Skinny Scarves & Strudel

Hello!!!

Well, we're winding down now to the end of year at school so I thought I'd better start thinking about those pressies for teachers....

I decided on skinny scarves - always useful and quick to make - so bought three lots of Vinnis Serena yarn (a firm favourite of mine) and have started crocheting ....

I've already finished one (in a deep red) and the above is No 2. One more to do after that and I'll be done! Having been a teacher myself I really appreciate the gifts that the children bring at year end (especially when they are homemade). We don't have devilishly cold winters here but a little warmth around the neck is always useful in the early mornings.....

On a completely different subject, I had a go at making Apple Strudel the other day and actually had a complete kitchen success for a change!!!

I made it at the request of my youngest son who liked it but not enough to scoff the lot so guess who had to finish it all...... least said about that the better.....

I thought it might make a nice change on Xmas Day instead of Xmas Pud so if you want to have a go, here's the super-easy recipe -

Apple Strudel Recipe:

4 Granny Smith apples - 3 peeled, cored and sliced - 1 peeled, cored and grated
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup raisins
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (thawed)
1 egg
1/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with baking paper.
Place apples in large bowl. Stir in brown sugar and raisins. Set aside.
Roll out pastry until slightly wider and longer than baking sheet.
Put pastry on baking sheet and put apple mixture down the middle of the pastry lengthwise.
Fold the pastry lengthwise around the mixture. Seal edges together by using water on your fingers and crimping pastry edges together.
Cut three or four lines across width of pastry.
Whisk egg and milk together and brush on top of pastry.
Bake in preheated oven for 35-40 mins.
Serve with ice cream.

It was very more-ish so if you like apples, it's well worth a try!

That's me for now.

Til soon.

xxx

A Good Week....

It's been an interesting week.
A little knitting....

This is Drift coming up rather beautifully in burnt orange.

A little bread making .....

An easy bread recipe that even I can't mess up! 

3 cups flour / 3 tsp yeast / 3 tsp sugar / 1 tsp salt / 300ml luke warm water

Mix well and knead.

Cover with clingwrap and leave for 30 mins.

Knead again.

Place on greased tray and brush with beaten egg.

Bake at 180 for 30 mins.

Done.

A little gift giving .....

Two washcloths made from Vinnis Serina for a good friend.

And finally......

.....a little tractor driving by YC (Youngest Child) on above friend's farm.....

Simple pleasures.

Life is good.

xxx

The Best Pizza Recipe Ever!!!!

This is most definitely the best pizza recipe ever (it does exactly what it says on the tin!)! In our house Saturday night is pizza night and even our two boys join in with the making as well as the eating!

Here's the recipe and instructions. Obviously you can vary the toppings to suit yourself!

This is what you'll need:  1 sachet dry yeast (10g) ; ¾ cups lukewarm water ; ¼ teaspoon sugar ; 1¾ cups of flour ; pinch of salt ; tomato paste or tomato concentrate ; grated cheese ; sliced onions ; chopped peppers ; diced bacon (cooked) ; herbs

Step 1

Preheat oven to about 200C. In a small bowl, combine the yeast, sugar and lukewarm water together. Leave for 5-10 minutes until froth forms on the top.

Step 2

In a larger bowl, combine the flour and salt together. When the yeast is ready, combine this with the flour. Work together with a spoon and then your fingers until a soft dough forms.

If you like a thick pizza base then make 1 pizza out of this dough but if you like thin and crispy, divide it in half to make 2 pizzas!

Step 3

Roll out onto a floured surface until it's the size and shape you want. As you can see, mine isn't really any shape.....

Step 4

Place the dough onto a lightly oiled pizza tray (we use oven chip cooking trays). They have the holes in the bottom so the pizza base gets nice and crispy!! Then spread the tomato paste or concentrate all over the dough (including the sides).

Step 5

Add your cheese (we use normal strong cheddar), onions and other toppings. Don't forget a good sprinkling of herbs!

Step 6

Cook your pizza in the oven for about 15-20 mins. Check it regularly depending on your oven!

Once ready, open a bottle of wine and ENJOY!!!

Hope you like it!