That'sss Amoreeeee!
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Hello there, once again. :]
I have come up with an experiment, which could probably (and most likely will) turn out to be a total failure. But... I'm pressing on. ;)
I have decided to try to cultivate my culinary skills. If that isn't terrifying, I'm not sure what is.
Heheh. Anyways, I went through some little European recipe books and found some risky ones and some safe ones. Here's my list:
Welsh Rarebit (Not rabbit!)
Calls for:
4 slices of bread; 1 oz. of butter, softened; 1 level teaspoon made English mustard; 1/4 level teaspoon of salt; a shake of Cayenne pepper; 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; 6 oz. cheddar cheese, grated; and 2 tablespoons of milk or bear.
I'm really not sure what to expect from it, but the description said it was a "quintessential savoury dish". It had me at 'quintessential'. ;]
Yorkshire Scones
This was the only one I got from the Yorkshire Teatime one. It looks a little hard, but the ingredients are pretty simple:
1 lb. self-raising flour; 1 teaspoon of salt; 4 oz. butter; 4 oz. sugar; 2 eggs; 5 fl. oz. milk; and 1 beaten egg, for glazing.
This one's description was: "Scones are the epitome of English afternoon tea." Who knew you could use 'epitome' while describing a scone?
Bakestone Cakes
These Traditional Monmouthshire cakes are apparently more like scones than cakes, seem pretty simple to make, and the ingredients few and manageable--
8 oz. flour; pinch of salt; 1/2 oz. baking powder; 2 oz. butter; and... "single cream"? Any one know what that means?
Chocolate Coconut Crunch
Does this not sound delicious? Does the name alone not effect an exceedingly warm feeling in your very soul? It does in mine. Because anything with chocolate and coconut (with crunch in there, too!?!) in its name must be superb. Plus, it says that it is so easy to prepare, children will enjoy making them! Absolutely paradisaical! (Yes, I am trying extra hard to boost my vocabulary. 'Quintessential' and 'epitome' were just too intimidating--I have to beat it. ;) But I must ask--what is a Swiss Roll tin? It calls for one. Is it like a bunt cake pan?
Any how, here are the ingredients--
6 oz. self-raising flour; pinch of salt; 1 tablespoon cocoa powder; 5 oz. butter, softened; 3 oz. caster (?) sugar; 4 oz. desiccated (dried) coconut; and 2 oz. plain or milk chocolate.
I. Cannot. Wait. =D
Crumpets
I am not sure as to whether or not these are like the ones I've had, but if they are, I shall be delighted. You make them on the griddle, which, I hope, shouldn't be too bad...? I'm quite excited for these, too. =)
1/2 lb. flour; 1 small egg; 1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda; 2 oz. brown sugar; and 1/2 pint milk.
Cheese and Ham Scones
You might already know, but I am a Herculean fan of ham. Ham and cheese. Possibly the best food combination of all time. As it happens, however, I am a vegetarian, and have vowed eschewal from meaty things, ham qualifying as one. It is a little dispiriting, but I'll just have to make some with ham (for my omnivore family) and some without.
8 oz. self-raising flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; pinch of salt (this measurement is mildly aggravating. It makes me want to pinch something, but it sure as heck isn't salt...); 1 oz. butter, softened; 2 oz. strong Cheddar cheese, grated; 2 oz. cooked ham, chopped; 5 fl. oz water; and beaten egg, to glaze.
Egg Whey
I honestly have no idea what to expect from this. Apparently it's a pudding? Custard? Thing? :S We'll see...
1/2 pint milk; 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger; pinch of ground nutmeg; pinch of ground cinnamon; 2 large eggs; 1 1/2 oz. sugar; 4-5 thin slices of white bread, thickly buttered and crusts removed; and the grated rind of a lemon
Welsh Cheese Pudding
Okay, so this does sound mildly paralyzing, but I'm going to try it anyway! =D
6 slices of bread; butter, for spreading; 8 oz. grated cheese; 1 level teaspoon mustard powder; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; salt and cayenne pepper; 1/2 to 3/4 pint milk; 2 eggs, beaten.
Poor Man's Cake
The title basically says everything: few, cheap ingredients and no uncommon, fancy tools needed. I was satisfied.
3/4 lb. self-raising flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1 oz. butter; 6 oz. soft brown sugar; milk; and 1 egg, beaten.
Lancashire Nuts
4 oz. butter, softened; 4 oz. caster sugar; 1 egg, beaten; 4 oz. flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 4 oz. cornflower.
BUTTER-CREAM FILLING:
3 oz. butter, softened; 6 oz. icing sugar; and a little warm milk.
You're supposed to put the filling in between two cookies, and it makes a little Oreo. ^.^
Mushroom Soup
I love mushrooms. I really do. And in soup they're even better!!
2 oz. butter; 2 oz. flour; 1/2 lb. large mushrooms; 2 onions, very finely chopped; 2 pints strong chicken broth (I think I'll substitute it with vegetable broth); 1 tablespoon rice; 1 bayleaf; chopped lemon balm, to decorate; 1 tablespoon dry sherry (I think I can live without that, though).
Brown Bread Ice Cream
Ice creammmm!! Seriously, who could pass up a chance to make your own ice cream?? Certainly not me. :)
1/2 pint double cream; 1/4 pint single cream; 2 eggs, separated; 1 tablespoon rum; 4 oz. brown breadcrumbs; 3 oz. sifted icing sugar.
Shortbread Biscuits
They looked easy, so I figured I'd try them. :D
6 oz. butter; 2 oz. sugar; 8 oz. self-raising flour. And that's all! Wow! =D
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Well, that's everything that I found today, but I think I'll look around on the internet some more, sometime, to find some. If you have any, leave a remark! :)
I'm pretty excited! I still have to convert the measurements and all, though. Thankfully my mom sent me a website a while back which lets you do just that. :] Also, I think I'll make Wednesdays my cooking day. Should be awesome! I'll definitely keep you posted. :)
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And that's all for tonight. :) I have a few things that I should have been doing, instead of writing this, so I have to go do them now. :P Sweet dreams!
