General Chat

So pleased to see that this thread which I started is still going strong. I will be back home after a time away, on Monday, will try to add something different during next week.

Bridget

Easy Victoria sponge cake

my sister gave me this recipe, tried it out yesterday yummy and so easy


170 GRAMS ORIGINAL FLORA MARG
170 GRAMS S/R FLOUR
170 GRAMS CASTOR SUGAR
3 EGGS
1 TEASPOON VANILLA ESSANCE

170GRAMS = 6 OZS

GREASE AND LINE BOTTOM OF 2 TINS

BEAT ALL THE INGREDIENTS TILL WELL MIXED

PUT IN TINS BAKE AT 160C FOR ABOUT 20 MINS OR TILL COOKED

LEAVE IN TINS FOR ABOUT 5 MINS BEFORE TURNING OUT ON TO A RACK
WHEN COLD FILL AS YOU WANT JAM, CREAM, BUTTER CREAM, ENJOY


MAKES GREAT CUP CAKES

Annabel

I cooked some pears today in the Microwave and they were very good.
this is what I did.

1kg or 2 2lb of dessert Pears
300 mls or 1/2 pint of red wine
microwave setting at High and with covered loosely and after after 5 mins and rearrange the pears to ensure that they are all cooking the same.
Restart micro and cook again for about 5 minutes.
Remove from the micro and allow to cool.
Can be served then or kept for later.

Husband and two friends said that they really enjoyed them with just a small amount of cream.

Bridget

Did a baking session this morning......

Sitting down with a coffee when OH came home.

He stood in the kitchen with a strange look on his face, staring at a bowl... "What have you been making?".......

Had to tell him the bowl of dried beans and rice were not for dinner... then tried to explain what "baking blind" meant.

This recipe is from the Heart Foundation, but it's got quite a bit of sugar, so if you're diabetic be careful

Chocolate Raspberry Brownies

1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 cup SR flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
3/4 cup cocoa
2 eggs lightly beaten
1+1/4 cups caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1+1/2 tablespoons sunflower oil (any good veggie oil)
200gr thick vanilla yoghurt (reduced fat)
100gr apple puree
200gr fresh or frozen raspberries
Icing sugar to dust & fresh berries to serve

Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Grease & line 30x20cm tin

Sift the flours, bicarb & cocoa into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre.

Whisk together the eggs, sugar, vanilla, oil & yoghurt in a large jug. Add to the flours & mix until smooth. Fold in the raspberries & apple puree.

Spoon the mixture into prepared tin and bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before turning out onto wire rack to cool completely. Cut into squares.

That's the original recipe. I don't use apple puree, I use a couple of granny smiths, peel & chop until you get 120gr, then either grate them or whiz them up with the yoghurt etc mix.

Any soft fruit can be used, I usually use mixed (frozen) berries. If you use strawberries, cut them into (at least) quarters.

The 30 minute cooking time isn't enough....... at least 40 mins, but you know your own ovens.

Don't put the icing sugar on until ready to serve..... it gets absorbed!

Cajun Chicken Salad Recipe

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes

While this recipe suggests poaching raw chicken breasts, I often use leftover cooked chicken.


Ingredients

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts
Salt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp mustard
1 Tbsp cider vinegar
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
Tabasco or other hot sauce to taste

Method

1 Set a 2-quart pot of well salted water over high heat. As the water heats to a boil, cut the chicken breasts into large (2 1/2-inch) chunks. When the water boils, add the chicken. Turn off the heat and cover the pot. Let sit for 15 minutes (time it) or more while you prepare everything else.

2 In a large bowl, mix the mayo, mustard, vinegar, paprika, Cajun seasoning and horseradish together. Mix in the eggs, celery, green pepper, green onion.

3 Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken from the poaching water* and dice it. Mix it in with the remaining ingredients. Add salt and hot sauce to taste. Chill before serving.

Serve over butter lettuce or between two pieces of bread for a sandwich.

"Any remaining liquid is a light, salted chicken broth. You can save it and pour it into a cup and drink it as a light soup if you want."

Serves 4-6.

Bridget

Another one which I have tried and we liked,

Igredients

1 pound diced seedless or seeded watermelon (without rind), about 3-4 cups
8 ounces strawberries, stems removed (about a pint)
1 Tbsp lemon or lime juice
1 Tbsp sugar
1/4 to 1/2 cup cold water

Method

Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. If you want, you can strain the purée through a mesh sieve, to strain out any pulpy pieces that didn't get broken up in the blender. Adjust the ingredients to taste.

Makes 4 cups.

My husband experiments with all sorts of fruit and Veg. I found this one on the internet and it is delicious,,,,,,especially if the weather is hot!!!

Bridget

PS he found it on the Internet

Scozzie

Thank you for joining us, and we hope that you will add some more Recipies.

I have not done much cooking in the last week...eldest son is a good cook and when he arrived he brought with him meat which came from one of his friends who provides meat to two or three well known hotels in Barcelona...it was splendid. We had roast pork on the first day, which was so full of flavour and tender we ate it all, the following day we had the sausages...now normally I am not too keen on Spanish sausages but once again these were a taste delight and no grissle, then we had the chicken, not reared in a coop, free range and then stuffed with pâté and other bits and peices ......no leftovers!!

I shall use the marinade on our lunch today.

Bye for now

Bridget
.

Marinade for chicken or pork (whatever you want). Enough for 2 chicken breasts, whole or cut into pieces.

1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, 1 teaspoon chopped chilli (I use about 1/4 teaspoon chilli powder), ground black pepper to taste.

Marinade at least 2 hours. Grill, panfry or bbq.

The once meat cake disappeared so fast I will have to make another.sothanks forthe recipe.Milly.

Yesterday we had a fabulous fish pie cooked by my eldest son and his partner with the sou chef being her son aged 7so I did not have to have any input except eating the food!
Today we have pork which again I shal not be cooking,rather nice to have others doing this...could be a new way of
I've!!!

No chocolates forums but I have bought a chocolate bunny for the stepson asa surprise. It feels good having family here.

We chatted about the future andmy son expects to return to the UKin the future and is hoping to move outside of the centre of Barcalona quite soon.
Well othersarerisi g so time for coffee haves happy Easter and I wil be back soon.

Bridget

I don't know if there's a recipe on here for the cake ,but this one is nice

Mincemeat Cake
Grease and line an 8in round cake tin. Preheat oven to160 C.

Mix together 8oz self raising flour, 12oz sweet mincemeat, 3oz dried fruit mix, 3 eggs, 5oz soft margarine and 5oz soft brown sugar. Beat until well blended. Spoon into tin and sprinkle some brown sugar on top.

Bake for 1hr 15 minutes until well risen and firm to touch. Cool in tin for 5 minutes and then turn out on to rack. This is a very moist cake which keeps well.

I have had a message from somebody who is searching for the recipe for mince meat cake. Does anyone know if it was on this thread? I can remember seeing it but don't know on which thread.

Please, if anyone has good Recipies for those who are trying to loose wheight please add them to here. OH and I have managed to ldrop 3 sizes for our clothes, we are not eating special diet food but eating less and more veg, lots of fruit and occasionally have a treet.
We enjoy most veggies, meats, and some fish,OH will only eat fish if there are no bones..just one bone and the rest is thrown away!

Yesterday the temp was low and it felt cold so I made a thick vegetable soup which we had with crusty bread, no butter, and it was delicious,

I know we have some entries already .....just looking for something different.

Hope to have some replies

Bridget

Is anyone cooking a special meal for St Patricks Day?
We used to celebrate this feast day in great style when in iEngland, and have had about 20 people around whilst we have lived in Spain. Sadly those days have gone...people returning to the UK due to the cost of having two homes.

There are about 6 to 8 of us still here and I am thinking about asking people around for a meal.

All suggestions welcomed.

Bridget

The Brownies are absolutely delish......yUmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Sharon, I tried the rice pudding with Apricots today and it was delicious. Thank you.
Bridget

Sounds Brill...will try it Jan X

I made rice pudding last night. Put chopped dried apricots in it and flavoured with almond essence instead of vanilla.

A bit good I can tell you.

It certainly is nice...fruit with fish....had grapes but never thought of melon

Jan

Jan I have done similar to that as starter before. I have also done prawn and grapefruit cocktails. /Fish with fruit is nice.