Monday 30 July 2007

Weekend bake-fest

I baked my socks off this weekend. Jose had his leaving party at Club Romano on Saturday night so I set about making a good haul of party cakes (and a load of dips/veggies) for that. Here we have some butterfly fairycakes (feeling the need to regress to childhood party treats!)...

... some white choc/raspberry brownies....



...and some millionaire's shortbread. I got part-way in to the shortbread making when I realised there was no semolina around, so I used polenta instead and I can tell you that it worked absolutely fine. The filling is condensed milk boiled up with some butter and sugar, and the topping is made by dolloping spoonfuls of milk/white/dark choc over the top and then swirling a skewer through it. Ooh pretty!



And once I finally rejoined the land of the living after a cup of coffee late on Sunday afternoon I got the urge to bake bread rather than do the housework. I followed Jamie Oliver's basic dough recipe (1kg flour, 3x7g yeast sachets, 625ml water, 30g each of sugar and salt). After proving the dough, I split it in two and shaped each half into a rectangle. One was spread with pesto and the other with banana and chocolate. You then roll them up, cut into slices and arrange cut side up to prove again before baking at 225 for 15 mins. A resounding success! The banana/choc one was especially yummy when just out the oven and still warm. I might try it with a bit less salt next time though.
































PS I bought my train tickets for a week-long work experience trip to River Cottage, first week of September. I CAN'T WAIT!! VERY VERY EXCITED!! Hmm, I'm sure nobody will notice my absence at the last day of the Cell Signalling conference in Dundee, I'll be well away on the train by the time the talks start on Sunday, knitting and thinking of all the foody fun that awaits. Hehe!

5 comments:

Di said...

That white chocolate and raspberry brownie was just fabulous!! I ate at least 3 bits!!

Anonymous said...

All looks fab, my mum used to make Millionaires shortcake although we called hers 'Messy Cake' you can guess why but it's just so yum!

Anonymous said...

YUMmmmmmmm....How come you aren't the size of a house?

Unknown said...

That looks amazing !!!! you will never finish to surprise me ... you learned too fast our Italian suggestion for cooking !!
well done

mort said...

brother made some millionaire's shortbread recently, but felt the need to make his own condensed milk first. wierd. only other thing i've known him to bake is lardy cake. lovely.