious liquid from the chicken pan....a meld of lemon, salt and ginger. I'm a happy mum tonight.

Low Fat Fish n' Chips

Gosh, it's hot. The fish needed to be cooked tonight so the 'suitable for a sunny day salad' was put aside and the haddock was brought out. I didn't dip the fish in egg wash as I'd normally do, instead, I placed the fillets on the baking tray (on foil) and pressed the breadcrumbs onto the fish. The breadcrumbs were simply a slice of bread, blended with a sprinkling of salt, freshly ground black pepper and cayenne pepper. Two large fish fillets were coated with some breadcrumbs left over.

The sweet potato (I used half for Brian and I) was peeled and sliced into chip size; normally I'd do these chunky but tonight they were cut small so that they would cook quicker. I've spent the entire day at school courtesy of sports day and hardly had time for lunch; hunger was getting the better of me and the fridge was calling my name.

I poured over the potato chips a little drizzle of walnut oil, some freshly ground black pepper, salt, a little cayenne and a sprinkling of piri piri. I mixed it all together, placed it in an oven proof dish and roasted at 220 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes. Just keep your eye on them. Test if ready by sticking a fork in; it should be soft.

I then moved the dish from the top shelf to the one underneath and place the fish fillets on the top shelf. I turned the oven down to 200. After a further 10-12 minutes, it was ready. I served with some quickly made tartare (capers, parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper mixed into some light mayonnaise and stirred), some salad and bread and butter. Delicious. It made no difference that it wasn't deep fried or coated in egg first, this was simply tasty. Brian found the chips a bit too spicy...they were...so a bit easy with the piri piri and cayenne next time.

The kids are being fed at The Broons as they have a swimming pool and we don't...so bye bye, mum!