http://mistressofblack.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] mistressofblack.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2008-03-18 08:54 pm

How to Survive Your Own Cooking, Tuesday [Mar 18]

Lulu came into class just a few minutes late, carrying a basket with her. "Hello, everyone," she said, sweeping towards the front of the room. "In light of the events of last week, and the weekend, I thought we'd not actually cook anything today. Instead, I have things for you to snack on, and if you'd like you can share stories of what happened to you."

She put down the basket, and instructed the students to move their chairs into a circle. "I do hope that we're all back safe and sound. However, if you would like to speak to someone about any concerns you have, I will be available after class, or feel free to make an appointment or otherwise come by my office hours."

The basket held:

Lavender Cupcakes
Generous 1/2 cup golden superfine sugar
8 tbsp butter, softened
2 eggs, beaten
1 tbsp milk
1 tsp finely chopped lavender flowers
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
scant 1 1/4 cups self-rising flour, sifted
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar

Lavender flours and silver dragées, to decorate

Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C. Line a 12-hole bun pan with cake paper cases.

Cream the superfine sugar and butter together in a bowl until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs. Stir in the milk, chopped lavender flowers, and vanilla extract, then gently fold in the flour.

Divide the batter between the paper cases and bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until well risen, golden, and springy to the touch. A few minutes before the cakes are ready, sift the confectioners' sugar into a bowl. Stir in enough water to make a thick frosting.

Transfer the cakes to a cooling rack. Add a blob of frosting to the enter of each, allowing it to run across the cake. Decorate with lavender flowers and silver dragées. Serve when cool.



Lemon Drops
8 tbsp butter, plus extra for greasing
1 cup superfine sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp finely grated lemon rind (lemon zest)
2 tbsp water
scant 1 5/8 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
confectioners' sugar (to decorate)

Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Grease a large cookie sheet. Beat together the butter, superfine sugar, lemon juice, lemon rind, and water.

In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Add the butter mixture and blend together well.

Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a star-shaped tip. Pipe 24 drops, about the size of a tablespoon, onto the greased cookie sheet, allowing room for the cookies to spread during cooking. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes, or until the lemon drops are golden brown.

Remove from the oven, then transfer to a cooling rack using a metal spatula and let cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar. For an alternative topping add a little water to the confectioners' sugar to make a frosting.

[Sorry for this going up so late! As I said in my availability post, my 'net was out until about half an hour ago. Recipes are both transcribed from my copy of The Home Baker, which you can find here, and which I got for Christmas from my step-sister. SUCH A GOOD COOKBOOK. Aaanyway, plz wait for OCD is up!]

Re: Sign In

[identity profile] grenfelzer.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
Carmela Rodriguez
absolutesnark: (Default)

Re: Sign In

[personal profile] absolutesnark 2008-03-19 12:44 am (UTC)(link)
Summer Roberts
likethegun: (i'm smiling to the left)

Re: Sign In

[personal profile] likethegun 2008-03-19 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
Sam Winchester

Re: Sign In

[identity profile] justmisplaced.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 09:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Shawn Farrell

Re: Eat Sweet Things!

[identity profile] grenfelzer.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
Lavender cupcakes, huh? Well, that's definitely new. And Carmela's not one to shy away from trying new things, so she grabs one and a glass of milk.

Re: Eat Sweet Things!

[identity profile] notreallyagirl.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 12:07 am (UTC)(link)
Mmmm. Makoto was all for the cupcakes considering how many he'd had last night. And the lemon drops were definitely of interest to 'her'.

And milk, of course. Cupcakes went best with milk.

Re: Eat Sweet Things!

[identity profile] electric-sitar.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
Demyx hadn't managed to have too many sweets the night before, so he snagged himself a few cookies, a cupcake, and a glass of milk. And managed to find a seat without dropping one or all of them.
absolutesnark: (Grin)

Re: Eat Sweet Things!

[personal profile] absolutesnark 2008-03-19 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
Summer was a fan of cupcakes, even cupcakes she has never had before.

Re: Eat Sweet Things!

[identity profile] harrydresden.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
Flower cupcakes. Who knew?

After a bite or two, Harry was ready to offer his approval.

Re: Speak to Lulu!

[identity profile] new-to-liirness.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
Lavender! Someone grabbed one and made sure to remind himself to ask Lulu for the recipe.

Re: Eat Sweet Things!

[identity profile] new-to-liirness.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
Here. He also seems to have a smaller plate of brownies.

Re: Speak to Lulu!

[identity profile] new-to-liirness.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
Liir came up at the end of class... and it was obvious it was more than just a recipe he needed.

"Can I speak to you privately for a moment?"

Re: Speak to Lulu!

[identity profile] new-to-liirness.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
"I received a letter," he started before realizing how silly that might sound at the moment.

"From Oz."

Re: Speak to Lulu!

[identity profile] new-to-liirness.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
He nodded.

"The Witch's brother."

And he held out the letter (http://new-to-liirness.livejournal.com/11317.html) for her to read, not specifically pointing out the part about her but just letting her get through it as she liked. After all, she knew magic. She could blow things up.

Who knew what else she could do? Perhaps reach across time and space, through the cosmos and the various dimensions... and blow up Shell?

...he'd really enjoy that, if she could.

Re: Speak to Lulu!

[identity profile] new-to-liirness.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
Liir shook his head.

"He's a spy and a bounder, and apparently rather far up in the chain of things," he said quietly, seriously. "He plays the dandy but he's anything but if he's managed to do with that with the Wicked Witches as his sisters."

Re: Speak to Lulu!

[identity profile] new-to-liirness.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
"I wouldn't be surprised if he just put them in to make sure I knew he was watching.

"But whatever he's using can't be all that good," he said.

"There's things missing."

Re: Speak to Lulu!

[identity profile] new-to-liirness.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
"No names," he pointed out. He could think about it logically when he was with Lulu.

"And very basic descriptions. Also, he didn't comment on Professor Ambrose being from the future."

He shook his head.

"I just wanted you to know. I think it only fair to warn those mentioned since I trust him about as far as I could throw an Elephant."

Beat.

"And he's not my uncle."

Re: OOC

[identity profile] iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com 2008-03-19 02:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes. Yes I do.