Monday 12 May 2014

Apple Cinnamon Galette


APPLE CINNAMON GALETTE 

PREP TIME | 15 MINS | COOK TIME | 25-30 MINS 

INGREDIENTS

Pastry Dough

  • 170g/6oz plain flour
  • 85g/3oz margarine
  • 60g/2oz caster sugar 
  • cold water (to mix)

Filling

  • 1kg Bramley Apples
  • 140g Soft Brown Sugar 
  • 1tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 3 tbsp Plain Flour 

METHOD

Preheat your oven to 180/35oF/Gas Mark 4.

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To make the filling, in a large bowl, stir together the apples (peeled and sliced), sugar, cinnamon and flour. Set aside.
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In another large bowl place the flour and margarine and rub to combine with fingertips until it has the texture of fine breadcrumbs. Sprinkle in the sugar and mix. 
~
Gradually add the cold water until the mixture forms a dough.
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On a floured surface roll out the dough into a circular shape around 0.5cm thick.
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Place your rolled out dough on a floured baking tray.
Arrange the apple filling in the centre of the dough, mounding the fruit slightly and leaving a 1-inch border. 
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Gently fold the edges of the dough over the apples, pleating loosely. 
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Brush the dough with the some milk. 
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Lightly sprinkle sugar over the apples.
Bake until the crust is golden and the apples are tender, about 25-30mins. We like our apples slightly chargrilled here at LJC, if you do too, leave your galette in the oven for an extra 5 mins.
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Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the galette cool completely, about 1 hour. 

Serve with some warm vanilla custard or ice-cream and enjoy!

LJC


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Tuesday 6 May 2014

Gluten Free Granola

Maple Coconut Butter Quinoa Granola - Slightly sweet and crunchy granola with hints of coconut and a healthy twist from quinoa!
IMAGE SOURCE | THE HOUSEWIFE TRAINING FILES


This long bank holiday weekend has been a busy one at the studio for the LJC team but we have to admit the early morning starts were eased slightly with the aid of our pre-made gluten free granola.  If like us you have a busy week ahead and could use some help kick starting your morning you too can make a tasty batch of granola with our easy to follow recipe below.

Oh and as a prior warning it's really rather addicted...


GLUTEN FREE GRANOLA 

PREP TIME | 10 MINS | COOK TIME | 50 MINS | TOTAL TIME | 1 HR

INGREDIENTS
  • 2 Cups Gluten Free Oats
  • 1/2 Cup Coconut
  • 1/2 Cup Soft Brown Sugar 
  • 1/3 Cup Ground Almonds 
  • 1/2 Cup Whole Hazelnuts (crushed)
  • 2 Tbsp Maple Syrup 
  • 1tsp Vanilla Extract
  • Pinch of Cinnamon 
METHOD
  • Preheat oven to 160˚ Celsius.
  •  In a large sized bowl, add the oats, coconut, soft brown sugar, ground almonds, crushed hazelnuts, cinnamon. Stir well to combine.
  • Next add the vanilla extract and maple syrup, toss well to ensure all mixture is coated.
  • Pour granola mix onto a medium size baking tray and spread evenly. 
  • Place in your preheated oven and bake for 50 mins, turning over every fifteen minutes to ensure an all over even golden colour has been achieved.
  • Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack until completely cool. 
  • Store in an airtight container and enjoy.  

 Notes
 Recipe inspired  by Alton Brown


LJC

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Wednesday 16 April 2014

Easter Table Decorations

Easter Table decoration
This outdoor table looks fantastic... simple palette with pale blue... love the rabbits!
60 Easter Table Decorations
Scraps of scrapbook paper shredded and an initial egg create an awesome place setting for Easter. Simple and gorgeous:)
60 Easter Table Decorations - Interior Design Ideas, Home Designs, Bedroom, Living Room Designs
easter table with lots of DIY elements, including hare placemats and napkin rings
Nice Easter table not using eggs (for a change). Lovely cupcake on each plate, could exchange for a breakfast muffin?

Easter is one of our favourite times of year here at the studio, it comes around one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. 

Another reason is that aside from Christmas and the usual birthday celebrations it's one of the only times where all the family get's together and can enjoy each other's company with the aid of delicious homes cooked food and scrumptious desserts. 

If like team LJC you're planning a family feast, we feel it's really important to decorate the table appropriately. As a well dressed table really can accentuate the food even better and create an overall experience for your guests.

We've picked designs above that we'd love to try this Easter Sunday and hope you will too...

LJC

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Tuesday 4 March 2014

Pancake Day With A Twist

Chocolate Pancakes with Chocolate Sauce, Strawberries and Bananas | Cooking Classy
Caramel Apple Pancakes | Handmade Charlotte
almond and raspberry pancakes  {gluten-free} @ Jen | Tartine & Apron Strings
Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes - The View from Great Island
Buttermilk Blueberry Pancakes
FUNFETTI PANCAKSE! Treat. Yo. Self. #pancakes #yum #recipes
Red Velvet Pancakes with Cream Cheese Glaze | www.motherthyme.com
Lighter Banana Pancakes Recipe | This quick and easy recipe is perfect for breakfast! gimmesomeoven.com
Cinnamon Pancakes with Cinnamon Roll Glaze
#DIY Mini Rainbow Pancakes Brunch brought to you by #FarmRichSnacks #sponsored

We can't get enough of pancakes here at the LJC studio and whilst we love nothing more than a traditional recipe we do like to mix things up a little from time to time and decided that this year come Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) we'd try a few alternative recipes. 

Feeling up for the challenge? To try out any of the recipes above just click on the name and you're on your way to being inspired...

LJC

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Sunday 9 February 2014

Special Something For That Special Someone

LJC Valentines Gift Wrap Ideas

So you've been in the kitchen slaving away on some special treats for your Valentine and then you reach the last and (hopefully) final hurdle. Which is what on earth do you wrap your home-made gift with? Regular shop bought wrap won't do, it has to be something just that little extra special. That's where we can help, we've tracked down the cutest, most creative and romantic ways in which to conceal your special something for that special someone.

Happy Sunday!

LJC

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Thursday 6 February 2014

Jammie Dodgers

image via pizzarosa

As kids we avidly remember coming home from school, dropping our backpacks like hot potatoes and heading straight to the fridge to pour a tall glass of milk and grab a plate of Jammie Dodgers. Back then they were just a sweet, yummy snack to see us through until dinner, however when we reflected back on the retro style biscuits it dawned on us how perfect they would be as an alternative Valentines gift. 

Obviously for this particular special day shop bought simply won't do.  So after some well needed internet hunting we found the perfect recipe to recreate these romantic classic biscuits at home. 

Check out the blog over the weekend where we show you some great ways to wrap your home made Valentines gifts for that personal touch that your significant other will appreciate. 

Ingredients 

Biscuits 
  • 175g softened butter
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 50g icing sugar
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 300g plain flour , plus extra for dusting
Jam Filling
  • half a jar of good quality raspberry/ strawberry jam
Method
  • Begin by preheating the oven to 180C . 
  • Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. 
  • Place the butter, sugars, egg yolks and vanilla in a food processor and blend until creamy. 
  • Next pour in the flour and bend until the mixture comes together to form a dough. 
  • Wrap the dough in a plastic bag and leave to cool in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. 
  • Once rested, take the dough from the fridge and roll out thinly on a floured surface. 
  • As it’s a large amount of pastry, you are best to divide the pastry in half and roll out half at a time.
  • Cut the biscuits out using a small round cutter.  Use a small heart shaped cutter (must be less than half the size of the round cutter) and cut a heart shape hole in every second biscuit.  
  • If you haven’t got a heart shaped cutter, you could always use a small round shaped cutter (bottom end of a piping nozzle will also work) to cut a small round hole  in the circle.
  • Transfer the biscuits onto the baking sheets and bake for 8-10 mins until golden. 
  • Keep a close eye on them, as mine they can cook quickly. 
  • Place the cooked biscuits on a wire rack to cool.
  • Once the biscuits are cool, spoon about 1 and half teaspoons of jam on one side, then sandwich with the other biscuit with the heart cut out.  
  • These biscuits are best served straight away, as the jam can get a bit too messy and sticky. So, it’s advisable to apply the jam just before serving.
Recipe via Stasty.com

Enjoy!

LJC

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Friday 24 January 2014

The Romance Variety

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

February brings with it one of our favourite celebrations of the year here at the studio . What we're of course talking about is Valentines Day and whilst we understand it's not for everyone, we personally like to use it as the perfect excuse to fill the studio with as much decorations, laughter, love and fun possible. We always look forward to our brainstorming session throughout January when we have the opportunity to let our imagination run wild and create new romantic sweet treats for our customers and their significant others. 

However although we can't get enough of Valentines Day , unfortunately sometimes as the 14th appraoches your mind can go blank (which explains the rise in bouquet sales around this time of year) So if you feel you may need some inspiration of the romance variety the team at LJC have collated their favourite DIY, craft and baking ideas for an original, yet thoughtful Valentines Day gift.

LJC

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