Kool Kooky Kreatures

Dear Lancaster University

Dear Lancaster University

I am writing to you in the first instance to warn you that a rather large camper van is arriving later containing many items.

These include 200+ books of varying sizes, a whole mountain of clothing (I know it is a mountain as it used to reside in one of the bedrooms - you will be pleased to note that most of it is clean!), various kitchen implements (unused), many DVDs, a rock ( yes - you did read that correctly!) and a blue cat called Stufer ( not real). The van also contains a rather lovely, strange, intelligent and unique girl who goes by the name of Jasmine. Yes, that is green hair and yes, she is a Dr Who freak.

Until recently she resided in an upstairs hovel, err sorry, BEDROOM in our house. To be fair, the bed was never truly visible and in fact most of the room was inaccessible but she could be found there on a regular basis - if you looked hard enough. Now though, she is not upstairs, or clogging the shower with her mass of hair, or leaving her leg shavings in the sink, or eating all the chocolate in the house, or singing loudly in front of the computer. No. She is on her way to you.

I also need you to warn the various presidents of such clubs as Table Top Roleplayers, Glee Club and especially the Harry Potter Society that she is on her way with plans to take over and for God's sake - if you value your sanity - please sort her into Slytherin house. Definitely not Gryffindor. Not ever.

I tell you all this not to warn you of impending doom but to let you know that you are receiving a treasure. I am entrusting her into your hands. Challenge her, give her goals, raise the bar and give her new and exciting experiences. I know that she will rise to the challenge. I know this because she is my daughter and I am so very proud of everything she has already achieved. I also know that she is capable of great things. Maybe evil - but great nonetheless.

Most of all though, above and beyond everything else, please keep her safe. She is one of two of the most precious things I have in my life (the other being her younger sister) and her safety is paramount.

Also, If you know of anyway to get her to eat more fruit and vegetables I will be eternally grateful.



Yours faithfully

Mrs V J Chatfield (mother of Jasmine Chatfield aka Evil Dark Lord of All - EDLOA for short)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday Bakerooooo - Cheese Scones

Well hello 2011!! Nice to have you here. I'm sure you will be fabulous.
I hereby designate my Sundays as baking days and today I will share my favourite cheese scone recipe. I have made these for years and they are so easy and quick to make.

Ingredients

12 oz self raising flour
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 pinch of salt
4 oz of grated mature cheddar cheese plus extra for topping
2 eggs
1/4 pint of milk plus a little to glaze
Sprinkling of cayenne pepper


In a big bowl mix together the flour, mustard powder and baking powder with the pinch of salt. Stir in the cheese.

Lightly whisk the two eggs with the milk. Make a hole in the mixture and pour in the egg and milk mix. Mix together dragging in the flour and cheese mix a little at a time and then knead lightly until you have a soft dough.

Roll out to a 3/4" thickness. Sometimes I don't roll with a rolling pin, I just pat my dough down until it is approximately the thickness I require. Using a 2 1/2" fluted pastry cutter, cut out your scones. This mix will make in between 8 - 12 scones depending upon the thickness you like and the size of the cutter. I like mine really thick and so I only got 8 out of my mix! Place on a baking sheet covered with non-stick baking paper. I use a reusable Teflon sheet. Glaze the top of each scone with milk and sprinkle lightly with cayenne pepper and top with grated cheese.

Bake for 15 mins in an oven preheated to 220C.

Place on a wire rack to cool but not too much! Eat warm with lashings of real butter! Nom nom nom!!

Kooky Advent Calendar - Dec 24th and 25th

Well! Christmas is here! Merry Christmas!!
To celebrate I am posting up my first attempt at making cakepops.

Ingredients
Cake mix or make from scratch
Candy Melts or cake coating
Frosting of your choice
Decorations of your choice
Lollipop sticks

Instructions

Bake up the cake mix of your choice to the instructions on the packet or make your own from scratch.

Mix and bake your cake as per instructions.

Leave cake to cool and then crumble until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. I cheated and used my magimix!

Prepare your frosting/icing and mix with the cake crumbs until your mixture comes together. I used just over half a tub of Better Crocker readymade frosting.

Roll up your mixture into truffle sized balls and either pop in the fridge for a couple of hours to chill or in the freezer for 15 mins. This is important as they need to be chilled to dip without falling off the sticks!

Melt your chosen candy melts either by microwave or bain marie. Dip the end of your lolly stick into the melted mixture and push into the cake ball and leave to set.

Dip your cake pop into the mixture and straight out again. Do not twist or turn as your cake ball is likely to drop off!

Hold the dipped cake pop over the bowl and turn slowly to even out the coating. Tap the wrist that is holding the stick to remove a build up of coating. This is safer than tapping the stick against the side of the bowl as it is a gentler way to do the same job!

The noses for the reindeer are small candy coated buttons and I used cut down Matchmakers for the antlers (Curly-wurlys may work too).

Before the coating sets, push the antlers into the top of the cake ball gently and pop the nose on the front.

Leave the cake pops to set. I stood mine in some old polystyrene packing but be sure to weight it down first.

Decorate your reindeer with icing and sweets to create the eyes, mouth and ears.

When mine were finished I wrapped them in cellophane with a twist tie to keep them fresh and ready for my tutor group.

I made snowmen too with a vanilla cake mix and white candy coating which was them dipped in sparkly sugar to give a snow effect.

Kooky Advent Calendar - Dec 21st

A very happy winter solstice to one and all. Click here to see some fabulous pictures from National Geographic which Mark the occasion of both the winter solstice and a lunar eclipse occurring on the same day.

Kooky Advent Calendar - Dec 20th

Well obviously this is a time of year when we indulge in rich food and more alcohol than we would usually consume. Click here for some hangover remedies for those 'after- party' mornings!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Kooky Advent Calendar - Dec 17/18

via moonstitches.typepad.com

A beautiful owl tutorial so that you can make your own parliament of owls for Christmas gifts.

Kooky Advent Calendar - Dec 16th

On my Christmas wish list this year is a proper cocktail maker. I have always been fascinated by the combinations and tastes and the creative way cocktails are put together. Click here for oodles of fabby cocktail recipes to keep you shaking and stirring throughout the Christmas season.

Kooky Advent Calendar - Dec 15th

Sometimes you just wish that you had an extra present for someone but you turn out your pockets and all that you find is a two pence piece and an old polo. Here is a quick and cheap idea for a present using things you probably already have in your store cupboard. Click here for the lowdown.

Kooky Advent Calendar - Dec 14th

Good old Martha Stewart! Click here to find a link so you can make your very own pine cone elf decorations.

Kooky Advent Calendar - Dec 13th

There are some things that always remind you of Christmas. For our family it's watching any version of "A Christmas Carol" on the telly, snuggled up with warm drinks and popcorn. Another thing I remember is watching Charlie Brown so click here and enjoy!