Baking - Tips, Questions, Discussions, Recipes.

Hi Lass

Yes, I really need to get those scones actually would you post your recipe for me, please? I usually use stork, self-raising flour, sugar, eggs, a little milk, and fruit. They are nice but seem to lack something.Ah yes community spirt but back in my day most Mums were also at home so that made a difference as well and yes we all did a bit of kitchen garden growing and shared the produce the chap around the corner with the green house was brilliant for sharing his tomatoes which were delicious and another neightbour grew the best ever tasting peas and others kept chickens so lovely fresh eggs plus all the differant fruit trees and bushes and you would look forward to the various seasons to eat what was available I think being able to have what you want when you want it has taken away the magic plus it doesnt taste as good and we do not get the variaty in our diets because we can have our favourties all year 

Lord Lass another lump, what a way to start the day hopefully lymph I would say they are still I hate when I find anything like that and I have often as I am inclined to get cysts. I really hate it when a Dr wondered why you are there when they asked you to be! Then to add insult to injury they haven't a clue about you! Yes, I would have thought patients like ourselves would be inclined to stick in their minds! Seems very common problem! Ah, Lass what is wrong with Dr nowadays although I think he should have asked you did you want a nurse present anyhow the main thing is you are having them investigated so fingers crossed you won't wait too long.

I too try the own brands and use a few the only thing puts me off is certain ingredients go against me I am not a fan of Mayo unless mixed with salad cream I find it too heavy I prefer Salad cream and buy one from a local Best One shop near me! far nicer than Heinz etc

Yes some Polish products are good I like their wheat and rye bread they have a good selection of tinned fish and meats but far too much salt for my taste, I enjoyed the food in Poland when I had a holiday there but it is all very white! that takes a bit of getting used to! But tastes lovely! You lived in Germany! How lovely for you up to what age? and we do always seem to enjoy our childhood food! Beautiful Country.What is remoulade? it rings a bell but not too sure!

Good idea to compare by weight and there can be a big difference! My bulk shopping is from Asda I used to buy a lot from Tesco but they seem to always be out of stock or discontinuing lines from their own range which I bought a lot of I find Asda value range really good their petit filous is nicer than the original!  Yes enjoying the Oatly! went down at midnight and had 2 glasses and digestive biscuits last night! help me sleep too! I had a look my Asda had no chocolate typical hey mango Oatly! I must keep an eye out for that! I love Ikea meatballs I go any chance I get that jelly and sauce is yummy!

I had two large bowls of pasta tonight with honey stirred in topped with stewed apple and Oatly ! it has to do me some good! Chocolate or mango would taste even better! 

I had my second Radio Zap today much shorter than the first but earlier this morning I had the worst pain ever in my head so I lay down to let it pass then I noticed my DV was gone replaced with just lightly blurred! It was so weird to see straight and I soon ignored the headache anyhow today I walked into and through the hospital unaided! did the same leaving and did my walk around the car park on my own!! Yipee! oh, the freedom and joy of it! Now I do realize this may not last so I won't get too excited but April 30th has been a very good day for me!

Love Bluebell xx

Yus.

Scones:

Ingredients -

• 227g Plain Flour
• 19g Baking Powder
• 18g Milk Powder
• 50g Shortening (I used Stork for the ones I just made)
  
• 50g Caster Sugar
• 3g Salt
• 83g Sultanas
• 161g Water

Preheat oven to 210C.

Measure out the water (Water and milk powder can be substituted for pure and fresh milk) and then add the sugar and salt, stir to dissolve. (This gives you a much more even distribution of both, and saves you mixing the dough to death.)

Mix together everything else - other than the fruit - until you have a crumb with no lumps of fat left. Add the water/milk mix and then mix until barely combined. Add in the sultanas, and combine - do NOT overwork it.

Tip it out onto a floured surface and roll out to just under and inch thick, then cut out your rounds. Place on a baking tray. With your excess, work it as little as possible to bring it back together, then roll out. he more you work it and roll it, the more you will develop the gluten, and the tougher and more misshapen your scones will become.

Leave them on the bench in their trays for 20 mins to allow to rise a little. You'll see them changing shape if you've overworked the dough at this point.

After the 20 mins, brush the tops with beaten egg, making sure that the egg doesn't run down the sides, otherwise this will bind your scones to the height they're at now at that point, and you'll end up with wonky and sloped tops.

Bung in the oven and bake for 20mins.

Munch!

You're better off using plain flour and baking powder, because then you know you will get the same lift every time. Where with the self raising, there's slight variations in the mix, which can have quite a big impact on your bake.

I used to volunteer at Gorgie City Farm in Edinburgh, and I got to run the veg garden. Then I built a little shed, and ran a farm shop out of it. At one point, we ran out of fresh beetroot and so when someone asked for it, I just asked them to give me a min, ran to the garden, and dug up some fresh for them! They loved it!

I don't think the two - or more - lumps are lymph nodes. Doc and I think they are a couple more lipoma. Already got one on my arm, and another at the base of my neck. For whatever reason, my body seems to like togrow tumours, both benign and malignant. It's part of why I've been put forward for the 100,000 genome project, to see if there's a reason for it.

Ooooo, if you like salad cream better, you might actually like the Polish mayo. It's got that sharp kick to it, and is lighter than our mayo, not as thick. But I find salad cream a little too vinegary for my taste, and this Polish mayo is just the perfect middle ground.

I lived in Wiesbaden for roughly 4 years when I was around 5. Moved over there shortly after my first brother was born, so I'd have been about 2 and a half. So I spoke German fluently - as well as any 5 year old speaks any language fluently lol - and went to Kindergarten, and have some fab memories from being there. Last year I went to Munich with my Dad for Oktoberfest - WOW!

Remoulade is like a mayo base, then it depends on where you are as the Danes have a different sort, as to the Icelandic, and so on. But the one I like is basically mixed with a little gherkin juice, and some chopped gherkins - and then a couple of other things that I'm just not sure on. But I'm not a fan of the Danish one as it's too sweet and is bright yellow. lol

I used to buy from Asda, until they twice delivered to the wrong address!!! Got the email saying it had been delivered, and when I called them to say it hadn't, they tried to say I was lying. When they finally worked out that it had been delivered to the wrong place, they said they'd refund me, but it would take 5 days for the cash to get back to my account. So that left me with no food and no money for 5 days - twice. So after that, I was having none of it from Asda anymore.

With Oatly, they seem to have exclusive selling rights with some shops. So I know that you can only get the creme fraiche from Tesco, and you can only get the Mango drink from Ikea - as they have exclusive rights to them. So perhaps it's the same with the chocolate milk, and it's only available in Tesco? So glad it's helping you though and you're enjoying it! Though pasta, milk, honey, and stewed apples sounds like the stuff of nightmares.... lol

That's a fabulous last paragraph too! That's an amazing side effect, and long may it continue for you!!

Lass

xx

Bluebell - is your double vision still gone - how wonderful for you that it has improved - does it mean the radiotherapy is starting to relieve symptoms and do you some good. What an exciting possibility. I hope it continues to improve and you regain all your lost freedoms.

I have followed your food conversations with Lass with some interest - you do both eat some strange things! I try to eat like a caveman to avoid additives etc. Not that it saved me from cancer but I am hoping it keeps me healthy so I can fight the cancer longer. It probably is just providing lovely unadulterated nutrition for those nasty cancer cells, too.

love

flamingo

Hey Flamingo,

Is it the paleo diet you're following? I looked into it once upon a time when I was trying to lose weight and found it wasn't for me as it was too expensive for my budget. But it def looked interesting, with some really cool sounding recipes.

I'm curious though, what things that Bluebell and I eat do you consider strange? Always interested in different viewpoints and opinions, because food is SUCH a personalised thing from how we were fed growing up, all the way through to wherever we are now with what we were exposed to. It's fascinating! (To me at least. lol)

Hope you're as well as you can be today!

Lass

xx

Hi there Lass

I don't follow a diet - I just avoid processed food as much as possible - so only plain fruits, veg,  free range eggs etc, nothing in a packet except plain rice or spaghetti no sauces, soft drinks, prepared or altered foods of any kind. I don't think our bodies are designed to eat all the processed stuff and I don't trust the food industry one bit. I think processed foods destroy or gut bacteria which we need for our immune system to operate properly.

It is quite easy as I grow a lot of my own stuff in the garden and have a small orchard as well and I  live in an area with great veg on local stalls and the best fresh fish (Cornwall). I have a local organic farm where I collect their milk and eggs direct from the farm. I don't use supermarkets except for things like laundry detergent and bog roll, tea and plain organic yoghourt. I don't drink alcohol or soft drinks and I eat very little meat - just started again recently to help iron levels for chemo.

I love cooking but tend to do simple veggie things - my favourite is probably Yotam Ottolenghi for his mixed veggie salads and roasted veg dishes.but also adore Nigella (best brownies, creme brulee) and Nigel Slater - lashings of butter and cheese on everything. I cook loads of fish (sea bass on a bed of roasted fennel and potatoes or fat hake fingers with a good squeeze of lemon and homemade garlic mayo with sweet potato chips and creamed spinach. (Maille mayo is very good if you don't want to make your own, I find)

Just had breakfast - chopped pears and satsumas with plain yogourt and a sprinkle of homemade granola on top. Yum

I used to work untl recently cooking in a small local cafe but mostly rubbish food like bacon sandwiches and pasties. (defrosted and reheated) Yuck

love 

flamingo

Hi, Flamingo sorry only just seen this post! Yes, it is now day 6 and the DV is still gone! also had to take the prism out of my reading glasses as I couldn't see with it! A week ago I couldn't read without it! Yes, I have been blessed with my Radio Consultant at Clatterbridge Cancer Center he specializes in targeted Radiotherapy because I honestly do not know how he managed to hit the cancer on the edge of the tiny hole at the base of my skull without hitting the nerves leading through them! It was a risk I took getting it as it can backfire But I put my trust in him and went for it and so far so good! Now it can still reverse but I am just enjoying it day by day the joy of being able to go outside on my own is unbelievable! 

1. LOl not sure about Lass but I do like some offbeat mixtures! No caveman style food is good I, for the most part, live on fish and chicken with veggies and some fruit and it does help you fight Cancer because it builds up your immune system and that is what you need to keep strong plenty of folic rich food and keep your digestive system moving to clear your body of toxins! I just had my blood checked and they came back perfect plus thankfully my liver is still functioning 100% I put that down to detoxing with food and green tea and loads of water
2. Cancer cell hate movement Flamingo! when they are floating around our bodies at an immature stage they get killed off easily enough when we exercise and the force of the blood against the walls of our veins and arteries kills them! little sods cant stand up to the bashing! and you don't have to run a marathon either just get the heart rate up a bit and keep the blood moving even if your sitting shrug your shoulders move your limbs or even rub your arm or leg wriggle your toes even without cancer it pays to be fidgety when sitting a long time! 
3. Love Bluebell xx Why has my post got numbers on it? lol, I didn't do that!

Lass ids brilliant for giving baking anf cooking tips here!

Hey Flamingo,

I'm VERY jealous of your gardens and orchard! I'd always hoped that in a few years time, I'd have been working enough and saving enough that I'd be able to buy a place that sounds similar to what you have. Something that could be almost self sustaining, and where I could open a little bakery and sugar workshop to supply the local folks with fresh produce and also run the sugar decoration business I want to start from. But yeh, that's not happening anytime soon! Pfffft.

And I do like a fresh Cornish Pasty, but you can't beat a Bridie....... I've not had a Bridie in YEARS. Going to need to set my Dad a quest to find one for next time I'm up in Edinburgh. Nothing better than one fresh from the baker's oven! I'm getting hungry now..... >.>

Bluebell,

You clicked a button. See above the posting window there's a B then an I, then lines with boxes, then lines with numbers? That last one is the one you clicked. It means you can make a list if you need to. I use the lines and spots when I write up the recipe ingredients.

Did you get a chance to try the scones yet? Or just not been in the mood/too busy off galavanting now the eyesight is better?

As for my eating habits, I'll try almost anything once. lol. I refused fermented shark in Iceland, and were I in the East, I'd refuse Balut too, oh and anything with too much chilli in it is an auto no. But I can't think of anything else I'd point blank refuse. Not at the moment anyways. lol

Lass

xx

A defrosted and reheated bacon sandwich Flamingo? Now that sounds awful! but nothing wrong with dry cured bacon crisped freshly under the grill served on homemade brown bread with fresh tomatoes! I buy ready-made sauces because there only contain the basic ingredients the biggest problem is too much salt for me and spices  now I find Nigel Slater's food far too rich for my taste I am inclined to steer clear of a lot of dairy products due to the overload of antibiotics but you are able to get raw milk which is great as it is full of good bacteria for the gut, 

My cousin is a vegan and eats a very limited diet but is always in good health I like a day a week vegetarian but I enjoy all the bad food as well! lol but al my life I have been 9 st and very fit with no problems with any of my blood yet I have had cancer now twice and a heart failure caused by the radiotherapy first time around so I ask myself is it worth it! perhaps the chemicals in processed foods kill it!

I say eat what you enjoy as long as it is doing you no harm , It is lovely to grow your own food it certainly tastes a lot better but I am not able to do it and haven't been for a long time but there is a lovely fruit shop near me although I find nothing wrong with frozen veg as they do have more vitamins than fresh ones unless picked and eaten, you sound in an ideal spot for fresh produce Flamingo sadly not everyone is as lucky I di not even have a decent fish monger which I had in Dublin and I miss over here 

Bluebell xx

Hi flamingo, 

can I move in wth you please? And will you cook for me? 

Reading aboit your food makes my mouth water. Have you come across the cookery writer Anna Jones? Her book, A Modern Way to Cook might be right up your street. A friend gave it to my daughters recently and the results have been great. 

Xxx

Hi there Lass! 

ah, I have done it again! lol, I wondered what had happened I think I saw better with the DV! No still have not made my scones!! I was busy with the radio zaps all week and limited my diet as I decided to eat lightly in case of an upset stomach plus used to have longed for junk food on those steroids! lol but I intend to do them tomorrow! so I shall try your way with baking powder and plain flour I don't have any problems with misshapen ones but I think I am overworking the dough! typical of me! so a lighter touch for a lighter scone they are ok but other peoples always taste better to me! I sometimes do not cut them but just make the mixture into a round shape like Irish soda bread and score the top and slice it,

hey i seen a recipe for almond porridge the other day I am going to try you reduce your usual porridge mix by 20% and replace with  ground almonds then cook in the usual way supposed to be very tasty and full of nutrients! I will top it with some strawberries I have in and a splash of oatly! 

How are you, Lass? Have you had your tests yet or are you still waiting? keep in touch and let me know 

Love Bluebell xx