Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Weight Watchers Sage and Onion toad in the hole #wwback2best

Who knew that I could cook Toad in the Hole ? Amazing my late Nan would be ever so proud! I always thought making  Toad in the hole was some mystical art that had to be bestowed upon you as a cooking right of passage.  However as my Nan didn't bestow this mystical  art upon my mother who in turn couldn't bestow it to me. So I was lost in the frozen wilderness of The frozen Toad in the hole : The shame I know ...

But all was not lost until one day I stumbled upon this recipe in My Weight Watchers recipe book. I was saved and duly resurrected as a cook!


Weight Watchers :Sage and Onion toad in the hole

38 ProPoints value per recipe

30 minutes preparation
30 minutes cooking
serves 4


Ingredients:

Calorie controlled cooking spray
8 weight watchers premium Pork Sausages, snipped in half
2 Red onions,sliced
125g ( 41/2) ounces plain flour
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage or 1 teaspoon dried
2 eggs
300 ml (1-fl oz ) milk
2 teaspoons sunflower oil
1 x Goes with everything gravy recipe

100ml (3 1/2 fl oz) vegetable stock

1 teaspoon light brown sugar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
salt and freshly ground pepper

1. Preheat the oven to Gas mark 7/200 c. Spray a solid roasting tin, measuring approximately 22 x 30 (8 1/2 x 12 inches ), with the cooking spray.

2. Squeeze the sausages out of their skins and roll into a ball. Place in the roasting tin and scatter half the sliced onion around. Spray again with the cooking spray and roast in the oven for 7 minutes.

3. Meanwhile make the batter. Sift the flour into a mixing bowl and stir in the sage and onion and season. Make a well in the centre and add the eggs. Start to beat the eggs and flour together using a wire whisk , adding the milk gradually until you have a smooth batter.

4. When the 7 minutes is up, remove the roasting tin from the oven and stir the sausage balls and onions around to make sure nothing is sticking to the tin. Add the oil to the roasting tin and heat on the hob for 30 seconds. Pour in the batter, then replace the tin in the centre of the oven and cook for 30 minutes until risen and crisp.

5 While the toad in the hole is cooking, make the goes with everything Gravy.

6 place the rest of the onion in a lidded non stick saucepan with the stock and cook gently, covered for 10 minutes until softened. Remove the lid , sprinkle in the sugar and increase the heat under the pan. Cook stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until the onions are caramelised and stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until the onions are caramelised and sticky> Add the balsamic vinegar then stir the onions into the gravy.

7 Serve the caramelised onion gravy with the toad in the hole.


Weight Watchers Toad in the hole.

(Disclosure this recipe is published with the full permission of Weigh watchers the recipe book is available from here . I have not to told to do this by Weight Watchers I just wanted to share my experience of being on the Weight Watchers on line )

I adapted the recipe to suit my family mainly my teenager but in theory it was still the same.

Power of the written word

The power of the written word is undeniable it there's either in plain side or hidden..

The effect is in the here and now and when the moment has long gone its memories rekindled. But to be denied a voice is a crime and one that will eat at your very soul . So a blog is your written word , your muse, your legacy your release in essence your what ever.

It doesn't matter if your words are written as anonymous or in your own name your words are there for all to see unless its totally private. It is so important to write things down so much more influential that just whispering on the wind.

Often I have written about the power of the written word and here my thoughts on how perhaps social media can if you are not careful dilute the written word. But above all please do treasure every little note your child gives you  .. after all words are love are what are we without words

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Honey & Pesto Gammon Recipe

Ingredients: 2-4kg/4lb 8oz-9lb unsmoked boneless gammon joint, tied
1. Place the gammon joint in a large bowl, cover it with cold water and soak it overnight or, if time is short, for a minimum of 3-4 hours.

2.  After soaking, wash the joint well in cold water and place it in a saucepan with enough cold water to cover the joint. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat, cover the pan and simmer gently for 80 minutes (20 minutes per pound plus 20 minutes). 


Recipe for the glaze:
  • 4 Tbs honey
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 Tbs soy sauce
  • 4 Tbs Green Pesto
  • 2 Tbs brown sugar
Mix all of the above in a small pot and heat until it comes together in a thick glaze.


Pre-heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6 .


  1. . Roast in the centre of the oven for ten minutes, then take the joint out and brush the top and remaining side with the rest of the glaze. Return the gammon to the oven for a further 10-15 minutes, rotating the roasting tin so that the opposite side of the gammon faces the back of the oven.
  2. The gammon is ready when the fat on top is glossy and golden brown. Cover loosely with foil if the top begins to look too brown. Remove the gammon from the oven and set aside to rest for 15 minutes before carving.
  3. Pour any juices that have collected in the aluminium foil into a small pan, and warm through gently.
  4. Carve the gammon, serve on a large platter and spoon over the warmed juices .


Honey & Pesto Gammon.
Sliced Honey & Pesto Gammon.

Sunday, 23 September 2012

Operation "Moo Milk" #EpicStraws




Epic Straws originate from the makers of Cravendale milk and come in three different packs. All containing a variety of straws and connectors so you can invent your own way to drink milk. You know the people the ones who feature the evil thumb cat Bertrum ...

I hasten to add that I don't see my evil thumb cat during the day so either he is Bertrum or he has an evil twin.
Is it "Rollie" or is it "Bertrum " the thumb cat ?

Rollie "thumbcat' not giving the Cravendale up for anyone!

We did eventually manage to wrestle the Cravendale off Rollie though Mr T is sporting a very nice plaster now. You can't blame Rollie now can you would you want to give up your Cravendale?.

And as Mr T is an engineer by trade he wanted to inflict  show his knowledge of capillary action to myself and J as it would be a useful and informative lesson in both engineering and science.


A Cow says "Moo" An Epic Straw creation!
Milking the moment !!

"Moo"



 These new Cravendale #EpicStraws are brilliant family fun, to use when drinking milk. It teaches us that cows say "Moo" and also teaches usmilk comes from cows ( did you know that ? "
Ready for action .. ?

Operation "Moo Milk" is a go go go!


And J's reward for helping with Mr T's science lesson a nice cold glass of Cravendale milk.
You can get more info on these Epic Straws here from 24th September: Epic Straws


(Disclosure I received some vouchers and the straws I wasn't told what to write and all ideas and words are my own)

Silent Sunday 23/09/2012