Family, food, travel, gin and a touch of hysteria…
Currently Browsing: FOOD
Posted by
English Mum |
Jan 27th, 2012
A healthier blueberry and lemon loaf
So the weekend was somewhat traumatic. I won’t fill you in on all the events, but needless to say being trapped in a packed train carriage all the way from Shepherds Bush while the three teenagers I was escorting serenaded their fellow commuters with loud renditions of My Horse is Amazing (seriously – don’t bother watching it, it’s that bad) and then being politely told that we were,...
Posted by
English Mum |
Jan 19th, 2012
George’s perfect chocolate brownies
Moving swiftly on from healthy eating, then, we must remember there are those of us at English Towers (the gangly, floppy haired ones and the skatery types) that still want a little something after school or dinner and demand treats, preferably piled up in an ungainly, chocolatey tower when doing A level revision.
This, and I don’t say this lightly, is my best chocolate brownie recipe ever. I make it...
Posted by
English Mum |
Jan 19th, 2012
Review: hellofresh.co.uk
Did you watch the Sport Relief version of the Great British Bakeoff? I was actually quite struck by how, if you don’t cook much, it’s actually quite difficult to get your head around it (case in point: Arlene Phillips not knowing that you had to line a pastry-filled tart tin before pouring in the baking beans). The same goes for healthy eating, really – if you want to move away from chucking...
Posted by
English Mum |
Jan 16th, 2012
Healthier baking – a bit of sciencey stuff, and a great recipe for banana, oat and honey muffins
Okay so not exactly science… just baking jiggery pokery really.
First, can I say that I’m not a fan of processed low-fat ANYTHING. If I’m going to spread butter on my bread it’s going to be butter (Yeo Valley out of preference), and nothing remotely low-fatty or weirdly whipped with water.
Still, it’s the New Year and while I love my cakey buns, I’m determined to shed...
Posted by
English Mum |
Jan 3rd, 2012
In which English Towers becomes a gin-free zone
So after all my moany, whiny protestations, English Dad actually DID buy me underwear for Christmas (sorry, lonnnnjjjjherrrieeee, you have to say it right). It was very pretty, not too thongy, and actually really nice.
I tried it on.
In front of him.
There was some levering. Actually, there was quite a lot of levering. And a bit of sweating. And a bit of unsightly overspill. Quite a lot, if I’m...
Posted by
English Mum |
Dec 24th, 2011
Apple, red onion and chestnut stuffing
Probably a bit late with this one, but as I was making my stuffing this morning I made a few tweaks to my last recipe and thought you might like it – apologies if yours is already shopped for and made! We like a lot of stuffing and this quantity will fill a decent-sized terrine with a little left over, which I roll into little balls and bake separately, but feel free to halve it if there’s only...
Posted by
English Mum |
Dec 23rd, 2011
Gorgeous port and cranberry sauce
So yes you can rush out and buy a jar of cranberry sauce, but it’s equally easy to rush out and buy pack of cranberries, and this yummy sauce will not only adorn your Christmas plate with its gorgeousness, but also scent your home so delightfully it could put Yankee Candles to shame. You can use all port if you haven’t got any Cointreau (English Dad got a bit sniffy about me using his posh Taylor’s,...
Posted by
English Mum |
Dec 22nd, 2011
Everything you need to know about spiced and glazed Christmas ham – small or big!
To skip all the waffle and just get to the recipe, feel free to scroll down.
It will be no surprise to you when you hear me say that I love Christmas. LOVELOVELOVE Christmas! But often I find that Christmas recipes involve huge amounts of food. There’s generally only the four of us for Christmas lunch, plus maybe my Mum, so to turn to Nigella’s Christmas book and find her recipe for Christmas ham...
Posted by
English Mum |
Dec 18th, 2011
Jaffa Cake Christmas Trees
So you’re going to love this. No, really, it’s a winner.
How about…
Home made jaffa cakes? Wait… wait…
In the shape of Christmas trees!
I know, right?
If, like me, you’re now wild with excitement (or even if you’re not) do have a go at making these little beauties. They taste absolutely fab and can be made in normal paper fairy cake wrappers if you’re not imbued with quite as much Christmas...
Posted by
English Mum |
Dec 17th, 2011
Icing your Christmas cake: the marzipan and fondant icing layers
Okay so last time we saw your Christmas cake it was stashed somewhere wrapped in parchment or foil and being occasionally sloshed with a bit of booze. Now it’s time for the final push… the decoration!
Making your own marzipan (or almond paste) is really easy. There are recipes everywhere so I won’t bore you with that bit. You can also pick up a block of marzipan at your local supermarket....
