Cook Books

I have a wide variety of cook book which inspire me to try different cuisines and styles of cooking or baking. I don't have a favorite cook book but I enjoy looking at vintage cook books which have lots of distinctive ways of cooking that I may have never seen before!

Some of my cookbooks

As you can see in the vintage cookbook, they drawings are so colourful, they have a very
vintage look about them!

 These are some of my cook books about different cuisines. They each have a selection of recipes originating from a specific country. With these kind of cook books you can create authentic European dishes!

Close up Garden Photography

My garden is a north facing garden so we don't get the best of the light when it is sunny, but when it is sunny I like to make the most of the sun to take some photographs!
Here are some of the photos I took:

Leaves of the olive tree

Landscape photos

Even though the lighting wasn't great this after noon, I still managed to capture some of the beautiful landscapes that Forest Green had to offer!
I also enjoyed a meal in the nearest restaurant called the Parrott. I had a seasonal vegetable soup with rosemary and home made bread. I am hoping to find the recipe and upload it to my blog soon!

Quirky cog on a barbed wire fence

Hidden house on the edge of the field

View of Forest Green

Menu and the Parrott

Photos

 I realise these aren't recipes or food related but I thought I would share some of the photos I took whilst walking my dog this morning! Photography has become a new hobby as I got a new camera yesterday. It is a cannon PowerShot SX400. Its a great little camera to carry around and get a quick photo!
I was thinking about doing a section on this blog for some photography. I haven't decided what kind of style I want to take my photos in, but I enjoy close ups, landscape and nature photography

Italian Breadsticks

Most of my bakes are inspired by the Great British Bake off!
These bread sticks are created by Ali, one of last year contestants. They include unusual but delicious flavors and are fun to make!!
Follow the link to find the recipe to make these bread sticks!  http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/italian_grissini_86213

 

Home made whole meal bread

This bread is a simple recipe that can be made using a bread maker or just simply by hand (when kneading you can just use plain white bread flour) I prefer the old fashioned hand method because I feel I get more of the satisfaction when the final result comes out of the oven!
Secret to success:
It may sound like cheating but you get the same satisfaction by using a supermarket bought bread mix! There are loads of different varieties, whole meal, plain white, granary. All you need to add is butter and water (and some elbow grease when kneading!)
I am going to enjoy a slice or two of my bread with some salmon and boiled potatoes with lots of lovely butter on top!

Banana scotch pancakes!

This simple recipe can make a filling and fun to make breakfast!
Scotch pancakes (also known as drop scones) are North American and the raising agent is baking powder.

These pancakes have such a wide variety of toppings to choose from! But the classic is lemon and sugar, or for scotch pancakes banana and honey!
Some other ideas for toppings for toppings are:

• Fruit and cream
• Blueberries (jam or compote) 
• Ice cream
• Chocolate sauce
• Caramelized bacon

Ingredients for Scotch Pancakes 

1. 200g of plain flour
2. 1 level tsp of Bicarbonate of soda
3. 2 level tsp of cream of tartar
4. 50 grams of castor sugar
5. 1 egg
6. 250 ml milk
7. 50 block butter or margarine

Method

1. Put flour, bicarbonate of soda and cream of tar tar into a measuring jug
2. Add in sugar, egg and milk
3. Using a stick blender, blend the mixture until smooth. Make sure all the mixture has been mixed in
4. Warm up a frying pan and wipe with the butter or margarine
5. When the fat begins to smoke, drop a spoonful (or more if you would prefer) onto the pan
6. When the top begins to show bubbles flip and the under side should be a nice golden brown
7. Put onto a plate and add your chosen topping!