The BEST Pancake Recipe

It was Pancake Day this week so of course I had to make some.... The recipe I used is one that I also used last year and it really is the best! The recipe is from Jamie Oliver and makes yummy thick fluffy USA style pancakes.

I think on Pancake Day most people end up making crepes because they don't know how to get the thick fluffiness of a pancake! So here it is....

Fat Pancakes Recipe:

You will need:

3 x Large Eggs

115g (4oz) Plain Flour

1 x Heaped Teaspoon of Baking Powder

140ml Milk

A Pinch of Salt

Step 1 - Separate the eggs, whites into one bowl and yolks into another

Step 2 - To the bowl with the YOLKS in add the flour, baking powder and milk - gradually mix in the ingredients to form a thick batter. (Its a good idea to sieve your flour to avoid a lumpy batter!)

Step 3 - (This is the important part) Whisk the egg whites with the salt until they form stiff peaks

Step 4 - Very carefully fold the whisked whites into the batter mixture - try not to mix as this will deflate the batter - your aiming to create lots of air!!

Step 5 - Heat a non-stick pan on a medium heat and pour on the batter. When I did this step i used a spatula to even the thickness of the pancake. Cook for a minute or so on each side until golden

Step 6 - Eat with your favourite topping!!

TopTip - When you pour on your batter you can sprinkle your topping onto the uncooked side (blueberries, grated chocolate etc) then when you flip it over your topping will cook into the pancake!

Crepes and Pancakes I made last year

My yummy crepe!

Happy Frying :)

♥ Amber 

Meringues

This is a basic crunchy meringue recipe (Derived from Mary Berry!):


You Will Need:
3 x large eggs
175g (6oz) caster sugar

THATS IT!!!!!!!!!!! So very simple!


Step 1 - Pre-heat the oven to 120°C (Fan Oven = 100°C)


Step 2 - Separate the egg whites (the yolks are not needed). Whisk the egg whites for a few minutes until they form stiff peaks.


Step 3 - Gradually add the sugar, a tablespoon full at a time. Whisk the whites well after each addition. When you have added all the sugar you should be left with a stiff glossy mixture. If you turn the bowl upside down it shouldn't budge, if it falls out -Whoopsies!! Try again :) 


Step 4 - Pipe your meringue onto a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper


Step 5 - Bake in the pre-heated oven for approx. 1hour30mins or until they can be easily lifted from the baking tray without sticking. Once ready turn off the oven, leave the door ajar and let them sit in there to cool


Step 6 - Serve with whipped cream and strawberries! YUM!


TIPS
- Be very careful when separating the whites as any yolk or grease in the bowl will prevent the whites from fluffing up
- If you don't have caster sugar you could do what i did > I used normal granulated sugar, put it in a bowl and beat it with the end of a rolling pin (an attempt to crush it finer)
- When whisking you are aiming to get in as much air as possible so use a big bowl
- For the piping I decided to use a circular nozzle and create heart shaped nests (it was for Valentines Day) To do this pipe a heart shape then pipe on top of it going over the edges - gradually build the edges up so you have a dipped middle for the filling
- You could also use a star nozzle for a different appearance ( look at pictures for ideas)

Meringue

Heart Meringue Nests - I made these for Valentine's Day :)

Happy Baking :)
♥ Amber

Giraffes

Giraffes are sooo ADORABLE!! 

I wish it was possible to keep one as a pet and ride around on it all day.

Look at these cute pictures I found...

Yoda giraffe

Mummy & baby giraffe!

Baby giraffe

♥ Amber

Kissing giraffes

Pokemon Costume

Tonight my boyfriend is off to his friends stag do, the theme was Pokemon! I think the stag was Ash and the rest were trainers...oh and one nun!? Joe decided to be Poliwrath!

Poliwrath

To make a Poliwrath pokemon costume I cut out a cardboard circle, covered it with wrapping paper the wrong way round so it was white then used a permanent marker to design his belly.

To make the eyes I did the same thing and added coloured paper for eyelids! Joe wore a blue top with white gloves - we attached the pieces with pins and ribbon around the waist.

Joe as a pokecard! Haha

♥ Amber

My new years resolutions have been off to a good start! I've been trying to treadmill and play just dance after work - tonight I ran 1 mile in 9.30mins :) HORRAY! 

So now I need to get my crafting and baking on track! I attempted to make Brownies for the first time ever (SHOCKING) a few weeks ago but they didn't cook properly - I blame our crappy oven for taking longer to cook everything and also because I used a glass dish instead of a pan....anywhoo I will redeem myself - watch this space. On a brighter note I made up my own easy peasy recipe for peanut butter and nutella cupcakes!! They were de-lish! Unfortunately they all disappeared to quick for me to take pictures but I'm planning on making some more soon so I will make a recipe tutorial for them then :)

As far as crafting goes I wish I had more free time to do it!! I've written down a few things in my notepad so I don't forget about stuff but I'm going to try and get more organised! I think its probably better to plan one craft out - get the materials and do it....rather than what I've been doing which is thinking about 10 things at once and only having odd bits n pieces. I really want to get better at knitting...I've abandoned my scarf-to-be - He is currently living in my glove compartment in the car. A project I really want to do soon is making cuffs! Using felt, crushed velvet and knitted ones...

Ok, Enough JibberJabbering.....Bedtime! NightNight :)

♥ Amber

2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!


I havnt blogged in agesss, the excitement of Christmas and being off work took over but I've decided I must pay my blog more attention if I'm ever going to have any followers! Over Christmas I made some adorable Christmas stockings and baubles for presents, I also made some Christmas lemon biscuits and amazing gingerbread men! I didn't have time to create tutorials so I think I will save them for next year.


For NYE my boyfriend and I stayed in, we had some drinks, played cards and got a curry (YUM)...I fell asleep around 11pm but got woken up to watch the fireworks on TV from London - they looked pretty amazing! 

Big Ben - New Year 2012

As its new year I've decided to make some resolutions which I hope to stick too:


> Bake new things (monthly)
> Sell at craft fairs (monthly)
> Use my treadmill / play just dance at least 3 times a week
> Save money!
>Blog (a few times per week) - to keep record of my crafts and baking!




I start back to work tomorrow :( Not looking forward to it because I've enjoyed my time off so much!! But I do look forward to being paid :) - so I shouldn't complain!


♥ Amber

Snowballs Recipe

This is a recipe for Cranberry Coconut Snowballs, its from a Waitrose magazine but I altered it slightly.

You will need:

• 250g salted butter softened (I used stork)
• 100g golden caster sugar (I used plain old granulated sugar)
• 1 x tablespoon of vanilla (or 1/2 a vanilla pod)
• 250g plain flour
• 125g cornflour
• 50g dried cranberries (chopped)
• 400g white chocolate (or white choco. cake flavouring)
• 200g desiccated coconut

STEP 1 - Cream the butter and sugar (you can do this by hand or use an electric whisk), add the vanilla then sift in the flour and cornflour. Mix it all up and gradually add the chopped cranberries. I gave up with the spoon and squished it all using my hands - work the dough until its all just combined

STEP 2 - Roll your dough in the palms of your hands into little balls (approx. the size of a cherry tomato), space them evenly on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper

STEP 3 - Pop the tray of doughy balls into the fridge for approx an hour (I left them in for 2hrs) - until they hold their shape well. Preheat your oven to 170°C when its ready to go place the tray into the oven and bake for approx. 25mins or until golden brown.

STEP 4 - Melt the white chocolate and drop in the cooked biscuity ball! 

STEP 5 - Once covered in chocolate transfer the ball into a bowl of coconut and toss it around until covered then place on a tray to harden

STEP 6 - SNOWBALLS GALOREJ! (makes approx. 29) I kept mine in the fridge for a few days but you can keep them in an airtight container for approx. 3 days. They are yummy with a cuppa tea!

♥ Amber