The Kitchen Front - Turkish Delight

It just would not be Christmas in our house if there was not hiding some where a gooey box of Turkish Delight...

Turkish Delight

Ingredients

675g Caster Sugar

Juice of one lemon

100g Corn flour

30g Powdered Gelatine

25 g  Icing Sugar

2-3 tsp Rose Water

1. Measure the caster sugar in to a stainless steel pan, add 300ml of water and the lemon Juice.
2. . Mix 75g of the corn flour with a further 200ml of cold water until smooth and stir in to the sugar mixture. Sprinkle the gelatine over and slowly bring to the boil, over a medium heat simmer briskly for 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile line a deep Baking tin with 2 layers of cling film. Sift the remaining corn flour and icing sugar together and leave to one side.

4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and leave to cool for 5 minutes. Stir in the rose water and pour in to the prepared tin. Leave to cool in a cool dry place (not the fridge) for at least 12 hours.

5. Cut in to cubes and roll in the corn flour and icing sugar mix. They will keep in a airtight tin for one month.

Tips: Cut the Turkish delight piece by piece as it tends to melt back together if you try to cut too many pieces at one time.

You could also try coating the finished squared in melted chocolate, for an even more indulgent treat!!!

Wendy x

The Kitchen Front - Blackberry & Apple Jam

There is nothing nicer than on a cold crisp winter morning, to wake up to a freshly brewed cup of coffee in your favourite mug and a warm slice of toasted bread topped with lashings of homemade Blackberry and Apple Jam...

...Well that would be nice except I had a dieters feast of milk less porridge and a glass of water this sumptuous Brekkie is for my boyfriend lucky devil!

We are supposed to be going up to Covent Garden today to enjoy the food market there and soak up the Christmassy atmosphere and also smile in smugness at the frantic shoppers who still have yet to finish their Christmas shopping. But as its taking ages for him to get ready I thought I would post the recipe while I wait.

I made the jam a few weeks ago with some blackberries that I had stored in the freezer the fact that they were frozen before hand meant that they needed a little less cooking down than if fresh as they were quite soft and mushy already.

 Apple and Blackberry Jam

Ingredients

1lb/450g  Blackberries
1lb/450g  Cooking Apples

2lb/900g  Sugar

2tbsp       Water

Method :

1. Wash the berries in cold water and drain well.

2. Put the apple in to the pan and add the water. Simmer the apple for 10 minutes or until the apple has softened.

3. Add the blackberries to the cooked apple and continue to cook until all the fruit has softened.

4. Pour in the sugar and stir over a low heat until it has fully dissolved in to the mixture.

5. Bring to the boil and continue to boil for 15 minutes.

6. Remove the pan from the heat. Drop a teaspoonful of jam onto a cold saucer. Allow it to cool  for a few minutes and then gently push your finger through the jam, if it wrinkles then it is ready. If not then return the pan to the heat and boil for a few more minutes return the saucepan to the heat and continue to boil for a few more minutes and then test again. Repeat this process until a set has been reached.

7.Once the setting point has been reached take the pan off of the heat and let the jam cool for about 10 minutes.

8. Pour in to sterilised jars add a wax disk and then seal with lid immediately.

Prepare the jars by washing well in warm soapy water and rinsing thoroughly. Dry the jars in a cool oven (140c/Gas Mark 2). Fill whilst still warm to prevent the jars from cracking when the hot filling is added.

Presentation
I first cut a 3" square from the gingham fabric
I then folded in the half and then half again.
I then cut a curve in to the folded fabric, which when opened out formed a (not so perfect but never mind) circle.
I then secured this to the tops with wool.

I think they make great gifts and adding the Gingham makes them look much more homely!

'Jamtastic' (Sorry!!)

Wendy x

The Kitchen Front - Banana Loaf Recipie

While the snow falls outside I thought I'd treat myself to a warm hug of cakey treat with my Mums speciality Banana Loaf!!

The smell alone of this slowly baking in the oven with all its cinnamony sweetness is a treat in its self and well worth the 90 min wait!!

I have posted two versions of this childhood staple, one is the traditional recipe and the other is my slightly low calorie version which comes in at 3pts a slice, if you're on Weight Watchers that is if you cut the cake in to 10 slices which trust me is still very generous!!!!

Banana Loaf - Traditional Recipe
Ingredients
10oz  Self Raising Flour
4 oz  Butter or Margarine
6 oz Soft brown Sugar
2 Bananas
3 Eggs
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
3 to 4 Tablespoons of Milk

Method
1. Cream the Butter and Sugar together until fluffy.
2. Mash the banana and add to the sugar and Butter mix.
3. Mix in the eggs with a little of the flour.
4. Add in the milk and the remainder of the flour and the cinnamon
5. Pour in to a 2lb loaf tin. Bake in a moderate oven for 1 1/2 hours. - Aprox 150c/Gas mark 3/4.
6. Test with a knife or cake skewer if it comes out clean it is ready.
7. Leave to cool in tin then turn out on to a wire rack.

Tip : This can be frozen once cooled and will keep for a month in the freezer.

Banana Loaf - My Lower Calorie Version
10 slices per loaf  = 3pts per slice!!

Ingredients
10oz Self Raising Flour
4 oz Flora Extra Light
4 oz Silver spoon half spoon sugar
2 Bananas
3 Eggs
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
5 to 6 Tablespoons of Milk

Method is the same as above I tend to add a little more cinnamon but that all depends on personal taste.

It is just as delicious as the traditional recipe but a whole lot less sinful!!!

Enjoy Wendy x

Things to Make & Do - Winter Wollies & Baby Bunnies

These two Little Fellows are for cousins Lily and Kiera. They were made from a Debbie Bliss Pattern which my Mum had saved from an early 90's copy of the 'Woman’s Weekly' - God Bless Hoarding!! I am sure that the pattern must still be available in one of her many books!

Along with these little bunnies I have also knitted them each a purple and pink fair-isle hat and mittens.

The pattern for the hat was taken from the Dec issue of 'Lets Knit' magazine I loved the combination of the pink and purple hearts. I had never knitted on four needles before so I simplified the pattern to make it a bit easier, I must say I found the whole thing really tricky but loved the way the hats seemed to grow so quickly and no sewing in loads of loose ends! here minus the trimming!

So that is it C'est Fini! All the gifts are ready for their little recipients, so I now can sit back relax and plot all of the things I will be making Next Year!!

Wendy x

Things To Make & Do - Tradditional Teddy Bear Snowflake

Here is my latest attempt at the 'Classic Teddy' pattern from which I made Honey last year. This is snowflake. She is a soft creamy white in colour- thought the picture does not show it!!-with caramel coloured felt paws and feet. She is this year’s gift for the lovely Emily, thought I have found it hard to part with her because she is so soft and huggable!!!!

The pattern is very simple and one that I have been using for years. It is all done by hand though it could be done on a sewing machine if you prefer. I think the pattern originally came from my Textiles teacher at school so I have had it a long time which means that it has evolved over the years, I scanned in my original pattern and have cleaned it up in Illustrator so hopefully it should all still make sense. Enjoy!!

What you will need:

• Fur Fabric
• Strong cotton thread
• Black embroidery silk for eyes and nose
• Joints - Plastic Safety Joints got mine from http://www.christiebears.co.uk/
• Stuffing
• Pins
• Sewing needle + a long Sharp needle for sewing eyes and nose
• Pattern
  

Instructions
Cut all the pattern pieces out following the grain/pile/nap markings on the pattern.
Be sure when you are cutting fur fabric that you only cut the back layer and not the fur its self this can be quite tricky but if you take your time and use only very sharp scissors this should help the best way I find is to give the scissors a little wobble to move the fur out of the way before I cut.

Once all the pieces are cut out you can start pinning and then sewing them together.

1. Sew the two back pieces together as marked on pattern - Upper back.

2. Sew back together lower back the gap between the two sew lines if for stuffing later.

3. Sew Tummy pieces to gather along marked line.

4. Sew front and back pieces together along marked lines to create a continuous seam - no gaps needed!!

5. Sew two leg pieces together - Repeat for other leg.

6. Sew upper leg together all the way to tip of toe leaving gap for stuffing Repeat on other leg

7. Sew from Chin to nose on head pieces.

8. Insert Head Gusset - I find it easier to pin the head at the centre of the gusset (the nose) and work my way pinning down each side checking that it all matches up, before stitching.

9. Sew the Arm pieces to each other following the dotted line and leaving a gap for stuffing - Repeat on other arm.

10. Sew the foot pads in to each of the legs this is a little fiddly but with patience and enough pins it should not be too taxing.

11. Sew two ear pieces together as shown on pattern piece.

12. Now your bear is ready to be jointed, the best description of using joints on the web is at Soggibottom's Blog or if you prefer you can sew the arms, legs and head directly on to the body.

13. Stuff and then sew up seams.

14. Stitch ears on to the head - Pin in place first as the placement of the ears really can change your Teds personality.

15. Sew the eyes by using 4/5 French knots for each and fastening off the thread securely when finished.

16. The last bit is to sew the nose double up the embroidery silk and over sew the tip of the snout to create the nose. Again make sure that this is fastened off securely and your done

Now say Hello to your new friend!!!!

Wendy x

3 days to go.... Four down one to go!!

Things To Make & Do - Toddlers Time for Tea

For my Best friend's Daughter Willow, I have bought this lovely Metal Tea Set from Amazon as her Christmas present.

I love its vintage style and though it is a little on the expensive side it really looks well made and I am sure it will give hours of fun.

To go with it I have made some knitted cakes and sandwiches that I found on the net

The first Patterns were found on the Jean Greenhowe Website

Tea Party Treats Part 1 - Appetisers

Tea Party Treats Part 2- Cakes and Biscuits

I made the sandwiches and scotch eggs from these patterns. They were soo much fun to make and are quite addictive due to being so quick to make up!!

I also made some knitted cup cakes (which I completely forgot to photograph oops) I found the pattern at the St Albans based blogger Anjie Davison's beautiful site The Pom Pom Emporium and to be honest the piccys and instructions here are so cute and concise that I could not compete!! Plus this site is just so beautiful and so full of ideas it is a great place to pick up new skills and inspirations, you really must go and have a look!

Take Care 

Wendy x

9 days to go....Two down Three to go!!