Jammed

09/08 JAMMED

This - for me - is absolutely eating the forbidden fruit. I have always longed to know what the appeal of peanut butter is, and being an allergic one, have never been able to indulge. Until now. I have discovered my equivalent in Almond Butter. So please indulge this "recipe" and let me have this moment of pure bliss.

The blackberry jam is probably the only cooking that need happen, and was only because there happened to be a very fruitful blackberry bramble in the front garden. I collected all the fruit it spawned and couldn't eat them quick enough - found myself in a jam. This recipe is really a revelation, my coming-out and learning that I do really love nut butter. Jokes aside, this is beyond deliciousness and I'm very sorry to have discovered it.

Ingredients (all approximate) - 

Good Sourdough Loaf (like really really sell-your-soul good)
250g Blackberries
250g Castor sugar
Crunchy Almond Butter


What I did - 

I know that toast is not a recipe. But this is more an assembly instruction then recipe.

The only cooking required is the jam (which you can buy, but i'm feeling domestic). Boil the berries and sugar together in a small pan for about 10 minutes until glistening, scalding and thick. Allow to cool in the pan and then transfer to a couple of (sterilised) jars. Use a small bit of baking paper to seal under the cap.

Cut a hearty slice of the bread. Toast as desired (slightly just past golden is perfect here). Spread the heady nut butter thick on the bread. Let a heaped tablespoon of the jam fall on to and allow to drip through the bread down the sides.

Eat in bed with some early morning viewing. I have just discovered heaven and it tastes so good.

JG

Ladies of Pleasure

 

1/11 LADIES OF PLEASURE

 

In life I aspire to nothing as highly as enjoying whimsical afternoons having tea, old fashioned perhaps but I in a past life I was a Lady who lunched. All whimsy is lost the moment you start planning, for there is nothing more exhausting than working to a schedule. Being productively-lazy I managed to reduce high tea to a 15 minute version that delivers the same what-is-a-weekend feeling as a posh nosh affair.

There is a simple trick that never fails me. The rule of 531. Sounding almost illuminati, this recipe produces scones in no time, no effort and no preparation. Keep it secret, keep it safe.

Ingredients (all approximate) - 5/3/1

500g Self-raising Flour (5)
300ml Milk (3)
100g Butter (1)
Salt


What I did - Rule of 531

Begin by rubbing the flour (500g - 5) and butter (100g - 1) together with your fingers in a large bowl. Flutter your fingers until all the butter has broken down into fatty flour rubble. Add a good pinch of salt and any additions you fancy - for me raisins are life. Then pour the milk (300ml - 3) over and use a few fingers to quickly stir everything together. 

With the mix cohering but loose, tip onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a few seconds until it you have a workable dough. It's important to not over knead at all, as there is little rising agent in the mix and more than a few firm thrusts will knock the rise out. Stop when it becomes too solid, should feel a little unstable.

Roll out to about an inch thick and cut out your scones with whatever circle cutter you have. Brush tops with some milk and bake for 12 minutes until you see perfection. Vigorously whip cream into submission and dollop with blood red jam. Swallow.

JG