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February Feasts

A Sliver of Silvia
Silvia cake
My first bake of February was the Silvia cake from Hygge and Fika. Buttery batter and coconut topping: it had to be good. I was rather disappointed by the cake's blandness. I've checked a couple of other recipes for this cake, none of which stand out as making it more interesting or flavoursome.









Spinach and Spice Loaf
Spinach and spice loaf

This is more like it. Spinach, chilli, cumin, garlic and pinenuts provide rich flavours and texture. Definitely to be made again. 

 Rabbitting On

 A new recipe from an old book was Dorset rabbit from Doreen Fulleylove's Country Fare. Our butcher had a couple of rabbits for less than €10, so why not have a go? Jointed and covered with a layer of breadcrumbs and suet, this was a tasty meal. 





All Square 
Hazelnut squares
One weekend I made raspberry squares from Hygge and Fika and hazelnut squares from Martha Day's Baking. I've had my eye on the hazelnut square recipe for a long time. I tried the "simmer with sodium bicarbonate" method of skinning the hazelnuts, which was very effective. The resulting squares were like brownies. The hazelnuts reserved for the topping were to be scattered over the still soft batter. I think by the time I remembered to do this, the batter was crusting over so the hazelnuts remained unanchored on the top. 
Raspberry squares

 I liked the pretty raspberry squares. They were very sweet - you couldn't eat a whole one. 

 Curry Night 

 The younger offspring will be participating in a charitable venture very soon. This has required him to raise funds for his trip and for the project. The spouse and I hosted a curry night and provided a veritable feast. He prepared pakoras, onion bhajis, rogan josh and dhal, while my contribution consisted of spiced pea, potato and carrots, and Himalayan fruit salad, mango kulfi and pear and caramel upside-down cake. A great evening. 

 That's it for now. 
Minnie








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