Sure To Rise

I mentioned a while back that I had signed up for a cooking challenge based on the Edmond's Cook Book and its online 1914 edition.  The Wheeling Gourmet asked that entrants cook something from the 1914 edition, and its modern (that is, 2000 or later) equivalent, and I chose scones.  Because the plain scones had lard in them (which I can't abide), I decided that the analog to the modern scones I make (from Edmond's Classics, 2005) were the Yorkshire Tea Scones (even though they have an egg in them).  I have just had a lovely little tea party with Mum and my singing friend and her family, and my two batches of scones.

The 2005 Version:

3 c flour

6 t baking powder

75 g butter

~1 c milk*

Butter is rubbed into flour and baking powder, then enough milk is added to get a sticky dough.

The 1914 Version:

3/4 lb (340g) flour

1 oz (28 g) butter

1 dessertspoon sugar

~1/2 c milk*

2 t baking powder

1 egg

Butter is melted, milk is added and warmed and then added to sugar.  Flour and baking powder are mixed and a well is made in the centre.  The egg and then butter milk liquid is poured in.

They both turned out to be delicious and the votes for favourite came out pretty even (I think it was 3:2 [with one abstaining] to the 1914s).  I preferred the 1914 scones for a few reasons; although denser in texture, they sat much lighter in the tummy, the recipe made fewer scones (better for a household of two), and I just generally preferred the texture.  One tea party goer commented that the 2005 scones were sweeter, despite the lack of sugar in the recipe.  I hypothesised (and felt very smart about it) that this was because I didn't use unsalted butter, and that there is more butter in the 2005 version.

In summary, I LOVED this experiment, and think I might do another comparison soon!

*I found that I needed extra milk today.  The amount of milk you need changes from batch to batch, we think depending on the brand of flour you use, the brand of milk, and the weather (I am not kidding).

Basic Dahl

While reading the feeds this morning, I came across this recipe for 'basic dahl' on SBS:

Heat the oil in a slow cooker over high heat.
Add the lentils, cumin, turmeric, garam masala, chilli powder, red chilli, onion, garlic and ginger, and cook, stirring, until the onion softens.
Add the coriander, stock and chopped vegetables, and cook over low heat for at least 1 hour (the longer the better).
Stir in the parsley just before serving.

 Yikes!  That's a lot more than a basic dahl, in my opinion.  Look at all of those spices!  This would be a delicious dahl, but I know an even simpler recipe (more a method) that was taught to me by a resident at my old hall of residence in Australia.  He is from Pakistan, so I deem this recipe to be authentic!

Soak lentils (red are good) for a few hours (this makes them cook faster) before rinsing and checking for chaff.

Heat a little oil in a saucepan, add a chopped onion and cook over a low heat until softened.  Add a cut tomato, seeds, skin and all.

Add the soaked rinsed lentils, enough water to cover it all, and some hot paprika (not smoked, not sweet).

Stir, and cook until lentils are tender.  Add more water if needed.

And that's it.  Five ingredients, including the cooking oil.  Now that's basic, and it's a really yummy introduction to the loveliness that is dahl.  Recently, I have moved on from this recipe to something a lot more like the SBS one, and tried different types of lentils, but that's only because I have started using paprika for Spanish and Moroccan food and like its flavour better in that context.  Let me know if you try it!

PS:  I know I promised a book review, but I'm still working on my gnome canvas (see here for the link).  We'll be back to regularly scheduled posting when he's done.  He's turned out to be high maintenance, all my own fault, and has acquired a stumpwork beard.  Yeah, who knew you could so that?

Things

I've just realised I've not posted anything since last week!  What have I been up to?  I made brioches, I started yet another canvas (this time it's actually for me!), found out a friend got engaged :-), found out I didn't get the library job I was interviewed for :-(, picked up the copies of my thesis from the bindery (see the photo below), went bowling for the first time in two years (and my score really showed it!), continued working on another crocheted scarf (a bright red one for a birthday present), emptied everything other than furniture out of my room in an attempt to eliminate all traces of dust, then cleaned the walls, and have started to put everything back in.  So not all that much really.

 

Oh, I also started writing a book review, which I haven't finished, and decided not to finish China Mieville's The City and The City (mostly because I don't like his writing style - the story on the other hand, was pretty ingenious).  Instead I'm reading Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth.  The last Verne I read was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, otherwise known as The Fish Directory due to its almost complete lack of plot and frequent ichthyological infodumps.  But hey, who can dislike a book where a giant cuttlefish tries to kill you?

This week, I am going to finish the new canvas, birthday crochet scarf, and mission bedroom-tidy-up.  And I think I will request Supernatural season two from the library.  And seeing as it's fine, I might just go for a walk.

Links of the Week: July 30

Amazing Animals:  The Christchurch Goldfish at NZ Herald

I saw this on the news last night and thought it was so cool.  It's great to see a story come from Christchurch that is about something good happening, and apparently this story has been picked up world-wide.  See?  People do like happy news!

Libraries:  Paying Kids to Read?  At TVNZ

The happy news continues!  In an effort to enable kids to continue using the library, New York Public Library has decided to wipe $1 worth of fines from a child's account for every 15 minutes of reading they do.  They say that this will help 'in these hard economic times' (why isn't there an acronym for that yet?  ITHET?), which is good, but I'm pretty sure not fining them at all would be an alternative.  Like our library!

Music:  Noel Gallagher's New Song at NoelGallagher.com

When Oasis split, half of me burst into tears and the other half said "it won't last, you know how crazy those two are".  Now each of the brothers have released music with their own bands, and I still have that voice saying Oasis isn't over forever.  So, while I continue thinking that, here's Noel's new song :-)

Craft:  Solid Perfume Pocketwatch at Design*Sponge

This is such a great idea!  I love how the author introduces the post with a statement about her lack of feminine beauty.  I looked around the rest of her site and am surprised, because her site is so beautiful.  I love when people are oxymorons.  But I digress; I really would love to make this, I think the fragrance would be just as pretty as its presentation.  So that's going on the 'one day' to do list!

Recipe:  Risotto Balls at World Kitchen

We don't like mushrooms in our house, but I tried a risotto ball for the first time at a friend's party not long ago and am desperate to try to make some myself (the party was catered, so I can't ask my friend).   I love World Kitchen, and am so glad I found the show shortly after I came back to NZ in 2009.  Mum and I agree that a lot of the appeal is the attitude and smile of the presenter.  She is always keen to try anything - whether it be eating a snail, or trying to make baklava - and no matter the outcome she laughs and has fun.  A great example to live up to!

Art:  Wall Tentacle

Links of the Week: X

Somehow this list became the "it's almost my birthday" links of the week...  a full month and a half before my birthday!

Art:  Art Deco Firefly Prints at  QMX Online

Gorgeous posters you can buy me.  I really like the trend of making superheros and characters from television and movies into art deco pictures.  I want these on my wall.

Jewelry:  Gem Sprouts on etsy

These are really really cool - living plants inside pendant necklaces.  Adding this to my want list too.

Fashion:  Stay S'mored on Snorg Tees

I love Ghostbusters, so this makes me grin.  I also like s'mores (though I've never had a REAL s'more with graham crackers as they're not sold in NZ).  At the end of Ghostbusters, I always wonder what they do with all of the marshmallow that explodes all over the city.  I know I'd be eating any that fell on me!

Geek:  Wil Wheaton Tee at Sharkslope

Hehehe, I know all of these references.

Food:  Cook's Thesaurus at Food Subs

Thought I had better include at least one non-shopping item!  This is a great website I found while searching for the required cooking time of yellow lentils.  It's like any other thesaurus; it provides alternates or substitutes for what you know.  For example, I learned that you can substitute brown or pink lentils for yellow.

Movie:  Captain Planet Movie?