Christmas food preparation.

Just baked “ thumbprint cookies” so easy and so good!

Hello Friends ,

I missed the Black Friday discount on ninja oven, but I ordered a new big one this morning. After having bought a small one to try I am convinced and got the big one it’s a good help and a quick help for some dishes.

The small one will be for my daughter.

I just ordered it before the arrival of the children.

It will be a good help for cooking but will not replace my oven for Xmas cookies 😂 !

During two afternoons I have been chatting with Maxime on Skype (there was bank holidays and 4 days off for mum and dad) we decided together that we will bake Xmas cookies and Maxime will eat them!

We also decided  to decorate the Xmas tree together. I must get some rubber boots for him and a rain coat.

Yesterday, I bought some vegetables to prepare  dishes for our DIL who is vegan. I already cooked some stuffed butternuts that are now in the freezer and some soups, will make some veggie lasagne…

Last night I cooked a pumpkin soup and some salmon ( in the airfryer)

The Xmas tree is still out in the garage, but soon coming home!

Yesterday, I ordered the goose for roasting, smoked salmon,white puddings with truffles ( like black pudding but white with chicken, pork meat..) we eat hem with apple sauce and the goose with potatoes pancakes and chestnuts.

Now I must make my fruit stuffing for the goose and freeze it. I am thinking about the sweet part?? Maybe an ice cream log. ( here we have some Xmas cake in the shape of a log 🪵 for Xmas)

And I must get the beverages, as we are in Normandy the children like “ iced cider” cidre de glace a special one, very good a sweet sometimes nor easy to find.

I will have a lot to do and chatting with Maxime and William so all must be prepared in advance! No lost time 🕰️!

Now, let’s go cooking!

Baking day.

 Today, I decided to bake , a chard pie with  nutmeg ,eggs ,cream and grated cheese.

Then it was a long time I baked fruit cake , which is waiting to go in the oven and before I baked and apple pie with cinnamon. I also made butternut soup with onion for tonight.When I use the oven I bake two or three dishes when the oven is hot.

I had a busy morning and now I am resting and watching tv.

Now I have sold 15 items in my shop, but don’t know if I will have enough for the two coming weeks.

Hope you enjoyed your day!

Halloween 🎃 DIY and my village.

Just coming out of the oven!

This is how we like to cuddle in Autumn !

 Today, it is sunny and I went out to get something I forgot to buy. This afternoon I am going to walk to the post ✉️ office.

This year I have done some little suitcases decorating 

This one and that one.

Today, I am starting a new one I had in stock.

Back from the post office. From the last picture this is what I saw on my way:

The post office which was before the town hall, in front of it is the entrance of our little church then I passed the cometary where people are cleaning their family tombs for “ la Toussaint” In November.

Then I passed the small arch and passed a White House which I s behind our field ( holiday house all closed)

Then a kind of Manor, the presbytery, behind it’s gate number 20, then a house that looks abandoned, but it is not ( I think it could be very nice ) then the house of the people in the past that ring the church bells 🔔 “la maison du sonneur”

And our new “ Mairie” town hall replacing the place where we paid taxes before. ( we unfortunately still pay taxes even if it is closed! 😆 

Here is part of the village where I live in Normandy!

« Oranais » pastry.

 

(Source pinterest)

I love these pastry called «  les Oranais » it’s name comes from « Oranie » in Algeria were they cultivated apricots. This is made of puff pastry, vanilla « crème pâtissière and apricots. It’s a simple pastry but very good if you like apricots. I loved them when I was a child and went to the Boulangerie before going to  catechism It was my favourite with pear and almond tartelette called   « Amandine aux poires »

Today, I will try to make some for the first time! Let see what it will be like… 

My Oranais are baked! I have added some apricot jam to glaze them to be shiny.

I used ready made puff pastry I made my « crème pâtissière »  put some in my squares three apricot and fold the past glaze with egg yolk bake for 20 mn /  180C      Leave them to cool glaze with apricot jam and icing sugar!

I will have one with my afternoon cup of tea!

Busy holidays.

 Today early this morning I baked Woopies , chocolate chips cookies , peanut butter cookies 🍪 for my son arriving this weekend.I have been preparing everything for Maxime my grandson.

It is very hot again 35 degrees in the shade!

So I cooked and baked this morning. I like to make Houmous to eat very fresh in summer with toasted bread.Apricot pie, rice pudding.

A few surviving flowers! We have a water restriction 

And we will see those who can resist.

I will take a break as I will be with my son in August and take a break in September, I think we will go up north of Netherlands and hope to get a cooler weather!

So I wish you a nice Summer and will say hello

From time to time. 

Enjoy your holidays!

Thumbprints and Madeleines

 Hello Friends, 

Today, the weather is cold and foggy until tomorrow.

We should have a little sun on 🌞 Sunday!

It is a nice weather to stay inside, to cook and to bake.

Yesterday morning I made “Thumbprints ” from this book and this morning some Madeleines.

My Madeleines are usually not like the ones in the bakery, but this time with my new oven and baking 8 minutes at 240C I managed to get them like this…

The Thumbprints are crusty outside and  soft          Inside

I used cherry jam . On the recipe they use chocolate. 

My Madeleines are orange ones.

160 gr flour

50gr soft butter

100gr brown sugar

1 soup spoon milk.

Mix all the ingredients make two rolls and cut slices of 2 centimetres each. 

In the middle using your thumb make a well

And fill it with jam.

Bake for 15 mn at 180 C and that’s all!

Early baking.

 Hello Friends,

This early morning, I baked hazel nuts and chocolate chips muffins. Every evening, there is a   Program           On TV , the Best baker and chief pastry of France. 🥐 

They began by Normandy being the closest to Paris and I thought I was only going to watch the program from Normandy, but I am watching each day! They are going in french regions and taste the breads and cakes and at the choose the best bakery of France.

Today, I tried grilled hazelnuts and I made a caramel and put the nuts into the caramel. 🥜 

I have to improve, but I will watch the program and take all the advices.

I am going to make bread next time.

No fog today, but we need light in the house, it is all grey!

I will try to walk this afternoon.

Have a good day.

Baking day, “ date filled oatmeal cookies”….

http://lorriesrecipes.blogspot.com/?m=1 

 This is Lorrie’s recipe “ date filled oatmeal cookies “

The last oatmeal cookies are too cooked… I went to have a rest in my reclining chair, having back pains

And I did not keep an eye on the cookies. My new oven is very different from the old one and I have to do some training before Xmas Lol!

The date filled oatmeal cookies are delicious!

Thank you Lorrie for sharing the recipe.

After my little pause, I will start my gingerbread dough.

 Today, we are having a little bit of sun and I can hear the numerous sparrows living in one of the garden bushes.

Mr L has given them some food this morning. 

They are all chatting with each other, they are so gossipy! I would like to know what they are talking about!

After having made my gingerbread dough…I will have to do the washing up. Not all is going to the dishwasher.

I like cooking and baking, but not the cleaning and washing up. What about you?

Have a nice day!