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50p a day til Christmas - healthily?! Weezl's next challenge...
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Hi All
Just had a wonderful weekend. Early spring, temperatures aound 15 degrees C.
We live on the coast - with about 20 kms of uninhabited beach to play on. Took grandson for a walk this am, seals frolicking in the breakers, and grandson dissolved into giggles at the idea that seagulls have red legs! Great to see nature through the eyes of the young.
Anyway, back on topic, re query on cordials.
I have been making cordials, wine, liqueur and spirits for many years, so if you tell me which fruit you have a surplus of, I can post some recipes.
Cheers
Jennie0 -
MRSMCAWBER wrote: »I Have a couple of xmas x stitches yet to be started.. a xmas wreath and one of santa in the form of a stamp
I fancy doing some x-stitch for xmas, even popped into sewing shop yesterday but they didn't have any, but I don't know what to do with them after I've finished IYSWIM. Do you put them in a frame or something or just scatter them around the house as coaster-thingys or what? I really would like to have some personal home made decorations around but haven't got the creativity to know how to go about it!!! Advice gratefully received!0 -
Morning all
Bunny... Thats the thing that makes it so difficult to start my big xmas pictures.. I will frame them but then they will only come out for a month or so every year
Perhaps something like these would be of interest...
http://www.sewandso.co.uk/cgi-bin/find/db.cgi?db=zoom&do=search_results&Prod_Code=49464&ww=1
Because they are sewn on plastic it may be easier to start with.. If you just put "decorations" into the search in that site -it brings up loads :T
If you pick ones that have named threads -DMC/anchor etc then you can always buy extra thread and plastic and make more using the patterns in the kit
.... If it just says "branded thread" you can't always do that .. and Dimensions kits have their own threads to stop you doing a chart twice or passing it on (unless you are like me and can match the threads using a shade card :rotfl: ),,,
I'm waiting to see if they do a clearance after xmas -then I will pounce ready for next year .. I have my eye on some of the old traditional ones.. im knitting little stockings to hang on the tree this year (really simple they are too)..so old fashioned/traditional ones will go with them 
hope that helps..just give me a yell if i can help with anythign else -6 -8 -3 -1.5 -2.5 -3 -1.5-3.50 -
Xmas cake
cuts into 16 slices
pre-heat oven to 150c 130fan gas 2
grease and line a 20cm / 8" round cake tin
also tie a double layer of greaseproof around the outside to prevent burning (i don't do this bit and if i did I would use newspaper )- 280g sultanas
- 280g raisins
- 280g currants
- 175g glace cherries
- 175g mixed peel -I use extra cherries instead
- 150ml brandy or rum (i use allsorts..port, rum, brandy, kirsch)
- 2tbs sherry -again use what you have
- 2tbs orange juice -ditto-seems a shame to dilute the alcohol :rotfl:
- 225g SR flour
- 85g ground almonds
- 1 heaped tsp mixed spice
- 1tsp ground nutmeg
- 1tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2tsp ground cloves
- 225g butter -room temp
- 225g dark muscavado sugar
- 6 eggs
- zest n juice 1 large unwaxed lemon (or scrub a normal lemon in warm water with a nail brush;) )
- Place all the fruit and alcohol/juice in a plastic/glass air tight container and leave in a cool place for at least 1 month (stirring weely and adding a drop more alcohol if they look dry) once plum and well soaked make the cake :-
- blitz 2/3 of the fruit until fairly smooth and the last 3rd blitz only briefly to keep some bite -I use a stick blender in teh soaking tub (saves washing and you have better control .. just plonk it in and out until some is smooth and some coarse/whole
- Sieve the flour into a big bowl, add the almonds and spices -again I sieve/add them into the fruit (less washing again :rotfl: )
- Mix into the fruit mix -it will be very stiff but don't worry
- in a seperate bowl (couldn't get away without using an extra bowl here
)cream the butter and sugar with an electric hand whisk until light n fluffy - beat in the eggs one by one
- stir into the fruit mix bit by bit
- add the lemon juice and zest
- tip the mixture into a the tin and smooth (i always make a dip in the centre -it will raise with a flatter top that way )
- bake for 1 1/2hrs
- reduce the heat to 140c 120fan gas 1 and bake for a further 3-3 1/2hrs (4hrs in a gas cooker)
- insert a skewer into the middle and when done it should come out clean (be carefull not to overcook)
- If I find the top is browning to quickly..I put a folded newspaper on top -sitting on the raised up bit of the tin lining -it protects it :T cool slightly then remove from the tin and cool -again I always place it upside down to cool -so that the nice flat bottom ends up being the top of your cake -much easier to decorate
- once cold wrap in a double layer of greaseproof then wrap in foil until ready to ice .
- It can be stored for 3 months -but poke holes in with a skewer and feed it with alcohol every couple of weeks -keeping wrapped and in a cool dark place inbetween
... they do mention making it into smaller cakes to give away.. but no details... but im sure it would just be a case of sticking in a skewer and playing it by ear... oohhh saying that... before you need to start sticking skewers in your cake ..you can listen to it and if its "singing" its not done ..Put your ear near it and if you hear it squeaking and hissing (singing) its not done :rotfl:
if anyone needs anything clarifying let me know -6 -8 -3 -1.5 -2.5 -3 -1.5-3.50 -
CAKES SINGING:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
HAVE YOU BEEN SNIFFING THE FUMES OFF THE FRUIT MIXTURE:D 0 -
walmerstores wrote: »CAKES SINGING:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
HAVE YOU BEEN SNIFFING THE FUMES OFF THE FRUIT MIXTURE:D
Oooohhhhh I remember that from when my dear departed mum used to make xmas cake when I was a kid, I'd forgotten all about that. I'm all nostalgic now..... did anyone else have to make a wish and stir the mixture anti-clockwise or was that just my mums little trick? Gonna do that with my LOs this year!!0 -
MRSMCAWBER wrote: »Morning all
Bunny... Thats the thing that makes it so difficult to start my big xmas pictures.. I will frame them but then they will only come out for a month or so every year
Perhaps something like these would be of interest...
http://www.sewandso.co.uk/cgi-bin/find/db.cgi?db=zoom&do=search_results&Prod_Code=49464&ww=1
Because they are sewn on plastic it may be easier to start with.. If you just put "decorations" into the search in that site -it brings up loads :T
If you pick ones that have named threads -DMC/anchor etc then you can always buy extra thread and plastic and make more using the patterns in the kit .... If it just says "branded thread" you can't always do that .. and Dimensions kits have their own threads to stop you doing a chart twice or passing it on (unless you are like me and can match the threads using a shade card :rotfl: ),,,
I'm waiting to see if they do a clearance after xmas -then I will pounce ready for next year .. I have my eye on some of the old traditional ones.. im knitting little stockings to hang on the tree this year (really simple they are too)..so old fashioned/traditional ones will go with them
hope that helps..just give me a yell if i can help with anythign else
Thanks for that, will give them a proper look, quick glance says thats what I need, give me something to do between now and xmas!0 -
Oooohhhhh I remember that from when my dear departed mum used to make xmas cake when I was a kid, I'd forgotten all about that. I'm all nostalgic now..... did anyone else have to make a wish and stir the mixture anti-clockwise or was that just my mums little trick? Gonna do that with my LOs this year!!
See Im not the only fruit loop around here :rotfl:
My mum used to make wedding cakes etc and she taught me about the singing cake -just watch you don't stick your ear on the tin :eek: have done that more than once before :rotfl:
my mum is still one of the the best cooks I know :T
Oooh on another topic I have just ordered some veggies seeds from that organic sight lesley mentioned :T ...got a bit carried away with tomatoes ..but with how the veg prices are going I think they will more than earn my money back -6 -8 -3 -1.5 -2.5 -3 -1.5-3.50 -
morning all,
Been increasing what I can face eating thankfully, so thought you might like some breakdowns and costings...
Brekkie - Muesli 8p
Lunch - jacket potato, salad cream and home grown toms 11p
snack - 4 rice cakes and marmalade 12p
dinner - chilli and rice 42p
total 73p:D. Perhaps soon I won't be needing Fergus's share!!!
:hello:Jonathan 'Fergie' Fergus William, born 05/03/09, 7lb 4.4oz:hello:
Benjamin 'Kezzie' Kester Jacob, born 18/03/10, 7lb 5oz:)
cash neutral gifts 2011, value of purchased gifts/actual paid/amount earnt to cover it £67/£3.60/£0
january grocery challenge, feed 4 of us for £400 -
Have you got the address of the veg site?;)0
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