Bread making

BREAD MAKING 

My sister bought me the bread making book 'DOUGH' by Richard Bertinet for Christmas about 7-8 years ago. It is a fantastic book with an accompanying DVD with loads of recipes & techniques. It is precisely where my interest in making bread, pizza & building pizza ovens started. 

About 15 miles from our house is Mount Pleasant Windmill in Kirton in Lindsay. Last Saturday we took a trip out there to pick up some bread flour. It is still a working mill & has a little cafe so we stopped for some cake & coffee to enjoy a lovely relaxed Saturday morning. 

On our return Raph & I started to make our dough.. This is a basic French white dough & is great for making baguettes & rolls. It is best to use scales set to grams:

500g strong white flour

375g water

10-15g salt

10-15g yeast (fresh is good but packets are fine)

Put the flour in a large bowl, then stir the salt in as you want this premixed with the flour before adding the yeast, otherwise they glupe together & it won't rise. Then add your water. I mix it together using any old credit card of some kind. This is a great method as it keeps your hands clean. Once it's mixed roughly together but still wet, tip it onto a dry, unfloured work surface. This is when the method starts & differs from english method. Instead of adding lots of unnecessary flour, proving, then knocking it back, the key is to get as much air into it as possible. The technique is to place your hands under the dough with palms up, lift it up & slam it down on the work surface trapping lots of air in the process. The photos will hopefully help with this. The dough will take 5-10 mins of trapping air & it will become much dryer & will start to feel maleable & alive. Then place back in the bowl with a spinkle of flour in the bottom & on top. Cover & leave to double in size. 

Then you have a choice what to make. We made 2 demi-baguettes, a fougasse, an epis & some bread (roll) shots with olives, red pesto & cheese. 

Fougasse

Take a good piece of floured dough, push your card through it in a few places & stretch it out. leave to prove for at least 10 mins then bake in hot oven for about 10 mins or until done.

Baguette

Take a piece of dough in rectangle shape. Fold half into the middle, then other half into the middle, then fold it over itself making points at the edges by rolling you hand over them.

 Epis

Is a baguette left to prove, then with scissors, snip into it (not through it though) all the way along making leaf shapes. 

Bread shots

Measure same size pieces of dough. I used 40g for each. Make rolls by working the dough corners into the middle until it is spherical. Then dab your finger with flour, poke it into the middle of the roll & place a teaspoon of pesto, a cube or cheese or an olive. Or anthing else you can think of. Leave to rise for a little while then bang them in a hot oven. Less is more. Mine were a little overdone!

If you like the idea then have a go. Using local flour is a real novelty  but if you can't get out to Mount Pleasant, Lincolnshire Co-op sell their flour!

Enjoy!

A Tasty Treat - Grantham Gingerbread

A Tasty Treat - Grantham Gingerbread

We went to the doctors this morning as Raph had hurt his toe and was being quite sensitive about it. He wasn't allowing us to touch it so I thought he would be really teary with the doctor also. In preparation for this I took some tasty biscuits to help ease the aftermath of what I thought would be a stressful trip. 

Luckily we had some Grantham Gingerbreads from the Lincolnshire Co-op. These are a great little sweet treat from a local business. The packaging alone tells all about this special gingerbread which was first made in 1740 when William Egglestone, a local baker, accidentally put the wrong ingredient in the mix. From that he created this delicious honeycomb textured ginger biscuit.

The packet explains how all the biscuits are made by hand in Grantham and how the company feel this makes them more important. They don't like mass production and that is a real selling point for me. It makes eating their biscuits like you are really eating homemade ones!

Once the doctor had been seen and a brave little Raph was back at the car with his prescription we all tucked into the pack of gingerbreads. They were delicious, a lovely crunchy texture with the lightest  ginger flavour. It was clear that they weren't going to last long so I put a few away for me to take to work with me.

Once I had dropped the kids off, I went to work and was immensely looking forward to when Bunty's Tea Room opened so I could get a Hot Chocolate and have a few more gingerbreads as a morning treat! (Well 2nd morning treat if you are counting, I am not!) 

These are seriously tasty and a great local find, if you are at your Local Co-op pick up a pack and enjoy!

To find out more about Lincolnshire Co-op and local products click HERE!

Post By Emily

Celebrate All Things Lincolnshire

Celebrate All Things Lincolnshire

October 1st marks Lincolnshire Day where as a county we celebrate all things Lincolnshire. With venues hosting parties and the Co-Operative selling huge amounts of Lincolnshire products, it is easy to get involved. I think the great thing about these events allows local producers, especially in food and drink, to get some advertisement. When you begin to look you see the vast amounts of amazing food produced in this area.

Here is a list of just some of the great products available in The Lincolnshire Co-op that you should really get a taste of;

Jenny's Jams (made in Lincoln)

Belvoir Presse (Elderflower is my favorite made in )

Mount Pleasent Mill Flour (made in Kirton in Lindsay)

Myers Plum Loaf (made in Horncastle)

Mr Huda's Curry Paste (made in Scunthorpe)

Stokes of Lincoln Tea

Grannies curried Chutney (made in Lincoln)

Batemans Beers (made near Peterborough)

Grantham Gingerbread

Lincolnshire Poacher (made in Alford)

Pipers Crisps (made in Brigg)

.....and so much more.

The Co-op offers a wide range of products but you can also support local food businesses and farm shops as well. 

We have recently begun to buy more local products and it is nice seeing the connections with eating things that aren't made a million miles away.

So far we have had Jenny's Jams (see our post here), Croft Apiaries honey (see post here), Mount Pleasant Mill flour (will post soon) and we have a few that will come up in the next few days!!

As a community we need to keep supporting these local places; the food stays great and the county thrives!

Post by Emily

N.B. Information sourced from Lincolnshire Co-Op

Find out more about the Lincolnshire Co-op click HERE!

*New Feature* Family Fashion Photo Shoot - Apple Picking

*New Feature* Family Fashion Shoot - Apple Picking

The other day we had a stroll around my parents orchard and picked a few apples that we then turned into some Apple, Cinnamon and Honey Cakes. I love the Autumn especially for the fashion change, tights and boots become a staple and I love layering up in jumpers and coats.
These outfits are perfect for roaming round the garden and enjoying times outside.

I wore; ZARA oversized wool jumper, ASOS jeans, TKmaxx leather boots and a New Look shawl scarf.

Raphael wore; Next bobble hat, H&M Navy top/Stripe top, H&M yellow twill trousers and Lacoste shoes.

Giulietta wore; H&M berry hat, snood, denim dress and tights. 

Credits to my sister Gabriella for the photographs!

Post by Emily

As Sweet As Honey

As Sweet As Honey

We love using local products as much as possible at the moment. This blog has definitely opened us up to being able to support local businesses and products so we are thoroughly enjoying thinking about what we are buying and where its produced.

We picked up some local honey from Mount Pleasant Mill in Kirton in Lindsay. This is Croft Apiaries Honey made near Market Rasen. If you want to find out more about Croft Apiaries click HERE.

We didn't know anything about them, we just picked it up as it was just so beautifully clear!

I went on their website and found out a little bit about them;

"The honey we produce in Lincolnshire comes from the field crops and hedgerow from various apiaries, together with honey produced from the outskirts of a large village where there are many lime trees, brambles and good gardens."

Giulietta was our first taster. She had porridge for breakfast this morning so I thought I would mix a teaspoon of honey in to it. The kids usually eat Tesco's Hot Oats as it is a smooth mixture but lovely and creamy and so easy to make on a morning! Once that was ready, in went the honey and I gave it a good stir.

I must admit, I stole a few spoonfuls but as you can see, this little girl adored it and ate the bowlful! Her mouth did not get any dirtier and her bib was spotless!! She wasted nothing!!

It was a beautiful tasting honey and with the creaminess of the porridge was just so delicious! 

So if this inspires you, get down to your local farmers markets, Co-op stores or farm shops and pick up a local honey!

P.s Apparently eating a teaspoon of local honey everyday helps keep hay fever symptoms down!

Post by Emily

Annie Sloan Paint Course - Lincoln

Annie Sloan Paint Course

If you love Annie Sloan Paint and you are local to Lincoln then I have a right treat for you!! I attended a  Paint Course specifically about Annie Sloan painting techniques the other night that Top To Bottom Accessories on Steep Hill, Lincoln now offer.

This whole evening was designed to make you understand 3 basic A.S techniques so that you can enjoy using her paint to its full potential. Claire and Tracy, from Top To Bottom, were absolutely fantastic teachers and really experienced in using A.S paints. Their tips and tricks kept me glued to them all evening and I have come away with a head full of ideas of what I want to do next.

If you are interested in developing your knowledge I would encourage you to get in contact and go to one of the courses. You will not be disappointed!!

Not only do you come away with new skills but you also get a pack with lots of information about A.S, her techniques, a 10% off paints voucher and 15% off gifts voucher! Plus tea, coffee, cakes and a lovely evening of entertainment and laughing.

With all my ideas buzzing around my head I decided to pick up one of these beautiful Annie Sloan work books full of her tips but also spaces for you to put your own ideas. I couldn't decide on paint so I have come away to think about what other colours I want to bring into the house.

It was such a great experience and I feel I got a lot out of it!

 If you are interested find Top To Bottom Accessories on Facebook or pop into the shop, 28 Steep Hill, Lincoln.

Post by Emily

So Much Inspiration - What To Paint Next?

So Much Inspiration - What To Paint Next?

After attending a fantastic Annie Sloan Paint course I have been so inspired to use some of my new knowledge on a couple of pieces at home.

First I should tell you that Annie Sloan insists that her Chalk Paint can go on pretty much everything! A bold statement, but what I am finding out seems to prove it true. 

After watching a demonstration of painting an old metal lantern, I decided to dig out some of my old pieces from the shed and de-cobweb them. I then slapped on some of my 'Paloma' on the inside and out and left to dry. The result is pretty good and it had covered well. It definitely looks decorative and from the orange and pink they were, they now sit nicely with other items in the house.

(Before)

(After)

The next paint project I tackled was a new bar stool for our kitchen. I had hardly any 'Antoinette' paint left but I mixed it with about the same amount of water. Now this trick is great for creating a smooth finish on your work, and also helped me spread the paint further (literally)! It was so runny but it still covered well and I was able to get 2 full coats out of barely anything. Ideally I think it needs a third but I have waxed it and it looks fine. 

(Before - sorry I did forget!)

(After)

I am pleased with these results and I love how easy it is to coordinate my home with just a tin of paint!!

Post by Emily

*New Feature* - Beautiful Homes In Lincolnshire

*New Feature* - Beautiful Homes In Lincolnshire

I adore reading through home interior magazines. Seeing different styled homes really inspires me with our home and also really teaches me to use colour and objects well.

As part of a new feature article for the blog, I have roped in a few friends to share their homes and their style and hopefully inspire you in your home. 

Every month I am going to showcase a beautiful Lincolnshire home and try and show you how they have designed their home interiors.

To start this feature off I thought I would share some pictures that I took on a Walk with the kids of some beautiful house fronts in Lincoln. I find these so inspiring and the architecture just seems so classic and stylish.

Enjoy!

Post By Emily

Quick Cheese Scones

Quick Cheese Scones

My sister rustled up some delicious cheese scones the other day for our lunch. These were super quick and easy and so delicious straight out of the oven and covered in butter!

The recipe is a classic Be-ro one you can find it by clicking HERE! 

These are brilliant for picnics or just for warm treats on a cold day. The recipe is quite child friendly and it would be a lovely family activity to do together.

Post By Emily

Ivy Wreath

Ivy Wreath

This a really simple way to bring fresh greenery into the house and give your home some country charm. 

You will need to start with the outside ring of an embroidery hoop. You should get into charity shops or craft stores and see if you can pick any up. They are not too expensive. Alternatively you could use any round hoop, metal or plastic to achieve the same look.

I went and cut long stems of Ivy, you can find this usually in forest and along woodland paths if you are not lucky enough to have it growing in your garden.  If you can't find long strands, use short ones, it will just need more wiring.

You will also need a reel of wire, this is what we will use to attach the Ivy to the hoop. String will do but it is more fiddly.

Once you have collect your Ivy, it is just a case of wrapping it around your hoop and securing with the wire. If you get long pieces just wrap around the hoop and join the ends, if you have shorter pieces do the same but yours will just be wired closer together. 

Give it a few layers so it is nice and full then use a ribbon to make a bow and hanger.

This is perfect for Autumn and if you are feeling really creative, why not try some mixed vines or try feeding some twigs with berries or conker shells into it. 

Post by Emily

The Luna Cinema

The Luna Cinema

Lincoln had the lucky treat of having The Luna Cinema visit Lincoln Castle this weekend. It is a lovely Outdoor Cinema screen that travels round the country to quite picturesque settings! 

This was the first time it has travelled to Lincoln, and last night's viewing of Mama Mia was hugely supported with the castle grounds full from front to back! Everyone was singing and dancing along to the fabulous ABBA songs and it seemed to be a huge success.

Tonight's showing will be somewhat different as they are showing Top Gun, an absolute classic!! Rob and I are going to this with some friends and are thoroughly looking forward to the aviators and one liners to get us through the night. 

The gates open early so you can take a picnic and find a spot to sit and comfortably enjoy the film. As soon as it's dark enough the screening begins and the novelty of sitting outside in a beautiful setting really kicks it off.

Last night was great and if you are interested, I would get to The Luna Cinema asap to see if there are any tickets left for tonight!!

Otherwise, you will miss out! What a lovely experience for local Lincolners!!

Post by Emily