A bit of baking...

Hi everyone

Sorry for the gap in blogging, but things have been pretty busy here. The beautiful weather has meant that I've been spending much more time outside with Daisy. She will happily play outside whatever the weather, but we've been trying out different activities and taking advantage of the sunshine while it lasts.

Sorting, tidying and decluttering have also been happening (while Daisy naps) and I have thrown so much stuff away.

I really feel like I'm getting somewhere now.

Today we played out in the garden for a while then came in to do some baking...

Gingerbread men

200g plain flour

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Pinch of salt 

1-2 tsp of ground ginger

75g butter

3tbsp golden syrup 

75g soft brown sugar

Decorations

1. Preheat the oven to 170 oC.

2. Sift the flour, bicarb, salt and ginger into a bowl...

As demonstrated by Daisy!

3. Melt the butter, syrup and brown sugar in a pan...

4. Leave to cool and pour onto dry ingredients...

5. Mix to form a soft dough...

6. Bring together and gently knead...

7. Sprinkle a board/ work surface with a little flour to prevent sticking and roll out to 2-3mm thick...

8. Cut out your gingerbread shapes and put on a lightly greased baking tin...

9. Bake for 10 mins...

10. Don't put them too close together as they will join hands! Leave to cool slightly on the tray before transferring them carefully to a cooling rack (limbs are easily lost at this stage!)...

11. Decorate and add eyes, mouth and buttons...

We used the tube of icing up as glue to stick the bits on. 

This is Daisy's own work...she is so independent now! 

We also made some vanilla cakes but I will put up the tutorial for these tomorrow as it's getting late now. I know I promised small cakes next, but this is how I bake...spontaneously! The gingerbread men were planned as an activity for Daisy   and the vanilla cakes just followed! 

I hope you're enjoying my recipes and tutorials.

Mandy x

Tutorials?

Hi everyone

As a result of a little chat with Jane in the comments, I have decided to post up some of my frugal recipes. 

My question is which ones???

I have many and I don't cook all of them on a regular basis, so if you are looking for inspiration using up particular ingredients, I might be able to help. 

It could be meat or veggie based, egg or cheese, rice, pasta or potatoes. I have so many books full of recipes that I have collected and adapted to be low cost and suitable for my family...I'm sure I can find something! 

Are you looking to save money on packed lunches with homemade goodies, or just keeping the cake tin topped up as cheaply as possible? 

This will be my next challenge...to bake more...to save money and stop snacking on bought goodies. I will share my baking results with you, but if you want the recipes/tutorials posted up...please say so in the comments. 

So Jane, I know you're interested in baking more. I left you a reply in the comments but I don't know if you've read it? What do your family like to eat? Cakes? Biscuits? Loaf cakes? Scones? Whole cakes? Fairy cakes? Icing or no icing? What do you make that doesn't always turn out as you'd like? Or do you want me to surprise you? Although there's no point me doing a fruit cake if you don't like dried fruit (like me)! If it's easier, tell me what you don't like. I'll leave it with you...have a think and get back to me and we'll make a start. This is fantastic motivation for me :)

Anyone else? Any requests? I'm asking because I don't want to fill my blog with unwanted recipes! 

I would love to hear from you.

Mandy x