Friday 14 January 2011

Anyone for a Welsh cake?

As I may have mentioned (!! - sorry - it's been all consuming for about the past 4 months) we've just had an extension built  - and we got a new cooker for the kitchen. It came with a griddle you can put on the top - ideal for Welsh cakes (diet? what diet?) so I made some yesterday  - yum, yum -


You've probably got the recipe?  If not -

Welsh cakes
·         225g/8oz self-raising flour, sieved
·         110g/4oz salted butter (I used marg)
·         1 egg
·         handful of sultanas
·         milk, if needed
·         85g/3oz caster sugar
·         extra butter, for greasing

Preparation method

1.    Rub the fat into the sieved flour to make breadcrumbs. Add the sugar, dried fruit and then the egg. Mix to combine, then form a ball of dough, using a splash of milk if needed.
2.    Roll out the pastry until it is a 5mm/¼in thick and cut into rounds with a 7.5-10cm/3-4in fluted cutter.
3.    You now need a bakestone or a heavy iron griddle. Rub it with butter and wipe the excess away. Put it on to a direct heat and wait until it heats up, place the Welsh cakes on the griddle, turning once. They need about 2-3 minutes each side. Each side needs to be caramel brown before turning although some people like them almost burnt.
4.    Remove from the pan and dust with caster sugar while still warm. Some people leave out the dried fruit, and split them when cool and sandwich them together with jam.


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The river locally (River Wye) is really high - nearly up to the bridge -



I sometimes walk home along the river on the path, but I didn't this time!! -


Got a sweet little case from a charity shop -

 
and some cloths, which are being boil washed.

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AND we've got some more shelves!!  (see last post - I'm a bit shelf-mad at the mo!) Got some up in the sitting room part now too -


Just on one side of the fireplace at the moment, not sure if to have them on the other side too (apart from aesthetic choices, Mr Bank balance is not keen!)


The little birdcage is sweet, isn't it?  I got it from Julie at The Cloth Shed - http://theclothshed.blogspot.com/ (a lovely blog). Not sure whether to keep it there, or put it in the front room - here -

 or here -

Very pleased with the shelves though - they balance the high ceilings out - AND I love playing around putting stuff on them!  I'm just a frustrated shopkeeper really!


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And Ruby seems to like her new Baby gym playmat -





26 comments:

  1. The birdcage looks nice in the front room, it's at just the right height :) Ruby looks so big now...what a little cracker x

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  2. Well, if you're going to go around offering welsh cakes like that...!

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  3. Yes Please I'll have three!!! They look delicious, mind you little Ruby looks good enough to eat too! Adorable x

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  4. I'm embarrased to say that I've not knowingly had a welsh cake. Your shelves look great!

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  5. Your shelves are great Abby and as you say.... they balance the high ceilings really well.
    It is ages since I had welsh cakes or griddle scones as they say up North.....might give them a go tomorrow for afternoon tea...sounds good!
    Julie x

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  6. I'm going to show that Recipe to Jess & she can make some for her & Joe when they come in ravenous ! I have a griddle but have only cooked steak or fish or chicken on it before.

    Shelves looking great !

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  7. I love Welsh Cakes and yours look very tasty! Like your shelves and the birdcage is very pretty:)

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  8. You can never have too many shelves!
    Hope your river doesn't flood - i have seen that there are several flood warning out .

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  9. The baby is cute, but the picture of the Welsh cakes wins the day for me. I have very strange priorities when it comes to anything sweet and carbohydrate.

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  10. On the Welsh Cake... yes please! Thanks for posting the recipe... I haven't seen that for a long time.

    Your home is lovely!

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  11. Love the posh shelves! An awful lot of dusting though! Never had a Welsh cake before but they look yummy. xxx

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  12. I never seem to use my griddle so thanks for the recipe, I love shelves but hate the dusting as well :)
    We have a river very close to us its a bit scary at times.
    Cate x

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  13. I had a similar dilemma re shelves either side of the fireplace, and solved it by not having them at all!

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  14. Yummy Welsh cakes! I do like your shelves. I definitely need to put more up and get the clutter (and books!) off of the floor. Ruby is lovely! x

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  15. Hello, thanks for the comment you left at The Pea Pod, you have a lovely blog here, I'll be back! x

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  16. Love the shelves - we have some very similar in the snug - these are to be painted when we "do" the house.

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  17. Love the recipe, love the photos, the shelves and the adorable sweet little
    Ruby! I think you are going to have to move that birdcage a few times as it looks lovely in both locations :)

    Jeanne xx

    Thanks for stopping by my blog to say hello!

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  18. Dear Abby,

    Your house looks gorgeous! I LOVE your fireplace and the shelves really look good there. As do the shelves in your kitchen in the precious post - it is all coming together so beautifully! The zesty colour injection of the green theme is fabulous and just what we need to keep us energy fuelled until spring decides to properly spring in this country.... :-)

    The bird cage is gorgeous (I confess to having a "thing" for bird cages and can count three in this house...so far) and look good in both rooms. Hm, a little more moving and shifting things, and I am sure you will see what needs to be where. But it is a sweet "problem", isn't it, and boosting creativity in the process.

    Little Ruby is truly a gem and certainly a stunning "part" of your home!

    Welsh cakes...mmm, how far away did you say you lived...? I should be there in an hour or so, if I drive fast... ;-)

    Wishing you a lovely start to the new week and many enjoyable moments moving things around...,
    Helena

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  19. Wish I was having one of those cakes with you sweet friend. xoxoxo

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  20. sorry its taken me an age to comment again, i love your blog and postings such a delight, ive been catching up on your delightful posts= so love your kitchen and lounge and that bird cage is such a beautiful buy ;0)X

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  21. i'm lazy. can you just post me some welsh cakes? i'll make sure i'm home to sign for delivery.
    love the little case. x

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  22. My goodness, how busy you have been! Your house is lovely and yes, shelves are a very good thing.
    My Mr. thinks I'm a frustrated shop keeper as well as I am always "changing the displays" :)

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  23. I've never heard of Welsh cakes...they sound quite yummy! Little Ruby looks mighty adorable :)

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  24. Shelves fab! I have a room just like your layout and had thought of something similar..love your work!
    Aly

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