April Reads

  By Helen | May 14, 2013 - 7:06 am | Book review 1 Comment
Honour-paperback Elif Shafak

A much slower month for reading last month – I thought I was only going to finish one book which would have made for a really interesting review post I’m sure! Happily, I did manage to complete 3 books – I really must stop reading more than one book at a time – it really slows me down, dotting between the two (or more). Thats my resolution for this month anyhow! Honour but Elif Shafak I was sent this book as part of my involvement with the BritMums Book Club. I hadn’t heard of it previously (but since then, every shop I go in has got it staring me in the face). My first impression was that I loved the cover and couldn’t wait to get started. I was away for a few days in the caravan which always makes for perfect reading conditions – no internet or tv and exhausted kids that go to sleep early. Bliss! Right from the beginning I was hooked – I have talked her before about being interested in anything that involves twins, so this book was perfect for me. The story of Turkish/Kurdish twins, Pembe and Esma. Pembe leaves her country to live more »

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Scooby Doo Cake – Cake of the Week

  By Helen | May 13, 2013 - 10:14 pm | Aardvark Cakes, Birthday Cake, Cake, Cake of the Week, Cakes, Children's Cakes 2 Comments
Scooby Doo Cake

Why did no-one tell me about the joys of plastic figures earlier? I spent years of my life that I will never get back making teeny sugar figures and now I discover how brilliant pre bought figurines are. I temporarily came out of retirement to make little Hugo’s cake – He’s special enough to me that it was worth it! Actually I really enjoyed having a potter and Cara (Hugo’s mum) is a dream to cake for (its a verb you know!) – She gives me complete freedom and even went and bought the figures to put on the cake. Cake purists among you are probably shouting at the screen about a non-edible medium being used – Sterilise the figures with alcohol (vodka or gin). It will evaporate. Also if you are using sugarpaste to stick the figure to the cake, the blob with come off on the feet of the character so the plastic won’t ever touch the cake. I think I may start the odd session of pottering about with marzipan/sugarpaste but am definitely not about to start the business up again. The thought of taking orders and being responsible for wedding cakes still makes me quiver slightly. more »

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A Prayer for Madeleine – 6 years on

  By Helen | May 12, 2013 - 9:00 am | Children, Miscellaneous, Parenting 2 Comments
what to do if you think you see madeleine mccann

Today I will be saying a prayer. I won’t be alone in saying a prayer – I’m hoping that all around the world, people will be praying and hoping for the safe return of a very special little girl. A little girl who turns 10 today and that 6 horrible years ago went missing whilst on holiday in Portugal. A beautiful little girl that should be with her family now, should be in year 5 of school enjoying being one of the biggest in the school, should be enjoying teaching her little sister and brother about what is cool (and what isn’t). I’m sure there’s not a mother alive, who knows about Madeleine, that doesn’t wish as much as I do, that she is found safe and sound and returned to her family. What that family continue to go through is just unimaginable. 2 year ago, I went to a mass at my local church where Madeleine’s grandparents talked about her and the family – It would take a heartless soul not to be affected by how much she is missed. The case of the 3 women found in America this week must give hope that this can still be more »

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Clandestine Cake-a-long Returns – Torta Columbina & Homemade Orange Curd Recipe

  By Helen | May 9, 2013 - 11:38 am | Aardvark Cakes, Baking, Clandestine Cake-A-Long, Recipes 3 Comments
orange curd recipe torta columbiana columbina

We’ve had a few weeks break from the Cake-a-long but its back raring to go! It seems that with every cake I’ve made from the Clandestine Cake Collection, I’ve learnt a new skill and developed a new addiction. This time it is a delicious orange curd – when I came to make the Cake-a-long bake I discovered I didn’t have any orange curd in so undeterred made my own. Delicious! And so easy in the microwave. All the way through, I was convinced I’d mess it up, my eggs would curdle and it would taste awful – but NO – IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! We are now eating Homemade Orange Curd with everything – the kids might draw the line at Orange Curd Tuna Pasta however. I’ve never heard of a Torta Columbina before – I have googled and found Tarta Columbiana which sounds very similar. This cake was the brainwave of Euan Greig who blogs over at Signor Biscotti, a lovely blog that will have your mouth watering. Euan’s version of the cake looks so much better than mine and you can find the recipe here. I’m going to try to interview Euan in time for the next more »

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Spicy Chutney – Sainsbury’s Kitchen Heroes Competition Win £50 Voucher

  By Helen | May 7, 2013 - 11:44 pm | Children, Recipes 10 Comments
Spicy Costello Chutney Recipe red pepper tomato

I seem to have been talking to a lot of people at the moment about leaving a legacy to my children when I die – don’t worry, I’m not planning on going anywhere just yet but it is something that crosses my mind from time to time. I’m constantly making notes in various recipe books and when I decide that a particular homemade recipe has become a family heirloom it will get a place in a very special folder. Each of my 3 girls will get a version of ‘the folder’ with our very special recipes in that they can choose to either make, ignore or even pass onto their children. You know the sort of recipe, my fruit cake, my sponge cake recipe, my shepherds pie – the sort of thing that I’d have to kill you if you found out my recipe. Another one of these recipes is the now infamous Costello Chutney. This was the first attempt I made at making chutney and it was fabulous. I now make it every Christmas for gifts and at least one other time during the year. A spicy, chunky chutney with a real kick. Perfect with cheeses and hams (and more »

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Cake of the Week: Swiss Roll – A revelation!

  By Helen | May 3, 2013 - 5:18 pm | Aardvark Cakes, Baking, Cake, Cake of the Week, Cake Recipes, Cakes, Celebration Cake, Recipes Leave a comment
easy swiss roll recipe

How have I gone 39 years without making a swiss roll? Even more to the point, how didn’t I know that they were so easy and so satisfying to make? Last Sunday we were having a family getogether as we do every year around the time of our Dad’s anniversary and Mum’s birthday. As usual, I had been mad busy during the run up to the day. I had every intention of producing a masterpiece but thought it would end up being a Mr Kipling/Costco special. On Sunday morning though, 4 of us did the Swimathon raising money for Marie Curie. Amazing how a swim can leave you feeling energised and utterly needing cake! I came home and thought Swiss Roll like you do. A quick nosy round at old cookbooks and I came up with a recipe of my own. I was wanting to go for HUGE while we were expecting 13 of us. Print Swiss Roll – A revelation! Rating: 51 Prep Time: 14 minutesCook Time: 11 minutesTotal Time: 25 minutes Yield: At least 8-10 generous pieces Ingredients3 large eggs 125g caster sugar Splash of vanilla extract 125g plain flour Plenty of strawberry jam Punnet of strawberries Tub more »

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Violet Meringue Kisses

  By Helen | April 30, 2013 - 7:26 am | Aardvark Cakes, Baking, Recipes 8 Comments
violet meringue kisses recipe

I’m well known for my love of all things violet. You may remember a few weeks ago I was waiting on a delivery of some much coveted violet syrup. Well, the syrup arrived and smells divine so I have set out experimenting with recipes. I’m big into making homemade gifts and saw several pics of meringue kisses in lovely gift bags and sellophane. I’ve never even tried to colour meringue before never mind flavouring it but will give anything a go. Fair to say, my first attempt was a complete disaster. Underterred, but a little short on time, I decided to have another go and actually follow the rules of meringue this time – and they worked!! I only gave the meringue kisses a mild taste of violet as I wasn’t sure how much of the syrup, the beaten egg white could tolerate. I reckon if I did it again, I could get away with slightly more violet syrup. Print Violet Meringue Kisses Rating: 51 Prep Time: 20 minutesCook Time: 2 hoursTotal Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes Yield: 60-80 depending on how big you pipe themServing Size: Individual Mini Bites Really really take your time adding the sugar – the more »

Saturday is Caption Day

  By Helen | April 27, 2013 - 11:27 am | Five Go Caravanning, Tara, Touring 3 Comments
A dead (toy) rabbit

From a recent trip to the Lakes – A scene straight out of Watership Down (And no, the bunny isn’t real as I have already been asked). “Bright Eyes…tra-la-la” To put the photo in context, here is another pic of Tara having a ‘moment’ just before the bunny got launched. The joys of holidaying with a 2 year old. I’m joining in again with the mighty Mammasaurus Blog who hosts ‘Saturday Caption Day’. Pop on over to see the other entries this week if you can.

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Chilli & Sweetcorn Soup Recipe

  By Helen | April 23, 2013 - 7:37 am | Recipes Leave a comment
Chilli & Sweetcorn Soup

The weather may be getting that slight bit warmer but until its in the 30′s I will not be put off soup! This was a recipe I made up and tweaked due to opening a tin of sweetcorn by mistake when I actually wanted peas. Not one to waste food, I immediately turned the corn to soup. My first try was almost a disaster, the bottom just started catching on the bottom but luckily I was there to rescue it. Its not saying much for my cooking skills is it, that I can burn soup?! Print Chilli & Sweetcorn Soup Ingredients1 small onion – finely chopped 1 large tin of sweetcorn or approx 400g frozen sweetcorn 1 tsp chilli powder 2 tsp vegetable stock powder 250ml waterInstructionsSlowly cook through the onions until they are soft & transparent in a splash of cooking oil for at least 5 mins Add the rest of the ingredients and half of the water into the pan and simmer on a medium heat for at least 10 minutes until the corn is soft. Watch the amount of water – add more at intervals but take care that the bottom doesn’t burn. Blitz with a blender more »

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Feeding the 5000 or Our Top 5 Tips for Getting The Kids To Eat Their Lunch

  By Helen | April 22, 2013 - 4:59 pm | Children, Miscellaneous, Parenting Leave a comment
packed-lunch-makeovers-size-3

Anyone else found themselves really struggling towards the end of term for school dinner ideas? That last week of term holds such excitement at the thought of not coming up with new combinations of lunches every day. I am determined that this last term of the school year will be different though. I’m armed with sparkly new packed lunch boxes (that don’t have ‘that’ smell) and I’m turning to the net for support. I have been receiving emails from Supersavvyme for ages now but always thought it was a site for promoting products – little did I know that they were brilliant for kid’s packed lunch ideas too. I’ve a feeling I’ll be on there a LOT! I’m sure my kids are not unusual in that they are not fans of too exotic flavours but want something a little bit different. I have found combinations of every day ingredients that I would never have thought of putting together but just seem to work. Our Top 5 Tips for Successful Lunchtimes are: Freeze a bottle of water/juice/smoothie/squeezy yoghurt – Kids love anything frozen and the novelty of having something that is still refreshing at lunchtime doesn’t seem to wear off. Lots more »