Inspired by the Great British Bake Off, Jason and I decided to make Mary Berry's treacle tart, one of the technical challenges in this years series. I think our pastry lattice on the top worked out quite well, although some team work was needed in maneuvering lattice on top of the treacle breadcrumb mix.
It's the first tart I've ever made where you don't blind bake the pastry case before adding the filling, but it worked, and there was no soggy bottom to be seen!
We had the tart with ice cream one night and custard the next, and custard won hands down, but that might of had something to do with the drop in temperature!
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We've not been down to Bournemouth beach in such a long time, on Saturday we took full advantage of the glorious weather and went for a stroll towards Hengistbury Head (didn't quite make it) there were so many dogs enjoying the beach, although not many braving the icy cold water . . .
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Another weekend, another baking session . . . this time chicken and bacon pie, with a little help from Jason with the white sauce (something I've never been quite able to master!)
Before baking - we had some spare pastry leftover so Jason helped me decorate the pie, I left it up to him to decide what cutters to use, no surprises with the dinosaur one!
. . . and after - I usually brush the pastry with milk, but this time I opted for beaten egg which gave a much better glazed finish. I then used the leftover egg in a sponge pudding, 'waste not, want not' I say!
Next weekend . . . treacle tart, yum!
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After the hectic-ness of this week we decided to head to the calm, relaxing and tranquil setting of Brockenhurst, getting some much needed exercise and fresh air on our 6 mile walk/adventure through the New Forest.
Everything started well, we actually managed to head off in the right direction! And then half way round we hit the cattle farm, where there was a river of deep mud and cow pat covering the alleged 'path', okay if you're wearing wellies but as we were in clean walking shoes it was somewhat of a challenge navigating our way through the 100 metres of poop covered track. However, it was made all the more entertaining by the group of elderly ramblers that we'd recently passed attempting the same mud assault course with varying degrees of success/failure, all whilst one of the owners stood by and watched in her wellies, and her other half whizzing off on a quad bike down the very same track with no offer of a lift!
Despite one minor detour, a very late lunch and being thoroughly exhausted by the time we completed the route, it was just what we needed and have vowed to go on more walks.
Brockenhurst is a beautiful place, complete with village butcher, green grocer, bakery, pub and tea shops a-plenty it's the quintessential village location. It's somewhere I would love to live, namely in this thatched cottage . . .
All of the houses in the New Forest either have cattle grids at the end of the drive or are gated to stop any roaming cows, pigs or ponies from wandering in and eating all of your garden, however they do still try . . .
Wild mushrooms growing in one of the many woodlands we walked through . . .
One of the many wild New Forest ponies, although it was happy to come and say hello whilst we figured out where we were on the map . . .
Beautiful Oak woodland at the end of the walk.
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A Sunday afternoon spent taking a stroll along Poole Quay, beautiful weather . . .
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Whenever I read about Renegade craft fairs I always want to pack up my suitcase, head off to the airport, and jump on the first plane heading for one of the five America based sunny locations. However, I've recently learned that the fair has come to the UK, London to be more precise.
Unfortunately I've missed this years fair, but have already penciled in a reminder in my diary for next years, I'm determined to make it!
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It's been quite a while since I posted anything on here, and that has been due to the most horrendous stomach upset that I had all of last week and the beginning of this, so I've been curled up on the sofa and in bed, asleep and BORED!
And thus explains the absence of posts . . . however this week I took full advantage of feeling better, and did lots of baking. When I was ill all I kept craving was a slice of cake, so it was nice to finally quench my cakey thirst.
Jason made some tasty white Chocolate & Cranberry cookies as well as some Sultana & Oatmeal ones, which were devoured before I even had a chance to whip my camera out. We've planned to make them again as Christmas presents, so a few more trial runs may be needed before giving them as gifts, and hopefully next time I'll be able to take some pictures.
Next on our list was a Cinnamon & Raisin Loaf cake, I was a little sceptical to making this at first as I'm not a massive fan of raisins and there was also an awful lot of cinnamon in the recipe, but I was pleasantly surprised it tasted really good.
The loaf is made up of two batters, one with cinnamon and the other without. You put the plain mixture in the tin first, and then add the cinnamon one in on top and swirl them together to get the marbled pattern on the inside when you cut into it.
Next time I think we need to be a bit more adventurous in our swirling as it's not quite marbled as much as we'd hoped . . .
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I received this lovely bouquet from work for my help at last weeks conference, such a lovely surprise . . .
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