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Mrs Beeton’s Adventure – Stewed Ox Tail

So many recipes to choose from!

Where do I go for my next Mrs Beeton’s adventure?
I chose to not overthink things and go with a main which would naturally follow a starter in a meal, and as I already had the oxtail in the freezer from our local butcher, the Stewed Ox Tail seemed the obvious choice.

Skimming through the ingredients it looked like there was a lot less chopping involved in this one, another thumbs up from me. 👍🏻
After gathering everything I needed I dove straight into my second adventure with good old Mrs Beeton…

Hanging out on my kitchen bench were my Oxtails, 1 Onion, Mace, Black peppercorns, Allspice, Salt, My trusty herbs gathered in a bunch, Butter, Flour and Lemon Juice. The last ingredient I was unable to find in our local supermarket so decided to source a recipe for this via the internet, I have attached this recipe below for mushroom ketchup for those of you who would like to try it. It’s not too tricky and tastes great!

The first instruction was to divide the tails at the joints, which as my kitchen is pretty much devoid of any butchery equipment, would have been a bit of a tricky task. Luckily my trusty local butcher had already done this for me, ah, bliss! Then I simply had to ‘put them in a stewpan with sufficient water to cover and set them on the fire’

As we covered last time, the chances of me lighting a fire in the kitchen without an Aga were pretty slim and a little dangerous, I decided to use my good old slow cooker to make the meat lovely and tender over the 2 1/2 hour cooking time required.

After bringing the cooker to the boil I skimmed the scum (to make the end gravy clearer) from the top of the dish, added my onion chopped into rings, spices, seasoning and my lovely herbs, turning it to low heat.

My youngest and I used the waiting time to host an impromptu 80s dance party in the living room 😎🎶

Time flies when you’re having fun and before too long I was back in the kitchen ready to remove the tails and make the gravy.

I took some of the liquid out (as there was quite a bit due to the size of the cooker) and put it into a pot on the stovetop.

Mixing around 25grams of melted butter and a tablespoon of cornflour together I added this to the saucepan to whisk together, brought it to the boil to simmer for 15minutes until it was thickened and gorgeous. The next instruction was to strain through a sieve but there didn’t seem to be any lumps in my pot so I went straight to adding the tablespoon of lemon juice and teaspoon of my homemade mushroom ketchup.

I heated the lot through and poured it lightly over my dished up Oxtail. The recipe asked for it to be garnished with croutons but I was a bit pushed for time so quickly snipped off a garnish of fresh parsley.

The note under the recipe tells us that the average cost back then for this dish was 1-2shillings, according to the season and it fed around 8 persons.

The slow-cooked meat just fell off the bone and melted in your mouth, the addition of the mushroom ketchup was one I had never used before but was a refreshing flavour change!

The YouTube video for this cook is available to view at: https://youtu.be/l_HpaaXCTaI

I hope you enjoyed my second adventure and will join me for number three.🙂

Thanks so much for following along!

2021-11-10T08:55:03+13:003 May 2021|Bakes, History, Mrs Beeton's Cookbook|0 Comments

Mrs Beeton’s Adventure – Ox Cheek Soup

Where to start?

This has been a thoroughly researched question this week as I pored through the pages of my much loved cookery book.

I figured if I was starting off on my adventure then I really had to begin with tackling a starter, but which one??

What I really wanted to do was to relive my childhood obsession with Alice in Wonderland. My Scottish grandparents sent me a video tape (that’s an 80’s way of watching movies for you young ’uns) of an Alice in wonderland movie, taped from their television, and I remember watching it over and over again. So when I saw “Mock Turtle Soup” I was more than keen to give it a go! Although my excitement didn’t last long as the very first ingredient was a Calf’s head! And the instructions began with a very graphic “Scald the head with the skin on, remove the brain..”!! 😲Somehow I didn’t think I could a) find a calf’s head or b) remove any part of it to cook it), as my butchery skills were pretty much at a bare minimum. Although if I could have roped in my hubby with his family’s butchers background, I may have been tempted to give it a go. 😉

So on I searched through the soups to find one with a little less butchery, and my eyes were drawn to a couple of dishes. The first was ox cheek soup and the next oxtail soup.

Being a bit nervous after the blank stares I received at my local supermarket when asking if these were available I decided to try our local Village butcher. After double checking with a friend that these meats were actually a thing in good old NZ I strode up to the counter and bravely asked. I honestly needn’t of worried, he had a vast amount of knowledge and was eager to assure me that I could carry out my cooking experiment and the result would be delicious!

If anyone is as nervous as I was, I urge you to go ahead and ask at your local butchers, they really are the best people for the job. I got both of the meats so will be cooking the Ox Tail soup very soon.

But today the star of the show was Mrs Beeton’s Ox Cheek soup.

I was assured by a very reliable source that people would also love to watch a youtube clip of each of my adventures (although I’m still not so sure I will put it up), so I painstakingly laid out all of my ingredients and utensils on my kitchen bench and pilfered my daughters phone stand from her room all ready to go. Now I thought this was going to be rather tricky with my pre-schooler having quiet time in the lounge, but when I told him Mummy needed quiet he was quick to assure me that he would be an angel 😇.

After a bit of “Who are you talking to mummy?” I dove in…

The recipe started with butter in the saucepan (largest one I could find) and then instructed me to lay the bacon and beef cheek on top of this. In went a LOT of tiny chopped vegetables; parsnip, carrots, onions, and holey moley what a lot of celery! (with even more celery to go in after cooking with the meat).

The recipe asked for a ’faggot of savoury herbs’ which just means a small bunch, so I was pretty excited to be able to whip out to my herb stand on my deck and pick these fresh. 😀 I tied them to a longer string which I tied around my pot handle for easy removal later.

The recipe didn’t specifically say when to put the herbs in so I made an executive decision and included them with the veges. All the usuals such as salt and pepper, some whole cloves and a bay leaf ,from my lovely little tree, went into the pot too. And one rather unusual ingredient that I had never used before, Mace, which was right there, with all of the other packaged herbs, at my local supermarket. I had to do a bit of googling when it came to the amount of ‘two blades of mace’, as I had only managed to get ground mace. The lovely internet did not disappoint and assured me that this was equal to exactly 1 teaspooon.

The cooking started with setting the pot over a ‘slow fire‘ for 1/4 of an hour, so I reckoned it was a safer bet for me to put it on my stovetop at mark 3. Just to save any impromptu visits from any local firefighters. 😉

This was followed with adding water (no exact amount was detailed in the recipe so I went with my gut and added as much as my pot could handle without boiling over. The pot then had to simmer until reduced by 4quarts (16 cups according to my measuring jug). Now my pot would not handle any where near that amount so I decided to reduce the liquid by as much as I could in an hour and a half of slow boiling (as with soups I have made in the past).

The next step was to take out the meat and strain the soup into a ’stewpan’. I did give straining it a go but didn’t really have the muscles to push the veges through the sieve (they must have had much stronger cooks back in the day). My cheat move was to turn them to mush in my little kenwood blender, voila! Back into the soup liquid they went and I thickened it (as per the recipe) with flour.

The extra chopped head of celery went in to simmer until soft and cutting the meat into little diced pieces, removing gristle as I went, this went back in too.

Plated up just as ordered with a “crusty roll“ and a “glass of sherry to much improve the soup” (subbed for rosé as that’s all I had).

I can see why the endnote says it takes 3-4 hours with all of the prep work, stovetop boiling and end prep. It’s definitely a labour of love! ❤️
The average cost at the time of publication was 7d (pennies) apparently and this soup serves 12 persons. A great dinner party starter indeed.

I have really enjoyed my first cook and hope you have enjoyed reading about it.

If you are keen to view the YouTube video for this cook it is available at: https://youtu.be/9dNXMQYx9ug

Until next time, new adventures await!

2021-11-10T08:55:03+13:0031 March 2021|History, Mrs Beeton's Cookbook|0 Comments

The Great Mrs Beetons Adventure

Anyone who knows me will know that I LOVE lists and coming up with new projects that I can sink my teeth into, so I thought why not combine these two with my love of baking and cooking! (Something that may come up to bite me in the butt a little later on but why not follow our passions).

I have a few lovely old books and this treasured one below is one of my favourites.

…so why not go through and try to recreate the recipes in it in my own kitchen.

Now given that this book has the grand old publishing date inside its pages of 1906 this may not be as straightforward as simply following a recipe and should throw up a few ‘translation problems’ as well as difficulty trying to source the same ingredients that were used 115 years ago. Despite all that I’m up for the challenge!

So if you are a fan of vintage cookery books, the great Mrs Beeton, or just need some light relief reading about someone else’s kitchen (mis)adventures, come along with me on my journey through a wonderful well known old book. You might find inspiration along the way!

2021-11-10T08:55:03+13:0023 March 2021|History, Mrs Beeton's Cookbook|0 Comments

High Tea & Its History

No doubt you have heard of the posh afternoon treats known as ‘High Tea’, but have you ever taken the time to find out what it is all about?

Shrewsbury Biscuits

The history of it all dates back to as early as the mid-1700s in Great Britain and was initially taken each day at around 3 pm. These days there is a very feminine theme surrounding the high tea but did you know that in the 1700s it was originally taken by working class males, and the ‘high’ in high tea came from the fact that they sat on high stools to eat it. Betcha didn’t know that! 🙂

The event grew in fame and eventually became the thing to do amongst high society ladies and gentlemen, a great way to get some sustenance before your long evening out dancing or at the opera 🙂

The popularity of the High tea has only gone from strength to strength over the years and now is taken across the globe, for a lot of special events such as birthdays, Mothers Day, wedding brunches etc. A fantastic reason to get out all the vintage cookbooks and bring the flavours and delicacies of the ‘good old days’ to your table.

Ginger Gems

High tea comprises of many different elements; beautiful serving plates, delicate sandwiches with delicious fillings, mini cakes and scones and your favourite people to share it with. Don’t forget the vintage teacups and saucers for an authentic high tea.

If the thought of creating such a spread leaves you a nervous wreck you can always contact us here at Sweet Sensations-Homemade Delights NZ #sweetsensationsnz #sweetsensationshomemadedelights to whip up a lavish spread to adorn your table for your special celebration. Make your guests day and give them the gift of reliving their best childhood celebration memories.

2021-11-10T09:10:38+13:001 March 2021|History|0 Comments

Get your Christmas Tradition on.

Looking to start some new Christmas traditions?

Why not look to the past for inexpensive, traditional ways to celebrate the holiday season with your loved ones 🎄❤

Some of you may have traditions handed down from generation to generation which is fantastic, but if you are looking to add some the best place to look is for vintage holiday traditions from all over the world.

Research your family’s heritage and the customs which evolved from those countries. Here are some example from around the globe..

SCOTLAND

Many Christmas traditions were banned for quite some time in Scotland, due to government regulations, starting from 1647. This is why it is so important for their traditions to be carried through and celebrated now.

If you like baking bread then a Yule bread is the one for you! A loaf of unleavened bread is baked (or if you are feeling extra keen – one for each person in your family) and the person who finds a trinket in their loaf will have good luck for the year to come.

For those who are not so keen on all the baking, a lovely tradition is to place candles in your window to welcome strangers and comfort those searching for shelter and warmth.

The New Years Eve tradition of the “First Footer” – the first visitor through the door bearing gifts of peat, money and bread to symbolize warmth, wealth and abundance was originally a Christmas one. Why not bring this back to its origins and carry it out on Christmas day too 😊

ENGLAND

If you love to sing, this one is for you, since the 16th and 17th Century in England people walked to their neighbours homes to sing Christmas carols outside. When they had finished they were offered a traditional spiced apple cider or beer known as wassail to warm them up 🍻

Personally, I love the idea of bringing back “Sugar Plums” – candy-coated nuts or herb seeds. I think a bowl of those in the centre of the Christmas Eve table wouldn’t last long in our house 😊

Ringing bells to welcome in Christmas Day at midnight, is a vintage tradition, although….you might want to wait until everybody’s awake for this one!

NATIVE AMERICANS, NORSE, CELTIC DRUIDS

Why not bring some mistletoe into your house or garden to celebrate the sacred traditions of these groups. They believe that, as Mistletoe bears fruit during the winter, and stays green, that is holds magical powers.

It is said to cure infertility, ward off evil and cure disease.

Decorating your home with evergreens and natural materials looks great and you can go foraging for pine cones with your family to add to another fun family day out on a budget. If you live near a beach why not add some decorative shells to your creations.

PHILLIPINES

Lights are a big part of Christmas traditions all over the world but the Phillippines really do it in style. They hold a giant lantern festival on the Saturday before Christmas. They are made from all different materials and laid in elaborate patterns but were traditionally made from origami paper and lit by candles. This is something you and your children could have fun making at home, then add to your decorations.

AUSTRIA

If you have some horror movie buffs at your house you might like this one.

In Austrian tradition, a creature called Krampus captures the naughty children while St Nicholas rewards the good boys and girls.

In the first week of December people dress up as Krampus frightening children with chains and bells…not for the faint-hearted 😬

GERMANY

On December 6 in the middle of the night, Nikolaus travels on his donkey to deliver treats to the Children’s shoes or boots left out the night before. They awake to find treats such as toys, chocolate, coins and oranges.

He also visits schools and homes where the children give him a drawn picture, recite a poem or sing a song in exchange for a small gift.

This sounds like a fantastic tradition to share the holiday season with those less fortunate and bring others joy.

Whatever your chosen tradition, have fun with it and give the gift of love and laughter this holiday season ❤🎄😊

 

2021-11-10T08:55:03+13:003 December 2020|Advice|0 Comments

Tips for Great Present Giving

Tips for Great Present Giving

We are gearing up to one of the biggest celebrations of the year and some of you may be stuck on what to get a certain person…fear not, I am here to give you a few handy tips on great present giving!

1. Be a great listener…

This is the best tip when you need to find out what your friends and family really love to do, or are passionate about at the moment. Is there a hobby that they love to spend time on or one that they would really like to take up but don’t have all the gear? A book about that topic or a starter pack to get them going (as long as it’s not going to cost an arm and a leg). You can find many small bits and pieces that connect to any kind of hobby, for example…Fishing…how about a small tackle box and some sinkers and flies? Or do they enjoy sports or would like to take up a new one? A good present would be some accessories or a ‘how to’ book. An avid baker might like a vintage cookbook or some out of print ones that can no longer be found in your retail shops.

There are clues in your conversations with them, and spending quality time with them will make you feel happy and geared up about the season ahead, so it is a win win!

2. Look for clues

How do they live their day to day life? Is it super busy? Are they big fans of a certain sport or past-time?

Busy people may enjoy a present for a relaxing activity, something they rarely get to do or something that they used to do but never have the time for anymore. These presents have great health benefits and can boost the receiver’s spirits, how can you get any better?

Do they mention things that they used to have or miss from their childhood? This one can bring back fond memories and could be a cherished present for years to come. Personally, this would be my favourite type of present!

Sports fans are pretty easy to buy for as you can find so many things these days which are printed with favourite teams logos, from socks to jerseys, drink bottles to bedspreads. The choice is endless. A big sports fan won’t be able to stop from telling you about their favourite team and how they did at the weekend. http://swiftmovement.co.nz/custom-printing have a great range of personalised logos which can be tailored to your receiver.

3. You don’t need to go expensive.

As a big fan of op shops throughout our area, I can tell you that I have often found things that have long since stopped being manufactured in the latest stores and are often in new or as new condition!

There are so many 2nd hand shops throughout the country and they often have some gems, all you need to do is go in with an eagle eye and an open mind and you can find your treasure. I follow a Facebook page which is dedicated to op-shopping and they have the greatest finds on there! A great place for ideas and they often share where you can find certain vintage items, so you can go straight to the source.

A great place to find vintage books and lots of new looking books for all those hobbies you have found out about. Some receivers treasure an old book much more than a brand new one.

4. Buy Handmade

This is an avenue which means you support your local makers and small businesses and get a product which has time, love and effort put into making it the best it can be. If you are buying for someone special and contact the makers, they can often tailor the handmade item to the receivers favourite colour, flavour, hobby and even personalisation can make it super special. We even welcome these kinds of requests!

You are getting a one of a kind product which not many if any, people will be able to match with a mass produced item. As a maker, I know they put a lot of love and time into making a product just right and there can be no better way to show someone you love and care about them. You can check out some of my makes on Instagram @sewsweetnz and @sweetsensationsnz, or on my website here or Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/sweetsensationsnz.

If you are crafty put your skills to the test and get making! It’s a great time to develop skills and enjoy the process.

5. Do your research

Look around and try different avenues for those special items, just remember to order well in advance if you are looking offshore for special items not found here.

New Zealand is a treasure trove of small businesses who have so much to offer you to help you give the best gift at Christmas and all those other special occasions. Ask around, use facebook handmade groups, search google, use those listening and detective skills you acquired earlier on in this blog.

I believe in you and know that you can become the best gift giver ever, enjoy the process and have a very happy holiday season!

2021-11-10T08:55:03+13:0022 November 2020|Advice, Xmas|0 Comments

Welcome to Sweet Sensations. 

A Taste of The Good Old Days

Sweet Sensations is proud to serve up mouth-watering treats daily. Our freshly baked goods are made with the freshest ingredients and served with love. Order from our locally owned and operated bakery today and treat yourself to the best-baked goods in town.

We know you’ll thank us later.

2021-11-10T08:55:03+13:0017 November 2020|Introductions|0 Comments
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