Katy's blog | Recipes, tips, inspiration a cute pics of 'pets+cookers'!

A Delightful DIY Refurb Review From Diana & Richard!

Diana was happy to report that her engineer said that her Aga range cooker looked too new after a Blake & Bull DIY Refurb Kit was deployed! Good work Diana!...

And Richard was very happy with his results, although the cat wouldn't pose for him and his beloved, Lesley, says that it is TOO CLEAN to use! 

"We thought we might end up needing some help with the replacement lids & doors of our peculiar, restored Aga range cooker bought some 16 years ago, but in fact, it turned out to be pretty straightforward. One old screw got stuck, but after lots of soaking in WD40 thankfully came out without having to resort to the most extreme measures! Sadly there are still some marks on the front of the Aga range cooker, but I'm sure these are acid, as they will simply not come out - anyway, as our engineer who came yesterday to de-coke & restart the Aga said: "too clean an Aga doesn't look properly used!" He was also very impressed with the kit. We are delighted with the results, and are even emboldened to get the under hob insulation in due course... Hopefully these changes will help our Aga range cooker from losing heat too quickly. Thank you, Blake & Bull." Diana, June 2019

The improvements that you have made will make a difference Diana, our customer Mr Harris measured his temperatures before and after. Your external temperatures will drop by an average of 18% on lids and door fronts. All that precious heat is then kept in hotplates and ovens, making for a more efficient machine! 

Even more heat can be saved by upgrading your internal insulation, as you say, a task for next years big switch off maybe Diana? Great to have an engineers endorsement too! 

Richard sent us some fab shots, and just for fun I have digitally popped his old lid next to his new! 

"Waiting for the Broadband repair man so great chance to get on with the Aga clean up. Using the replacement lid liners and oven door kit soon had the replacements fitted. Then on to the mini-refurb kit - all went well until I wanted one of the cats to sit by the Aga range cooker for the statutory picture - they wanted none of it! Probably because it was warmer outside than in! Lesley says she will never use the Aga again as it is so immaculate." Richard, June 2109

< Our kit is flexible, upgrade to non-stick liners and insulation, or go for the classic aluminium liner. 

Father's Day Fry-up! - Our Top Breakfast tips!

Happiness is a lazy morning, a full tummy, a mug o'tea, a good book, cosy socks and your favourite chair. Even better when the Breakfast has been cooked for you! 

If the dad, grandad, kids' dad in your life deserves all of the above then here are a few breakfasty tips to guide you through how to cook the ultimate father's day range cooker fry up! 

First up is the traditional 'Fry up' with no hotplate frying required! Cooking with Aga range cookers often means low washing up, even cooking temps, and efficient use of energy - this dish is a perfect example of just that!

How about the perfect cross between a roast and breakfast?! A perfect brunch for the man in your life. Looks great served up in the prospector pan too, with it's brass rivet detailing. From oven to table with no need to 'plate up' - even less washing up!

The perfect breakfast for a sweet tooth, all balanced out with a sprinkling of cinnamon salt! Matthew's recipe for French toast with cinnamon salt cooked on range cooker. YUM!

This is the lovely Christine's recipe for Daily Bread - serve up some home made bread for an extra special breakfast !

Here are some Blake & Bull goodies that you might need for the perfect breakfast! 

• A simmering set
• A large roasting tin which fits on your runners
• A liner for your large fits on runners roaster
• A rack that fits inside your tray
• An oven shelf
• A toaster
• The ULTIMATE frying pan - goes from hotplate to oven
• A kettle for your brew!
• A lovely tea cosy

And all our breakfasty recipes for your enjoyment here! 

More breakfast recipes -  

1. French toast
2. granola
3. Drop scone pancakes
4. Bubble & Squeak
5. Home Made Bread
6. Healthy non-stick fried eggs on your Aga range cooker
7. Crispy Kale - Katy loves it with my cooked breakfast! 
8. Serious Beans
9. Sardines on toast
10. Overnight Oats

We would love your feedback and contributions! Let us know how you get on!

< back to our 'Recipes with instructions for Aga range cookers' homepage.

Gleaming Green Aga Range Cooker!

Thank you Fiona for sharing your Pics and pup! 

Fiona used our Heavy Duty Enamel Cleaning Kit (suitable for enamel on Aga & Rayburn range cookers), to get her glorious green cooker looking this good! 

"The cleaning kit has transformed my Aga range cooker!!! It looks like a new oven. It took a bit of hard graft, however the instructions were amazing and it’s all turned out very nicely thank you. Wonderful customer care. Holly doodle is happy now it’s all warmed up again!"

Definitely needed in the current inclement weather! brrrrrr

Katy x

< More on our cleaning kits! 

*New* Mini Monty For Use With Aga Range Cookers - Save £10

Last night I found myself lighting the log burner, Wiltshire has been very wet and unseasonably cold - perfect drying rack weather! 

I am missing the washing line this week, especially when my son returned from scouts after a triumphant night of climbing covered in mud & my daughter covered herself in celebratory ice-cream!

We have put together a new kit, saving you £10! Add the side rail and you save another £5 vs the cumulative value! 

The *NEW* Mini Monty is not just a drying set, it is a compact, useful, half size drying set!

The Mini Monty Is Perfect for - 

• Extending your full monty set if you have a 4 oven with warming plate to a whopper of a drying set! ( as long as your rail can accommodate the 40cm ladder - most will!)
• Suitable for compact 60cm Aga range cookers
• Great for drying/proving/airing whilst keeping one hot spot accessible (2, 3 or 4 oven)
• The ladder can stay in situ whilst you cook - you can still get in the ovens! 
• The ladder has less of a 'footprint' than a standalone airer too! 

Not just for laundry! - We have thought of 11 ways to use your Blake & Bull drying racks. Here are our 'Drying Rack Top Tips' -

1. When drying washing on your rack, fold it first, saves on ironing (if you do it!)
2. If you are off on a winter walk, lay your scarves, welly socks, gloves and hats out on the rack to warm through before you leave!
3. Kiddy craft? Use our rack to dry paintings, papier mâché, découpage and much more!
4. Dry citrus peel slowly on it, rested on greaseproof paper, to make a natural kindling, pine cones work too! 
5. Dry out kindling sticks, ready for a warming winter fire.
6. Lay your washing-up on it, to air dry. Or bits from the dishwasher that haven't steam dried, lay a t-towel down first. 
7. The flat surface is great for drying bulkier items slowly, like pillows, duvets folded, cat & dog beds - we have even seen a horse blanket being done this way!
8. Slow dry your glut of summer herbs for the winter months on parchment. 
9. Dry seeds from the garden and store for the next season - free flowers! On the top layer, not too hot.
10. Try Propagating seeds in trays on your rack or pot shelf, if they require a heated propagator you could save money and energy this way! 
11. Dry your delicate woollens - after hand washing let them drip dry flat on our rack, over the bath (or kitchen sink if using a Half Size Drying Rack), then easily transfer the rack to the top of your range for the last drying stage.

< Do please send in your drying rack pics to add to our growing community gallery! 

First Day At Home For This Pup ....

...and he is immediately drawn to the warmest spot in the house! Congratulations @foxypuddleduck on your new pup Scout and thank you for sharing him with us! 

A gorgeous bundle mainly made up of paws...

he is settling in really well! 

Robust Handcrafted Cookware Thats Sure To Make Any Father Happy!

Reassuringly solid, always useful, and every one unique! A description that can be applied to fathers and our cast iron bakeware range! 

To make sure that your Father's Day gift choice arrives in good time select our swift next day service and Jonathan will pack up your cookware delights with care!

Here are 10 reasons why we think this is a purchase that will last a lifetime - 

1. Cast Iron Is just brilliant at retaining heat, keeping food warm after removing from heat source - great for serving too!
2. Cast iron heats evenly, ensuring that browning is consistent - the perfect companion bakeware for cast iron ovens!
3. The Bakeware can be used in very hot ovens for recipes that require a burst of heat, up to a whopping 300℃!
4. They are solid, no springs to weaken, no loose base to go missing, no joins to come apart. 
5. If re-seasoned regularly, they are naturally non-stick.
6. The bakeware is responsibly made in the UK, using traditional methods to hand-spin the iron, by a family firm. 
7. They are 100% recyclable, not that you'd need to any time soon, but it is reassuring to know that they are a low environmental impact purchase. 
8. They are simply put, beautiful. Hand turned solid oak handles and brass rivet details. 
9. The bakeware is resilient, the cast iron is reassuringly strong and gains character and patina as it ages. 
10. Every piece is handmade, so unique to you. Each item is part of a comprehensive collection, to accommodate all your culinary needs.

Our current range includes - 

1. A 8.5" Cake Tin
2. Two sizes of Loaf Tin 2lb and 1lb
3. The stunning Cloche & tray -  ideal for bakers & pizza/flatbread making
4. A versatile and heavy duty Baking Sheet - perfect for flat bread bakes and pizza
5. This stunning Kettle
6. A sturdy Cook Book Stand, that can hold substantial cook books. 
7. A neat little Trivet, capable of withstanding the hottest of pots
8. This essential Pan
9. A large base Frying Pan, perfect for a fry up! 
10. A Prospector Pan, great for cooking tagines & casseroles, although it is just as usable for fast cooking too! Easily transferred from hob to oven
11. Flax oil, a re-seasoning essential.

< To our cookware page..

Ooops - Confessions Of An Illustrator

I am grateful to the two diligent community members who have pointed out that I have missed off White from our Big Survey colour results. 

My sincere apologies to all those who have a shiny, bright and classy white Aga range cooker! 

The numbers have been re-calculated, re-crunched, checked, double checked and crunched again!

What would we do without our diligent community! 

Katy x

Cleaning Enamel - It Really Can Be Fun!

Alexandra chose a rainy day last week to give her Rayburn range cooker a clean..

She shared her "gleaming" cooker on Instagram, and a debate ensued about whether cleaning a cooker can be 'fun', as per Matthews instructions! Now, I am firmly in the 'happy while scraping' camp, it is a very satisfying job, also because you can see progress almost immediately, it spurs you on to complete the task in hand!

@cottage_lane_alexandra was a little nervous of the scraper at first, we have put together a guide on popping the blade into the nifty little tool if you feel the same way.

But after she got in the cleaning groove she was thrilled with the results, and gave us a top review when I asked her 'how it went?'

"Really great! Wish I'd taken better before photos to show the difference. It's absolutely gleaming! I was nervous about using the razor blade but I'd never have got it so clean without. There was a smear on the door we've been trying to get off for ages - but your kit did it!"

< Jonathan tested our paste on a rather troubled little lid! have a look at his results - the most satisfying of before and after shots! 

Happy Cat!

I spent a happy few minutes looking through our customer gallery this week, watch out, you may lose a few mins of your life too if you follow this link! Scroll down our homepage, grab a cuppa and have a happy look at all the lovely homes and furry creatures by range cookers! 

I happened across this feline foto, perfect for caturday! 

This is Jane's purrfect pet, resting by the Aga range cooker and her new Blake & Bull rail! Our rails allow your laundry to hang that bit further from the front surface of the cooker. This lets warm air circulate better around the linens, which stops hot air build up. If the front rail of your cooker is heavily loaded, heat can get trapped, causing your precious badge to melt!

< If your badge is already melted, here are some tips from Matthew!

A perfect light lunch - Smoked mackerel fishcakes

Another tasty recipe perfect for a lazy Sunday Lunch, or lighter supper using roastie leftovers mashed? Yummy either way!