Thursday 24 December 2020

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 Hi 

What a year its been......Lets hope 2021 is better 

I thought our family had escaped the dreaded Covid but both my daughter and husband have got it 

I tested negative and so far showing no symptoms. 

We are all having to isolate till 28th December so a very quite boring Christmas for us. I am sad that I will not be able to see my Mum Christmas day 😞

We must stay positive and look forward to a better 2021 and hopefully lots of afternoon teas 









Saturday 19 December 2020

Homemade cherry scones

 I should of been at my first festive afternoon tea today with my hubby........ All of them are canceled 😭😞

Instead I baked these cherry scones to have at home.......... They are delicious and probably the best scones I have ever made!!



Have eaten 2 still warm with jam and clotted cream..... Not good for the waistline but I  did go for a long walk before so I do not feel as guilty in having a treat


Recipe ( makes about 6-8)

225g self raising flour, plus extra for dusting

1tsp baking powder 

2tbsp caster sugar

50g cold butter cut into cubes

1 egg

75ml milk 

30g Glace cherries halved or dried fruit or both


Method

Put flour, baking powder and sugar in large mixing bowl. Add the butter and rub in until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. 

In a jug measure the milk and beat in the egg

Add this to dry mixture reserving a tbsp for glazing. Add the cherries or dried fruit. 

Stir together until it forms a dough. Turn out onto floured surface and knead briefly until smooth. 

Gently roll out to 1 inch thickness and cut out rounds with cutter approx 6cm in diameter. You should make 6-8 scones this size. 

Put these on a plate in the fridge until ready to cook. You could also freeze them at this stage. 

Preheat oven to 200C or 180C fan. Place rounds on lined baking tray and brush over the renaming milk and egg mixture. bake for 10 to 12 minutes, they will turn golden brown on top. 

Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly and then eat them whilst still warm...... Delicious 😋 







Friday 18 December 2020

My Christmas cake

 Hi

Just finished this year's Christmas cake and I am pleased with how it looks 




I used a Mary Berry fruit cake recipe which you can find on below link

It made this large 8 inch cake plus 4 small mini ones baked in a muffin tin.  It was a good idea to make the mini ones as i was able to try the fruit cake before decorating to make sure it tasted nice. It did not disappoint on taste and was very moist and you could taste the brandy !!!!!! I will defiantly use this recipe again next year. 



I kept the cakes wrapped in the baking paper and in the tin for 3 weeks in an airtight container . Every week i poured a tbsp of brandy over them  to keep them moist

I used ready made yellow marzipan to cover them which I did a week before the icing. 



I decided to decorate with a simple Frozen theme. I brought some different sizes of snowflake fondant stamps and made lots of light blue and white ones out of fondant icing in different sizes and shapes. 




Some of them I brushed with glitter and I painted a few with edible silver paint. Then I left for a week to dry out and harden . I also crushed some clear mints and melted them in oven to create the ice shards . It took me 3 attempts to make these as I let them get too hot in oven and boil which caused lots of air bubbles . 


Once all decorations were made i  covered the cake in Royal icing which i made using egg whites and icing sugar with tsp Glucose and lemon juice. This stops the icing from going rock hard. 
I coved the cakes and and made peaks to look like snow rather than a smooth surface which is harder to do. I then carefully placed the decorations on top and on the sides in a random pattern 

I will gift two mini cakes and put them in a small cellophane bag tired with a ribbon. The other one I will cut and share with hubby to make sure it tastes OK before giving out . 









Tuesday 1 December 2020

Christmas afternoon teas in London



Hi

Are you looking forward to an afternoon tea over Christmas?
Below are a few that I spotted that look nice ............


B Bakery Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
Enjoy a festive themed afternoon tea on board a bus taking in the London sights and Christmas lights
Prices start from £45 each    



Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea Chesterfield Hotel 
I have been to this before and it was very nice so. Indulge in a selection of festive sandwiches and freshly baked cranberry and chocolate scones, followed by a decadent array of seasonal sweets. All of this is served alongside your choice of tea and a warming Mulled Wine Taster.
Price £47.50 each 




The Ned Festive afternoon tea

I had a lovely afternoon tea at the Ned in the summer. I loved the open plan style here and it had such a lovely atmosphere. The food was very good too. I am temped to go to this Christmas one myself Price £45 each


Haxells at Strand Palace Hotel
Enjoy festive savoury bites and sandwiches followed by scones and festive cakes for only £30 each .
I have not been here but the menu sounds really nice and good value






Swan, Shakespeare's Globe
I have wanted to try this afternoon tea for a while as the venue looks nice. The festive menu sounds really good and includes Christmas cake scones, After Eight macaroon and Bailys infused chocolate mousse
£34.50 each



Sheraton Grand London Park Lane
I have been to an afternoon tea here and it was lovely and i would go back. The Christmas menu looks nice and i like the sound of apricot and cranberry scones
Price £44 each 


The Rubens at the Palace
Festive savoury and sweet treats on offer here including Christmas turkey pie and specaloos scones what ever that means !!!!! There are also 6 types of sweet pastries that have a Christmas theme .
Price £49 each including glass of mulled wine