Crochet and Mocha roulade

1st May     

One of the first bakes I ever made that I was proud of was a mocha roulade and it became my go to bake at the drop of a hat.  In fact I made it so often, it was a wonder I made anything else. I had totally forgotten about it until last week when my youngest was due to make a Swiss roll at school but because they had a cover teacher he came home without having made it.  We began talking as you do about school the pros and cons of it all and I mentioned how I learnt to make my favourite bake, this elusive mocha roulade.  Why elusive, well I do not think I have made it for at least eight years, defiantly my youngest could not remember.  That settled it, it was to become this weeks crochet bake and a good thick slice given to Jack before the ladies arrived.  He approved and I think I maybe making this again very soon, I shall not wait another eight years...


This weeks baking ~ Mocha roulade

You will need:
Slightly risen and springy

for the sponge
  • 6 large eggs, separated
  • 125g (4½oz) caster sugar
  • 50g (2oz) cocoa powder,
  • 2 tbsp. coffee granules plus 1 tbsp. of boiling water


for the filling
  • 250ml (9fl oz) double cream
  • a good size handful of green grapes, halved
  • 2tsp caster sugar
you will also need
  • 30x20cm (12x8in) Swiss roll tin, lined with baking parchment
  • Rolled up roulade and cooling
  • baking parchment larger in length than the Swiss roll tin

♥  Pre heat the oven to 150 degrees Celsius
♥  Line the Swiss roll tin with baking parchment
♥  Whisk the egg whites until stiff
♥  In a separate bowl, mix the egg yolks and sugar until pale and fluffy. 
♥  Into the yolk mix, sieve the cocoa powder and gentle fold in.
♥  Add the boiling water to the coffee and make it into a smooth paste.  Gentle add this to the yolk mix.
♥  Add the egg whites to the yolk mixture a spoon at a time, making sure to fold it in well but to not loose all the air.
♥  Pour into the prepared tin and bake in oven for approximately 20 minutes.  The sponge should have risen and be springy.
♥  Place the parchment paper on the work surface and sprinkle with caster sugar.
♥  Straight from the oven turn the sponge onto the sugared paper.  Gently remove the parchment paper that was on the sponge in the oven.

Make sure the cream and grapes make it to all edges
♥  Using the new baking parchment, carefully roll up the sponge into a Swiss roll whilst warm and allow it to stay like this until cooled.
♥  Meanwhile, whip the cream until it just holds its shape, do not over whip, nor actually have it too runny as it will run out of the roll!!!  Halve the grapes.
♥  Gently unroll the sponge, it will be almost flat but slightly curved.  Spread with the cream and sprinkle on the grapes.
♥  The interesting part!  Using the parchment paper that the sponge is on, re roll the sponge, but do not let the parchment paper become rolled up with it, use it to roll the sponge, but peel it away as you roll.  The sponge may sometime crack a little, but I do not think this matters.
♥  Optional decoration.  Many years ago I used to pipe a line along the centre of the roll and then place more of the halved grapes.  Today, I did not bother...
♥  Eat and enjoy.


The parchment was used to re roll the roulade


Mocha roulade

A book recommendation ~ Crocheted flowers

The focus for the last crochet session in this run of course was to be flowers.  It's funny really I began teaching these ladies different stitches whilst making a blanket, their first project ever and now each week we focus on a smaller project, with many of the ladies making a second blanket alongside.  I just love my Thursdays and hope some or all of them will sign up for the next set.

A great go to book for flowers and I am sure many have this on their book shelves is the title 100 flowers to knit & crochet.  If you haven't seen it, do.  I decided it best to teach them a basic flower but that they would be able to complete two in an evening.  Not liking the simple life, I felt they could cope with two different patterns...


A great go to book for knitted & crocheted flowers


The two flowers that were taught


Something to be proud of ~ Pupil's work 
It's time to boast.  Last night was the last of my second ever crochet course and I feel the ladies have come a long way and I am so very proud of them.  Here's a very small selection of some of their work...

A first ever crochet priject


After making blankets, dog brooches and Easter rabbits,
we felt it time to learn the granny square


Scottie dog brooch, see   here  for instructions


Ripple stitch cushion

Learning to edge

Easter bunnies were addicitive

Lots of stitches were learnt



A question ~  to block or not? 

I never really know if I should block my work, so I tend to give it a try and see.  It's true 9 out of 10 times, I prefer it blocked, but not always.  As to flowers, I quite like the curling effect, it gives it a wind swept feel, but then the detail does look better blocked.  To block or not?  what do you do?


Blocking a crochet flower

Top flower blocked, bottom flower not!

 
A necessity ~ Scrap yarn busting 
 
Yep sometimes it's just got to be done.  I have far too much yarn, is that possibly, I hear you say.  Yep, it is.  Ideally I would like more, but I'm having trouble storing it all and to be honest, I am coming round to the thinking that if I want to make something I really should buy specifically for that project.  I am a conundrum as I do often like spur of the minute projects and I would be do frustrated if I didn't have any yarn from which to choose when the urge hits me in the middle of the night.  So I have no real answer as to what to do, but I do know that every now and then I need to bust some of my stash.  And that is what I have been doing this week with the crocheted flowers and the granny vase I made yesterday, see here

It's been another week of illness in this household but we are beginning to come through the fog, thank crunchy for that.  Hoping May is full of good health, fingers crossed...

Joining in with  Amy  for her Five on Friday, pop along and see what others are up to. 

♥  Have a wonderful long weekend if you are in the UK ♥

26 comments:

  1. Such lovely crochet! I have just started a crochet blanket - very basic. I'm not very good at crochet at all, but I am enjoying it very much!

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    1. You day you are not good but in no time at all you will be great. That's the beauty of crochet.

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  2. Oh that roulade looks scrummy Selma. I like both flowers, the blocked and the unblocked! I guess it depends what you're going to use them for as to which effect is best. Enjoy the bank holiday weekend xx

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    1. It really is. But as said I made it too often and it's been a while. We have the taste for it again so am sure we'll make it very soon ;)

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  3. I have that book! Alas I haven't made anything from it yet but I shall. Yes I have too much yarn , way too much really. The fact that I have filled 4 80 litre boxes in about 18 months says it all really. Lets hope you have a healthier May x

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    1. Oh dear you are an addict too. There's no going back now!

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  4. Your crochet is beautiful. The Roulade looks gorgeous you have reminded me that I have not made one for years either, I don't think my youngest would remember too. I must rectify this soon. Have a lovely weekend xx

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    1. Ooh yes. Maybe make one this weekend. Have a good one too x

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  5. The colours in your crochet work are lovely and the roulade looks so tasty:)

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  6. Your beautiful roulade cake is making me so hungry! Thanks for sharing such a great recipe. I too have this crochet flower book but I haven't made anything from it yet. I'm thinking of crocheting some flowers to embellish a baby afghan. Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs, Pat

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    1. Great idea to add flowers to the afghan. Try the book it's so good.

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  7. That is beautiful work. I hope your household will soon be in much better health. X

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  8. The roulade looks absolutely delicious and a definite one to make methinks. Have a great weekend. P x

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  9. Wonderful things!!! The cake sounds scrummy and oh gosh, your students work!!! How wonderful they are, so many great things that they made!! You and they should all be very proud indeed!! Thank you so much as always for joining in. I hope that you have a great weekend! xx

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  10. Your cake looks delicious!! Thanks for the tutorial and the recipe. Yum! I have seen that book, it is great isn't it. Being a knitter I do block mist things except socks. I wouldn't block knit flowers though as I think you'd lose something. Have a great long weekend!

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    1. Thanks Chris. I am just joing in with a knitted sick along tomorrow, so excited about that

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  11. I hope all the illness soon leaves your house. You have been so busy and productive. Hope you have a good weekend,
    Meredith

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    1. Thank you Meredith. We are slowly in the mend. Touch wood

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  12. I don't think I've ever had a cake with grapes in it - I will have to give that recipe a try someday. I've been interested to read about your crochet teaching group - it's something I've thought about doing with knitting but haven't been sure how to go about it. I might practise on some of my book group colleagues. Blocking - definitely. Sometimes I do it by hovering the iron over a piece on full steam setting - much quicker than pinning out - depends what it is. And yarn stash - I'm having that problem too - far too much yarn hanging around my house. I think that in hindsight, I should have bought one set of DK yarn in a particular type and all its colours for when you want to make something on the spur of the moment, but apart from that, I completely agree with you - only buy what you need for a particular project. Hope the illnesses pass soon! Judy X

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    1. I will try just the hovering Judith and see how it comes out. Do try the roulade with grapes it really is a lovely combination.

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  13. Well, I've learnt something new...blocking!! I like them both, so go with it! Looks like a great, crafty week and I'm thrilled you could join us for #TheList :) xxx

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    1. Thanks Hannah. It was great to join the link up. Found a few new blogs too.

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