Teatime Tuesday-Beignets and Coffee!

 "(Talon pulled another beignet from the sack and held it up for her to eat.)
   That stuff is hazardous to your health.(Sunshine)
   Baby, life is hazardous to your health.(Talon)"
                                                                         -Sherrilyn Kenyon, Night Embrace

Beignet's are popular in the French Market region of New Orleans. Beignet's are French doughnuts that carry an air of sophistication, thus tricking one into thinking somehow these aren't as bad as eating a big fat glazed doughnut! I used a Beignet Mix, yes that's right an actual mix out of a box! It's not always possible to make something from scratch so I was apprehensive over how these would taste but after one batch I'm sold.

What you will need:

• Beignet Mix
• Mixing Bowl
• Rolling pin
• Powdered Sugar
• Oil
• Handful of Flour  

 Knead together the Beignet mix and water

 Roll the dough out to desired thickness. TIP: cover surface and rolling pin with flour so mixture doesn't stick and then cut into squares

Deep fry each piece until golden brown, sprinkling oil over the submerged dough 

Soak beignets to drain excess oil, then sprinkle with powdered sugar

Serve with coffee!

TIP: I cut the squares into various sizes and used the excess dough to make mini beignets

Osh and Mr.Bean

Osh is to Persians what chicken noodle soup is to the Western world. A traditional remedy to a bout of sickness. I was hit hard by the flu last week so my mum came through with homemade Osh and a Mr.Bean movie. The perfect prescription to any bad day.

You will need: 1 cup of rice,  1 cup of mong beans, 1 cup of carrots, 3 onions and some turmeric

Boil the rice, mong beans and carrots together

Fry off the onions until golden brown then add to the rest of the ingredients

Mum's Traditional English Recipe- as promised!

This is my mums traditional English recipe for vanilla cupcakes. You can also substitute the vanilla for your own desired flavors.

Ingredients Needed:
Margarine 8oz ( 2 sticks)
Sugar 8oz
Self raising flour 8oz
Eggs 4
Vanilla Essence 1tbsp
Plain yogurt 1tbsp

Step 1:
Slice both sticks of margarine up and mix together with the sugar.

Step 2:
Add 1 egg at a time and a couple of tablespoons of sifted flour, mixing as you go.
Add the remaining flour and mix to a smooth consistency.

Step 3:
Add 1 tbsp of vanilla essence and 1 heaped tbsp of plain yoghurt. Mix together.

Step 4:
Divide mixture into 18 cupcakes.

Step 5:
Bake for 18 minutes at 400 F ( this is a good time to wash up).
Remove from oven and let cool.

At this point your kitchen should smell irresistible but it is not quite time to fulfill the needs of your taste buds. It's time to make the icing!

Ingredients needed: 
Butter 4oz
Powdered sugar 8oz
Vanilla essence 1tbsp
Milk 2-3 tbsp
Piping bag with tip

Step 1:
Mix all of the ingredients together till you have a smooth consistency. Add the milk at your discretion-this is really so that the icing does not get too thick.

Step 2:
Empty the mixture into the piping bag and get to decorating!

Try icing the cupcakes differently so that you can find the look you like best. Top them off with the ivory pearls and enjoy eating one with a nice cup of tea.