for cooking mishaps!

I’m all for a little home baking but occasionally things go tins up. Don’t despair – it may not be the end of the world.

Here are a few ideas to rescue something from the wreckage…

1. Sponge Cakes:
If the cake is too ‘al dente’ to call a sponge, cut off all the burnt bits and slice the rest into fairly thick slices or break into pieces. Put into a wide bottomed serving dish.
Pour thick fruit syrup (or a tin of fruit cocktail) over the sponge and leave to marinate for about an hour. Then top with jelly, custard, cream or ice cream. Serve chilled.

2. Jams and Jellies:
If the jam or jelly isn’t going to set, pour into your prepared jars anyway. Label the jars as syrup and use it to pour over desserts and ice creams.

3. Bread:
If your home-baked loaf needs an orthodontist standing by, grate it into breadcrumbs and store in a freezer bag. Use to coat rissoles or fish. And if there are some leftover, don’t forget the birds.

4. Chicken:
Too dry to enjoy? Cut meat into pieces and cover with stock in a large pan. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for at least half an hour. Add some diced or sliced veggies, such as potatoes, onions, leeks etc; and simmer until vegetables are cooked.
Add a handful of pearl barley and a sprinkle of sage and onion stuffing mix for extra bulk and flavour.

5. Wine:
If your wine turned to vinegar, don’t flush it away with your tears, bottle it and label as wine vinegar! And it doesn’t have to be ‘grape’ based. Taste it then use for dressing salads and adding a little je ne sais quoi to your recipes.

Oh, and if you let your tea go cold while rescuing your disaster, pour it into a small pan, add a little cinnamon or cloves and heat until nearly boiling, then remember to drink it!

NB:  When re-heating meat, make sure it’s piping hot right through before serving.

To your culinary success!
Linda x

P.S. Download a couple of free recipe books from our Printables & Freebies page here and pop in to the recipes page for more easy family recipes