You can bake bread in a slow cooker. You really can and, honestly, if I hadn't tried it myself I would never have believed it. Firstly, just make up a batch of bread dough: I used a packet because that's how I roll: all pre-measured and quick to knock up. Now I read on this site that you need to leave the dough to rest before putting it in the cooker. I didn't. I lined the Crock Pot with a sheet of baking paper and bunged in the dough. I … [Read more...]
{Vitamix} Zabaglione Semi-freddo
After the victory of custard and curd in the Vitamix, I wondered if you would be able to make Zabaglione in the Vitamix. So I tried. I made zabaglione a long time ago and just used the recipe as a base. I put all the ingredients in the Vitamix and ran it on full for about ten minutes. Sadly the result was not what I had hoped. But every cloud has a silver lining as they say. As was true in this case. I added about 150ml double cream to the … [Read more...]
Chocolate cake made with coke- Sprite with Stevia Challenge
Every time I see the word Stevia I giggle: it's close enought to DH's name to make me giggle. In the same way that I get excited when I see number plates that feature the initials of the people I know. I'm like that. So when Sprite- now with Stevia- sent us some to try, I had to struggle to compose myself. New Sprite has the same great taste but 30% fewer calories, making my lager shandy on a sunny day better for me than before. Of course … [Read more...]
Finnish Sandwich Cake
Last year as part of Around the World in 12 Dishes, we visited Sweden, made a delicious cake and some floral crowns. Given the proximity of Sweden and this month's country- Finland- and the similarities in traditional foods and crafts, I could just have pointed you to those this month. But instead, I got in touch with a former employer and Finn, and bring you the Finnish Sandwich Cake. Apparently this is a traditional dish that is 'a staple, … [Read more...]
{Vitamix} St Clements Syllabub
Once I made Custard in the Vitamix, I found a recipe for Vitamix lemon curd and had a try. It turned out to be disappointingly runny. Undeterred, I used a tub of double cream to make a St Clement's Syllabub. St Clement's, from recollection, is a drink made of orange juice mixed with bitter lemon. I recall that one of my aunts used to drink it when she visited us in Cyprus when I was a child. I thought she was desperately elegant and a … [Read more...]
Which Came First Chicken and Egg Pie
After the #margaritaparty I had a reasonable amount of Chicken Salad left over. It really is quite delicious and I wanted to find a way to use it. So I grabbed pastry and eggs and made a Chicken and Egg pie, a twist on the traditional bacon and egg pie, which I call the Which Came First Pie. To make it, I used the ring moulds I have from my catering days but you could make them in a dish if you wanted. I cut out pastry circles using a … [Read more...]
{Review} Vitamix Cocktails and Board Games Party
I had every intention of making things ahead of time for my Vitamix #margaritaparty, but my day went a little like this: 7am wake up late. Rush to get Girls ready for school. Remember car is at garage so call friend to take us to school. 7.55am leave house. Remember Tesco delivery on the way to school. Realise phone is where I left it next to my rapidly cooling cup of coffee. 8.35am get back to house post school run to find a note from … [Read more...]
