Vanilla Slice - trials and tribulations

Leading up to father's day I thought I should make a treat for Ginger Him and his father.... Vanilla Slice....

On a trip to the hairdressers Jules instructed me on the worlds easiest Vanilla slice....

Version 1 = failure - need to seek advise and see where I went wrong.

Will omit recipe ...

I ad-libbed and put strawberry jam on top underneath my icing (yum), but the middle didn't really set and was WAY too creamy.

Version 2 = Vanilla Slice Heaven on Earth! - TICK!

Recipe: (thank you Ginger Him's Mum!)

Roll puff pastry into 2 shapes to match the dish that you are using to assemble the slice.

Bake in hot oven for 15 mins - 200deg.

Cool and trim to fit the dish.

Custard

Combine the following:-

2 cups sunshine powdered milk

¾ cup sugar

½ cup cornflour

½ cup custard powder

In a large saucepan gradually stir in 4 ½ cups water and 2 oz . butter - bring to boil,  stirring constantly   til smooth & thick

Remove from heat and stir  in 2 teaspoons vanilla essence or vanilla paste, 1 egg and

225 gr reduced cream  (tinned)

While still hot pour over the pastry in your dish

Top with second layer of pastry and press down firmly

Icing

2 cups icing sugar

2 tablespoons water aprox and passionfruit pulp if desired,   regulate the amount of water to suit the fluidity of the mix you will know when it is the right

consistency.

Refrigerate til cold – either turn out of the tin, ice and cut into squares or serve straight from tin, whatever is the easier.

Signed:

Ginger Me

Dinner in a hurry...... sunday night emergency!

kids emergency carbonara

Step 1: put spaghetti on to cook in boiling water

Step 2: fry 1 chopped red onion in a knob of butter.... add in 1 crushed clove of garlic, some ham or bacon to taste
Step 3: tip drained hot spaghetti into onion/garlic/bacon and stir together with 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese and 1 egg.


The heat of the pasta cooks the egg and this should now look nice and glossy.  Tips: to make a skinnier version... use low fat margarine ... to make a fatter version... add 1/4 cup cream at the end..... 


note: I served with a side of crunchy salad to make my conscience let up!


ENJOY! 

adults emergency curried eggs on sourdough

Step 1: hard boil some eggs - 2 per person

Step 2: cook a white sauce - substitute 1 tablespoon of flour for curry powder (I use keens), then use 1/2 & 1/2 milk and water

Step 3: cook some sourdough toast

Step 4: slice egg and place on top of toast, then top with curry sauce.

(this really isn't on the diet.....)

ENJOY!

signed:

Ginger Me

Macarons.... Attempt #1 of many

Attempt #1 : almond macaron with chocolate filling


Donna Hay Packet mixed acquired from Woolies...

Taste: sensational

Difficulty: simple

Notes: absolutely everything except water and cream in the packet

Problems: not a nice neat shape 

Tips for next time: use a piping bag to pipe the macaroons to get the delicious looking ones you see on the packet!

Mine looked like:

Should have looked like:

signed:


Ginger Me