Mad for Christmas baking!

Hello all

I was asked by the Baking Mad people to have a go at baking one of their Christmas recipes. That sounded right up my street.

I often use the website now as it is chock full of recipes, and I had no idea what I fancied so I ended up browsing for a long time.

I was so excited when I saw the instructions for making penguin decorations! Just what I was looking for!

There were some instructions, but I was a bit unsure as to the relative size of each piece. But, I am very pleased with the finished items. I was not sure how to make the tree, so I made a green cone, and then stuck on little triangles of green icing for the branches.

Then, when browsing again I saw a recipe for stollen bites. Stollen is one of my favourite cakes- I love anything with marzipan, and I think the spices just make it smell like Christmas. The recipe I usually use is a Rachel Allen one, but it does take a while, and this recipe seemed quicker so I decided to give it a go today.

The dough was easy to make, although in the recipe it mentioned adding sugar, but there was no amount given-I went for 50g as the dried fruit and marzipan sweeten it a lot. A word of warning- the dough is very sticky, but that is fine (and the same with other stollen recipes)- it is not like a bread dough, so not that easy to shape. It rested while I was at aerobics, and then I baked it while the oven was on for dinner.

You do have to dust it liberally with icing sugar when it comes out of the oven! Although I am sure that was no where near to the 50g stated in the recipe.

I thought it might be more like a recipe for individual ones, but you baked it in more of a rectangle shape, and then sliced it, although you could easily leave it as a loaf shape. If you fancy trying to make stollen then I would recommend this recipe, because it is much easier than the recipe I have used before, although I would add in some flaked almonds, as I love the crunch they add to the cake.

Perfect with a cup of tea, and it will freeze well too (if I can make it last that long….)

Baking mad also have some fab recipes for cupcakes, and some beautiful looking mince pies, so check them out if you fancy getting your festive bake on.

Are you a stollen fan? Are you decorating your Christmas cake this year? Any other festive recipes I should try?

I am off to try some stollen 🙂

Feeling even more festive!

Hey peeps!

I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I had a brilliant weekend in Bath- I love it there.

We drove down on Friday night (our hotel was near Frome, so a bit outside of Bath), and then headed to the park and ride on Saturday morning. That seemed the best way by far (previously we have got the train in, but that is much more expensive as the park and ride was only ÂŁ2.50 each for the bus with free parking). As we had only had a banana for breakfast we headed straight to Sally Lunn’s for a late brunch!

Yum yum, a bun with lemon curd, and an Earl Grey. Love it!

Then we were off shopping. My, the shops were packed! I had forgotten how busy city centres get this close to Christmas- normally I avoid the shops at this time of year. Anyway, I had a successful day as I had a list of people to buy for, and I managed to find little gifts for them all. The markets were so pretty, but packed (they even had a one way system going) so we had a little look, but decided to go back later (thanks to Lucy for the tip).

By around half 4 we were needing a rest, so headed to Starbucks, when I realised I had missed their 12 days of gifting this year- I meant to get one of their nice green cups but I totally forgot. Ah well, a yummy steamer with gingerbread syrup gave me some more energy.

We had a little look around the markets (so pretty in the dark) and then went to Giraffe for dinner (sweet potato fries mmmmm). Then we had a final wander and bought more gifts, and a few bits for me too (passionfruit curd- how yummy does that sound?). Andy did take a lot of photos (as usual) so I might pop some on here once he emails them to me. For now you shall have to make do with my purchases.

Some of the pretty decorations I bought- although the large wooden ones are for other people.

On Sunday we went to Stourhead, which is a National Trust property near to where we stayed. It was perfect, as they were having a festival of music, so there were local choirs and singers dotted around the grounds. We had a walk around the lake, a look around the house (all decorated with trees etc) and then went for tea (and carrot cake in my case). It was just so festive, I loved it.

I also bought a few more Christmas bits in the shop- the reindeer, and the Christmas tree tealight holder (the snowflake jar was from Bath).

When I got home I was planning on having a run, but it was about half 4, and I realised I had only eaten a banana for breakfast, and carrot cake for lunch- not ideal. So I lit the candles and concentrated on unpacking and tidying (and also searching you-tube for Christmas carols).

We watched the new Bourne film (which I was a bit apprehensive about as I love the first 3, but I really enjoyed it)- and had a nice snacky tea of ciabatta, cheese, salad and fruit.

And I had a lovely hot chocolate later on.

Love it!

This evening I went on a very cold run, and then have been writing some Christmas cards. I might even wrap some presents later!

Oh, and don’t forget to check out the lovely Christmas giveaway that is running at the moment- good luck!

 How are your Christmas preparations going? I am hoping we will put up our tree this week as I feel like the last person in the country to do it!

Win a Luxury Pamper kit!

The lovely folks at the Sainsbury’s food bloggers network have come up with a lovely pre-Christmas giveaway, and I was lucky enough to be one of the host blogs. You could win a lovely pamper kit, to give to someone as a lovely Christmas present.

The kit contains: Nip + Fabs body wash, body lotion, facial wash, hand cream, day cream, eye cream, relaxation mask, hydrating mask and facial scrub and is valued at ÂŁ40.

Sounds fab, right?

All you have to do it leave a comment on here, saying who you would give the kit to, and why. A team at Sainsbury’s will judge the responses and decide who will win. The winners will be chosen on Monday 17th December, so the winner should get theirs in time for Christmas. Only open to UK people.

Good luck!

Flying visit!

Hey peeps!

I hope everyone has had a good few days. I am pretty much back to normal now- phew! I went to pump last night, and I did feel much more tired than usual, so had slightly lighter weights for some of the tracks. (On a side note, that chest track song is so annoying! And what about the weird bicep one with no singing? Sounds like computer game music or something!).

After work today I went out on a short, chilly run! It was so windy out there- I was not expecting it. Anyway, I was taking it easy as I realised the last time I had a run was last Wednesday.

This evening we are driving down to Bath (well, staying in Frome and getting the train in) to visit the Christmas markets! Thanks to Lucy for posting just in time, we might even visit the fro-yo shop (I honestly think Andy will have some as he loves it so much, but I saw they also so acai bowls so might go for breakfast).

Have a lovely weekend all

x

Mornflake cereals and 11 answers!

Hey everyone!

I hope you are all OK- I was very excited to see a sprinkling of snow this morning- the fields looked so pretty. Luckily the main roads were fine, and by work it was more of a dusting, although I know in other places it was proper thick snow.  Anyway, the last couple of days I was off work with a horrible sickness bug, but I went back today and feel loads better. I decided to give the Sweatshop run a miss, just to give myself an extra day to get better.

I did think that last week I was very tired, and when I looked back I had done a 4 mile run on Saturday, 8 mile run Sunday, 3 mile run Monday, Aerobics Tuesday, Sweatshop on Wednesday (nearly 5 miles) and pump on Thursday, then a rest day on Friday (but a rush to get to the train station and a late night) and lots of walking on Saturday and Sunday. I think I have to remember that I don’t have to exercise all the time- I get it in my head that because I won’t have time to run on Friday, I need to add an extra one in earlier in the week, and then I miss my rest day.

Anyway, first up I was sent some cereals from Mornflake to try.

I thought they were just sending me the Cranberry and Nut Muesli (so festive sounding) but they also sent some Nuts and Honey Oatbran crisp, and some Nuts and Seeds Oatbran granola.

The Cranberry and Nut muesli is lovely- the flakes seem toasted (and in fact it does contain toasted oatbran and toasted wheatflakes) compared to more typical muesli with just rolled oats. I quite liked it as a topping to normal muesli. It does contain dried apricots, which I don’t get on too well with (I think because of the sulphur dioxide preservative), but it was only in small amounts. I loved the little dried apple flakes in there too.

The oatbran granola tastes like an american granola cereal. It is sweet, (but has13.6g sugar per 100g which is less than the muesli). The clusters are small and there are plenty of nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, pecans)- scrummy.

The Oatbran crisp is just divine. I would say this is a real treat, as it is high in sugar, but a delicious treat. It is stuck in huge chunks/ clusters, and also has hazelnuts and almonds in there. Seriously it is delicious- the kind of cereal that you can just eat by the handful. You have been warned!

All these cereals are in their new “Oatbran pouch” range- they all contain oatbran as that can help lower cholesterol. But really they are just tasty!

Right, on to the answers. The lovely Eleanor nominated me to answer some questions, so here they are:

  • What’s your best feature?

I would say my patience. I think I am quite a patient person, and I think that is a good feature to have.

  • What’s your worst habit?

Slurping my tea- because I like to drink it slowly, and if I wait for the top bit to cool down, then the last bit is too cold, so I tend to slurp at first a bit. But only usually when I am at home, so only subject poor Andy to it!

  • If you could spend a week anywhere on Earth, where would it be?

I think I would choose Hawaii. It is a tough one, as there are places I still want to visit, but it was such a relaxing and interesting and beautiful place.

  • What superpower would you have, if you could have one?

Fly! I would love to be able to fly! I used to dream I could fly, when I was younger, and I still remember waking up feeling disappointed that I could not actually fly.

  • If you had to give up either vegetables or chocolate, which would it be?

My first answer is vegetables. Then I thought about how rubbish I would feel, but I wonder if I could survive with fruit? I have given up chocolate before, for several months, so I know I could do it. Hmm. I think actually chocolate, because I quite like carob, and carob powder. I think I would feel rubbish if I gave up veg for good.

  • Book or television?

Book before bed, and TV in the evening.

  • Winter or summer?

Spring? Is that allowed? Yes, I have decided it is.

  • What would be your dream job?

Baking. Of course you knew that already. Baking in a little cafe somewhere, maybe in the mountains in Canada. But not too near the bears.

  • If you won the lottery, what would you do first?

Book a holiday!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Clubbing or out for a meal?

Meal. I hate clubbing. Well, maybe hate is too strong, but I really don’t like it.

  • And, most importantly, caramel or chocolate??

Yes, both, I agree!

So, pick a question and give me your answer! And if you want to answer them all on your blog, feel free! I feel this post is long enough!

🙂