• Home
  • About
    • Crochet
    • Knitting
    • Baking
    • Christmas posts
    • Sailing & Travel

      Food for the soul

      17th April 

      It's been a strange week in our household, the children have returned to school after the Easter holidays but I have not returned to work.  I am still under orders from the doctor to take it easy and that was fine in the beginning but I'm not good at doing nothing.  So instead this week has been much about food for me, here are five of this weeks favourite.

      Firstly, I've been trying different herbal teas and then adding in some fresh ingredients too.  As soon as the mint is up in the garden, I am going to try some of my own mint tea.  Have any of you experience with making your own herbal teas, would love some recommendations and steering in the right direction.


      Camomile, ginger and lemon tea


      I have over the past three weeks lost my appetite a tad but this week it has returned and I was craving vegetables, I turned to Delia as I often do and decided to make her Moroccan chicken, this is the photograph before adding the chicken and before the rice was cooked, I just love these colours, the flavour was lovely too.  This is a great supper dinner for friends as you can assemble everything before hand and then just pop it in the oven with nothing to do when everyone has arrived, a great make ahead dinner.  Moroccan chicken


      Moroccan chicken

      The weather has been wonderful of late but the beginning of the week I was still cold, out came Delia again and this time real soul warming food for dessert; chocolate bread and butter pudding , a great British classic with a twist.  It went down a storm in our house.


      Chocolate bread and butter pudding


      Thursdays herald crochet evening and it has become a tradition that I make a cake for the chatter, crochet and cake sessions.  Each week I make something new, all the recipes are here on the blog.  This week  as I was having a bit of a Delia fest, I decided to stick with her and delved into her Summer book, here I spied her American muffins, making six of the coffee and walnut ones and then adapted the basic recipe to add in mixed berries that I had in the freezer.  I added 110g of frozen berries into the basic mix.


      Coffee and Walnut muffins

      Mixed berry muffins

      Basic muffin mix according to Delia: Makes 6 large muffins or 20 mini muffins
      150g plain flour
      1 level table spoon baking powder
      1/2 teaspoon salt
      40g caster sugar
      50g melted butter
      1 egg, size 2
      1 teaspoon vanilla essence

      For the coffee and walnut variation you will also need:
      2 tablespoon instant coffee powder mixed with 1 table spoon of boiling water
      75g finely chopped walnuts
      For the icing:
      icing sugar
      2 teaspoon of instant coffee mixed with a little boiling water
      6 walnut halves


      With muffins it’s always a good idea to have everything weighed out and ready before you startBegin by sifting the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl, lifting the sieve up high to
      give the flour a good airing.

      Now, in another bowl, mix together the egg, sugar and melted butter and vanilla essence. Return the dry ingredients to the sieve and sift them straight into the egg mixture.

      (This double sifting is crucial because we won’t be doing much mixing.)

      What you now need to do is take a large metal spoon and fold the dry ingredients quickly
      into the wet ones – the key word here is quickly (i.e. in about 15 seconds).

      What you mustn’t do is beat or stir, just fold, ignoring the uneven appearance of the mixture because that’s precisely what makes the muffins really light. Over-mixing is where people go wrong.

      Next, quickly fold in the walnuts and coffee – again no stirring.

      Now divide the mixture between the muffin cases. Sprinkle on the demerara and bake near the centre of the oven for 25–30 minutes until well-risen and golden brown.

      Remove the muffins from the oven, and transfer them straight away to a wire rack to cool.

      Store in an airtight tin or cake box.

      However I may have been busy with food this week but having been inactive for 7 weeks due to torn tendons in my foot and the added complication of pleurisy, the waistline has expanded and I think I may need a life style change when it comes to food, so whilst forced to rest over the past few weeks I ordered the below book.  I am plodding through it and getting the enthusiasm up to try and reduce if not totally quit sugar from my diet, shhhhh don't tell the rest of them in my household... they will be part of this too!


      This is what's coming my way...
      Thank you for everyone who took time to comment on my previous post   here , it seems many of you laughed and shared the same issues within your house hold.  Watch out for the next instalment soon of my husbands shenanigans when it comes to my crafting...

      Joining in today with  Amy   for Five on Friday, pop over and see what others have been up to too.

      ♥  Thank crunchy it's Friday   


      PS  He still hasn't noticed these yet...  shhhhhhh, don't tell him!

      40 comments:

      1. Hi Selma, Delia's books taught me to cook and I often fall back on her recipes - in fact, there is one on my own post today! I can't believe your loo roll covers have gone unnoticed, that's hilarious. Hope you have a good weekend. x

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. Cannot believe how much pasta you've had this week! I know, I cannot believe he has not noticed. He's probably shit off to new 'unnecessary' items. He he he

          Delete
      2. Yummy!!! Such delicious things to eat!!! I like Delia recipes too, they are always good aren't they. I am sure that your group comes for the crochet, but I bet that the cake is the second reason they come!!! Thank you so much as always for joining in. I hope that you have a great - and tasty! - weekend! xx

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. The berry cakes were good and the coffee walnut ones were fine except I slightly over cooked them. Was quite annoyed with myself. Love joining in Amy. It's my pleasure. Have a good weekend in your lovely garden

          Delete
      3. Oh I so want one of those coffee and walnut muffins, please can I come visit you. I do not bake these days, since the children left home I am the only one who eats it when I do and I try not to eat too much cake - my hubby rarely touches cake so he's no help, and I just get rounder with each bite.

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. Welcome any time. Why not make a batch, the recipie only allows for 6 to be made and eat one and freeze the rest... Defrost as a cake eating moment is needed

          Delete
      4. Your baking looks lovely and yummy, I dont know if I could sugar from my diet I like it too much, Mint Tea is the only herbal tea I like, I make it in the summer like the turkish mint tea :-)

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. I'm not sure I will quit sugar but I would like to reduce it...

          Delete
      5. A very delicious five! So frustrating isn't it waiting for things to heal. I'm still hobbling around after spraining my knee, totally fed up with it now! Hope you are more mobile soon xx

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. Oh no! So sorry to hear this. Yes. I'm fed up and frustrated it's true...

          Delete
      6. The Moroccan chicken and the bread and butter dessert sound wonderful.. Not sure about the dessert, but the chicken I want to try...

        ReplyDelete
      7. That all looks sooo yummy, I hope you feel better soon, my ME's been in relapse so like you I've been struggling despite all the healthy eating I'm attempting no sugar wheat dairy (no fun!!) to see if it helps, good luck with the no sugar
        Clare x

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. Clare sorry to hear you are in a bad phase with the ME. That us no fun at all but it sounds like you are bring sensible and taking the bull by the horn so to speak. Will be thinking if you and sending positive get in a better phase vibes.

          Delete
      8. Well you sure had a yummy week. I don't eat sugar due to sever hypoglycemia, you would be amazed at how much sugar is in things! But I do bake with agave and I love it.
        Hugs to you and hope you are healing.
        Meredith

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. I am amazed at how much sugar is in things and in things you would never expect it to be. Someone else I know uses agvave too I'm going to look I to that. X

          Delete
      9. Your Thursday evening sound like fun with yarn and cakes. I'm visiting from 5 on Friday.

        ReplyDelete
      10. I can almost smell the coffee and walnut muffins. I must give that recipe a try. You can always rely on Delia. X

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. We have almost all her books. You really can rely on her. Let me know how you get on with the muffins

          Delete
      11. Mmm.. all your food looks so tasty, sorry to hear you have had a bad time recently health wise and hope that things are getting better now. I saw that sugar free book the other day and it is frightening how much sugar is in some of the things we eat, we have cut down on salt quite a lot and I think sugar may be next:)

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. Rosie, I think you are right. Sugar seems to be the next 'new' thing to beat. I know I need to cut back

          Delete
      12. Mmm, lots of deliciousness there. I gave up sugar for Lent, I always feel so much better without it in my life. Somehow it tends to creep back in again. I hope you're well on the mend now, and that all is completely better very soon.

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. That might be what I end up doing knowing me. Going through phases of being good. They say you feel less lethargic giving up sugar. Here's hoping...

          Delete
      13. I love Delia too! I still use the cookbook of hers that my husband gave me for our first married Christmas, it's really old now ha! The muffins look delicious! I am sorry that you are still not healed, I hope next week is better. Take care xx

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. She is a star. That cookbook must be so precious to you. X

          Delete
      14. Oh dear! Reading this post has set me to craving lots of lovely baked goodies and at the moment I too am trying to eradicate naughty sugary/carbohydratey things from my diet. However, with 3 young men in the house at the moment that's a good excuse for doing some baking - you've inspired me to have a go at some muffins this weekend. Loved reading this post. I had an operation on my foot a few years ago and I found swimming a good way to exercise - no stresses or strains on any weight-bearing joints. All the best, Judy.

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. Oooh swimming that could be a good idea. Thank you. I also posted my next post on apple roses for dessert. They are not so naughty and look amazing. Maybe give them a go too? http://eclectichomelife.blogspot.com/2015/04/apple-roses-for-dessert.html

          Delete
      15. I do hope that you are feeling better soon, I can totally sympathise with the foot it's so frustrating not to be able to do the things you take for granted. All your makes look yummy but I am trying to cut sugar from my diet too and feel so much better for it. I usually put a couple of mint leaves in boiling water sometimes with a dash of honey and I love it. Have a great weekend . :) xx

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. Love the idea of adding honey. Will give that a try. Thanks x

          Delete
      16. Lots of delicious food in this post! I love Delia's recipes too...they always seem to work for me. I hope you feel better soon. Take care.
        Helen xox

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. I agree Helen. I have many disasters and near misses in the kitchen but never with Delia

          Delete
      17. Oh Delia, the modern day Fanny Craddock (but so much better!). I have all her books and they always come up trumps when I need that little bit extra. I bet you can't wait to get back to normal, however I think your family may just be enjoying you being at home and making lots of goodies for them! Take care and have a great weekend xx

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. Yes she is. I hadn't thought of her as Fanny but yes!!!

          Delete
      18. Oh! I all of a sudden have a craving for muffins! The kids love them anytime of day - perhaps I'll make some now and they can eat several for lunch with a big bowl of fruit. Yum! Thanks for sharing the recipe!!

        ReplyDelete
      19. Just checking out all the lovely Five on Friday blogs. obviously going to have to go back a bit in yours! You can't go wrong with Delia, she has been with me throughout my married life, lol! Must look at the Moroccan chicken I am all for dishes that don't need a lot of faffing with.

        Take it easy though, Selma, pleurisy is no trifling thing!

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. Hello Gillie and so very welcome. I agree about faffing I too don't have the inclination for such food making any more! Let me know if you make it. Delia really is fab. Thanks for your concerns about me too. Slowly getting better.

          Delete

      I will always read all comments and will try to reply but it may take me a couple of days, do please pop back and lets get a conversation going...