weezl and friends Phase 4 - recipe testing christmas treats!

Allegra

Well, I have pretty much reached my limit today, and although the pizza dough remains unmade, the cheese ungrated, and the yule log did not get a look-in, I am really quite pleased with what we managed to achieve today - still a bit sad that my lon-planned testing of the Christmas week had to be truncated, but I am still in with a chance of at least testing each recipe once, which is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, at any rate

In the meantime, here are some of the fruits of my efforts:

Halloween Decs









DD making spider cupcakes:



The finished spider cupcakes:



And the brownies:



Regarding the brownies - I am not much of a dark chocolate lover, and will always go for milk first, but here the dark wins hands down - this version is sooooo much nicer than the half milk one I tried first, and that was nice enough as it was

Off to make salmon pasta in a mo, bon appetit to all who are joining in with it tonight :T

Allegra

And salmon pasta piccies now:

The sauce, cooking:



Dish served up:



I found it, once again, hard to finish, but really nice to eat (and I don't even like fish ) - !!!!!! thought it was too creamy. We're not used to posh food like that anymore, see....

shanks77

Hi folks well the pasta went down well here again. We have tried it before and enjoyed it then as well. I needed to use more liquid than specified but that was not a big deal. Also same as last time we put in a splash of lemon juice which we both felt lifted the dish a bit and made it not so rich so might be worth trying if you find it too creamy. We didnt have the bread with it either as a) there wasnt enought sauce and b) though we are both big eaters there is no way we could have eaten bread with that size of portion. Very yummy though and quick and easy to do. Looking forward to the meal tomorrow not looking forward to all the prep. Will be interested to hear how the rest of you get on.
Allegra those cakes looked really good might be round to trick or treat you myself. If I leave now should make it on time lol

hornetgirl

Hello Weezl and all. Apologies that I am not around so much these days, but am still following you avidly, and delighted to see a new thread.
I made the brownies again today - purely in the interests of research of course! This time I used the reduced sugar/increased flour combination and we found the level of sweetness much more to our liking. I also used Sainsbury's basics chocolate this time around, and am pleased to report that it works just as well.
Brilliant tip about cutting the sausages for the toad in the hole - I'm going to give that a try next week.
Sorry to hear you've been feeling poorly Allegra. Hope you're on the mend now. Have a suitably spooky hallowe'en - your decs and treats look fab

nopot2pin

Boodle wrote: »

and two young girls (currently ill with chicken pox! :O

I know its not CFR related .... I had chicken pox a few years back. It was one of the most painful things I have ever endured
Many nights I had to have a cool bath, at ridiculous times, to ease the pain.
Something that helps, is putting a good cupful of oats into a sock, or the feet of a pair of tights, tied to secure, and let it hang under the warm/cool running water of a bath.
I dont know how the oaty bath works to relieve your skin, but it really does help

Allegra.. the spider cakes look fantastic:D.
Hope you are feeling better soon... not 100% myself today...same sicky feeling


Good Luck to all the testers
I may follow you all this week, if I get a chance, in amoungst the decorating

MadDogWoman_2

Potty,

When my DD had chickenpox last year she had a nightly oat bath, she was that comfy she didn't want to get out, was coated head to foot in aloe vera, sprayed her collodial silver, she has very little scaring, I did also give her regular doses of Calpol when it was at its worst.

I'm not joining in the Mockmas tomorrow, out at a party and I'm currently in the middle of baking 300 biscuits. I've bought a beef brisket to go in my slow cooker for tea tomorrow.

The Toad in the Hole is very popular in the MDW house as are the brownies.

weezl74

good morning, I think I'm the only one aiming for the pork to be served at lunchtime? So I won't be particularly good company for anyone.

But an update none-the -less. Ok so we got up, ready to put the slocooker on with the pork in at 8, I have also put the apple juice for the pork gravy into the SC to absorb the lovely meaty juices.

Last night I made the sponge base for the roulade and a buttercream filling, explanation of this deviation to follow....

So, I haven't done the printing out yet but i FINK I'm now behind-hand by maybe an hour on my timings according to the timings guide. However I have a lovely sous-chef, and forgiving guests so I remain hopefull for a sprint finish Just going to make the mushroom soup

See ya in a bit.

Oh tip one for shirl, do not attempt to entertain your toddler with the licking of chocolatey spoons.


Especially if you have white walls.

That is all.

xxx

weezl74

ok mushroom soup on now. Smells gorgeous

Potatoes being prepped now. I am doing more than stated as we have 4 adults and 2 littlies.

weezl74

it's to be hoped Bob is a swifter sous-chef than my lovely DH.

Am firing out orders in manner of Marco Pierre-white. However his knife skills are not so quick and the retort of 'YES CHEF' not forthcoming....

Apricot

Im joining you with getting the pork ready for lunchtime Weezl - can't remember the last time I was up so early on a Sunday! Seems to be going ok so far - am now off to test waffles in the sandwich toaster. Will be back in a bit with my results!