tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68624819576613188202024-03-13T05:44:35.332+00:00This is My Blog.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.comBlogger154125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-68549569744048048932013-08-08T18:36:00.000+01:002013-08-08T18:36:33.751+01:00Carbonara<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is Catherine Fulvio's carbonara recipe with a few tweaks. According to her and her years of living in Italy, real carbonara doesn't contain any milk or cream.<br />
I swap tagliatelle for spaghetti as it has more of a bite to it and smoked black forest ham instead of pancetta for a bit more of a kick.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmne0IF2mRtXMIOGXmExpz4hlmikwJ-KAyg1VsX-sjo73zOrLfHkyqnI8mEQ8iu1UQV7RCb6KJHqKbqB8p_UtaaFQlfzVP1DmbufDU5JOjrsyPY9qeWA7ZxeHrwrE5Hz-3cp73jT5UnYWO/s1600/1083472_10200386072154432_2144388791_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmne0IF2mRtXMIOGXmExpz4hlmikwJ-KAyg1VsX-sjo73zOrLfHkyqnI8mEQ8iu1UQV7RCb6KJHqKbqB8p_UtaaFQlfzVP1DmbufDU5JOjrsyPY9qeWA7ZxeHrwrE5Hz-3cp73jT5UnYWO/s320/1083472_10200386072154432_2144388791_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Ingredients</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>300 g tagliatelle</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>120 g smoked black forest ham, chopped</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>4 egg yolks, beaten</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>100 g freshly grated Pecornio Romano</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Pepper</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Method</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Cook your pasta</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Combine your eggs and cheese, season with plenty of pepper</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Drain your pasta, reserving some of the water</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Throw the egg mixture into the water and stir over a low heat until melted</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Tip in your pasta and add your ham, mix well</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Serve</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-80426905244580853012013-01-30T22:15:00.000+00:002013-01-30T22:15:28.590+00:00Instragram Catch Up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This week was a week filled with attempts at healthy eating. Which to me, means filling the plate with vegetables and boxes of salad are particularly cheap.<br />
So general theme of week was FILL THE PLATE WITH ALL THE SALAD.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaZaDQCk_lcxPlkbzNSRMxDBemp7bm0dyQbfF2dRbT5OXD30OgUhavn2sCcx9YBpiS6bO-RifrsvwdjiGpZXiLboz3bGbL9QyoNk0866sSjr2UJ8ODof6D7BWdAi6YjXAY-KbCCUErEx9/s1600/IMG_20130119_160007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaZaDQCk_lcxPlkbzNSRMxDBemp7bm0dyQbfF2dRbT5OXD30OgUhavn2sCcx9YBpiS6bO-RifrsvwdjiGpZXiLboz3bGbL9QyoNk0866sSjr2UJ8ODof6D7BWdAi6YjXAY-KbCCUErEx9/s320/IMG_20130119_160007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veggie Burgers, salad with carrots and hummus </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
These are from Holland and Barrett, they are made from soy protein and look somewhat disgusting dehydrated straight from the packet. But once you add water, leave them soak it up and gently grill them, they turn into perfectly delicious veggie burgers.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3x8SLOlhIzG04Sg7RLzhDULK9lBUQgmdQp8VQdZ82D-AL73auK9Nk0uhZOWQS8vl6XU0r3pl1V3QITAbQxxTgIedBt5zHpmm11wi6NBEcV4uhMFCX1q0Fk3nzFUYq-tMOO2ePgl8mzE5/s1600/IMG_20130120_200421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3x8SLOlhIzG04Sg7RLzhDULK9lBUQgmdQp8VQdZ82D-AL73auK9Nk0uhZOWQS8vl6XU0r3pl1V3QITAbQxxTgIedBt5zHpmm11wi6NBEcV4uhMFCX1q0Fk3nzFUYq-tMOO2ePgl8mzE5/s320/IMG_20130120_200421.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spaghetti Bolognese</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bolognese with chunky veg looks slightly ridiculous covered in salad. I probably should start using side plates... Garlic bread with salad, topped with bolognese and covered with cheese is just too good to pass up for pretty pictures. <div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlN-uJN3uOiyShxTGPaB2shmqhRw9MhVYN1MBY9wvZ-p2CzXNhE81GyEJzMBl1IYMGEVjHKWJdf7zPAowzFMlvcrf2h5Jkw5lSD4z1RChcZtZ1cP9oU2RETK9xevsvcW17NJC4VyT_zniV/s1600/IMG_20130128_193812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlN-uJN3uOiyShxTGPaB2shmqhRw9MhVYN1MBY9wvZ-p2CzXNhE81GyEJzMBl1IYMGEVjHKWJdf7zPAowzFMlvcrf2h5Jkw5lSD4z1RChcZtZ1cP9oU2RETK9xevsvcW17NJC4VyT_zniV/s320/IMG_20130128_193812.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parmesan Chicken Salad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Baked Parmesan chicken is so easy to do. Dip chicken in melted butter, roll in Parmesan cheese, season and bake for 25 minutes. Add to salad, smother in your favourite dressing and you've got yourself a low carb dinner.<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrIS1feff9_uF3lXaVUkIHekn6QX1WJaB4q_QCeWeQQl0l91FqQtt0fYUG5ThdrKLPANZvrhqsKmG06yU6aZtIRouiiuqxAZhSHHY7BY1VrenO95PnfGHUsZEhISkcZIQFlfgfeMXu0gY/s1600/IMG_20130129_190331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrIS1feff9_uF3lXaVUkIHekn6QX1WJaB4q_QCeWeQQl0l91FqQtt0fYUG5ThdrKLPANZvrhqsKmG06yU6aZtIRouiiuqxAZhSHHY7BY1VrenO95PnfGHUsZEhISkcZIQFlfgfeMXu0gY/s320/IMG_20130129_190331.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheese stuffed chicken with more cheese</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /> Favourite dish of the week! It's a fillet of chicken, stuffed with Philadelphia and wrapped in parma ham, served with a baked camembert, salad and greens. The baked camembert you can buy in Aldi, and you should go buy it because it is awesome. I do love all the gooey cheese.<br />
<br />
Next week I'm looking for more interesting vegetable sides than salad, and more low carb ideas. Suggestions? </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-20794354678435619002012-11-12T13:00:00.000+00:002012-11-12T13:00:03.624+00:00Giant Oreo Birthday Cake<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is a <a href="http://www.thelondoner.me/2012/03/double-stuffed-oreo-cake.html" target="_blank">Londoner</a> recipe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFpCkjTzlr_-rSZ36zFZcLS1iqxB5g_sV1GOeVQ7yG7kYP_pQqNuga7mnrv5jRD16cs4DgTgHyydd8C61b_zRKYcrhdoMHyfgmsvbwCmXHumsIj1nvnTq5b5myN3DvViQDZKrbZq0XDUY/s1600/2012-11-10+21.24.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFpCkjTzlr_-rSZ36zFZcLS1iqxB5g_sV1GOeVQ7yG7kYP_pQqNuga7mnrv5jRD16cs4DgTgHyydd8C61b_zRKYcrhdoMHyfgmsvbwCmXHumsIj1nvnTq5b5myN3DvViQDZKrbZq0XDUY/s320/2012-11-10+21.24.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I wanted something with a bit of a wow factor for Joe's birthday on Sunday. I think it ticks all the boxes for keeping your little brother happy.<br />
Giant. Tick.<br /> Chocolate. Tick.<br />
Loaded with cookies. Tick.<br />
<br />
What can go wrong?<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ingredients</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2 packs Betty Crocker Devil's Food Cake Mix</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
140 ml Vegetable Oil</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
500 ml water</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
6 medium eggs</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2 packets oreo cookies</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
200 g softened butter</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
400 g icing sugar</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3 tbsp cold milk</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 lemon</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Betty Crocker Chocolate Icing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Method</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Make two devil's food cakes following the instructions on the packs</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
While these are cooking, smash your oreos to pieces (not crumbs)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cream together your butter and icing sugar</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Once combined, add the milk and juice of half a lemon</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gently stir in the oreos. If you are too rough at this point the oreos will turn the mixture to a grey colour</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Once your cakes are cooled and trimmed, layer the oreo mixture on top of one</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sandwich them together</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cover in chocolate icing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-16503167675581508742012-11-11T13:00:00.000+00:002012-11-11T13:00:06.661+00:00Kit Kat Lasagne<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This was one of the many silly ideas making it's way through Facebook and twitter. It was too ridiculous not to try.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6fNPKKUqW8RxBWerDL7ZKCoBDrN0Ec_4YaKxPdqEPtHf40wqXsBr7nyoEqkzwvE_UPTi1P1cN23XvNq5vMucI9Jn9D2q-NHCbEsJoUykiOjgUkLpuXi_qBcVwaLxNU_r5Tz1vjn6GSru/s1600/530901_10151175675897615_771020589_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6fNPKKUqW8RxBWerDL7ZKCoBDrN0Ec_4YaKxPdqEPtHf40wqXsBr7nyoEqkzwvE_UPTi1P1cN23XvNq5vMucI9Jn9D2q-NHCbEsJoUykiOjgUkLpuXi_qBcVwaLxNU_r5Tz1vjn6GSru/s320/530901_10151175675897615_771020589_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Kit Kats, what I would guess is marshmallow fluff, smarties or M&Ms and mini marshmallows. Definitely an intrigue or disgust kind of dish. </div>
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My version: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnXRXV_KHpTLhNQNFL9-3erFFn9RhXDxs3rAbHuiT8so3yfI3xCSqv6nnIwfhrvMlU6-HV1FKE-ehzZMTMK48tBLUyB6SA3NUaSc8zbGx1eIdqp6RXTCcIuVoogzEQelJg-nVbGhS6owP/s1600/21173_3876603753613_1937280200_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnXRXV_KHpTLhNQNFL9-3erFFn9RhXDxs3rAbHuiT8so3yfI3xCSqv6nnIwfhrvMlU6-HV1FKE-ehzZMTMK48tBLUyB6SA3NUaSc8zbGx1eIdqp6RXTCcIuVoogzEQelJg-nVbGhS6owP/s320/21173_3876603753613_1937280200_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A tamed version. Quite a bit less messy but keeping to the overall idea.<br /><br />To make this you need: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
18 Kit Kats<br /> Multipack of boxes of mini-Smarties</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Marshmallows<br /> White Cake Covering Chocolate or any not overly sweet white chocolate<br /> One Loaf Tin<br /><br />Layer the bottom of the tin with Kit Kats, cover with Smarties, pour on melted white chocolate, add another layer of Kit Kats and Smarties, pour on melted marshmallows, add a layer of Kit Kats, pour on the rest of the white chocolate, dot with Smarties.<br />Leave in the fridge to set. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-32439365624240487382012-10-10T21:40:00.000+01:002012-10-10T21:40:40.832+01:00Salted Caramel Chocolate Torte<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am so behind on this blogging business. New house, new masters and just generally being terribly distracted. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I made this cake nearly a month ago. It is my absolute favourite cake I have ever tasted. Just too amazing. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgir8BBtG1nip0Kdv3h9FD2zQ7BnFk7D2SevlM68Hs3GkYuTy7RRwJCHHxsusdDgkBX6yNselqG5Fhu1Kvx3tsKGwor223Qj_1zcnE8zfNjk5jmdNNrn2SRpWu1x-qYXcqsD64p7OXADI/s1600/279204_3615810393942_278896199_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgir8BBtG1nip0Kdv3h9FD2zQ7BnFk7D2SevlM68Hs3GkYuTy7RRwJCHHxsusdDgkBX6yNselqG5Fhu1Kvx3tsKGwor223Qj_1zcnE8zfNjk5jmdNNrn2SRpWu1x-qYXcqsD64p7OXADI/s320/279204_3615810393942_278896199_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So rich. So gooey. So chocolatey. I may need to make another one of these very soon. </div>
<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPj0hn7J65N6XOJ36PnN_ivoHOI49u43ur5lYdlbYSu5-NvE0GZmWx4Yo-W6y9-rq2xptHX_cDfly8G-N-dQ6en02P0hzZAYv7fzj-clJLpxT-NUsJyeDjLQQXcR1jitpzOani2YK1Uaw/s1600/220883_3615633749526_1112230253_o+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPj0hn7J65N6XOJ36PnN_ivoHOI49u43ur5lYdlbYSu5-NvE0GZmWx4Yo-W6y9-rq2xptHX_cDfly8G-N-dQ6en02P0hzZAYv7fzj-clJLpxT-NUsJyeDjLQQXcR1jitpzOani2YK1Uaw/s320/220883_3615633749526_1112230253_o+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It is from the <a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/896660/salted-caramel-chocolate-torte" target="_blank">BBC good food website</a>. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-66151436357300832782012-07-18T20:43:00.000+01:002012-07-18T20:43:06.158+01:00Lemon Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
These are inspired by the little beauties that are making the rounds on pinterest. We had a bunch of family around today and these went down a treat.<br />
Simple but unusual enough for everybody to be curious for a taste.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieixSM2hbCgPpEl5hQNcMqRE_OWr97-l4tnF_ojh12PlPgLaOjaHwPS89dscsOHiijhqe4VmzeRhsvGOuSzm4-C7UB4fRTox6E9XD6R5-rY5T-XIOHmzG5iXrcKwuMT-Jwv3LB2dVGQpA4/s1600/IMG_20120718_123654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieixSM2hbCgPpEl5hQNcMqRE_OWr97-l4tnF_ojh12PlPgLaOjaHwPS89dscsOHiijhqe4VmzeRhsvGOuSzm4-C7UB4fRTox6E9XD6R5-rY5T-XIOHmzG5iXrcKwuMT-Jwv3LB2dVGQpA4/s320/IMG_20120718_123654.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><b>Recipe</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Strawberries</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>2 large tablespoons of cream cheese</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1 cap of vanilla essence</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>4 tablespoons of powdered sugar (or more to taste)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>2 crusted digestive biscuits</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Juice of half a lemon</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Method</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Core your strawberries. It is probably best to do this with a small sharp knife. Don't remove too much of the strawberry, it should still hold its own shape when picked up. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Combine the cream cheese, vanilla, sugar and lemon juice. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Spoon or pipe this into the middle of the strawberry. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Dip the strawberry in the biscuit crumbs and your done. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Keep in the fridge and consume within a day or two. </i></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-50077504912346299742012-06-14T20:42:00.000+01:002012-06-14T20:42:15.537+01:00Pizza Night!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Finally managed to grab a picture of the dinner before people started grabbing. This is an update on my old recipe, I am still considering buying a pizza stone, it is probably needed to get the base to restaurant quality.<br />
Fresh tomato sauce alone makes this kick take-away pizza's ass.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6puSCGWHoJ6-K6wTrwCZC4Z12KyFi9YOzGPRuyIeP6ThFJvw3XZxFxVVnC80VCCEfX-S8k6TLc0fQkfwaXnM_SZpbQSDYusq67WnMOtab0zUuAf8FteGZF2fjz9whh1jo9iTaK_5ln13/s1600/IMG_20120614_190729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6puSCGWHoJ6-K6wTrwCZC4Z12KyFi9YOzGPRuyIeP6ThFJvw3XZxFxVVnC80VCCEfX-S8k6TLc0fQkfwaXnM_SZpbQSDYusq67WnMOtab0zUuAf8FteGZF2fjz9whh1jo9iTaK_5ln13/s320/IMG_20120614_190729.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Two home-made pizzas, served with wedges, coleslaw, garlic bread pizza (The Goodfella's one, the family love it although I find it far too greasy) and corn on the cob.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-Lc3zp6PJaGnYns7fRyrCE4y9xhX8GAza-K-w5ZR2DZCx_q6kOTlAdruajDoNZOqYcDNe0w3HhgIbzvT4dprk32Yuqj62k9IHc1DgzvG3lWw5F3cD7Q7rR49K1K0XlXxareCKO86UD2-/s1600/IMG_20120614_192906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-Lc3zp6PJaGnYns7fRyrCE4y9xhX8GAza-K-w5ZR2DZCx_q6kOTlAdruajDoNZOqYcDNe0w3HhgIbzvT4dprk32Yuqj62k9IHc1DgzvG3lWw5F3cD7Q7rR49K1K0XlXxareCKO86UD2-/s320/IMG_20120614_192906.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You should make sure all pizza toppings are fully cooked before placing them on the pizza. For this pepperoni and bacon pizza, I fried up the bacon before hand, chopped it up and placed on the pizza with ten minutes of cooking time left, for the pepperoni I don't like it too crispy so only throw it on for the last three minutes. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcI-ygd1W_Ht4V_uIr3f5TJmF9nhjKSk1ws5LrFcZLfbWZ5E9mHxLPKkHBxoSJjy0LWhYvbYMS9kwMiGz7uZmsoCfEN9HYyQyaRlexcxj00bR2CykwdXLf4Ty4meNFYxqh2_HFl4DLGZ1/s1600/IMG_20120614_193126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcI-ygd1W_Ht4V_uIr3f5TJmF9nhjKSk1ws5LrFcZLfbWZ5E9mHxLPKkHBxoSJjy0LWhYvbYMS9kwMiGz7uZmsoCfEN9HYyQyaRlexcxj00bR2CykwdXLf4Ty4meNFYxqh2_HFl4DLGZ1/s320/IMG_20120614_193126.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I like to have one meat pizza and one lighter vegetable based pizza. Two meat pizzas tends to put everybody into a food coma. This one is leek, walnut and blue cheese, it may sound like a bizarre combination but it is so yummy! Everything is thrown on for the last ten minutes of cooking time. </div>
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<i>Ingredients</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i><u>Pizza Base</u></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>7 g bread yeast</i></div>
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<i>350 g flour</i></div>
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<i>Pinch of Salt</i></div>
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<i>Water</i></div>
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<i>Drop of Milk</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i><u>Tomato Sauce</u></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>2 tins of organic tomatoes</i></div>
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<i>Glass of red wine</i></div>
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<i>Salt, Pepper and Basil</i></div>
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<b>Step by Step Pizza Making </b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b> </b>Step 1: </div>
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Prepare the yeast!</div>
<br />
Pour the packet of bread yeast into a tall glass. Fill the glass 1/3 of the way up with cold water, top to about half way up with milk and then top up with boiling water.<br />
The temperature should be just warm to touch. Too hot a temperature will kill the yeast. Too cold a temperature and your yeast won't activate and your dough won't rise. <br />
Stir the mixture well and leave to sit for 5 minutes.<br />
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Step 2:<br />
Prepare the dough!<br />
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Sieve the flour into a large bowl. You can use plain flour or Italian 00 (This is also called pizza/pasta flour in Tesco) flour here.<br />
Make a well in the centre and pour in 1/3 of your yeast mixture. Working from the centre with a fork, slowly mix in all your flour. Adding more liquid as your dough starts to look too dry. Don't worry if you don't use up all of the liquid. You want the dough to be springy.<br />
Knee the dough for about ten minutes. Rinse and dry your bowl, dose in olive oil and place the ball of dough back in it to rise for at least an hour.<br />
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Step 3:<br />
Prepare your tomato sauce!<br />
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Pour the tins of tomatoes into a saucepan with the wine. Season and let this simmer while your dough is rising. Removing from the heat once it has thickened.<br />
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Step 4:<br />
Dry your mozzarella!<br />
<br />
I recommend buying the balls of mozzarella, it's so much nicer than the already grated stuff. This needs to be left sitting in kitchen paper for about an hour before putting on your pizza, otherwise you get a cheese water bowl on the pizza.<br />
Slice this into nice thick slices and just leave sitting on the paper.<br />
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Step 5:<br />
Prepare your base!<br />
<br />
Divide the dough into two and roll each out. You can attempt to roll it out into a circle, or pick it up and twirl it like they do on tv... but I cheat and place a plate down on the dough and cut out a circular shape out that way.<br />
Push the dough with olive oil and bake for 5 minutes without any toppings. After these 5 minutes to brown the base, cover in tomato sauce and layer on the cheese!<br />
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Give this another five minutes in the oven to fully melt the cheese.<br />
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After that you are free to add your toppings. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com7Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland52.7067023 -8.807937952.697133300000004 -8.8276789 52.7162713 -8.7881969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-91975602287698869372012-05-28T23:33:00.001+01:002012-05-28T23:33:38.880+01:00New Favourite Cookies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
These are adapted from The Tannery Cookbook. The taste is somewhere in the middle of Cadbury's cookies and digestive biscuits.<br />
I found the dough made with the original recipe too dry to bind together so added an egg and a dash of milk.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNji6XCSMcKgdQdNvP45dJoYYwoEIMeGJdFEfPL_4WWq7HUsBgrYRhteC8Zaioh6Zsp1Lv26BQd0rxfbK18QJoMAH8xZ0S7KSirM-hoEuaiKJJJAPzzRGqRBsnQBkObHF29jAqH3uOON7/s1600/Cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNji6XCSMcKgdQdNvP45dJoYYwoEIMeGJdFEfPL_4WWq7HUsBgrYRhteC8Zaioh6Zsp1Lv26BQd0rxfbK18QJoMAH8xZ0S7KSirM-hoEuaiKJJJAPzzRGqRBsnQBkObHF29jAqH3uOON7/s320/Cookies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Picture was taken with Instagram, I am sinead302 on it if anybody would like to follow me. </div>
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<b>Chocolate and Hazelnut Cookies</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<i>150 g butter </i></div>
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<i>75 g caster sugar</i></div>
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<i>75 g chopped & roasted hazelnuts</i></div>
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<i>300 g self raising flour</i></div>
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<i>100 g good quality milk chocolate </i></div>
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<i>1 egg </i></div>
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<i>Dash of milk</i></div>
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<b>Method</b></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Beat the butter and sugar together.</i></div>
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<i>Add the flour, combine well. </i></div>
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<i>Add the egg and mix. </i></div>
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<i>And add a dash of milk depending on how dry the mixture is looking. </i></div>
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<i>At this point I added the chocolate chips and halved the dough as not everybody in our house likes nuts. </i></div>
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<i>Roll out the dough into a sausage shape and wrap in clingfilm.</i></div>
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<i>Leave to chill in the fridge for about an hour.</i></div>
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<i>Cut out in half centimetre slices and place on grease proof paper on a baking tray.</i></div>
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<i>Bake in preheated oven at 170 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Tips: </i></div>
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</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><i>Chopping up good quality chocolate makes much nicer chocolate chips than those you can buy in bags.</i></li>
<li><i>Cut your chocolate chips up small so lumps of chocolate aren't in your way when cutting your cookie dough.</i></li>
</ul>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-71069289766593972552012-05-18T19:37:00.000+01:002012-05-18T19:37:50.939+01:00Summer!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Exams are finished! My undergraduate is completed. I've been on a bit of a blogging hiatus for the last while due to thesis writing and exams, so I bring you a list of list of things I have been dreaming about baking since the study started.<br />
<br />
Half of these are from <a href="http://www.thelondoner.me/" target="_blank">The Londoner</a>. I just want her life of constant restaurants and shopping...<br />
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1. Lemon Tart<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_KlijndRHuPZDvZKEjZ_bnmB5SC3qb7Zcx9CaXWFhRkR0m5LMurwc2w6Ma7IFTKnQO43BQYAk9yTSUUx_3Ap-JzRjP-9AsxWXAidGV25X8aQU89EFvNSDj0SjoybbNSbwrpqagCLUtVt/s640/lemon+tart+-+866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_KlijndRHuPZDvZKEjZ_bnmB5SC3qb7Zcx9CaXWFhRkR0m5LMurwc2w6Ma7IFTKnQO43BQYAk9yTSUUx_3Ap-JzRjP-9AsxWXAidGV25X8aQU89EFvNSDj0SjoybbNSbwrpqagCLUtVt/s320/lemon+tart+-+866.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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2. Cute Teabag Cookies</div>
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<a href="http://www.teaspoonsf.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DSC_1110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://www.teaspoonsf.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DSC_1110.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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3. Artisan Bread</div>
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<a href="http://tryanythingonce.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/garlicrosebread3.jpg?w=500&h=334" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://tryanythingonce.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/garlicrosebread3.jpg?w=500&h=334" width="320" /></a></div>
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4. Tiger Bread<br />
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<a href="http://goodcooks.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/p3263109-tiger-bread1.jpg?w=529" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://goodcooks.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/p3263109-tiger-bread1.jpg?w=529" width="320" /></a></div>
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5. Raspberry and Apple Crumble Muffins<br />
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<a href="http://cdn.taste.com.au/images/recipes/sfi/2005/02/1454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://cdn.taste.com.au/images/recipes/sfi/2005/02/1454.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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6. Macarons </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzoF4MThz_mgm1-HOh_gYZiNCEq5mWHg9Hjik5vtmzktlMmO5v5ntOn4A4-d6hSPLwTk8l9garMm_ETWK4scyIZPqnju96JupLKh8k9ZeGMYfdDb1nIJkN9Iw9Cvc__aOtAeYR2LIOEYp/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzoF4MThz_mgm1-HOh_gYZiNCEq5mWHg9Hjik5vtmzktlMmO5v5ntOn4A4-d6hSPLwTk8l9garMm_ETWK4scyIZPqnju96JupLKh8k9ZeGMYfdDb1nIJkN9Iw9Cvc__aOtAeYR2LIOEYp/s320/9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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7. Slutty Brownies<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwK7aSSUHH-fTuKGPWDC_l-pmEk1nm88e2aCuVk3GN9WMFxE_t-4ygJeC_CO4VE_851Brt-v-ogrEv1sQeKads-UACI_8rq1X6s1wWCV2BZ8K-xHeLC1_JYalS0qOFHfgqd3coWEUj6GO/s640/Slutty+Brownies+-+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwK7aSSUHH-fTuKGPWDC_l-pmEk1nm88e2aCuVk3GN9WMFxE_t-4ygJeC_CO4VE_851Brt-v-ogrEv1sQeKads-UACI_8rq1X6s1wWCV2BZ8K-xHeLC1_JYalS0qOFHfgqd3coWEUj6GO/s320/Slutty+Brownies+-+02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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8. MarsBar Melts</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOiP5tAoGiWtyjIS8p_OZAYDxX8HTyXcz-Bpjwpa6cf6DnLgGIYjApGWtNZVbljT-8tMQpz1bKfE6gO0X_5ADYkTIAOZ9PY33kk-b79JkEJDCjWx_kW0ih2KRI9U64cELAJ1P_Razk0E/s640/MarsBar+Melts+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOiP5tAoGiWtyjIS8p_OZAYDxX8HTyXcz-Bpjwpa6cf6DnLgGIYjApGWtNZVbljT-8tMQpz1bKfE6gO0X_5ADYkTIAOZ9PY33kk-b79JkEJDCjWx_kW0ih2KRI9U64cELAJ1P_Razk0E/s320/MarsBar+Melts+-+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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9. Individual Queen Cakes</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiES7eZ4eSlbRY_88BfxxZs3v6QCWOm4ChBBBet3oejgdn0ANodwXQODFFNPQw_uhwVUrRlxhpPTzKh93p6rZOpnQ_RwJhM8oTmmJdBQjKCx1KFiih-qYGmMoNsqN1o7qJXUbjESKnBYJkc/s640/Queenies+-+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiES7eZ4eSlbRY_88BfxxZs3v6QCWOm4ChBBBet3oejgdn0ANodwXQODFFNPQw_uhwVUrRlxhpPTzKh93p6rZOpnQ_RwJhM8oTmmJdBQjKCx1KFiih-qYGmMoNsqN1o7qJXUbjESKnBYJkc/s320/Queenies+-+12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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10. Cookie Dough Cupcakes </div>
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<a href="http://sweetrevelations.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/fix3.jpg?w=500&h=405" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://sweetrevelations.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/fix3.jpg?w=500&h=405" width="320" /></a></div>
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If anybody has recipes for these that don't involve buying boxes of cake mix that would be awesome! </div>
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Recipes a la box mix just feel like cheating. </div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-73283626044205680362012-04-15T13:50:00.001+01:002012-04-15T13:50:58.280+01:00Chocolate Malteser Cake<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Birthday cake isn't a usual occurrence in our house. Birthdays tend to involve choosing a restaurant and heading out. <br />
So when I came across this <a href="http://ovenhaven.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/recipe-chocolate-malteser-cake/" target="_blank">recipe</a> coming up to a friend's birthday I just had to attempt my first birthday cake.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvtOZ-dCRZSQ8mgEtXzS9OIcvKftoA9To9_KP3oZBtGfah9nvXj7RWcyAR_25GD1UGVj40Ep5pfmeQGvu81pCJ0bcXMThpwN1qnxiZYWqCpK5F8fbf0pmifbk3WqusunouCXhkXbvJPav/s1600/Chocolate+Birthday+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvtOZ-dCRZSQ8mgEtXzS9OIcvKftoA9To9_KP3oZBtGfah9nvXj7RWcyAR_25GD1UGVj40Ep5pfmeQGvu81pCJ0bcXMThpwN1qnxiZYWqCpK5F8fbf0pmifbk3WqusunouCXhkXbvJPav/s320/Chocolate+Birthday+Cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My attempt isn't quite as pretty and the sponge could do with being slightly lighter but it went done fairly well. Cake is cake after all. </div>
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<b>Chocolate Sponge Cake</b></div>
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Rating: Average</div>
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Ingredients</div>
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<i>225 g butter</i></div>
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<i>225 g caster sugar</i></div>
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<i>80 g malted milk</i></div>
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<i>50 g cocoa powder</i></div>
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<i>4 eggs</i></div>
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<i>200 g self-raising flour</i></div>
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<i>4 tbsp milk</i></div>
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Method</div>
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<i>Preheat oven to 180 degrees</i></div>
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<i>Grease and line two 20 cm round cake tins</i></div>
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<i>Cream butter and sugar together until blended</i></div>
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<i>Add the malted milk, cocoa powder, eggs, flour and milk and blend together until smooth and creamy</i></div>
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<i>Divide evenly between the prepared dishes and bake for 30 mins</i></div>
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<b>Chocolate Icing</b></div>
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Rating: Perfect</div>
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Ingredients</div>
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<i>250 g icing sugar</i></div>
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<i>1 teaspoon cocoa powder</i></div>
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<i>45 g malted milk</i></div>
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<i>125 g softened butter</i></div>
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<i>2 tablespoons boiling water</i></div>
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<i>Maltesers to decorate</i></div>
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Method</div>
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<i>Blend together the icing sugar, cocoa powder, malted milk and butter</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCC6qG_6_MeFiLjT6h1OwvTllOi7WE-0MmI1PMT5vGztSpWb6-5BBl9VtXuPX1sie0FY9F8emq2mBxLet2v64WFu5VLpwHg6liSGjU79l2YKeJgjlRdHIyK5i6TVjCrrP9ip2PRjFZl1I/s1600/2012-04-14+18.19.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCC6qG_6_MeFiLjT6h1OwvTllOi7WE-0MmI1PMT5vGztSpWb6-5BBl9VtXuPX1sie0FY9F8emq2mBxLet2v64WFu5VLpwHg6liSGjU79l2YKeJgjlRdHIyK5i6TVjCrrP9ip2PRjFZl1I/s1600/2012-04-14+18.19.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><i>Pour over the boiling water and stir quickly until it transforms into a thick icing</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjo9gW775pNafkel8FmJtqUwjlJ_vYUKI_TFMXGJBY7856JrnZBLEbKFM5S_x6gJ6OCY1Iu5RC1QSkQ3EjXzzuyJYfcamLva50vH65MznFjm5X4ATQxfH2jUlF2IJ8UIcNMECvk1wOvGTT/s1600/2012-04-14+13.57.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjo9gW775pNafkel8FmJtqUwjlJ_vYUKI_TFMXGJBY7856JrnZBLEbKFM5S_x6gJ6OCY1Iu5RC1QSkQ3EjXzzuyJYfcamLva50vH65MznFjm5X4ATQxfH2jUlF2IJ8UIcNMECvk1wOvGTT/s320/2012-04-14+13.57.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chocolate sponge right out of the oven</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAWtVJzyuQnKoHWADfMM9fzrwLebS5tq67p7POjJcY_ddINhVyBhXNOwXO_-9rfdW068z-1Q_6c__HXEHFPIWBPBYt58a5rx3nhgxLfkQ-CihPVv_AB9IuRbEmZVuHCn4s_AXYi7pbDyW/s1600/2012-04-14+17.06.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAWtVJzyuQnKoHWADfMM9fzrwLebS5tq67p7POjJcY_ddINhVyBhXNOwXO_-9rfdW068z-1Q_6c__HXEHFPIWBPBYt58a5rx3nhgxLfkQ-CihPVv_AB9IuRbEmZVuHCn4s_AXYi7pbDyW/s320/2012-04-14+17.06.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Popped on top of each other</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtUahUUW4MNk7TEouGhMiZvuXDAXzkS6FOHPWeUJQfsJE8gHsLZI1YBVPBYvKL28nwxRJVq9c-qVLvcraE8fY4uAZOBEZuS00fK4afItF2INehl1CJL1-bsUbpku0nd25A6to1uQtSjWu/s1600/2012-04-14+17.24.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtUahUUW4MNk7TEouGhMiZvuXDAXzkS6FOHPWeUJQfsJE8gHsLZI1YBVPBYvKL28nwxRJVq9c-qVLvcraE8fY4uAZOBEZuS00fK4afItF2INehl1CJL1-bsUbpku0nd25A6to1uQtSjWu/s320/2012-04-14+17.24.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decorated top of cake to hide the not-perfectly-flat-ness</td></tr>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com6Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland52.7067023 -8.807937952.697133300000004 -8.8276789 52.7162713 -8.7881969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-23649032981445645892012-04-08T15:53:00.001+01:002012-04-08T15:53:58.346+01:00Stuffed Easter Egg Halves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sometimes when flicking about the internet you come across a real gem of an idea. I can't remember how I stumbled across <a href="http://lickthatspoon.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/stuffed-easter-egg-halves.html" target="_blank">these mad boys</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMNmdy8Zsew8YImhePylPnOn0CIEqBocOcWZRzVqUbaa6SrS0sXTA4gI3ThzSQpI-7ji0i6SLKnKtuQlfWHe9LRNcU2wXG3HPqduVpOfa8H0uW3MD1goqLiQm5Cqq6ek46q5bgDUu_Iqm/s1600/2012-04-08+14.33.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMNmdy8Zsew8YImhePylPnOn0CIEqBocOcWZRzVqUbaa6SrS0sXTA4gI3ThzSQpI-7ji0i6SLKnKtuQlfWHe9LRNcU2wXG3HPqduVpOfa8H0uW3MD1goqLiQm5Cqq6ek46q5bgDUu_Iqm/s320/2012-04-08+14.33.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Louise used a smashed up mix of favourite chocolate bars or biscuits. I decided I would stuff them with dark chocolate and baileys truffles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm5o8-Uj74-1aLwg2dFPpet1u7TFTwb2diVzXpPCRDGoBBuxXOZ8-U24XFrYpSJsBa-E6658SbinOqZJW4-hF51S0tRLN90YxXYQ3QrhcjsMhqkWicdNz2Ap-uk-pQlZZEKoawTMomJdC/s1600/2012-04-08+10.38.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm5o8-Uj74-1aLwg2dFPpet1u7TFTwb2diVzXpPCRDGoBBuxXOZ8-U24XFrYpSJsBa-E6658SbinOqZJW4-hF51S0tRLN90YxXYQ3QrhcjsMhqkWicdNz2Ap-uk-pQlZZEKoawTMomJdC/s320/2012-04-08+10.38.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To make the truffles I followed a <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chocolate_truffles/" target="_blank">standard truffle recipe</a> and just topped up the cream with baileys. Their shapes may be a bit random but I lost patience trying to make them perfectly round by hand. </div>
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Once these were set, I got on to making the Easter egg halves. I used an empty Easter egg box for a mould. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRq41PnsyhV5yshhjrlb2BZj_DuvC6lXoQSDegRJJEB5JSHkJqGqV8Z6x0LTkFgmcbw4C71P5n47HursG3UH8OUuUnACLCrIwcsNmmip3nTrgZFtPSnV0pdeUkEkbZAY5b0hpJ4P_8Cf6t/s1600/2012-04-08+10.45.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRq41PnsyhV5yshhjrlb2BZj_DuvC6lXoQSDegRJJEB5JSHkJqGqV8Z6x0LTkFgmcbw4C71P5n47HursG3UH8OUuUnACLCrIwcsNmmip3nTrgZFtPSnV0pdeUkEkbZAY5b0hpJ4P_8Cf6t/s320/2012-04-08+10.45.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Simply melt chocolate (slowly and gently) then pour into the plastic moulds. If you rub the plastic with some butter, the chocolate shouldn't stick. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WMpfFF8EC5HTLK3N-YgLTsGdu5Qwatil81qF93vqH4RHyt6UKlM0va4QKbZFJiMec0FIPbDLbEcrWPLf76xrX-2CdR-EYpQdjZnZJlBcKumoiVdUmV9KuSpWNe4qjWuS6EtN_YO3Qpz2/s1600/2012-04-08+11.04.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WMpfFF8EC5HTLK3N-YgLTsGdu5Qwatil81qF93vqH4RHyt6UKlM0va4QKbZFJiMec0FIPbDLbEcrWPLf76xrX-2CdR-EYpQdjZnZJlBcKumoiVdUmV9KuSpWNe4qjWuS6EtN_YO3Qpz2/s320/2012-04-08+11.04.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Let this cool to room temperature, then place in the fridge to set. Once they are set they should just pop out of the mould.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRr8izVwxuFh9jHEqHqtSSZGHLjgMxjJz2M4KmQiQuHMfcyGAyTr3kzzgW3hhFJYj88sHdSR9YA2ve1jkX03QYbjPkL-KsFwiVFgX2KaH-oxyVUzWxYeYtk5TEQPoZcTSA24U1HI76zuja/s1600/2012-04-08+13.38.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRr8izVwxuFh9jHEqHqtSSZGHLjgMxjJz2M4KmQiQuHMfcyGAyTr3kzzgW3hhFJYj88sHdSR9YA2ve1jkX03QYbjPkL-KsFwiVFgX2KaH-oxyVUzWxYeYtk5TEQPoZcTSA24U1HI76zuja/s320/2012-04-08+13.38.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I accidentally whacked the egg on the right off the side of the fridge.. so it got a little dented. Try not to do that. </div>
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After you have the shells, you just need to fill these with truffles or your favourite crushed up bars. </div>
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After that all you have to do is melt some more chocolate, wait until these has cooled a bit so it doesn't melt your egg shells and pour it over your filling. And there you have it. </div>
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Stuffed Easter egg halves!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMNmdy8Zsew8YImhePylPnOn0CIEqBocOcWZRzVqUbaa6SrS0sXTA4gI3ThzSQpI-7ji0i6SLKnKtuQlfWHe9LRNcU2wXG3HPqduVpOfa8H0uW3MD1goqLiQm5Cqq6ek46q5bgDUu_Iqm/s1600/2012-04-08+14.33.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMNmdy8Zsew8YImhePylPnOn0CIEqBocOcWZRzVqUbaa6SrS0sXTA4gI3ThzSQpI-7ji0i6SLKnKtuQlfWHe9LRNcU2wXG3HPqduVpOfa8H0uW3MD1goqLiQm5Cqq6ek46q5bgDUu_Iqm/s320/2012-04-08+14.33.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com0Lower Rd, Co. Clare, Ireland52.7067023 -8.807937952.697133300000004 -8.8276789 52.7162713 -8.7881969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-26446006855440568342012-03-22T11:03:00.000+00:002012-03-22T11:03:44.490+00:00Nuclear Models<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The first of <i>(hopefully)</i> many posts that will <i>(hopefully)</i> force me into doing a bit of revision/study if I stick to this semester's topics.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhrhLBC2GiOzzhFPJCq5ui1aX5lnRtKjeDu5Z6cLIZjzb6GAyMI0CNmGOh_weAqaS5gwSsBR49CR4vNZY7JF1UWKfiJn6XXddFW3geHwlChrivF46ZjSg50db9N33IQrmARdCSWmhYSsF/s1600/2012-03-03+12.44.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhrhLBC2GiOzzhFPJCq5ui1aX5lnRtKjeDu5Z6cLIZjzb6GAyMI0CNmGOh_weAqaS5gwSsBR49CR4vNZY7JF1UWKfiJn6XXddFW3geHwlChrivF46ZjSg50db9N33IQrmARdCSWmhYSsF/s320/2012-03-03+12.44.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cookies = prepared, *makes more tea*</td></tr>
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So I think anybody that has done some elementary science or basic chemistry will have come across the planetary model of the atom, maybe even the Bohr model.<br />
Even if you have never opened a science textbook in your life this image probably screams SCIENCE at you. It is the student's usual first glimpse at the building blocks of matter.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thebigblogtheory.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/planetary-model.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://thebigblogtheory.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/planetary-model.jpg" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thebigblogtheory.wordpress.com/2010/12/" target="_blank">Source</a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr>
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Atomic physics deals with this scale of things. Electrons buzzing around the nucleus. While this picture is overly-simplified we do understand the workings of the most basic atoms pretty well at this stage, using theories from <a href="http://blendingphysicswithfood.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-is-quantum-mechanics.html" target="_blank">quantum mechanics</a>.<br />
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Even then it is just assumed that the nucleus is simply a ball of positive charge whose role is to offer an electrical potential to trap the electrons in this model. Nuclear physics wants to know more detail than this and so zooms in even further to concentrate on just the nucleus.<br />
We know that the nucleus is made of up protons and neutrons, collectively these are known as nucleons. We know that it has an overall positive charge and that this charge comes from the protons and we know that nuclei (plural of nucleus) are essentially spherical.<br />
To find out more we ask,<br />
<br />
- What keeps it stuck together?<br />
- Is it rigid or can the nucleons move around?<br />
- What happens if we break it?<br />
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Although scientists have been asking these questions since the 1920s/1930. When Ernest Rutherford first discovered the nucleus and then James Chadwick discovered that the nucleus was made up of both protons and neutrons. We still do not have one all inconclusive theory/model for how the nucleus functions. It has been narrowed down to a handful of potential models all of which predict accurately different aspects of results we have seen experimentally.<br />
These models can be split into two groups.<br />
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(1) Strong Interaction Models<br />
(2) Independent Particle Models<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__mSHxFiCiUvAWpOdlVc1EYDyB3Q4Ejx-SjUWTfxcOAjm7uevFHgn0ItcMcKPXgKsHJeIJMLlsPbPhwoQVv9Um-vfVtgwy5KRI5SRS_5yG0Mjd12dA-wb6LRJl6E34PRmF_HZawdRqvnq/s1600/2012-03-01+17.35.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__mSHxFiCiUvAWpOdlVc1EYDyB3Q4Ejx-SjUWTfxcOAjm7uevFHgn0ItcMcKPXgKsHJeIJMLlsPbPhwoQVv9Um-vfVtgwy5KRI5SRS_5yG0Mjd12dA-wb6LRJl6E34PRmF_HZawdRqvnq/s320/2012-03-01+17.35.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cookie anyone? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Liquid Drop Model </b><br />
This is an example of a strong interaction model. It was developed in the 1930s to try to explain the masses of nuclei, how much energy it took to break apart a nucleus and why some nuclei are more stable than others.<br />
<br />
It is based on the hypothesis that as in both the nucleus and a drop of water the forces between it's constituents are saturated their behaviour should be identical.<br />
<br />
From this idea physicists were able to come up with an equation to describe the binding energy of the nucleus. The binding energy is the energy required to remove a nucleon from the nucleus.<br />
<br />
It was known that the mass of a stable nucleus bound together was less than the mass of the individual protons and neutrons added together. <br />
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This lead to the semi-empirical mass formula.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1HMPPi5x-xgFgniLQ2p00eRTInghLdDR5uS-_sweb0S06AHB0bD330dTj_QojAwdN4zSYXComV2ElM8mNk21f0pNnVFCOnc6SDxl1gcAa4Hg2sniIs1imoYTd6cRpLsjexPXrW8iUSGP/s1600/Semi+empirical+mass+formula" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1HMPPi5x-xgFgniLQ2p00eRTInghLdDR5uS-_sweb0S06AHB0bD330dTj_QojAwdN4zSYXComV2ElM8mNk21f0pNnVFCOnc6SDxl1gcAa4Hg2sniIs1imoYTd6cRpLsjexPXrW8iUSGP/s320/Semi+empirical+mass+formula" width="320" /></a></div>
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Which looks like a crazy mash of algebra. It is much more simple when broken down into its individual components. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4O1GdD1EmSyQWPVZiORBkFp_erDden8kP-jNdEEw9DinLJLWkRVwwwPi1s9qDJwHKXljCiyNi1fkNMEVK6ROM6d5692X-ThdB18j5JeRvt7_GJb1BqwijKYBqJa5Bz_slRZlep04IrnrF/s1600/M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4O1GdD1EmSyQWPVZiORBkFp_erDden8kP-jNdEEw9DinLJLWkRVwwwPi1s9qDJwHKXljCiyNi1fkNMEVK6ROM6d5692X-ThdB18j5JeRvt7_GJb1BqwijKYBqJa5Bz_slRZlep04IrnrF/s1600/M.jpg" /></a></div>
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The first 3 terms are simply the mass of the atom. The mass of the electrons is tiny compared to the masses of the protons and neutrons, so the mass of the atom is approximately equal to the mass of the atom. That and it is far simpler measure the mass of an atom than going to the trouble of removing the electrons than measuring the mass of the nucleus. The remaining terms are the binding energy subtracted. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwryyMdx73QaGnfn1kmsjvs-cTUTGfQKDLPgaC01-R68JZW5RmBv83rFZzfyQJEbxBroIY4jY8WvpZ2hv4npEBsIaGZDVD28cty8XrxKOxyzsdAcIHisLEVGIGxZb7ADsCcw2yUHKTwwze/s1600/V.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwryyMdx73QaGnfn1kmsjvs-cTUTGfQKDLPgaC01-R68JZW5RmBv83rFZzfyQJEbxBroIY4jY8WvpZ2hv4npEBsIaGZDVD28cty8XrxKOxyzsdAcIHisLEVGIGxZb7ADsCcw2yUHKTwwze/s1600/V.jpg" /></a></div>
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The fourth term is the volume binding energy. This simply says the amount of nuclear energy in the nucleus should be proportional to the volume of the nucleus. As each nucleon will be surrounded by a certain number of nucleons. The higher the number of surrounding nucleons, the greater the attractive pull between them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwrgrq9UyzknJHQDypgC5rbMouMN_3f_tST7MPZIN6LeUOyJljysxQ_fzFABX2kTgnRz9NNgzHyVfTTEdynFX5rJ-PY5Nvqfz2jeezJ54dmjVPfkIyd17FoqTu5aI6d2qQxyLJdKSWotm/s1600/S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwrgrq9UyzknJHQDypgC5rbMouMN_3f_tST7MPZIN6LeUOyJljysxQ_fzFABX2kTgnRz9NNgzHyVfTTEdynFX5rJ-PY5Nvqfz2jeezJ54dmjVPfkIyd17FoqTu5aI6d2qQxyLJdKSWotm/s1600/S.jpg" /></a></div>
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The fifth term is the surface energy. This takes into account that the nucleons at the surface of the nucleus are surrounded by less nucleons. </div>
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The sixth term is the coulomb energy. As the binding energy should be smaller due to the coulomb repulsion between protons. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZs3regblPqK3ZzOe8ys6pqOv0GyQFV6TGXly39pqoJMgl8Tmh3TTINGV6fLuvOiaxwbUFngW3Pfpp_gyPzlUHttlrFagsVUpzj4pg_hjfjCT0cCAlUaFi5lskKf7H1sYGPs449Lge19b/s1600/AS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZs3regblPqK3ZzOe8ys6pqOv0GyQFV6TGXly39pqoJMgl8Tmh3TTINGV6fLuvOiaxwbUFngW3Pfpp_gyPzlUHttlrFagsVUpzj4pg_hjfjCT0cCAlUaFi5lskKf7H1sYGPs449Lge19b/s1600/AS.jpg" /></a></div>
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Binding energy is smaller for an asymmetric nucleus. As a squashed, funny shaped drop with have areas that are further from the centre compared to a perfectly spherical drop. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVJo6yjOIDgSUrXGI2kdxJAjpMekuAVfcLzM0kvLcSmgqtOBaF7jQT-DrLvlNfUlbr7t5-2EnqIfmzvWMDyIVeOIo32TCeYQCq50Vz29y5GVD5zysUKf4OYHjuvOoCNtB3IYWdz4p6Qgs/s1600/P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVJo6yjOIDgSUrXGI2kdxJAjpMekuAVfcLzM0kvLcSmgqtOBaF7jQT-DrLvlNfUlbr7t5-2EnqIfmzvWMDyIVeOIo32TCeYQCq50Vz29y5GVD5zysUKf4OYHjuvOoCNtB3IYWdz4p6Qgs/s1600/P.jpg" /></a></div>
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Combing these gives </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs-jzgWo1lle2zaSKooHQi3crHWXUJJ9MWDUc9XCCTp1J-IqsbkLEQ89-sxO9dBLI-jTgFtvsHQA92DMl5ysWJet4nd0GeAXdtnfjIaJ5F9JzhjhhcEOUfLuWUUAwZt8lm85wyW2bc6r2/s1600/Mass+formula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="20" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs-jzgWo1lle2zaSKooHQi3crHWXUJJ9MWDUc9XCCTp1J-IqsbkLEQ89-sxO9dBLI-jTgFtvsHQA92DMl5ysWJet4nd0GeAXdtnfjIaJ5F9JzhjhhcEOUfLuWUUAwZt8lm85wyW2bc6r2/s320/Mass+formula.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFIZy-RoYnef_7wasvTI4rWWHEuax4mmROiteZBRMAovlvsv488WjzGiurHBYD16uZJRav_Mq9mbD_a-ioIixOxqo6sPLcSf3qj5SIZzf5-DURGC_iio-HG1ipxsECLlNI93Jso4HLAf0/s1600/Mass+formula+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="24" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFIZy-RoYnef_7wasvTI4rWWHEuax4mmROiteZBRMAovlvsv488WjzGiurHBYD16uZJRav_Mq9mbD_a-ioIixOxqo6sPLcSf3qj5SIZzf5-DURGC_iio-HG1ipxsECLlNI93Jso4HLAf0/s320/Mass+formula+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This model tries to explain the systematic behaviour of nuclear properties rather than predict any new phenomena. </div>
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It is particularly useful in describing nuclear fission. Fission is the process in which a nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://astro1.panet.utoledo.edu/~ljc/liquid_drop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="116" src="http://astro1.panet.utoledo.edu/~ljc/liquid_drop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://astro1.panet.utoledo.edu/~ljc/world9.html" target="_blank">Source: Astro1</a></td></tr>
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As you can hopefully see from the picture, as you elongate a drop you increase the surface area. This costs you in surface energy. The coulomb force (the electrical force) will begin to dominate until eventually you have two drops repelling each other. </div>
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The liquid drop model explains the masses, binding energies and stabilities of nuclei but a more sophisticated model is needed to explain the more intricate details, such as why in reality fission fragments do not always appear as two equal nuclei. </div>
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<b>The Shell Model</b></div>
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<b> </b>The nuclear shell model is pretty similar to the atomic shell model. A detailed comparison between the two could probably take up it's own post. </div>
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In the atomic model, electrons buzz around a positively charged nucleus. Electrostatic forces keep everything together. While in the nuclear shell model, it is that bit harder to conceptualise as there isn't anything within the nucleus for the nucleons to buzz around. </div>
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Physicists solve this problem by assuming the nucleons can create their own potential. This means it is the nuclear forces between the nucleons that add together to give the effect that there is a pull towards the centre of the nucleus. </div>
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The idea that this model could describe the workings of the nucleus came about when physicists noticed a pattern in properties arising when there were certain numbers of protons or neutrons or both in a nucleus. </div>
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Every time a nucleus contained 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82 or 126 protons, the nucleus was found to be far more stable than nuclei with 7 or 9 total protons. These nuclei were also far more spherical than any other and these nuclei appear most often in nature. </div>
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This is similar though not identical to the pattern found from the periodic table of the elements. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ne.phys.kyushu-u.ac.jp/seminar/MicroWorld3_E/3Part2_E/3P26_E/E_shell_model_E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://ne.phys.kyushu-u.ac.jp/seminar/MicroWorld3_E/3Part2_E/3P26_E/E_shell_model_E.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ne.phys.kyushu-u.ac.jp/seminar/MicroWorld3_E/3Part2_E/3P26_E/shell_model_E.htm" target="_blank">Source: Kyushu University</a></td></tr>
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<div>
This model works very well to explain in more detail the stability of different nuclei and the somewhat complicated interactions between the forces of the component protons and neutrons. This gives us a more realistic picture of the sizes and shapes of individual nuclei. </div>
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Combining the ideas from the liquid drop model and the shell model can give us some insight into why nuclear fission doesn't produce two perfectly equal daughter nuclei. Any asymmetry in the drop would cause it to elongate differently. </div>
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There are more models that describe more details of nuclear structure. Some attempt has been made to combine all the different models into one universal model with some success but there is still a way to go. </div>
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A more fundamental theory will require applying many-body theory to interacting nucleons and some attempt to explain nuclear physics in terms of quarks. </div>
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So there is still plenty more science to be done with questions still un-answer-able regarding how the nucleus really functions. </div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com2Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland53.3812167 -6.592259953.3623762 -6.6317419 53.400057200000006 -6.5527779000000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-54543620126351041632012-03-02T12:30:00.000+00:002012-03-02T12:30:05.554+00:00Strawberry Shortcake Cookies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The weather is starting to feel a little warmer. Yesterday was beautiful. Sunshine and bright blue skies all day.<br />
Good a time as any to pretend it's summer and scoff many Spanish strawberries. The Irish strawberry season doesn't start until April/May. Not that you have much choice of in season fruit this early in the year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReib2jvG-W1g0L1tdMEuIf8v-JlGuNPPM1KWxuhpUkRs-Y0Aci02KfwNRtmjXatbWmDczylV7aAMAvsYc5VF7xyxWQhofBirtWxzmKSuz3ni2X7Twmf_u1moXrxGv8xNGUprx89R4dvIf/s1600/2012-03-01+15.50.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReib2jvG-W1g0L1tdMEuIf8v-JlGuNPPM1KWxuhpUkRs-Y0Aci02KfwNRtmjXatbWmDczylV7aAMAvsYc5VF7xyxWQhofBirtWxzmKSuz3ni2X7Twmf_u1moXrxGv8xNGUprx89R4dvIf/s320/2012-03-01+15.50.40.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Although you could just pretend rhubarb is a fruit... That'd make for an odd looking cookie.<br />
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These are still a wee bit of a work in progress, I was worried they'd be too sweet and they turned out not as sweet as I would have liked. Played it a bit too safe. If I was to bake them again, I'd add a touch of vanilla I think.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBiACYzYimu5VfFb0B4CYvjd4IdkQQe4VHuX5oN0w7ZWzOTfqIebBKflIIjWAW0cPsuM-cn6K3QzAu3yHlvtlg2D3w7Z7zRfCvuu2BEy75rz8gC0T6KW0fAOz1VPhYNu7DPR129WtguLn/s1600/2012-03-01+16.21.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBiACYzYimu5VfFb0B4CYvjd4IdkQQe4VHuX5oN0w7ZWzOTfqIebBKflIIjWAW0cPsuM-cn6K3QzAu3yHlvtlg2D3w7Z7zRfCvuu2BEy75rz8gC0T6KW0fAOz1VPhYNu7DPR129WtguLn/s320/2012-03-01+16.21.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Ingredients</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>250 g self raising flour</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>85 g of butter</i></div>
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<i>110 g of brown sugar</i></div>
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<i>Lemon juice</i></div>
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<i>160 ml double cream</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Large handful chocolate chips (I used a mixture of white and dark)</i></div>
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<i>200 g or there about of fresh strawberries</i></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Method </b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Preheat oven to 180 degrees. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Combine the dry ingredients. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Making sure the butter is cold before you start, rub the butter into the flour sugar mixture. </i></div>
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<i>Pour in the cream and stir until the mixture is just getting sticky. </i></div>
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<i>Fold in the strawberries and chocolate chips.</i></div>
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<i>Bake in the oven for 25 minutes. </i></div>
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<i>___________________________</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://oliovera.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/pomegranate+pineapple-banana-salad-767x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://oliovera.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/pomegranate+pineapple-banana-salad-767x1024.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://oliovera.com/recipes/pomegranatepineapple-banana-salad/" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i> </i>Realistically spring should be a season of exotic looking deserts. With oranges, kiwis, pomegranate and pineapple all at their best this time of year. </div>
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Or many a rhubarb and apple crumble.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Ideas, other than fruit salad, to play around with these? </div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com0Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland53.3812167 -6.592259953.3622737 -6.6317419 53.4001597 -6.5527779000000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-24347972388680111862012-01-13T22:34:00.001+00:002012-07-05T14:29:36.422+01:00Baileys & Chocolate Chip Cookies!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Exams are finished, over and done with. Lectures don't start until the 30th of February. I genuinely have no idea what I am going to do with myself...<br />
Struggling to get out of study-mode.<br />
<br />
Final year exams weren't as difficult as I was expecting. Which has me feeling far more excited about the thought of doing a postgrad. To celebrate, I decided I wanted cookies.<br />
<br />
I have two cookie recipes that I adore.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://irishwishesarespecial.blogspot.com/2011/05/happiness-is.html" target="_blank">Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://irishwishesarespecial.blogspot.com/2011/11/white-chocolate-and-cranberry-cookies.html" target="_blank">White Chocolate and Cranberry cookies</a></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Both are very simple to follow and take minimal prep. Not particularly challenging. Although are any cookie recipes anyway difficult?</div>
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Anyone know of any cookie related baking challenges?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I did attempt <a href="http://irishwishesarespecial.blogspot.com/2011/05/oreo-stuffed-cookies.html" target="_blank">Oreo Stuffed Cookies</a> back when they were doing the rounds of the blogsphere but they were more novelty value than anything else for me. Just that bit too heavy to make again. </div>
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<br /></div>
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After a search through tastespotting for ideas, I concluded that the scale of cookie baking difficulty must start at simply buying a pack of cookie dough and end at Heston Bluementhal. </div>
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/images/food_1x1_304/chefs/heston_blumenthal_1x1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/images/food_1x1_304/chefs/heston_blumenthal_1x1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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If you don't know who that is, you do not watch enough cooking programs or read enough about food. He's probably the world's best own molecular gastronomist and quite possibly the only self-taught molecular gastronomist. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Molecular gastronomy is a food science, combining ideas from physics and chemistry into bizarre sounding experiments with food. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
He is most recognisable from his BBC series <i>"In Search for Perfection" </i>starring such recipes as fish and chips, bangers and mash and other British classics. The ingredients list for the fish and chips include: Soda siphon with 3 carbon dioxide cylinders, liquid from the jar of pickled onions (for a chip shop aroma) and vodka!</div>
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<br /></div>
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He has a new series out on channel 4 which I haven't got around to watching yet. It promises to be more practical to re-produce the recipes than his earlier series. </div>
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As I do not own any of his cookbooks (yet) this recipe comes from <a href="http://www.londonbakes.com/2011/12/baileys-and-chocolate-chip-cookies.html" target="_blank">LondonBakes</a>.<br />
<br />
That cookies are still just cookies, this should be a nice introduction into the Heston style of cooking. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Ingredients </b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>For the chocolate chips </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>10 g golden syrup</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>50 ml double cream</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>20 ml baileys</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>65 g dark chocolate</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Sea salt</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>For the cookie dough</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>230 g plain all purpose flour</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1/2 tsp baking powder</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>2.5 g sea salt</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1/4 tsp instant coffee</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>115 g cold butter</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>260 g caster sugar</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1 large egg</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>20 ml baileys</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>10 g vanilla bean paste (1 tsp vanilla extract)</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<b>Method </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<i>To make the chocolate chips </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Bring the syrup and cream to a simmer together.</i><br />
<i>Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pot of boiling water.</i><br />
<i>Pour the baileys into the hot cream, season with salt. </i><br />
<i>Combine this mixture 1/3 at a time into the chocolate. </i><br />
<i>Leave to cool for a few minutes. </i><br />
<i>Pour onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. </i><br />
<i>(I lined a Chinese takeaway box with tin foil, as I had no grease proof paper and my freezer isn't <span style="font-family: inherit;">large enough to fit my baking tray)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHatd-2okfwsyt14UOR1hkBpeFLpgMJfQWp0PHZolqOt14xBKjCQrZ10tbRistO-IZDRd31bjrXRyU_7wQ8ZdsZ-A8x1mdvwXXIcLn69SFo6WPVkUcl2jQCkNIw2GqEH0cvChWOBicdID1/s1600/2012-01-13+18.11.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHatd-2okfwsyt14UOR1hkBpeFLpgMJfQWp0PHZolqOt14xBKjCQrZ10tbRistO-IZDRd31bjrXRyU_7wQ8ZdsZ-A8x1mdvwXXIcLn69SFo6WPVkUcl2jQCkNIw2GqEH0cvChWOBicdID1/s320/2012-01-13+18.11.31.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Freeze until solid. Should take about four hours.</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>To make the cookie dough</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Cream the butter and the sugar together.</i><br />
<i>Add the baileys, vanilla and egg.</i><br />
<i>Sieve the dry ingredients together. </i><br />
<i>Mix the dry into the wet. </i><br />
<i>Work the dough for 3-4 minutes. </i><br />
<i>Add the chocolate chips straight from the freezer. </i><br />
<i>Scoop the dough into balls, flatten and lay out on baking tray. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgh3xPFkpC-WiO5NF5mQhWNrSrnJUWg_KT12hAixT1v-eDcs3EoCYHDf2j2w7JXV0TkWVCl4PSlTqDjb6SiYA-ke6Jm473ABtDpRjK1vzriwapbzsGpfVcgOgwZG_NzhYIeTnHYNQ22V79/s1600/2012-01-13+21.32.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgh3xPFkpC-WiO5NF5mQhWNrSrnJUWg_KT12hAixT1v-eDcs3EoCYHDf2j2w7JXV0TkWVCl4PSlTqDjb6SiYA-ke6Jm473ABtDpRjK1vzriwapbzsGpfVcgOgwZG_NzhYIeTnHYNQ22V79/s320/2012-01-13+21.32.38.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The cookie dough tastes amazing.. </i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Bake at 170 degrees for 8-10 minutes. </i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9I-OL6YBpwsLyof3nD74lnq9q5dqQLV5WAcZeM6L8nRIYKk49POqfbfy5ElSz9LiYhAdX3KxvYH2N51_njDLeMwwTgk259FroK8ptfOaAwwL5zgIKsWryxV4QMZUmVn-7hBdV5Jd3_5Rq/s1600/2012-01-13+22.02.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9I-OL6YBpwsLyof3nD74lnq9q5dqQLV5WAcZeM6L8nRIYKk49POqfbfy5ElSz9LiYhAdX3KxvYH2N51_njDLeMwwTgk259FroK8ptfOaAwwL5zgIKsWryxV4QMZUmVn-7hBdV5Jd3_5Rq/s320/2012-01-13+22.02.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Mine didn't turn out too pretty...</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>I think I may have been a bit heavy handed on the Baileys... </i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Or the oven was too hot. Might buy an oven thermometer.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Still they taste like chocolate Baileys!</i></div>
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Just means I need to re-try this recipe... </i></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com0Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland53.3812167 -6.592259953.3622737 -6.6317419 53.4001597 -6.5527779000000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-40358372587634937672011-12-28T13:00:00.000+00:002011-12-29T13:21:48.369+00:00Basic Shortcrust Pastry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the many humming and hahing discussions over whether or not to cook a full turkey for Christmas is usually what will we do with the leftovers?<br />
<br />
St. Stephen's day everybody is fairly happy with the exact same dinner again.<br />
<br />
The third day is starting to push it. <br />
<br />
So onto <a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/" target="_blank">BBC good food website</a> to flick through the recommended <a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/recipes/christmas/christmas-leftovers/" target="_blank">Christmas leftovers dinners</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1269633/images/1269633_MEDIUM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1269633/images/1269633_MEDIUM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1269633/shortcrust-pastry-case" target="_blank">Settled on a Christmas leftovers pie</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Mine came out looking like:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HO-pEgPjL0A/TvntMIDgyEI/AAAAAAAAAq0/fEVjZvGvj7E/s1600/2011-12-27+14.43.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HO-pEgPjL0A/TvntMIDgyEI/AAAAAAAAAq0/fEVjZvGvj7E/s320/2011-12-27+14.43.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Although I needed to use far more water than the recipe suggested... I turned it into a Christmas leftovers pie!<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vc9hWMoK7oU/TvnthHIbSoI/AAAAAAAAArA/ZFEX8ZAojGc/s1600/2011-12-27+15.05.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vc9hWMoK7oU/TvnthHIbSoI/AAAAAAAAArA/ZFEX8ZAojGc/s320/2011-12-27+15.05.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So the filling is just fried up onions and mushrooms, with all the leftover meat piled on top, covered in leftover gravy and topped up with wine.<br />
Baked in the oven for an extra ten minutes.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZeEhbn1C4w/TvnuW7w3NfI/AAAAAAAAArM/C5cOPzGluow/s1600/2011-12-27+15.22.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZeEhbn1C4w/TvnuW7w3NfI/AAAAAAAAArM/C5cOPzGluow/s320/2011-12-27+15.22.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
According to the people of r/baking, the goal in making pastry is to use as little water as possible. So next time round I will try use the minimum. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com2Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland52.7067023 -8.807937952.6970813 -8.8276789 52.716323300000006 -8.7881969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-20404324583580291402011-12-27T13:25:00.000+00:002011-12-27T13:25:26.477+00:00Mixed Berry Chocolate Macaron Trifle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This was our Christmas day desert.<br />
<br />
I had considered making <a href="http://irishwishesarespecial.blogspot.com/2011/06/tiramisu.html" target="_blank">Tiramisu,</a> but we were very glad to have something relatively light to finish on after the feast that was dinner.<br />
You aren't really celebrating if there isn't three courses. Fact.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9XiiXhdVS-8/TvnB2n_ShvI/AAAAAAAAAqE/7Bsaqc5yFVM/s1600/2011-12-25+00.40.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9XiiXhdVS-8/TvnB2n_ShvI/AAAAAAAAAqE/7Bsaqc5yFVM/s320/2011-12-25+00.40.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The jelly is cranberry with strawberries floating it in. On top of that is a <a href="http://irishwishesarespecial.blogspot.com/2011/12/macarons.html" target="_blank">chocolate and hazelnut macaron</a> which were filled with my own <a href="http://irishwishesarespecial.blogspot.com/2011/12/home-made-nutella.html" target="_blank">Nutella</a>. All topped with whipped cream cranberries, blueberries and a sprinkling of coco powder.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dO4NOnCwG1g/TvnEimj8qKI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/b2hRXOdavaY/s1600/2011-12-24+23.54.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dO4NOnCwG1g/TvnEimj8qKI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/b2hRXOdavaY/s320/2011-12-24+23.54.47.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It was my first time using the sheets of gelatin to make jelly. This was far easier than I expected.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Cranberry Jelly</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ingredients</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>2 pints of cranberry juice drink</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1 packet of sheets of </i><span style="text-align: left;"><i>gelatin</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Method</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i>There will be instructions on the packet, but I thought this was even easier than melted the regular already flavoured packs of jelly. So worth noting.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i>Heat the juice in a pan. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i>Soak the </i></span><span style="text-align: left;"><i>gelatin sheets in cold water as the juice is heating.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i>Once the juice is starting to simmer, reduce the heat.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i>Stir in the </i></span><span style="text-align: left;"><i>gelatin.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i>It should dissolve easily.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i>Leave to cool. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i>Once it has cooled to nearly room temperature, pour into your serving dishes and leave in the fridge to set. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i>The strawberries can be added now as they will float in the jelly so set nicely on the top of the jelly. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nm4L8GUU4qY/TvnE2ygS_xI/AAAAAAAAAqc/yD3m6lu_-mY/s1600/2011-12-24+23.55.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nm4L8GUU4qY/TvnE2ygS_xI/AAAAAAAAAqc/yD3m6lu_-mY/s320/2011-12-24+23.55.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Pop a macaron on top of your jelly once it has set, then cover this in whipped cream. I recommend flavouring your whipped cream with 2 tbsps of sugar and the zest of a lemon. </div>
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The trifle then needs to be left sit in the fridge for a good few hours before serving. The cream will soak into the macaron so it becomes lovely and moist, quite like a little bite of thick rich cake while still crispy on the outside. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uZ5nJ0Ehh0c/TvnGY6QQIgI/AAAAAAAAAqo/VsnQ_7WrVVE/s1600/2011-12-25+00.40.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uZ5nJ0Ehh0c/TvnGY6QQIgI/AAAAAAAAAqo/VsnQ_7WrVVE/s320/2011-12-25+00.40.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This was such a success I am considering trying to make a coffee macaron tiramisu. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyone have any coffee flavoured maracon recipes they'd recommend? </div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com0Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland52.7067023 -8.807937952.6970813 -8.8276789 52.716323300000006 -8.7881969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-18255656852952047372011-12-26T22:00:00.000+00:002011-12-26T22:00:23.856+00:00Quantum Physics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Part 1 of 3 of our physics of atoms and quanta module. There is such an off-putting amount of slides for this one exam, pretending it's actually 3 exams is the only way to go. <div>
The exam is on the 6th, so ideally all the material should be covered by the 30th if I actually <a href="http://irishwishesarespecial.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-to-study-post.html" target="_blank">follow the study tips I did out</a> last year. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I ask you, people of the interweb, to make me study.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Quantum theory isn't the easiest topic to write about, it tends to be quite math-heavy. I did attempt somewhat of <a href="http://irishwishesarespecial.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-is-quantum-mechanics.html" target="_blank">an introduction to post</a> last year, focusing on it's development and picturing the particle character of light. </div>
<div>
Especially on St. Stephen's day trying to ignore the many Christmas movies... </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fI-iBz7CfAk/Tvip_ldy64I/AAAAAAAAAp4/lOGMPvmVuTE/s1600/2011-12-26+16.33.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fI-iBz7CfAk/Tvip_ldy64I/AAAAAAAAAp4/lOGMPvmVuTE/s320/2011-12-26+16.33.43.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate Santa makes for yummy study-subsistence </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The most important thing to remember when looking at quantum physics is that our intuition is based around interactions that happen at sizes we can see. </div>
<div>
As the scale becomes unimaginable tiny, things get strange. We can no longer directly watch what actually happens in experiments, only measure what we might expect might happen. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Studying Uncertainties</b></div>
<div>
The foundations of quantum physics are based on 6 underlying postulates.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>1)<br />The quantum state of a physical system at a moment in time t is completely characterised by a complex-valued wave function.</i></blockquote>
What this means is that we can describe any situation we'd like to explore with a mathematical equation based on the physics of waves and optics. This wave function can be used to calculate the probabilities of finding particles within a described volume.<br />
All you really need to know: Particles can act like waves.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>2)<br />To every observable physical quantity A, which is a function of the position coordinates and the momentum components of the particles in the system, there is a corresponding quantum operator. This operator is Hermitian and is called an observable. </i></blockquote>
An operator is just a mathematical tool. An observable is simply a measurable quantity. Say for example the position of a particle. So this just states that for every quantity of you are able to measure there exists a particular equation you can apply to your wave function to work it out before hand.<br />
So it's possible to compare theory to experiment. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>3)<br />The only possible result of a measurement of a physical quantity A is one of the eigenvalues a of the corresponding observable A. </i></blockquote>
<br />
All this says is that not everything is fully determinable or you can't always know everything you want to know about the system you are studying even if you spent an infinite amount of time trying to figure it out.<br />
And you must remember all this is in probabilities.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>4)<br />If the measurement of the physical quantity A on the system in state Psi gives a result a(k), the state of the system immediately after the measurement is the eigenstate Psi(k) associated with a(k).</i></blockquote>
This is somewhat harder to explain. As you can see from these, maths-y terminology tends to be very very specific.<br />
What this means is that even though classically you can take a measurement then a few seconds later take another, in quantum systems things are more complicated. You would have to repeat the measurement on identically prepared systems to get comparable results.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>5)<br />The wave function of a physical system evolves in time according to the equation of motion which is the time-dependent Schrodinger equation.</i></blockquote>
Quite simply, the Schrodinger equation describes how the system behaves. <br />
<br />
<b>What you should take from this: </b><br />
<b> </b>Quantum physics is odd. Nobody knows why the world of the teeny tiny works like this, all we do know is the experiments that have been run to test quantum mechanics have matched the expected results from theory.<br />
<br />
<b>Quantum Mechanics in Action</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cV2fkDscwvY" width="540"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Pretty odd, right? </div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com0Co. Clare, Ireland52.7067023 -8.807937952.6970813 -8.8276789 52.716323300000006 -8.7881969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-79163130591076068252011-12-25T19:54:00.000+00:002011-12-25T20:14:12.779+00:00Christmas Dinner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We're not a house of rigid traditions. The only dish we've had consistently over the years is garlic potatoes. Except for the one Christmas we spent in Florida. Where we had a Chinese for Christmas dinner, while giggling with the waitress over the sheer amount of food being ordered at the table next to us. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That was an experience. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This year we opted for the more traditional turkey and ham. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2XSx1AWhLp0/Tvd5G-wRCnI/AAAAAAAAApg/LkiMhxSJ_x8/s1600/2011-12-25+16.14.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2XSx1AWhLp0/Tvd5G-wRCnI/AAAAAAAAApg/LkiMhxSJ_x8/s320/2011-12-25+16.14.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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The ham was boiled in cider for hours and following Jamie Oliver's instructions on his <a href="http://www.jamieoliver.com/tv-books/christmas-with-bells-on" target="_blank">Christmas with Bells On</a> we shoved as much herb butter in under the skin of the bird as would fit. Then preheated the oven to it's highest temperature, covered it in tin foil for the first two hours of cooking and kept majority of the stuffing in a separate roasting dish. </div>
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Left resting for nearly two hours covered in tin foil and tea towels it kept lovely and warm.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1sdk75Tjml4/Tvd8e7pfQuI/AAAAAAAAAps/4fEkUfd5UfI/s1600/2011-12-25+16.14.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1sdk75Tjml4/Tvd8e7pfQuI/AAAAAAAAAps/4fEkUfd5UfI/s320/2011-12-25+16.14.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The garlic potatoes, the stuffing and my favourite red wine of the moment. B&G Pinot Noir. I'm not normally that impressed with red wines but this one was particularly nice. So we stocked up. </div>
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<br /></div>
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There was also roast vegetables, plenty of gravy and cranberry sauce. Got a bit too distracted by all the food to remember to include everything in a picture. </div>
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<br /></div>
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MERRY CHRISTMAS</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com4Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland52.7067023 -8.807937952.6970813 -8.8276789 52.716323300000006 -8.7881969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-14226274664875420642011-12-25T00:09:00.000+00:002011-12-25T00:09:07.723+00:00Macarons!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been absolutely ages since I attempted these. My first attempt tasted right but <a href="http://irishwishesarespecial.blogspot.com/2011/02/delicious-though-disastrous.html" target="_blank">looked disastrous</a>. My second attempt looked alright but were far too sticky. <div>
Third attempt and I nailed it! (sorta)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vgEjTNQQ7dc/TvZU2hOY_DI/AAAAAAAAAo8/DchyLckEPvM/s1600/2011-12-24+22.18.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vgEjTNQQ7dc/TvZU2hOY_DI/AAAAAAAAAo8/DchyLckEPvM/s320/2011-12-24+22.18.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You're just going to have to ignore the nail varnish. It was an attempt to look Christmas-y that just didn't quite work out as planned. The shade of green is a bit of a fail. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I say sorta nailed it as even though the one above came out quite well I didn't have a piping bag so was working with two spoons, trying to scoop out even amounts of the very sticky mixture. So mine aren't aren't all the exact same size and the shells aren't perfectly smooth... But I'm pretty happy for a third attempt. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jw4enhW344U/TvZcXX2yi-I/AAAAAAAAApI/pyr78RUugH0/s1600/2011-12-24+23.07.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jw4enhW344U/TvZcXX2yi-I/AAAAAAAAApI/pyr78RUugH0/s320/2011-12-24+23.07.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The recipe is still from <a href="http://www.makeupandmacaroons.com/2011/02/recipe-choc-hazelnut-macaroons.html" target="_blank">Make-up and Macaroons</a> and as you can see mine still aren't quite as pretty as hers are. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I did taste macarons from a McDonalds in Geneva last year and these taste practically identical. Even though McDonalds standard is an odd choice for comparison every where else seemed to charge completely insane prices. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I quite like them, they aren't sickly sweet or overly rich. They are soft in the inside with a slight sugared crisp all around the outside. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bfoka3lu2vk/TvZon8jOJ7I/AAAAAAAAApU/b6jVW86Yz0k/s1600/2011-12-24+23.39.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bfoka3lu2vk/TvZon8jOJ7I/AAAAAAAAApU/b6jVW86Yz0k/s320/2011-12-24+23.39.57.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hopefully next time if I get my hands on a piping bag these will come out more even. Until then, we can giggle at some of the more random shapes... </div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com6Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland52.7067023 -8.807937952.6970813 -8.8276789 52.716323300000006 -8.7881969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-65797712451411932972011-12-19T21:03:00.000+00:002011-12-19T21:03:20.623+00:00Salmon Burgers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Second dish for the Christmas holidays. This is very simple and fairly quick. It takes about 15 minutes over all.<br />
A good one for fussy eaters or people who think they don't like fish as there are no potentially over powering flavours.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_rhjID6QX94jtys-RnN8AD5G53PjhWxurI6K6aq4bNmg8kAltcg-4Kk1y44LS504NW171rJllz9pwPQoA80zN95TEgOaYs3wypgnBRf99u5P1QrT0B6rFO0yHLBpr7Dp5IokoFSZpU2c/s1600/2011-12-19+19.47.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_rhjID6QX94jtys-RnN8AD5G53PjhWxurI6K6aq4bNmg8kAltcg-4Kk1y44LS504NW171rJllz9pwPQoA80zN95TEgOaYs3wypgnBRf99u5P1QrT0B6rFO0yHLBpr7Dp5IokoFSZpU2c/s320/2011-12-19+19.47.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Serves 3</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Ingredients</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>2 Salmon fillets</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>6 cream crackers</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Juice of one lemon</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Rocket</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Soy sauce</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Wholegrain burger buns or baps</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>3 tbsp mayo</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Dill</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Thyme</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Parsley</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Salt & Pepper</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Method</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Poach the salmon for 8/9 minutes until just cooked</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>In a food processor, combine the cream crackers, herbs, tsp soy sauce and half the juice of the lemon</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Gently tear the salmon into small pieces once it's cooked</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Leave to cool for 2/3 minutes</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Mix this together with the cream cracker mix with your hands</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The salmon should be moist enough for this to all bind together nicely. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Fry these for 2 minutes each side</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>While these are frying toast your buns</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Combine the mayo with dill and lemon juice</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Spread generously over the toasted bun</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Top with rocket, add your burger and serve</i></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com0Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland52.7067023 -8.807937952.6970813 -8.8276789 52.716323300000006 -8.7881969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-73803433767980248262011-12-18T21:30:00.000+00:002011-12-18T21:30:01.395+00:00Home-made Nutella<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A first attempt at making a home made Christmas present. This was remarkably easy and personally I think much nicer than from a jar Nutella.<br />
I used 90% cocoa chocolate so it is less sweet than regular Nutella. It's quite rich, you would struggle, I imagine, to eat an entire jar of this stuff.<br />
<br />
If you want sweeter, more commercial Nutella, try using milk chocolate.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrifMkMVsRtPYkVMig7SEqc9SfPxheIWVigVjl7bgWqCe0hV0YPmsbqfY6TtDkISCamQPkOi4IHX_1RgD8_yGPp5DeR29rBqMidBG6ubFGx1C3-qGQnxb8Tl496kyemv_7sTVZoTzQsrq/s1600/2011-12-17+17.35.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrifMkMVsRtPYkVMig7SEqc9SfPxheIWVigVjl7bgWqCe0hV0YPmsbqfY6TtDkISCamQPkOi4IHX_1RgD8_yGPp5DeR29rBqMidBG6ubFGx1C3-qGQnxb8Tl496kyemv_7sTVZoTzQsrq/s320/2011-12-17+17.35.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So beautifully dark and nutty.<br />
<br />
The little plastic containers were 3 for 1.45 euro in Tesco. I might just tie them up in ribbon and present them as gifts that way.<br />
<br />
Personally, I don't think it's worth bothering to cook with chocolate unless you buy good quality chocolate. So this doesn't actually work out cheaper than buying a jar of Nutella... But worth it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTMz2Hl8dBEjMcwwXaHGc_KzXap86XxwYqsfd-Vej1FWXqYCB_dQvQv1Z4nAmcMkUZbKa_yfg7CF5KLk3-W_ayj5YlNT1HrwFzMHiPwgjt7UdletJZ5jkyHwGFYS_LuEpu40b6ZB4qIch/s1600/2011-12-17+17.08.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTMz2Hl8dBEjMcwwXaHGc_KzXap86XxwYqsfd-Vej1FWXqYCB_dQvQv1Z4nAmcMkUZbKa_yfg7CF5KLk3-W_ayj5YlNT1HrwFzMHiPwgjt7UdletJZ5jkyHwGFYS_LuEpu40b6ZB4qIch/s320/2011-12-17+17.08.11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Ingredients</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>200 g roasted hazelnuts</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1 tin condensed milk</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>200 g 90% good quality chocolate</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Drop of warm milk</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Method</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Using a food processor, smash the hazelnuts as fine as possible.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Melt the chocolate over simmering water. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Take off the heat.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Combine the condensed milk with the hazelnuts.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Pour the condensed milk and hazelnuts into the chocolate. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This should turn into a thick dough like substance. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Slowly add the milk until you have a consistency you want.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Transfer into containers and leave to set.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfxA1mXJQgCLg3OSnhOVkzKgL26piR-QW5pEifsy8XRxW2UUXPEK5M607XHzNpUiGJ0ymmPjPvi4GUQ3YTSlRdviL1YgINWXXfN3ZtbwhSGiTTsxhQHchpUjV_ijn__JdhehgyFKHKCvK/s1600/2011-12-17+17.34.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfxA1mXJQgCLg3OSnhOVkzKgL26piR-QW5pEifsy8XRxW2UUXPEK5M607XHzNpUiGJ0ymmPjPvi4GUQ3YTSlRdviL1YgINWXXfN3ZtbwhSGiTTsxhQHchpUjV_ijn__JdhehgyFKHKCvK/s320/2011-12-17+17.34.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com4Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland52.7067023 -8.807937952.6970813 -8.8276789 52.716323300000006 -8.7881969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-7479073658721441742011-12-17T20:43:00.000+00:002011-12-17T20:43:15.217+00:00Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Wine Sauce<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
First dish of the Christmas holidays. Of course I went for something with cranberries. Anything to have an excuse to bake more cranberry cookies. I may bake some of those tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<b>Christmas question:</b><br />
How long do you leave your Turkey to rest after roasting?<br />
<br />
This was a hit. Pork in red wine is always popular, cranberries gave a nice sharp extra something.<br />
<br />
Served with creamy mash and carrots in orange.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDjwhet53VPM5ABPwjIw8oKHexPCvbynObzFHwcF9u6hl4V3qM-yYcwBHILg7lssvwaCJP6chw9zhikW-Nio7yujeV9lhyphenhyphenaXY_o7dRnOG2-uwOT3NSUAg4tFodv8AmuuyufsBeobHE4eZ/s1600/2011-12-17+18.50.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDjwhet53VPM5ABPwjIw8oKHexPCvbynObzFHwcF9u6hl4V3qM-yYcwBHILg7lssvwaCJP6chw9zhikW-Nio7yujeV9lhyphenhyphenaXY_o7dRnOG2-uwOT3NSUAg4tFodv8AmuuyufsBeobHE4eZ/s320/2011-12-17+18.50.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Ingredients</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>2 pork tenderloins</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>3 garlic cloves</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1 large handful of cranberries</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>2 spring onions</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1 tbsp white wine vinegar</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>4 tbsp olive oil</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1 tbsp soy sauce</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1 large glass pinot noir </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Salt & Pepper</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Method </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>In a food processor, combine the cranberries, garlic, spring onions, vinegar, soy sauce and olive oil. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Cover the pork loin in this paste and least to marinade for at least an hour. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Brown these over a medium heat for about ten minutes.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1l3zYN-JzN3Dg48vMtKIXzgcinyBYKqATheJEgJFNIRH2rDKksBFKTPZIkwWrUTPj77vd4tWgD83LbQgNouKZAx5bsUGX_WZm_K3pGjUzDCXVQoIyob8blIuhoRCy6-of4Aficz7BqgPQ/s1600/2011-12-17+18.05.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1l3zYN-JzN3Dg48vMtKIXzgcinyBYKqATheJEgJFNIRH2rDKksBFKTPZIkwWrUTPj77vd4tWgD83LbQgNouKZAx5bsUGX_WZm_K3pGjUzDCXVQoIyob8blIuhoRCy6-of4Aficz7BqgPQ/s320/2011-12-17+18.05.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Decant the pan with the wine. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Pour over the pork and cook in a preheated oven at 200 degrees Celsius for half an hour. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Once cooked remove the pork from the sauce. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Throw some extra chopped fresh cranberries into the sauce.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Let the sauce reduce down a bit. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Serve with mash and a glass of red wine. </i></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com2Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland52.7067023 -8.807937952.6970813 -8.8276789 52.716323300000006 -8.7881969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-9325783739352198982011-12-11T23:49:00.001+00:002011-12-12T00:08:02.406+00:00White Chocolate, Cranberry and Strawberry Rocky Road<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's nearly midnight. Hours of somewhat distracted writing later I am no closer to finishing my preliminary reading report.<br />
It is slightly better written than it was yesterday.. and I have a plate of <a href="http://irishwishesarespecial.blogspot.com/2011/11/white-chocolate-and-cranberry-cookies.html" target="_blank">these cookies</a> plus rocky road!<br />
<br />
An attempt to Christmas-y up rocky road making it white and adding cranberries. Adding cranberries makes everything Christmas-y right?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9oacNppz-LgFVvRhzCYGC6xD_BwlzyFSjT1XOhvFjsDmudGHAJgkbIeaqQVOUeAPfkL0DuUxy94BUU1vXb4mpr9vfY68F0LC5jFSdzWJ4rXU20bYlKzGpFHhJoGAYBHVb3rsDHxeL9Yl/s1600/2011-12-11+22.34.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9oacNppz-LgFVvRhzCYGC6xD_BwlzyFSjT1XOhvFjsDmudGHAJgkbIeaqQVOUeAPfkL0DuUxy94BUU1vXb4mpr9vfY68F0LC5jFSdzWJ4rXU20bYlKzGpFHhJoGAYBHVb3rsDHxeL9Yl/s320/2011-12-11+22.34.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So much sweetness. So much NOM.<br />
<br />
At a guess I'd say this should serve about four. Even though I could easily polish it off myself...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Ingredients </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>200 g good quality white chocolate</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>large handful of strawberries</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>large handful of cranberries</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1/4 red apple</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>2 cookies</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>small handful of marshmallows </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Method</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Melt the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I recommend using Lindt Excellent touch of vanilla white chocolate.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Chop up the rest of your ingredients.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Keeping the cookies in small chunks, not crumbs.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Once your chocolate has melted and has cooled a little, stir in the rest of the ingredients.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Pour into small rectangular container lined with cling film.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Leave for about half an hour until it reaches room temperature. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Then chill in the fridge for a few hours until it sets. </i></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com0Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland53.3812167 -6.592259953.3622737 -6.6317419 53.4001597 -6.5527779000000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-1667347077576200522011-12-05T10:59:00.001+00:002011-12-05T11:11:48.964+00:00Frozen Fruit Smoothie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Such a bad idea for breakfast on a freezing cold morning, but oh so nommy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxlZGmUhyphenhyphenUulVufwkTfZCfd8c70qpedJ3Y2uMI6cU3JSng3TAbN7I2BJf0u8NN_xHfq1k5nBQpXkwjo-K3yfnw5751Pm2lJBEaCQNh40JWqsJV-wR8Ah-XJ4t2SUSjZWqjcX4xfVFRzYC/s1600/2011-12-05+10.35.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxlZGmUhyphenhyphenUulVufwkTfZCfd8c70qpedJ3Y2uMI6cU3JSng3TAbN7I2BJf0u8NN_xHfq1k5nBQpXkwjo-K3yfnw5751Pm2lJBEaCQNh40JWqsJV-wR8Ah-XJ4t2SUSjZWqjcX4xfVFRzYC/s320/2011-12-05+10.35.50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Begin with a handful of frozen fruit. I have summer berries continuing with the pretending it's not icy out theme.<br />
<br />
Throw on top of this, one banana, 2 tbsp natural yoghurt, handful of mixed nuts and a handful of oats. Cover with either milk or juice. Blend well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzIb-lxTVV6vf0NoajGNKfbXWbT26UAtMM8hXL5ItGysm6xUC1xENOPAfGIRIaE55buVT7gXtOUQIwji-e2U-Ml6ucc8M1DK3iifibyToISOhwfgtULvGmVI2TNxA_fsMRRLwskrnVfgr/s1600/2011-12-05+10.40.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzIb-lxTVV6vf0NoajGNKfbXWbT26UAtMM8hXL5ItGysm6xUC1xENOPAfGIRIaE55buVT7gXtOUQIwji-e2U-Ml6ucc8M1DK3iifibyToISOhwfgtULvGmVI2TNxA_fsMRRLwskrnVfgr/s320/2011-12-05+10.40.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com2Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland53.3812167 -6.592259953.3622737 -6.6317419 53.4001597 -6.5527779000000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862481957661318820.post-21045177309373221312011-11-19T13:20:00.000+00:002011-11-19T14:12:01.647+00:00Pear and Parsnip Soup<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Weekend Goal: Clear out fridge<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Do you ever wonder just how long you could survive on the contents of your kitchen? If you suddenly got snowed in for example. Are you well stocked? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While for me, it's possibly a silly question to ask as as soon as I ran out of milk, so about two days. I would need to venture out no matter how disastrously stormy the weather became. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How long do you think you'd last?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Day 1</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Pear and Parsnip Soup</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have two pears left over from the <a href="http://irishwishesarespecial.blogspot.com/2011/11/poached-pears.html" target="_blank">Poached Pears</a> I did last weekend, they are starting to get a bit soft. So are perfect to turn into a soup.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5U4bd0ZRdFpyo-VFjIEgx4xAGC2JdjsVEv-hVrJFe6Bq6ZmiUDdRyABZro9DHgDVGqaH7wMjf-xkfwEcjnZspavCmScNFETVeOBDDWlYzjGpO5jw-tfM6_tuBwvUVZeyBZ2Y3lh_jM4xa/s1600/2011-11-19+14.03.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5U4bd0ZRdFpyo-VFjIEgx4xAGC2JdjsVEv-hVrJFe6Bq6ZmiUDdRyABZro9DHgDVGqaH7wMjf-xkfwEcjnZspavCmScNFETVeOBDDWlYzjGpO5jw-tfM6_tuBwvUVZeyBZ2Y3lh_jM4xa/s320/2011-11-19+14.03.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Ingredients</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>2 large pears</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>2 large parsnips</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>4 sticks of celery</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1 onion</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>1 litre of vegetable stock</i><br />
<i>tsp mint</i><br />
<i>tsp nutmeg</i><br />
<i>Salt & Pepper</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<b>Method</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<i>Soften the vegetables over a median heat in olive oil for 15 minutes. </i><br />
<i>Season well.</i><br />
<i>Pour over vegetable stock.</i><br />
<i>Let simmer for another 15 minutes. </i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04188581596934254984noreply@blogger.com0Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland53.3812167 -6.592259953.3622737 -6.6317419 53.4001597 -6.5527779000000006