Merry Christmas!

I was busy making a cake this morning and thought how appropriate this seasonal golden syrup tin was.  I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas; baking, eating and enjoying being with your families.
Merry Christmas!

Yorkshire Sponge Parkin

 There have been a few blog posts on blogs I follow recently, which have featured gingerbread or parkin, so I thought I would add to the seasonal baking idea and include Yorkshire Sponge Parkin.  It doesn't contain treacle, so is lighter than a traditional parkin, but with the spices and ginger, it is perfect for this time of year and is really easy to bake.  I was given the recipe by a work colleague, (Sally, who came from Yorkshire) about 12 years ago and it has always turned out beautifully.
Ingredients:
4 oz soft margarine
8oz Self raising flour
½ a cup of golden syrup (I use a small plastic picnic cup for both golden syrup and water)
4 oz granulated sugar
2 eggs
½ a cup of water
1 heaped teaspoon of ground ginger
1 heaped teaspoon of mixed spice

Method:
1. Cream the margarine and sugar together.
2. Add all other ingredients and mix well.
3. Pour into a deep 9 inch round, greased and floured tin.
4. Bake on a low shelf for 40 minutes at Gas 3, then reduce to Gas 2½ for the final 35 minutes.
5. Cool in the tin, then turn out onto a cooling rack.

I have never needed to use baking parchment in the tin and this is probably due to the slow cooking time at a relatively low heat.  While still warm, it makes a lovely pudding with custard or ice cream and as a cake, it is delicious accompanied by a cup of tea. Enjoy!

Comfort Food

The winter has finally arrived with a vengeance.  We have had cold nights and cold days (not on a Canada scale of coldness), but certainly cold enough for me.  Now the snow is falling and I feel the need for comfort food.  The fire is lit, the cats are curled up and snoring or purring happily and I just have to have a bowl of porridge.  It really is perfect for making me feel all warm and comfortable.  I have to admit, I like my porridge made with milk and then swirled with golden syrup  - I am not sure how people manage it made with water and salt (ugh!).  I haven't made any plans to go anywhere tomorrow, so am settling down with comfort food, books and films. In my opinion, snow is best when it can be admired from inside a cosy house.

Flapjack

I did say that flapjack might be the next baking project so here it is! It always amazes me that it is such a simple recipe with only four ingredients and tastes so yumptious (another of my very descriptive but not necessarily technically correct words, combining scrumptious and yummy). You need 4 level tablespoons of Golden Syrup melted with 4 oz margarine in a saucepan. To this you add 3 oz granulated sugar and 8 oz porridge oats, put into a greased square tin and cook for around 30 minutes on Gas 3.

I have managed to over cook these sometimes and they go too hard and crunchy. I have also found (through experience) that you must cut them up while still warm otherwise they harden too quickly and it is then difficult to cut them into shapes.

What a lovely treat!