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 
Yesterday I began to think I was losing my baking mojo . . . seriously. I baked not one, but two sets of buns, that should have been beautifully soft and risen . . . I was using the bread maker to make the dough after all . . . what could go wrong?
They both turned out identical . . . even though I had baked them independently of each other. Total flop.
I don't know what the problem is. Truth be told I have another batch in the bread machine as I write this. I am NOT giving up. Anyways . . . baking mojo . . . losing it
I also baked this Cold Tea Gingerbread, which was lovely and well risen when I took it out of the oven . . . and fifteen minutes later . . . totally sunken in the middle. What the heck was going on??? Have I lost my touch??? Thankfully I did not throw it out because today . . .
I decided to cut into it to see what it was like . . . as you can see the texture is beautiful throughout, and truth be told . . . it is the BEST gingerbread I have ever eaten! Seriously!
It's dense and so moist . . . beautifully flavoured as well. The original recipe didn't have any spices in it??? I can only think that was a misprint because Gingerbread should at least have ginger in it and so I added some ground ginger, cinnamon and cardamom . . . the fab three!
It has a texture very similar to Malt Loaf . . . and is almost sticky on the outside. Not horrible at all. I rather like it an awful lot! I am so glad I didn't throw it away. Best gingerbread ever, and as you know I am somewhat of a gingerbread connoisseur! I'll let you know how batch three of the buns turns out . . .
*Cold Tea Gingerbread*
Makes one 9 by 5 inch loaf
Printable Recipe
A perfect testimony to our ancestors thrift in not even wasting a cup of cold tea. Delicious!
1 1/4 cups plus 2 Tbsp. sifted flour (125g plus 2 TBS)
1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter (115g)
1/2 cup brown sugar (100g)
1/2 cup molasses (125ml)
1/2 cup cold tea (125ml)
1 scant tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. hot water
1 large free range egg, beaten
Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 5. Butter and flour a 9 by 5 inch loaf tin, or butter and line with paper. Set aside.
Sift together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt. Cream the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and then beat in the molasses. Stir in the sifted dry ingredients alternating with the cold tea. Dissolve the soda in the hot water and stir in to combine. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until well risen and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 20 minutes before tipping out.
Delicious cut into slices and served with softened butter.
I can't pretend to know everything, but I more than welcome your questions and suggestions. Feel free to e-mail me on MarieAliceJoan at aol dot com and I'll endeavour to find out the answers to your most burning questions. Maybe we can learn together!
11 comments:
I absolutely love gingerbread, ginger cake, ginger biscuits so I am going to try this recipe today!
Julie
thats lovely ginger bread, I wonder why the buns didn't turn out, maybe the yeast was old, could that be,
You? Lose your baking mojo?
NEVER!!
It's a fluke..that's all..
Lovely bread..
You're the baking Mojocian(to be read magician)!
What yeast are you using ?:)
I was going to suggest the problem might be with your oven, given the gingerbread sinking, but that wouldn't have anything to do with the buns not turning out right. Could your yeast be past it's use by date? BTW, the tortiere mixture's cooling and I'll let you know how it turns out after I've baked it.
Marie,
I made your gingerbread yesterday and it is delicious!! Wonderful with my morning coffee! The addition of cardamom is brilliant and this is a recipe we will enjoy often. Thank you!
Hannah, thanks so much for coming back and letting me know you loved the Gingerbread! It really makes my day when I read that someone has enjoyed my recipes!
Hello I was trying your recipe yesterday and its really awesome. Thank you for giving me this delicious recipe.
Cookery Classes London
We're going to have to have a Skype date one of these days, so we can talk about yeast baking!! There's lots of tips I've learned, through trial and error! And it's so much fun once you get the hang of it. :) I think your gingerbread looks scrumptious, of course! And I'm glad you tasted it instead of tossing it! I was so mad about that marmalade cake, but it was yummy. And of course, my Paddington-loving boy was over the moon about it :) It doesn't always have to be pretty to be delicious!
Lots of Love, April
Marie I love gingerbread and this look georgeous!!! xoxoxo
Post a Comment