Gunge

Sharing a family recipe: my mum used to write down recipes from the TV when my sister and I were babies. They are often on small scraps of paper, like memo note block sheets and usually in shorthand with cup rings and splashes of butter or whatever. 

Anyway, she recently allowed me access to the special box where she keeps all these recipes and agreed I could take the recipe for Gunge, which is one of my favourites! We used to have it on holiday which was often on my Grandad's boat and involved a daily picnic on the beach somewhere. I remember tasting dates on their own for the first time and only then realising that Gunge contained dates. It's basically a yummy sticky caramelly tray bake. Comforting and with a lovely sticky and crunchy texture. Enjoy!! 

This is the original scrap I was given:

And this is the translation:

2 tbsp of self raising flour (it says 1 but that is wrong!)

3/4 tbsp of walnuts (or other nuts, I have used pistachios and almonds)

I cup of dark soft brown sugar

1/2 pack of stoned dates - not the ones in a tray. In a pack, usually with whole foods and baking in the supermarket.

4oz butter

1 egg

Melt butter and dates in a pan (did try this in the microwave as with the Foolproof flapjack recipe but the dates completely disintegrated!) until soft.

Add sugar and rest of ingredients, apart from the egg.

Mix together.

Finally add the egg and combine gently, trying to keep some of the dates in shape! 

Mixture will appear quite moist - which is fine! If it is dripping in a torrent off the spoon, add a little more flour.

Put in a lined tin and cook at 190c for 20-30 minutes.

I usually double this recipe and it goes perfectly in a deep sided roasting tin. 

I melted the sugar in with the dates and butter this time and this makes it even quicker. 

When I first made this, Andy accused me of having kept it from him for last 12 years of our relationship! He describes it as the sauce from a sticky toffee pudding made into a sticky yummy cake! 

It keeps for ages (well, it could do if we didnt eat it!!) and doesn't melt so great for journeys or picnics. 

some more foolproof recipes

Over the weekend, Andy was covering some more of my Youth Adviser work for me so was out all day Saturday. It's crazy to think that these dates for youth leader training (Equipping) and Growing Young Leaders (last Thursday) have been in the diary longer than I have been pregnant! But I'm very grateful to him (and Liz and Lucy too) for being willing and so enthusiastic to step in and keep things ticking over. I think they've enjoyed the experience?!

Anyhow, it meant that me and the Bean had a Saturday just the two of us which is quite a rare thing - and once we had got going over breakfast and some Cbeebies, she had her first dancing class of the new term. It's a class where they mix Ballet, Tap and Street Dance together which is right up her street and although she had a bit of an attack of the nerves just before going in, she had a brilliant time. The bonus for her is that the lessons are a full hour long which means she gets really 'in the zone' and also that the venue is literally opposite our house!

Once we'd got home and had some lunch we embarked on some baking - Damp Lemon Loaf Cake from Nigella's Domestic Goddess which I have made before (see this post)
I also took a risk and made Nigella's Fresh Gingerbread with lemon icing which is a stable part of our diet! (Good recipe and online review here) I say a risk because I was in the midst of making gingerbread when I eventually went into labour with the Bean, 12 days late! So it's always had a reputation in our household of being 'Matilda's gingerbread' and she gets a birthday cake of gingerbread every year! (for my pregnancy/maternity diary from nearly 5 years ago, you can check out my other blog here)
Half the gingerbread is now in the freezer for another occasion and half is - almost finished!

Yesterday, I also made a lovely Sunday dinner in the Crock Pot - a boneless pork shoulder joint with 2 onions, some italian seasoning and 2 cans of ginger beer chucked over - cooked for 6 hours and the juices reduced into a spicy and sweet gravy. Served with roast potatoes and green beans from my dad's garden. Again, half was eaten yesterday with the rest in the freezer for meals over the next few weeks. It was yummy - tender, sweet and sour in a way and so easy!

Pregnancy wise, I'm starting to get my head round potentially being pregnant for a good while yet - my due date is 10 days away and history dictates that I'll probably be late. I had wondered whether finishing work might get things moving as I stopped moving, but it hasn't happened yet! While it would be nice to be early or soon, there are no signs of anything happening as yet, apart from backache and just restlessness in the evenings but that is pretty normal. Baby Squid is measuring small (36 cm and I'm 38 weeks) - not in a concerning way but because it's head is now engaged it has a bit more room to grow and the midwives are hoping to see my bump size become a little more commensurate with my number of weeks by the time I see them next.
It gives us time to get a bit more idea of names...our initial shortlist has been scrapped, reinstated and rejigged quite a bit over the last few days and we have a shortlist now which isn't exactly inspiring me. I think I'm hoping for a name to smack me round the head, like Matilda Grace did but that hasn't come yet. So, baby Squid may be nameless apart from being a sea creature for a few days!

one week in...

So, I'm a week into maternity leave, almost - so far it's been a good few days! I'm appreciating the fact that my day is bookended by the school run, not that I'm always doing that role but I am up and about to help with the lunches, getting dressed and hair trauma! Having the Bean back around 3.15pm is a new experience for us as we've had childcare for 4 years which usually ran til 4.30pm but we have been able to put in some baking, colouring, arts and crafts, playtime, watching a movie and a visit to Barleylands in that new window of time which is great. It's almost a pocket of the day that I didn't know existed!
Andy has had his first 3 days at St Mellitus College, starting his ordination training; 1 Induction and 2 lecture days. He's embarking on learning Greek and has an initial module on Christian Theology to start him off. With his new iPad in tow he is enjoying the student life and the London buzz as well as the various church activities he'll be involved in - men's ministry, a new group for Dad's and Babies (very convenient) and a variety of youth work. He's enjoying being at home more in the day I think and it's certainly reassuring for me to have him around as we wait for Baby Squid's arrival.
I had my 38 week midwife visit today which felt like more of a trek than normal (30 minute drive from new house to St Peter's Hospital where I hope to deliver...) as I am much more uncomfortable driving now. Baby Squid's head is engaged and although baby is measuring a little smaller than expected, there is no cause for concern as there has been growth since 36 weeks and it's expected that the space left by the shifting of the head will get filled by growth over the next few weeks - oh joy! Not sure I have any more room! In theory anyway, head being engaged means we're looking at D-Day being any day now.
I finally packed my bag, baby's bag and M's bag for the big event yesterday - and did a little bit of extra shopping today to stock up on the lovely necessities for after birth (breast pads and maternity towels...) and some snacks and treats to keep me, and Andy, going!

Just finally, to add to the recipe bank, I made a dinner tonight using a fresh spinach and ricotta pasta pack which I just cooked as instructed. I then made a sauce with finely chopped spring onions, green beans and mushrooms plus pesto (2 teaspoons) a tablespoon of cottage cheese and some cream cheese. Very yummy, M ate all the vegetables and it was a good portion size for the 3 of us.

Made today in Smith Kitchens...

Korean Beef from this blogpost
http://elizabethbryant.blogspot.com/2010/05/korean-beef.html
This quantity is good for 2 people if you serve with just rice and small veg side. It could be stretched further with more red/yellow/green peppers added and with more sides like pak choi, asparagus or broccoli.

Turkey Meatloaf from this recipe
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/moms-turkey-meatloaf-recipe/index.html
This recipe suggests using a big baking dish and forming the shape of the meatloaf within it. I think our mince is different to American ground meat and is a bit wetter so I used a 2lb loaf tin, well oiled and still put the tomatoes and onions over it. It fitted perfectly.

Also doing a Roast Chicken, with chipotle style crust which we'll have a bit of cold tomorrow and I'll shred and freeze the rest to have ready for Quesadillas, curries, salads etc. Then use the carcass to make some stock for soups and a Chilli/Bean/Chicken thing that I have in mind but need to find the recipe for.

House is smelling good and after doing a massive (£245 worth) shop this morning with 3 kids (only 1 was ours!), husband and bump in tow, I'm pretty pooped!

Maternity Leave - bulk cooking for 4!

I started maternity leave yesterday and despite everyone's suggestions at just resting, sleeping and putting my feet up...I'm on a bit of a mission! Planning some cooking sessions while I still have just about enough energy and thought I'd post some of my planned concoctions/recipes on here in case anyone wants to steal them or adapt them.
Obviously, there is nothing special about these recipes - they have no special qualities other than being easy to prepare, easy to freeze and yummy without much effort at the other end.

So, starting off with a family favourite - I call this American Lasagne, only because it was given to me while I was in Tennessee last year and it is a layered beef and pasta dish. Officially, the recipe is called Company Casserole:

 Winny Palmer's ( Arnold's wife)  Company Casserole

 

1lb lean ground beef mince

1-2 cans chopped tomatoes (I prefer to use 2)

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 8oz. carton sour cream

1  "        "         cottage cheese

1 "       pkg. cream cheese softened

(all these can be low or nonfat)

1 bunch chopped spring onions

8oz bag egg noodles or tagliatelle

 

Brown ground beef. Add garlic powder & tomatoes, simmer for 20 min.

Mix cheeses and spring onions together.

Cook noodles/pasta in salted water as directed on box.

Assemble: pour 1/3rd meat & sauce on bottom of 1 1/2 qt. casserole dish, place 1/2 noodles next, then 1/2 cheeses , 1/3 meat sauce, last half of noodles and cheeses and meat sauce to cover.

Bake 375F 190 C Gas 5 degrees on a baking tray in case of overflow. 
45 min cooking time. let stand 10 min before serving.


This quantity has made enough for us 3 (2 adults and 1 child) to eat 2 days in a row - a massive portion on the first night and a good portion with salad on the second night! It is so good when it is left over for the next day. You can make this a day ahead and refrigerate, then bake it when you are ready to serve or it freezes well if you do the mince in advance and freeze in batches and then add the other elements when you're ready.

Enjoy!

December Daily - 19th December

We battled to church despite the fact that Market Hill was closed and found we were one of the chosen few to have arrived in one piece. Apparently a few people gave up on the way.

As our lunch guests were unable to make it, we opted for the same planned menu but just eating a little later, eventually sitting down around 2.30pm for beef stew.

Our annual Christmas do (we do a drinks do or a party every December of one kind or another) was going ahead tonight - regardless of the weather. We lost a few guests, mainly those from further afield than Witham who didn't want to face the icy roads later on. But we did have a goodly gaggle of carol singers arrive at 8.30pm from CGC, many of who where in our youth group when we attended that church. It was amusing to think that we had more people in our house last night than we amassed for Family Eucharist this morning!!

The food table...before the hot food came out. The highlight was definitely the gorgeous cheese selection from Maldon Deli along with the baked fig ball to go with it. Fabulous!

After all the clearing up, I sat down to relax a bit and watch the final of The Apprentice and see Stella English crowned the worthy winner. A great series, enhanced by Stuart Baggs and I thought Lord Sugar was more personable this series - softening in his old age!

Baked fig balls YUM! http://www.seggiano.co.uk/products/04cheese/figs.html more info if you'd like it!

Mouthfuls Of Heaven: Lemon Syrup Loaf Cake

Looking online for the recipe for a cake instead of rooting through my books, I found this review of the exact same cake I was planning to make.

Mouthfuls Of Heaven: Lemon Syrup Loaf Cake

The extra addition I'd make to the instructions/recipe is to always use real butter...sometimes I bake with Stork and you can get away with it, but you really can't with this!

Enjoy!

calm chaos

Today has been a day when despite nothing really working out as I thought it would, there has been an air of peace and loveliness all around...can't explain it.


I was working this morning and spent some time with a lovely youthworker that I 'support' in a way which I get more out of than I am sure she does! After a bit of sorting in the office, I went to get M from nursery. 
We took ages to leave, she was faffing in the car and chatting and wanting to show me her empty lunchbox to prove she had eaten all her lunch as she had promised she would.
We wandered, dawdled and pottered round the supermarket - I only needed flour and in the wine aisle, as I was perusing the reduced rose - M decided she wanted a drink...a pink one, like I had just put in the trolley....hmmph.


Tantrum slightly averted (or delayed) we headed home. I had a cuppa, M had a chill on the sofa with a bit of CBeebies and gave me a running commentary of Justin on 'Something Special' and his makaton signs up Snowdon (in any other context, that sentence would be ridiculous!)


And in a bizarre hour, around 4pm, M went to sleep, I received 7 phone calls, managed to pay off my credit card online in the meantime.Also dusted and tidied the clutter downstairs (onto the stairs, where it now remains..!) and set about doing some baking and prepping dinner...and I blogged too on www.alisssmith.typepad.com . Strictly speaking, none of that should have been possible - I didn't have enough hands, minutes or brain cells to have got all that to happen so conveniently. But it did.

And I feel quite content and calm...a very nice feeling!


Time for a cuppa, a chocolate cup cake and the Election Debate...

been and gone...

So Christmas came.....

and went...
Some highlights of our family tour appear above - including the Yorkshire pudding planning meeting, gurning and the rather feminine looking snowman.
Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and Happy New Year.

Happy New Blog too - thanks for your design comments. I'm working on getting the title font bigger and more interesting, if anyone has any advice?

Birthday pictures

Some birthday pics...

The new Peppa Pig brolly!I love this girl!!

Opening pressies in bed                                           The Smiths after a lovely dinner!!

must share this with you...

I cooked lamb on Sunday...
It was very simple, tasty and I had enough left (from a 2.5kg leg, after 3 of us ate) for a shepherds pie tonight aswell!
The recipe was from Jamie's Magazine but I cannot find it online...so here's my method
Basically you roast the lamb for 1hr 20 minutes and leave to rest for 30 minutes.

You soak cannellini beans overnight for 12 hours, then boil them for 2 hours.
Sweat off an onion, 2 heads of garlic (yes, I'm serious...it's worth it!) and the cooked bans for 20 minutes. Then  add 2 pints of chicken stock and cook for 1hr 45mins. 
Serve the lamb (well rested) on top of the beans - and we added carrots and spring greens but you could have it with salad or even on it's own?
YUM!