Do you ever crave the simple foods of your childhood? I know I do. The other day I fancied baking, but I wanted to make something unusual. After a bit of searching the internet for some inspiration, I decided on Iced Fingers (or buns, whatever you prefer to call them). However, finding a recipe wasn't particularly easy so I took several and put my own spin on them. I settled on these little fingers not only for their appetising appeal, but also because they could be made using ingredients I already had in my cupboard. A no obscure ingredient kind of recipe is simply the best.
I was far too impatient to let them cool before applying the simply scrumptious icing and so their presentation was lacking, however they tasted incredible!
So here is the recipe:
Ingredients
For the Dough
500g strong white flour (don't worry about using bread flour, plain flour works perfectly well)
60g caster sugar
40g unsalted butter, softened
14g instant yeast (I used2 of the 7g packets I had hiding at the back of my cupboard)
2 eggs
150ml warm milk
140ml water
For the Icing
200g icing sugar
7 tsp of cold water
Method
1. Place all ingredients (but not all of the water, perhaps around half) into a bowl and mix with your hands or spatula to combine. Gradually add the remaining water as you mix.
2. Once the mixture has come together, knead in the bowl for approx 10 minutes with your hands.
3. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and continue to knead for a further 10 minutes. The dough should be sticky and have an elastic feel to it. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with a damp tea towel and leave in a warm place for 1 hour to rise.
4. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces, if you're using a set of digital scales I think I worked out that each piece should roughly weigh 75g. Roll into balls in the palm of your hand and then into fingers shapes. You can leave them in balls if you would prefer though, whatever is easiest!
5. Place the dough shapes onto a greased baking tray, leaving plenty of space for them to double in size. Do not cover them. Leave to rise in a warm place for 40 minutes.
6. Before your 40 minutes is up, heat the oven to 220 C, or 200 C fan. Once risen, bake for 10 minutes before removing from the oven to cool.
7. Sift your icing sugar and mix in the water. Be careful when adding the water as you want to make the mixture as thick as possible for a strong coating of icing. If your mixture is too thin, simply add more icing sugar and similarly if it's a bit too thick, add a few drops of water.
8. Try not to eat them all at once.
Let me know if you give them a go on Instagram, i'd love to see some photographs!
Do you ever crave the simple foods of your childhood? I know I do. The other day I fancied baking, but I wanted to make something unusual. After a bit of searching the internet for some inspiration, I decided on Iced Fingers (or buns, whatever you prefer to call them). However, finding a recipe wasn't particularly easy so I took several and put my own spin on them. I settled on these little fingers not only for their appetising appeal, but also because they could be made using ingredients I already had in my cupboard. A no obscure ingredient kind of recipe is simply the best.
I was far too impatient to let them cool before applying the simply scrumptious icing and so their presentation was lacking, however they tasted incredible!
So here is the recipe:
Ingredients
For the Dough
500g strong white flour (don't worry about using bread flour, plain flour works perfectly well)
60g caster sugar
40g unsalted butter, softened
14g instant yeast (I used2 of the 7g packets I had hiding at the back of my cupboard)
2 eggs
150ml warm milk
140ml water
For the Icing
200g icing sugar
7 tsp of cold water
Method
1. Place all ingredients (but not all of the water, perhaps around half) into a bowl and mix with your hands or spatula to combine. Gradually add the remaining water as you mix.
2. Once the mixture has come together, knead in the bowl for approx 10 minutes with your hands.
3. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and continue to knead for a further 10 minutes. The dough should be sticky and have an elastic feel to it. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with a damp tea towel and leave in a warm place for 1 hour to rise.
4. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces, if you're using a set of digital scales I think I worked out that each piece should roughly weigh 75g. Roll into balls in the palm of your hand and then into fingers shapes. You can leave them in balls if you would prefer though, whatever is easiest!
5. Place the dough shapes onto a greased baking tray, leaving plenty of space for them to double in size. Do not cover them. Leave to rise in a warm place for 40 minutes.
6. Before your 40 minutes is up, heat the oven to 220 C, or 200 C fan. Once risen, bake for 10 minutes before removing from the oven to cool.
7. Sift your icing sugar and mix in the water. Be careful when adding the water as you want to make the mixture as thick as possible for a strong coating of icing. If your mixture is too thin, simply add more icing sugar and similarly if it's a bit too thick, add a few drops of water.
8. Try not to eat them all at once.
Let me know if you give them a go on Instagram, i'd love to see some photographs!
I love crumbles. There is just something about fruit stewed in sugar and spices that is so comforting. However the problem that I have is that Jack detests fruit in both desserts and cakes. Christmas cake, no. Christmas pudding, no. Apple pie, no. Warm, sugary fruit in a dessert is his idea of hell. To me, this was a devastating fact to come to terms with when we moved in together. There are only so many chocolate desserts you can eat! Determined to come up with something crumble based that he would eat, I began experimenting.
Now, Jack loves bananas. So I thought if I could get them to keep their shape - maybe he'll eat them in a crumble? After all, it was the mushy texture he really didn't enjoy. Alas, my experimenting paid off. Last night, we had a banana crumble with custard and he devoured it! We're also currently eating the leftovers as a porridge topper as i'm typing this. So here is the recipe! I hope you enjoy it as much as us, let me know what you think.
The key to this recipe is to use bananas that are yellow with very little green on their skins. If you use overly ripe bananas, they'll just turn to mush in the oven.
This recipe will serve 2-3 people.
Ingredients
Topping
32g light brown sugar
56g cold unsalted butter
32g plain flour
64g of oats (I like Mornflake Scottish Jumbo Oats)
Filling
28g unsalted butter
64g light brown sugar
1tsp cinnamon
A good squeeze of fresh orange juice
4-6 bananas - add as many or as little as you like, whatever you've got hanging around! Cut them into 1 inch chunks
Pinch of salt
Method
1. Heat the oven to 170c fan.
2. Mix all of the topping ingredients together, use your fingers to rub the cold butter into the mixture. Cover and place in the fridge. Also place your 1 inch chunks of banana into a bowl and place them in the fridge.
3. For the filling, melt the butter in a pan and add in the sugar, cinnamon and salt. When it turns into a brown sludge, add in your orange juice. Adding the juice might make the sauce sizzle and spit but don't worry!
4. Add in the banana chunks, toss to coat. Be careful not to break them up.
5. Spread the banana mixture into an oven safe dish and sprinkle your crumble topping over the top.
6. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the top of the crumble is a golden brown. Serve with custard or vanilla ice cream.
I love crumbles. There is just something about fruit stewed in sugar and spices that is so comforting. However the problem that I have is that Jack detests fruit in both desserts and cakes. Christmas cake, no. Christmas pudding, no. Apple pie, no. Warm, sugary fruit in a dessert is his idea of hell. To me, this was a devastating fact to come to terms with when we moved in together. There are only so many chocolate desserts you can eat! Determined to come up with something crumble based that he would eat, I began experimenting.
Now, Jack loves bananas. So I thought if I could get them to keep their shape - maybe he'll eat them in a crumble? After all, it was the mushy texture he really didn't enjoy. Alas, my experimenting paid off. Last night, we had a banana crumble with custard and he devoured it! We're also currently eating the leftovers as a porridge topper as i'm typing this. So here is the recipe! I hope you enjoy it as much as us, let me know what you think.
The key to this recipe is to use bananas that are yellow with very little green on their skins. If you use overly ripe bananas, they'll just turn to mush in the oven.
This recipe will serve 2-3 people.
Ingredients
Topping
32g light brown sugar
56g cold unsalted butter
32g plain flour
64g of oats (I like Mornflake Scottish Jumbo Oats)
Filling
28g unsalted butter
64g light brown sugar
1tsp cinnamon
A good squeeze of fresh orange juice
4-6 bananas - add as many or as little as you like, whatever you've got hanging around! Cut them into 1 inch chunks
Pinch of salt
Method
1. Heat the oven to 170c fan.
2. Mix all of the topping ingredients together, use your fingers to rub the cold butter into the mixture. Cover and place in the fridge. Also place your 1 inch chunks of banana into a bowl and place them in the fridge.
3. For the filling, melt the butter in a pan and add in the sugar, cinnamon and salt. When it turns into a brown sludge, add in your orange juice. Adding the juice might make the sauce sizzle and spit but don't worry!
4. Add in the banana chunks, toss to coat. Be careful not to break them up.
5. Spread the banana mixture into an oven safe dish and sprinkle your crumble topping over the top.
6. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the top of the crumble is a golden brown. Serve with custard or vanilla ice cream.
When deciding that you wish you pursue a more sustainable lifestyle, you may often feel pressured and totally overwhelmed. I know I did. But actually, it really doesn't have to be that way. Being more sustainable is about doing what's right for you. It's not about rooting through your cupboards and disposing of everything 'non-sustainable' and replacing those items with expensive, 'sustainable' alternatives. It also isn't all about metal straws and bamboo toothbrushes. I tried a bamboo toothbrush once, it didn't last half as long as my normal toothbrush and when it had reached the end of it's life... that was it. I still use a plastic toothbrush but it lasts a relatively long time and then when i'm finished with it, it becomes a cleaning utensil. Toothbrushes are great for getting those awkward nooks and crannies clean - shower door i'm talking to you!
To me, sustainability is about making conscious decisions that fit into your lifestyle and more importantly, your budget. For example, if you're in the supermarket and there is the option to purchase loose vegetables and fruit - fill your bags! It's often more budget friendly to purchase produce this way. It doesn't mean you're not allowed to buy produce because it's wrapped in plastic packaging. We can't purchase what doesn't exist and it simply isn't sustainable or convenient to trek all over town, just to source plastic free produce. Another thing I like to do, is check what vegetables are in season and see if I can purchase locally sourced produce. Seasonal vegetables taste so much better and i'm happy to know that i'm supporting local farmers.
What i'm trying to say, is that you should focus more on reducing and not completely cutting back. We live in an economy that is constantly changing to suit the needs of consumers and already supermarkets are listening to our need for more sustainable practice. I believe that in a few years time things will look very different.
Earth Day is on Wednesday the 22nd of April and i'd like to use this event as a milestone to encourage you to think about what little things you could do to help the planet and yourself. I've recently discovered a tool called Do Nation which encourages healthier habits for people and the planet. It allows you to make pledges to support this notion and demonstrates how much CO2 your actions will save - it even converts this into bananas to make it a little bit more realistic! Each pledge has an information page which is full of really interesting facts. What I love most is that this organisation doesn't just focus on the planet, it focuses on you as a human being too. It also appreciates the fact that it's simply not possible for us all to live a zero waste, carbon neutral lifestyle. Hallelujah!
I've initiated a 2 month campaign which will conclude at the end of April and I'd really love for you to get on board and make your own pledges. Please also forward the link to your friends and family - it would be great to get as many people as possible involved!
https://www.wearedonation.com/campaigns/march-challenge/
Don't forget to share with your friends and family... and remember, it's the little things that make a big difference.
When deciding that you wish you pursue a more sustainable lifestyle, you may often feel pressured and totally overwhelmed. I know I did. But actually, it really doesn't have to be that way. Being more sustainable is about doing what's right for you. It's not about rooting through your cupboards and disposing of everything 'non-sustainable' and replacing those items with expensive, 'sustainable' alternatives. It also isn't all about metal straws and bamboo toothbrushes. I tried a bamboo toothbrush once, it didn't last half as long as my normal toothbrush and when it had reached the end of it's life... that was it. I still use a plastic toothbrush but it lasts a relatively long time and then when i'm finished with it, it becomes a cleaning utensil. Toothbrushes are great for getting those awkward nooks and crannies clean - shower door i'm talking to you!
To me, sustainability is about making conscious decisions that fit into your lifestyle and more importantly, your budget. For example, if you're in the supermarket and there is the option to purchase loose vegetables and fruit - fill your bags! It's often more budget friendly to purchase produce this way. It doesn't mean you're not allowed to buy produce because it's wrapped in plastic packaging. We can't purchase what doesn't exist and it simply isn't sustainable or convenient to trek all over town, just to source plastic free produce. Another thing I like to do, is check what vegetables are in season and see if I can purchase locally sourced produce. Seasonal vegetables taste so much better and i'm happy to know that i'm supporting local farmers.
What i'm trying to say, is that you should focus more on reducing and not completely cutting back. We live in an economy that is constantly changing to suit the needs of consumers and already supermarkets are listening to our need for more sustainable practice. I believe that in a few years time things will look very different.
Earth Day is on Wednesday the 22nd of April and i'd like to use this event as a milestone to encourage you to think about what little things you could do to help the planet and yourself. I've recently discovered a tool called Do Nation which encourages healthier habits for people and the planet. It allows you to make pledges to support this notion and demonstrates how much CO2 your actions will save - it even converts this into bananas to make it a little bit more realistic! Each pledge has an information page which is full of really interesting facts. What I love most is that this organisation doesn't just focus on the planet, it focuses on you as a human being too. It also appreciates the fact that it's simply not possible for us all to live a zero waste, carbon neutral lifestyle. Hallelujah!
I've initiated a 2 month campaign which will conclude at the end of April and I'd really love for you to get on board and make your own pledges. Please also forward the link to your friends and family - it would be great to get as many people as possible involved!
https://www.wearedonation.com/campaigns/march-challenge/
Don't forget to share with your friends and family... and remember, it's the little things that make a big difference.
Awkward plug sockets can make for ugly wires trailing down walls. Many solutions include sticking wires to walls or even moving plug sockets. But it is actually really easy to make wires more appealing on the eye.
We purchased this lamp not too long back and since the first time we turned it on, the only thing i've i've been able to look at is the ugly black wires draping down the wall. Everything in our house is of a neutral shade, so to have a thick black wire contrasting against a grey wall just simply wasn't going to work.
So what did a natural crafter like myself do? Attack the wire with yarn, of course.
I thought i'd share my technique with you in case you've also got some ugly wires you wish to blend with your interior.
This project reminded me of being a little girl and making friendship bracelets with my friends. The ones that you weaved with your fingers and mixed several different coloured yarns into.
You will need:
- An ugly wire you wish to disguise
- Yarn of your choice (pick one that matches your interior, I went pale grey)
Step One: Starting from the plug, work your way down to the lamp base. Make an arch to the right hand side of the wire you wish to disguise with the yarn going underneath the wire
Step Two: Bring the yarn back over the wire and thread through the loop that you have created
Step Three: Pull tightly and voila - it really is as simple as that! Keep going and then once you reach the end of the wire, tire a simple knot and cut the yarn
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Awkward plug sockets can make for ugly wires trailing down walls. Many solutions include sticking wires to walls or even moving plug sockets. But it is actually really easy to make wires more appealing on the eye.
We purchased this lamp not too long back and since the first time we turned it on, the only thing i've i've been able to look at is the ugly black wires draping down the wall. Everything in our house is of a neutral shade, so to have a thick black wire contrasting against a grey wall just simply wasn't going to work.
So what did a natural crafter like myself do? Attack the wire with yarn, of course.
I thought i'd share my technique with you in case you've also got some ugly wires you wish to blend with your interior.
This project reminded me of being a little girl and making friendship bracelets with my friends. The ones that you weaved with your fingers and mixed several different coloured yarns into.
You will need:
- An ugly wire you wish to disguise
- Yarn of your choice (pick one that matches your interior, I went pale grey)
Step One: Starting from the plug, work your way down to the lamp base. Make an arch to the right hand side of the wire you wish to disguise with the yarn going underneath the wire
Step Two: Bring the yarn back over the wire and thread through the loop that you have created
Step Three: Pull tightly and voila - it really is as simple as that! Keep going and then once you reach the end of the wire, tire a simple knot and cut the yarn
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There's nothing better than settling down for the evening with a cosy candle, but it can be disheartening when the candle will no longer light and this may have you thinking that it's reached the end of it's life.
However this is not the case!
Candle jars are easy to clean out and they are very useful as because they're made of glass, they're strong and sturdy which means they'll live a long time before cracking or shattering. There are endless possibilities as to what you could reuse a candle jar for.
Here are some ideas on ways to use the jars once they've been cleaned:
- You could reuse the jar as a plant pot, how about herbs on the kitchen windowsill?
- You could use the jar to tidy up your beauty space, the jar would make a great toothbrush holder or makeup brush holder
- You could create your own candle using the jar, you could even try and recreate the scent of the candle if you loved it that much
- You could reuse the jar as a sweet little vase for fresh flowers from the garden
So how do you get the glass jar clean to reuse it? Well, it's actually really simple! There are so many different methods on the internet and i've tried them all. They're messy and time consuming. The method below is very simple and with very little effort, you'll have a sparkling clean glass jar ready to be put to use.
You will need:
- Boiling hot water from the kettle (if you don't have a kettle, you can boil water in a saucepan)
- A knife
Instructions:
1. Boil the kettle and then fill the candle jar, leaving about 1cm space near rim of the jar. Don't touch the jar as it'll be extremely hot from the water. However, feel free to watch what happens. You should get a lava lamp effect as the wax floats to the top of the jar. Leave the jar of water to cool.
2. Once cooled completely, you'll be able to pick up the wax disc out of the jar. You can either discard this or remelt it and fill cupcake cases with it to create your own wax melts!
3. Discard the water and use a knife to pull the wicks out of the bottom, they're usually stuck on with an adhesive.
4. Fill the sink with hot and soapy water, grab a sponge and give the jar a good scrub. You will also be able to remove any labels on the jar easily once it has been soaked in the water. For stubborn labels, leave the jar to soak in the water for 15 minutes.
And there you go!
Have you reused a candle jar? I'd love to hear how you've reused it.
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There's nothing better than settling down for the evening with a cosy candle, but it can be disheartening when the candle will no longer light and this may have you thinking that it's reached the end of it's life.
However this is not the case!
Candle jars are easy to clean out and they are very useful as because they're made of glass, they're strong and sturdy which means they'll live a long time before cracking or shattering. There are endless possibilities as to what you could reuse a candle jar for.
Here are some ideas on ways to use the jars once they've been cleaned:
- You could reuse the jar as a plant pot, how about herbs on the kitchen windowsill?
- You could use the jar to tidy up your beauty space, the jar would make a great toothbrush holder or makeup brush holder
- You could create your own candle using the jar, you could even try and recreate the scent of the candle if you loved it that much
- You could reuse the jar as a sweet little vase for fresh flowers from the garden
So how do you get the glass jar clean to reuse it? Well, it's actually really simple! There are so many different methods on the internet and i've tried them all. They're messy and time consuming. The method below is very simple and with very little effort, you'll have a sparkling clean glass jar ready to be put to use.
You will need:
- Boiling hot water from the kettle (if you don't have a kettle, you can boil water in a saucepan)
- A knife
Instructions:
1. Boil the kettle and then fill the candle jar, leaving about 1cm space near rim of the jar. Don't touch the jar as it'll be extremely hot from the water. However, feel free to watch what happens. You should get a lava lamp effect as the wax floats to the top of the jar. Leave the jar of water to cool.
2. Once cooled completely, you'll be able to pick up the wax disc out of the jar. You can either discard this or remelt it and fill cupcake cases with it to create your own wax melts!
3. Discard the water and use a knife to pull the wicks out of the bottom, they're usually stuck on with an adhesive.
4. Fill the sink with hot and soapy water, grab a sponge and give the jar a good scrub. You will also be able to remove any labels on the jar easily once it has been soaked in the water. For stubborn labels, leave the jar to soak in the water for 15 minutes.
And there you go!
Have you reused a candle jar? I'd love to hear how you've reused it.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Sometimes, it's comforting to return to a simpler way of doing something. Bread is the perfect example. It's so convenient and easy to purchase a loaf of bread, but it's rare that we actually step back and think about the process of making such an ordinary food. To me, there is truly nothing better than the smell of freshly baked bread, served with a warming winter soup. It's really not as hard as you might think and actually, I believe the key is not to over think the art of making bread. In my experience, that's were things go wrong. So go on, roll up your sleeves and give it a go.
To make 1 loaf, you will need:
500g strong white bread flour
2 tsp of salt (I like to use pink Himalayan salt)
7g sachet of fast action yeast
3 tbsp of an oil of your choice (I used olive oil)
300ml of warm water from the tap
Method:
1. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl and then create a well in the middle of the mixture.
2. Add the oil and water to the well. Mix well and add an extra teaspoon of water if the dough is too stiff.
3. Place the mixture on a lightly floured service and gently knead for 5-10 minutes. This is the part where you need not to overthink, knead until the mixture is smooth and has come together well.
4. Place dough ball in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and place somewhere warm. Leave to rise for 1.5-2 hours.
5. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C and place a dutch oven in to heat up.
6. When heated to temperature, remove the dutch oven - don't forget your oven gloves! Then place a sheet of baking paper on the inside of the dutch oven and then add in your dough. Cover and return to the oven for approximately 45 minutes. Do keep an eye on the bread as it nears the end of it's time in the oven, all ovens cook differently. Remove the lid from the dutch oven and continue to bake for an extra 5 minutes. Do not leave the oven, you need to watch your bread closely and take it out when it's the perfect golden colour.
7. Remove from oven and remove from dutch oven, then wrap in a clean tea towel for 20 minutes.
8. Slice and serve with a slather of butter and jam!
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Sometimes, it's comforting to return to a simpler way of doing something. Bread is the perfect example. It's so convenient and easy to purchase a loaf of bread, but it's rare that we actually step back and think about the process of making such an ordinary food. To me, there is truly nothing better than the smell of freshly baked bread, served with a warming winter soup. It's really not as hard as you might think and actually, I believe the key is not to over think the art of making bread. In my experience, that's were things go wrong. So go on, roll up your sleeves and give it a go.
To make 1 loaf, you will need:
500g strong white bread flour
2 tsp of salt (I like to use pink Himalayan salt)
7g sachet of fast action yeast
3 tbsp of an oil of your choice (I used olive oil)
300ml of warm water from the tap
Method:
1. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl and then create a well in the middle of the mixture.
2. Add the oil and water to the well. Mix well and add an extra teaspoon of water if the dough is too stiff.
3. Place the mixture on a lightly floured service and gently knead for 5-10 minutes. This is the part where you need not to overthink, knead until the mixture is smooth and has come together well.
4. Place dough ball in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and place somewhere warm. Leave to rise for 1.5-2 hours.
5. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C and place a dutch oven in to heat up.
6. When heated to temperature, remove the dutch oven - don't forget your oven gloves! Then place a sheet of baking paper on the inside of the dutch oven and then add in your dough. Cover and return to the oven for approximately 45 minutes. Do keep an eye on the bread as it nears the end of it's time in the oven, all ovens cook differently. Remove the lid from the dutch oven and continue to bake for an extra 5 minutes. Do not leave the oven, you need to watch your bread closely and take it out when it's the perfect golden colour.
7. Remove from oven and remove from dutch oven, then wrap in a clean tea towel for 20 minutes.
8. Slice and serve with a slather of butter and jam!
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