Cookery Challenge - 'Five on Friday'

Hello there, I'm just back from the WI (Women's Institute). I'm very pleased to have won 1st place with my Robin WYS Socks... photo on the side panel. The pattern is from Winwick Mum's tutorial on her blog here. Each month the WI have a competition, April was to knit a pair of socks. There's also a flower of the month too, you bring in a flower from the garden. The best are awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd. These two items each month gain you points that are totted up at the end of the year, for the March AGM. The competition for May is to knit a Helicopter in the Lincs & Notts air ambulance colours... watch this space ha ha. 

I've challenged myself to cook more the last few weeks. I've tried new things from 2 x cookery books, a youtube channel that I follow and a lady called Karen's blog. 

First: These are called 'Ears', I found these on a Youtube video by 'Bayley Made It' I subscribe to her channel, she used to do minimalism but now does a bit of that plus knitting, makes and buys etc. I took these for the shared supper at March's WI, this finishes off the evening whilst the raffle is called and you get chance to chat more over a cuppa or glass of wine. The competition is announced during the supper too. 

To make the Ears, you'll need a sheet of puff pastry. Sprinkle finely chopped onion, grated cheese and 2 slices of finely chopped bacon. Roll it tight on the long edge. Cut the rolled pastry in half, then each half cut in half... repeat until you have 16 ear shapes. Lay them on a baking sheet and cook as sausage rolls. These are perfect with soups or buffets.   

Second: Tonight's dinner was a Salmon loaf, very easy though I cooked 2 salmon fillets rather than tinned salmon. As the salmon was cooked, flaked and hot mixed with the hot mashed potatoes and all the other ingredients, I baked it for just 30 minutes. It was delicious, I'd definitely make it again. 

Third: Baked some bread with 750g bread flour, 2 x tsp salt, 25g marg or lard, 1 sachet fast action dried yeast, 3/4 pint water. 
Next time I'd only use 1 tsp salt as it was salty tasting. I used butter as I have low fat spread (not suitable for cooking). 
The method that I use is in the Kenwood big bowl mixer with the dough hook. Mix on slow for 2 mins, then 5 mins on a faster speed. Then flatten on a floured worktop, fold the ends in to make 3 layers. Place in greased or lined tin, cover and leave to rise - double in size. Conveniently the slow cooker had finished cooking our dinner of Spaghetti Bolognaise, so I took the crock pot out, put and small china dish inside and stood the covered loaf tin on the dish inside. The heat helped the rise without being too hot. It took an hour to rise and 35 mins to bake, 220*c approx.
Recipe from McDougalls Better Baking cook book. 

Fourth: I call this Strawberry Fluff, the recipe is here. It only has 2 ingredients, a red jelly packet and a small tin of evaporated milk. Nothing fancy as it's typically a wartime recipe (no I wasn't born then). 
Make up the jelly and chill, when nearly set, whisk the evaporated milk, then combine and whisk. Chill in the fridge and serve. 

Sorry we'd started this and the bread before I snapped the photo!

Fifth: Easter nests, or one big nest as bizarrely I didn't have any cup cases left. Since not eating eggs, I've cleared out lots from my cupboards, including the cup cases! So one big nest it is! Cadbury's chocolate bar 200g (a Easter present from a customer), cornflakes and a packet of mini eggs. Melt the chocolate and stir in cornflakes in batches, checking they are all coated in chocolate. Press down gently in the cake tin liner, adding the mini eggs. Place in the fridge until needed. 

So on a high note of winning first prize for my knitted socks, I wish you a lovely weekend. Let me know if you are inspired to try any of these recipes.
Cathy x

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