Happy Birthday John

It is that time of year again when hubby gets another year older.

Which means that I will attempt a sponge for the second time in my life......will let you know how that goes!

In the meantime I thought I would make him some cornflake cookies, a recipe that Richard Till put in the Sunday paper this weekend just gone. They look really cute and the mixture is quite firm, but there is absolutely no taste to them at all. Bland boring biscuits!! ha ha

So I made some fudge as well only to realise that John really is not a fudge fan! Oh well, more for any visitors that may come by this week.

A chilly day today as the wind blows in from the South, so a good day to fill the house with baking smells.

Biscuits and Rhubarb

We have had a few days in Melbourne at the tennis and while we were away, my brother in law turned another year older. So what does one give the man with nearly everything, for his birthday? Why biscuits of course!

His favourite biscuit is cookie time cookies that come out at Christmas time in a large red bucket. So I made him some good old chocolate chippies from a recipe I hadn't made before. Just to make the present a little more exciting, I threw together a rocky road made with Kremelta and marshmellows, cranberries and pistachios. No good at all for his waist line or heart, but he assured me he would share.

I think that if I made a different biscuit each week that I would bore you all to tears as they are not the most exciting things to blog and read about.

So, with much thought, I am going to make a different 'something' each week. Could be a casserole, slice, dessert, jam or preserves etc. Options are Yuge!

2011...Cookies are made of butter and love...Norwegian proverb

This year, 2011, will be the year I make biscuits. Every week a 'new' biscuit. The plan is to try and make a different, unusual, slightly challenging biscuit. Instead of the good ol faithfuls (sante biscuits, peanut brownies and afghans) I thought that maybe I could take a little time and make something never produced in this Greers Rd kitchen before.

I have a million recipe books brimming with biscuit recipes, but if you have a favourite, then please feel free to forward the recipe on.

The first one to try is the first one in the Allyson Gofton book 'BAKE'. Lemon Biscuits. Tart, sweet and luscious - all in one delicious mouthful!

They don't sound at all exotic or challenging, but at least its new to this kitchen and will give them a go.

Allyson always throws in the odd tip and this tip is to keep coconut in the freezer as like other nuts it will go rancid if kept in a warm kitchen cupboard. Bet you didn't know that!

There is the photo of the biscuits. Made about 42 of them so plenty to share!

60th Post.....Year of the Cake is finished

Well what a year of cake making, 2010 was.

It has been a very enjoyable challenge, making a different cake each week of 2010 and writing a blog about its successes and failures. So much so, that I am looking for a new challenge.

It has been suggested I watch a different movie (at the movies) each week and share my opinions of it.

It has been suggested I make a different 'pie' each week, savoury or sweet. But I think I would gain even more weight sampling them all.

I thought maybe I could bake a different biscuit each week. I like this one so far.

Have you any ideas? I would love to hear them.

The New Year was a real treat, receiving text messages from all of my Christmas cake recipients as they cut into their cake. I have had a 99 percent success rate with only one person not enjoying their cake.......I am happy with that score and I really appreciated everyones honesty.

The mixture of reactions to being given a cake during the year has been rewarding. The pleasure people receive in being handed a cake for birthday, anniversary or just because, was immense. Just about as much as the pleasure in baking and giving.

Thank you to you all for taking an interest in my blog during the past year. I hope it provided you with a little laugh and light relief.

Watch this space for this years idea on what to make. I look forward to any ideas you have.

Cheers Mother Maderia