Homemade Apple Pie

I made an apple pie tonight. Rob loves apple pie, so I made him this as a surprise.

Ingredients
For the pastry:
255g/9oz plain flour
pinch of salt
140g/5oz hard margarine or butter
6 tsp cold water
For the filling:
2 large Bramley cooking apples, sliced
sugar, to taste
cinnamon
caster sugar, to serve

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
2. Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl.
3. Rub in the margarine or butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
4. Add the cold water to the flour mixture. Using a knife, mix the water into the flour, using your hand to firm up the mixture. The pastry should be of an even colour and suitable consistency for rolling.
5. Divide the pastry into two halves. Take one half and roll it out so that it is big enough to cover an 20cm/8in enamel or aluminium plate. Trim the edges with a knife using the edge of the plate as your guide.
6. Cover the pastry with the apples and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon to taste.
7. Roll out the other half of the pastry. Moisten the edge of the bottom layer of pastry and place the second piece on top.
8. Press down on the pastry edges, making sure that they are properly sealed. Trim off any excess pastry with a knife in a downward motion, again using the plate as your guide.
9. Flute the edges with a pinching action using your fingers and thumb.
10. Prick the surface of the pastry lightly and brush with milk before placing the pie in the oven. Cook for 25 minutes.
11. When the pie is cooked it should move slightly on the plate when gently shaken.
12. Slide on to a serving plate, dust with caster sugar and serve.

Olive Bread Chicken Salad Sanwich

I made 2 of these chicken salad sandwiches for Rob to take to work for lunch today.

I bought the olive bread from Sainsbury's, it's sooo tasty. I'd like to try making olive bread at home after tasting it.

Chicken, lettuce, cucumber and salad cream... mmm :o)

England 1 - Paraguay 0

It was England's first game in the 2006 World Cup in Germany when I took these photos.
I invited my sister Sophie, Lee and Darren round to watch the match with me and Rob. I made us lunch to nibble on while watching England beat Paraguay 1-0.

Come on ENGERRRRLAND! :o)



Cubbee from Selfridge's in London. It's minced meat and cracked wheat, stuffed with mince meat and pine nuts. Very Middle Eastern, and so tasty :o)

Stuffed Vine Leaves from Selfridge's in London

Hummus Dip and chopped salad

Potato salad

Curley Fries

Oven cooked chicken drum sticks, marinated in olive oil, chili, herbs, salt, pepper, cumin, ypghurt and honey.