tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17019352678136549162024-03-12T21:28:59.365-07:00Potty and Cakepottyandcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04526114092610760916noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701935267813654916.post-38442799929042850552020-04-08T03:27:00.000-07:002020-04-08T03:27:01.773-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Cinnamon Buns</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LoXZcnybmO8/Xo2ebIJnK9I/AAAAAAAACOY/nv4u35Llo54pM9H1qX1AwUNartTMGnwxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_3154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LoXZcnybmO8/Xo2ebIJnK9I/AAAAAAAACOY/nv4u35Llo54pM9H1qX1AwUNartTMGnwxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3154.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Makes about 12</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm not good at sharing my recipes but that's because a recipe that I have developed has taken real brain power to conjure up. Some recipes are a matter of tweaking and finding your own way of doing it, and these ones are good to share. This recipe is super easy, and if you're working in a warm kitchen or have an Aga, means you get your buns really quickly! The cinnamon buns I used to make for the shop were an enriched dough with eggs as well but this recipe means it can be plant based and also simpler which, as we find in "lockdown" and food not in such abundant supply, eggs are precious and could even constitute a whole meals so save the eggs for that!! Are you finding the children want to bake, or as happens in our house, they like the idea, watch you get all the ingredients out then they wander off and only come back to ask "when will they be ready?". The advantage of this recipe is if you are feeling a little (or A LOT) tense choose to knead by hand and the physical and therapeutic nature will ease your busy mind! Its also cheaper than therapy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Ingredients: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">For the dough: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">300ml Milk or plant milk - lukewarm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">25g Caster sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1 1/2 tsp fast action yeast</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">500g Strong white bread flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1 tsp salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">85g Butter or vegan butter (I use Naturali)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Filling: 80g Butter or Vegan Butter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">80g Dark Brown Muscavado </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Sugar</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Method:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I don't like to get my hands dirty before I have to and rubbing in is one of my least favourite things, so if you're like me, pop the flour and the butter in your mixer and "rub in" to a breadcrumb-like texture, then stir through the yeast, salt and sugar and finally add the lukewarm milk. Bring the mix together and knead to form a smooth, elastic dough. I do like to do this by hand but you can stick with the mixer if you prefer just remember to change from the K mix fitting to the dough hook. </span><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8t7X3CeQ6Ow/Xo2eJsK-C3I/AAAAAAAACOQ/4GzuG0GQDgIbd6sVbJf9Kd16FQeUo3O6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BA551FB2-4D64-4D16-A952-0FEBF4125610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8t7X3CeQ6Ow/Xo2eJsK-C3I/AAAAAAAACOQ/4GzuG0GQDgIbd6sVbJf9Kd16FQeUo3O6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/BA551FB2-4D64-4D16-A952-0FEBF4125610.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Once you have a lovely ball of dough place it back in the bowl covering it with a plastic bag or a shower cap, pop in a warm spot and leave it to rise for about 40 minutes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Once risen, take the dough from the bowl, don't leave any in, that will just reduce the size of the buns! Pat it down and make a rectangle about 30cm x 40cm. Spread over the soft butter, sprinkle over the sugar and then the cinnamon. Roll up lengthways, so you are left with a 40cm long roll, using a serrated knife carefully slice into 12, pop into a lined tin. You can leave room between each bun as they will rise and fill the space. Leave to prove again for about 20 minutes - again don't forget to cover with a bag, cling or shower cap to keep the moisture and heat in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Once risen pop into the oven at 180-190, or top oven in the Aga but using the cold shelf, for about 17 minutes. Once risen, and golden brown remove from the oven.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Prepare your icing. Now you can go all out and make a cream cheese frosting but we go for icing sugar and water glaze, its quick and easy. Mix the icing sugar and water to make a smooth just pourable paste and pour over the warm buns. This will absorb in and make a nice glazed effect. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Eat as soon as you can!!</span><br />
<br />pottyandcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04526114092610760916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701935267813654916.post-2280883225726031992018-10-30T09:36:00.002-07:002018-10-30T09:36:51.738-07:00Squeeze out the Sugar<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O0N15e367CE/W9iIDkpNKZI/AAAAAAAACKg/wqp4KQGpmpE62Qr1LcfSW4-wyw9HAxkGQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O0N15e367CE/W9iIDkpNKZI/AAAAAAAACKg/wqp4KQGpmpE62Qr1LcfSW4-wyw9HAxkGQCLcBGAs/s200/IMG_0967.JPG" width="150" /></a>I'm a sugar fiend. I love anything sweet, has a sweet tooth and because I am plant based I seem to eat A LOT of carbs. Admittedly I avoid refined sugar, but carbs are carbs and the body breaks them down whatever type of sugar they are so I thought I'd try a snack that ticks my boxes; tasty, vegan, wholesome and lower in sugar. ROASTED NUTS!! These are a great snack anytime, but they would go nicely with a G&T or a beer. I also like the idea of these as a home made Christmas gift. These are easy, you don't have to endlessly stir or turn so here you go.<br />
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Salt & Vinegar Cashews<br />
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Preheat Oven to Fan 150, Gas 3<br />
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Pour 75ml malt vinegar over 200g of unsalted raw cashews (I made this with Balsamic and they were divine!!)Leave to soak for 30-40 minutes. Drain and stir through 2 tsp olive oil or Extra Virgin Rapeseed Oil (I like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yorkshireoil/" target="_blank">@Yorkshireoil</a>), Chilli oil works well too. Sprinkle over 1 tsp salt flakes and stir again. Spread the nuts out on a baking tray (I use baking parchment which makes transferring the cool nuts easy as I use the paper as a funnel into a jar.) Bake for 20 minutes until golden and shiny. Leave to cool on the sheet before serving or pop in an airtight jar. I haven't managed to keep these longer than a couple of days as they are so delicious but as long as you store them airtight, in a cool place out of sunlight I can't see why they wouldn't last a while.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9RaTYx4ROIg/W9iHVjqYQ9I/AAAAAAAACKY/2DiL7wVfGyUAZSrV4busCKlTmwrGyRiGwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9RaTYx4ROIg/W9iHVjqYQ9I/AAAAAAAACKY/2DiL7wVfGyUAZSrV4busCKlTmwrGyRiGwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Malt vinegar is not gluten free so use Apple Cider Vinegar instead as it is equally as tangy😄</div>
pottyandcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04526114092610760916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701935267813654916.post-38316563860139315072018-10-02T01:23:00.000-07:002018-10-02T01:30:39.071-07:00Red Pepper, Bean & Spinach Stew<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">As the colour of Autumn unfurls itself like a blanket, conkers and leaves falling from the trees and the fire just begs to be lit salads seem a distant memory and its bowls of comfort food we crave. I have been following a plant based diet for a year now, it was something that I came to having been suffering with chronic fatigue, anaemia and Vit D deficiency. A two year journey of gluten free, dairy free, no refined sugar.....and still an insurmountable fatigue. Having had a few big gastro issues with eggs sporadically over the years, they were removed from my diet as well. Within weeks I felt sunnier, my knuckles dragged less, the stairs didn't seem so much like Everest and as year on things have only got better. Gluten now features daily as that was never the issue, I take it or leave it. Meat and fish, well they were never a big part of my regime. I won't lie, as those who know my big passion is cheese, the size of my cheese counter would tell you everything, I miss cheese. But the truth is cheese hates me; at first just cow's milk cheese, but then goat's milk and ewe's milk cheese had the same ill effect so although I miss it, it is something I can live without because knowing how bad it made me feel is enough to know it just isn't worth it</span> 😓<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I'm sharing, what I consider to be an all time winning recipe. It ticks all my boxes.</b> </span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I can eat it</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>It takes minutes</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I have everything in the fridge/cupboard for it most days</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>My husband will eat it!</b></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>RED PEPPER, BEAN & SPINACH STEW</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Serves 4 (if you eat like a mouse) 2 hungry eaters like me 😋</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Ingredients:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">a good splosh of<b> </b>extra virgin rapeseed oil<b> </b>(or your preferred oil)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">2 large red peppers, chunky cut (or if you have a jar of already roasted peppers that need using up they work brilliantly and it cuts cooking time)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">3 garlic cloves sliced (fresh needed here so squeezy stuff)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">2 teaspoons of ground cumin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">1 70g tin of tomato puree</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">400ml vegetable stock (add hot)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">1 400g can of tomatoes - I like whole but chopped is fine</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">1 Can Kidney beans, drained and rinsed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">1 Can of Black Eyed Beans (any bean will do, Cannellini, Borlotti, Haricot will be equally as good)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">About 5 balls of frozen spinach or if you have fresh 2 big handsful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Salt & Pepper (freshly ground - I use Himalayan Sea Salt)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Method:</b></span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Heat the oil in a large heavy bottomed casserole dish (Le Creuset, or equivalent, is perfect. Cook the peppers for about 5 minutes then add the garlic and cook through (should take about 2 minutes). Stir frequently to stop the garlic catching. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Stir in the ground cumin and cook through for a minute. Add the tomato puree, hot stock, tomatoes and the beans. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes on a decent heat somewhere between a fast simmer and rolling boil until slightly thickened. Add the spinach. If using fresh you will only need to stir it through. With the frozen spinach it will defrost in the pot, usually taking about 5 minutes, once it has broken down, give it a good stir, allow it to heat through and then serve. I admit to liking this with a hunk of good bread.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Enjoy 😃</span><br />
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<br />pottyandcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04526114092610760916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701935267813654916.post-63319732596808422152018-08-24T02:37:00.000-07:002018-08-24T02:45:41.407-07:00Ditch the Plastic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2EK3KkaYHg/W3_Q2pSAkFI/AAAAAAAACJM/iGKEM6NJcugWJCe_txwkKGUo3vGxzFymACLcBGAs/s1600/500ml-avo-front-2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2EK3KkaYHg/W3_Q2pSAkFI/AAAAAAAACJM/iGKEM6NJcugWJCe_txwkKGUo3vGxzFymACLcBGAs/s200/500ml-avo-front-2.webp" width="54" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Plastic has now become an
environmental plague; once thought of as a versatile and cheap material ideally
suited to modern convenience, it now appears we have created a monster. We are
bombarded by images of beaches littered with discarded, washed up waste reminding
us that every piece of plastic ever created will not have decomposed and it
will outlive us all – that in itself is shocking! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Over the years our
addiction to plastic has become such that you can find it everywhere, from
single use shopping bags to the polyester in the clothes we wear to the
microbeads in our skincare. Plastic waste has taken over cities, countryside
and oceans. The problem has reached such proportions, that it is now estimated
that <b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/feb/14/sea-to-plate-plastic-got-into-fish" target="_blank"><span style="color: #bf9864;">eight million tonnes of waste
plastic ends up in the sea each year</span></a></span></b>. In the next
10-15 years global plastic production is projected to nearly double.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The infamous <b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #bf9864;">Great Pacific Garbage Patch</span></a></span></b> (a
collection on non biodegrable debris) is a chilling reminder that our
dependence has gone too far. What’s more is that fish, shelfish and marine
wildlife feed on this waste so <b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/01/24/seafood-eaters-ingest-11000-tiny-pieces-plastic-every-year-study/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #bf9864;">humans who eat seafood ingest
11,000 pieces of microplastic each year</span></a></span></b>. Additionally it
is estimated that by <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/12108522/More-plastic-than-fish-in-the-oceans-by-2050-report-warns.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #bf9864; padding: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans</span></b></a>.<br />
Global Plastic Pollution by the Numbers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Up to 5 trillion
plastic bags used each year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">13 million tonnes
of plastic leak into the ocean each year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">17 million barrels
of oil used on plastic production each year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1 million plastic
bottles bought every minute<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">100,000 marine
animals killed by plastics each year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">100 years for
plastic to degrade in the environment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">90% of bottled
water found to contain plastic particles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">83% of tap water
found to contain plastic particles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">50% of consumer
plastics are single use<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">10% of all
human-generated waste is plastic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 6; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #545454; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt; padding: 0cm;">(Source: <a href="http://worldenvironmentday.global/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #bf9864; text-decoration: none;">worldenvironmentday.global</span></b></a></span></i><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The good news is that by making
simple changes in our daily lives we can all help reducing plastic pollution.
Here are some simple tips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #545454; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt; padding: 0cm;">10 Tips To Ditch
The Plastic In Your Life</span></b><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; padding: 0cm;">Refill</span></b><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> – Forget plastic water bottles, or disposable coffee and tea cups.
Switch to a refillable water bottle or insulated refillable cups to keep
hydrated throughout the day without generating huge amount of waste, this is my
<a href="https://www.chillysbottles.com/product/bottle/500ml/29672144915">favourite</a>
water bottle. You will also save money as coffee shops charge less for
refilling customers’ cups while <a href="http://www.findafountain.org/" target="_blank"><b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #bf9864; padding: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">free water fountains are available in more and more places</span></b></a>.
We recently holidayed in Cornwall and it was great to see free water fountains
on each beach.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k2EK3KkaYHg/W3_Q2pSAkFI/AAAAAAAACJM/092wc9eMotwU4lpzDbTeNeLVtMaKq6YoQCEwYBhgL/s1600/500ml-avo-front-2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="320" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k2EK3KkaYHg/W3_Q2pSAkFI/AAAAAAAACJM/092wc9eMotwU4lpzDbTeNeLVtMaKq6YoQCEwYBhgL/s640/500ml-avo-front-2.webp" title="Avocado Chilly Bottle" width="175" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; padding: 0cm;">Shop At Your Local
Market</span></b><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> – you only have to walk the aisles of your
local supermarket to realise that food packaging has gone completely mad, who honestly
needs a bread bun individually wrapped inside an outer bag – to be honest that
sort of bread would probably take nearly as long to decompose as the wrapper
itself?! Plastic is convenient to wrap fruits and vegetables as you can more
easily add a barcode on top of it. Shop at your local farmers market instead
using reusable or paper bags.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; padding: 0cm;">Switch
to <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Reusable%20Produce%20Bags&tag=theflexi-21&link_code=wql&_encoding=UTF-8" target="_blank"><span style="color: #bf9864;">Reusable Produce Bags</span></a></span></b><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> – say goodbye to fruits and vegetables plastic bags by using
reusable produce bags. Washable and reusable some can also be used as laundry
wash bags or cosmetic bags! I think we have taken to reusable bags, but we also
have to add a dash of discipline or organisation – how many times have you
thought to out the bags back in the car, only to find yourself having to load
the trolley back up with individual items, pack the boot and then fetch the
forgotten bags from the kitchen in order to transport the shopping into the
house? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; padding: 0cm;">And Reusable
Shopping Bags</span></b><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> – the plastic bag tax has been
brilliant at reducing plastic bag usage. Still there are occasions when you
simply forget your reusable bags and end up buying plastic instead (see my note
above about organisation!!). I try to always keep one of these <b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><a href="http://www.bynature.co.uk/brands/Envirosax.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #bf9864;">Envirosax</span></a></span></b> below
in my handbag, car or pocket to avoid being caught out. They quite comfortably
hold two to three plastic grocery bags and have been tested to hold at least
20kgs. Once folded they hold in the palm of your hand. I am also the lady in
the checkout that knows if I have been disciplined enough to remember my bags I
will have sufficient to give one away to another customer when they have
forgotten theirs (my kids find me so embarrassing).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; padding: 0cm;">Reducing Single-Use
Plastics</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br />
50% of the of consumer plastics are designed to be used only once, providing a
momentary convenience before being discarded. Eliminating single-use plastics,
both from design chains to our consumer habits is a critical first step to beat
plastic pollution. <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">Source: <a href="http://worldenvironmentday.global/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #bf9864; text-decoration: none;">worldenvironmentday.global</span></b></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; padding: 0cm;">Ditch The Straw</span></b><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> – there is little advantage to drinking with a straw really,
unless maybe you are unwell and stranded in bed. Plastic straws end up floating
in the ocean and represent a real danger to wildlife (check out the video below
showing the fate of a sea turtle). If you have to use straws, switch to a paper
straw or a reusable metal straw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span><b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt; padding: 0cm;"><br />
Pack Your Lunch</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> –
forget individually packed sandwich, salad, fruit or yoghurt. Buying your lunch
is wasteful and (once again) expensive. We also make our own yoghurt, which to
be honest isn’t cheaper, but it is better for the environment as we use glass
jars, no dinky plastic pots, using glass bottled milk as well. Cut down on
plastic waste by bringing your own food in stainless steel, bamboo or glass
lunchboxes (glass maybe not for the kids!). It will be cheaper and healthier
too! Take it a step further in restaurants by bringing in your own containers
for leftovers (it is only embarrassing the first time).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; padding: 0cm;">Buy Loose</span></b><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> – buy cereals, grain, pulses etc… in bulk and store them at home
in glass containers. You can even bring your own containers in shops such
as <b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><a href="http://www.planetorganic.com/unpackaged-at-planet-organic/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #bf9864;">Planet Organic</span></a></span></b> to
refill, also don’t be scared to ask in smaller independents if they will sell
from their bulk supplies as we do at <a href="http://www.quarmbys.co.uk/">Quarmby’s</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; padding: 0cm;">Become Recycling
Savvy</span></b><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> – check your <a href="https://www.recyclenow.com/what-to-do-with" target="_blank"><b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #bf9864; padding: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">local options for
recyclable products</span></b></a> before you buy and separate your waste
for recycling. Also don’t forget that at the supermarket that bin for “recycle
your plastic bags” is not just for shopping bags, use it to recycle bubble
wrap, plastic fruit and vegetable bags, plastic bags from clothing deliveries,
see my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg68H4iFtAk/?taken-by=quarmbys">Instagram
post</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; padding: 0cm;">Get Your Milk
Delivered In Returnable Glass Bottles</span></b><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> – take a look
around on bin collection days and you’ll quickly notice that plastic milk
bottles make up for a lot of packaging waste. Sign up for milk delivery and get
your milk delivered in reusable glass bottles instead. Try <a href="https://www.acorndairy.co.uk/get-in-touch/">Acorn Dairy</a> if you’re in
North Yorkshire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; padding: 0cm;">Beware Of Food
Containers & Trays</span></b><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> – take away and frozen food is
often packaged in plastic or polystyrene. When shopping for convenience food,
make a point of choosing products packaged in paper only. Keep an eye out for
the new <a href="http://aplasticplanet.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #bf9864; padding: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">plastic free logo</span></b></a> which
will be added to select products and brands in the months to come. <a href="https://www.vegware.com/news/">Vegware</a> is a great brand committed to
reducing non biodegrable or non compostable waste.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />pottyandcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04526114092610760916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701935267813654916.post-59008181673245446172013-05-29T05:03:00.000-07:002013-05-29T13:32:00.443-07:00The 5 Second rule<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh my how time flies when you have 3 kids, 2 adults in the house that are self employed, 3 dogs, 10 chickens and 3 ducks...did I mention a large garden with a new vegetable plot?! Flying by the seat of our pants just doesn't begin to cover it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've neglected my blog, rather that than one of the children?! This is almost a holding message because I'm snatching the time to write this from GoogleChrome which is having fun loading the page I'm supposed to be pawing over...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">MASSIVE plans afoot. These plans involve a jump with both of my size 8's ito a world unknown. Family and friends have been hearing via a drip feed but we are opening a delicatessen & coffee house. My feeding fetish is going public. Not content with baking my husband's waistline into submission we are going big style. I've owned a shop for nearly 17 years, 15 of which were spent with me behind the "counter" as it was the home to my interior design business <a href="http://www.abouthouse.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.abouthouse.co.uk</a>, and then a florists - which always looked pretty and smelt divine, but now it has come back to me and rather than re let it we see it as an opportunity to indulge ourselves, hell I've turned forty, if I can't do it now when will I? So watch this space...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until next time, I shall be busy researching suppliers, arduously tasting samples, getting fatter and happier by the minute, shhh don't mention the grey hair!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">re the title - I'm slightly sad that the 5 second rule doesn't exist, it does in our kitchen, but when I go ligit I'm going to have to give in and start caring about germs aren't I, damn it.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1_pkiQ3eEq0/UaXuBO-9xTI/AAAAAAAABSw/6mKrolW6miY/s1600/IMG_1430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1_pkiQ3eEq0/UaXuBO-9xTI/AAAAAAAABSw/6mKrolW6miY/s400/IMG_1430.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know whose this is but I attribute this to you whoever you may be</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>pottyandcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04526114092610760916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701935267813654916.post-31377233944405256672013-01-08T00:54:00.001-08:002013-01-08T00:56:37.898-08:00The Non Sticky End<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YOteVrXupDc/UOvd_bkqw6I/AAAAAAAAAiU/sz6_K31CxQo/s1600/8+Jan+2013+08:50:58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YOteVrXupDc/UOvd_bkqw6I/AAAAAAAAAiU/sz6_K31CxQo/s320/8+Jan+2013+08:50:58.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sticky end</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whoever said that working from home is an easier option than commuting to work was frankly lying. Let me paint the picture; commuting: getting into a child free car, listening the the music/station of ones choice at the volume preferred, getting to work, making a coffee tea and being able to drink it whilst it's still hot and finish it, do a days work interrupted only by meetings, telephone calls, emails, a lunch break (possibly), NOT as at home where one is interrupted at regular intervals by the beep of a household appliance cheerily telling you to empty it/refill it, coffee cups laid around the house half empty and stone cold, a small now very fast crawling toddler clearing every conceivable surface within reach because his toys just don't cut it! There are dogs to walk, household chores to complete, food to prepare (never mind eat) and that is all before I've actually got any work done. I have the most magnificent office yet where do I sit, the non sticky end of the kitchen table. The other end still has dough and oil on it from my post breakfast/ school run bread kneading session. The cloth was smelly so I left the mess! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What I want to know is how the hell did I ever get anything done before, back when I did a 10 hour day? My children were in nursery for a start so that cut out 2 meals a day, alot of leg tugging and general chaos. My head wasn't full of "I must do x, I can just do x before I check my emails again...". I had real conversations, clarity of thought, hot drinks, a desk. Need I go on. SO if you were to ever think, from your tidy office desk that you wish you were a homeworker, be careful what you wish for! </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EWR1gT8Rye8/UOvdH0c6YxI/AAAAAAAAAiI/ibBgPTuDvnY/s1600/DA4B446A-7CFC-4E6F-B322-7FA513CAD8A6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EWR1gT8Rye8/UOvdH0c6YxI/AAAAAAAAAiI/ibBgPTuDvnY/s320/DA4B446A-7CFC-4E6F-B322-7FA513CAD8A6.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You just can't resist playing with such a gorgeous boy can you?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love my children, and probably the crux of the matter is that I'd rather just be a master of one trade rather than a jack of all, I wish I could be a stay at home mummy and concentrate on that, but I can't so as I'm sitting here wasting a very very precious nap moment whittering on, in my dressing gown with a criminal hair do, make up less face, when I should be dressed for action, and doing invoices...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">...best have breakfast and a coffee first </span>pottyandcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04526114092610760916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701935267813654916.post-583514657777669532013-01-07T02:49:00.003-08:002013-01-07T02:49:46.728-08:00Under starters orders<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k9NUQlZJpF8/UOqoJZdS6cI/AAAAAAAAAh4/OAVJoJjUKKs/s1600/IMG_1554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k9NUQlZJpF8/UOqoJZdS6cI/AAAAAAAAAh4/OAVJoJjUKKs/s320/IMG_1554.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Complete with chocolate deer poo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As you know I have a slightly unnerving </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><strike>addiction</strike></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><strike> </strike>passion to baking. If you know me then seeing what we completed at 12.30am Christmas morning wouldn't surprise you at all, if not this is how I roll, fast and furious some might call it wreckless!? By the way the top window and the door had glass in them made from clear fruit sweets ta da!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have some geeky linky things in here but this post is unsponsored.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Having religiously watched GBBO and relentlessly told myself how I'd actually never be good enough for that - those technical challenges are something else, I decided I need to start stretching my horizons a bit. I'm also toying with the idea of getting serious so I have been doing some market research and some training! The market research is incredibly testing, having to go and seek out cake shops and sampling their wares is understandably tough, my waist line is growing and my thighs spreading... The training, however, was immensely fun. Is training supposed to be fun? I came away from my day at </span><a href="http://www.liminicoffee.co.uk/coffee_barista_training.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Limini Coffee</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, a barista and also full of excitement and positivity not to mention caffeine! My pupils were dilated for about 3 days! I've also been trying new recipes, tweaking old favourites and also trying the ultimate in the Holy Grail of baking - a sourdough loaf. (I feel there should be a suitably heady musical accompaniment to that section?). The examples of this type of bread are so magnificent that it is enough to stop you in your tracks, for proof have a look at Phil Clayton, <a href="http://www.foodforthoughthaxby.co.uk/" target="_blank">Haxby Baker</a> bread. Making a sourdough, for those that are not familiar with this type of bread, cannot be done on a whim (although conversely </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Simply-Good-Bread-Peter-Sidwell/dp/0857203134" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Peter Sidwell</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> seems to have a cheaty version in his book?) as one needs to have a Starter in ones baking arsenal first. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A starter is a yeast culture from which all your sourdoughs are grown. It takes at least a fortnight to ferment and become fully active and has to be fed and nurtured daily. It was this commitment that had thus far put me off, I mean who in their right mind takes on a responsibility like that - the commitment is up there with a new puppy for heavens sake. On 5th December I took the plunge and followed Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's starter instructions. Each day thereafter I took a bit out put a but in, sniffed it, recoiled from it (the smell is quite unsavoury at times), until after 3 weeks, as we have a cold house, it started to smell not unpleasant but something similar to a cider. I'm teetotal so any whiff of alcoholic tang and I'm repulsed that this smell, sweet but definitely fermented no longer caused me to bounce away from the jar. The texture had become very light and foamy...can you see how I have actually become attached to this thing? I'm describing it with a fondness usually reserved for family and pets? Anyway I seem to have the starter thing cracked and that has been rewarding in itself. Then the real fun started I decided to make something with it. Sourdough loaves are reserved for real Artisans, they taunt you with their cracked and golden surface, that crunchy crust and chewy inner. I have read through many baking books and frankly its a confusing world out their, some prove it only once, some prove it in half hour stints (they don't have 3 kids, 3 dogs and 2 businesses to manage do they?) others prove it twice - I followed the simplest route and that was Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's recipe in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/River-Cottage-Every-Hugh-Fearnley-Whittingstall/dp/0747598401/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357554016&sr=1-3" target="_blank">River Cottage Everyday</a>. My results have been varied, somewhat hindered when I kept forgetting the salt. I've created a little gallery...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Multigrain Sourdough</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Getting a bit more slash confidence!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've enjoyed the journey, my body needs to do some exercise to combat all the carbs, my kids are asking for "normal bread, its tastes funny mummy" so my starter is in the fridge and the yeast jar is back out whilst we have a bit of cakey bread that can be cut without the assistance of a Stihl saw. I lost my crown in a mint humbug before Christmas and I have panicked whilst chewing sourdough crusts that its fate was sealed yet again but so far so good. You have been warned. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's a commitment, it takes time yet its not difficult. I'm still wondering how dark it should be when it comes out? Have fun and good luck!</span><br />
pottyandcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04526114092610760916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701935267813654916.post-72569295315170210832012-10-07T08:17:00.002-07:002012-10-07T08:17:39.410-07:00As comforting as a warm blanket...<div style="text-align: right;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This year our orchard is barren, except for a single lonely plum that first the wasps got and then the chickens, so it was with great glee that I heard "help yourself because we won't be doing anything with them" from our neighbours whose apple tree is laden with fruit. I've had rich pickings from their tree before but that was when it belonged to someone else and despite them living next door for decades, they had never worked out what variety they are. It's as if they are a hybrid, not tart enough to strip the enamel from your teeth like a genuine cooker, yet not sweet enough to delight in eating from the tree. I cannot bare anything to go to waste so I am on a mission to use as many as the apples as I can. Even the windfalls are being fed to the chickens, which of course they amuse themselves over for hours on end. In my endeavour to cook my way through the harvest I have devised a new recipe, a hybrid of ingredients taken from my 2 favourite apple cakes and to be honest, without a hint of smugness, I'm pretty pleased with it!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Potty's Apple Dessert Cake <br />when miraculously the apples stay on top!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Potty's Apple Dessert Cake</span> (haven't come up with a witty name yet either)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Serves 6-8 although if you have <strike>greedy</strike> hungry husbands like mine only 4!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oven set to 140 fan /160 or gas mark 3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Baking time 1 1/4-1 1/2 hours</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Grease a 20cm/8" loose bottomed tin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">225 g Self raising flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 level tsp baking powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 tbsp cocoa powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 (half) tsp cinnamon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp ground ginger</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp mixed spice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">225g caster sugar (although I've successfully made it with granulated)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 Eggs (always free range)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">150 g butter, melted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">350g cooking apples (or any apples to be fair) cored and peeled and sliced (nothing fancy)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Method:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1) Get a big mixing bowl, add all the ingredients EXCEPT the apples, mix well to combine, then beat for about a minute.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2) Spread half the mixture into the tin, then pile the sliced apples onto this layer mostly piling them in e centre. Then pour over the rest if the batter, or scrape it out of the bowl with a silicone spatula and dollop it over. Don't panic it often looks like a kitchen version of a car crash at this point! The mixture will melt and cover the apples. If you wanted to you could scatter over some flaked almonds at this point.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3) Pop it into the oven for 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hours, until the cake starts to leave the sides of the tin and it is firm but not solid on top when pressed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4) Guve it a few minutes in the tin before carefully turning it out onto your serving dish. Dust with icing sugar and a little extra cinnamon if its a cold day, and serve with loads of extra thick cream, or creme fraiche , or even ice cream!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I offered my husband a slice earlier, I hadn't even decorated the cake, and this is what I found...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A quarter gone!! (When the apples go to the bottom!!)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The snuggly warm blanket?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He said it was as comforting as a warm blanket, just not quite as big! Praise indeed, although with a slice that big it was nearly as big as a blanket. I offered him a second piece, tongue in cheek, and he politely declined saying that he didn't want to be greedy! I love his passion for food which is never ever combined with any guilt - just pleasure. </span>pottyandcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04526114092610760916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701935267813654916.post-40152309975532839072012-07-23T13:07:00.001-07:002012-07-23T13:07:37.939-07:00Blooming Great Tea Party<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My cutest guest!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I like an excuse to bake, in fact I don't need any excuse at all. I shun <strike>work in general</strike> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">housework</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to bake, I find it cathartic, so I thought why not do what I love, include the people I love and hold a <a href="http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/en-gb/fundraising-volunteering/blooming-great-tea-party/" target="_blank">Blooming Great Tea Party</a> in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. So I blooming well did!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I made sure my cupboards were filled with all the essential ingredients; white, milk and dark chocolate, flour, sugar, eggs... The oven was cranked, I made an horrendous mess, and churned out cake after cake after cupcake!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a Burco boiler so that was dusted off and revved up and then <strike>the masses</strike> my friends arrived. The cakes were sliced, tea bags brewed and the coffers were filled in the name of charity. My children were already on school holidays so they were able to help <strike>eat</strike> hand out the cakes. Entire cakes were wrapped and sold and after 2 hours we were sold out! £211.65 raised. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Only one thing to say - thank you to everyone who supported me I thoroughly enjoyed my tea party!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQ8YxOn8eUs/UA2n1pZVZMI/AAAAAAAAAFw/i6GHJSDa1AU/s1600/IMG_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQ8YxOn8eUs/UA2n1pZVZMI/AAAAAAAAAFw/i6GHJSDa1AU/s320/IMG_0349.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it was all gone!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>pottyandcakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04526114092610760916noreply@blogger.com0