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. . . . . . A place to contribute, exchange tips and ideas and find further info on the LDC group on Meetup.

Monday 29 August 2016

Sewing Reward or Sewing Comfort

This is for those moments when you have cut, pinned, stitched and trimmed late into the night and, at last, your perfect creation is finished so you want to reward yourself. OR things have gone wrong, you have sewn the wrong sides together, the waist has turned out too small, the buttonholes are unevenly spaced and you need tea and comfort to enable you to think of a solution or come to terms with the idea that this dress is going to end up being cut up into an apron.  You need a special little something- but the shops are shut and the cupboard bare of biscuits and cake.
Do not despair- SUPERMUG to the rescue.  With the aid of a microwave and some store cupboard ingredients you can have a luscious chocolate brownie in less than 5 minutes.

I found this recipe in a  book in my local library - "Meal in a Mug" by Denise Smart, published by Ebury Press.
You need a microwaveable mug or cup that can take 200 ml (7 fluid ounces) of liquid.  It doesn't matter if it is bigger than this .  Also a measuring tablespoon, the sort you get in a set of measuring spoons, not the sort of tablespoon you put on the dining table.

Ingredients:
2 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp of soft brown sugar
1 tbsp of cocoa powder
Pinch of salt ( I have tried this recipe with and without salt and I don't notice the difference)
1 tbsp of sunflower oil
2 tbsp of milk
1 tbsp of chopped nuts (I have tried almonds and also brazil nut but you could leave the nuts out if you wish or maybe try raisins or raspberries or whatever you have)
1 tbsp of chopped milk or dark chocolate.

Method:
Put the first 4 ingredients in the mug, add the oil and milk and stir until a smooth batter. Stir in the nuts and chocolate. Cook in a microwave on high,  for a 1000 w, category E microwave cook for 1 minute.  I have a 900W microwave and cooked it for 1 minute 10 seconds.  If your microwave is different then adjust accordingly.  Leave it to stand and cool for a minute or two.
Then I spoon it into my mouth directly from the mug- oh, warm, chocolatety, rich, delicious!  You can turn it out by running a knife round the edge of the mug but it sticks to the mug a bit so it will look something like this.

If you needed a really big reward or extra comfort you could add cream or ice cream if it is to hand.  This is also useful for impressing an unexpected guest with cake in little more time than it takes to brew a pot of tea or make a filter coffee.
As the mug in the picture says "Happy Sewing".