Saturday 25 October 2014

HALLOWEEN

SAUSAGE MAN MUMMIES
Preheat the oven to 200c/180c fan/gas 6.Roll out ready-made puff pastry to about the thickness of a 50p piece.Using a sharp knife,cut into long,thin strips and set aside.Cut a frankfurter lengthways from one end to the centre,to split half of the sausage in two-these are the legs.Make diagonal 2cm cuts up the sides near the other end of the frankfurter and pull out to look like arms.Wrap the pastry strips around the sausage man's body and limbs to look like bandages.Bake for 10-15 mins until the pastry is golden brown.Serve with a bowl of blood dip tommato ketchup with sweet chilli sauce.

PUMPKIN MOCKTAIL
Mix fresh orange juice in a jug with asda's chosen by you tropical crush.Slice an orange into thin rounds,to look like pumpkin,then make a small cut in the centre and insert a strip of lime zest,to form a stalk.Serve the juice in paper cups with pumpkin slices floating on top.

CREEPY CRUNCHY PUMPKINS
Melt a bar of white choclate in a bowl over a pan of hot water-make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water.Mix in afew marshmallows,a little peanut butter and a dash of orange food colouring.Stir in rice krispies until fully coated with the mixture.Leave to cool for 10 mins,then form into pumpkin-shaped balls.Stick pieces of flake into the centres for stalks and leave to set.
SPOOKY STRAWBERRY
Melt a small bar of white chocolate in a bowl over a pan of hot water,repeat with milk chocolate.Dip unhulled strawberrys,one at a time,into the melted white or milk chocolate alternately.Leave on  baking paper until set,then use coloured writing icing to draw faces.
INJUREBREAD MEN
350g plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp mixed spice
125g butter,chilled
175g light brown soft sugar
4 tbsp golden syrup
1 med egg,beaten
piping icing,to decorate
Preheat the oven to 190c/170c fan/gas 5.Line 2 baking trays with baking powder.Sift the flour,bicarb and spices into a bowl.Rub the butter into the mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs.Add the sugar,golden syrup and egg,then mis ti form a stiff dough.Roll out on a lightly floured surface to the thickness of a pound coin.Cut out men shapes and arrange on the baking trays,allowing room to spread.Bake for 12-15 mins.Leave to cool and draw on scars,casts and bandages with the icing.




Saturday 18 October 2014

GAMSTON LOCK

What a lovely place.Use to visit regular until it was closed down from the fire. Now reopened and inside is really nice and the food was great 2 course mon-fri £8 so I went for starter and dinner which was prawn cocktail and rotisserie chicken with veg.Well presented and tasted great.Will visit again.www.gamstonlockpubgamston.co.uk

Friday 10 October 2014

ONION,THYME & RAPESEED OIL FOCACCIA

MAKES 1 LOAF
1tbsp dried yeast
600g strong white flour
1tsp salt
1tbsp caster sugar
100ml rapeseed oil,plus extra for greasing
300ml warm water
FOR THE TOPPING
4tbsp rapeseed oil
3 large onions,peeled and sliced
2tsp caster sugar
1tbsp balsamic vinegar
2tsp thyme leaves and a few sprigs
sea salt and black pepper
1 baking sheet

Preheat the oven 200c/400f/gas 6.To make the focaccia,combine all of the loaf ingredients with the exception of the oil in a bowl,make a well in the centre and add the oil and water,stir until you have a soft dough.If the dough is dry,add a little more liquid,if its to wet,add more flour.Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 mins or until dough is smooth.Put the dough into a lightly oiled bowl,cover with clingfilm and leave in a warm place to rise for an hour or until doubled in size.To make the topping for your focaccia,prepare the onions.Heat 2 tbsp rapeseed oil in a large pan over a low heat and cook the onions for 20 mins,stirring until soft and golden.Add the sugar and vinegar and cook for a few mor mins,season and set aside.Take the dough and knock it back to its original size and knead for 1 min.Place onto a lightly oiled baking sheet and stretct out to 28cm square.Cover and leave to rise for 30 mins.Make small imprints in the dough with your thumb.Spread the onions,thyme leaves and sprigs,the remaining rapeseed oil and a little sea salt on top of the dough and bake in the oven for 25-30 mins or until golden

Aldi's Banana Ghosts

500g Greek Yogurt 100g Desiccated Coconut 25g Milk Chocolate Chips 4 Large Bananas (firm, not overly ripe) Method Peel the bananas and cut i...