Brandy Snaps

This Easter weekend, following some perhaps misguided inspiration after watching yet another re-run of the Great British Bake Off, I decided to try my hand at Mary Berry's Brandy Snaps.

She made it look so easy...

However, no such luck for a total amateur like myself! My first batch stuck like glue to the baking paper and I ended up just breaking off shards of this yummy crunchy goodness to satisfy my eagerly awaiting taste-buds.

Attempt no. 2 however, was far more successful. Here's how to do it:

Gently melt butter, sugar and golden syrup so all the sugar crystals are completely dissolved and you're left with a thick golden goo.

Then sift in some flour and ground ginger. Add a tiny dash of lemon and you're good to go! Dollop teaspoonfuls of your - now even thicker- goo on to a lined baking tray and into the oven for about 10-15 minutes. (I used this time to eat the remainder of my Easter Egg, even though I really didn't need any more sugar!)

Make sure you leave plenty of space on the tray between them, as they really expand as they cook. Then 10 minutes later ... out come lacy golden brown discs.

Let them firm up a little bit, slide them off the baking tray, wrap them around the end of a wooden spoon or rolling pin to make a roll and leave to cool. Et voilà!

I think they'll be perfect alongside a coffee with the girls!

The sliding off the baking tray bit is where I got really stuck at first (literally), but as you get the hang of it you'll be lifting these off with ease and rolling them up Mary Berry style! I can definitely see why this was a technical challenge for all those bakers, and although mine weren't all uniform in size and shape, they definitely "snapped" and were absolutely delicious. 

Now I strongly believe that cooking should NOT be difficult, so if I can manage this, albeit not 100% perfectly, then you can too! You can find the recipe for these brandy snaps here, and can even watch the maestro show you how it's done here. Let me know how you enjoy yours!

Happy baking!

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What's the point of it? As per Martin Creed

The other day I had a fantastic opportunity to simply behave like a kid again, all the while soaking up culture and modern art!

With my partner in crime in tow, I made my way post working nights to the Hayward Gallery. Currently home to a huge collection of Turner Prize winner, Martin Creed's work. 

As we made our way through the three floors and balconies of his impressive art, we ducked to avoid moving installations, jumped at various sounds and chuckled whilst others around us grimaced at videos of various, rather "gross" bodily functions and fluid emissions or at the ahem "adult" artwork - things that we unfortunately see far too often in our line of work!

But, they always say good things come to those that wait. And indeed they do!

The final installation in this rather large collection of eccentric objects and features, is a room full of large white balloons. Entitled: "half the air in a given space".

You get rushed in and the door is quickly slammed shut behind you. And there you are - lost in the midst of large white balloons - having just a moment before been warned of possible claustrophobia and panic! (Not a great starting thought.)

Thankfully we didn't experience any of that. Especially as within seconds you completely lose your bearings and can't see the floor or the ceiling, let alone work out the quickest escape route! 

Luckily, all I felt was complete and utter childish glee!

And some sparks! 

As I battled my way through this sea of balloons.

Obviously I emerged victorious over those pesky balloons. (Although my hair begged to differ after all that static!)

Now if that doesn't excite you I'm not sure what will. The exhibition has just been extended until May 5th, so I suggest you hop, skip or jump (whichever takes your fancy) on down there and enjoy an excuse for acting your  shoe size, all in the name of art!

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Changing the game.

Hello. Bonjour. Hola. Jambo. I'm Dimple, a Doctor by trade and a blogger on the side. Welcome to my world of off-duty eating, socializing and travel. I've loved reading many blogs out there and just as they've been an inspiration to me to start something new, I hope this may one day be an inspiration for someone else too!

Happy exploring!

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