Monday 6 October 2014

Frozen Cranberries + Collecting Conkers + Butterflies: 27 September - 3 October 2014

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful





3:159

So by mercy from Allah, (O Muhammad), you were lenient with them.
And if you had been rude (in speech) and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you.
So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter.
And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah.
Indeed Allah loves those who rely (upon Him).
(Surah Aale-Imraan, Verse 159)
'Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. 
Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would come his way. 
Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.'
 Saturday: The weekend began with perfectly soft boiled eggs. I love boiled eggs but only if they are soft boiled. I've tried many different methods to get them right and this one seems to be working.
Bring a pan of water to the boil. Add in your eggs, carefully. Cover and leave to boil for 6 minutes - be sure to set a timer. Drain and rinse under cold water. Peel, slice and serve with buttered toast!
I just had to snap a picture of these beautiful veggies cooking away. I was making the filling for my chicken and vegetable spring rolls. I used red cabbage, mushrooms, sweetcorn, peas, bell peppers, carrots and chicken of course.
We had two boxes of late season strawberries in the fridge and my cousins were popping over so I decided to make Eton Mess. I started by stirring sugar into the strawberries since they weren't very sweet.
I whipped up a vanilla cream and folded in the strawberries along with crushed meringue. My cousins topped their Eton Mess with chocolate sauce. Because, well, why not?


 Sunday: On a cloudy Sunday afternoon, me and my mum teamed up to make Cinnamon Apple Rolls. I love baking on Sundays - it just seems right. Mum started the dough by pouring hand hot milk into a bowl.
The machine did most of the work though.
And, we used a tonne of this Strong White Flour.
It was totally worth it though because the dough was one of the softest I've ever worked with. 
Whilst the dough rose, I made the apple filling with Granny Smith apples, raisins, cinnamon, lemon juice, butter and soft brown sugar.
Later on we split the dough in half and spread the cooled apple filling over the first half.
And, liberally sprinkled the second half with cinnamon, sugar and melted butter.
The apple rolls baked up beautifully.
As soon as they came out of the oven, I drowned them in a maple syrup glaze.
You can see the full photo recipe here.


 Monday: Today I baked with a box of fresh cranberries which had been frozen in the freezer since the winter sales last year.
I decided to bake these lemon cranberry scones whilst munching on apple slices.
Into a bowl, went plain flour, salt and baking powder. 
I roughly chopped fresh cranberries and zested a few lemons.
Butter went in with the flour. 
Everything was pulsed together.
Cranberries are kinda sour.
So they were tossed in sugar.
And, then tossed into the flour.
Double cream was poured into eggs.
Lemon zest was sprinkled in.
Everything was finally mixed together.
And, shaped.
Sprinkled with light brown sugar ..
... and baked!
Ooops .. think I needed a bigger tray. Oh well, they tasted good.
Tuesday: The last day of one of my favourite months - September!
And, it is most definitely Autumn here!


Good luck to whoever has to brush all those leaves up!



























Counting all the conkers we collected!





Caster sugar blended with vanilla seeds makes the most wonderfully fragrant vanilla sugar.


I think there may be something jammy hiding under that batter.


Topped with a crumble topping.


Baked to perfection.

And, dusted with icing sugar.


Get the recipe I used here.

 Wednesday: Whenever I need a quick meal, I more often than not go vegetarian. For a quick pasta dish, I used bowties, lemon, leek, peas, cherry tomatoes, garlic and rocket along with the usual salt, pepper and olive oil.
The recipe I adapted can be found here. 

 Thursday: Lighting my new sweet pea and freesia candle!


For lunch, we made a Frittata. 
Filled with leftover vegetables from the fridge, eggs, spices and cheese.
I used onions, cherry tomatoes, rocket, red cabbage and peas.
Topped with Cheddar and Red Leicester, cooked in a pan and finished in the oven. We ate it with tomato salsa and pickled jalapeno slices.
Ingredients lined up for a vanilla cake.
And, there it is going into bake!

Friday: Spot the butterfly!




Milk chocolate ready to be melted.
Butter beaten until creamy.
The most amazing icing I've tasted in a long time.
A beautiful cake ready for the weekend Eid celebrations!
Update: Here is the recipe.


Recipes Posted on the blog This Week:


Cinnamon Apple Rolls

Baking Ideas for an Autumn Eid 

A few of my favourite blog links from around the web this week:

1. The coffee addict in me is dying to make this!
2. A beautiful post about improving your character.
3. As soon as I saw this recipe, I was so glad we bought a waffle maker.
4. You know you're a food blogger when ...
5. This cake though.
6. Comfort food at it's best.
7. An unorthadox but throughly delicious looking filling to the classic samosa.
8. A fish curry which has me running to the kitchen to make it!
9. You can't beat a good chicken shawarma!
10. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.
11. The Last Sermon 



Have a beautiful week filled with little moments that make you smile!

Wasalaam!


Spice Enthusiast
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