Fairs - Izzy And The Hairy Bikers

I don't know about you, but I love the Hairy Bikers. Si King and Dave Myers take the mystique from cooking and add fun in its stead. I also enjoy their cheekiness. Men after my own heart.

Well, last year I was watching the Hairies' Tour of Britain series. During various scenes Si was wearing the Buff (Tube scarf) shown below.

I own quite a few of this type of scarf and began to covet the one shown. When I mentioned this to my two sons they said "Tough luck Mum, they will have been specially made for them. You won't be able to get one."

I took that as the laying down of the gauntlet! The challenge was on.

How could I prove them wrong? Hmm? The cogs began to whirl.

I went onto The Hairy Bikers website and saw that they were asking for family recipes. So I sent one off to them that had come from, at least, my Great-Grandma.

A few weeks later I recieved a phone call inviting me to come to a "Food Fair" which the Hairy Bikers were having, during which they would be recording a new series to be called "Mums Know Best". This was to show that good food and amazing cooking was still being passed down through families. They would like me to be there and could I bring my recipe and cooked version to share?

Could I? Of course I could. This could be my chance to get that unattainable Buff! I decided to make them a character doll each. I make these to order of both famous and less famous people . The result is below.

They were thrilled-to-bits with them and I was cheeky enough to ask if they would like to swap one of their tubular biking-scarves (The ones emblazoned with The Hairy Bikers Logo) for them. They said of 'course they would but hadn't got one on them at the moment as they has been specially made for them and they didn't have many left.' They told me that when they got home one of them would find one out and send it to me.

Here is Si on first spotting his Mini Me.

In the background, near Si's elbow, you can just see the dolls sat together on a table while the Lads did their cookery demonstration.

Our local paper, "The Craven Herald", was at the fair and here is the result below.

I'm thinking of making another set of The Lads in their Elf outfits from the Christmas special they did in 2008. What do you think?

A week later and a little parcel came through the letterbox and YEAH!!! There was my scarf!!! I never doubted them the little loves. Mind you I did threaten (jokingly) to make another set of dolls and stick pins in them if I didn't get one. Tee Hee. A smashing day was had by everyone.Thanks Lads.

Since then the "Mums Know Best" series has been aired on the BBC during January and February. The episode I attended the filming of, 'Simple Suppers', was shown on Tuesday January 19th.

I was filmed with The Hairy Bikers explaining my recipe 'Impossible Pie'. Great Fun! The recipe appears below:-

IMPOSSIBLE PIE

This recipe was given to me by my Nan Lucy. It had been passed down through the family, but I don't know for how long.

All the ingredients are mixed together in one bowl, making a runny sloppy mess. This is poured into a greased oven proof bowl ( I would recommend a clear glass pyrex as then the sides of the pie can be seen), and baked in the oven. When it is cooked it Magically seperates into a pastry base, a custard middle and a coconutty sponge topping. Hence the name Impossible Pie.YUM!

Ingredients.

4 eggs

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup self-raising flour

pinch salt

2 cups milk

1 cup coconut

1 teaspoon vanilla esscence

As stated before beat it all together, Gran would say "Beat it like a galloping horse!" and pour into a greased 8"-9" dish.

Gook for 1 hour at gas mark 4, 180°c. And wait to be amazed.

Si King's comment on seeing the completed dish was "Wow. I think we are in the presence of genius dude."