Thoughts from the Bus Stop

Nice biscuits

Nice biscuit print (c) Hazel Nicholls

It appears that the humble Nice biscuit is becoming something of a icon in the crafting community. Perhaps folk would rather make them into works of art than actually eat them? They're usually the ones left on the plate - see this heated debate on my fave author Jasper Fforde's website.

This post from Anne at I Like flagged up the work of hwayoungjung, who draws fantastic pictures of famous British foods, including a plate of Nice, Custard Cream and Malted Milk biscuits.

Zoe Graham has created a series of biscuit works, including the Nice, by carving into sheets of MDF.

My favourite is this 'It's Nice To Be Nice' screenprint by reapwhatisew on Etsy (Etsy also has some smashing Jammie Dodger items, if you like your biscuits a more flashy). Reapwhatisew, aka Hazel Nicholls, has also has a blog, where she's posted this photo of a Nice biscuit brooch she made for a friend. Sweet.

* SONG OF THE DAY: Two Pints - The Biscuit Rap *

Nanna's recipe for Wacky Cake

1 1/2 cups S.R. flour - 8oz	1 TBLs vinegar
1 cup sugar - 6oz	1/2 tsp bi-carb
2 TBLs cocoa	Cup hot water
5oz melted marg	1 egg (optional)

 

"Mix dry ingredients. Add marg, vinegar, beaten egg and hot water. Runny batter consistency. Bake Mark 4 or 375 for 45 mins."

This recipe has been in the family for years - apparently 'Wacky Cake' was invented during the Depression when milk and eggs were scarce. I'm guessing Nanna used it during WW2 rationing.

The thing is, it doesn't taste like anything's been scrimped on. The vinegar and bicarb make the batter bubble and rise, resulting in a moist. gooey chocolate sponge which you can't just have one slice of...

* SONG OF THE DAY: Shanks & Bigfoot - Sweet like Chocolate *

Donna Wilson cupcakes

Cupcakes (c) Donna Wilson

Especially for my lovely friend S, here are some knitted lambswool cupcakes by the marvellous Donna Wilson. Perfect for the lady who is watching her waistline. £12 each but they never go stale. I like the choccy one best.

S - you'll also love Heidi's plush patisserie @ My Paper Crane.

Eating Johnny Depp's head

Marks & Spencer Pirates of the Caribbean chocolate lollipop

It's not long now till Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - out on July 7. Look what The Blonde got me!

She also flagged this spoof Pirates of the Caribbean cereal commercial - "The only cereal you can eat with rum!"...

I love parsnips

Image by Dave Walker.

Preferably roasted until dead dead crispy.

Chocolate Tiffin

Since the Gorgeous Blonde made me a tin of chocolate tiffin for Easter, and since whenever I'm not eating it I'm thinking about eating it (drooling out of the side of my mouth like Homer Simpson), here's the recipe (acquired by the Blonde via Sarah's grandma):

Ingredients
4oz margarine 
2oz caster sugar 
1oz drinking chocolate or cocoa powder
1tbs golden syrup 
¾ cup raisins 
6oz crushed digestive biscuits (seal in a sandwich bag and whack it with a wooden spoon!) 
300g block of cooking chocolate (milk or plain)

Method
1. Prepare a greased flat tin (approx 11” x 5”)
2. Melt margarine in a saucepan, then add sugar, stir in well but DO NOT LET IT BOIL!
3. Keeping stirring – add cocoa powder and syrup. The mix will be liquid.
4. Add crushed biscuits and raisins. Mix in well.
5. Turn out the mixture into tin and press down well, especially into the corners.
6. Break up the cooking chocolate and melt in the microwave or a saucepan – remembering to check and stir it every 30 seconds or so until completely melted.
7. Pour liquid chocolate over the praline and spread it smoothly with a knife.
8. Leave to cool – then put in the fridge until totally cold – I find it easier if you score the lines across the surface of the squares you are going to cut it into, before the choc goes rock solid! Then you can cut all the way through the mixture into squares.
9. Turn out of the tin carefully, using a warmed knife if you experience difficulty.
10. EAT!!! Be careful, it's very addictive! Mmmmmmmmm… it can be frozen as well and saved for a later date...

Fried slice

Ooh, I could murder a piece of fried bread...