cooking in Florida

While it is cold, the urge is to cook! I am missing my Aga, but there is something quite nice about turning the cooking temperature to say 350 degrees, and knowing that you have that temperature. That is not to say that it is a better way to cook, but it is less instinctive and more predictable! I am missing that ambient warmth in my kitchen, and the certain way an Aga makes you feel, secure I suppose is the right word for it. Florida when is is 30 degrees less than normal, is quite a different place to be, and of course, we have packed all of the wrong clothes.

I have cooked a fool proof fruit cake. Here it is, in ounces still!

4 0z marg or butter (or could be half fat)

6 oz sugar

14oz dried fruit (I used chopped appricots and dates and sultanas)

8 fl oz water, 1tsp bicarb soda

1/2 tsp mixed spice (cinamon and nutmeg is good)

2 beaten eggs

4oz plain and 4oz S.R. Flour, pinch salt

AND COOK AT 350 degrees or in Roasting oven with cold shelf on second runners

Put marg/butter, sugar, fruit,bicarb, spice and water in a saucepan and bring to boil, then simmer for a minute, set aside to cool. Add beaten eggs, flour and salt, mix, then into a loaf tin and cook for one and a quarter hours but could be less in an Aga. Keep an eye on it! Go to Aga Twyford cookware site to see our special discounts at 15% off all cookware for January. And look at Betty Twyford cleaning kit - marvellous. Keep warm!

Betty in Florida

In Florida for the sunshine and sand - no sunshine, there is sand, and lots of cold cold rain and clouds. Are you feeling sorry for me? George is restless. Betty has been cooking - here is a recipe for corn bread. Go on, rush out and buy some corn meal! If you have a wheat intolerance, it is good to go!

First, take a bowl and mix 8oz (sorry about the ounces, I am after all, a 1950's housewife!) corn meal, 8oz plain flour,(could be Rye or Oat) 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp salt, 1 tbsp baking powder. Whish (Betty's word) it all together and in a separate bowl, mix 10 fl oz milk, 2 eggs and 2 tbsp oil together and add to the dry mix. Place in a greased loaf tin and bake at 425 degrees for about 15 to 20 minutes. Yes, I know it is supposed to be cooked in an Aga, but I am in Florida and they look very confused when I ask them if they know what an Aga is! It is a lovely light bread and easily digested. George loves it with butter and jam, but then, he is naturally thin and I have to miss out the butter....

Autumn day

George has gone to the races with the bank manager. I am at home cleaning and cooking for the weekend. When (and if I have time) I have lunch, it will be a BLT, constructed on my lovely Aga. When (and if I have time) I reflect on the day, I will probably hope that George is enjoying himself. I can feel a shopping trip coming on...

I went for a lovely walk this morning, Autumn hovering in the air, with the smell of bonfires and the crackle of falling leaves. Lovely. So glad my Aga is providing all of the heat for the house at the moment, it would be so miserable without it. Yes, now I think about it, I am glad that George is enjoying himself at the races, and I am jolly glad that I am going to shop for clothes next week! Truly I am, love from Betty

cleaning the kitchen

Betty has been cleaning, moving, shifting, chopping and changing - a constant reminder of her restless character. She would love to sit down and read her book. Conscience dictates that so much has to be done to earn this reward and her brain is becoming mangled and crushed with the responsibility of leading where others must follow. Last night she watched television until 4.00am - weird baby programmes about couples arriving home with a bawling baby from hospital and how they miraculously cope within 24 hours. Other couples move from the town to the country and find enchantment in flowing streams and paddocks. Some intend to create animal sanctuaries.. She is feeling slightly sad about the summer disappearing, along with her youth. You better remember Betty - contentment can be found in a well cooked sponge cake and a clean house. Don't you forget....

Coping with Mondays

Betty is trying to appear cool and calm but she is in chaos. Builders have arrived to rip out a door and a window, and worst of all, direct access to a bathroom is challenging. To calm myself down I make myself think of Thin Ice and the race to the south pole. The state of those feet! Ben Foggle's nappy rash is a cause for concern, which brings my thoughts back to the bathroom. I think I will go for a walk. To make life even more idyllic, there suddenly seems to be very little food in the house. My domestic goddessness has disappeared. It's all very well for George, catching that train every day, he can walk away from it all with his brief case (what is inside? figures, statistics, forecasts? it's a complete mystery..) and have a quiet coffee on the train. Maybe pancakes....