Easter Cake Recipe

                                                                                      

I have just made these  mini-cakes to sell at a Church Bake Sale.They were very popular and sold out fast.Some people remarked they liked them better than the in your face Easter Eggs that are being pushed at a us at the moment especially for adults.I use small cake tins and  6 inch silver boards and finish the tops with mini- easter eggs , a little chicken and some yellow ribbon.Gingham ribbon also looks nice.The cake is slighty spicy and has a delicious centre of marzipan.

This recipe makes 3 mini round cakes and 1 in a 1lb loaf tin.I line the tins with ready cut liners and a drop of Cake Release.

For the Cake
100g ( 4 oz) red glace cherries
225g (8oz ) butter 
225g (8 oz) golden caster sugar
4 large eggs
225 g (8 oz) self-raising flour
275g(14oz)  mixed dried  fruit(sultanas,currants, citrus peel)
grated rind 2 lemons
2 level teaspoons mixed spice

For the filling and topping

2 packets of bought golden marzipan (500g/1lb) x 2
3 tablespoons apricot jam
beaten egg to glaze
mini easter eggs


Method

1.Pre- heat oven to 150fan/130C/Gas 2
2.Line the cake tins 
3.Divide one block of the marzipan into 4 and roll out to the same size as the  cake tins
4.Cut the cherries into quarters, rinse under a hot tap then dry on kitchen paper.
5. Put all the cake ingredients into a large bowl and beat until well mixed.
6.Put half the mixture into the tins
7.Place the rolled out marzipan on top of the mixture.Then put the rest of the cake mixture on top of the marzipan.
8.Bake in the oven until well  risen and golden brown. about 1 to 1 and a half hours.
9. Cool on a wire rack and leave in the tin for 15 minutes before gently turning out. Run a sharp knife around the inside edge if the cake seems to be sticking.Remove the baking parchment
10.When the cake is cold brush the top with the warmed apricot jam.Roll out the other block of marzipan to fits the tops of the cakes--do this on a little caster sugar.Fit the marzipan on top of the cakes and crimp the edges.
Brush the marzipan topping with beaten egg .brown the top either under a hot grill or use a chef's blow torch.
Decorate with the mini eggs , ribbon , fluffy chickens.The eggs can be stuck down with little icing sugar paste or edible glue as used by cake decorators.

This recipe will also  fill a 20cm (8 inch) cake tin if you want one large cake.Bake this size for 2 a half hours.







                                           

Classic BBC Radio Theme ~ Housewives' Choice

   If you remember this tune then you will probably remember WW2 ,Suez and The Three day week You know about emergencies.Check my Brexit Planning List

Hard Brexit Shopping List

 

Hard  Brexit  Shopping List

As someone who remembers what emergencies are really like , WW2 ,Suez and the 3 Day week , I  am beginning to make a few adjustments to my shopping list as a Hard Brexit looms.I am just examining where my usual household products come from and buying a few more of things I do not want to be without. A lot are made in Europe.

The supermarkets will already have built up large stocks of non- perishables like pasta and canned food.It is perishable goods like salad ingredients and fruit from the Mediterranean that is likely to run short, this stuff cannot survive hours waiting around in the ports or delivery trucks waiting for inspections and forms to be filled in.In case this happens this I have ordered a mini greenhouse so I can grow salad leaves and a few strawberries

Paper based products coming from Scandinavia  could be a problem .

I shall make sure I get my repeat prescription to the pharmacy in good time.

So here goes with a basic list for people like me who do not have a huge amount of storage space  or unlimited funds to go on a spending spree.

• Toilet Paper and Kitchen Roll

• Tissues
• Laundry pods
• Dishwasher tablets
• Bottled Water
• Water purifying tablets
• Wind up radio and torch in case of power cuts
• Tea, Coffee
• Olive oil
• Frozen and canned fruit
• Mini greenhouse
• Seeds for mixed salads 

Click on the products below to see how to get them delivered to your door from Amazon

  

                                                                

Knee Replacement Surgery,What You Will Need at Home

 One Year After  Knee Replacement Surgery


It is exactly a year since I had total knee replacement surgery.I  am still using some of the home aids that I bought from Amazon, I had to buy online , I did not realise how much support I would need until I was in a hospital bed.I wish I had known before I had the operation that I would be in a lot of pain and would need home aids to facilitate using the shower and toilet,sitting comfortably,getting in and out of bed and getting up and down stairs.



Before You have The Surgery 

• Get several pairs of wide leg jogger bottoms.You will have a hefty bandage to start with and your knee will be swollen.Tight jeans or pants will not do.If it is winter have warm fabric.Sturdy shoes are imperative
• Consider an extra rail if you have stairs, Something to hang onto will give you more confidence.
• Grab handles in the shower are a must.If you do not want the expense of disturbing tiles aand plumbing get instant suction grabs. 
• A seat to go in the shower cubicle adds to your comfort
• Standing up after using the toilet  is suprisingly difficult and will be helped by purpose made aids

• A couple of frames are handy.Upstairs for help with dressing,downstairs if you want to do a few things standing in the kitchen.

Get all this set up before you have the surgery .Organize a food delivery system.You will not be able to drive, it was 4 months before I could drive safely so ask someone to drive you around or open an account with a taxi company to take you physiotherapy for example.

I bought and used all three of these products and found them all sturdy aand useful.It may soon be time to have my other knee replaced so I am glad that I have kept all of my aids.
I took major action over my bathroom.I realised that I could not climb into the big old fashioned bath or climb out of it unaided. I have now got a large walk in shower with a built in seat.
Sometimes we just have to accept that we are growing older and some adaptations to are homes are necessary.




                                                              

If you are about to have this surgery good luck and get organized.

STALE BREAD RECIPES

                                                                                            

We throw away more bread than any other left over food
Here are a couple of recipes from my mother's waste not want not style cookery books for you to try before you throw the remains of that loaf away.

Cheese Pudding 

4-6 slices stale white bread (100g,4oz)
25g (1oz) melted butter
2 eggs,beaten
300ml (half pint) milk 
salt and pepper
100g mature hard cheese (grated)

Method

Cut the bread into cubes and place in a 900ml (One and onehalf pint)ovenproof greased dish with the butter.Mix the eggs and milk, season well,and pour over the bread mixture.Sprinkle with the cheese.
Bake in the oven at 190C ,375F.Gas mark5 for about 30 minutes until golden and well risen.
Serve at once.

Good for a light lunch or supper.

 

Osborne Pudding 

4 slices of thin bread and butter (brown is good)
1 level tablespoon of caster sugar
400ml milk (3/4 pint)
2 large eggs
orange marmalade 

 Spread the bread and butter slices with marmalade and then cut into strips.Arrange marmalade side up in a greased ovenproof dish.
Heat the milk but do not boil it.Whisk the eggs lightly with the sugar in a basin and pour the warm milk onto them stirring all the time.
Strain the egg mixture over the bread and leave to stand for 15 minutes.
Bake in the oven 180C,350F.Gas mark4 for 30-40 minutes until set and lightly browned.

Lovely with some pouring cream or vanilla icecream.

I prefer the crusts left on the bread for a crispy finish.














                              

Hard Brexit Recipes

Salad Vegetables

 The foods most likely to be affected by a No Deal Brexit are the out of season salad ingredients like lettuce and tomatoes and cucumber during the winter months until home grown produce comes into season.Soft fruits like raspberries may be very expensive but at least it is possible to stock up with frozen fruit whereas  salad ingredients cannot be frozen and perish quickly.

 

I have some winter salad recipes using ingredients that are produced in the UK, the kind my mother used in the 1950s, which are not as easy to throw together as the bags of pre-prepared salad leaves that we are used to but are a good standby , they are also economical.

 

Winter Salad      

 

Half a small white cabbage

2 medium sized carrots

I small cooked beetroot

2-3 sticks celery

50g sultanas or raisins 

mayonnaise (or Heinz salad cream for a retro flavour)

 

1.Prepare and wash the salad ingredients and the sultanas

2.Using a sharp knife or food processor shred the cabbage.

3.Grate the carrot finely ,cut the beetroot and celery up into 1 cm pieces.keep the beetrot seperate from the other ingredients or it will stain them.

4.Put the shredded cabbage on a flat dish and arrange the other ingredients very neatly in rows on top.

5. Serve the mayonnaise separately

Celery and Apple Salad

1 heart of celery

2 thin slices of onion

3 crisp eating apples

juice of 1 lemon or french dressing made with lemon juice

salt and pepper

 

1.Wash the celery, cut into 1 cm cubes and put into a bowl

2.Chop the onion finely and add to the salad

3.Peel ,quarter and core the apples,cut into 1 cm cubes and add to the other ingredients.

4.Add the lemon juice and seasoning and gently mix thoroughly.

Serve in a glass bowl to accompany cold meats

                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tidying Up and De-cluttering

What do you really want to get rid of and why?

  This is your stuff. You may love it even if others do not. Do not be pushed into getting rid of things you would prefer to keep.

 

Clothes

  If you cannot close your wardrobe door and drawers this is time to say 'goodbye' to those ancient garments that you never wear because you are too fat and they are past it.

Throw away anything that has holes in or smells.

Better,clean stuff can go into those bags that charities put through your letter box or take them directly to a charity store.

 

Food

Stale biscuits, herbs and spices labelled pre 2018 and anything in the freezer or cupboards over 5 years old (and that is pushing it) must go.

 

Books

  Keep them, when family and friends borrow them do not ask for their return.Do a little research on finding out what they are worth on Amazon.You might be surprised and  make a little money selling them.

Photographs

  Keep them. Buy a good quality photo album,label and date them .This will form the basis of a family history which is entertaining  to bring out at family gatherings.

 

Personal Collections

These can be very decorative,they are your memories.There is no harm in a carefully arranged clutter. If your kids do not like it too bad. I have decided that I shall just die and they can order the skip.

                                                           

Two Hour House Cleaning Check List

                                                     

Cleaning is Cool

There is an obsession with house cleaning at the moment influenced by the Netflix series based on Marie Kondo's The Life Changing Magic of Cleaning Up.
I trained as a Home Economist back in the 1960s , a time when women were expected stay at home and devote their lives to house cleaning, cooking , bringing up baby and having a hot meal ready the minute your man walked through the door, all on a tight budget.There was about enough time for the occasional coffee morning or afternoon tea with a friend but  the daily clean was a dominant occupation of many women's lives. For a long time my job as a home economics teacher was to train girls to carry on this tradition .
Nothing wrong with the cooking part ,but constant cleaning, forget it.

My House Cleaning Check list- you should be able to do this in 2 hours.

•  No fit adult or child over 10 should expect another human being to flush away their poo from the loo , clean up their spittle and toothpaste from a washbasin or make their bed.
• Nag kids and partners until they understand this.

1. After breakfast put on a load of laundry,garments only on a short programme.
2. Put the dishes from breakfast into the dishwasher or wash by hand. 
3. Wipe kitchen surfaces.
4. Collect all trash in one large plastic bag and take out.
5. Collect all the towels from the bathroom(s).Spray  and wipe bathroom surfaces ,clean toilets.
6. Put first load of laundry to dry and replace with towels or linen on a hot wash.
7. Dust  main communal rooms if necessary and vacuum the floors.Open the windows while this is done.
8. Fold the dry laundry

Stop after 2 hours. Make your morning coffee, sit down , take a break and enjoy you clean home.

 Additional weekly jobs 

Mop the kitchen and bathroom floors. 

Check the fridge for stale food and wipe clean.

Vacuum stairs and bedrooms.

  Cleaning products for kitchen and bathroom floors

 Buy cleaning products that are fit for purpose and a large supply of soft cloths.These are some of my favourites.
This stuff is brilliant ,it cleans floors rapidly without the need for buckets and hot water.It is hard to find in supermarkets so I sent for the three pack as soon as I start to run out.



                                        



The bathroom 


                                         

                                                                                     

 Flash bathroom cleaner is great for a daily swipe around the toilet,washbasin and bath.Finish the shower with a good dose the shower spray while it is still wet after you have used it  and it will dry clean.
I live in a very hard water area which causes deposits on taps and shower heads. Use  Viakal  once a week to clear these annoying deposits.

Follow the instructions on the containers and only use the cleaners for the purpose for which they were intended. 

The Kitchen

                                                                                      

Use a degreaser like Dettol Power on kitchen surfaces, Flash for floor cleaning.

                                          

Communal room surfaces

   Specialist surface cleaners for wood, leather and glass give the best results.
     I have tried many spot carpet cleaners and prefer Dr Beckmann with the brush attached.




                                                                   


A daily cleaning routine will help you keep on top of things and mean that on difficult days you can leave things until you have more time.A tidy house makes for a calmer family.
 

Coffee and Cake

So good to sit in the warm kitchen when the temperature outside is below freezing and enjoy the remains of the Christmas cake  and a cup of coffee.

                                          

                                 

The Cake

Grandma's War ,No Sweets or Chocolate

There were virtually no sweets or candy for civilians  during WW 2 owing to the absence of sugar and the difficulty of importing cocoa beans.The troops deservingly seemed to have access to some of these things .When my father came home on leave from the army he would open his kit bag and share the stuff that he had saved up and we had all tiny amounts of Mars Bars and Fry's Chocolate Cream .Sweet rationing continued until well after the war.
No wonder my age group still love these treats. I will remember them while I  have an expensive trip to the dentist on Friday.