Bread and Butter Pudding

My sister made this recipe last night, from an article in the Independent on Sunday and we all declared that this was the BEST EVER Bread and Butter Pudding. The bread stayed moist, and was lovely to eat. Do try!

Picture courtesy of the Independent on Sunday / Lisa Barber

Bread and butter pudding
By Skye Gyngell
Serves 6-8

1 tbsp apricot liqueur

A small handfuls of sultanas

150g/5oz caster sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

300ml/10fl oz double cream

300ml/10fl oz whole milk

8 thin slices of white bread, crusts removed

60g/2 1/2oz unsalted butter, softened

Pouring cream, to serve

Heat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas4. Now warm the apricot liqueur slightly over a low heat in a small heavy-based pan. Place in a small bowl and pour over the sultanas. Leave to steep while you prepare the other ingredients. (we didn't do the apricot liquer thing, and soaked the sultanas in water - although you could add another flavour?)

Make the custard by placing the sugar and eggs in a bowl, along with the vanilla extract and whisk together until pale and creamy. Add the cream and milk and stir to combine. Pass through a fine sieve into a jug.

Butter the bread on one side and layer the slices in a medium-sized, ovenproof dish with the macerated sultanas scattered in-between. Pour over the custard and leave to stand for 15 minutes.

Stand the dish in a large oven tray and pour in enough water to come halfway up the sides. Carefully place in the hot oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Serve with the pouring cream.

Make Lounge

I just discovered this place. So if you live in London, or commutable distance, you might want to check it out. Looks really cool.

According to their website "it is a fun and friendly place that runs evening and weekend courses, teaching people to make crafty things."

Sounds really cool, as often colleges only run term long classes etc And sometimes it's better to do 1 or 2 day course over the weekend.

They are doing sewing, knitting, felting, jewellery. Lots of courses for beginner. Check it out! Just wish there was something similar in Brighton!

Finally...

I was so sure I'd have this in the bag or on the blog by the 1st week of January, but that came and went, then I thought the middle of January, ditto, now we're finally in February 2009, I can show you my Xmas 08!

Firstly these are the 2 cakes I made for Xmas.

The wreath is all sugarcraft, that I made in my class. I was quite pleased with it. I also made a pointsetia that I must post a picture of, as I was really really pleased with that!

This is my cake for my children, penguins from Ann Pritchards DVD. Snowman, all mine! I finally got to use my bead maker, at the base of the cake! My eldest picked them all off to eat, he called them caterpillars as in sections that is what they looked like!

For Boxing Day we went to the Angel Inn , Hetton, N Yorkshire and I thought the desserts were beautifully presented. So here are a few that adorned our table!





I love the cocoa sillhouette of the fork and spoon the best.

New Year's Eve - that happened mid January due to flu!

This is our table setting for New Year' Eve. I let my husband choose the look and colour scheme of the table this year.
The table cloth, napkins, silver napkin rings, red chargers and burgundy runner are all from John Lewis.

Crockery, is our "best" from Royal Doulton's Fusion Range, it was our wedding present from many guests. Cutlery is Royal Doulton Roma. I'm very sad that their parent company is now in administration after trading sucessfully for a few hundred years.



I had to hand it to my husband for his great choice (in my opinion) I thought it looked very modern and sophisticated.
The champagne flute was from M+S.

As were the wine glass, the wicker table mat was from John Lewis.

The meal was really well received. I made, from Rose Elliot's Vegetarian Supercook book, the goats cheese and cranberry parcel for a starter, her Christmas Galette for main course with loads of vegetables and then a Passionfruit Pavlova, from Nigella Lawson. I was really really pleased with it, and I got so many compliments, so I thank RE and NL for their recipes. It all went very smoothly as well!

My birthday (in November!)

And finally, from November, my afternoon tea at Browns of Mayfair.

Get those cakes and scones, sorry sandwiches already eaten!

Yes, that is me, out of focus, in the background!


I'm now looking forward to Christmas, Boxing Day, New Years 09 already!!!!