A bit of yummy bread making

I had a little bit of time to think about cooking as we came home from holiday early at Christmas. So I pulled out my bread book. First I made Ciabatta. This is rising before heading into the oven. Not as good as it normally is, maybe because the yeast was expired in 2009!!! But I did test it first and it frothed etc as it should. So being a bit disappointed I then heading for a no fail recipe.  

I followed the recipe to the letter and made gorgeous Chelsea Buns. The filling looked fabulous and this was the look prior to rising.

Oh my goodness what a success!! Tasty tasty, with soft bread and a delicious mixed spice and fruit filling. The glaze was meant to be made with orange water but as I did not have any I substituted rose water and it worked really well.

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Cosy at home on this cold day.

After a lovely cruisey morning with coffee in bed I I went and started doing the glasshouse but my hands just got too cold. So back inside and made some Olive and Pesto Flat bread and had a family game of Monopoly - as usual Aaron had the monopoly on the game from the start. I was the first person bankrupt! But a great family day indoors.