Yummy Sunday

Short and sweet post today. Sorry if you are on a diet.

This weekend we saw both Mothers Day and a family birthday. So obviously food of the sweet variety was required. We saw off a burger and chip feast before these. Good old strawberry trifle and a butterscotch and fudge sponge cake. So full now I cannot possible eat again for oh at least an hour.

Vegetable Cake Subterfuge Update

I had to just drop in a quick update to my last post about  the yummy cakes from Harry Eastwood's Chocolate Heartbreak book of cakes where they all contain a vegetable.  I know it sounds odd, but read the post to see what I mean, if you didn't already.
We are on 3 positives out of 3 on the recipes and 4 out of 4 on the hubby eating them and not detecting the hidden veg. I made the fruit cake twice, its so yummy.  This weekend, I made Orange Squash Cupcakes.  This sounds like they have cordial in them, but in actual fact its butternut squash that gives the squash factor. However, there is more than a passing resemblance in taste of the finished confection of orange squash, so its twofold. There is a link to the book in the original post, but here is a photo (sorry no cake stand loveliness this time) of mine.

Flying Apron Baking Book

Click here to find it on Amazon

I had my birthday last week and  one of my gifts was The Gluten Free & Vegan Baking Book.  I am not vegan but definitely gluten free so was delighted with this.  Now, it has to said before I go any further, if you are in the UK like myself, some of the ingredients are a bit alien.  More about that in a bit.  The concepts used in this book are also somewhat different to the norm.  It is a delightful book. I can honestly say, I have never had my nose in a cook book for so long. I just cant leave it alone.  Never have I read all the forewords and blurb at the back before, but this one I definitely have.  It is going to take some experimentation, but I shall not be defeated.  I have had a couple of failures, but know what is wrong with one, if not the other.  I have had a good outcome with today's recipe and the look of glee on my taste tester sons face summed it up for me.  Any recipe book that can produce a cookie that is much healthier and still makes him smile like that has to be good.

These photos are of the Chocolate Chip Cookies I made from the book.  I have to tell you, I did not use rice milk because I am not vegan, but ordinary semi skimmed.  Also the chocolate was not dairy free etc but none of these things I think would affect the finished result.  Also, you may notice I made some,  double chocolate ones too.  After the plain ones went in I added about an ounce of cocoa and about 2 tablespoons of water as cocoa really dries mixtures out.  This I am pleased to report was also a success but not in the book.
Some ingredients that are called something else in the UK

Garbanzo bean flour  = Gram flour, made from chick peas, like we use for bhajis.  I cant call it gram flour any more now. Garbanzo is such a good word!

Fava bean flour = broad bean flour (I haven't found that here yet)

Canola Oil  = rapeseed oil which is usually listed as vegetable oil here ( look on the back).  That said, I believe sunflower would be fine too.

Stevia = this is a plant based sweetener, also hard to find her.  Research suggest that a similar plant based sweetener called zylitol or xlitol would be a good substitute.  Both warn against using too much, as it can cause a laxative effect in large amounts.

Baking soda.  You prob know this one, but that's bicarbonate of soda, just in case.

That's what I found so far. Will update this list as I go along.

Help! Its driving Me Mad!

I have a lovely almost full vintage teaset and really would love to track down more.  Thing is, although I know from the marks that its Collingwood Bros, I cannot identify the pattern, so don't know what to search for. Do any of you clever china experts have any light to shed on it.  I wondered if it was called `Hampton` as it says it on the mark, but have found no evidence to suggest it is.

Charity Shop spoils

I went into town yesterday to get some supplies for some new rag dolls I am working on at the moment. More of those later when they are complete.  On the way I spotted this cute glass cakestand in one of our charity shops at only £3. Only having a little cash in my purse and quite determined not to use the plastic, I got my thread and elastic first, and as luck would have it, exited needlework shop left with £3.27 in my purse. It was meant to be wasn`t it? No, I dont need it really, but £3!  I ask you, would you have passed it up.

Folksy Friday

Its no secret by now that I have a thing about vintage tea cups and saucers. here are a few teacups used in a variety of ways for my Folksy Friday offering.  Enjoy. White, no sugar for me please.  There are clickable links to each item.

Vintage Cup Succulent Plant
by Candys Emporium
http://www.folksy.com/items/932793-vintage-cup-succulent-plant?shop=yes

Mini Teacup Necklace
by The Lime garden
http://www.folksy.com/items/965345-Mini-Tea-Cup-Necklace?shop=yes

Vintage Teacup Stand
by Marmalde Button
http://www.folksy.com/items/1047141

Teacup Pin Cushion
by Made by kate d
http://www.folksy.com/items/1383645



OhFlowersForTea - Teacup & saucer
by KerriAnns Creations
http://www.folksy.com/items/1047073



Peppermint Japanese Teacup Candle
by FionaPitts
http://www.folksy.com/items/1168597

Print by Ella Masters art and Illustrations
http://www.folksy.com/items/840213



Dont forget to make tea you need a teapot and I have the very thing to keep it warm in my own folksy shop and as a special treat if you found it by reading my blog and are in the UK I will give you free shipping. To snap it up, just send me a message via the item and the first one gets the free shipping. I will change the shipping in the  listing before you purchase.

My China Collection has Grown

This is a little tardy on my part but it took me awhile to sort my sideboard out.  My lovely but very very naughty daughter got me a beautiful vintage teaset for my Christmas present. It seems to be victorian and like most teasets minus a teapot. However there is loads of it. There are several spare saucers and teaplates in addition to what is here and I am smitten. I was when I saw it in the local indoor fleamarket and the naughty thing when back and got it for me.  I have re-organised the sideboard to display it, but think I  really should seek out a glass   fronted cabinet to keep it safe and sound not to mention cut down the need for dusting.

I also decided that as I had all the other bits in this pretty existing set in my collection, I could not leave the creamer sat in the ebay shop I got the rest from so I got my order in. Isn't it cute? Can  china be cute? Well I think so.

When one aquires stuff, one has to be inventive with the rough guides that no-one ever reads in order to keep the cakestand. I had to put a couple of random trios in the sideboard as it was.

.

Teacosies!!! and a Special gift

This weekend I gave my wrists a little rest from knitting and made these teacosies. They have a festive feel but not so in your face Christmas that you could not keep them out beyond the new year.  I have spread them out a bit. 2 are in the etsy shop and one in the Folksy shop but I think I have enough fabric for one more so that will go on folksy too.  Click on the pictures to take you to individual listings.

gingerbread man



Teapot



teapot

Also, I wanted to share this pretty christmas cookie decoration made for me by my friends daughter. She is in primary school so this is an impressive piece of work. I was so touched to have this made especially for me. Thankyou H, you know who you are.

Folksy Friday, Time for Tea

 I dont know about you but when I get home from work the first thing I do is make a nice cup of tea. This weeks folksy finds feature teapots.

Hello Kitty Teapot earrings by Winnie World Jewellery



Cerise crochet Teacosy by Magic Minky

Tea Bookmark by made For Your Books

Ladybird Teapot for one by Julie Davey Ceramics

Teatime Charm Bracelet by punky `n` prettyful`

Minature teapot by Ursulaopen

Gluten free and vegan but definitely tasty Red Velvet Cupcakes

As you know, I love to bake cupcakes.  It has for some time been a dilemma for me when my dear daughter comes to visit because she eats vegan but loves cake.  So last week I had a search around for vegan cupcake recipes.  Several problems cropped up. The first being that they were all US recipes that called for cups as measurements.  Now this is odd because I didn't have anything accurate for measuring that. Then as if by magic, I had a birthday last week and my work colleague got me these measuring cups as a gift. Timely or what!

The next thing is its a double whammy for us because I have to eat gluten free. Sheesh!

However, I found a recipe. The first batch was less desirable, so I tweaked the recipe and the results were very pleasing. Those raspberries just keep on coming.

This is what I used. You will need measuring cups for this. I know mine came from Waitrose but i guess you can get them other places.

Gluten Free & Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes

.75 cup gluten free flour-I used glutafin  This has a bit of raising agent so if you use a plain one, up the baking powder by another teaspoon.
.
1tsp baking powder

1tbs cocoa

1.5 tbs veg oil

.5 cup sugar, maybe less, bit sweet I used unrefined caster

.5 cup water

1.5 tsp cider vinegar (if you dont need gluten free you can use white malt vinegar)

.5 tsp vanilla essence
.5 tsp strawb food colour. you can add a bit of red colour too if it does not look red enough.
 

I made 9 in bun cases. Just mixed it all thoroughly in the food mixer and put in cases.  Baked at 180degrees centigrade. My oven took around 18 mins but do check them as our ovens all vary.



For the frosting,

this is in ounces as that's how I work I am afraid.

6oz icing sugar

2oz vegetable based margarine

1oz white veg fat. I prefer Trex

Dash of vanilla extract and a little water if needed.

This mix gives nice flavour which is not too sickly IMO.  Just beat it all together until its nice a fluffy and soft enough to pipe.  The raspberries and cake stand are not obligatory but they do look kinda nice

New Cups and New Cupcakes, Everything stops for tea.

So last week I told you about the vintage cups and saucers given to me from my Nans collection.  I am still searching for more of the delectable pink ones but I found these two shiny black ones on ebay and to my delight I got a free trio for a predetermined spend.  How nice do they look with the non vintage cakestand?

This is the trio I got free and I have to confess I have just ordered the other two sets they had left as I have become quite smitten with them. This is my little birthday present to myself.  I cant believe that china from around the  1912 -1930 era can still be around. I am going to have to be so careful because I have broken modern china so quickly in the past. thankfully, the dining room is a carpetted sanctuary. They would not stand a chance in my tiled kitchen and all its chaotic mayhem. 

More cakes were produced today.  These are cinnamon raisin with cinnamon maple buttercream. This is all thats left after the boys spotted them.

 These are St.Clements cupcakes.  Orange sponge topped with lemon vanilla buttercream.  I do love anything lemony.  Dear daughter will be sad as they are not vegan.  I have found a recipe or 2 and as I have next week off day job, plan to have a go at those. 

 Lastly, on the teatime theme.  I made my friend a tea cosy at the weekend.  Quite chuffed with it and think I might need one for my kitchen now as mine is a little shabby.  She just text me to say it was a perfect fit.