One armed bandit!

Well, it's now been almost week since my MUA, that's the technical term for Manipulation Under Anaesthetic, which is the procedure I had to get my frozen shoulder moving again.  And if I'm honest, I'm not loving the fact that I have to put myself through terrible pain 3 times a day doing the flippin' exercises they gave me, which is the only way I can ensure my recovery from what has been a pain the arse shoulder condition I've had for the past 8 months!!

So, knowing that I would be off work for a while I got in a few movies to watch, however first I had to watch the final season of Gilmore Girls, which Andy (my husband) got me into at the end of last year...and as a result I am now bereft!!  I was so engrossed in the lives of Loralai, Rory and the residents of Stars Hollow that I cried almost all the way through the last three episodes, although I do wonder if it wasn't the effect of excessive doses of painkillers that caused my extreme emotional state!!  I think I may well give it a couple of months and watch the whole seven seasons again just to make sure.

The first movie I watched was The Time Travellers Wife, which I have to say confused me as much as the book did, I really couldn't get my head round Henry's time travelling 'condition' - perhaps I'm trying too hard.
Then, because I'd heard such good reports about it, Andy and I tried to watch Bridesmaids (and also because Sookie from Gilmore Girls was in it) - what the heck was that all about?!!!  We gave up after about ten minutes, it just wasn't funny, infact it was pretty irritating!!

Having now been off work for a week my body clock is all up the wall and I'm wide awake at 11.30pm on a Sunday night, which means I may aswell stay up an watch the Oscars. It's been a good few years since the last time I stayed up for the Academy Awards, so let's see how long I last, I'll probably be snoring and dribbling on the arm of the sofa after about an hour...photos to follow....

Chocolate Frosted Traybake

As promised here is the recipe I found on the Pink Whisk website, it's scrummy and very simple to make so give it a try!
 
Ingredients:

Cake
110g butter
120ml boiling water
2 heaped tablespoons of cocoa powder
190g caster sugar
130g plain flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
60ml milk
1 egg, medium

Frosting
100g butter
2 heaped tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tbsps milk
200g icing sugar, sifted

Method
Line an 8"square tin with baking paper (no need to be neat).
Preheat the oven to 160c (fan)/180c/Gas Mark 4.
Place the butter, boiling water and cocoa powder in a saucepan and heat it over a medium heat until the butter melts and it begins to bubble. Bubble the mixture for 30 seconds and then take it off the heat.
In a bowl mix together the flour, caster sugar and bicarbonate of soda, mixing them now should stop you getting any lumps of flour. Add this dry mixture to the pan and give it a good stir .
Add the milk and egg to the pan and mix it well again then pour into the lined tin.
Bake in the oven for 20 mins.
Remove from the oven and set aside to cool in the tin.
Once cooled it’s time for the frosting.
Put the butter and cocoa powder in a saucepan and heat gently to melt the butter, and then allow the mixture to have a good bubble for 30 seconds to zap off any extra moisture, give it a good stir and remove from the heat.
Stir in the milk and then add the sifted icing sugar and mix until smooth, then pour over the cake still in the pan.
Leave the frosting to set and once set, cut into slices and enjoy!!

Snow days...

Hi All,

Hope you are all keeping warm and that the snow isn't causing you too much inconvenience.

This weekend has been quite productive.  Luckily on Saturday we managed to get out before the snow came and headed off to Battlesbridge Antique Centre.  I had lost my voice, but wrapped up very warm, hat, gloves and all and went to have a bit of a mooch.  Well it didn't take me long before I whipped off my gloves and opened my purse!!  I found some really lovely vintage crockery for the up coming 7th Star Secret Tea Room at a little cabin called 'Brocante Rose'.  I managed to buy a pretty china 'tea for two' set with tea pot, a Wedgewood tea/coffee pot with sugar bowl and milk jug and a retro looking one person tea pot all for a bargain price!!  I will definitely be going back there!

Chocolate Frosted Traybake

Yesterday Andy got a bit fed up, as when it snows where we live our road gets pretty impassable, which means his clients can't get to him, which in turn means he doesn't get paid.  So, to cheer him up I made him a treat in the form of a lovely Chocolate Frosted Traybake which was recommended by 'The Pink Whisk' it was sooo lovely!!  You can find the details at 'thepinkwhisk.co.uk'.


I also wanted to make something to use up some a couple of lemons that were in the fridge but didn't have a any butter left.  So I went to my mate Google and searched for recipes with vegetable oil and lemons and found a lemon muffin recipe.  It was quite simple and they tasted ok when warm, but I have to say they weren't so good when they were cold, a bit too lemony and a bit rubbery - suffice to say I won't be making them again.

I will at some stage work out how to share recipes here at the 7th Star Baker, that way I can share all my favourites with you.

Andy is now trying his best to dig the car out and clear the drive, so I feel I should get the kettle on and cut him a bit of cake for when he's finished.

Keep warm everyone!!

Mxx

Ok, so who stole January??!!  


As you can probably tell, I can’t believe it’s February already!  I guess it’s an age thing, the older I get the quicker the years seem to fly by, which is why I have so many things planned for the next 12-18 months – I don’t want to get too old before I’ve done anything!  The first thing I have planned is ‘The 7th Star Secret Tea Room’.

The tea room will follow the Underground Supper Club idea of setting up a tea room every once in a while at a secret location, where I will serve afternoon tea consisting of a variety of sandwiches, homemade scones with jam and clotted cream, and a selection of homemade cakes, pastries and cookies which will be accompanied by a wide selection of teas or good coffee.   Also if there are any leftovers, you will be able to take home a doggie bag!!

I will be able to accommodate between 4 – 6 guests, so you could come as one group or in smaller groups, with a view to meeting new people and maybe making some friends over a hearty fare and a nice cuppa!  To be honest, even if you wanted to come alone, that’s fine too, everyone at ‘The 7th Star Tea Room’ will be friendly.  There will be a small donation applicable, but it will be very reasonable I promise.

If you would like to join the mailing list for ‘The 7th Star Secret Tea Room’ please send an email to me at 7thstarbaker@gmail.com and I will make sure you are added so that you don’t miss out on any of the dates as they come out.

Take care for now!

Mxx