Making a Pickle of It

[Baa]

What do you do on a whim?

The other day it was chestnut mushroom and shallot pickle, then it was an All Year Round Chutney ... that stunk the place out and I'm not sure that Branston should be worrying just yet but as I'd never made preserves before I thought I'd give it a go. I fear they will both mature far quicker than I ever will.

Now I've got the hang of this preserving lark (of course, two recipes I must now qualify to be an expert by internet standards), actually it's more to do with having got more jars than I needed, I decided to go one better than the cookbook and make up my own recipe of something I'd never done before ... making a fruit curd.

Not just any curd ... a Baa's special ...

Blueberry and White Chocolate curd.

Blueberries are insipid but this is absolutely smashing. I feel the need to boast here because it's probably one of the nicest tasting things I've ever made.

Anybody else do things on a whim?

Oh and while I'm here I can never quite get butter shortbread right (I enjoy the results of trying even so). Any good shortbread recipes.

[paulc010]

I'm impressed Baa and that curd does sound great!

I'll need to speak to my dear mother and see if she still has Granny's shortie recipe - I remember loving hers, but then maybe it's a childhood thing and also a matter of taste....

I recently discovered a very strange website that I've had great fun reading although have yet to put any of it into practice: http://www.cookingforengineers.com

The article I found strangely interesting was from a guy who has performed an analysis of baking recipes to come up with a "periodic table of baking" based on moistness and butter content. It can be found here:

http://www.cookingforengineers.com/article/280/Analyzing-a-Baking-Recipe

I've got a feeling that whilst being rather analytical for the more creative types among us - he's definitely onto something there, at least in terms of avoiding disasters when being too adventurous!!

Sadly I seem to be more focused on analysing at the moment and need to take a leaf out of your book and actually DO something rather than thinking about it for a change, although my creative outlets are consuming all of my "free" time at present...

Paul

[seamus]

theres a trick to shortbread, use some rice flour aswell 
that stops it staying soft, the usual recipe for shortbread is

      125g/4oz butter
      55g/2oz caster sugar
      180g/6oz plain flour
in the oven for 15-20 minutes

insead of that, use 4oz plain flour and 2oz rice flour, does the job quite nicely

[Baa]

I love the site Paul 

Sadly I seem to be more focused on analysing at the moment and need to take a leaf out of your book and actually DO something rather than thinking about it for a change, although my creative outlets are consuming all of my "free" time at present...

I'm starting to think I have a compulsion, last week I made a handbag out of two neck ties. Which also doubles as a hat ... somewhat Papal but definitely a cosy hat.

What creative outlet do you have or would that be a TMI situation

theres a trick to shortbread, use some rice flour aswell 
that stops it staying soft, the usual recipe for shortbread is

      125g/4oz butter
      55g/2oz caster sugar
      180g/6oz plain flour
in the oven for 15-20 minutes

insead of that, use 4oz plain flour and 2oz rice flour, does the job quite nicely

Ahhhh so that's it! I've been making it with part plain and part cornflour and it's a dense buttery crunchy slab (which is better than my ginger nut biscuits which ought to be used to build garages).

Thanks Seamus I'll get myself off to Morrisons over the weekend in search of rice flour.

[paulc010]

What creative outlet do you have or would that be a TMI situation

Just my thespian pursuits. I do like singing, but sad to say I'm not a brilliant dancer and doing both at the same time is well, multitasking - not a strong point either lol

I have the pleasure of having my little one join me this year though, so it's been especially fun - oh and I get to be evil and creepy, which suits me just fine

Paul

[Rainee Bows]

What creative outlet do you have or would that be a TMI situation

Just my thespian pursuits. I do like singing, but sad to say I'm not a brilliant dancer and doing both at the same time is well, multitasking - not a strong point either lol

I have the pleasure of having my little one join me this year though, so it's been especially fun - oh and I get to be evil and creepy, which suits me just fine

Paul

Dont believe him Baa its his broom dancing fetish that keeps him most busy


Rainee
xxxxxx

[Baa]

Just my thespian pursuits. I do like singing, but sad to say I'm not a brilliant dancer and doing both at the same time is well, multitasking - not a strong point either lol

I have the pleasure of having my little one join me this year though, so it's been especially fun - oh and I get to be evil and creepy, which suits me just fine

Sounds fun. What's the play?

Evil and creepy sounds like my usual boyfriend choices.

Dont believe him Baa its his broom dancing fetish that keeps him most busy

Broom dancing? As in the Sourcrer's apprentice?

[paulc010]

How unlike Donna to  confuse things 

The broom dancing was from a previous show - Kiss Me Kate. Nightmare so it was.....

This time we're doing Oliver, and I am playing Mr Sowerberry, the undertaker

[Rainee Bows]

How unlike Donna to  confuse things 

The broom dancing was from a previous show - Kiss Me Kate. Nightmare so it was.....

This time we're doing Oliver, and I am playing Mr Sowerberry, the undertaker

Fooozlement is my muddle name


Rainee
xxxxxx

[Baa]

LOL thanks for the explanations!

I have to say I'm as much in the dark now as I was previously, I'll have to go and look it up