scribbles

how much I love my phone

This kit made my fingers bleed, and I wondered, the whole time I was stitching, why I ever thought this was a good idea. However, I cannot help but like the result. These kits from Purl Soho allow you to design your own pattern or image, and include a few examples to follow if you'd like. If you would like to subject yourself to the same torture, visit the Purl site and look under "crafts".

The Golden Syrup Cake

For the cake Butter and flour an 8 inch round cake pan. Oven set to 350F. Cream together 150g of butter, 1/2 cup sugar, and 4 tbsp golden syrup in a bowl. Beat in two eggs. Add 2 1/2 cups of cake flour, then 2 tsp vanilla and 1/4 cup of milk. Mix until blended. Pour into the pan and bake 25-30 minutes, until golden. Allow to cool. For the buttercream Beat together 2 cups powdered sugar, 75g butter (softened), 2 tbsp golden syrup, 2 tbsp milk, 1/2 tsp vanilla. Spread over the cake.

It's important to mention that I used Lyle's Golden Syrup, which I am told has a distinct flavor. I abandon any accountability if you decide to use something like corn syrup.

Rustic Berry Tart

for the crust: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp granulated sugar 1/2 tsp salt 5 1/2 oz. unsalted butter (cold) 1 large egg yolk 3 tbsp whole milk for the berries: 4 cups fresh berries (i prefer to go heavy on the blackberries,) rinsed and picked over 1/4 cup granulated sugar, more to taste 1 tbsp flour 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest pinch of salt to finish: 1 large egg, beaten granulated sugar Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. cut the butter into 1/2 inch cubes and add them to the flour mixture. On low speed, mix for two minutes, if afterwards there are lumps larger than peas, break them up with our fingers. In a small bowl mix the yolk with the milk and add them to the flour mixture. Mix on low for about 20 seconds to form a dough. Turn out the dough onto plastic wrap, form into a disk, wrap and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, or up to two days. ( Before rolling it out, let sit at room temperature for 10 min) Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. On a floured surface, roll out the dough to a 13 inch round, allowing the edges to be a bit rough. Transfer the round to the baking sheet. Toss the berries with sugar, flour, lemon zest, and salt. Heat oven to 350F. Heap the berries in the center of the dough. Using your fingertips, fold the edges of the dough over the fruit to form a rim about two inches wide. Pleat the dough as you go. Brush the dough with the beaten egg, and sprinkle with additional sugar. Bake until the crust is a deep golden brown, check after 1/2 hour.

stroll

Slightly Spiced German Apple Cake

Ingredients: 3 green apples, 1 cup granulated sugar, 8 Tbs. (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, 1 egg, 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg, 1/2 tsp. salt, 2 Tbs. granulated sugar mixed with 1 tsp. ground cinnamon. Directions: Preheat an oven to 325°F. Butter an 8-inch cake pan (I used a square pan, but round would also work.) Core, peel and thinly slice the apples. In a bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, butter and egg. Stir in two-thirds of the apple slices. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture, stirring until just blended. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. The batter and apple combo will be thick, and that's fine (it doesn't exactly "pour".) Arrange the remaining apple slices in a pattern on top, pressing them gently into the batter. Sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar. Bake until the cake is golden and springy to the touch, about 50 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the cake stand in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn the cake out onto the rack and let cool completely, about 2 hours. Serves one lunatic with a major sweet tooth, two people on a Sunday afternoon if they skip lunch, or about 4-6 well-adjusted and polite dinner guests.

Is it wrong...

...to use Martha's cake stencils as tattoo inspiration?