A day off

Last week I had a day off in the week. Not something I have many of during term time. So like many working Mum's if I do get the odd day off then I put it to good use. I could sit at home, watch a bit of TV and relax but actually I can't! My Dad always said that if my Mum sat still her bum would be making buttons! A very odd saying but what it means is that she could never be still, she always had to be 'doing something', a trait that I seem to have inherited! If we have a 'lazy day' at home I find myself genuinely feeling anxious that I should be 'doing something'. I know that it can be frustrating for those who have to live with me and I know they don't understand because I can remember not understanding when I lived at home with my Mum. A film would come on TV and Dad & I would say we'd seen it but Mum would swear she hadn't and we'd always blame it on the fact that she never sat still long enough to watch one!

So on my day off I did all the usual daily chores, like cleaning up the kitchen and getting some washing done. I popped into town to pick up a parcel, go to the bank and pick up a few groceries and when I came home I headed for the kitchen.

We'd already eaten most of the cake I made at the weekend, although Mr P had taken some into work for a colleague to try so that's why it had disappeared quicker than usual (that's my excuse!) so I decided to make another one. We love the Fruit and Almond cake and I do make it most weeks so I decided to make something different. I've had Rachel Allens Bake book for a while and haven't used it much so I picked that off the shelf. I chose a recipe for an iced orange cake. It sounded lovely and I had oranges spare so even better. However, when I opened the oven I was horrified that the cake hadn't really risen and it had sunk in the middle. I was less than impressed! I iced it all the same and hoped it would taste better than it looked but I really wasn't happy. I still took a picture as I don't believe in only sharing successes and it was only just now as I looked up the recipe online so that I could include it here that I got to see a picture of Rachel's finished cake. Her cake has a sunken centre just like mine! She'd iced it a little differently but the cake itself was the same.

Too sweet for my taste

While the cake was in the oven I decided to make some soup to stock the freezer. Mr P likes to takes it to work for his lunch. I just used up what I had in the fridge which happened to be mainly root vegetables. So it was carrots, parsnips, swede, an onion, a leek and a squash that was lurking! I added some Garam masala and cinnamon to give it some warmth.

Ready for the freezer

Lastly I made a beef and barley casserole for our tea. I started it off on the cooker top and then once the cake was out of the oven I popped the casserole in, no need to heat the oven twice that way! I can't usually make a casserole in the week as I don't have time to cook them when I'm working so if ever I'm off that's what I'll make. And of course any good stew or casserole should have dumplings!

The recipe is so simple that it's barely a recipe at all!

I use
 200g self raising flour
 100g butter
pinch of salt
any herbs or spices I feel like adding
Water to mix

Rub in the butter into the flour by hand then add salt & herbs/spices and enough water to make into a soft dough. Roll into balls and place them on top of the casserole. (they'll be half in the liquid and half out) You can cover the casserole or leave it open for a crispier top to your dumplings but I cover mine you can use the same recipe to make a cobbler too. Bake for 30/35 minutes on gas4/180c at the end of cooking.

This makes about 12 dumplings.. You can adjust the recipe easily as it's simply 2 parts flour to 1 part butter
On this day I added some smoked paprika to the mix. It gave a lovely flavour and colour to the dumplings and complimented the smoked paprika in the casserole. And before anyone asks, I'm afraid there isn't a recipe for the casserole I just put in what I have to hand (beef, onions, celery, root veggies, unpeeled new potatoes and barley) with some good quality beef stock and what ever herbs and spices I fancy.

Ready for the oven

The whole house smelled amazing for most of the day and when everyone came in from school or work they were greeted by warm comforting smells wafting from the kitchen.

The casserole was lovely, really hearty and filling. The soup, Mr P tells me was very nice indeed but as for the cake......lets just say I won't be making it again in a hurry. Everyone else said they liked it but it really wasn't for me.