There is nothing like the casual, off the cuff invitation to some new friends to come over and sew one morning to get you to start frantically unpacking your craft stuff. This week I found myself inviting three gals over next Tuesday and when I got home I realised that I might just have to unpack some of my stuff if we're to achieve anything other than drinking tea and talking all morning.
Firstly, I moved the cookery books into the conservatory:
which freed up this cupboard on which I slowly started to dump some of my stuff:
Then I emptied the dresser bottom but didn't quite get around to moving anything in there. I did however, go through all of my boxes in the annexe and I retrieved what I might need in the short term and repacked other stuff. At one point I did wonder about chucking this 'other stuff' out because if I don't need it in the short term am I just hoarding it (and the answer sadly, is Yes).
That job took me a couple of hours over two mornings and I must say that it's nice to have some of my stuff in the main house. Should inspiration ever visit me again I will be ready.
Meanwhile I'm enjoying my non-crafting and little blogging life. Most days I've had supper started way before the children get back from school which means I can sit with them and catch up on their news, do jigsaw puzzles with Raj and look vaguely at Amber when she asks me Maths questions. All this happens after we've had tea of course and (sadly for my waist line) most days I've managed to do a spot of baking. On Monday it was muffins:
I kid myself that these are healthy because they have carrots in them but the icing more than makes up for their wholesomeness. It's Philadelphia, butter and icing sugar and even if you halve the ingredients in the recipe you still end up with enough to spread on digestives biscuits afterwards. As you can see we fight over these.
On Tuesday it was Cowboy Cookies - a recipe given to me by Jodi in PA. They are yummy. I love the mixture of oats, coconut and chocolate chips and luckily the mixture makes 36 biscuits so they can last a couple of days:
Today Amber came home and made Macaroons from a Nigella recipe which really are the best ones I have ever eaten. Why? Because they have cardamom in them and she cooks them at Gas mark 6 for ten minutes so that the outside is crisp and the centre chewy. They are divine:
Here's the recipe if you want to make some yourself. You'll need two large egg whites, 200g ground almonds, 200g caster sugar, about a quarter of a teaspoon of ground up cardamom pods (the inside black bits) and 2 tablespoons of rosewater.
Mix the almonds, sugar, cardamom and egg whites together and knead with your hands to make a thick paste (or use the flat beater of your mixer).
Sprinkle some rosewater on your hands and roll into little balls - size of smallish walnuts. Place on baking trays and squidge slightly. Stud the centre with whole blanched almonds if you wish. Bake for 10-12 minutes at gas 6/200C/400F.
This recipe comes from her book 'Feast' which I received last Christmas. I decided last week that I was totally bored of cooking the same thing over and over again. Do you ever get like that? I love cooking but the chore of doing it every night gets you down sometimes. So I decided to try some new recipes from Feast. So far we've had Ritzy Chicken Nuggets which weren't that popular. One pan Sage-and-Onion-Chicken and Sausage was much better as was Meatballs and Couscous. Tomorrow it's going to be Blakean Fish Pie and sometime I'm keen to try her Involtini which is stuffed aubergine slices in a tomato sauce. I'm sure that last one will produce an "Ugh what's that?"
So, guess which dish got the thumbs up this last fortnight and the 'is there any more'? None of the above sadly but pancakes and bacon and maple syrup followed by cherry slice. Both of which took me minutes to produce. So why am I slaving over the stove each night ............
PS Amber wants me to point out that none of the above refers to her. She has a more sophisticated palate than her brothers.
Mine love that sage and onion chicken and sausage recipe. Has Amber done Nigella's chocolate version of the macaroons (in N. Express)? Very yum indeed. Must try the non-choc version.
Posted by: Ali | April 18, 2008 at 10:24 PM
nigella is responsible for a many an extra pound/kilo across the planet! sadly, we cook a lot of nigella. do you think jodi would mind you sharing the recipe for cowboy cookies as well? love the name!
Posted by: louise | April 18, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Definitely try the involtini - they are divine, we love them, even my meat-mad husband.
Posted by: Mel | April 19, 2008 at 01:25 AM
I have that book, but haven't really cooked that much from it. I think I need to take another look at it! Nice to see you are settling in well to your new place and making some new friends! All your goodies look so delicious and are making me very hungry this morning!
Posted by: Marie | April 19, 2008 at 07:52 AM
I just happened upon your blog; it's lovely.
I hope to come and visit again soon.
I haven't tried any of Nigella's recipes yet, but everything you baked looks so good.
Posted by: Pam | April 19, 2008 at 08:28 PM
Hello,
I have many of Lawson's books, and get great pleasure out of them. I enjoy her writing, and her campy recipes are such fun. Her approach to food is refreshing.
That sage and onion recipe sounds great, I'm going to give it a go.
Good to be back visiting. I'm off to catch up on your news, it sounds like alot has been going on with you!
Posted by: kiki | April 20, 2008 at 04:42 PM
Hi again, I just posted under kiki rather than the underground baker, and realized you wouldn't recognize me, echo! It has been awhile since I've been online - I went back to school this winter. That was a bit of a shock! I think I was older than all but one of my proffs, too, so it was humbling in an agist (is that a word?) way as well.
Posted by: theundergroundbaker | April 20, 2008 at 04:45 PM
We've been attempting to try at least one new recipe every week and it does help. Though I should say that the meatballs from Feast are a regular treat - and the crepes canneloni from the same is gorgeous even if you sub the crepes with penne and bake it that way. Mmmmmm. I LOVE Nigella, which probably makes me very sad indeed.
Posted by: dottycookie | April 20, 2008 at 06:56 PM
I'm pleased for you that you managed to get some of your crafty things out. I've moved mine downstairs recently and they are just so more accessible I find I'm doing more, esp when I've just got time for a little something.
I have Nigella's Feast too. I have it because when I borrowed it from the Library our dog, then a puppy, chewed the cover (yum!). I had to buy a new copy and got to keep the chewed one!
Posted by: Barbara | April 20, 2008 at 08:48 PM
Of course,food excites me. Has all my life. It is fun to discover new recipes and new taste sensations. I love to knead bread and eat bread. I am not allowed to enjoy bread like I use to. I like the fiber breads, but yearn for the fattening yeasty white flour taste. Hot from the oven, slathered with butter. Yum! Oh well.
Now, to praise you for finding a place to do yoga. I am so glad you have gotten back to it. It has made my life so much better since I went back to it. It is something that should be done for the rest of our lives. Taking the time for it is sometimes hard, but so beneficial for our muscles,joints, and minds. I have a new puppy that does not want me to do yoga, She wants to pull my hair and nip and play when I get on the floor. I have to put her up and hear her whine for a time. She is getting use to it now.
Love you and family,
Rada
Posted by: Rada | April 22, 2008 at 01:59 PM
is it possible to share the recipe for 'cowboy cookies'...they sound great. thanks.
Posted by: kiwirach | May 11, 2008 at 01:28 PM