Probus cake.

This is a cake I did for "Castletroy Probus". I wont lie,I did have to google what a probus was,I hadn't a clue! It turns out Probus Clubs cater for the interests of retired or semi-retired professional or business people. So after talking with the lovely lady from castletroy probus,we decided to go for a big P cake and use the logo as the hole in the P!

Once again I forgot to take pictures so this cake is too a little bashed up!

Whoopsie!

Shirley x

Eton Mess

(Photo Credit~Real Food)

My Mother invited us all over for Easter Sunday dinner and was adamant we were to bring nothing. Usually for a big family dinner(There is 8 of us) Jacqueline would do the starter, I tackle the dessert and Aishling does the "waitressing". We started the day with the Heineken Cup Rugby match and a couple of drinks. My mam then,like the trooper she is,started into our 3-course meal. We had BBQ chicken wings for starters and turkey with all the trimmings for main (My mouth is actually watering as I type this lol!) and dessert was Eton Mess!

Eton Mess

 

Ingredients

• Meringue,crushed
• Strawberries
• Double cream
• Vanilla Ice-cream

 

Instructions

1. Purée half the strawberries in a blender. Chop the remaining strawberries, reserving some for decoration.
   
2. Whip the double cream until stiff peaks form.
   
3. Into four cold wine glasses,Mam layered meringues,ice-cream,purée,strawberries and cream. She did this twice and then garnished with the remaining strawberries.
   
   

I don't think it is "Traditionally" made with ice-cream but this was deeeelicious! It was actually quiet refreshing, especially after the big meal we had. Well done to my wonderful mother,she seriously outdone herself. Hope you all had a nice relaxing Easter.

Shirley x

Freshly made Scones.

My other half Ger has been plaguing me for scones for the last few weeks so last weekend I finally gave in and baked him some. I dunno what it is with me and scones but I literally cannot eat more than one of these,they are the most filling things ever! These are plain scones but there is so many variations around,every time I make some I'm gonna try different flavours. I have a feeling I'll be making these more often anyway just to satisfy Ger's love of scones, luckily they're easy-peasy!

   

Recipe for Scones

 

Ingredients

• 225g self raising flour, sieved
• 150ml milk approx.
• 25g caster Sugar
• 25g margarine
• 1  beaten egg, for glazing

Instructions

1. Pre-heated oven 200°C for 10-12 mins
2. Mix flour and sugar in a large bowl. Add margarine and rub until it resembles breadcrumbs.
3. Add milk little by little to make a soft dough. Knead slightly to bring dough together and remove any cracks.
4. Roll out your dough to 1” in thickness and cut using a cutter.
5. Place on a baking tray and brush with egg for a lovely shiny glaze. this is completely optional.
6. Bake  and leave cool on a wire rack.

Bit of butter,bit of jam..........hmmmmm!

Shirley x

St.Patricks Day Sugar Cookies

St. Patricks day is tomorrow! I'm looking forward to going into town to watch the parade,then head for bite to eat and then straight to the pub with family and friends. Paddy's day has always been a family day for us,every year we would watch the parade and then go to a nearby hotel with my grandmother,aunt and cousins but as we got older it just fizzled out. Now we have little Callum in our lives,its time to start making great memories of Paddy's day for him (and us!), lets just hope the rain stays off.

St. Patricks Day sugar cookies

Ingredients for vanilla sugar cookies

• 200g caster sugar
• 100g icing sugar
• 300g of unsalted butter, diced.
• 2 large eggs.
• 1 tsp of vanilla.
• 500-550g all-purpose flour, sifted.
• Extra flour for kneading and rolling.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 170°C.

2. In a bowl or in the kitchen mixer with paddle attachment, mix the two types of sugar, vanilla and the egg.
Add the flour and the butter and keep mixing just until the dough comes together.

3. Knead the dough lightly by hand on your flour dusted kitchen counter and wrap it well in cling film and put it in a plastic bag. Chill the dough for 2 hours.

4. Roll out your dough cut to desired shape (in this case shamrocks),put in the oven and bake for 15-20 mins depending on your oven.

5. Decorate! I used fondant to decorate these with little help of some edible markers.

 Here's how I made the shamrock,you can do it freehand but the heart shaped cutter made life so much easier!

Hope everyone has great and safe paddys day!

Shirley x