I hope you like the new design of the blog, I spent a few hours yesterday trying out different things and this is the result. I personally like it more now, but think that it might be slightly harder to read and definitely harder to see the pictures as they kind of get lost in the background. Don't worry though as I'm sure I'll re-design it again sometime soon but for now please do tell me your opinion!
The whole day of today was spent baking as we're organising a charity bake sale at work tomorrow and since I was the one who suggested it I needed to make an effort. Also, the weather this weekend was beyond miserable with heavy rain pouring down and dark skies but then again this is the ideal weather for staying in and baking! Part of the reason I'm being so positive though is that my much awaited summer holidays are approaching and I don't care if it's going to be raining, snowing or whatever else until then because in 3 weeks I'm off to bluer skies!
Back to the bake sale now, as tomorrow we're raising money to support Oxfam's appeal for East Africa and this is what I made to take with me tomorrow: Parmesan and rosemary biscuits, for those who fancy a savoury snack. Oatmeal cream pies, for an extra afternoon sugar rush. Goat's cheese and olive muffins, my personal favourite.
Making the parmesan & rosemary biscuits and the savoury muffins was very easy and quick but the oatmeal cream pies....that was tricky! I hadn't realised how difficult it is to spread the dough on the baking sheet without crumbling it (that alone took me more than an hour), how time-consuming baking the cookies in 3 batches is and then...making the swiss meringue! By the time I had everything pretty much assembled, the kitchen looked like a very big mess and I still had more to do.
I am sharing a couple of pics of my "products" and the tart I made yesterday for dinner.
Rosemary and Parmesan biscuits:
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
1 tsp baking powder
2 springs rosemary, chopped
3 1/2 tbs freshly grated parmesan
2 eggs
3 tbs unsalted butter, melted
Preheat the oven to 180 C. In the bowl of a mixer, combine the first six ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and the butter and add to the dry ingredients. Mix until combined.
Divide the dough into equal balls (whatever shape you like) and scoop on a baking sheet. Flatten with the back of a spoon or make them whatever shape you like. Place on the baking tray and bake for about 30 minutes, or until golden and dry.
