Recordings from the SALT conference, Feb 25th 2012

I thought i would share this with everyone here. It is the link to the audio recordings from the SALT (Serious About Loving Truth) Conference on 25th February, that a few of us attended and thoroughly enjoyed.

The topics covered were:

1. Conquering like David Oliver Allmand-Smith Ramsbottom Evangelical
2. Believing like Joseph (interactive) Ali McLachlan GBP Scotland
3. Submitting like Mary Oliver Allmand-Smith Ramsbottom Evangelical
4. Overcoming like Timothy Conrad Pomeroy Trinity Baptist, Dundee

"Hey everyone!

I hope that you really enjoyed SALT. God really worked through the speakers yesterday and they all spoke powerfully. I’m sure most of us were very challenged and encouraged. I think someone said yesterday, “Wow, I’m going to have to listen to the recording again. It’s like a goldmine, there’s so much I can draw out of these talks!” I heard another girl say that she was full, as if she had just had a three-course meal. Well that certainly was the case. I think that it was Ali who said it was like an energy drink, packed with caffiene. But the question is, what’s next? Are we just getting off our spiritual, conference high? Or are the messages going to make any difference to the way we conquer our daily temptation, the way we submit and the way we overcome our troubles? Let me encourage you to listen again to the talks, so that you can refresh yourself with what you heard and may God help all of us to glorify Him. So there is a link here that will take you to our audio page and you can either listen on-line or download the talks. God Bless"

http://saltguys.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/salt-talks-2012/

Focaccia with Tomatoes, Olives and Rosemary

I am departing from the Spanish theme, for a brief moment, to give you a basic flat-bread recipe. The Italians have Focaccia which is a very popular flat-bread and forms the basis of many variations, just like a basic rice dish, many different ingredients and toppings can be added. In ancient Rome, panis focacius was a flat bread baked in the ashes of the fireplace. The word is derived from the Latin focus meaning “centre” and also “fireplace” – the fireplace being in the centre of the house. In this version, tomatoes, olives and rosemary are added, but any of these and more could be changed according to taste.

Ingredients

Dough

475g Strong white flour

1tsp Sugar

1tsp salt

1.5tsp Fast acting yeast

3Tblsp Olive Oil

275ml water (warm)

Topping

200g Cherry Tomatoes

A few sprigs of Rosemary

A few Black olives

1tsp Salt flakes

3Tblsp Olive Oil

Method

Put the flour, sugar, salt and yeast into a large bowl. Add the olive oil then gradually mix in enough warm water to make a soft dough.

Knead the dough well on a lightly floured surface for around 5 minutes, until it is smooth and elastic. Put the dough back into the bowl and cover with an oiled clingflim and leave in a warm place to rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Tip the dough on to a lightly floured surface and knead well, then cut into 2 pieces. Press each piece into a oval shape.

Transfer the pieces to 2 greased baking trays then, make indentations in the surface of each piece with the end of a wooden spoon. Press the tomatoes and olives into the indentations, adding the rosemary accordingly. Sprinkle with the salt flakes and leave to rise, uncovered, for 20 mins.

Drizzle the pieces with a little of the olive oil and bake in a preheated oven at 200oC, Gas mark 6, for 15 mins. Swap positions in the oven to ensure even browning. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil and serve warm.

Lemon Curd or Lemon Cheese

Ingredients:

- 1 cup sugar
- 2 lemons
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tbsp butter

Preparation:

1) Grate the lemon rind from both lemons into a saucepan along with the juice from both lemons and the sugar
2) Bring to the boil
3) In a separate bowl, beat the 3 eggs until thickened
4) VERY gradually add the lemon mixture to the eggs whilst beating vigorously (Take care to add it very slowly so as not to curdle the eggs)
5) Return mixture to the saucepan on a low heat, stirring continuously until it thickens.
6) Remove from the heat and add the vanilla and the butter, Mix.
7) Place in a clean jar, immediately in the refrigerator.

Enjoy on toast, scones, crumpets.......or just a teaspoon!!!!!

Tortilla

There is nothing as synonymous with spain and spanish food as Tortilla, It is quite literally the 'bread and butter' of spanish living. However, it is notoriously hard to get the right texture and sweetness, and there lies the secret: the choice of the onions and potatoes, always use spanish onions for their sweetness and a firm and waxy potato variety.

Serves 6 portions

Ingredients

2 large spanish onions

700g Potatoes (firm and waxy)

6 Eggs

Olive Oil

Sunflower oil for deep frying

Method

Cut the onions in half, peel and thinly slice. Peel the potatoes, cut in half lengthways, and then across in slices 5mm thick. Add a little salt and leave to stand in a colander.

Heat the olive oil in a large heavy saucepan and when hot (not smoking) add the onions with a pinch of salt. Stir, reduce the heat to low and cook very slowly for around 30 mins until golden in colour and sweet in smell. Always stir the onions as they cook to prevent them sticking to the pan. remove from the heat, drain and reserve the oil.

Meanwhile, cook the potatoes in the sunflower oil over a medium heat. The temperature is crucial as the potatoes should cook until just tender without adding colour. Drain in a colander.

Break the eggs into a large mixing bowl and whisk briefly. Add the onions and potatoes and mix together. Add seasoning as desired.

Pour the reserved olive oil into a frying pan, approximately 20cm across and set at a high heat. When the oil starts to smoke pour the mixture with one hand whilst shaking the pan with the other. Reduce the heat to low and cook for around 3-5 mins or until underside is golden brown. Then take a plate of similar size to the pan and place on top. Very carefully invert the tortilla on to the plate, be careful as the top will be slightly runny. Gently slide the tortilla back into the pan and cook for another 3-5 mins until golden brown.

The tortilla will be cooked if the middle feels solid. Once cooked, serve after allowing to cool slightly.

starting German friendship cake...

If you want to start one from scratch then here is the original recipe...as I've given my 3 away and baked the 4th (very yummy BTW) I may use this unless another one comes my way soon! You have to read to the bottom to find the recipe for the starter mix...

http://www.hermanthegermanfriendshipcake.com/

Hope

The Christian's hope is not a sedative; it is an adrenaline rush. It is an anchor, but not an anchor that holds us back, rather it spurs us on to action.

Charles R. Swindoll

Cranberry & red onion sauce

Keep this in mind for next Christmas, this makes loads so perfect with all that leftover turkey!

1 large red onion
2 tbsp vegetable oil
250 ml orange juice
150-200g Demerara sugar
250g fresh or frozen cranberries

Gently cook the onion in the vegetable oil for a couple of minutes until soft, add the orange juice and 150g of sugar and simmer until the mixture has reduced by half.
Add the cranberries and continue simmering for 10-12 minutes until the cranberries begin to break up.
Stir in more sugar if necessary; remove from the heat and leave to cool.

German Friendship Cake

If uv been given a sample, this is what to do with it....there are going to be a few floating around so here are the instructions if you've been honoured with one!

Don't put in the fridge!!!

Day 1 Bring mix home, put in large mixing bowl covered loosely with a tea towel.
Day 2 to Day 3, stir well each day.
Day 4 add 1 cup plain flour, sugar and milk. Stir well.
Day 5 to 8, stir well each day.
Day 9, add ingredients as Day 4. Divide into 4 equal portions and give 3 to your friends with a link to this blog. Keep one portion.
Day 10, stir well and add:
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups plain flour
2/3 cup cooking oil
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla essence
2 cooking apples cut into chunks
1 cup raisins
2 heaped tsp cinnamon
2 heaped tsp baking powder

Mix together and put into a lather, greased baking tin. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup melted butter. Bake for 45 mins at 170 to 180 C. Freezes well, or serve warm with icecream or cream, or cold.