Baked Dougnuts

I've been planning on baking baked doughnuts before but never really thought that I could just bake them in normal standard muffin tins.....that is until now!  What a revelation it has been!  They are delicious even if I say so myself, filled with scrummy strawberry jam.  

I found the recipe here but made a small alteration and used Rachel's Organic Low Fat Vanilla Yoghurt instead of the one mentioned in the recipe simply because it was what I had in the fridge...no other reason...but once I've decided I want to bake something I want to do it now, not after I've checked the ingredients and been to the shops!

The shape is obviously a bit different from your traditional round fried doughnut but the taste and texture is very similar....and they are much easier to make....no having to deal with hot oil which I'm very happy about.  

I'd love to say they are a healthier version too as they aren't fried but let's face it, they are still doughnuts and nobody chooses a doughnut if they're trying to be healthy....but they are yummy....and tomorrow is a running day for me....so I think I might just have another one....shhhhhh.....don't tell!!

You're invited to a tea party....

 What's on the menu?  Well tea of  course, biscuits and some rather delicious looking ice-cream.

Who's the hostess?  Well that would be Miss E but she does have two other chosen guests, Elephant who is hiding behind his napkin and Baby Freddie who you will meet shortly.

 

What is the dress code? Fairy dresses and new fancy dressing up shoes teamed with fabulous stripy tights.

 


What else is happening at this picnic?  Well there will be a story and as Baby Freddie has been such a good boy, he can sit on Miss E's knee. 

Even big sis Miss M dropped in to have a pink biscuit.

Miss E asked me to make her a tablecloth for her picnic set and we chose this fabric from my stash and thought we ought to make some napkins too for sticky paws!

 

 

 

Hippies and nurses

Miss M and Miss E have been dressing up...Miss M for a Hippies Day of making dream catchers and Miss E as she had her MMR jab...just in case the nurse on duty needed any extra help! The nurse outfit was mine from when I was little but I'm not sure I looked this good.

         

 

 

Call the Midwife!!

Hey good looking...what's cooking?

Inspired by watching the silver fox of bread baking on TV...

...I have been biscotti baking...now we have been baking our own bread by hand for a few years now but I've never made biscotti before and now it's official...they are my new favourite.

These scrummy yummy ones are almond, white chocolate and cranberry flavour.  Now this isn't one of the three flavours Paul Holywood demonstrated on his programme but I didn't quite have all the same ingredients he used in my store cupboard so I played about with what I had and mighty pleased I am too with the results.

 

So I'll share my version of Almond, White Chocolate and Cranberry Biscotti

170g plain flour
half teaspoon baking powder
170g caster sugar
2 free-range eggs, beaten
50g chocolate chips
140g roughly chopped almonds
85g cranberries

1. Add eggs to the flour, sugar and baking powder to make a dough.
2. Add in and combine into he dough the almonds, chocolate and cranberries.
3. Knead the dough very gently and then shape it into a long log shape.
4. Place on a lined baking tray and bake in at 160C for about 25 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly then cut into 1-2cm thick slices.
6. Place slices back on the baking tray, return to the oven and bake for a further 10-15 mins, turn over and then bake for another 10-15 mins until they smell so delicious,  they look a delicious golden brown colour and quite frankly you just can't wait a moment longer to taste how delicious they are!!

Safety notice:  It will be tough to wait but do let them cool a bit at least before trying as the cranberries could burn your little tongue...not that I'm talking form experience or anything like that!

While the biscotti was baking, this little busy bee got on with making some bread rolls.  Six with pumpkin seeds on top and six knotted ones sprinkled with poppy seeds.

 

Pass the butter please!

Planning and paperwork first

I'm as happy as a pig in mud when I've got a sewing needle in my hand but sometimes I have to put the sewing down to do a bit of planning and yesterday morning was one of those times.  So armed with a good cuppa I put some structure to the Summer Collection....did some research....attempted a few pricing sums....and did lots of crossing out....and obviously I needed two pens....this is serious stuff!!

Hello little dolly...have you come to help?

I impressed myself with my discipline and completed the planning and paperwork before returning to sewing...so fuelled with another cup of tea I finished off a set of these lovely twirly swirly flowers.

These will be attached to snap hair clips

 

Sunshine yellow and vibrant thistle

I also cut out these rectangle shapes....can you tell what it is yet?  I'm not telling yet....you'll just have to be patient...no clues....not even a teeny tiny itsy little one!

There's a couple of hearts and butterflies lurking in the corner...more on these another time.

Easter Fun

School holidays are nearly over but we've had a great time, hunting for Easter eggs, making Easter cards, baskets and bunting, we've participated in a decorate an egg competition and an egg rolling competition and to top it all off......we've been swimming outside in the snow....brrrrr!!