Happy Easter x

I should have known better than to stray from a recipe my mum recommended to me,

but last weekend, I felt the urge to explore different a different method.

A foolish maneuver to pull for such an important event...

The Bun Off

My boyfriend was wise enough to use his mothers recipe of 3 generations and came out trumps.

My attempt was swiftly tossed in the bin, never to be spoked of again.

The following day, with a clear head and mums tried and true recipe,

I had a somewhat 'magical' turnaround. 

We had already declared the Bun Off Champion though,

to the first time hot cross bun maker, Andrew.

Ingredients...

1 cup milk

1/2 cup hot water

2 tbsp dried yeast

2 tbsp sugar

2 cups flour

100g butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp mixed spice

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp cocoa

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 cup dried fruit (I used 1 cup sultanas plus a tbsp grated orange zest)

2 1/2 cups flour

Mix the milk, hot water and 2 tbsp of sugar in a metal bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over wet mix and leave to stand until bubbles appear on the surface. Add 2 cups flour to this at leave to stand again.

Cream butter, remaining sugar and egg as well as spices, salt and vanilla. 

Combine the two mixtures and add the dried fruit. The fold in the 2 1/2 cups flour.

Mix until a soft dough form then knead well (5 minutes) on a floured surface.

Dust a clean metal bowl with a little flour and leave to double in size in a draught free spot. 

(Our flat is super cold, so I pre-heat the oven to 50 C then turn it off just before leaving the dough in there).

Knead once more, then cut into roughly 20 pieces or so, roll into balls and place on lined baking trays.

Leave to rise again, until almost doubled in size.

Cut the crosses on top and bake in oven at 225 C for 12 - 15 minutes. 

Glaze with 2 tbsp of sugar mixed with 1 1/2  tsp hot water.

Serve with lashings of butter and enjoy.

Warming Autumn Treats: Spicy Apple Chutney

After a month of gallivanting around Italy, soaking up the sun and enjoying a predominantly gelato based diet... we were (strangely) pleased to feel the fresh Autumn air chill us to the core, after arriving back home in Edinburgh.
Almost instinctively, thoughts of all things warm, fragrant and spicy sprung to mind... and after such a long holiday, a tight budget had duly been put into practice.
With these two things in mind... A spicy apple chutney sounded like a winner!

Every recipe I read, called for malt, cider or red or white wine vinegar. But I already had a bottle of  distilled vinegar and couldn't justify buying another. So, by using the most humble of ingredients, I managed to produce something that looks and tastes like a chutney should. I understand the storage method is quite an important step, but so long as your jars are clean, dry, hot (from the oven) and have lids with a plastic inner, your preserve should be safe and sound.

The ingredients...

900g tart apples (peeled and cut into chunks)

1 large onion (finely chopped)

1 tbsp fresh ginger (finely chopped)

400g brown sugar

1 tsp allspice

1 tsp mixed spice

1tsp chilli (I used dried flakes)

500ml vinegar

Pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper

Let all ingredients come to the boil in a heavy based pan, then lower the heat and simmer for a good 40-50 minutes. Your entire house will now smell of vinegar... but don't fret, it eventually becomes the sweet scent of successful preserve making! Give it a stir every now and then, keeping an eye on the consistency. Once it's thick enough (draw a spoon through it - no liquid should be left at the bottom of the pan), put it straight into hot sterilised jars, fill right to the top, screw on the lid and tip it upside down for a while. Not sure what that last step does exactly, but I read it somewhere once! Can't hurt...