1936 - Steamed Suet Pudding is Nation's Favourite

Back in 1986 the Daily telegraph published an article on 'Everyone's Favourite Pudding' - voted for in November 1936. Steamed Suet Pudding was what the nation loved so here is the 'winning' recipe that won a whole guinea!
½lb S.R.Flour
4 oz shredded suet
5oz chopped dates
1 cupful of milk
1 egg
1 cupful golden syrup
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
       Cream suet and syrup together. Add well beaten egg. Stir in flour and milk alternately, mixing all well together but do not beat. Dissolve soda in the last of the milk and add to the mixture. Lastly add the dates.
      Turn all into a well greased pudding basin, cover with greaseproof paper and a cloth tied down. Steam for 2½ hours.

Just imagine it. How about blackberry and apple as an alternative served with lashings of proper custard. Or Jam served so hot it burns your tongue. Or figgy pudding ......... Hungry yet?

Anzac Biscuits - dated 1951

This recipe was found in an old recipe book first published in 1951.
½ lb flour           1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
½lb sugar            2 tablespoons warm water
¼lb coconut         1 tablespoon golden syrup
¼lb 'quick'outs
¼lb melted fat
¼ teaspoon salt
   Mix together all the dry ingredients. Blend the golden syrup with the warm water and mix all together thoroughly. Place on a greased baking tin in small lumps. Bake until crisp. 350° f

For those of you in metric convert the ¼lb to 113 grams and the ½lb to 227 grams. 350°f converts to Gas Mk4 180° C.
With the Jubilee here this year we'll try and find some more recipes from the period and see if they are as tasty now as they were then.
Good Luck.

DIY Safety - Think First and Stay Safe

First of our simple tips to stay safe when doing-it-yourself.

How many of you replace the plug on an appliance and never give the fuse a second thought? The fuse is there for a reason - should the worst happen and the appliance fails the fuse is the first line of defence in stopping fires. So think about it - a hair dryer that should have a 5 amp fuse at least but has a 13 amp in it keeps going past its safety cut out. Is it really worth the risk?

Here is a basic list of you need to know:

up to 230 watt = 1 amp fuse

231 - 690 watt = 3 amp

691 - 1150 watt = 5 amp

1150 watt and over = 13 amp

(1 kilowatt is 1000 watts)

Fuses are easily purchased at your local hardware store or supermarket. A pack will only cost you about 99p - that's not too much to pay for safety.