I keep forgetting that being over-confident often ends up in tears.
Starting to feel miles better as the fatigue and physio therapies progress, I was moving much more quickly. Consequence: misjudged where the wall was, smacked my hand on it and heard two awful cracking noises. I can still move my fingers and hand but have probably torn something or similar. Lots of ice packs and painkillers later, it is just about useable again. And, you guessed, my right hand with all the complications that follow when it is out of action.
Being blind, small injuries are part of life: the bruises, the sore spots, the cuts and burns, the lumps on your head. Usually, I don’t even remember how I got the injury but this one had rather more impact: using a keyboard with dud fingers isn’t very comfortable.
I’ve been feeling rather guilty too: there was a request after one of the on-line baking sessions for me to do cheese straws. The problem is that I utterly loathe cheese: the smell, taste and texture and, if I eat it, I get migraines.
Instead, I’ve adapted a recipe to make Not Cheese Straws – replacing the offending articles with walnuts and herbs. The added bonus is the end product has far less fat – as if you care about calories when being tempted by warm, savoury slivers of deliciousness! For those who prefer the authentic version, I’ve given the cheese proportions.
185g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon salt.
¼ teaspoon English mustard powder.
Tip of teaspoon paprika or chilli powder.
110g butter, cubed.
100g walnuts, chopped and a generous tablespoon rosemary and thyme leaves, chopped (or 75g Cheddar cheese and 25g Parmesan cheeses)
1 egg (or 1 egg yolk and about 2 tablespoons water).
Place the flour, salt, mustard and chilli in a bowl and rub in the butter.
Mix in the nuts and herbs (or cheeses).
Bring together using the egg (or egg yolk and water). The result will be a soft sticky dough.
Chill for at least 30 minutes.
On a floured surface, roll or press out the dough to a thickness of about 1 cm.
Cut into 1 cm wide strips and place on a baking tray lined with parchment.
Chill thoroughly (I left the tray in the fridge overnight).
Pre-heat oven to Gas 4, 180C, 350F then cook for for 15-20 minutes. I could hear them sizzling on the tray.
(If you are using cheese, the recipe suggested rolling the dough to the thickness of a £2 coin – whatever that is – and cooking at Gas 5, 190C, 374F for 10-15 minutes)
Leave to cool on the tray as they are quite fragile.
I’m very pleased with the end result which will be good with a glass of wine or similar – don’t be mean with the salt, mustard or chilli. Next, I’m thinking of a sweet version to serve with desserts.
Don’t forget: there’s another live baking session on 12 April: lemon Victoria sponges.
