Advent 8 Chocolate Yule log

We had a walk on our advent card today to go out and check out the evergreen trees and plants were around.  But it was also the day my cake decorating magazines arrived and Luke latched onto the idea of making the chocolate yule log in it, so we made this as well.  Chocolate yule logs were a birthday favourite when my older son was small as his birthday is on the 28th December but haven't made one in at least 10 years so was nice to revisit it. 

we started with oven at  gas mark 6 and a swiss roll tin lined and greased 

3 eggs

100 caster sugar plus extra for sprinkling

75g plain flour

25g cocoa powder

1 tbsp hot water

For the Icing

150g unsalted room temp butter

275g sifted icing sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons sifted cocoa powder plus extra for dusting

2 tablespoons hot water

using an electric whisk and bowl over simmering hot water, or a stand mixer with no hot water needed, whisk eggs and sugar until ribbon stage.  This means when the whisk is lifted the egg mix will fall in a ribbon and stay visible on the surface of the mixture for a few seconds. If whisking over hot water remove the bowl from the heat and whisk for another few minutes.

Sift in the flour and cocoa powder and fold in with a big metal spoon and then stir through the hot water.

Turn mixture into your prepared tin and even out making sure it's pushed out to edges and even.  Place in the  preheated oven for 10-15 minutes.  It should feel slightly springy when done.

While sponge is cooking place a t towel down covered with a piece of greaseproof big enough for sponge to go on top of and sprinkle with caster sugar quite generously. And when the sponge is cooked turn the tin quickly and confidently upside down onto this paper.  Cut off the very edges and score a line about 2 cm in from one short edge and using the towel to help  roll up the sponge in a tight roll with the paper inside the roll.  Leave this on a cooling rack while you prepare the filling and icing.

Whip 300 ml of double or whipping cream until it holds a firm peak

For the Icing beat the butter until it is very creamy and then slowly add the sifted icing sugar.  Mix the cocoa powder with hot water until it makes a paste and then add to the butter icing and beat until thoroughly combined.

when your sponge is cold then gently unroll but don't try to flatten it to much it will crack, but if it does don't panic you can glue it together with filling or icing.  so slather over your cream generously and try your best to roll back up as well as you can and place seam down on your serving dish.

Then slather on thickly and evenly your icing.  This can be sticky and a little awkward to get even but logs aren't even so I didn't stress over it.  I then used a skewer to draw lines and a knot into the log and dusted with cocoa powder.

This then needs putting the the fridge to set and store because of the fresh cream. Take out about an hour before cutting and serving.

View of the inside swirl :o) 

Catch up soon

Due to ear infections etc I am behind on advent posts but will try to get up to date tonight and tomorrow.

Advent 7 pizza!

We are getting into the swing of advent adventures in out house and thoroughly enjoying all the fun we are having with these.

Today Luke had a hospital appointment so we were out a large chunk of the day so I did wonder if we could fit in todays card instructions. To make a Christmas themed pizza and watch a film wearing pyjamas before bed time.

So we started with pizza dough.  I have tried a million doughs over the years and at the moment we are using half strong bread flour and have ordinary plain flour in the dough, Seems to work for us.

dough ingredients

250g strong bread flour

250g plain flour

2 tablespoons olive oil

 large pinch salt

table spoon of instant dried yeast

300ml luke warm water

you could mix and knead this by hand, put on the dough cycle of a bread machine or use a stand mixer like i do if you have one. until a soft silky elastic ball of dough.  I then leave in an oiled bowl for around an hour until doubled in size and I use a shower cap to save on cling film 

Luke was given the choice of what he wanted for topping for a Christmas theme.  About the only thing I think he did for Christmas theme was a red pepper star and used venison sausages for the meatballs. He had fun though spending time pressing the dough into the tin and decorating and arranging the toppings.

We cooked for around 20 minutes in a moderate oven and thoroughly enjoyed eating our pizza watching the journey 2 the mysterious island together.

our toppings included, chorizo, roasted red peppers, black olives, venison meatballs made from sausages and mozzarella cheese.  The tomato base is half red pesto and half tomato puree.

Advent 6 hot chocolate

Thursday nights in our house tend to be fairly quiet ones in our house. It's a non homework night on a school week so we tend to kick back and relax a little as the week does take it's toll on Luke. 

Todays advent card instructed us to make up a jar of Jamie Oliver's epic hot chocolate, recipe found >>>>>>here<<<<<<<

And then try it out.  Luke loves whipped cream straight out of a can with his hot chocolate and I love adding a mild minty flavour by stirring with a candy cane :o)  All lovely.  I made a big jar of this earlier on in the year and it's starting to run low so it was great to replenish it tonight ready to share with Luke and maybe friends over the holidays. 

Advent 5

We got around to icing our gingerbread. Luke can have trouble with fine motor skills so we went for writing icing tubes as easier for him and little edible ball bearings :o) 

Here's Luke insisting he gets in on the action to show you his beautiful decorating skills. We won't mention how many balls we had to hoover up afterwards.

After posting our efforts on facebook Lauren and her Mummy wanted their own snowman :o)

I am not to clever with piping at the best of times but we had great fun so that is all that counts.

And for a very good friend and Lukes godmother this snowman was decorated specially so tomorrow he goes to his new home. Hope you enjoy him Julie x

Today was also they day Luke got to write a card to someone special and post it this evening.  Which he really enjoyed walking to the postbox and posting his card. 

Advent 4

Today's card contents were postponed. Life got scary/worrying/silly. So I amused Luke and Evsr with paper chains. Big hit :-)

Miserable and medication

Well I'm self medicating with chocolate covered coffee beans I forgot I bought Sunday!

I cut a chunk out of thumb last night and it hurts and throbs. I can do basic first aid so I'm ok. My only problem being is plasters don't stick to me. So using tape for now and I look like a cartoon character with it all taped up. Going to be interesting few days working around this one. Meanwhile. Mmmmmmm coffee beans and chocolate. Marriage made in heaven :-)

What's your go to treat for comfort?