Rhubarb and Strawberry Crumble

Dear Cathy

Thank you for your advice regarding the cleaning and maintenance of my washing machine, but I rather think you have me confused with someone else. My Bosch is as fresh as a daisy. Perhaps you were thinking of Maria Macchiato? I'm not at all sure how clean her dispenser draw is.

I must say, I do admire the way you look after Mr Chino. Taking him freshly made scones was a lovely thought. Were they still warm? If so, he could have warmed his little hands on them like the miners used to do with Cornish Pasties. Perhaps you should try making a pastie, I hear it's very chilly up north? Anyway, in my experience the key to a happy hubby is quite simple - a steady supply of homemade cake and plenty of sex. Perhaps I should write to Mrs Giggs about it. If she sent Ryan off to Old Trafford every morning with a smile on his face and a Rock Cake in his lunch box she'd have a very happy chappy.

This weeks bake was Rhubarb and Strawberry Crumble (p293). How odd, I thought, to put strawberries into a hot pudding, but the Rhubarb patch looked like a jungle and I had a punnet of strawbs in the fridge so I gave it a whirl. There were rolled oats and almonds in the crumble topping and let me tell you, the result was worthy of a Gastro Pub. Try it on Sunday!

Before I close, I must ask your advice about a little project I've taken on. The School Circle wants to hold a quiz night to raise money for a new tortoise, and naturally, I have been asked to set the questions. I'm doing one round entitled 'Ten Things You Should Have Learned At School' and I wondered if you had any suggestions for questions. Can you remember the characteristics of a 'V' shaped valley? I'm just putting together the picture round - not sure whether to go for 'Name the following British Prime Ministers' or 'Who wore the following Royal Wedding Hats'?

Yours, Lucy.

Scones

Dear Lucy, Today I have been the ultimate 'haus frau' and rather enjoyed myself! Having completed the school run and popped to the bank, I returned home. Grabbing the hoover, mop and bleach, I blitzed the downstairs of the house in preparation for friends coming to tea tomorrow. That done, I prepared Mr Chino's lunch in readiness for popping it round to him later; but what sweet treat could I spoil him with? The answer lay in the pages of our favourite cookery tome: “The Great British Book of Baking."
Page72: Scones.
I confess that I did feel a little unfaithful to my old school exercise book, but decided that, if scones were to be made, I should give this recipe a go. Perhaps a certain Premiership footballer might have been wise to think twice, as I did; one can only surmise that the pleasure I experienced when biting into those warm, crumbly scones was exceeded by his dalliances with his reality tv 'star'! At least I know that my baking experiences are discreet, my creations will not kiss and tell (unless too much cake has a detrimental effect on my waistline!)
As you can tell from my ramblings, the scones were delicious! I did not, however, follow the recipe to the letter, having only lightly salted butter and semi-skimmed milk in the fridge, but I don't think the result could've been more yummy.
Whilst I'm in domesticated mode, let me tell you a solution I have found to an embarrassing problem we have both shared. I remember, some time ago, you told me that leaving the door to your washing machine closed resulted in some unpleasant odours. My experience has gone further than that, with mold growing in my dispenser drawer! Well, my dear Lucy, I have cleaned up my act! You could say that I have 'taken the doorstep challenge'; by going back to a big box powder I have a sweeter smelling drum and a spotless dispenser drawer. No more will I pay homage to tablets, liquitabs and dispenser balls; I'm keeping it simple from now on.

Cathy x

Lemon Drizzle Cake

Dear Cathy

Having thumbed through 'The Great British Book of Baking' several times over the last week I couldn't resist the creative urge any longer. After tea, I pre-heated my oven, and, as I had a surplus of unwaxed lemons in the fridge, got to work with a Lemon Drizzle Cake (p245).
The result was deliciously soft and moist with a mouth-watering crunchy lemon topping...marred only by the fact that, as you can see, the bottom and sides burned and I had to saw them off with a bread knife. I must make it clear that this was in no way due to a deficiency in the recipe - no! It was entirely the fault of the stupid man who came to service my cooker last month. It took me two years to get used to that oven, then in he waltzes, fiddles with the burners and now everything is coming out black as coal. I tried to compensate for the ferocity of the flame by turning it down by a whole gas mark, but at one point I thought the cake wasn't going to rise at all so I turned it back up again - huge mistake. Anyway, I threw the burnt bits out for the birds and stuck the rest in the freezer for unexpected guests (serves them right)!

So, to other news. I started a diet today as I'm looking rather Rubenesque of late (another good reason for putting the cake in the freezer). A friend of mine had invited me to join her on a Juice Fast but I'm not fond of celery so I declined. I've given up all hope of ever fitting into my leather trousers again but I'm sick of maxi-dresses, they're very forgiving but they do tend to get caught up in the motorbike chain.

Can't wait to hear from you, Lucy. x