The English Kitchen: A real cracker winner!

Did You Know???

Make Your Own Self Raising Flour: You can make your own self raising flour by adding 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder and 1/4 tsp of salt to every cup of plain flour.
Make Your Own Baking Powder: You can make your own baking powder by combining 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda with 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar. It's ideal for coeliac sufferers who can't find the gluten-free variety of this raising agent, but measure it out carefully because too much or too little can upset a recipe's balance. Make Your Own Mixed Spice: You can easily make your own mixed spice: Combine 1 TBS ground cinnamon, 1 tsp each of ground coriander and nutmeg, 1/2 tsp of ground ginger, 1/4 tsp each of ground cloves and all spice. Mix well and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Make Your Own Cajun Seasoning: Mix together 2 1/2 TBS of salt, 1 TBS dried oregano leaves (Rub to a powder using your fingertips), 1 TBS sweet paprika, 1 TBS cayenne pepper, and 1 TBS ground black pepper. Store in an airtight container for up to six months. Make Your Own Pumpkin Pie Spice: Mix together 1 TBS ground cinnamon, 2 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp ground cloves, 1/2 tsp ground allspice, 1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg and a pinch of ground mace or ground cardamom. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Make Your Own Italian Seasoning: Mix together 3 TBS dried basil, 3 TBS dried oregano, 3 TBS dried parsley, 1 TBS garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp dried rosemary, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Welcome to my English Kitchen. I moved over here to England from Canada in the year 2000. Before I arrived, I was told that the cooking and food over here was awful, except for the Roast Beef and the Fish and Chips. I had no idea of what to expect, but it didn't sound good. I landed at Heathrow with a bulging suitcase full of kitchen tools, handwritten recipes and a 4 litre can of Maple Syrup, totally prepared to be greeted with the worst. I am happy to say that over the past 12 years I have discovered that most of what I had heard was totally and completely wrong! Here in the UK we have some of the best poultry, meats, fishes, ingredients and produce in the world, and some of the most innovative chefs. I have learned so much about cooking in the past twelve years, and I've enjoyed trying and experiencing many new things, thankfully most of them wonderfully delicious! I love English food . . . both the traditional, and the wonderful blend that is modern British Cuisine . . . a delicious mixture of a variety of tastes and cultures. I hope you'll come along with me as I explore all the wonderful tastes, sights and textures that England has to offer even the most discerning of palates.

Buy My Cookbook

A lot of you have suggested that I write a cookbook. The good news is I already have. Recipes From The Big Blue Binder. A delicious sampling of all my tried and trues, and family favourites gleaned from a lifetime of love and good cookin'! Find such favourites as Banana Granola Pancakes, Mom's Split Pea Soup, Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza, and Grammy Woodworth's Blueberry Buckle to name but a few. 178 pages of delicious recipes and beautiful colour pictures, available as a lovely book or as a download. You can click on the book to go to my storefront to purchase. If you already own it, please feel free to leave feedback on my Lulu page. Thanks so much!

“She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
"Winter is dead.”
~AA Milne, when we were very young

NOTE: I am away at the moment helping my mother with her treatment for lung cancer. I have set up a few posts to post whilst I am away as a special surprise. Some are new and some are reposts of old favourites that you may have forgotten, or if you are a new reader may not even have seen. I'll be back at the end of May, but in the meantime . . . Enjoy!

PS - I will only have sporadic internet use, so if you ask a question and I don't get back to you . . . it's not that I don't want to. It just may take me a while.

Friday, 9 November 2012

A real cracker winner!

I can't believe my brand new camera just died on me. I've only had it for a couple months. I am so sad about that.

I'll have to take it back to the shop today and have it, hopefully . . . replaced. So annoying!

I did manage to pick a winner for the Hotel Chocolate Christmas Cracker though . . . and I took a picture of the winning comment with my i-pad camera, which will have to do for now. I wish I could have a Christmas Cracker sent to each of you, but alas . . . there can only be one winner.

Hoping you can see that. Mary McAndrew, you are the winner! Please send me your postal details so that I can pass them on to the Hotel Chocolate people. Congratulations!

Never fear though people, there is still the Jamie Oliver Cookbook giveaway (see post below this one) and a few more in the offing to look forward to!

5 comments:

Pat said...: Congratulations Mary!!; 9 November 2012 10:35
Gill said...: Congratulations to Mary!; 9 November 2012 13:34
La Table De Nana said...: You have proof with us that it's a new camera..
Oyoyoy..

They will replace..!

Congrats!; 9 November 2012 13:53
petoskystone said...: Congratulations Mary! What a way to begin the weekend.; 9 November 2012 14:28
Grammy Staffy said...: Sorry about a your camera. Good luck.; 9 November 2012 17:08