Really Fruity Flapjacks Welcome 2011!!

Hooray!! The days are at last getting longer, spring bulbs are appearing and every now and then it feels a few degrees warmer...at last!

Its been a while since I did a wee update but I haven't been sitting idle. Jammy Coo has been very busy welcoming customers through its doors this 2011. All the old favourites are as popular as ever...especially, of course our famous Carrot Cake but I always try and sneak a few new one's in every now and then. We're loving the Lemon Shortbread at the moment, its really tangy and moreish and I can't seem to make enough of the Really Fruity Flapjacks!..perhaps its because they sound healthy but they also taste seriously good!

Lindsey and I travelled to the NEC in Birmingham for the Spring Trade Fair at the beginning of February and had a brilliant time checking out all the new products we'd love to have in the JC. It was MASSIVE but well worth the trip, I can't wait for all my customer's to see the new things I've ordered! Details to follow..

As a little boost to your health and happiness I'm going to give you my Fruity Flapjack Recipe...enjoy they are delicsh!!XX

Really Fruity Flapjacks

5oz Butter
2oz Soft Brown Sugar
5 tablespoons Syrup
8oz Porridge Oats
Pinch of Salt
2oz Dessicated Coconut
2oz Cherries
2oz Sultanas
1oz Craisins (Dried Cranberries, they're delicious)
3oz Chopped Dates

Melt the butter, sugar and syrup together and then when melted add all the other ingredients, stir them well together and press them into a lined baking tray. Place in a pre-heated oven of 170 C for 25 minutes. Done!

Try and wait until cooled slightly before cutting into squares and when you do eat them you'll feel so good about yourself. If by any chance you don't like any of the added ingredients just substitute for something you do like!

Love DeliaXX

Snowed In!

I think there are far worse places you could be snowed in than the Jammy Coo which is just as well because for the last 10 days that's exactly whats happened!!

It's very fortunate that the ovens still work and I've been making delicious soups, Spicy Butternut Squash and Coconut', Broccoli and Stilton, Curried Parsnip and Apple, to name just a few and also some well needed treats in the form of Triple Chocolate Muffins! And of course all our popular regulars such as the ever popular Carrot Cake.

Lets face it now is not the time to count calories, pack 'em in is what I say...You'll need it with the temperatures dropping to Minus 11!!!

These Triple Chocolate Muffins are so easy to make so why don't you give yourself a treat and give them a go..

9oz Plain Flour

3oz Melted Butter
3oz Soft Brown Sugar
3tblsp Natural Yoghurt
2tsp Baking Powder
half tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
10oz Mix of Dark, Milk and White Chocolate Buttons
2 Eggs
1oz Cocoa

Method: Place all ingredients except the Chocolate Buttons in a food mixer and combine well, then add most of the buttons leaving a few aside to put on the top of each button before cooking.
Divide mixture into 12 muffin cases and place in oven at 180oc for 20 minutes and then ENJOY!XX

You Really Have To Be There!

I have just received some photos of one of our Late Night Shopping evenings, doesn't Jammy Coo look absolutely gorgeous?

We have now had 2 evenings and our next one is this Friday 26th November...can't wait! I've loved the last one's and along with some friendly and familiar faces have met some new visitors to the 'Coo' which is fantastic!

If you're free please come and join us this Friday and bring your friends, the Mulled Wine is good but the Fudge is fantastic and I ate far too much of it myself last Thursday so please save me from my greedy self!

Let's Celebrate!

I am very fortunate to have 3 gorgeous sisters and one of whom, Rebecca, is coming to visit today bringing with her, her 2 very beautiful young daughters, Isabella and Ava-Lu. I'm telling you this as whenever I have someone to stay, (especially as its one of my special sisters), I like to cook a favourite of theirs.

I usually need no prompting but I think Rebecca needed to make sure that I made what she's been dreaming about since ever I mentioned it a couple of months back....'Celebration Bars'! I had to get several of those large Red Tubs in from a certain Supermarket and have been making a double batch this morning.. So Rebecca, its safe to arrive now, they're made and they look pretty good!!

Just remembered I have another sister visiting at the beginning of December...lets just say she can be a wee bit fussy! But loving her to bits I see it as a challenge producing something she will really love..Requests Taken!!!!!

Late Night Christmas Shopping!

Just a wee reminder to you all about the first of our Late Night Shopping which starts tomorrow night (Thursday 11th November) 6-9p.m.

It's going to be a fabulous night, I have some really brilliant gifts and the Jammy Coo looks so beautiful decked out in all things Christmasy. Please come along, bring some friends and have a fun, social and shopping evening.

I have made masses of delicious fudge for you all to have a treat of and I have just finished making the equally delicious Mulled Wine....of course I've had to taste...both! So apologiesh for any shpelling mishstakes.

Hope to see you soonXXXXDeliaXXXX

Jammy Coo Does Halloween!

Well, Jammy Coo did do Halloween but not how you think.

Every Halloween our Primary School in Lilliesleaf have a Fancy Dress Party and all the kids have a great time dressing up in all sorts of costumes, (there are lots of stressed out parents at this time scraping together a costume at the last minute!).

My gorgeous daughter, Daisy announced that she and a friend, Mary wanted to be Jammy Coo...Well what could I say? She was quite specific and I was torn by being very pleased although, (how the heck do I do that with only a nights notice!) and this may look bad. I could see the headlines..'Pushy Mother Makes Young Daughter Pose As A Cow To Publicise Her Business'.

Well, I'm afraid 'Pushy Mother' prevailed and duly made a Jammy Coo for Daisy to wear, she looked fab and very funny, the costume is so good I'm considering sending her out onto the High Street!...Never waste an opportunity I say!!

Secret Stash Has Been Compromised!

I'm sorry not to have been in touch recently, things have been pretty busy since the opening of our exhibition and there's a definite buzz happening in the Jammy Coo. It's a combination of all our fantastic new paintings, beautiful new products and just a hint of the festive season upon us, I just love it!

But with reference to my title, my 'secret stash' of chocolate, nae less, has been got at! Shock, horror! I could have understood if it was one of my children but I discovered my husband red handed with his hands covered in MY chocolate! This was almost a catastrophe as I had Extreme Rocky Road to make for the Jammy Coo. I have some very demanding and discerning customers...(you know who you are), and if needs aren't met then I just don't know what might happen!

However, there was a silver lining to my cloud as fortunately he hadn't found my emergency supply, (even I'd forgotten about them), a box of Celebrations, hurray, hurray! So I devised the most delicious concoction instead which basically involved unwrapping all the little darlings and dropping them into a whole bowl of smooth, velvety milk chocolate. I then added a sprinkling of rice krispies and oh joy a delicious new recipe is born...aptly named, Celebration Bars.

Trust me these are a stayer and I'm off to the supermarket on Monday to buy some more of those red boxes. As, if today's reaction to them is anything to go by then I'm going to have to make quite a few more batches before Christmas!

May I quickly add that of course I would have completely forgiven my husband for his lapse if he hadn't then swiped the Celebration Bar that I had kept back especially for my lovely Mother-in-law to try...what can I say?......