What a lovely month October was! So full of wonderful colour, yummy food and lots of woolly makes.
I love Autumn!
Showing posts with label Autumn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Autumn. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 05, 2014
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Blackberry Crumble Pie recipe
So you've been out foraging for blackberries and have more than you know what to do with - try this mega sized tray bake that is super versatile and very, very tasty...
7oz/200g caster sugar
1/4tsp salt
12oz/340g butter, chilled and cut into small cubes
9oz/260g caster sugar
300ml (one large pot) sour cream
3.5oz/100g plain flour
pinch salt
1tsp Vanilla extract
zest of half a lemon
1 1/2lb/700g fresh blackberries
Preheat oven to 350F/180C/GAS4
Start with the base - sift the flour, sugar and salt into a large bowl then rub in the butter until the mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs. Reserve approx 200g of this mixture for the topping and press the remaining mixture into the base of a large tray bake tin (I used a large roasting tray measuring approx 43cm x 32cm). Pop this in the oven for 12-15mins to set the base. Remove from the oven and allow to cool whilst preparing the filling.
Whisk the eggs in a large bowl then add all the other ingredients except the blackberries, mixing thoroughly. Finally fold in the blackberries gently.
Pour the mix over the base then top with the remaining crumble mix.
Bake in the oven for approx 50mins.
Blackberry Crumble Pie tastes just wonderful warm from the oven served with cream, custard or ice cream but works even better if you leave it cool completely, cut it into squares and refrigerate. The centre firms up nicely and contrasts beautifully with the buttery crumble top and bottom. It will keep in the fridge for up to a week in a covered container.
Best of all this tray bake freezes well too which is just as well as this recipe makes a lot of pie! Cut into slices/squares when cold and freeze in suitable containers. Defrost for about 4 hours before serving.
Blackberry Crumble Pie
You will need
for base and topping:
14oz/390g plain flour7oz/200g caster sugar
1/4tsp salt
12oz/340g butter, chilled and cut into small cubes
for the filling
4 large eggs9oz/260g caster sugar
300ml (one large pot) sour cream
3.5oz/100g plain flour
pinch salt
1tsp Vanilla extract
zest of half a lemon
1 1/2lb/700g fresh blackberries
Preheat oven to 350F/180C/GAS4
Start with the base - sift the flour, sugar and salt into a large bowl then rub in the butter until the mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs. Reserve approx 200g of this mixture for the topping and press the remaining mixture into the base of a large tray bake tin (I used a large roasting tray measuring approx 43cm x 32cm). Pop this in the oven for 12-15mins to set the base. Remove from the oven and allow to cool whilst preparing the filling.
Whisk the eggs in a large bowl then add all the other ingredients except the blackberries, mixing thoroughly. Finally fold in the blackberries gently.
Pour the mix over the base then top with the remaining crumble mix.
Bake in the oven for approx 50mins.
Blackberry Crumble Pie tastes just wonderful warm from the oven served with cream, custard or ice cream but works even better if you leave it cool completely, cut it into squares and refrigerate. The centre firms up nicely and contrasts beautifully with the buttery crumble top and bottom. It will keep in the fridge for up to a week in a covered container.
Best of all this tray bake freezes well too which is just as well as this recipe makes a lot of pie! Cut into slices/squares when cold and freeze in suitable containers. Defrost for about 4 hours before serving.
Happy Baking!
Something for the weekend :: Blackberries
If you love to eat and cook seasonally then you'll know that now is the best time for one of my favourite fruits - the blackberry. The best thing about blackberries is they are available for free in many places and not just in the country either - check out parks, alongside canals or cycle tracks and scrub land. Berries growing close to busy roads are best avoided as are those growing close to the ground where dogs and foxes may cock a leg.
I'm very lucky when it comes to blackberries - not only do I live in the country with lots of brambles in the woods nearby (and sloes too but that's a whole other blog post!) but my MIL's large garden has a HUGE bramble bush tucked away down the bottom absolutely over flowing with luscious black jewels. This year the harvest has been very abundant and we have already picked more blackberries than in previous few years and there are still many more growing and ripening.
Fortunately blackberries freeze well. Just give them a wash and check through for bugs then lay them, in a single layer, on a baking tray and pop them in the freezer until solid before bagging them up for future use in cakes, muffins, tea breads, coulis, compote and more.
I have been collecting lush blackberry recipes on my 'Autumn' Pinterest board and last weekend I had a bit of a baking frenzy trying out some of them...
This 'Wild Blackberry Loaf' recipe was incredibly simple to make and tasted absolutely wonderful - the blackberry icing was a bit of a faff but definitely worth it!
We also had a go at 'Blackberry Lemonade' which is delicious as it is but, I would imagine would make a lovely mixer with a splash or two of vodka...
Talking of vodka, there is a great Blackberry Vodka recipe pinned to the board that I may have to try too!
Far and away our favourite recipe was the magnificent Blackberry Pie Bars tray bake. It needed a bit of tweaking and deciphering of American measurements but turned out amazing. I shall be adding the recipe as a separate post later but in the meantime here are some piccies to whet your appetite!
There's still a few weeks of blackberry season left so why not make the most of this most wonderful FREE food and get picking!!
I'm very lucky when it comes to blackberries - not only do I live in the country with lots of brambles in the woods nearby (and sloes too but that's a whole other blog post!) but my MIL's large garden has a HUGE bramble bush tucked away down the bottom absolutely over flowing with luscious black jewels. This year the harvest has been very abundant and we have already picked more blackberries than in previous few years and there are still many more growing and ripening. | |
| That's one BIG bush... |
I have been collecting lush blackberry recipes on my 'Autumn' Pinterest board and last weekend I had a bit of a baking frenzy trying out some of them...
This 'Wild Blackberry Loaf' recipe was incredibly simple to make and tasted absolutely wonderful - the blackberry icing was a bit of a faff but definitely worth it!
We also had a go at 'Blackberry Lemonade' which is delicious as it is but, I would imagine would make a lovely mixer with a splash or two of vodka...
Talking of vodka, there is a great Blackberry Vodka recipe pinned to the board that I may have to try too!
Far and away our favourite recipe was the magnificent Blackberry Pie Bars tray bake. It needed a bit of tweaking and deciphering of American measurements but turned out amazing. I shall be adding the recipe as a separate post later but in the meantime here are some piccies to whet your appetite!
There's still a few weeks of blackberry season left so why not make the most of this most wonderful FREE food and get picking!!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
New oven, puddings and 'Baking for Boys'
At last, after best part of three months I have a working oven again!!!!
It's not a new oven, it's not even a particularly pretty oven but it works - and it was free so really all other niggles can be ignored!
Now don't get me wrong, life without an oven was not unbearable. The slow cooker got a fair bit of use - pasta bakes and lasagna both worked well. I developed a new method of cooking pre-cooked frozen pies which involved defrosting in the microwave followed by grilling with the tray on bottom shelf of the oven and turning the pie over, like you would when grilling sausages, so that it cooked all the way through and didn't end up with a burnt top and a soggy bottom. It wasn't perfect but it worked. Skinny chips also grill ok. I even managed to do my favourite summer dish - Mediterranean 'roasted' veg under the grill!
But what I really missed was baking (although Wright's Ginger cake mix made in the bread machine was a revelation!) Cookies, muffins, sponge cakes and tray bakes. I have had to buy cake from the shops ** READY MADE **. It really is not the same.
And you don't get that lovely warm cakey smell wafting through the house when all you have to do is slice open a plastic wrapper...
So, the new (to us) cooker came from a flat refurb and would have been thrown away otherwise (Kirstie Allsopp would be so proud of us!) and was fitted by my FIL at the weekend. So now I can bake once more.
Which is good now summer is ending. There is a nip in the air in the evening and it's very nearly that time of year when custard replaces ice cream as the dessert accompaniment of choice. Custard and crumble. Custard and steamed pudding. Custard and fruit pie. Just custard (when I'm feeling lazy).
You may have noticed that Great British Bake Off is back with more inspiration and ideas than you can shake a silicon spatula at and those lovely people at Duerrs are celebrating with their very own YouTube series of yummy cakey, puddingy (if that's not a real word I want to know why!) recipes demonstrated by their master bakers Richard and Paul. Each episode showcases a British pud in neat 5minute slices. The first episode featured the classic Victoria Sandwich - the perfect summer cake. Their latest offering is definitely more comfort food - a little twist on an old classic - a delicious looking Marmalade Bread and Butter pudding.
Now I have an oven again I shall definitely be giving this one a go!
It's not a new oven, it's not even a particularly pretty oven but it works - and it was free so really all other niggles can be ignored!
Now don't get me wrong, life without an oven was not unbearable. The slow cooker got a fair bit of use - pasta bakes and lasagna both worked well. I developed a new method of cooking pre-cooked frozen pies which involved defrosting in the microwave followed by grilling with the tray on bottom shelf of the oven and turning the pie over, like you would when grilling sausages, so that it cooked all the way through and didn't end up with a burnt top and a soggy bottom. It wasn't perfect but it worked. Skinny chips also grill ok. I even managed to do my favourite summer dish - Mediterranean 'roasted' veg under the grill!
But what I really missed was baking (although Wright's Ginger cake mix made in the bread machine was a revelation!) Cookies, muffins, sponge cakes and tray bakes. I have had to buy cake from the shops ** READY MADE **. It really is not the same.
And you don't get that lovely warm cakey smell wafting through the house when all you have to do is slice open a plastic wrapper...
So, the new (to us) cooker came from a flat refurb and would have been thrown away otherwise (Kirstie Allsopp would be so proud of us!) and was fitted by my FIL at the weekend. So now I can bake once more.
Which is good now summer is ending. There is a nip in the air in the evening and it's very nearly that time of year when custard replaces ice cream as the dessert accompaniment of choice. Custard and crumble. Custard and steamed pudding. Custard and fruit pie. Just custard (when I'm feeling lazy).
You may have noticed that Great British Bake Off is back with more inspiration and ideas than you can shake a silicon spatula at and those lovely people at Duerrs are celebrating with their very own YouTube series of yummy cakey, puddingy (if that's not a real word I want to know why!) recipes demonstrated by their master bakers Richard and Paul. Each episode showcases a British pud in neat 5minute slices. The first episode featured the classic Victoria Sandwich - the perfect summer cake. Their latest offering is definitely more comfort food - a little twist on an old classic - a delicious looking Marmalade Bread and Butter pudding.
Now I have an oven again I shall definitely be giving this one a go!
Monday, October 29, 2012
Autumn Glory
I don't know what the weather was like your way over the weekend but on Saturday we were treated to the most glorious sunshiney day that was a welcome respite to the damp gloominess that has greeted us each morning for the past week or so.
We went over to Newent for the day and had a lovely time hanging out at the Shambles, taking a stroll round the lake, feeding the ducks and having a mooch round the charity shops.
The trees around the lake were looking pretty spectacular, the fiery colours enhanced by the clearest, brightest blue sky you could wish for...
We went over to Newent for the day and had a lovely time hanging out at the Shambles, taking a stroll round the lake, feeding the ducks and having a mooch round the charity shops.
The trees around the lake were looking pretty spectacular, the fiery colours enhanced by the clearest, brightest blue sky you could wish for...
Fiery orange and crisp turquoise - the best colour combos can be found in nature! (OK so this pic has been *slightly* enhanced. But only coz the camera on my phone simply couldn't cope with the dazzling colours!)
My favourite picture of the day. I love the way the light filters through the tree canopy and the path disappears over the ridge inviting you to follow...
We had a lovely time exploring the little tracks that wind around the lake - for a park that is sandwiched between two housing estates, the town centre and the main road to Gloucester it was remarkably peaceful and really felt like we were in the middle of the forest!
Later on I stocked up on some lovely charcoal grey aran yarn to make a cosy cabled patchwork blanket I have been wanting to knit for several years. It will be a project for next year - or maybe something to start in the Christmas holidays once I have all the present making out of the way (more on that in another blog )
And what was waiting on the door mat when we got home?
The perfect ending to a perfect Saturday!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
More adventures in black and white...
Some time back I did a Gallery post on the theme of Black & White. I said then how much I love black and white photographs, how the absence of colour just emphasises the detail within the picture, forcing you to look at the image in a different way.
You may think that autumn, with all it's fiery glory would not be the best time to focus on black and white. I mean surely all that fabulous colour in the trees against crisp blue skies wold make for such stunning images why would you want to drain the colour away?
When we went for a stroll along the canal at my mums the other week I flicked the B&W button, took the colour away and let the shapes, the patterns, the light and the shadows speak for themselves...
You may think that autumn, with all it's fiery glory would not be the best time to focus on black and white. I mean surely all that fabulous colour in the trees against crisp blue skies wold make for such stunning images why would you want to drain the colour away?
When we went for a stroll along the canal at my mums the other week I flicked the B&W button, took the colour away and let the shapes, the patterns, the light and the shadows speak for themselves...
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Bountiful Garden
I believe I have blogged before about how much I love Spring. Did I mention I am also a bit of an Autumn fan? I would say that it's because, after a long, hot summer the blessed relief of cooler days is so welcome but we all know that that's a load of rubbish - in fact since we hit 'official' autumn time about a week ago the weather has improved to the point that my garden has been tricked into thinking its spring again and put on an almost triffid-like growth spurt!
Actually it's because all the hard work put into the garden through the spring and summer finally pays off with (if we are lucky) an abundance of goodies to see us through the damp, cold dreary winter bit...
This year we have been pretty lucky - the slugs and snails left most of my plants alone (apart from the low growing strawberries. Next year ALL my hanging baskets will be full of strawberries...) The raspberry canes I picked up for 99p from Woolies closing down sale a couple of years back have really flourished! I have a big bag full of them in the freezer to add to smoothies and puddings through the winter.
And as for the magic beans I planted way back in May with the Little Man...
We were a bit late with the courgette plant this year. This is not a bad thing as last year I confess I got a little bit sick of eating the darn things. They get grated for salads, added to Mediterranean Roast veggie dishes and I made another batch of these GORGEOUS muffins (yes, muffins, with courgettes. Go on, try them!)
And it's not just our teeny patch that has provided this year.
My parents had the benefit of a new (secondhand) green house and produced an abundance of tomatoes and some cucumber too (have you ever had homegrown cucumber? They ACTUALLY taste of cucumber and not water...)
They also have a pear tree. Last year it produced a grand total of one lowly pear. To be honest we thought it was past it and that was as good as it would get but this year it was absolutely heaving!
Look at them!!! I love pears - just ripe as they are; chopped up in yoghurt; lightly poached with melted dark chocolate dribbled over them....mmmm... ahem... where were we?
The in-laws have apples, plums, damsons, hazels and blackberries galore which we are always welcome - actively encouraged - to help ourselves to. Well it would be rude not to...
Yup - Little Man loves blackberries! That night we had Blackberry and Apple crumble and with what was left I had my first ever attempt at making jam!
I did make one surprising discovery - maybe its just because they have had some of the jungle trimmed back or maybe I just had my eyes closed before when exploring this part of their garden but hanging out above the blackberry tangle, growing over the shell of an old shed is a grape vine. Absolutely smothered in big bunches of ripening grapes!!
I cannot believe I have never spotted these before...
Now I have a garage full of wine making equipment I inherited from my dad (ie; he was going to throw it away coz it was cluttering up his garage and I jumped up and down so now it is cluttering up mine...)
I wonder...
Actually it's because all the hard work put into the garden through the spring and summer finally pays off with (if we are lucky) an abundance of goodies to see us through the damp, cold dreary winter bit...
This year we have been pretty lucky - the slugs and snails left most of my plants alone (apart from the low growing strawberries. Next year ALL my hanging baskets will be full of strawberries...) The raspberry canes I picked up for 99p from Woolies closing down sale a couple of years back have really flourished! I have a big bag full of them in the freezer to add to smoothies and puddings through the winter.
And as for the magic beans I planted way back in May with the Little Man...
Well they just grew...
...and grew....
...as magic beans do!
Now I just need some
runner bean recipes....
We were a bit late with the courgette plant this year. This is not a bad thing as last year I confess I got a little bit sick of eating the darn things. They get grated for salads, added to Mediterranean Roast veggie dishes and I made another batch of these GORGEOUS muffins (yes, muffins, with courgettes. Go on, try them!)
And it's not just our teeny patch that has provided this year.
My parents had the benefit of a new (secondhand) green house and produced an abundance of tomatoes and some cucumber too (have you ever had homegrown cucumber? They ACTUALLY taste of cucumber and not water...)
They also have a pear tree. Last year it produced a grand total of one lowly pear. To be honest we thought it was past it and that was as good as it would get but this year it was absolutely heaving!
Look at them!!! I love pears - just ripe as they are; chopped up in yoghurt; lightly poached with melted dark chocolate dribbled over them....mmmm... ahem... where were we?
The in-laws have apples, plums, damsons, hazels and blackberries galore which we are always welcome - actively encouraged - to help ourselves to. Well it would be rude not to...
Yup - Little Man loves blackberries! That night we had Blackberry and Apple crumble and with what was left I had my first ever attempt at making jam!
I did make one surprising discovery - maybe its just because they have had some of the jungle trimmed back or maybe I just had my eyes closed before when exploring this part of their garden but hanging out above the blackberry tangle, growing over the shell of an old shed is a grape vine. Absolutely smothered in big bunches of ripening grapes!!
I cannot believe I have never spotted these before...
Now I have a garage full of wine making equipment I inherited from my dad (ie; he was going to throw it away coz it was cluttering up his garage and I jumped up and down so now it is cluttering up mine...)
I wonder...
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