Oh, fudge!

I'm always more than a little surprised when I try out a new recipe and find that it actually works. I'm 'blessed' with such a lot of clumsiness and impatience that it's a miracle that some of my cooking attempts make it out of the kitchen and into people's mouths.

But there is always an exception to the rule and I'm really chuffed that my fudge-making efforts last week passed muster. It felt really nice to be able to give some delicious sugary treats to family and friends at the weekend.

Whoever said food is meant to be shared definitely knew what they were talking about!

Fudge Recipe: Makes A LOT!

410g (1 tin) evaporated milk
170g butter (I used salted, but unsalted will work just as well)
1/4 pint of milk (I used semi-skimmed)
1kg white granulated sugar

1. Melt the butter in a very large saucepan.
2. Add the sugar, milk and evaporated milk.
3. Turn the heat up high and whilst stirring continuously, boil the mixture rapidly until it becomes thick and syrup-ey. This can take up to 30 minutes (or longer if you have a crawling baby to keep an eye on!).
4. Drop half a teaspoon of the syrup into a glass of cold water. If the syrup holds it's shape and looks and feels like chewy toffee, it is ready to be removed from the heat.
5. Once removed from the heat, continue to stir vigourously while the mixture cools for 2-3 minutes.
6. Scrape the mixture into a large greased and lined cake or casserole dish.
7. Leave to cool for 2-3 hours, then cut into chunks, squares or cubes.

Enjoy!

What A Flapper

I normally really dislike the 'day before travelling'. We're due to go to my folks for Easter and today is the final day before we make the long journey up to their farm.

Normally, I get into a flap the day before, worrying about whether we've packed enough clothes for the baby and trying to make enough food to last the journey so we won't have to buy horrid service station sandwiches. I usually find myself doing endless rounds of laundry in the week leading up to Travel Day...telling myself that it is probably is a good idea to wash every single pair of socks and underwear, just in case 'something comes up' and we need to take it all.

Of, and of course we will want to come home to fresh, clean bedding and towels, so that'll all have to go in the the wash as well.

Yes indeed, I am not happy to leave my home until floors are washed, toilets are bleached and scrubbed and everything is dusted and shined. I think I'm being organised. Hubby thinks I'm nuts.

But today, I've decided to take Hubby's advice and chill out. He has gently reminded* me on many an occasion that taking it upon myself to spring clean the whole house simply because we're going away for a weekend is hardly a very Christian thing to do, since it only leaves me tired and irritable. Point taken. So today I have only been doing the necessary...with great results!

I've been a kitchen dweller this morning, baking some goodies to take for family and cooking up a soup for lunch with all the ingredients from the fridge that need to be gone by the time we get back. And it makes for quite a pleasant scene. I love a hour or two spent in the kitchen on a sunny day like today, glancing at the flowering lavender just outside the kitchen window.

It reminded me of a really lovely Scriptural quote from Job 37:14:

"Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God".

Life is so much better in slower motion...God says so!

So here's to another beautiful Spring day! Courtesy of Our Friend...



Hubby doesn't really do 'gentle' so this admonishment tends to lean towards something like; "Calm down, you're getting yourself in a flap...it's only a cake after all". Usually accompanied by a much wanted hug...he is the best.

Sugar Rush

Since we have relatives arriving tomorrow, I've had a bit of a manic week preparing for this weekend. Baking every day, lots of extra cleaning...it's been a bit tiring to say the least. In my over-ambition, I had even planned to take my cat Ginger to the vets for a de-flea and grooming session, until Hubby pointed out that this just might be a bit O.T.T. (In my defence, he is long-haired and very fond of muddy puddles...the cat that is, not Hubby!)

Still, the last cake is now in the oven and the place is looking ready for guests...which means tomorrow we can finally break out all the sugary treats hidden away in my cake tins!

Including these...an old favourite of mine that have come in really handy since I'm on a no chocolate diet for Lent. I need my sugar fix from time to time and these are just the ticket!

Banana Flapjack Recipe

80g brown sugar
100g butter
275g rolled oats
4 tbsp golden syrup
1 banana, very ripe

1. Over a low heat, melt the butter in a large saucepan.
2. Add the sugar and the golden syrup and stir well.
3. Mix in the oats and stir thoroughly.
4. Mash the banana and add, stirring well until the banana covers all of the mixture.
5. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 220c for about 10 minutes or until the mixture starts to turn golden brown.

Of Babies and Baking

Babies and baking don't mix well. And it seems that my baby in particular and baking really don't mix well.

Hubby and I are blessed with what is gently referred to as a 'high-need' baby. She is inquisitive, easily upset, very vocal and unwilling to sit or lie still for longer than a few minutes. She wants to do, see, hear and touch everything. Especially anything that I am doing, watching, listening to or holding. So when she's not being carried in her baby sling, she is dangling from my right hip as I attempt to do all kinds of household jobs one-handed. It makes for many a comical moment!

So it goes without saying that I don't get as much time to bake as I'd like. At the moment I'm lucky if I manage a baking session twice a week. So it is extra, extra nice when a half-hour opportunity presents itself and I'm able to try my hand at something new.

I love to bake bread, but with all the kneading, rising and kneading again, it's really not baby-friendly. So today I tried out a no yeast, almost no kneading recipe that really worked out well...it's amazing how much satisfaction can be gained from virtually zero effort!

This is one recipe I'll definitely be teaching my little girl when she's big enough to stand on a chair and hold a wooden spoon...

Martha's No Yeast Bread Recipe:

600g plain flour
15 fl oz water
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tbsp bicarbonate of soda

1. Mix dry ingredients together first in a large mixing bowl and then add the water.
2. Mix well until a dough is formed.
3. When ready, transfer the dough to a well-floured surface and knead for 2 -3 minutes, or until the dough is pliant and non-sticky. Add more flour if needed.
4. Shape into a round, measuring about 1 1/2 inches deep.
5. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200C/400F for about 40 minutes.

A Loaf for Lent!

This is a great recipe for Lent as it is fairly plain as well as inexpensive to make. It's also a perfect alternative to the average fat-laden breakfast muffin.

It has no chocolate, no icing, no butter and no cream...I admit I'm not making it sound terribly nice. But trust me, it is!

Bran Loaf Recipe:

Serve with butter, low-fat spread or jam. Or just eat it plain.

75g Kelloggs All-Bran cereal
165g self raising flour
175g dried mixed fruit
120g light brown soft sugar
300ml milk
A few teaspoons of nutmeg and cinnamon.

1. Place the cereal, mixed fruit, sugar and milk in a large mixing bowl and leave for about 90 minutes.
2. Once the mixture has gone really soggy, pre-heat the oven to 150oC and grease a 1 lb loaf tin with plenty of butter (I find it best NOT to line the tin with greaseproof paper as it can stick very hard to the loaf.)
3. Next, sieve the flour into the mixture and mix thoroughly.
4. Add the nutmeg & cinnamon and mix.
5. Spoon the mixture into the tin and bake in the oven for about 90 minutes.

And you're done!

Sweets For My Sweetie

It's nearly St. Valentine's Day! A day for red roses, big pink heart balloons, cuddly toys and over-sized cards.

And in this house, it is definitely a day for chocolate. (Especially as Lent is coming up so soon...this is the last chance for 6 weeks!)

So in the spirit of all things sweet and romantic, here is a recipe given to me by my lovely little sister.

Happy Valentine's Day!


Rocky Road Recipe

1.4 kg milk chocolate
8 chocolate bars (any kind will do!), roughly chopped
180g Maltesers
100g dried apricots, chopped
100g raisins
100g marshmallows
100g cornflakes
100g chocolate sprinkles

1. Melt the milk chocolate and the chocolate bars (but not the Maltesers) in a large bowl over hot water.
2. Weigh all the dry ingredients, except the chocolate sprinkles.
3. When the chocolate is melted, stir in the dry ingredients until they are fully coated.
4. Line a lasagne-style dish with cling film and then pour in mixture.
5. Smooth over with a tablespoon and put chocolate sprinkles on top.
6. When the mixture has completely cooled, place in the refrigerator and leave overnight. Do not place the mixture in the fridge whilst still warm.

Carrot Cake

Yesterday was baking day. I'm rather too proud of the way this cake turned out as I had adapted and changed the recipe somewhat. I'm still such a novice when it comes to cake making that the little success I have feels like a bigger deal than it is.



Coffee and cake is a classic combination and one I am probably too fond of (Too proud and too fond..not selling my good points here am I?!)

Still...a few pieces of cake can't hurt now and then.

And besides, this cake is a health-food cake...it has carrots in it!


Carrot Cake Recipe:

225g soft brown sugar
225g self-raising flour
225g butter
4 eggs
2-3 medium sized carrots, grated
Juice of 1 lemon OR orange

1. Cream the butter and sugar until smooth.
2. Beat in the eggs and mix well.
3. Add the grated carrots and mix well again.
4. Add the lemon/orange juice.
5. Sift in the flour and mix well.


Bake in a pre-heated oven at 150 degrees C for about 90 minutes in a deep cake tin (I use a cake tin about 4 inches deep). It makes for a very tall, but very delicious cake! Perfect sliced in two halves with vanilla buttercream in the middle.