My recent daffodil post was wishful thinking- the season seems very very reluctant to change. This week Littlest has had another bout of ‘flu-like illness and after complaining of a very sore neck we made a hasty visit to the doctor. With enormous relief we discovered that all was relatively well and that calpol and rest were all that was needed. I can hardly express how grateful I was when the doctor told me how last year’s wet summer has meant that there have been three peaks of ‘flu this season rather than the usual one, especially in young children. It hasn’t been my imagination: in terms of Calpol consumption this winter really has been rather grim.
In recent days I realised that I needed a strategy to prevent me from succumbing to calpol cabin fever and possible where-is-the-blimmin’-Spring gloom. I remembered this post by Julie about one small creative endeavour per day. She chose to make a square of beautiful crochet towards a blanket, almost as a daily meditation and to fend off any lurking glass half empty-style thoughts. I didn’t have a large project in mind but I’m resolving to take a creative half hour or so for myself per day if possible.
This afternoon Littlest rallied a little and she was even able to help me with my first project. I have been dreaming of a quick biscuit version of this divine cake and thought that an almond and cherry biscuit recipe given to me by a friend might have scope for tinkering. My first attempt was far too wet and spread too much – I needed more dry ingredients to counter the lemon juice. This afternoon, though, my alterations were a success. These biscuits aren’t quite as lemony as Nigella’s wonderful cake as life’s too short to drizzle individual biscuits with lemon syrup, but the flower-shaped madeleine pan, the crunch of the polenta, the slight tang, the chewy centre and Eldest’s joy at scoffing two as soon as she came in from school has shown me that Julie is definitely onto something. I just have to think up a small plan for tomorrow.
There’s a chocolate version too – it’s been popular at my workshops.
Lemon polenta biscuits
Cream together 6 oz sugar (I used golden caster) and 3 oz softened butter.
Add 4 oz ground almonds, 1.5 oz plain flour (gluten free works just as well), 1.5 oz polenta, zest of a lemon, juice of half a lemon and 1 egg, lightly whisked.
Mix together thoroughly
Divide between the recesses of a madeleine pan or space walnut-sized portions onto a parchment-covered baking tin
Bake at 160 (fan oven) for 12-15 minutes or until golden around the outside.
Woof several with a cuppa
Chewy chocolate biscuits
Cream together 6 oz sugar (I used golden caster) and 3 oz softened butter.
Add 4 oz ground almonds, 1.5 oz cocoa powder,0.5 oz flour (gluten free works just as well) and 1 egg, lightly whisked.
Mix together thoroughly
Mix together thoroughly
Place walnut-sized portions onto a parchment-covered baking tin
Bake at 160 (fan oven) for 12-15 minutes or until very slightly darker around the outside.
Scoff several as a small antidote to the overly long winter
Even I am struggling to keep chipper in this incessant greyness with the addition of the biting nor-easterly winds. Your mini-lemon-polenta bicuits look very tempting and the plate is very cheery too.
I hope you're all feeling loads better very soon.
xxx
Mmm! I don't bake very often but the weather has been so cold that I keep thinking of things I want to bake. I just happen to have a box of polenta meal and some eggs. So depending on whether I have butter or not I can imagine the aroma of baking in my kitchen tomorrow. Thanks for the idea.
Mmmmmm! The lemon has me drooling! I hope your littlest is soon back to full health. We will all be glad when winter finally lets go of us.
Those look gorgeous! I am really struggling with this endless Winter. I think you're right, small creative endeavours are the way to beat the gloom. x
I already know your chocolate biccies are gorgeous, and I shall be trying the lemon ones very very soon! Yummers.
Oh, those lemony biscuits do look delicious, and their shape reminds me of some tin (I think they were tin) baking cups my mom had.
So far this year I've been successful in following up on an idea I got from Sue over at mousenotebook.blogspot.com to close out a day with noting five things that made you happy, or even brought a smile, during that day.
I admit to being too tired on some evenings to even remember to make the note in the little red book I've dedicated to this, but …I can play catch up the next morning and get that day off to a good start with a pleasant memory.
I think that seeing your delicious lemon recipe might be part of my notes later on tonight.
xo
Those are such pretty little treats. Might be just the thing for Easter, too.
Sorry to hear your little one is under the weather. Winter's been equally horrid over here with lots of cases of pneumonia popping up at the school where I teach. Hope spring arrive soon!
Dear Ms. Pebble,
When you get cabin fever, just remember — you're in England! It doesn't get much better than that. ;-D
Those little cakes look divine. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
XOXO,
Anna
Our kitchen is always freezing in winter, so any excuse to turn the oven on….
These look WONDERFUL! 🙂
oh yum. I want some of those right now xxx
Your biccies look delicious. Very cold still here too, I'm just keeping morale up by eating bucket loads of tiny choccy eggs…
Oh they look so delicious and cheering! Will be so glad when winter finally ends. K x
This has been a perfect visit Emma! I had been musing over what to bake for Granny…and here is the answer, thank you!
I also wanted to take a moment to congratulate you for your amazing achievement in raising such a fabulous amount of money for Red Nose Day ~
you're B-R-I-L-L-I-A-N-T.
Have a lovely Easter,
Sarah -x-
Sun's out!!! Hope your little one is on the mend – I think the sight and smell of those cakes would perk anybody up. I'd also like to say a belated congratulations on the Red Nose Day dolls. I followed their progress and was thrilled with the final amount – so well deserved and for such a good cause – you should be truly proud x Jane
My crafting has ceased to feel like a meditation. It has become a large, crumpled object which resembles that little lad's grubby comfort blanket in Charlie Brown.
All snuffly and under the weather here too. And I am tired of freezing at the park all the time. Roll on spring! Hope you have a lovely Easter. The biscuits look divine.
We made chocolate caramel shortbread… because the weather is truly miserable!