Soda Farl Pizzas

Well I do love how plans can change (not).  The whole thing with the car in the garage has thrown me off my game this week.  Anyway that's another tale of woe and it includes an oil leak.  

I didn't make my table runner as planned, didn't even start it.  My other plan was to tidy that tip that I call the TV room and that didn't work either.  I had visions of throwing open the doors, as two of the doors from the TV room go straight into the garden, and letting the fresh air in and the rubbish out.  Well, it was foggy all day, and cold, and damp so I tackled the craft room instead.  The craft room was probably worse than the TV room yet a quarter of the size.  I cleared out two large bags of rubbish and two crates of stuff to be donated.  I sort of rearranged it, opened the window for a while and now it is fresh as well as changed around. 

All this effort got us out of puff, we didn't even attempt any lessons either.  So for lunch we raided the freezer for our stash of soda farls  and turned them into soda farl pizzas.,

Recipe

8 Soda Farls split in half

blob of BBQ sauce on each
topped with a slice of salami, some peppers,
mushrooms and finally cheese.
I sprinkle a few mixed herbs over the top to give them a pleasing look.

Bake them in a hot oven for 15 mins or so until they are cooked how you like. 

Five Mile Trek - just for fun!

                                                                                                                                                                         Where I live it is really pretty.  I mean not just pretty but beyond that.  It's the sort of place you would settle down in to if you want to slow the pace.  We are so fortunate to live here and every single day I count my blessings.

Today I took the children for a treck!  And they are now all sleeping very soundly in their beds, tired and happy.  I have to confess that my feet hurt a little and my thighs ache.  We walked almost five miles over rocky coastal paths. We wandered through marshy fields and explored several deserted coves.  I took loads of photographs, far too many to share on this page, it was hard to chose which ones to share. 

One of the beaches had a couple of old wrecked boats on it, they made an interesting resting spot for the children while they had some refreshments.

We collected many shells and sparkly stones.  

I love the boats in our village.

 

Walking out to the sea, it had to be done. You can see Sol getting her balance before she attempted to walk along the concrete slip. 



Tomorrow I am hoping to be working on making a table runner for my dining table.  I have some red and black patchwork pieces, all pre cut and ready to go.  That's the plan anyway, but anyone who has a few children knows only too well that those plans are subject to change at very short notice.

Meet Fred

I had another attempt at the French Fancies, they turned out pretty good, still not too sure about the icing but they will do.  My friend is visiting tomorrow so it will be interesting to see if they meet her approval.  

I have to introduce a new member of the family today. Meet Fred .....

Fred is a Seimens Dressman TJ10001 shirt ironing machine.  I had some rather interesting and funny conversations with some friends at a home ed meet up last week. I came home to share them with my other half. The conversations were about one of the other home ed mummies owning a shirt ironing machine and how it just blows up and your shirts are ready to wear.  Well my husband loves shirts, he had at least 70 in his wardrobe much to my dismay.  If I didn't iron them he would go out and buy more, he is a real one to watch for that.  I told him about the machine and he promptly went out and got one.  It cost a few pounds I will say that much, but after already test driven him I am sure he will earn his value back in the very near future.   Since knowing he was due to arrive today I have affectionately called him Fred, that of course caused further debate as my husband reckoned he should have been called Charles.  Of course I am going to win this battle. 

French Fancies Recipe

Today we had a practice run at making French Fancies.

Story goes that a friend of ours has fond memories of her mother making french fancies when she was a child.  Her mum sadly is no longer with her but her memories remain.  Seeing as I am always one for a challenge thought I would have a trial run at making these little square cakes. 

I have no photos yet as my icing didn't turn out that good.  I really need to tweak the recipe yet as I found them a little too sweet.

Here is how we started

For the cake bit which actually turned out perfect.

250ml milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
30g margarine
140g caster sugar
2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla flavour
200g plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 180C and grease (or line) a square or rectangular baking tin.

Combine the cider vinegar and milk and set aside to curdle a little. Mix together the margarine and sugar rill fluffy(ish) then add the oil and vanilla and beat well. Add all the dry ingredients and the milk alternately into the margarine mixture, stirring well after each addition but be careful not to over mix. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for about 18 - 20 minutes or until golden all over and feels firm to touch. Let cool in pan then carefully turn out.

Cut the cake slab in half, spread raspberry or strawberry jam over one side then place the other half on top. Cut this into squares, however many or size you want.

For the soft blobby bit on the top

4 tablespoons of margarine
3/4 of a cup of icing sugar
1/2 tea spoon vanilla flavour

mix will and add a blob of this cream frosting to the top of each square.

The runny fondant icing - this is the bit that was too sweet for me

3 cups of icing sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon of golden syrup (I think I added too much)
you will need a flavour/colour - I added a few drops of yellow colour and lemon juice

Gently heat the fondant icing ingredients in a pan till runny and simply pour over the squares you have cut.  You may need to practice a little to get them looking perfect.



Verdict - Good, all got eaten yet personally I thought they were a bit sweet but I am definitely going to try these again and next time will photograph them too.