On my 'Renovation' Kitchen Table

Some of you may know that I am somewhat challenged in the cooking department at the moment.  We found dry rot in our kitchen and it has turned into a much larger project than was first anticipated.  I've been cooking in my temporary kitchen since the end of January and we are now into April and #operationdryrot is still on-going although we are making good progress now.

Kitchen at it's worst

This is the temporary kitchen I have set up in our utility room, a bit like living in a bedsitter.  I have a microwave, a single electric ring and my slow cooker.  And, before you say it, I know it is bigger than many people's normal kitchens.  Anyway, the lack of an oven, grill and additional cooking rings has led me to use some slightly different products and I thought I would share my thoughts on them along with the products that I have been sent for review.


Aunty's Steamed Puddings with Ginger Syrup Sauce: two little sponge puddings with a lovely jammy ginger sauce for only £1.49.  I served them with custard from the chiller cabinet and they went down very well indeed.  The puddings don't have to be kept in the fridge or freezer so are handy to keep in the cupboard for those times when you need a little sweet something and don't have time to make it yourself. 10/10

In a starring role...Uncle Ben's Classic Wholegrain Rice cooks in the microwave in 2 minutes currently on 3 for £4.00 at Tesco. So easy to heat up and just the right amount for two people.  An expensive way to buy rice but perfect for a quick and healthy meal 8/10

Another quick fix are these McCain Ready baked Jackets.  Obviously it's easy to cook potatoes in their skins in the microwave, but they never seem to taste as nice as those you cook in the oven.  These are a little nearer, although I don't think they are really worth £2.50 for four  6/10




I also tried Bannisters' Farm Ready Baked Potatoes, I've reviewed their filled jackets before and really enjoyed them.  There wasn't much to choose between the Bannisters and the McCains but the texture was perhaps a little fluffier in the Bannisters Farm version £2.00 (on special offer) 7/10

Bannisters' Baked Potatoes

While we are on the subject of potatoes, I think my favourite find is frozen mashed potato.  I would never in a million years have thought that I would ever buy frozen mash, but I found it so convenient with limited cooking facilities, it's also ideal for  people living on their own as you can pour out a little bit and cook in the microwave without faffing around with potatoes and ending up with lots sprouting or going wrinkly.  

The potato comes in little extruded pellets, but its just potato.  It tastes even better if you add a little butter, but then what doesn't?  Well worth keeping a bag in the freezer for a quick comfort food fix! Tesco Frozen Fluffy Mashed Potato 650g for £1.00 10/10


This is how the kitchen looks now, the joiner is coming tomorrow to start putting the kitchen units back and finish off the window.  There's still a bit of plastering to be done in the dining side of the room but we are definitely getting there.  I've been surprised how well we have managed to eat, we have only had one takeaway and a couple of ready meals in two months which isn't bad at all really.

I bought all of these products myself, none were provided for review.

Labels: dry rot, frozen, On my Kitchen Table, potatoes, Renovation, rice, steamed pudding, temporary kitchen

posted by Janice @ 20:58 20 Comments

Chocolate Orange Pudding in a Mermaid Pudding Baisn

When I was asked to take part in a pudding contest using Mermaid’s two pint pudding basin (RRP £15.99), I decided not to make a traditional Plum Pudding but  still wanted to have a Christmas flavour and,  after some thought, was inspired by the flavours of the Chocolate Orange.



The Chocolate Orange is as much a part of Christmas as mince pies, Christmas stockings and Father Christmas.  For years, you could only get a milk chocolate version of this favourite chocolate treat, but now there are so many different varieties, something for every taste.

Chocolate Orange Pudding

3 oranges
3 tbsp cocoa
125g muscovado sugar
150g milk
50g breadcrumbs
1 egg yolk
50g melted butter
1/2 tsp bicarb
1/2 tsp orange essence (optional, but intensifies the flavour)

1. Butter a 2pint/ 1.4 litre Mermaid Pudding Basin and put a circle of baking paper in the base of the basin.
2. Cut 2 of the oranges into round slices (don't use the ends), put them in a pan and cover with cold water, bring to the boil and boil for 3 minutes to blanch them.  Drain on kitchen paper.  Arrange in the pudding basin.
3. In a bowl, mix the cocoa and sugar with a little milk until smooth, then add the rest of the milk..
4. Zest the third orange and stir into the mixture with the orange essence,  breadcrumbs, melted butter and egg yolk.
5. Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda and fold into the batter.
6. Pour the batter into the pudding basin.
7. Make a lid for the pudding basin: lay out a piece of foil and top it with a piece of baking parchment, make a pleat in the middle and lay it over the pudding basin, pressing it over and around the rim.
8. Take a piece of string and make a slip knot, place the loop over the pudding basin and tighten.  Make a handle with the string so it is easy to lift into and out of the pot.
9. Place the basin on an upturned saucer or trivet in a large pan half filled with water.
10. Bring the water to the boil then simmer with the lid on for 1 1/2 hours, checking every 30  minutes to make sure it doesn't boil dry.

Meanwhile make the orange sauce
1/2 cup of sugar
1 cup of water
segments from the remaining orange
1 tbsp brandy (optional)

Place the sugar and water in a pan, gently heat the water and sugar until the sugar is dissolved.  Bring to the boil and boil for 5 minutes or until the liquid is reduced by half.  Remove from the heat and add the orange segments, leave to cool for 5 minutes, add the brandy and chill the orange sauce.

11. Lift the basin from the pan and remove the foil lid.
12. Run a knife carefully around the inside of the basin and turn the pudding out onto a plate.
13. Serve the pudding with custard or cream and a spoonful of the orange sauce.



I have to say that this was a total triumph! The pudding slid perfectly out of the Mermaid Pudding Baisin and the breadcrumbs in the pudding made it light and airy, but with a rich chocolate taste. This was perfectly contrasted with the sharp zesty taste of the oranges.

I received the Mermaid Pudding Basin, I was not paid to write this post and all opinions are my own.

Labels: chocolate, chocolate pudding, Mermaid Bakeware, orange, steamed pudding

posted by Janice @ 20:31 8 Comments