Coffee and chocolate

Lemon_Tree

yay to getting a cooker in and running, that must feel so fab, shame you didn't get to christen it though.

miggy

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

yay to getting a cooker in and running, that must feel so fab, shame you didn't get to christen it though.

Well I kind of thought that but on the other hand - I get to play with it a lot next week. Plus - he only did chips, whereas I can put the cooker through its paces and try out various things, budget permitting.

More expenses this evening! £7.50 to replace an extension cable that's become unsafe and about another £4 for some bacon and bits we had forgotten.

Earlyish night tonight as I'm working tomorrow night, but that's a one-off.

Lemon_Tree

very true you'll be able to really put it through it's paces and cook some lovely tasty things, don't forget your friends on here when you get to the cakes and biccies.

miggy

I will admit some of the overspend was baking stuff. Yesterday I made a crumble using some apples from the neighbour's tree (he offered, before you assume ) and some blackberries from the depths of the freezer.

I cooked it at the bottom of the oven simply because the top was full, so it took longer than normal but other than that the oven seems to be working as it should.

A virtual bake for my friends on here sounds like a very good idea so please help yourself from the selection of Victoria sponge (jam and cream of course), cheese straws, Yorkshire Fat Rascals and ginger biscuits. I am now worn out from virtual baking and am going to put my feet up.

miggy

Spent quite a lot on food today - feeding six - but not on anything else.

I have discovered the drawback of a new cooker - extra time spent trying to keep it looking in showroom condition!

Lemon_Tree

i wonder how long it will be in show room condition, mine didn't last that long if i remember correctly.

what are Yorkshire fat rascals? i lived there for 10 years or so and haven't heard of them but then that doesn't mean anything.

miggy

This is the most famous source of Fat Rascals that I know. They are like scones only better.

My recipe is a bit different but still yummy (and being h/m, is comparatively MS):

Yorkshire Fat Rascals

8 oz (225g) flour (add 2 level tsp baking powder if using plain flour)
pinch of salt
1.5 oz (45g) soft light brown sugar
4 oz (100g) butter or margarine, slightly softened
3 to 4 oz (75-100g) currants
milk to mix.

Seive the dry ingredients and rub in butter.
Add currants to make a firm dough. Handle dough as little as possible.
Roll out till half and inch thick (about 1.5 to 2cm).
Cut into large rounds and sprinkle with sugar. You can glaze with milk or beaten egg if you like. Bake at approx 200C for 15 minutes.

Serve buttered. If I remember rightly the shop version has different fruit and is lightly spiced but my recipe never had that. I don't think it's a hard and fast law, though: just use what fruit you have in!
Makes 10 or 12.

miggy

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

i wonder how long it will be in show room condition, mine didn't last that long if i remember correctly.

what are Yorkshire fat rascals? i lived there for 10 years or so and haven't heard of them but then that doesn't mean anything.

I now think showroom condition is over-rated.

Whereabouts in Yorkshire did you live? I'm fairly far north, but originally hail from (glances round and drops voice to a whisper) the other side of the Pennines. Love it here though.

miggy

I have just done a T*sco order on Mum's behalf, and remembered to check her account for forgotten Clubcard points - which ended up paying for most of the order. Nice.

There were also some details about another clubcard in her name - but I haven't got it and there aren't enough details on the website for me to find out more, such as how many points she has on it. I have a feeling I know where it is, but I'm going to have to ask someone to look and see if it can be posted to me. I had no idea it was there - I suppose I must have set it up for her years ago, applied it to her online account (where it's been accruing points) and got her another which I'd forgotten was a second one and have been using for bits of shopping on the way to visit her.

I also had a nice surprise regarding her benefits which partly counteracts the not-so-nice one that she isn't entitiled to all she's been getting. I double checked and it's true. Now I have to chase up a letter that's been sent to me saying she can't have Attendance Allowance. Now I cancelled that a year ago when she was in hospital as it has to stop after 28 days. Apparently, however, she may have been receiving Pension Credit, to which she isn't entitled and which will probably have to be paid back. However, the letter I have states she shouldn't be receiving AA... but she isn't and she hasn't been. Do they mean PC? Apparently that can be paid as part of AA and so I suppose might be known as such. Wish they'd make themselves clearer! (*Mutter, mutter*)

Well, it's late/early and tomorrow is busy. Piano lesson first, then visit to Mum, then working in the evening. Hope I can get to sleep. Doing nights sure messes that up.

miggy

Forgot to say: I checked my own Clubcard statement and found there are vouchers totalling £9 soon to go out of date. Went to print them out and... where is the printer cable?! Grrr!

Someone please remind me at a saner time of day that I need to track it down.