Midweek Treats: Madeleines

As the weather was unbearably hot in Munich on Monday I stayed in and did some baking. Armed with my trusty The Art of French Baking book I set about choosing something from all the lovely recipes. I decided on the French classic Madeleines as I had bought a Madeleine tray earlier in the week- for some reason I'd never been able to find one in the UK- and wanted to try it out. Here's how they turned out:

Because I'm currently living in rented accommodation and cooking equipment is limited, I had to make these without the aid of a pair of scales- nightmare! Luckily they turned out well.

Here's how to make them if you fancy trying them out:

Ingredients:

125g butter, melted
150g caster sugar
150g plain flour, sifted
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

• Preheat oven to 170˚c (higher for non fan-assisted ovens) and grease your Madeleine tray
• Whisk the eggs and the caster sugar with an electric whisk until they have tripled in volume
• Fold in the flour, butter and vanilla extract
• When a nice consistency, rest mixture in the refrigerator for around 2 hours
• Spoon the mixture into the moulds, making sure to not fill them quite to the top (they rise a LOT)
• Bake for 6-8 mins (the recipe I was using said slightly longer but I made 3 batches and the ones that were baked for around 6 minutes turned out the spongiest (and nicest!))

*recipe makes 36 small Madeleines*

Let me know how you get on if you decide to make these as well!

{Image: Laura Blanksby, using Instagram; recipe adapted from The Art of French Baking, Phaidon}

Midweek Treats: Raisin Petits Fours

As today was a bit of a wash-out with the weather, I decided to get out my favourite recipe book, The Art of French Baking, and have a go at some petits fours. There were loads of different flavours, from coffee, cherry and orange, but I decided to stick with the classically simple raisin version. This is how they turned out:

Yum! If you like the look of them, here's how to make them:

Ingredients:

 90g  softened butter

120g caster sugar

240g plain flour

125g raisins

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp baking powder

2 eggs

Method:

• Preheat oven to 180°c and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper
• Mix the eggs with the sugar and the vanilla extract
• Separately, combine the flour with the baking powder. Then stir into egg mixture
• Add the softened butter
• Stir in the raisins
• Form mixture into mini mounds and place on the baking tray 
• Bake for 15 minutes

*Recipe make 12 petits fours*

I ate mine with a big mug of coffee whilst watching day-time TV; a great way to waste a rainy afternoon if you ask me :-) 

{Image: Laura Blanksby for High Street Home, using Instagram; Recipe adapted from The Art of French Baking, Phaidon}

Trinkets and Treasures

Wow, look at these pretty little trinket boxes I came across today! Aren't they so sweet?

No need to bake when you've got one of these macaroon-replica trinket boxes in your life. You can even have a selection of different colours. But lets pretend they're different flavours 'cos that's way more fun!

They are made by The Cross and can be bought on-line here.

{All images: The Cross}

Midweek Treats: Cranberry, Walnut & White Chocolate Cookies

For the first time in a long time I have a Saturday off (hurrah!), so this months instalment of Midweek Treats comes to you on a weekend! I must say I have certainly made the most of my unexpected day off as I've been doing all the things I love to do: thrifting, baking, sewing and blogging.

Today I made some crunchy cranberry, walnut and white chocolate cookies, but the best thing about this recipe is that you can substitute any of the flavours to suit your taste. You could try anything from raisins, chopped apricots, dark chocolate, almonds, toffee pieces or hazelnuts - anything goes!

Ingredients: 

110g unsalted butter

50g caster sugar

110g soft brown sugar

170g white chocolate/died cranberries/walnuts

150g plain flour

1 large egg (beaten) 

2 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

• Preheat oven to 180˚c and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper
• Mix together the unsalted butter, caster sugar and brown sugar
• Add the egg and vanilla extract
• Stir in the flour, a bit at a time, until the mixture forms a dough
• Add in white chocolate, cranberries and walnut pieces (or your choice of flavours). Make sure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough
• Mold small balls of the mixture into circles and place on the baking tray, leaving a large gap between each cookie so they don't stick together while in the oven
• Bake for 12 minutes

*Recipe make 12 medium-sized cookies*

Now, put that kettle on and serve with a mug of English Breakfast Tea!

{Image: Laura Blanksby for High Street Home, using Instagram}

Christmas Wish List No.23

Extra serving and dining equipment is always welcome at Christmas with all those extra mouths to feed. No you can serve up in style with these colourful painted mango wood bowls from Toast.

Pretty and practical.

{Image: Toast}

Christmas Wish List No.19

Okay, I know asking for kitchen equipment for Christmas is a bit dull, but Falcon Enamelware have recently re-introduced their classic bake sets and I can't wait to get my hands on one. Their beautiful white dishes with simple blue rims are a sure-fire way to make a dodgy home-made pie look rustic and hearty. And thus, I need one!

Ah, they even make jam on toast look good! Falcon have two sets for sale: the bake set (shown above) and a pie set. They now make them with a new red rim too if you fancy going for something a bit different. You can buy them from Falcon Enamelware on-line here.

{Images: Falcon Enamelware}

Christmas Wish List No.14

Vintage china seems to be having a bit of a renaissance at the minute. Weddings, summer fêtes and kitsch cafés are all re-introducing the noble tea-cup and saucer, all to a great effect. I, personally, can think of nothing better than drinking tea from a tiny bone china tea-cup and eating cake off a matching side plate. The only down-side to it is that they seem to be a lot harder to come across than they used to. I remember charity shops, car boots and junk shops being full of them, though now they are more scarce as the desirability has rocketed. But for those that still want their fix, Tesco Direct have now started selling bone china trios and plates. I know, I couldn't believe it either! The range is not huge but they have some pretty pieces...

 

I must say I was surprised to see Tesco were selling these, but they have a nice little collection going on so I'm pleased! You can buy these, and their other designs, here.

{Images: Tesco Direct}

Christmas Wish List No.12

Recently I've been learning how to sew, a skill that I've wanted to learn for a VERY long time! In fact, so long that I can't believe it has taken me this long to start. Anyways, I'm up and running now and loving every second. I came across this café named Sew Over It a little while back and have been waiting until I had some sewing skills before going inside. In case you haven't heard of it Sew Over It is a café mixed with a sewing workshop where you can borrow the machines to do your own thing, take a class or have one-to-one sewing tuition, all whilst drinking pots of tea! Great idea! So this Christmas I'm asking for a place in Sew Over It's workshop to help hone my sewing skills. Well, that and to admire the pretty décor.

Just look how nice it looks! I would love to spend an afternoon or two in here eating cake and drinking tea...

And if I was lucky enough to have my own craft room, THIS is what it would look like.

Sew Over It is ran by Lisa Comfort and is based in Clapham, London (SW9 9PH). For all the details on classes and opening times, view Lisa's website.

{All images: Sew Over It}

Christmas Wish List No.11

Help the British Red Cross this Christmas while also ticking someone off your list by purchasing one of these mugs from Elle Decoration. 50% of the sale price goes straight to the charity so indulge in some guilt-free shopping!

Designed by Johnathon Adler, Charlene Mullen and Fiona Douglas of Bluebellgray, they will also add a bit of designer-chic into your kitchen! Thy are £8 each and you can buy them from John Lewis.

{Image: Elle Decoration}

Christmas Wish List No.7

Yep, I've definitely caught the baking bug! I saw this pretty daisy apron while looking at the latest Lisa Stickley collection and dreamt up a baking-inspired wish list, and here it is.

From top right: Daisy apron, Lisa Stickley; Heart cookie-cutters, Sainsburys; Cake tins, Sainsbury's; Glass storage jars, Kilner; Mason Cash mixing bowl, John Lewis.

Ah, just think of all the yummy things I could make with these, coupled with the French baking book from Anthropologie! 

{Images: Lisa Stickley London, Sainsbury's, John Lewis}

Chilly Evenings call for Indulgent Desserts...

So today was a very lovely day indeed. I spent the early morning at a local car boot, then came home and spent a good few hours in the kitchen. I made a hearty beef stew from my mums recipe (perfect food for such a cold and foggy day!) and then made this sweet apple tart for dessert. I came across the recipe on the blog decor8 where the foodie e-mag What Liberty Ate was featured, and it sounded so lovely that I copied the recipe down straight away! The original recipe can be found on page 29 of the magazine, it's worth a look for the styling and photography alone! But in the meantime, here's my version:

French Rose Apple Tart:

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups plain flour
12 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 apples- peeled and cored
1/4 cup sugar

Method:

• Combine the flour and 8 tablespoons of butter in a large bowl. Mix with fingertips until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs
• Add 3 tablespoons of ice-cold water and combine the mixture using hands. A dough should be formed
• Flatten out the dough into a thick disc shape. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 1 hour
• Roll out dough onto a floured work surface. Roll into circular shape
• Carefully place the dough into a circular baking tray (preferably one with a loose bottom). Let the dough rest in tray for 1 hour
• Heat oven to 190˚
• Slice apples. Slice in half and then length ways to create fan-shapes
• Place sliced apples onto pastry base working from the outside in, creating a 'rose' shape effect as you go
• Sprinkle with the sugar
• Dot on the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter
• Bake for around 45 minutes (or until the apples start to turn golden)
• Serve with whipped cream

Yum! Let me know what you think if you give this one a go.


{Image: Laura Blanksby for High Street Home, using Instagram}

Lubna Chowdhary: Design Inspiration

Hello, hope you are all well and enjoying this lovely blustery, autumnal weather? I, for one, wouldn't change it for the world! Today I'm having a lazy day browsing the web, drinking tea and being wrapped up in my John Lewis cranberry lambswool blanket. So it's a good day for me! Anyway, whist browsing all the lovely e-magazines and blogs out there, I came across the work of ceramicist Lubna Chowdhary and wanted to share her work with you. Although Lubna predominantly creates hand-crafted tiles, I've fallen in love with her handmade storage jars below...

These jars have hand-glazed lids in her popular 'Trust' design. Another favourite are her Origami series. I absolutely LOVE the colour combinations of these, muted but fresh at the same time. I think they would create a striking kitchen splash-back.

Lubna has a great selection of tiles and also works to commissions. Her blog catalogues her bespoke work so why not have a look for some Thursday afternoon inspiration?

{All images: Lubna Chowdhary}