Week 32 - White Chocolate Tiffin

No Quote from book.  - Jo Wheatley A Passion for Baking.

Faff Factor = 7

Bake = 8

Keeping Up Appearances = 9

Total score = 24/30

My boys adore Nigella's Choccy Rocky Road and I often make a batch for their lunchboxes so whilst reading Jo's book I came across this recipe for a Tiffin?  I've never heard of it before so I went on t'internet to find a little more about it and good old Wikipedia came up with this.  How funny that a tiffin is commonly used in India to describe a light lunch, it must be a sign for me to make the boys a tiffin.

Looking at the ingredients I had slight concerns that they may not like it but I can honestly say it did not last more than 24 hours in the house.  Personally I thought it a little too sweet but then I don't enjoy white chocolate at the best of times and I think at the back of my mind knowing Horlicks was in the recipe (which I loathe) that was all I could really taste, I'm like that with anything coffee related too.

The actual bake (I'll call it that even though you don't use an oven) was easy as it basically just needs the dry ingredients mixed first adding the hot butter,golden syrup,sugar and horlicks to combine.

As a word of caution I would not put so much chocolate on top, I think half of the recipe would be suffice, I'm taking this as my lesson learned this week.

So that's another week under my belt, I'm more than half way through the challenge and feel I'm more confident with my baking and I'm getting good results.  I've been baking in the background to my challenge too, especially some of the recipes that I have loved and tasting them a second time around is so reassuring that my baking is coming along nicely.  Only another 20 recipes to go!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Love to all

Lynetta Xx

Let the train take the strain!

As we have not been on a holiday holiday this year I've made sure I've been out on little Jolly Jaunts with family and friends over the school holiday period.  I'm enjoying my day's out with Sarah and this time we decided to let the train take the strain (can you remember that advert campaign?) and for a grand total of £11 we bought a return ticket to Winchester.

I've heard many great things about this city and how pretty it is so we were really happy to be able to go on a beautiful sunshiny day.

All what I've read about Winchester Cathedral did not disappoint.  I was in awe of this amazing building and architecture. 

and even more so of the ornate and stunning naive, alter, stained glass windows and ceilings.

Winchester town is very happy and friendly.  We had our lunch in the grounds of the cathedral and walked around the town at ease.

A very pretty town and I am looking forward to visiting it again at Christmas as I have been told they host a Victorian Market and at such a bargain for the train tickets I'm thinking of bringing Lilibet next time.

Toodle Pip

Lynetta Xx

Summer Holiday - Week 5

I cannot believe it's already week 5 of the holiday and I feel I've not achieved anything!  Since buying the new car we've been out and about going to different towns to do the weekly shop. I like to have the radio on in the car and often tune into the local station of where I am travelling.  Whilst out the other sunday I happened to tune into Jack FM, I laughed as I thought 'Oh so that's what he gets up to in his bedroom - a pirate radio station'. It's nothing to do with my Jack though. (I often have these silly little thoughts and they are called Lynnyisms - please pacify me when you read them)

Moving on here's my weekly round up for week 5 (and please don't hold your breath it's been a very boring week)

• Monday - Cleaned and scrubbed the house, it's amazing how much rubbish and dust collates when you are home 24/7
• Tuesday - More clothes shopping with Julia into Reading and tasted my first Pattiserrie Valerie and very very nice was it too
• Wednesday - Popped into work to get up to date and in the evening continued with making my crochet pillow.
• Thursday - More work and finally finished, all up to date and ready to rock and roll the new academic year. - Go me :-)
• Friday - Went to Henley with Sarah and bagged myself some real good bargains in the second hand shop - post to follow
• Saturday - My sister is visiting from South Shields so it had to be done - MORE SHOPPING (no purchases for me today though)
• Sunday - Lovely family Sunday Lunch in the local cavery courtsey of my mum

The weather has taken a real turn and it's cold, damp and miserable.  Hoping for it to cheer up for our little day out to The Dorset Show on saturday.  I learned today they are having a fancy dress sheep competition, I really can't wait to see that one.

Have fun and see you all soon

Lynetta Xx

Eye catching

Do you ever get a glimpse of something, double take, turn around and have another look.  Well that's what happened when I was out shopping the other week with this canvas.  We've been looking for some wall art for Jack's room and at last we've found something that's not too young (as he's now 14), not too grungy/graffitti (as that's not his style) and not to girly (I'll leave the comment blank here ha ha ha).  

I've always said that pictures are a real personal taste so we took the chance of picking it up hoping it would suit and I'm pleased to say it did.

I think it's brilliant and love looking at how creative the design is and will now be on the hunt for something similiar for my hallway.

See you soon.

Lynetta Xx

Week 31 - Dorset Apple Cake

Quote from book -  This is still the pirde of the county. 

 - The Women's Institute vintage teatime book.

Faff Factor = 8

Bake = 6

Keeping Up Appearances = 8

Total score = 24/30

Dorset is one of my favourite Counties.  When I retire it is at the top of my list to move to if and when we downsize.  Basically I just love Dorset.  One of the cakes I notice a lot when visiting is Dorset Apple cake and have tasted one or two on my travels so obviously it was on my list of things to bake during my challenge. 

I decided to use the WI Vintage Teatime recipe which is near on the exact same recipe as the little book I picked up on my last visit to Christcurch in which I baked the Old Harry Rock cakes on week 23 here.  The only difference being the WI grate the apples and the little book cut into chunks. The rest of the mix came together really easy and I'm getting quite a dab hand at rubbing butter into the flour and making breadcrumbs.  I'm still coveting a food processor though!

The house was smelling really lovely with the bake and I was rather pleased with the look however very dissapointed with the taste which sadly it lacked.  I used the best ingredients as always so that eliminates that theory and so I am thinking it can only be the recipe.  My friend Sarah asked if the recipe had any cinnamon or spices in the cake which neither of them do, perhaps this was the problem? 

If you have been following me with my bakes as you know I am not changing the original recipes as I am making notes to change things for the next time. I would be interested to know if there are any more recipes for Dorset Apple cake, is it a regional cake like with Cornish Pasties where different areas use a different recipe?  

I think I will have to surf the net to try and find out or I could just wait and talk to someone in the baking tent at The Dorset County Show in a few weeks time, I am really looking forward to my day out :-)

Will keep you posted and if anyone can share a great recipe I would be very grateful.

TTFN

Lynetta Xx

 

Summer Holidays - Week 4

Round-up of week 4 of my summer holiday

• Monday - Pottering around the house and reading in the garden. Lovely weather is upon us for the week.
• Tuesday - Decorating my mum's hallway and off for a hospital appointment at the heart clinic
• Wednesday - Finish the decorating (I was quick :-) )
• Thursday - School Uniform shopping!
• Friday - A lovely day out with Sarah to Winchester
• Saturday - Glorious weather.  Ian at a fishing competition however he caught sun stroke and needed to come home early.
• Sunday - a spot of shopping in Swindon - Jess needed a run :-)

A bit of a mix bag this week doing this and that but I've kept myself busy.

Only 2 more weeks then back to my routine of work.  Secretly cannot wait to get up and have a purpose for every day.

Have a fun day in whatever you have chosen to do.

Lynetta Xx

Rosey Posie

Can you remember my mother's day present from Jack? 

After planting and wishing for it to climb and grow up the trellis I am happy to say not only has it done both but it has been giving me some wonderful blooms already.

I now need to read up on how to keep such a wonderful rose safe and healthy over the winter period as I really don't want to lose her to any disease or the frost now I've seen how wonderful she looks in all her pretty pinkness.

The weather has been rather beautiful over the last week so I'm off out today with a friend for lunch.  Oohhh I'm a lady of leisure who does lunch!

TTFN

Lynetta Xx

Childhood Memories

Having a new car seems to have bought the need to go out and about back for me.  I was always a  little worried the old girl would break down so only stayed within a 5 mile radius of home but now with Jess (I'll explain why the new car has a name another time) the worlds my oyster so to speak.

Last weekend we decided to go to Portsmouth and to Gun Wharf Quay's shopping centre.  This is Spinaker Tower which the boys did not want to go to the top of with me.  I'm thinking I will need to take a friend to do this at another time. I have this saying that you cannot go anywhere near the sea without having a bag of chips so after our little shopping expedition we popped over to Southsea.  Oh wow, this bought back so many childhood memories for me.

As a child we never went on holiday, my dad couldn't drive and my mum worked 3 jobs to keep us going (you get the picture?) so it was a rare treat to get anywhere near the sea.  Southsea was a day trip with the local pub once a year and I have fond memories of going on a coach with my brother, sister and other friends from the local neighbourhood.  I used to get scared driving around the devil's punch bowl near Peterborough and also used to think to get to the Isle of Wight you needed your passport as it was abroad (or so I was told!)

Going back this weekend and standing on the pebbley beach was very nostalgic for me.  I will have to find the photo's out of my nan and dad asleep on the deckchairs alond the sea front the next time I visit my mum :-)

Sadly, the place is a little run down but I enjoyed my afternoon walking around the funfair and it still had the old rickety roller coaster which I was fearful of as a child as it was very high and which I am fearful of now because of it's age :-)

And here is what I really went for :-)  a lovely bag of salt and vinegar chips.  Oh the memories :-)

See you soon

Lynetta Xx

More tea Vicar!

Just a quick post today.  This is Julia my work collegue (who btw has just had all her hair chopped off and dyed red - way to go girly), we met up last week to go and do a little retail therapy and decided to stop and get ourselves a cream tea, yes yes I know I'm addicted to them.

So a little advert here, if you are out shopping in one of the big towns why don't you drop by M&S and treat yourselves in their cafe,  they do a smashing cream tea :-)

Have a spiffing day.

Lynetta Xx

Happy 1st Blog Birthday!

One year ago today I started this blog.  One year ago I had this mad idea to document a little of my life and now here we are over 137 posts and over 2450 views later (hello to all of you who read my blog - please say hello) I'm celebrating my 1st Blog-aversary (I think I've just made this word up). 

I am so happy I've kept up to date with my posts, I really enjoy just looking back at previous entries and often have a little smile to myself when reading all about my jolly jaunts and happenings.  It's a great reminder of my life :-)

So I am raising a cup and saucer to myself and saying 'Well done girlie, you've been writing your history'

Toot toot :-)

Lynetta Xx

Week 30 - Two Chocolate Zebra's

Quote from book -  These incredibly rich, stripey shortbread biscuits are perfect with a cup of coffee. 

 - The Great British Bake Off How to Bake.

Faff Factor = 5

Bake = 7

Keeping Up Appearances = 8

Total score = 20/30

This week I decided to bake a biscuit for my challenge as I was a little strapped for time.  I've never made shortbread so decided to push the boat out and make these little morsels.  Talk about faff and loads of washing up! If you are planning on making these please allow yourselves plenty of time. Nearly 2 hours of it, just for a biscuit!

After making the basic dough you then have to divide into 2 and add the melted dark chocolate to one and the melted white chocolate to the other, roll out and chill.  After 20 minutes you need to construct the brick shape alternating the white and dark, then chill.  Then you have to cut into slices and chill.  See, alot of faffing and waiting, you have been warned if you want to make these :-)

I am in two minds with the end result though as they may look aesthetically pleasing but the taste was rather bland. I have learned 2 things this week on my challenge.  First I would of omitted the vanilla essence and added chocolate essence instead to give them more of a boost on the chocolatey front and secondly I would of used a serrated knife to cut into the dough when slicing as the brown chocolate dough pulled through the white dough so it did not look as pleasing as the picture in the book. 

Obviously I will need to bake these again to put these findings into practice.

Happy Thursday's

Lynetta Xx

 

 

Goodbye Old Friend, Hello to the new girl........

Well the time had to come sooner than later :-(  My car has been breaking down over the last couple of years with little things that cost alot so we decided that enough was enough and needed to trade the old girl in for a newer model. There's only so much money you can keep spending on an old car.

We've been looking for a newish car over the last couple of months and decided now is the best time to buy one. 

This saturday I had to say goodbye to the old girl.  She has served me very well knocking up over 56,000 miles over the last 10 years. She has taken me on many a jolly jaunt around England, broke down on me in Calais whilst waiting for the ferry home from a day out in Bruge (not naming names but someone left the ignition on to listen to the radio for 4 hours whilst we waited for the high winds to drop so the ferry could sail), transported Jack to over 100 football matches, pulled our trailer to go camping over the last 4 years, taken my mum to visit my sister in South Shields many a time, been on numerous shopping trips and generally been my trusty old bus. 

I'm going to miss you and hope you find a new home where you will be well loved as I have loved you.

We've been test driving a few different makes and models and finally made the decision last monday of the one we want. After an emotional trade-in we are now the proud owners of a Volvo V50.  I've yet to take some photo's of her so watch this space for an updated post.

Love to all

Lynetta Xx

Summer Holidays - Week 3

Week 3 of the holidays and the weather has been hitting on average 21c.  At least the rain held off for most of the Olympics :-)  Round up of week 3

• Monday - Went to test drive a new car - yeah we found one we like!
• Tuesday - Working day, feeling a little low today?
• Wednesday - Working day, visited mum. Very quiet day catching up with the house chores
• Thursday - Little bike ride on Lilibet around the neighbourhood
• Friday - Cream Tea with Julia (work collegue) and up early to bake for week 30!
• Saturday - Yes we bought a new car and collected it today!  Weather glorious so had a fab BBQ
• Sunday - Went to Portsmouth to give the car a run. Visited Southsea for a portion of chips, this seaside town bought back many a childhood memory.

I've not felt myself all week, I have this rather low feeling inside of me which I am struggling to shake off.  I'm not too sure why I'm feeling like this but I hope it passes as quick as it came. Looking back over this week it really doesn't look very interesting! perhaps that's what it is, do I need a little excitement in my life?

See you again soon.

Lynetta Xx

Olympic Fever

I think I'm going to be suffering from POB - Post Olympic Blues - It's all over, it's ended, what am I going to do!

Over the last 2 weeks I have been glued to the screen watching events unfold, watching medals won, watching inspirational athletes take part in the most spectacular Olympic Games I think I will ever see in my lifetime.  I've already posted about the opening ceremony here (gosh was it only two weeks ago) but I've not really updated you with our little trip upto London's Hyde Park after my unsuccessful mission with tickets blogged here. 

As always I had my trusty little camera with me and took a few photo's to remind me of our day.

We had a lovely time wandering around the city from Trafelgar Square to Somerset House, along The Embankment and over to Westminster, then into Regent's Street and Oxford Street finally making our way to Hyde Park to watch on the huge screens that have been erected around the city for the public to view.  Everyone in London seemed to be in high spirits and in really happy and friendly moods, it was a joy to be walking around feeling the same too. The atmosphere in Hyde Park was fantastic with over 5,000 people all celebrating and cheering whenever a Team GB athlete came onto the screen.  I am so glad I suggested to the boys to make the trip considering I was unlucky in grabbing some tickets and I am really happy to blog this post as it will be something to tell the grandchildren of where I was and what I was doing during the 2012 Olympics.

To save my ramblings here are a few sites to record the closing ceremony.  We watched every second right from 7pm through to 12:30am, what a night :-)

Fireworks and Ceremony 

And now back to reality today and to get myself into a routine for the remainder of my holidays.

Toodle Pip

Lynetta Xx

Supporting the community

Last Saturday my local council held it's annual green fair which just so happens to be within a 5 minute walk from my house.  I have been meaning to go for many a year so I decided to take myself off for a little look.

These ladies were wonderful to chat to and got very excited when I asked for a photo to put on my blog which made me giggle.  The stalls were all set out showing all the different wares and trades and it had a rather  pleasant and old fashion feel to it.  (I was in my element)

with wonderful cheap plants on offer who could resist supporting the community and buying 2!

with a tombola on offer who could not resist supporting the community and having a go!

however I did resist buying the tat on offer - I really don't need anymore in my house

but I couldn't resist supporting the community with a fresh home made cake! a chocolate and pear ( will have to find a recipe to bake myself as it was rather scrummy)

and I had a lovely chat to these two gentlemen who collect old tools and refurbish them to send to Africa.  What a really good cause and I think I maybe able to help support them when I clean out the garage.

and this lady was amazing with her willow weaving.  Sadly I missed all the dragonflies that were on sale when I first arrived but I was enthralled with watching her weave these corn dollies. 

Reminded me of art straws from my childhood.

It was lovely for me to just wander around for an hour and the fair was very pleasant, I even  mentioned to Sarah about having a stall selling cupcakes and mini victoria sponges next year, we just need to decide who to raise the money for then we can approach the council to book a stall.  It would be very exciting and challenging to do something like this, or do you think I'm getting way above myself with all these silly thoughts?

Toot Toot

Lynetta Xx

Week 29 - Banbury Cakes

Quote from website -  The Banbury cake reigns in the Midlands. Try this quick recipe for a teatime treat

Faff Factor = 7

Bake = 8

Keeping Up Appearances = 9

Total score = 24/30

When I'm having a conversation with my mum about my challenge and all the different cakes I'm having fun baking she always mentions Banbury cakes and that they don't sell them in the shop anymore.  I've never heard of these cakes so I searched the internet for the recipe and it's origins. According to wikipedia it is a spice, currant filled flaky pastry cake similar to the eccles cake.  It has been made and sold exclusively in Banbury, Oxon since 1586.  Luckily the good food website had a recipe which you can find here.

So onto the bake.  I have got to admit one thing, I didn't make my own pastry - gasp shock horror I hear you say, what a fraud, what a cheat, and all I can say to that is Yes I know.  I was reading my cook books on how to make the pastry and all in all it would have taken quite some time to make with the rolling and folding and chilling and rolling etc etc etc, so I went and purchased the best ready made pastry I could find (thank you Sainsbury's) and thank you Lorraine Pascale, James Martin and Hairy Bikers for giving me the permission to do this :-) and I'm hoping my scores reflect the fact I cheated.

My friend Sarah was visiting when they were in the oven so she was my chief taster once they have cooled. I had a little taste, the pastry was very buttery and the filling was tasty.  I made 10 little cakes and within 24 hours they were all gone! 

I managed to deliver some to my mum who was chuffed to bits that I made them especially for her and she said they were just as good as what she remembered them to be, so all in all, for me, a perfect result.

I vow to make my own puff pastry soon, but I think I'll leave that until the weather is a little cooler and when I have a spare few hours!

Speak to you all soon.  TTFN

Lynetta Xx

Olympic tickets

2 tickets required add to shopping basket - done

any athletics events in the Olympic Park please - click to request

Oh please oh please let it be me...............................................

sorry your request could not be processed!

How very very frustrated did I get the other day and night.  I spent over 7 hours trying to purchase tickets online, at one point it was confirmed that I had 3 tickets in my basket, but stop..... I didn't request the £1450.00 priced tickets, I wanted the cheap seats (if you can call them cheap at £95) so I declined their offer and tried and tried again.  At one point I got my crochet out and managed to get 10 rows completed.  

I'm not going to send an official complaint in, there's no point really, ever since the first issues went on sale the ticket buying has been a fiasco, and the second ballot was totally screwed up so in reality what was I to expect, that I could just log on and get tickets, but I was optimistic and I tried and tried and tried.

Oh well never mind, I've watched more races on the TV than I ever have in previous years due to the fantastic coverage by the BBC (good old Aunty) and really really enjoyed every last race but I'll do a seperate post about the Olympics for the record.

OK, one more try do you think?

Have a happy Thursday.

Lynetta  Xx

 

Meet Walter.....

Whilst we were shopping for Lilibet I think Ian got a little bike envy so he decided to treat himself to a new bike....meet Walter :-)  He's rather dashing don't you think?  He's a lovely Raleigh Pioneer 2 model but we have affectionatley called him Walter.

He even comes with some lovely paniers so Ian can go out fishing along the river banks in addition to carrying a picnic when we adventure out.

I am so looking forward to planning a few days out with Lilibet and Walter before the summer ends and I am currently trying to twist Ian's arm to catch a train to the coast for the day so we can feel the fresh sea breeze in our hair, well mine anyway (sorry Ian).

Have a spiffing day.

Lynetta Xx

Summer Holidays - Week 2

I've seemed to have slowed down for some reason and it's only week 2 of my holidays, yet again I don't think I will last the 6 weeks without being really really bored.  Round-up of week 2:-

• Monday - Bike ride and getting caught up with the Olympic fever
• Tuesday - Weather back to it's normal miserable self so stayed in and baked week 28
• Wednesday - Popped into work, made a lovely Chilli Con Carne and Wiggin's wins Gold!
• Thursday - My mission to buy Olympic tickets resulted in 7 hours of looking at the official website, clicking Buy now and being told to try again!
• Friday - A spot of gardening taking the opportunity of a sunny day
• Saturday - Earley Green Fair, test driving new cars and watching Olympics - Team GB winning 5 golds!
• Sunday - Visit to London and Hyde Park to watch Olympics on big screen

mmm,  no wonder it felt as if it  was rather a slow and long week as I really didn't do much other than celebrate the Olympics.  Wonder what week 3 has in store for me?

Go Team GB!

Lynetta Xx