Learning New Stuff

I have been dithering for over a year now about doing some formal stone setting training.  My stone setting is pretty much all self-taught, which mainly means that I set stones in probably the most cack-handed way imaginable! 

So, I've finally booked myself on a diamond setting course at the Whitney Jewellery School in Brigg in May.  Sadly I have to leave to travel there on the same day that the boy returns from 10 days in China, but they were the only dates I could get.  My work has implemented an exciting new holiday policy which appears designed to ensure that no-one can actually take any!

Anyway, very excited about learning new things.  I'll let you know how it goes...

Am Still Baking Genius by the Way

The boy and I decided to make some hot cross buns this weekend.  Yes, actually make them.  From scratch.  Eek!

Inspired by Paul Hollywood (isn't he lovely?), we mixed up all the stuff and did the kneady thing to get our initial lump of dough...

 

 ...then left it near the heater to rise for an hour (the rest of the flat is freezing!)

Mix in fruit and spices, leave to rise for another hour.

Then weigh the dough and divide into equal balls of dough.  Very precise this dough making thing.

 
Leave to rise for ANOTHER hour!  This did end up taking all day to do.  Totally buying them from M&S next year.

Put the crosses on:

And look!  Behold my buns!
 

 All in all, it was a bit of a faff and I'm not sure I'd do it again, but they were very yummy.