Showing posts with label 25 4 25. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 25 4 25. Show all posts

Monday, November 14, 2011

Baking

Pecan is still baking away in there and I'm taking the time to become a Baking Goddess. Much to the delight of Hubby and not my waistline. I'm sure Pecan will appreciate it later as well especially when it comes to School Fetes (if they even still have them then, they'll probably be outlawed because of allergy risks!).

As part of my 25 4 25 plan, I decided that I'd bake Hubby a cake to celebrate him finishing uni. I asked Hubby what he wanted and he said whatever I wanted to bake. I told him that no that wasn't the point, the point was for him to be spoiled. So I wound up making a Banoffee Pie adapted from two different sources - Curtis Stone and taste.com.au. I didn't want individual pies so the second recipe was ruled out and I also wussed out on making pie pastry. But Curtis Stone's was just a little bit too sugarey for me and so I used the toffee from the taste recipe and simply boiled a can of skim condensed milk. So without further ado my Pie:


Ingredients
  • 1 can skim condensed milk
  • Juice of 1/2 a lemon
  • 3 large bananas (use as many as you want)
  • 600ml whipping cream (I used less than this you but just whipped it all in case)
  • 280g Marie biscuits
  • 150g butter (melted)
  • Milk to smooth out the toffee
Method

Crust
  1. Line the bottom of a 22-23 cm springform pan with parchment paper (don't grease the sides).
  2. Chop the biscuits in a food processor until they are finely ground.
  3. Pour the melted butter over the crumbs and process to blend well. The crumbs should stick together when pressed.
  4. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom and 3 ½ cm up the sides of the springform pan. Refrigerate for 20+ minutes.
 Toffee
  1. Cover the can of condensed milk in cold water (make sure it's well covered) in a saucepan. Bring the water to boil and then leave to simmer for 3 hours (making sure the water continues to cover the can.
  2. Take the can out of the water and once it's cooled slightly pop off the top. (Now I wound up double boiling this with some milk to get it to a smoother consistency). Use one cup to double boil and when it's a smooth as you can get it but still thick cover the bottom of the crust. I felt like I didn't have enough toffee but it worked out you could probably do 2 cans.
  3. Leave the leftover toffee in the can (this will be the sauce over the pie and again I suggest double boiling and putting in some milk).
Pie Filling
  1. Whip the cream using an electric beater.
  2. Slice 2 bananas and put a little bit of lemon juice over.
  3. Fold the bananas into the whipped cream and then put into the pie crust on top of the toffee.
  4. Slice the remaining banana and again put lemon juice over the slices. Use these to decorate the top of the pie.
  5. Spoon the remaining toffee sauce over the pie.
*Note the toffee didn't turn out as great as it could (very gluggy consistency) but still tasted really really yummy and I just couldn't justify using the extra sugar & butter it called for in Curtis Stone's recipe.

It was really yummy and we had it for afternoon tea with the in-laws after we asked my Father-in-Law to put up the remaining to shelves and a canvas print of Hubby and I at Sculpture by the Sea two years ago. We still had half the pie left so I told Hubby to take it to work before accidentally dropping it this morning whoops - luckily it pretty much stayed together.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Bonding with Bubs - Week 14


Size: 9cm...how did that happen?!

What's Pecan Up To: peeing, but thankfully cute stuff too like squinting and frowning and maybe even sucking his (or her) thumb.

Symptoms: Bit dizzy and out of breathe (apparently that's because of the increase in blood volume).

Cravings: Sour and savoury. I love love love my V8 veggie juice. Soup

Keep that away from me: Still certain meats and definitely still not a fan of chicken.

Weight: Still around 75kg which I'm happy with. I'm not ODing on the bad foods or snacks and making sure I get in my 30mins of dog walking every day.
 
Feelings: Getting less tired (yay!!!). Happy that I'm in 2nd trimester. Sad because I couldn't get the gorgeous pair of lace up ankle boots I wanted because they were a little too tight and Mum said my feet would probably swell BOO! Oh and I really really really feel like I'm having a boy. My SiL's boyfriend joked that I could 'feel it in my waters' and I just said I will feel so bad for this baby if it is a girl!

Random: I am actively stopping myself buying baby stuff. I keep reminding myself I can after our (& during!) trip over East. But window shopping is still fun and I plan on buying some material and yarn tomorrow to cross off 2 craft projects from my 25 4 25 list!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Something up my Sleeve


So in all the birthday fun I had, I realised that I forgot to start my project inspired by the amazing Violet.

I like this idea better than New Year's resolutions but I've still got to keep up with those too (whoops!). 

25 4 25

1. Create a craft/sewing corner
2. Make a photo wall up our stairs (or on a wall in the lounge)
3. Get another tattoo
4. Start a tradition for our first year wedding anniversary
5. Learn and perfect one hairstyle
6. Read 2 books a month
7. Learn to cook 1 yummy vegetarian dish
8. Complete 6 craft projects
9. Create a Danish/Australian nursery rhyme book
10. Take one photo a month I'm really proud of
11. Plan (or book) a holiday overseas
12. Create a family Christmas tradition
13. Dye my hair a crazy colour (yes I'm going to be that kind of Mum)
14. Visit Taronga Zoo
15. Make Hubby an amazing cake to celebrate him finally finishing university
16. Sort through all my recipes and organise my recipe books/holder
17. Create my own little garden haven in our courtyard
18. Explore somewhere in WA I've never been before
19. Watch a horse race (and not via the tv)
20. Have my first ever family holiday
21. Go to the outdoor cinema at least 3 times (either with or without bubs)
22. Get my passport changed to my married name
23. Cook a new meal every month
24. Spoil myself once a month
25. Become a Mum