Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

The problem with our charming habit of wandering off topic (which I love) is that it makes it difficult to trace an existing thread. I know we chatted for ages not too long ago about breadmaking, but cannot now find it! Anyway, when the new BBC series Baking Made Easy featured the Doris Grant loaf last night (still available on iPlayer) I knew it rang a bell somewhere on this forum. So perhaps one of you technical wizards might like to redirect this to the relevant place - or perhaps we can just start all over again. Either way I can recommend this series, which seems to show how we can all make dishes which look clever but are actually amazingly straightforward. Lorraine Pascale is a breath of fresh air amongst all the usual TV cookery pundits, IMHO anyway! Anyone who measures honey by the 'squidge' is my type of chef!

There's a topic on this board (Non CH) called "The Perfect Wholemeal Loaf", which I think is what you're looking for. The easiest way to find topics previously discussed is to put a couple of key words into the search box at the top right of the screen, and the system will return any postings containing the desired words.

Thank you, Jo.

YES ! ---- I love the ingredient "Squidge" ---Not that TBA and I use much Honey (Both being long- term, Type 1 Diabetics !).
I remember my Grandmother (Born 1887) who used to make the most wonderful cakes, by using the "Handful" and "A drop of" measurements.

She just KNEW how to cook !!

My mother once complimented an elderly lady on her pastry and asked her for the recipe.

"Oh, it's easy m'dear. You just take so much flour, and depending on how much flour you've got, you take so much butter......"

Waitrose sells stuff by the 'pinch' , 'dollop' and 'handful'.

My husband did an interview a couple of weeks ago and was asked which four people he would like to have dinner with.

He picked Delia Smith, Nigella Lawson, Rachel Allen and me (to keep him in line).

However I have now been dropped in favour of Lorraine Pascale.

Never mind, as long as he brings home the leftovers.

Do you seriously believe there would be any leftovers?!

Of course, my husband keeps himself in great shape. Erm, round is a shape isn't it?

The start of the original thread is at:

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3644&hilit=wholemeal#p111206

FWIW a useful link is
http://www.danlepard.com/

This is the person who wrote The Observer guide to bread making and many other Observer baking recipes. A mass of stuff there inclusine all the Observer stuff and more - enough to make anyone obese and love it.

Thanks David - I am already obese - it's the loving bit that I can't get the hang of!!

Fjgrogan wrote:Thanks David - I am already obese - it's the loving bit that I can't get the hang of!!

The last person I heard say that had anorexia nervose

More seriously, IF you are into diets then PM me - no costs, no measuring, no calorie tables and no regaining weight afterwards

Thanks David - but we have already discussed Dukan in detail a while ago. I am waiting for the winter's carbohydrate addiction to subside before I get into any serious dieting. At 5'2" and around 15.5 stone, I think we can safely assume that I am not anorexic - just lazy and depressed - but spring should be on the way, which usually helps!

Just read the following "trailer" for a TV programme:

Then it's off to Paris for inspiration because even French-style patisserie can be made fast. Skinny tarts are glamorous, easy on the waistline and easy on the clock. Even bread gets the speed treatment with Lorraine's no-knead take on a wartime recipe, the Doris Grant Loaf. It is delicious with camembert and roasted garlic, the fastest, most incredible supper. When it's speed you need, baking is definitely the way to go.

BBC Two 11.30 am Saturday 22nd January (Lorraine Pascale - even I think she is a good presenter which is a shocking admission)

Of course you could cheat (though of course I know NO Hertford lady would even think of doing so) at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/doris ... loaf_16985

What's wrong with cheating if you have arthritic hands? Canned prepared oranges for marmalade, and prpared chopped onions and other veg come to mind (thank you Delia)

midget wrote:What's wrong with cheating if you have arthritic hands? Canned prepared oranges for marmalade, and prpared chopped onions and other veg come to mind (thank you Delia)

In my book you don't need an excuse to cheat.
Canned prepared oranges is a good idea because Seville oranges (the best for the job) have a very short season and are only available for a week or two.
Chopped onions - haven't used them but wouldn't one of these new fangled mincer jobbies be cheaper in the long run and work for every other type of veg as well? Other veg - you can't beat frozen peas even if you have full use of your hands and where, please where, will you find grated celeriac?

Of course the best puff pastry is made by hand but even the seasoned pros buy it in ready made so why shouldn't you and I? Reminds me - I have to make AND GOBBLE DOWN the fruit and cream slices in bought puff pastry she showed us how to make last weekend; 1000 calories just for me so eat your heart out .

In the case in question they could wait until Saturday to watch how to make the Doris Grant type loaf but if they are too impatient (like modern youf) to wait three days they could watch on video on the web.