Degustabox October

We're celebrating a spooky season this month, yet October isn't just all things candy-related. It's also earlier evenings with cosy meals, like bowls of comforting soup and stew, and of course, enjoying hot chocolate, preferably with whipped cream and marshmallows, and baking simple treats like rocky road and caramel squares.

Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in October Box Degustabox?

Product of the Month - 

Barilla Pesto alla Genovese con Basilico Italiano (£3.35) is an aromatic and colourful pasta sauce, made in Italy.

Made with real Parmesan (unlike many pestos in jars, which are made with less expensive cheese), this sauce will enhance a variety of Italian-inspired recipes, from pasta to griddled or baked chicken with pesto, from pesto pinwheels to artichoke tart.

Basil in this sauce comes from the sustainable agriculture.

Nutritional values: 482kcal and 3.25g of salt per 100g (one jar is 190g)

Our favourite pasta dish with pesto is pasta alla Genovese, cooked with cubed potatoes and green beans, and coated with a generous helping of pesto. And don't forget the grated parmesan. Mmm, an ultimate comfort food.

Available at Ocado, Amazon, Co-Op, and Morrisons (selected stores).

Brioche Pasquier Pancakes (£2.20) are a lovely breakfast or brunch treat, soft and squishy. 

French family bakery since 1936, Pasquier offers a wide selection of baked goodies. My family loves their brioche, and I buy the pancakes occasionally too, especially when I don't have time to make my own from scratch. Lovely with all kinds of toppings, and with a cup of tea.

Great for lunchboxes, for on the go, eat them as they are, or put in the toaster to warm them up.

Nutritional information: 124kcal and 9.8g of sugar per pancake; free from preservatives, suitable for vegetarians.

Available in Morrisons and Co-Op.

SlooOW Rustic Multigrain Baguette (£1.60) is an organic wheat baguette, partially baked and made with the best and 100% natural ingredients. The bread dough is given more than 24 hours to rise, to later become a very tasty crusty bread.

Bake it in the oven for 12 minutes for a crispy crust. 

Great for bruschetta, with tomatoes, basil and olive oil, or make hot mini sandwiches with it, with lots of grated cheese. 

Nutritional values: 143kcal and 0.51g of salt per 50g serving.

Available in Tesco and Hello Fresh.

Proper Corn Smoky & Sweet Paprika/ or Tangy Chilli/ or Cracked Black Pepper & Salt popcorn (£1.90) is a super snack with a warm kick for the tastebuds.

Three new flavours of Proper popcorn are going to be a big hit. 

Popcorn is naturally high in fibre, and wholegrains are a source of magnesium and zinc.

Nutritional information: 90kcal and 0.6g of sugar per serve (20g), contains natural flavourings, gluten free, vegan.

Available in Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Ocado. After we enjoyed the new Smoky and Sweet Paprika, I've spotted the new packs in Waitrose. While we will eventually try all flavours, I have already bought the paprika one a couple of times, as it's so moreish.

You should receive 1 item in your box.

Three Robins Little Smoothie (£1.89) is a dairy free oat smoothie with real fruit and veggies. Their motto is Tasty Goodness for Kids.

They come in two lovely flavours: Super Berry and Totally Tropical. My son enjoyed the smoothie.

Nutritional values: 46kcal and 8g of sugar; no added sugar, made with real fruit and veg, fortified with vitamins and minerals; no artificial flavours.

Available to order on the Three Robins website.

Knorr White wine stock pots (£1.90)  are stock pots, made with half a glass of full bodied white wine

Melts in rich flavour in seconds, perfect for risottos and casseroles.

I used one of the stock pots, while cooking a chicken stew with dumplings. 

Nutritional values: 4kcal and 1g of salt per 125ml; free from artificial colours, gluten free, vegan.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Chewits Fruity Jewels (£1.30) are sugared chewy gummies with fruit flavour (rhubarb, cherry, strawberry, pneapple and apple).

This is the same Chewits brand that you're familiar with, but with a lower sugar content and a new fruity mix. 

Nutritional information: 77kcal and 8.5g of sugar per 4 sweets; no artificial colours or flavours

Fruity and Sour Jewels mix are available in Tesco and Morrisons now.

Tarczynski Kabanosy Extreme Piri-Piri (£2.30) are Polish Kabanos with Piri-Piri stuffing. This snack is designed for convenience, and is packed with flavour. 

Piri piri gives kabanos an extra oumph, and will rock your tastebuds. 

Nutritional values: 421kcal and 5.7g of sugar per 100g.

Available in the world food aisle of all major supermarkets.

Nestle Carnation condensed milk (£2.39) is made from all natural ingredients: fresh whole milk and natural sugar.

This classic product is well-known, and is used widely in baking and puddings. You can make Millionaire's shortbread or fudge, rice pudding or ice cream, Banoffee pie or cheesecake, the possibilities are endless.

Nutritional values: 161kcal and 27.5g of sugar per 50g serving; a good source of calcium.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Mardel Alfajor De Dulce de Leche Negro and Blanco (£1.50) are soft cookies, filled with Mardel dulce de leche (milk caramel) and covered with either dark or white chocolate coating.

Gave my boys one each, and they enjoyed these cookies a lot. A lovely sweet treat, Alfajor is an iconic product from Argentina.

Nutritional information: 398kcal and 43.5g of sugar per 100g (one package is 50g).

You should receive 2 items in your box.

Available in international Latin shops.

Three international products in the latest box might give you a taste of what's to come in the International edition of the advent calendar from Degustabox. I have pre-ordered mine a while ago, and can't wait to discover all its treasures.

BBQ and Garden Party Degustabox

 

Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in the BBQ and Garden Party Degustabox box?

Rubicon Sparkling Rose Lemonade/Sparkling Passion Fruit (£1) are made with real fruit juice. Zingy refreshing drinks with summer flavours are great for a picnic, BBQ or garden party.

Rose lemonade is an inspired blend of zesty lemon and a sweet floral rose extract, while Passion Fruit is a well-balanced combination of sweet and tart.

Nutritional values: 20kcal and 4.5g of sugar per 100ml, suitable for vegans.

You should receive 2 items in your box.

Available: Rubicon Passion at ASDA, Tesco, Morrisons and Co-Op and Rose Lemonade at independent retailers.

Highball Cocktails Italian Spritz (£1.99) is a hand crafted 0% Highball Spritz with Italian bitters and orange. 

If you enjoy the classic Aperol Spritz, get a taste of summer with this sophisticated alcohol free drink. It's deliciously light, and will make you think of leisurely evenings in Venice. A perfect balance of sweet and bitter, this drink will add a touch of glamour to any party.

Nutritional values: 31kcal and 7g of sugar per 100ml.

Available on www.highballcocktails.com, Amazon, Not on the High Street, Yumbles and independent shops.

No garden party should go without a selection of snacks.

HIPPEAS Chickpea Snacks Chickpea Puffs Salt & Vinegar Vibes (£1) are a tasty light snack with lots of flavour. 

Vegan, gluten free,high in fibre, they contain plant protein and no MSG, artificial preservatives or palm oil. 

Nutritional values: 92kcal and 0.25g of salt per 22g serving.

Available at Tesco, Holland & Barrett, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, on Amazon, Ocado and uk.hippeas.com.

Olly's Salted Original Pretzel Thins (£1.20) are another family favorite. These signature oven-baked snacks are light, crispy and healthier than standard crisps. 

Lovely on their own with a glass of cold beer, or used as a perfect scoop for salsa or guacamole.

Nutritional values: 117kcal and 0.5g of salt per 35g pack. Packaging is 100% recyclable..

Available at Waitrose, ASDA, on Ocado, Amazon and Olly's Shop.

CLIF Bar CLIF Bar Minis (£1.19 each) are a lovely wholesome snack on the go, with 4g plant-based protein. Offering you an energy boost when you need it.

Crunchy Peanut Butter is an oat and peanut bar- 111 kcal in a 28g portion.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut is 109 kcal, and Chocolate Chip is 108kcal per mini bar.

Available at Tesco, sports retail outlets and on Amazon.

You should receive three items in your box.

MENTOS Fanta 4pk multipack (£1.50) is a playful match of two classic brands - Mentos and Fanta. Mentos chewy dragees are our snack of choice for the longer car trips, but of course, you can munch on them any time of the day.

While we prefer the original Mentos, Fanta-flavoured dragees are also bursting with flavour.

Nutriitonal values: 10kcal per one 2.7g candy.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Jordan's Crunchy Oat Granola Raisin & Almond/ Tropical Fruits/ Simply Granola (£3.60) makes a delicious and nutritious breakfast. Baked with care, this crunchy granola is combined with juicy fruits and nuts. 

If you don't fancy granola for breakfast, use your pack for adding extra crunch to an apple crumble.

You will receive one unit in your box. We've got Crunchy Oat Granola Raisin & Almond, made with wholegrain oats that have been honey-baked. 

A good source of fibre and minerals.

Nutritional information: 188kcal and 9.6g of sugar per 45g portion.

Available in all major supermarekt chains.

Flava It! Smokey BBQ and Piri Piri (£1.10 each) are marinade seasonings to add lots of flavour to family/party meals. This seasoning marinade brand has been loved and trusted for over 25 years.

A handy kitchen cupboard staple - simply sprinkle over your choice of meat, fish or/and vegetables for a meal full of flavour.

Smoky BBQ marinade seasoning  is a mix of spices such as smoked paprika, black pepper, dried red pepper dried garlic, dried onion etc.

Classic Piri Piri is a mix of paprika, cracked red chilli, cayenne, dried tomato, dried garlic, dried onion and more.

Available at Tesco, Morrisons, Home Bargains.

MAGGI Authentic Malaysian Chilli Sauce (£2.15 for 340g bottle) brings an authentic taste of Asian cuisine. Made in Malaysia, this is a pleasantly and slightly sweet hot sauce. 

It's a blend of chillies, tomatoes, vinegar and spices. Use as a dip or in cooking.

Nutritional information: 32kcal and 6.2g of sugar per serving.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Hellmann's BBQ Sauce (£2) is a rich and smoky condiment that will enhance any variety of meat- or plant-based sausages or burgers. Also very nice with fried haloumi cheese.

Ingredients include tomato paste, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, malt vinegar, anchovies, spices and herbs and more.

Nutritional information: 21kcal and 3.9g of sugar per portion.

And finally, the product of the month - SlooOW Stone Oven Baguette White (£1.60). This is a partially baked bread product, made with the best and 100% natural igredients. 

The bread is given more than 24 hours to rise and then baked in a stone oven for the delicious crispy crust. 

Apologies for not showing the baked bread. I have served it with cheese, pickles and chutney, and it was gone before I remembered that I haven't taken the photo. It was so tasty.

Available at Tesco and Co-Op.

As you can see, this was another fab selection of tasty foods and drinks from Degustabox.

Breadsong by Kitty & Al Tait

 

"It was like Jenga, pull one block out too fast, too soon, and my whole tower toppled".

Breadsong by Kitty & Al Tait is an inspirational hybrid of genres: part-memoirs, part-cook book.

This is the story of Kitty, a 14-year-old girl with a bubbly personality, who began suffering from anxiety and depression, and withdrew from the world to the confines of her home. The family has been trying everything to help her, but it felt like she was slipping further away.

If someone you love suffers with mental health issues, it might be not so easy to read the pages of Kitty's memoirs. You can feel her torment as she is descending into depression. 

Kitty's parents tried out many activities to provide her with some kind of distraction. Gardening, TV, crafts, sewing, painting... until one day Kitty watched her father mixing flour, water and salt in a bowl to make a dough.

"There was nothing planned about it. I just asked Kitty if she wanted to have a go herself. There was no hallelujah chorus or a blinding flash of light... I had no idea just how important that moment was, and I still didn't when Kitty asked to bake that bread again".

For Kitty it was pure alchemy of breadmaking that fascinated her. "Something so dull had transformed into something so brilliant. Like the girl who could spin straw into gold, I could do it too. And so I did it again and again and again".

Baking was taking over. Two weeks in, the family started sharing their loaves with the neighbours. The new routine was developing, with bread being delivered to the happy recipients in their street. The demand for the bread in their street has soared, and soon orders started to come in for more loaves.

The subscription service was born.

The recovery wasn't immediate. As Al writes, "I'm not sure initially I was any help to Kitty apart from just being there. I spent a lot of time barrelling into verbal cul-de-sacs thinking that maybe I could talk her out of the sadness she was lost in".

Delivering bread came with the interacting part. "People were genuinely excited to receive Kitty's bread. The buzz of handing over a warm loaf to a grateful customer lit a spark within her".

The next thing they needed was a name. Starting with Breadheads, they eventually chose The Orange Bakery because of Kitty's favourite orange dungarees.

The bakery has become Kitty's salvation.

"The bakery was a place that soothed my brain and made me feel safe. I knew what I was doing there, and my anxiety never roared away. It was just a really happy place".

Reading Kitty's story brought back some painful memories of referrals to CAHMS. I cannot fault the commitment of the medical staff working there, but everything takes ages. If you need help urgently, it takes forever. There is also no consistency of care. People leave, new people appear in your life, and at times it feels like you are re-starting from the beginning again and again.

I'm only saying that as to stress the point, that you might find Kitty's story too upsetting to read at the beginning. It might trigger strong emotions, though you might also find it inspiring and helpful.

Baking could be a therapeutic activity for some people, even if it is not a universal cure. 

I nod my head in agreement, reading that when a family member has mental health issues, the whole family is affected. "The needs of the rest of the family had to play second fiddle for a while", says Al. For us it's our reality. Our family life is centred around the needs of our older son. My younger one never knew anything different, and he accepts the situation with grace. 

The book also made me smile, as it brought back memories of making my own sourdough starter, and failing most of the time. I also had jars and jars of sinister grey unappetising liquid. I did manage to make a decent starter a couple of times and even used it in a few recipes, but then it died a natural death from lack of use.

Al's voice has a distinct touch of sarcasm. "Sourdough pizza, sourdough crackers, sourdough breadsticks; these are the high-class, artisan versions of their peers. The prefix sourdough somehow means that it's okay to charge twice as much". That is so true. I do love sourdough, but agree there's a whiff of the Emperor's New Clothes about it. Despite being an ancient technique, it has become so trendy, especially during the lockdown, that now almost everything is sourdough.

The second half of the book is a cook book of Kitty and Al's recipes.

You will find chapters on Bread (including miracle overnight white loaf, overnight focaccia, Challah, Biga bread, soda bread, Guinness soda bread and more), Sourdough Bread (including a step-by-step on the sourdough starter, recipes for Ultimate sourdough bread, sourdough focaccia, Ulla's rye bread, Fika buns, Next level Chelsea buns - which I hope to try baking one day), Pastries (including Cheese straws, Eccles cakes, Pasteis de Nata, croissants, pains au chocolat and many more) and finally, Cookies and Cakes (Cheddars, Stem Gingernuts, Ultimate brown butter choc chip cookies, vegan nut butter and banana cookies, blondies with a Marmite glaze etc).

Kitty's creative approach to classic recipes is original and inspiring.

For example, she adds chunks of sweet and salty miso fudge to her Ultimate brown butter choc chip cookies. I have followed the recipe quite closely, but knowing my guys, didn't risk with a miso flavour, adding standard fudge pieces to the cookie dough.

Pasteis de Nata or Custard Tarts are our family favourite pastries. One of our local cafes sells pretty good pastel de nata, and I do often buy frozen ones from Waitrose.

However, if you buy a ready-made puff pastry, you can quickly make a batch of your own custard tarts.

Kitty's twist on the classic recipe is to add a pinch of garam masala to the custard. I added a little bit of garam masala to two of the pastries, as I wasn't sure how much we'd like it. 

The pastries are delicate and wonderfully creamy. 

I also tried a recipe for savoury biscuits - Cheddars, made with strong Cheddar. This is an eggless recipe. I wasn't sure how well I can roll the dough, it looked pretty crumbly, but a dash of water was all that was needed. 

Very tasty biscuits, they didn't last long.

Totally delicious with a dollop of chilli jam.

I have bookmarked a few recipes from the book, which I would love to try.

This book tells a beautiful, uplifting story of a courageous girl.

You can check out Kitty's Instagram @kittytaitbaker for delightful baked goodies and inspiration.

Many thanks to Kitty and Al Tait, Bloomsbury and Tandem Collective UK for my copy of the book! I enjoyed taking part in the Readalong and looking at everyone's bakes.

Photo diary: week 2, 2021: project 365

 As I'm reading Grace Dent's wise piece of writing in today's Guardian, I nod my head in agreement. With all the current restrictions and higher levels of intolerance around, you almost feel that you have to walk purposefully and not stop and admire a rushing river, or a red kite soaring in the skies, as if it is against the rules. She asks, "How long outdoors is acceptable until your need for fresh air is deemed wanton?" 

Many people are carrying their anger. Today Eddie and I were walking home, and stopped in the street to catch a Pokemon or two outside one of the Pokestops. We checked that we didn't block the way, in fact, it was absolutely empty, and no-one around, we are very careful with social distancing. Then a car pulled by next to us, the guy has angrily pointed a finger at us. I thought, he might have a delivery for the house we were standing next to, so moved us further along the street. But no, he then just drove on without getting out. What the heck was all that about? 

The levels of river Windrush are quite high this week, though the muddy path through the flood fields is passable.

My brother sent me the picture of their new cat. A couple of years ago they lost their elderly cat, who was 16 or 17 years old, and who was a dear member of the family. 

He is a beauty, isn't he?!

Homeschooling is better structured this time. Children have two Zoom sessions per day, and can discuss any issues with the teachers. They are also happy to see their mates and wave to them.

It's nice that they are also encouraged to have exercise and a walk every day, when possible. Eddie and I have a brisk walk around the block, getting some fresh air for half an hour around lunchtime.

This week I published two book reviews, including for Children's Fate by Carolyn Hughes. I have been playing with photo props. This is historical novel set during the times of the Black Death. It's a fasciating story, but has potential triggers (death during the pandemic). You can also win a £15 amazon voucher to spend on any book you want (or chocolate).

Homeschooling is not fun, so I'm finding my "entertainment" ad hoc. When Eddie is using the laptop, I might open the Pokemon app on the iphone.

The other day, when they had a Zoom session, one of the class mates kept saying she had a question. When the teacher let her talk, she said her dog wanted to say Hi to the class. Of course, it did.

After that, Eddie and I kept saying things to each other like, My Pokemon wants to say Hi to the class.

We haven't had any bread left, and I didn't fancy going out shopping, so decided to try a new bread recipe from Nigella - for an old-fashioned sandwich loaf, made with soured milk. Apparently, Nigella's recipe is a twist on Dan Lepard's bread made with buttermilk.

I'm not a confident bread-baker. I could never pass the test for bread-making on GBBO. This recipe is pretty easy to follow, doesn't require much kneading, and the result is very tasty. I'm going to bake it again.

What else is "newsworthy"? Eddie and I watched the first two episodes of WandaVision on Disney+. From what I've seen on Twitter, most people are raving about it. I found it rather bizarre - cringe at times. But I will watch the next episode on Friday. If you enjoy series like Bewitched, then it might appeal to you.

Today's bit of excitement was going to Sainsbury's and buying new slippers for Eddie with my groceries. It might be considered a non-essential indulgence, but the slippers he's been wearing, look utterly shredded on the soles, and were destined for the bin. 

I also bought a couple of books - CatKid Comic Club and Dear Child by Romy Hausmann. The reviews of this thriller are very encourgaing, if you want to know more, read the review of Dear Child on Coffee and Books blog.

Sadly, it will have to wait until I have a chance to read it, as I have a huge stash of books for reviewing, looking at me solemnly and tutting at me for buying more books.

The article which I enjoyed today is Grace Dent's "Sweet treats..." in Feast (The Guardian). It so resonated with me. It's a poignant piece, which shows we're all hanging there, and little treats save the day. And we should never underestimate little escapes, even if it means lingering by the chocolate aisle or looking at the books at Sainsbury's.

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Flatbread made with brine

Do you love pickles? What do you do with the leftover brine?
Many Russians swear by pickle brine's ability to help with the hangovers. The brine with a right balance of sweet, salty and sour, with herbs and bits of garlic or chilli pepper adds a nice touch to a soup. You can use it as a liquid for fermenting more vegetables, of course, in a sort of never-ending pickle, just keep adding chopped vegetables and weigh them down for another portion of pickled goodness.

I also discovered recently that you can make tasty flatbread with it. Now that I never knew, until I came across a recipe for flatbread made with brine on a Russian site Povarionok (lit. Little chef).
I receive a daily newslwetter from this site, with 5 selected recipes of the day.
Many recipe posts make me smile, especially when the poster is over-the-top, complimenting their own cooking talents, like "Nobody, absolutely nobody, will be able to resist it", or claim a recipe to be an authentic Italian recipe and use a soured cream or cultured milk drink like kefir (yes, such authentic Italian ingredients).
From time to time there are real gems of recipes and ideas, which I add to my "Recipes to try" bookmarked list.

The original author uses measurements like 1 glass of flour. Since I have no idea how much flour is in 1 glass (it's not the equivalent of the American cup), I used approximate measurements.

Flatbread with brine
Ingredients:
225ml brine from pickles
300+g plain flour
1/2tsp baking soda
6tbsp olive oil

Mix 3tbsp of oil with brine, and sift in the flour and baking soda. Mix well.
The recipe suggests adding a pinch of salt or sugar, depending on the taste of the brine. The one I used was sweet & sour enough, so I didn't add any sugar or salt.
The dough should be soft and pliable.
Dust your hands with flour and divide the dough into three parts, roll them into a semblance of balls and let rest in the covered bowl for about half an hour.
OK, it might look like Paul Hollywood's nightmare, but don't deride it for its looks.

Then flatten each dough ball into a flatbread. Heat up 1tbsp of oil (per flatbread) on a small to medium sized frying pan, and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side.

And that's it, such an easy and useful recipe. I am going to experiment with different types of brine.

The one I used was from the Polish cucumber preserves/dill pickles which I bough in the local Polish deli. I find many British pickles to be too vinegary, but I obviously cannot generalise.

I ate it with honey for breakfast, and it was lovely.

Adding this recipe to #KitchenClearout linky run by Cheryl at Madhouse Family Reviews.

Snowball fights and bread'n'butter pudding

The snow was supposed to arrive over two weeks ago, but the British forecast is not always reliable, so when I read the snow was due the next day, I thought Yeah, yeah, of course... But for once the forecast was correct, and the snow did come. I went to the kitchen in the middle of the night to get a glass of water, and realised the ground was covered with white. It kept falling down in fluffy snowflakes.
Eddie was ecstatic. He's been talking about building a snowman for the last couple of winters, alas, we didn't have enough snow to build even a snow mouse. Off he skedaddled in the garden to play in the snow. He had convinced his Dad to join him, and even Sasha decided to get out for 15 minutes, but then sensibly went back home, into the warmth and comfort.

Our garden was transformed, painted white.

My guys were playing in the snow, I watched them from the kitchen and smiled, making bread and butter pudding. I don't often cook it, but it's a great comfort food, especially after running in the cold.

All the quantities are approximate. I used about 6 slices of Warburton's Medium sliced bread (bigger size pack).

Remove crusts from the bread, and butter on one side, then cut into triangles.
Place them, overlapping each other, in a buttered baking tray, and scatter raisins, dried cranberries and chocolate buttons. Cover with more buttered slices.

I used Planters Fruity Chocolate crunch mix (omitting peanuts) from the last DEgustabox, but just raisins and/or chocolate buttons will be fine too.

In a medium sized mixing bowl beat together 2 eggs with 100g caster sugar, 100ml single cream.
Pour the batter over the bread and let the mix soak for at least half an hour.
Put the baking dish in the oven preheated to 180C. Bake for about 35-40 minutes.
Sprinkle with the icing sugar. Serve hot. If you have some single cream, it's even better.

I'm not sure if I might have a chance to write before Christmas, and think of having a blogging break.
Wishing you all a merry Christmas!