A Marmalade Cake ...with a twist

I read the other day that Marmalade Cakes originated  here in Scotland and that the first Marmalade made with Oranges was made in Dundee in the 1700’s….before that it probably was a spread made with Quinces.
In my 70’s recipe collection, that I found the other week, I have a Marmalade cake recipe which I will try out again and put  on here if I’m happy with it, but today  I made this one, which I made because Vicki is allergic to Oranges.

                                 MARMALADE CAKE …with a twist (Lime and coconut)

1lb loaf tin  …170C …I hour .... in middle of oven

200g SR Flour
Pinch salt
115g Margarine or butter
30g desiccated coconut
2tsp boiling water
85g Caster Sugar
The finely grated peel/zest of a lime
2 eggs
2tbs Milk
2-3 rounded tablespoons Lime Marmalade


Pour the boiling water over the coconut stir to moisten  and set aside
Add the grated lime to the  eggs, milk and marmalade and whisk together …set aside
Rub in the margarine to the flour and salt until it resembles breadcrumbs.
Add the sugar and  then the coconut , rubbing gently for a few seconds, in between the additions so that they are well mixed.
Finally stir in the milk mixture and as soon as the batter has formed , spoon into the lined loaf tin.

Cook for 1hour middle of the oven ….check at about 50mins if going a dark golden….mine was ready about 10 mins early today
Always check to see if cooked with a thin wooden skewer ..
Leave in the tin for 5 mins before removing it to cool on a rack .

While warm  the top can be topped with a lime drizzle….Just dissolve a little caster sugar in the juice from the lime and brush it all over the top….I tend not to bother but it does enhance the lime flavour.
My tin is a smallish 1lb tin so it just goes over the edge …I think I might try it in a 6” round cake tin next time.

If you try this, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Take Care xx

For my 'Cat People' Friends ....So Many Vet Bills ...but we love them.

With twenty cats it is not surprising to have had several sick cats over the past little while …poor Felix, our perfect tuxedo cat, got in a fight out side, which we were aware of by the chunks of missing hair appearing on his head but a few days later he seemed to be having trouble with his eye …we bathed it for a few days but eventually we took him to the vet …his eye had been scratched  and there was a scar forming ….sadly the creams didn’t really help his sight and he is now almost blind in that eye and it affects his depth perception. He is a cat who is only happy out side and sleeping on top of the kitchen cabinets at night …several times a week he falls, as he tries to jump up on to the cupboard ….and  I worry about him out side …. but he just could never be a totally inside cat even though he is a softy at heart.
 

 FELIX

 Rusty is our main problem …the vet is pretty sure he has severe Irritable Bowl Syndrome …it is a familial complaint which means Barnaby and Ellie may suffer to a lesser degree, as he is their uncle. Ellie’s only symptom  is wind …unbelievably smelly gas from both ends. Barnaby still has to eat kitten food or he gets diarrhoea that is more like water..  Rusty has to have a diet of chicken and rice …the sachets are not cheap so I tried preparing my own …worked out less than half the price …. would he eat it???? …who was I kidding. We will try again and then later try to wean him off the chicken but so far, it just results in his bowel bleeding. The vet has intemated he could be on it for life.
                                                                                                           
   RUSTY

                      
                                   





 

BARNABY
and                                                 ELLIE








    Rosie also has similar problems but we find by giving her bowel a rest for a few days,  she is fine for quite a while…not sure whether its IBS or that she eats things she shouldn‘t, when  out side.

ROSIE

Smudge has so far only had one seizure …not sure what caused it but the vet said it was quite common in cats around  7 years old …he may never have another but if he does he will have to become an inside cat and be medicated. It took a week for him to get over the effect …he just wanted to sleep and be with Jay, his ‘mummy‘. When it happened we had no idea except that he threw himself into the tiniest house space on the climbing pillar, which we thought was funny and Jay took photos …which we now feel bad about …it was only when he emerged and walked as though he has had a stroke that we realized there was a problem. I didn’t know, until the vet told us, that cats try to run away from the fit and want to be in a tiny area. They ignore all the signs that tell them the space is too small and so many get stuck …for this reason we should keep him in but as he has not had another fit and cries so pitifully to go out we decided to let him out before meals, which the vet said would be OK unless he fits again. So far he only stays out for a short time in this cold weather and is happy to spend the rest of the day sleeping.


SMUDGE














Just thought I'd keep you Cat Folk in the loop as you all have been there and have the T-Shirt.
Sorry about the spacing ...blogger was playing up ...maybe its me !! Take Care xx

A Recipe from the 70's ...American muffins

I found some old recipes of mine, from when I was a young Mum in the 1970’s …thought I would try a few again and share them with you.... this is the first one ....Muffins ....nearly forgot to take a photo though.... half already had been eaten..

 My American Muffins

8oz S R Flour

1 ½ oz caster sugar

½ tsp salt

2 ½ level tsp baking power

4oz dried fruit …any mixture

4 tbs melted margarine

8 fl oz milk

1 egg

Prepare a 12 cup muffin pan…either oil and flour or use cupcake cases

Heat oven  to 190C, (400F, Gas mark 5)  and then melt the margarine in a pan …set aside, but keep warm
.
Put all the dry ingredients together in a bowl and give them a mix.
Whisk the egg until it is frothy and then  stir into to the milk
Pour milk mixture into the dry mix and stir rapidly
As soon as it is mixed, pour in the margarine and incorporate it to create a batter.
As soon as the batter is formed spoon it into the cups or cases …about ¾ full makes the 12.

Bake for about 20 minutes …ovens vary …test at 15 mins with a  skewer, if unsure

These are not too sweet ...great for breakfast if you use dried cranberries.... great with a cup of tea if you need a snack ...there was a note to use chopped dates as a variation ...think I must try that too.

Take Care xx.

Friday Smile

I may not be into crafty things at the moment and I am just getting back into  the swing of blogging but I felt it was time to join in on Twiglets/Wipso's Friday Smile posts ...everyone needs to smile.

 

Several times yesterday, I removed a Playmobil helmet from Barnaby ...those with children/grand kids will know what I'm talking about ... but as I was sitting by the laptop he thought I wouldn't notice him retrieving it...was he kidding. ...luckily the camera was at hand.

And this is what was going on behind me ...the green is my butt ...Ellie and Rusty think the chair is theirs. Taking the photo was no mean feat.

Hope these made you smile




Take Care xx

Dining Alone ... and feline ailments

Having a meal out when you are single ...especially a widow, as once you had a rock to sit by and aimlessly chat to ... can be a difficult experience. Waiters quickly pounce ... in order to get you served and away as soon as possible ...after all you are using up a space that could seat two and  thus produce twice the cash.
 Of course if you are under a certain age and 'eye candy' to those serving, you might not be rushed .... if you take the waiters fancy. 
I am naturally a fast eater... main and a dessert could be completed in less than 30 mins so something had to be done. I began to create a plan of action to enable me to enjoy at least an hour in a restaurant and I thought I would share it with you.

 Firstly ...read the menu slowly ...at least twice ...but do not catch the waiters eye until you are really ready. I find a rummage in my handbag a useful delay....a little note book and pen might be useful later... a book tends to suggest you are often alone...place it in full view, before you order
.When appraoched to make your order, be ready to ask questions ....sensible informed ones.
While waiting for your meal to be served take in the surroundings and those around you ... observations fill in time without you looking like a spare part. ....as long as you dont stare too hard or look as though you are listening in on some ones conversation... I love being secretly nosey though.
Learn to eat slowly if you are a fast eater normally ....you can actually put your knife and fork down during the course!!. Always have a drink there, even if its water ...gives a reason to slow the intake of food, as one sips at the liquid on and off.
When the meal is over it is useful to partake in a coffee to delay the bill paying and susequent departure.  This however may not be required so this is when the note book comes into play. If you enjoy writing, jot down any observations that might be useful in the future ...if not, jot down the meal you had and your favourite bits. I find that while you are writing, waiters steer clear ....after all you could be a critic and they really wouldn't want to rush you.!


Must get back to posting more often ...some of our felines have not been well which has delayed things. Did you know cats get IBS? well I didn't ....or  that they rush into dangerously tiny spaces when having a feline epileptic seizure ...to escape the fit.? ....more about this on a later post

Take Care xx

A Nana overload

Another promise fulfilled ....photo over load of the grandsons .....and a few first of Holly and her feline friends. Robbie adores her ...he is so good with animals

 Ben now has to wear glasses and Jake is a little jealous ....I think he looks so intelligent in them.

  Like Father Like Son ...Steve .... still is a boy at heart

Ellie wanting to join in too

I could have bored you with more but I though I would be kind....It was a perfect Nana day....

....although Olly has given me a new name ...Baba B

Take Care xx

Cauliflower and Stilton Soup

As promised  on the previous post ...here is the recipe... perfect when you have a small or half a large head of cauliflower waiting to be used up ...and a few ounces of Stilton hanging about after Xmas.

Ingredients

1 medium sized Leek ...finely chopped ....I do not use the darker green part
(Shallot or onion can be used instead)
1oz butter
A small head of fresh cauliflower ....cut into small pieces
Up to a litre of stock ....I used only 2 stock cubes ....(1veg and 1chicken.)
3oz Stilton
150ml milk.
Black pepper and salt to taste

Method
Soften the leek in the butter with the black pepper and a pinch of salt ....do not brown.
Add the cauliflower and 3/4 of the stock.
Simmer gently, until the cauliflower is soft and then remove from the heat.
Stand for a minute.
Add the milk and then crumble in the cheese ...use a little more Stilton if you want to.
Either decant the mixture into a liquidizer to puree it all, or use a stick blender in the saucepan.
When it is a smooth creamy consistency add the extra stock if consistency is a little thick for you and check for seasoning, as you might need a little more salt.
Return to the heat and gently bring the soup back to just below boiling.
Enjoy with crusty fresh bread or a toasted bagel
If using it for a starter, garnish with tiny croutons and some crumbled Stilton.

Easy Croutons
Butter both sides of a couple of slices of bread and with a sharp knife, cut off the crusts.
Then cut each slice into tiny cubes and scatter onto a baking sheet.
Pop into a hot oven but watch them ...as soon as they are light golden in colour, shake them and return for a short while... until they are a true golden colour.
Remove from the oven ...toss onto kitchen towel ...and allow to cool.

Enjoy 
Take Care xx