Christmas traditions

It's funny how childhood traditions can become sticking points in a relationship. I find it fascinating how a couple can learn to maturely compromise on meal times and who does the laundry/shopping/childcare, yet lock heads over whether to hang the stockings by the chimney or at the foot of the bed.

In those blissful pre-children years, before death do us part and all that, Neil and I hadn't discussed festive childhood traditions in any great detail. Until recently that is, when we were wrapping the kids' presents and reminiscing about our own Christmas childhood memories.

Mine involved attending a midnight mass church service on Christmas Eve (an attempt, I reckon in hindsight, on my parents' part to prevent us rising too early on Christmas morn, and also to provide an antidote to all the imminent Santa action), then creeping out at the crack of dawn to the fireplace to see if  Santa had been. We knew better than to crack into the pressies - we had to wait until Dad got in from milking the cows. It seemed to take an eternity, even though some years he would get the cows in at 2am after the church service in an effort not to keep us waiting too long. Then present-opening frenzy would ensue, followed by manic Christmas lunch with Mum or Dad's side of the family, then manic Christmas dinner with the other side.

Neil's childhood Christmas involved hanging his stocking up at the foot of the bed on Christmas Eve. Upon waking in the middle of the night, he would check if Santa - sorry, Father Christmas - had been. If he had, then Neil would open a present or two, then fall back asleep until the morning, when he'd open the remaining presents. All this recounted with misty-eyed nostalgia.

Given that we don't have a fireplace (hanging the stockings under the heat pump doesn't have quite the same ring to it, does it?!) my argument for having the stockings in the living room was perhaps on shaky ground... however Neil agreed he wanted to see the kids' faces upon seeing if Santa/Father Christmas had been. (Privately, I also think that Neil was perhaps a better behaved and more restrained child than our offspring; I don't trust either Dan or Emily not to rip into every present at 2am.)

But I digress. A Christmas tradition that is not to be messed with in my family is the Christmas pudding. When I was a little girl it was my Great Aunty Jean's job to make the pud; she passed the task on to Uncle Bruce. I am lining up as Bruce's 2IC, and have assisted him with pudding-making for two years now. The recipe itself is straightforward, but the best part is using the ancient scales that once belonged to my great-great grandmother.

 

With traditional pudding-making comes little quirks like making a wish with each stir of the pudding. Here, my granny (or GG as she is known to the kids) and Dan have a go.

A newly discovered Christmas tradition in our house is the baking of goodies for the kids' pre-school teachers. Frankly, anyone who can put up with Emily's stubborness and Dan's unwillingness to join in craft activities when sporty options are available, should be given a case of champagne rather than a handful of homemade choccies, but times are tough - homemade choccies it is.

I made a combination of rich brandy and nut truffles and rocky road for each of the eight teachers. Here they are:

Then Christmas drinkies with the cuzzies calls for some more festive baking. Lemon curd cupcakes with cream cheese icing and little fondant decorations.

This little boy (Dan, 4) is soooo excited about Christmas, it literally cannot come fast enough for the wee man. Neil and I can't wait to see his face (and Emily's) on Christmas morning. No doubt the little rascals will gradually cement a whole new range of family Christmas traditions, which, years from now they will fight over with their spouses.

But for now, Merry Christmas everyone!
Jude x

Fairy lights and fruitcake

Post-audition, life has seen an onslaught of all things Christmas: tinsel, advent calendars, the annual debate of whether or not it will irritate people to send them a family Christmas letter, and an endless string of Christmas parties - sadly more involving Santa than champagne. The kids are already at fever pitch over the prospect of a visit from Monsieur Claus; the morning after the Christmas tree (a rather sad looking specimen chosen by Dan and Gramps from the farm) was installed - at 5.45am to be precise - Neil found the kids standing in front of the "tree", fairy lights twinkling, totally enraptured, looking for presents.

And, of course, festive baking. For a learner baker like me, Christmas lends a good excuse to try out things I'm unlikely to cook otherwise. Starting with a brandy-soaked Christmas cake...

It isn't very rewarding, however, making fruit cakes for people who don't like fruit cakes. For instance, it was hard to draw much pride from Neil's "If I liked fruit cake, I'm sure I'd like this", said with his face distorted into obvious displeasure at being forced to sample it. Similarly, Dan's "I like it Mummy, but just the icing, but just the white icing - not that yucky yellow icing". So really, I should have just served up some white fondant icing and basked in the compliments.

And then I had all this dried fruit to find a use for - so I had a bash at mincemeat. I made some festive brioche, filling with the mincemeat and Whittaker's Dark Ghana chocolate, to which I've become addicted. These were duly delivered to the Mainly Music Christmas party, which in hindsight was not a wise move considering the amount of brandy-sodden fruit the brioche contained, and was eaten by hordes of preschoolers. Their parents have me to thank if their children were unusually mellow for the rest of the day.

Then I made mince pies. Athough I cooked them within an inch of their lives, they were delicious. The pastry was beautifully short and perfectly cooked on the bottom, if borderline over-cooked on the edges.

I've also had a few attempts at pavlova making. Our local Nosh store held their annual pavlova competition today, so I duly entered a very homemade looking piece. When presenting it to the store, the lady who was organising it said "I bet it tastes great"... which is the food equivalent of saying "You've got a great personality". So I plonked it down among these meringue, cream and strawberry works of art and haven't heard since. Suffice to say, I don't think I won! Still, I bet it really did taste great...

What else? I had another bash at croissants. Definite improvement. And easier, although I had rolling pin arm ache for a day afterwards. My physio husband's professional opinion was that I needed to, and I quote, "take a concrete pill and harden up".

So, some interesting baking escapades these past few weeks..and more to come!

TTFN x

Filming and four year olds

I'm delighted to say after submitting my application, I was asked to audition for Chelsea New Zealand's Hottest Home Baker! The audition was a fantastic experience...but sadly, not one that I'm at total freedom to discuss.

But I am allowed to say it was a blast. I was the very first of approximately 70 people who have been asked to audition. The fact that I've even put myself in the same league as 69, no doubt, accomplished and articulate bakers, makes me cringe slightly. Once I got on that beautiful pink, black, silver and white set kitchen with the mikes and cameras and lights I realised I wanted to enter this competition more than I thought I did! Must be my inner drama queen fighting to get out. In hindsight, I wish I'd been a little more extroverted and arrogant - goodness knows I'm capable of both! - but we'll just have to wait and see. Here I am on the set (yes, I had no shame in asking the people auditioning me to take my photo; I never claimed to be cool...)

I really, really want to post pictures of the baking I prepared (one sweet dish, one savoury dish and one "uniquely me" dish), of which I am immeasurably proud...but this is a no go apparently. Fair enough.

The audition came at a crazy time. Dan's four year old birthday was the day before. It seems birthdays are no longer confined to just the day itself. No, no - we were on morning tea duty at Playcentre on Tuesday (cue: birthday cake 1), pre-school cake - lest they are forced to face the shame of a playdough cake! - (cue: birthday cake 2) and finally the party (cue: birthday cake 3). I'm making it sound like a chore - it wasn't; it is an utter privilege to make birthday cakes for my kids. As a mother and a baker, for me, birthday cake construction it is one of life's better tasks! Here are the cakes...

 

That's it for now - TTFN x

The hunt for NZ's Hottest Home Baker has begun!

So there I was, Thursday night, half watching some average film on telly, half randomly liking people’s kids and holidays on facebook, when a TV advertisement caught my attention...the ad calling for contestants for TV3’s Chelsea’s New Zealand’s Hottest Home Baker 2013. I’d almost forgotten my original goal of applying for the competition but even the ad made me tingle (and how many ads do that to you these days – aside from that new Westpac one!) so I must still have lurking in me somewhere the drive to enter.

My next job for tonight, after posting my blog entry of course, is to apply. Naturally I’ll be submitting this blog as proof of the pudding (or rather cupcakes, naan bread and roulades) along with a very cheesy video clip of the kids helping me make bread.

I’ve been back in birthday cake bake mode lately. Labour weekend saw two grandparents hit phenomenal ages. As the official family cake baker (to be honest I’ve always made the cakes, but previously in a more unofficial capacity) I was assigned birthday cake duties.

First up was Pop’s birthday. Lemon sponge cake with an attempt at decorating like a parcel. Still plenty of practice required but at least I’m veering away from fondant roses! Dear Pop, he was still recovering from a nasty fall, hence his bruised face.

Sorry Dad - had to be done!

Then was Granny’s (or GG – Great-gran – to the kids) birthday. I opted for a black forest sponge for her cake... a creation that was somewhere between a Victoria sponge and a gateau and involved a lot of kirsch – a yummy cherry liqueur (hooray for parents’ random and well-stocked liquor cabinets).

 And that’s been it for the moment. Of course if my application for NZHHB gets accepted, prepare for this blog to be ramped up a notch!

Wish me luck!

TTFNx

In a cupcake comfort zone

One of the joys of authoring this blog – aside from getting to relive baking triumphs (let's not talk about the catastrophes) – is that it provides an outlet for non-work writing. Late last night, with my ‘work’ hat (more like a helmet actually) firmly in place, I was doing battle with an article about norovirus outbreaks in rest homes and hospitals. Basically it was about how people need to wash their hands more. Pretty unappealing stuff, if I’m honest, but this article, among countless others, helps pay the bills. Sadly, tinkering with icing sugar and cake tins does not.

Unfortunately the work helmet has barely come off these past four weeks. Don’t worry, the kitchen hasn’t fallen into disuse, my oven hasn’t become storage. But the baking over the past month has been more, what I would term, ‘survival baking’ – no croquembouche or croissant creations this time; think more muffins, cakes and slices.

For those loyal followers who recall my first attempts at muffins, you’ll be pleased to know I’m improving, thanks to the help of my trusty sous-chef – Dan. Note his cute little rugby apron, kindly sewn by clever Kylie.

 

My banana cake went down a treat with Ella and friends for a morning tea over the school holidays...

...as did my second attempt at chocolate caramel slice (better this time) and my first go at Louise cake. Who was Louise, I wonder? I think she and I would have been friends.

I also made a jam swiss roll - my first attempt at a roulade, which I thought was ok, until Neil commented, with a just-sucked-a-lemon face, that it was “a bit dry” and then proceeded to cough on the crumbs. 

I tried a Moroccan flatbread which went down a treat with couscous and lamb (and a nice glass of red).

And finally, a blog on standard issue baking would not be complete with the signature morsel – the trusty cupcake. This time I tried chocolate velvet cupcakes with a rich chocolate frosting made out of chocolate, butter and golden syrup. More fondant roses as decorations - I know, I need to get more adventurous.

And I promise I will  get out of my baking comfort zone for the next post.

TTFN x

Cake stall overkill...

My recent blog-silence doesn't mean I've fled the kitchen (although my attempt at croissants almost saw me flinging down the apron and abandoning pastry ship). No, it has been the busy day-to-day hustle of kids, work and even the occasional social event, that has put blogging way down the 'to do' list.

Any excuse to bake. I'll admit my contribution to our kids' Playcentre is rather weak - so when they announced they were having a cake stall, I saw it as a chance to redeem myself. Enter lemon yoghurt cake, banana coconut loaf, cupcakes and lemon meringue tartlets. That should definitely release me from playdough duties and sandpit volcanoes for at least another month.

 

And if that wasn't try-hardy enough, I made brioche and a banana passionfruit cake when it was our turn to provide morning tea at Playcentre recently. I say 'our' as Neil and I do the tag team parenting thing where he looks after the kids for the first few hours while I work and then I take over for clean up duties. You would think that two parents would be a real bonus for Playcentre, but the reality is we're both pretty useless. Actually one more productive parent would probably be more appreciated. Hence why I/we try to buy the love of the other parents with breads and cakes. Aforementioned brioche and cake...



The net result of all the try-hard Playcentre action was a prize for 'the husband/wife team who brings brioche for the morning tea' at the recent Playcentre AGM (yes, sadly this does count as one of the 'social' outings)... I think they may have seen straight through us.

 

When I'm not attending Playcentre AGMs I can be found catching up on The Great British Bake-Off on i-player (obviously all the other nights I can be found at clubs and hanging out with celebs). I like to try my hand at some of the things the contestants have to. This was the impetus behind the creme caramel, which turned out really well AND - definitely worthy of yelling that at you - ANNNND, I successfully made spun sugar. Yussss!

 

 

 

I also had a go at croissants, which were okaaaay, but didn't reflect the hours and hours that went into making them. They were served to a polite and receptive audience: aka Kylie, Harry, Sarah, Glenn and Neil. 

 

The above is yet more brioche (as I've mastered the brioche, it was my stand-by) and below are the croissants. Sadly a caption is necessary - hopefully next time there won't be need for one!

 







My name is Jude Barback and I'm a bake-aholic

Okay, so I know addiction is no laughing matter, but whenever there is a remote lull in the day (or night) I find myself gravitating towards the kitchen and reaching for the flour sifter. I started to recognise the symptoms when I discovered my birthday-new electronic scales were not working and felt mild panic wash over me. Even though I’d managed just fine without aforementioned scales for the last decade, I couldn’t imagine continuing my baking crusade without my scales (which are now working again, thank goodness).

So here are some of my efforts. I’ve had a concentrated effort on pastry over the last fortnight. My choux pastry, stuffed with a lemon curdy-creamy-white chocolatey filling was excellent. But I had hoped to drape it with spun sugar. Three attempts at making caramel, one whole bag of caster sugar and one rather disgruntled husband later, I was no closer to making spun sugar. I am still at a loss where I’m going wrong, even after consulting my epic culinary encyclopaedia (thank you Johanna and Aidan – I am so reliant on this now!) Anyway, dinner guests (and guinea pigs) Kylie and Harry appreciated the dark chocolate alternative.

The spun sugar-less profiteroles with Kylie and Harry looking on

I’ve also ventured into shorter pastry. Check out these tarts: unfortunately the photos don’t hint at the lemon curd and raspberry centre, topped with frangipane and raspberry drizzle icing. I know.

And these cute little tartlets with salted caramel and banana stars...

...and these lemon and chocolate tarts...

...and my first attempt at tarte tatin. After watching the current series of ‘The Great British Bake-Off’ (God bless i-player!) I decided to have a go at more unorthodox flavours. So this rather well-done looking specimen features pears with vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger and hazelnuts. With the British bakers constantly berated for their “soggy bottoms” I was nervous about under-baking my pastry and therefore perhaps lurked a little too close to ‘burnt’ territory. However, it tasted a-mah-zing.

Beyond pastry I’ve also ticked off another ‘first’ that has been hanging out on my baking ‘to do’ list since I started this challenge – macaroons. They turned out really well. Unfortunately the chocolate I dipped them in was the cheap stuff – next time I will not offend such perfectly baked coconutty morsels: it’s 70% cocoa or nothing.

And finally, bread. Focaccia, naan, even a rather disastrous attempt at a hazelnut, apricot and honey plait – I’ve been there, done all that. The naan (not a huge Gordon Ramsey fan, but this is his recipe – credit where credit is due) was probably the highlight.

That brings us up to date. Congratulations if you made it this far!

TTFN x

The 'help'

My family is full of Leos. While I don't really buy into horoscopes, the strong-willed natures (translation: sheer stubbornness) of me, my mum, my dad, and now my daughter, can sometimes be a recipe for disaster. But it does mean that July and August are chocca full of cake and pressies. And now, very sadly, with the end of August, comes the end of birthday cake season for my family.
I saw Mum's birthday cake as an opportunity to try a cake I've been lusting after in my new 'Best of British Bake-off' book (thank you, Gem - I love it!). It involved making a paste which was swirled on baking tins, freezing the tins and then covering with chocolate sponge cake, baking, then lining a cake tin with the swirly pattern facing outwards, filling with a rich chocolate mousse and then topping with more more swirly sponge mix. Fiddly and time-consuming, but not as hard as I imagined and tasted fantastic!



So I now need to turn to different chapters of my recipe books and learn new things. Starting with pastry. With a beef, mushroom and red wine filling already made (I know, scarily close to domestic goddess territory here) I made some beautiful pastry simply out of flour, butter and icy water that looked great (even closer to goddess-ville) but tasted....bland. Next time I'm definitely seasoning more, herbing up and possibly going to add a few dollops of cream cheese. Then I'm going to move swiftly on to sweet pastry. I'm not really into savoury baking - in fact it even sounds a little paradoxical to me. There's a scene in Miranda where Gary brings her a savoury muffin and she loses it, saying "isn't life hard enough without savoury muffins?" I am in total agreement. But anyway, I digress. Here is my pie:

Dan and Emily are complete baking fans. They hear so much as a rustle in the kitchen and Emily has her apron on (thank you Aunty Kylie), Dan has a mixing bowl and an array of wooden spoons out and they are there to 'help'! Pikelets are the all-time fave because they don't require too many ingredients, are sweet, are cooked in minutes and can be served with lashings of jam (to go all Enid Blyton on you).

This post seems to have gone downhill... from complex cake, to ho-hum pastry, to child's play...but in actual fact, there are few things that make me happier than baking with my kids! And on that note, I'll say TTFN x