Ok, today was that dreaded day that no one has talked about for months, A level results day. I was trying to play it cool and was my youngest, however being up at 7.30 did indicate it was a different day.
It didn't start well when he couldn't find his login details for UCAS, but then it was time, 8.00am.
Thank goodness they have changed it so if you have a place it says, CONGRATULATIONS. With my other son we had to wade through tables to work it out. This is plain and obvious. So we at least knew he'd got a place at his first choice.
Then we had to head down to School for 9.00am to find the actual results. Typical with all results, the subject or exam you thought you were pants in you find you got your highest grade and visa versa!!! However needless to say he was very happy.
Well done, thank goodness all that worry was for nothing, what worry!!!!!!!!!
Now we have to set up for his Uni.......... god help them.........
Thursday, 15 August 2013
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Recipes past and present: Cheesecake
Yesterday my youngest had a go at making a cheese cake, it is a family favourite which he believed his Granny had always had the recipe to, however it came as a shock to him that it had been such a success at a meal many years ago that Grandma had organised that it had been passed along between the inlaws.
I then began to think of all the meals that we would have when I was a youngster that I loved, Coq au vin, Apricot daquoise, and even the regular evening meal/snack of tomatoes and bacon on toast.
Those were some she made, we have of course have our new favourites that we make, again mine would be Venison Wellington, Croissant Bread and Butter pudding and a herby bread that is always a winner.
So I thought I would put some of those recipes up here:
Today - Cheese cake
This Cheese cake has the advantage that it is dead easy and can be frozen, hence its use at so many parties. You can make it in advance and keep it in the freezer until needed.
Ingredients
Metric/Imperial
1 Packet of Lemon flavoured packet jelly ( Hartleys)
150g/6oz Digestive Biscuits/ Hobnobs crushed (ummmmm)
25g/1oz Demerara sugar
75g/3oz Butter , melted
125ml/ 1/4 pint Double cream
300g/12oz Rich cream Cheese
Juice of two lemons
100g/4oz Caster Sugar
This is the high calorie version!!!! to reduce the calories a bit we always used EXTRA light cream cheese and it seemed to work. We also used to hit it with the lemon juice a bit more as we liked the cheese cake to have a zing.
Now yesterday when my youngest made the cheesecake I tried something new - Dissolve the broken up pieces of the concentrated jelly into 125ml of boiling water, sometimes they are stubborn just keep going, don't add extra boiling water.Then make this up to 1/2 pint with cold water and place it in the fridge until it BEGINS to set- this time however I added ice cubes to speed up the process. Yes it works but you do have to make sure everything else has been done already so it doesn't set and you have a lumpy cheese cake.
Your base now needs to be made, grease proof paper the bottom of a spring sided cake tin as it means you won't spoil the cheesecake when done. Mix together the biscuits ( place all the biscuits in a plastic sealed bag then use a rolling pin to bash all the biscuits until crumb like), the Demerara sugar and the melted butter and cover the base of the cake tin. Level it but do not push down too heavily as depending on the sugar it can set too firmly!!!
Whisk the cream until thick. Mash the cream cheese with a fork until softer and then add the thickened cooled jelly, lemon juice, cream and caster sugar. I always whisk together at this point and pour into the cake tin.
Tada - it is done. Leave it in the fridge to be eaten or freeze it when it is set.
However I usually sneak it into the freezer straight away, where I have cleared a level drawer and place it careful inside until firmly set but not frozen. I then remove the cake tin and if for every day eating slice into wedges and bag it up. Otherwise freeze entire and then when needed let it thaw overnight in the fridge. I would pipe around the edge of the cheesecake with some whipped double cream and then use some fruit coulis to flood the top.
I then began to think of all the meals that we would have when I was a youngster that I loved, Coq au vin, Apricot daquoise, and even the regular evening meal/snack of tomatoes and bacon on toast.
Those were some she made, we have of course have our new favourites that we make, again mine would be Venison Wellington, Croissant Bread and Butter pudding and a herby bread that is always a winner.
So I thought I would put some of those recipes up here:
Today - Cheese cake
This Cheese cake has the advantage that it is dead easy and can be frozen, hence its use at so many parties. You can make it in advance and keep it in the freezer until needed.
Ingredients
Metric/Imperial
1 Packet of Lemon flavoured packet jelly ( Hartleys)
150g/6oz Digestive Biscuits/ Hobnobs crushed (ummmmm)
25g/1oz Demerara sugar
75g/3oz Butter , melted
125ml/ 1/4 pint Double cream
300g/12oz Rich cream Cheese
Juice of two lemons
100g/4oz Caster Sugar
This is the high calorie version!!!! to reduce the calories a bit we always used EXTRA light cream cheese and it seemed to work. We also used to hit it with the lemon juice a bit more as we liked the cheese cake to have a zing.
Now yesterday when my youngest made the cheesecake I tried something new - Dissolve the broken up pieces of the concentrated jelly into 125ml of boiling water, sometimes they are stubborn just keep going, don't add extra boiling water.Then make this up to 1/2 pint with cold water and place it in the fridge until it BEGINS to set- this time however I added ice cubes to speed up the process. Yes it works but you do have to make sure everything else has been done already so it doesn't set and you have a lumpy cheese cake.
Your base now needs to be made, grease proof paper the bottom of a spring sided cake tin as it means you won't spoil the cheesecake when done. Mix together the biscuits ( place all the biscuits in a plastic sealed bag then use a rolling pin to bash all the biscuits until crumb like), the Demerara sugar and the melted butter and cover the base of the cake tin. Level it but do not push down too heavily as depending on the sugar it can set too firmly!!!
Whisk the cream until thick. Mash the cream cheese with a fork until softer and then add the thickened cooled jelly, lemon juice, cream and caster sugar. I always whisk together at this point and pour into the cake tin.
Tada - it is done. Leave it in the fridge to be eaten or freeze it when it is set.
However I usually sneak it into the freezer straight away, where I have cleared a level drawer and place it careful inside until firmly set but not frozen. I then remove the cake tin and if for every day eating slice into wedges and bag it up. Otherwise freeze entire and then when needed let it thaw overnight in the fridge. I would pipe around the edge of the cheesecake with some whipped double cream and then use some fruit coulis to flood the top.
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
Cat Equipment - Cat Trees, inside and out
If you came into our house you would not see lots of paraphernalia based around cats, in that you would not see ornaments, calendars, statues, or photos with any cats on. However you would come across all the stuff related to keeping the wee beasties content and happy or so we think!!!.......
Initially our cats were house cats which meant all their stimulation had to come from enhancing the house environment... that is we had to think cat. Ornaments came down to the bare minimum just like having a baby really and an understanding that the cats will find a way to look and lie in front of the window. All our cats love height and secret places. The back of sofas, window sills and room furniture of any height became plinths where they could rest. Leaving a coating of moulting fur wherever they rested!!! Even the kitchen is not a free zone as the work surfaces are a prime target, the only thing I can say we did try and keep them off and to date we really only have one cat that takes advantage. He is agile and demands food from the food cupboard, all I can say is we wipe down constantly and especially when we cook.
To support their need for height we bought a cat tree, but I can honestly say almost all that you can by in the shops in the UK are appalling. They are light weight and fragile, one thing British Shorthairs aren't is fragile and they are hefty. Our first broke as it constantly toppled over. Our next came supposedly strong and good looking and again first the top broke, it got a lean, then as my husband said it became a cat bush being only around two foot high, hardly a tree. At this point I did my research and good old Germany does it again, best quality cat food and now best quality trees at a good price.
We do have a fantastic make in the UK, which I received a quote from, it is made from a solid wood base, large solid poles and lovely wicker baskets however a quote around £700 for a cat tree would make anyone think you were a 'Mad Cat Woman' and could not even be considered. 'Tigga Towers' is a fantastic make and amazing quality but too steep for my pocket. Hence looking at the German websites. I found three that did good quality width poles, excellent sisal, good fabric and heavy duty bases.
The one I went width was the cheapest, however the very big problem with this company is that they are very very poor at answering emails. I used Google translate and never knew whether my questions were misunderstood or not comprehensible. Eventually I sent a plan of a tree I would like which they priced up and we agreed to and I paid for. Then suddenly after some time, 6 weeks!!, it appeared!!!!!! and was perfect with hand drawn instructions! I knew they used plywood to cut the price down but it looks good, the poles are thick and it looks as good now as it did when it came. It doesn't move and inch even when all FOUR cats are on it (3x5Kg).
Katzengluck was the website
http://katzenglueck.de/xtm/index.php?XTCsid=olodkd7qcgo8v3p3dii0uqt5g3
Amber and Bernd the people to chat with.
There were three other sites I found one is Pet Fun
http://shop.petfun.de/en/kratzbaeume
or Kirstins Heimtier Shop
http://www.kratzbaeume.de/index.php
or Profeline Katzenshop
http://www.profeline-katzenshop.de/baukasten/abschlussteile
During the process of putting all the cat proofing up outside we did have to cut down a lot on the height of plants etc in the garden. Just to ensure it would go safely in and there would be no leapable areas. We cut down all the plants which went up the outer legs of the Pergola and then it became obvious as they were so bare that they could be used as a main post for a cat tree. Decking tiles, 60x60, were purchased and a middle section cut out to slide around the post. The underneath was then reinforced around the cut in all areas and then when it was fixed up a triangulation piece of wood placed in to support the weight of the hefty cats. The result was a three level cat tree outside x 2. These have become prime perches and adored for watching the world go by.
 |
| Katzengluck cat tree, just put together |
 |
| The old cat tree now a cat bush after it broke twice |
 |
| Too tired, now resting |
 |
| Cats having a mad five minutes |
 |
| Showing the quality of the sisal and the thickness of the leg posts and the thick plywood base. |
 |
| These hammocks are just great |
Katzengluck was the website
http://katzenglueck.de/xtm/index.php?XTCsid=olodkd7qcgo8v3p3dii0uqt5g3
Amber and Bernd the people to chat with.
There were three other sites I found one is Pet Fun
http://shop.petfun.de/en/kratzbaeume
or Kirstins Heimtier Shop
http://www.kratzbaeume.de/index.php
or Profeline Katzenshop
http://www.profeline-katzenshop.de/baukasten/abschlussteile
 |
| The outside cat trees being test driven |
 |
| Playtime |
During the process of putting all the cat proofing up outside we did have to cut down a lot on the height of plants etc in the garden. Just to ensure it would go safely in and there would be no leapable areas. We cut down all the plants which went up the outer legs of the Pergola and then it became obvious as they were so bare that they could be used as a main post for a cat tree. Decking tiles, 60x60, were purchased and a middle section cut out to slide around the post. The underneath was then reinforced around the cut in all areas and then when it was fixed up a triangulation piece of wood placed in to support the weight of the hefty cats. The result was a three level cat tree outside x 2. These have become prime perches and adored for watching the world go by.
 |
| Watching the world together |
 |
| Sunbathing |
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