Winter's not quiet over yet

There are so many delicious things people usually save for Winter. Thick, hearty casseroles, rich saucy dishes, sticky caramelized puddings! So so many mouth watering delights. One dessert I usually save for Winter is apple pie. I have no idea why though, as it is so good hot or cold. I really should make it more, as it seems simple, but you can create so many varieties of the simple apple pie. Like infusing the stewed apples with cinnamon, or other spices, or adding other fruits - not just sultanas, I like to mix pear in with the apples sometimes. I also sometimes caramelized the apples and make a type of toffee apple pie. This time though I have gone traditionally. I made a super crumbly shortcrust pastry, lined it in a tall pan, added heaps of apples and served it with cream and custard. There were no complaints (actually very few words as it was hard to focus on anything but eating it).

I recommend trying a few varieties of apple pie, and seeing how to turn it into a summer favourite also. Possibly a tart or turnover style pie instead of the warm high pie. Enjoy!
 

Crumbling over cupcakes

I ask you, what do you like doing on the weekend? Do you like hanging out with friends? Having a beer? Chilling out? I'm going to assume you answered yes to all those questions, because if you didn't, I'm sorry but we can't be friends. The best we'll be is somewhat acquaintances who nod politely at each other when we meet in public.

So, why do I bring this up? No, I'm not culling my Facebook friends (not before Christmas anyway, are you mad!!). I'm just testing the waters to find out if these cupcakes are for you. They are pretty special, so you'd want to share them with some pretty cool friends. They are great with a beer on a hot afternoon. And they are also great to use as a hearty farewell! These cupcakes were made especially for my friend who was moving jobs - bigger and better things. They are everything a good cupcake should be - moist with layers of flavour, topped smooth frosting and a delightful crunch. ENJOY!

So Frenchy, so apply

I generally like to bake something simple for my toddler to take for lunch during the week, a little lunchbox treat. I will sometime make some cookies or a little apple or butter cake, then cut into easy pieces and freeze for easy use when making lunches in the morning. I was doing some blog research over the weekend and found a recipe for a French Apple Cake. It looked so delicious that I had to try it. The original recipe called for rum, however I didn't have any in the cupboard, but always have some brandy left over from Xmas baking (so this won't really be a lunchbox treat for Reuben, but Mummy needs treats as well). The original recipe also called for plain flour and baking powder instead of self raising flour. I have run out of baking powder, so went with the self raising. My cake turned out flatter than the one in the recipe, so think next time I will have to do it properly, will also try with rum.

Whatever the ingredients, this was the perfect after lunch treat for myself and the toddler. Enjoy.

Ladies who afternoon tea

On Friday, my friend at work was nice enough to share a lemon tart her boyfriend had made. The pastry was so delicate and the filling subtle and smooth. It made me want to bake tarts again. I had an old friend come for a visit on Sunday afternoon, so thought that would be the perfect time to make some tarts. The toddler was strangely behaving himself in the morning, so I started baking. I wanted a crumbly shell, something that wasn't too sweet, so went with the amazing Maggie Beer's sour cream pastry (I didn't roll it out as thin as I would have linked, but no worries). Then for the filling I had a massive bowl of fruit, so thought I'd do a creme anglaise with caramelised apples and pears.Accompanied with a nice hot cup of tea, they were the perfect afternoon snack to catch up over!

Lunch box treat for daycare

I don't have any proof, as I am one of the first to drop my son off in the morning, but I sometimes wonder if the other parents are judging what I leave my child for lunch in the fridge at daycare each day. Do they look at the same ham and cheese sandwich that my son gets for lunch everyday and smirk at their gourmet bites they have brought in for their child, or do they think "I really should try feeding my child ham as it won't eat anything else?" I am sure everyone actually does what I do and throws the lunch in the fridge with the hope it lands in the correct basket then whips my child to whatever room he needs to start the day in before having the teacher peeled him from my arms so I can run to the car/bus/train to get to work on time. No time for judging, only time for a sympathetic look or smile from other parents as you can hear your child screaming down the hall.

So, with this little theory of mine not really debunked or confirmed, I sometimes like to treat my son with a special (tasty) lunch box treat. Today it's an apple tea cake. It's so easy to make, so can be whipped up the night before after the kids are finally in bed and before you pass out from exhaustion yourself. ENJOY.

Mixing ideas to make pie

I remember going to school fetes as a child and always wanting to get either fairy floss or toffee apples. If I ever did get the fairy floss, it wasn't until I started eating it that I realised I didn't like it. If I ever got the toffee apple, I would lick all the toffee off and then have a soggy apple on a stick. Not amazing, should have had the caramel popcorn.

With this in mind, I thought I'd have a play with the ideas of toffee and apples (as I am no where near advanced enough to make fairy floss). I was given a Maggie Beer cookbook for Christmas (I LOVE Maggie!) and have been wanting to try her sour cream pastry. This little pie seemed like the perfect excuse. 

After making the pastry, I can tell you I love Maggie even more. It was a delicious buttery pastry which had the perfect crumble to it. And, best of all, it stayed crumbly even after having apples in it for a day.