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Alleluia!

A rather unconventional arrangement of marzipan balls on this year's Simnel Cake.  And the reason for this?  Well I took my eye off the marzipan as it browned under the grill.  It was easy enough to scrape the offending burnt bit off but it left an unattractive rough surface.  So I rearranged 'the apostles' in the the centre.  I think it makes them look more friendly!

45/365

One a Penny, Two a Penny, Hot Cross Buns!

Baking hot cross buns on Good Friday has become somewhat of a ritual, although they're never ready for breakfast.

This year The Great British Bake Off Easter special inspired me to swap Delia's recipe for Paul Hollywood's.  The dough was very sticky and I feared for them, but they turned out just fine - well risen with a distinct cross and a soft texture.  But I felt they needed more fruit and spice.

Anyway on reviewing the programme I discovered that some of the quantities on the BBC food website differed considerably from those given on the programme.  The measurements for the sultanas, mixed peel, lemon zest and cinnamon were halved!  No wonder they disappointed on the taste front.

So I emailed the BBC and await their response.  Maybe they'll send Paul Hollywood round to rustle up a replacement batch in my kitchen!  In which case I'd better get a move on with those dirty dishes!

44/365

The Tiffin has Landed!

Living Below the Line

From 29 April, for 5 days, I'm going to be spending no more than £1 per day on food and drink. I will be Living Below the Line to highlight the plight of the 1.4 million people living in extreme poverty, and by appealing for sponsorship, I hope to be able to make a real change for at least a few of them. So please give generously here. Thank you.

PS I've chosen Oxfam as the charity through which all donations will be channelled.

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Takeaway - Mumbai Style

This evening The Thali Cafe opened the doors of its latest restaurant, in the Tobacco Factory on North Street.  Which means that, not only will I be able to treat myself to one of their delicious thalis (Indian meal served on the plate from which it gets its name) without the prospect of a long walk home afterwards, but I shall also at long last be able to join their award winning Tiffin club.  Hooray!

The tiffin is a Mumbai lunchbox, lovingly prepared by a dutiful wife, packed in a multi-tiered stainless steel container, and transported across the city, via a network of bicycles and suburban trains, to arrive on her husband's desk at 12:45 sharp.  The system is so efficient that for every 6 million tiffins dispatched only one fails to arrive.  Beats a soggy ham sarnie or a greasy pastie any day.

The Thali Cafe tiffin is much less complicated but equally attractive.  £24.95 buys the container, filled with your choice of thali.  When you've eaten, instead of being left with a stack of containers for the black box, you have a receptacle ready for your next visit.  Bingo!

If it wasn't for the fact that today's a Fast Day I'd have been queuing outside the front door at 6pm.  But it won't be long before I'm trying out the new kid on the block,(especially as my husband brought home a voucher for a free thali)!

PS  For more on the tiffin carriers of Mumbai see this Guardian article

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For days when you doubt it

41/365

Sound advice