Chocolate Biscuit Wedding Cake for Kate and William

Prince William requested a chocolate biscuit cake for the Royal Wedding Party, it is a childhood favourite of his.A huge version of this recipe was made for the wedding by McVities the biscuit manufacturer.
This is a nice recipe for Grandmas to make with children, there is no baking, it goes in the fridge.

Chocolate Biscuit Cake

200g plain biscuits such as Rich Tea, Digestive,Marie
100 g butter cut into cubes
70 g (1/4 cup) golden syrup
300g good quality chocolate

Method

1. Line a shallow 20cm tin (square) with cling film or parchment paper leaving plent hanging over the edge .
2. Put the biscuits in a plastic bag  and crush then with a rolling pin until they are the about the size of 10p ,(quarters) pieces.
3. Melt the butter and golden syrup in a large bowl placed over a pan of simmering water.Add the chocolate. Everything should be melted and smooth but NOT boiling.
4. Remove from the heat and gently stir in the biscuits until they are well coated with the chocolate mixture.
5. Put into the prepared tin pressing the mixture down with  the back of a spoon and smoothing it out.
6. When cool cover with the flaps of cling film and place in the fridge for at least three hours.
7. Turn out the cake gently, (wrap in a warm tea towel if it sticks) remove the cling film.
8. Trim off the edges to show the inside. Cut into small squares.
9. Keep in an airtight tin in the fridge

note : 25 grams =1oz
       a handful of raisins or chopped pecans can be added if liked.

Table Top Computer

Today Grandma saw a very desirable new thing-- a table top computer. This was being used in some research conducted by the Open University in Cambridge on ways of recording information found externally ( in this case a grave yard) and relaying it via ipads and phone cameras to  the computer inside .
The table top computer made it easy for a group of people to look at the information we had recorded- much easier than all staring up at a screen.

Family History and Grandmas

Most  of the history we studied in school  was written by old white men.
Yes, we need a structure on which to base our research and provide a time line but  your family history is your personal account of how and where your ancestors lived, their work, loves, lives and wealth. Not just a list of names but a social and economic account to pass down to your grandchildren.The black sheep as well as the martyrs.
Grandmas I urge you to start recording what you know now.
If you are downsizing try to keep some of those old photos,jewellery, pieces of fabric from significant dresses , label them.Have a treasure box so that when you die someone in the family can be its guardian and add to it.

Grandmas can be very interesting- two of mine

Duke of Cambridge Tart

Duke of Cambridge Tart is one of the delicious dishes that visitors to Cambridge will find to enjoy. There are several well known puddings associated with Cambridge. Burnt Cream  or Creme Brulee is associated with the  University Colleges.
The inventor of CS Gas lived in Magdalene College and experimented on himself ruining his digestion at the same time.He was advised by his doctor to eat rice pudding,. If you dine in this college on High Table you can refuse the dessert being served because there is still always rice pudding which was made daily for the ailing scientist .

This recipe is likely to be revived
  Duke of Cambridge Tart

Recipe
          Crust
          4 -6oz shortcrust pastry .Ready made from the supermarket is fine. Line a pie dish or flan ring with  shortcrust pastry.
           Preheat the oven.
Filling   3oz butter, 3 oz sugar,4 oz raisins,2 oz glace cherries, 2 egg yolks,2 tablespoons rum or brandy, grated lemon rind.

1. Cover the raisins with cold water , bring to the boil, leave until cool and drain
2. Put the raisins and cherries in to the lined pie dish.( add the grated rind of a lemon if liked)
3. Melt the butter and sugar  in a small pan, bring to the boil.
4. Remove from the heat and beat in the egg yolks and brandy 
5. Pour over the raisins and cherries, bake for 25-35 mins, 190 C,375F,Gas5, until the pastry is brown and the filling golden
6. Eat hot or cool with cream or icecream.

ALTERNATIVE FILLING:  another traditional filling is candied peel instead of raisins. 

                                                         

Kate and Wills, Duke and Duchess

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Grandma knows quite a number of ladies who thought that they were the Duchess of Cambridge.
I enjoyed a good cry through the wedding ceremony and will be going to the Hertford street, Cambridge, street party very soon.Looking up recipes for Duke of Cambridge Tart-- a very old dessert recipe.

The Ceremony
Crown Imperial was a brilliant choice for the exit from Westminster Abbey. Flowers- disappointing,dress wonderful--best dressed lady has to be Camilla , Prince Charles' wife.
The ugly sisters were played by Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice- get a new makeup adviser girls.
Sartorial faux pas- that prize goes to Victoria Beckham in funerial black with a satellite dish on her head--and where was your hat Mrs Cameron?  Your husband was correctly dressed, if you want to get ahead get a hat.


Street Party,Cambridge UK

After big National events many communities hold a street party. This is the party in Hertford Street,Cambridge today

This is Cambridge UK

Mathematical bridge

Winter

Royal Wedding Watchers Sleep Out for Best Places

A chilly night is forcast but many people are camping out around Westminster Abbey and the Mall . Grandma went to have a quiet lunch with her son and found peace in the Royal Academy exhibtion of exquisite Watteau drawings.

Kate and Wills Wedding Eve Royal Title

The Queen will give Prince William and Kate Middleton a title on the eve of their marriage.This is a Royal tradition. Kate will not be Princess Catherine as keeps being quoted, only the daughter or grand daughter of a reigning monarch gets this. The Queen has been to Cambridge today .The Archbishop of Canterbury is coming at  5pm to give a lecture.
Rumour has it that Queen Elizabeth has informed the Mayor that Kate and William will be made Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the eve of their wedding so we shall know tomorrow.

Royal Wedding Fever

London has that special buzz that  this great city gets when a Royal occasion is about to take place.

The flags are out, the mugs and teatowels are on sale everywhere, the streets are heaving with visitors. This is all for the wedding of Kate and William on Friday.People are already camping out in the street to secure the best place to watch from ,Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and The Mall give the best view.

If you are visiting London one the the best treats is a visit to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.The ballet Cinderella is showing. The costumes,the scenery,and the dancing are pure magic.Laugh at the ugly sisters, do not try the dance moves of the court jester at home.The Royal Opera Orchestra is the best theatre orchestra I have ever heard.
Treat yourself to a glass of Pimms in one of the bars in the interval.Soak up the ambience.
Yes, I know the price of the tickets is eyewatering but this is a special place.

If you need a taxi remember the black cabs on the street are expensive. Order a nice uniformed driver in a decent car from

Addison Lee ; 02073878888

Happy Easter

Happy Easter on this glorious sunny spring day.Cambridge is full of tourists.Many of them are messing about on the river.

Grandma is taking her grand daughters Mathilda and Alice to the Royal Ballet tomorrow to see Cinderella.

Easter Flowers and Food

Grandma arranged flowers this morning at St Botolph's Church ,Cambridge.The weather is very hot so I hope they last.

Easter eggs for grandchildren ( and others) have been bought
 from Marks and Spencers

A large and delicious Simnel cake is in the oven as I write. This cake dates back to the times when young servant girls were allowed to visit their mother over a holiday and bake her a cake using ingredients from the mistresses kitchen. It is a light fruit cake with a layer marzipan in the middle and marzipan finish .Will finish mine tomorrow.