Sunday, 22 September 2013

Passionfruit & mango meringue roulade



A tropical pavlova all rolled up!!!!!!!

Ingredients:
  • 5 large egg whites
  • 150g castor sugar
  • 2 tsp cornflour
  • 25g icing sugar, to dust
  • 400ml double cream
  • 175g mango, chopped
  • 3-4 passion fruits, seed scooped out
  • 10g desiccated coconut, to garnish
Method:

Preheat oven to 150C/130C for fan oven. Line a 30cm x 20cm swiss roll tin with greaseproof paper.

Using an electric whisk, whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks, then gradually whisk in the castor sugar until the mixture is stiff and glossy. Whisk the cornflour in.

Spread out the meringue evenly in the prepared swiss roll tin and then transfer to the oven to bake for 1 hour. leave to cool completely in the tin.

Lay a sheet of greaseproof paper on the work surface and sprinkle with the icing sugar. Carefully turn out the meringue onto the paper and peel away the sheet attached to its base. Carefully flipback over.

Using the electric whisk, whip the cream to soft peaks then spread over the meringue, leaving 1cm border round the edge. Scatter over the mango and passion fruit then spoon over the passion fruit pulp.

With one of the short ends of the meringue closest to you use the greaseproof paper carefully roll up into a roulade. Dust with icing sugar  and scatter with the desiccated coconut to serve.

Teowchew Mooncake or Thousand Layers Pastry


These spiral pastries ( also know as Teowchew mooncakes) are really wonderfully flaky and so light and delicious. It might look like quiet a bit of work but if you follow the instructions carefully, they are not difficult at all. And considering how beautiful they look, people will be so impressed.

Ingredients:

For the yam filling:
  • 1kg yam peeled, cut into chunks
  • 150g castor sugar
  • 60g butter
Method:

Steam the yam chunks at high heat until soft. While still hot, add in sugar and butter and continue to mash until the yam is creamy. Set aside to cool.

Weight 50g each and shape into a ball.

For the pastry:

Oil dough:
  • 250g plain flour
  • 120g shortening ( can use ghee too)
  • a few drop of purple food colouring
Method:

Mix the flour and shortening together until is soft and pliable. Then add in the purple food colouring and knead untill the colour is uniform. Cover and rest the dough for about 20 minutes. If you wish to use the food processor for this, you may do so.

Water dough:
  • 300g plain flour
  • 25g icing sugar
  • 100g shortening (or ghee)
  • 115g cold water
Method:
  • Mix all the ingredients together and knead until the dough is pliable and soft. Cover and rest for min 20 minutes. Again you may use the food processor for this stage.
To make flaky swirl yam mooncake:

  1. Weight water dough 60g each ball and oil dough 40g each, shape the dough into ball each.
  2. Flatten water dough and wrap oil dough inside.
  3. Roll out into long shape and roll up like swiss roll.
  4. Roll from the shorter side into long shape and roll up like swiss roll from shorter side.
  5. Cut the dough into 2 portions and repeat the rest of the dough until finished.
  6. Flatten the dough start from the swirl side and roll out into a round disc.
  7. Flip over and wrap in yam filling and seal it tightly, seal edge facing downwards.
  8. Place on baking tray and bake in preheated oven 170C /150C for fan oven for 25-30 minutes.
  9. Cool well before cutting



 

White Rustic Loaf


This basic loaf  is a cinch  to make. It's best eaten on the same day or used for toasting the following day.

Ingredients:
  • 500g strong bread flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 1 tsp fine salt
  • 7g sachet fast-action dried yeast
  • 1tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing
  • 300ml warm water
Method:

Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Stir in the yeast.  Make a well in the centre and gradually mix in  300ml warm water and the oil until the dough comes together, add a dash more water if it seems dry.

Tip out onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough for 5 minutes until smooth. Shape like a rugby ball and put onto a oiled, large baking sheet. Set aside in a warm place for 40 minutes or until doubled in size. This is know as proving or rising.

Preheat oven to 220C or 200C for fan oven.. make a deep slashes with a sharp knife in the top of the dough and dust with flour. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until risen, golden and cooked. To test id its's ready, tap the base of the loaf. It should sound hollow. Cool on a wire rack and slice to serve.

 

Monday, 26 August 2013

Chocolate Brownie Cake



This chocolate brownie cake is perfect for both adults and children.

Ingredients:
  • 275g good quality dark chocolate (at least 55% cocoa solids)
  • 225g butter
  • 350g castor sugar
  • 5 eggs, beaten
  • 1/2tsp vanilla extract
  • 200g plain flour
For the peanut butter frosting:
  • 400g full fat philadephia cream cheese
  • 4 heaped tbsp icing sugar
  • 340g peanut butter (the American brands are best)
  • 50g melted dark chocolate and a handful honey-roasted peanuts, chopped to decorate
Method:

Grease and lined the bottom of 2 x 20cm sandwich tins.

Heat the oven to 180C/160C for fan oven.

To make the cake, melt the chocolate and the butter over a low heat and allow to cool for a few minutes, before stirring in the sugar.

Add the eggs and vanilla a little at a time, stirring well. Don't worry if is splits, it will come back together when you add the flour.

Fold in the flour in batches and stir in 1/2 tsp salt. Divide the mixture between the tins and cook for 25-30 minutes, until the skewer inserted into the cakes comes out with only a few crumbs.

Remove the cakes from the oven and cool in the tins for a few minutes. Turn out on a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese and icing sugar together until smooth, then stir in the peanut butter until completely incorporated. Don't over stir as it will split. If it looks like going to split, add a little cold water and stir.

To assemble, place one of the cakes top down on a platter, spread with half the frosting then add the other cake top side up and spread with the remaining frosting. Drizzle over the melted chocolate with a teaspoon then scatter with the honey-roasted nuts.

This cake needs to keep cool before serving, and will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days or can be frozen in-iced.
 

Bee Koh Moy/ Bubur Pulut Hitam (Black Glutinous Rice Pudding)


This dessert brings back my childhood memory when growing up in Penang. Those early days, an old Indian man will walk around the village selling this dessert.
Bee Koh Moy is a thick, creamy nutty dessert made with the simplest ingredients. Sweet Black Glutinous Rice, water and sugar. Jusr before serving, you can opt to add a splash of creamy coconut milk and you'll have a yummy treat!! This is just like the English Rice Pudding.

Ingredients:
  • 200g black glutinous rice
  • sugar to taste
  • 5 cups of water
  • 2 pandan leaves, knotted
  • 1 cup coconut milk plus 1/2 tsp salt (mix well)
Method:

Soaked the black glutinous rice for 30-60 minutes. Then rinse the rice throughly.

In a pot add water, pandan leaves and the rice and bring it to boil. Then reduce the heat to medium and continue boiling for 40-60 minutes or until the rice becomes soft and breaks up. Keep checking the water level and if it's too dry, add more water & also stir once a while as the rice will stick to the pot. Add the sugar to taste.

Serve the bee koh moy in a small bowls topped with spoonful of coconut milk. If you like it creamier, add more coconut milk.

Chocolate and banana cake


Just one look at this chocolate and banana treat is enough to know it won't stay in the cake tin for long.

Ingredients:
  • 100ml sunflower oil plus extra for grease
  • 175g caster sugar
  • 175g self raising flour
  • 1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda
  • 4 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 100g chocolate chips or chunks
  • 175g very ripe bananas
  • 3 medium eggs, 2 separated
  • 50ml milk
For the topping:
  • 100g milk chocolate
  • 100ml sour cream or cream fraiche
  • handful dried banana chips, roughly chopped
Method:

Heat the oven to 160C or 140C for fan oven. Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin with baking parchment (allow it to come 2cm above top of the tin).

Mix sugar, flour, bicarb soda, cocoa and chocolate in a large bowl.

Mash the bananas in a bowl and stir in the whole egg plus 2 yolks, followed by the oil and milk.

Beat the egg whites until stiff. Quickly stir the wet banana mixture into the dry ingredients, stir in a quarter of the egg whites to loosen the mixture, then gently fold in the rest. Gently scrape into the tin and bake for 1 hr 10-15 minutes, or until the skewer inserted comes out clean.

Cool in the tin on a wire rack. To make the icing, melt the chocolate and soured cream or cream fraiche together in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Chill in the fridge until spreadable.

Remove cake from the tin, roughly swirl icing over and scatter with the banana chips.
 

Watermelon cookies


These watermelon cookies are so cute and easy to make. They are a perfect start for beginners too. They are so yummy....

Ingredients:
  • 170g butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup of sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups of plain flour, sifted
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • a pinch of salt
  • chocolate chips for decoration
Method:

Preheat the oven to 200C/180C for fan oven.

Beat butter and sugar until well combined.  Add in the egg and the vanilla extract. Beat until combines.

In a separate bowl add in the sifted flour, baking powder and the salt. Whisk the dry ingredients until they are well combine.

Add in the dry ingredients into the butter mixture a little at a time, continue to whisk until all are combined well.

Divide the dough into half. The first half, add in the red gel colouring and knead well until all the dough is well incorporate with the red colouring which looks like the watermelon colour. Roll the dough into a log of about 6 inches long. Once you finish, cover the dough with a plastic cover of clingfilm & put into the fridge for an hour.

In the mean time, divide the other half of the dough into two. Add one with a green gel colouring and knead well until all the dough is well incorporates. The other  half is in white colour.  Wrap both the green & the white dough separately in a plastic cover & put it in the fridge for an hour.


Lightly floured the surface and flatten the white dough big enough to roll & cover the red dough. Then follow by the green dough. Again floured surface and flatten the green dough large enough to wrap the log. Once completed, cover with plastic or cling cover and put back in the fridge for at least 2 hours or until firm.

Once firmed, slice the dough not thicker than a 1/4" thick. Once completed, cut the round dough into half. Then use the chocolate chips with the pointed end down & push into the dough to look like watermelon seeds.

Put into a baking sheet & bake in the oven for 9 to 11 minutes. Cool the cookies on the wire rack.

You can also view this on You Tube http://youtu.be/g3mObv2EwT4

Sunday, 11 August 2013

Apple, pear and pecan upside down cake



A delicious moist and light fruit and nut cake with sticky golden syrup, which can be served warm as a pudding.

Ingredients:
  • 1 conference pear, peeled, cored and sliced
  • 1-2 red apples, cored and sliced
  • 75g pecan nuts, halves
  • 6 tbsp golden syrup
  • 175g, butter, softened
  • 175g caster sugar
  • 3 medium size eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 175g self raising flour, sifted
Method:

Preheat oven to 180c/160c for fan assist. Grease and line the base of a deep 20cm cake tin.

Arrange the pear and apple slices with the pecan nut halves in the base of the tin. Drizzle over 3 tablespoons of golden syrup.

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs one at a time. Then add in the vanilla essence and mixing well between each addition.

Fold in the flout and mix well. Then spoon the micture into the cake tin. Spread evenly to cover the fruits and nuts.

Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 50-60 minutes until golden brown and firm to touch.
Allow to cool in the tin for a few minutes then run a knife around the edge and invert onto a serving plate.

Drizzle over the remaining syrup and serve. For indulgent pudding, serve with vanilla ice cream or some lightly whipped double cream.

 

Choc Chunk Cookies



Is so easy to make and delicious.

Ingredients:
  • 100g butter, softened
  • 100g light brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp golden syrup
  • 150g self raising flour
  • 75g milk chocolate chunks
Method:

Preheat oven to 180c/160c for fan assist oven.

Beat butter and sugar until pale and creamy, then beat in the golden syrup. Sift over the flour and work into the mixture to form a rough dough.

Divide the dough into 12 evem sized balls and place on greased baking sheet with chocolate chinks, pressong them lightly into the dough.

Bake for 12-14 mins until just set and a pale golden colour. Leave on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack and leave to cool completely (the cookies will firm on cooling)

Monday, 5 August 2013

Lemon cake with lemon curd buttercream


Found this recipe in Woman's Weekly. Tried and tasted, this light lemon cake with lemon curd buttercream is sweet and citrusy and most important only takes 35 minutes to bake. With a sweet syrup glaze and a creamy lemon buttercream topping, this cake is delicious. The sponge is soft and moist, even more so with the syrup and is full of grated lemon zest which gives it a natural lemon flavour throughout. Decorate with drizzles of lemon curd and it's ready to enjoyed.

Ingredients:
For the cake:
  • 250g butter , softened
  • 250g caster sugar
  • 250g self raising flour
  • 4 medium eggs
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • finely zested rind of 2 lemons
For the syrup:
  • 4 level tbsp caster sugar
  • juice of 2 lemon juice
For the filling:
  • 2 tbsp lemon curd
For the frosting:
  • 125g unsalted butter
  • 250g icing sugar
  • 4 level tbsp lemon curd
For the decoration:
  • 3-4 tbsp lemon curd
Method:

Greased and line 2 x 18cm sandwich tins. Set the oven to 180C/160C for fan assist oven.

To make the cake: Beat the butter, add to the remaining ingredients and beat until smooth. Divide the mix between the 2 tins and level the surface. Bake in the centre of the oven for about 30-35 minutes, until they are just firm to the touch in the centre then remove them from the oven.

To make the syrup: Pour 4 tbsp water into a small pan and add the caster sugar. Place on a low fire and stir until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat and bring the mixture to the boil. Allow it to rapidly for 1 minutes, then remove the panfrom the heat and add the lemon juice.

Remove the cakes from the oven and immediately pour over the syrup, half over each cake. Leave in the tins for about 10 minutes, until all the syrup has soaked in, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Sandwich the 2 cakes together with the lemon curd filling.

To make the frosting: Beat the butter until very soft, then add remaining ingredients and beat until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. Spread the frosting over the top and sides of the cake.

To decorate, spoon lemon curd into a pipping bag, cut off the end to create a small hole and drizzle in a zigzag over the top of the cake

 

Sunday, 21 July 2013

Apple & Almond Sponge


A soft moist cake cake that smells sooooo good. This recipe only takes 20 minutes to prepare. Top with flaked almonds for a crisp, golden finish.

For the topping:
  • 25g flaked almonds
  • 1 tbsp golden castor sugar
  • 1/2tsp ground cinnamon
  • 120g peeled, chopped dessert apple
For the sponge:
  • 180g soft butter
  • 100g golden castor sugar
  • 3 medium eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 100g ground almond
  • 100g self raising flour
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • icing sugar
Method:

Preheat oven to 160C/ 140C for fan oven. Gease and base line a 22cm cake tin.

Put all ingredient into a bowl and mix gently together.

Put the butter and sugar into a bowl and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition. Add a little of the flourif the mixture begins to separate. Stir in the vanilla and almond extract. Add the ground almonds, flour and milk and mix to a soft consistency.

Spread the mixture in the prepared tin. Sprinkle over the topping and bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes until risen and golden brown. Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve.



Sunday, 9 June 2013

Sticky Jaffa loaf



Found this recipe on Women's Weekly. This sticky and sweet jaffa loaf combines citrusy orange with a dense sponge to make one delicious loaf recipe that you’ll want to make time and time again. Warm marmalade and a creamy, yogurt mix makes this loaf different to the rest. This cake only takes 1hr  to rustle up and is well worth the wait.

Ingredients:
  • 3 tbsps good-quality thin-cut marmalade
  • 150g tub 0% fat plain yogurt
  • 3 medium eggs
  • 175g golden caster sugar
  • 175g spreadable butter
  • 175g self-raising flour
  • 30g cocoa powder
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • Zest of 1 large orange
For the glaze:
  • Juice of ½ an orange
  • 5 tbsps good-quality thin-cut marmalade
  • 900g loaf tin, buttered and strip-lined
Method:
 
 Set the oven to 160C/140C for fan oven.

 Warm the marmalade, beat in the yogurt and set aside.
 
Beat the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl until smooth. Quickly beat in the yogurt and spoon the mixture into the tin.

Bake for about 1 hours or until a skewer, when inserted, comes out clean. Check loaf after an hour.

Leave in the tin for 10 mins to cool. Make holes in it with the skewer.
 
To make the glaze:
Bring the orange juice to the boil in a small pan, then add the marmalade and heat until bubbling and smooth. Spoon it over the cake. Leave to cool in the tin.

 

Blackberry & Almond Meringue Cake


Impress your friends and family with this fabulous cake!!!!

Ingredients:

For the cake
  • 200g butter , softened
  • 200g golden caster sugar
  • 200g self-raising flour
  •  50g ground almonds
  • 2 eggs and 2 egg yolks , beaten
  • 2-4 tbsp milk
  • 150g punnet blackberries
For the Meringue
  • 2 egg whites
  • 100g golden castor sugar, plus a sprinkle
  • 2 tbsp flaked almond
For the filling
  • 200ml double cream, lightly whipped
  • 4 tbsp bramble jelly
Method:

 Line the base of two loose-bottomed 20cm non-stick sandwich tins with baking parchment. Heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3.

Put all the cake ingredients (except the blackberries and using just half the milk) in a bowl, then beat until creamy and well mixed. Stir in 100g blackberries, along with the extra milk if you need it to loosen the mixture a little. Divide between the sandwich tins and level the tops.

Quickly whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl, adding the 100g sugar, a spoonful at a time, until really thick and glossy. Lightly spread onto one of the cakes, then sprinkle with the flaked almonds and extra sprinkle of sugar. Bake both cakes for 40 mins, then take the cake without the meringue out of the oven and set aside. Bake the remaining cake for 30 mins more until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Carefully remove cakes from the tins and cool on a wire rack. When the cakes are cold, peel off the paper.

To serve, spread the cream on the plain cake right up to the edges. Spoon over the bramble jelly, then sandwich with the meringue-topped cake and decorate with the remaining blackberries.   

                                                    

Friday, 17 May 2013

White Chocolate and Raspberry Blondies


Bought too much raspberry from the Farmer's market. Decided to google for a recipes and stumble upon this one from bakewithstork.com. It so simple and easy to bake, decided to have a go................
It was deliciousssss

Ingredients:
  • 115g Stork packet
  • 115g castor sugar
  • 2 medium eggs
  • 125g plain flour
  • 200g white chocolate, chopped
  • 115g fresh raspberries
Method:

Pre-heat oven to 190C/170C for fan oven

Melt the Stork, add half the chocolate and stir until nice and smooth.

Whisk the eggs and sugar in a large bowl until creamy and slightly thickened.

Sieve the flour into the bowl and fold in gently with the chocolate mixture, then add half the remaining chocolate and half the raspberries.

Carefully pour the mixture onto a 18cm square pan, lined with baking or greaseproof paper brushed with oil.

Sprinkle the remaining chocolate and raspberries on top.

Bake in the pre-heated oven for 35-40 minuted until beautifully golden.

Leave to cool before cutting into delicious squares. Dust with icing sugar before serving.

 

Twice-cooked Melting Pork Belly


Saw Gok Wan cooking this recipe on his TV show. Look so delicious and tender. Decided to look on Channel 4-4Food and found his recipes. Decided to have a go at it. It is so simple to prepare. This is gloriously sweet, sticky and melt-in-mouth yum....yum...yum...heaven

Ingredients:
  • 1-1.25kg pork belly
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and bashed
  • 5cm piece of ginger, peeled, bashed until roughlt flattened
  • 2 whole star anise
  • 3 spring onions, trimmed, white and greens separated
  • 3-4 tbsp Shaoxing wine
  • 2-3 tbsp light soy sauce

For the glaze:
  • 3-4 tbsp runny honey
  • 1-2 tbsp light soy sauce
To garnish:
  • 2 springs onions, sliced diagonally
  • 1 red chilli, sliced diagonally
Method:

Place the pork belly, garlic, ginger,star anise, spring onions, Shaoxing wine and soy sauce into a large pan. Cover with hot water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and simmer gently for 11/2 to 2 hours, turning the pork once or twice during the cooking process to ensure even cooking. Once tender remove from the heat.

Preheat the oven to 215C/195C for fan oven.

Remove the belly from the stock, remove the skin and a little of the fat below the skin. Place on a roasting tray lined with baking paper or parchment to make it easier to clean at the end of cooking. Mix together the glaze ingredients and pour over the pork belly. Place in the preheated oven and cook for 20-30 minutes, turning often, spooning the glaze over the meat until glossy.

Remove the belly from the oven and place on a serving plate. Slice and serve garnished with the chopped spring onions and chilli.

Friday, 19 April 2013

Stacie Stewart's Black Beehive Frosted Guiness Cake



Found this recipes while searching for cakes using Guiness. After reading the ingredients and method, decided to have a go with it. This is a rich moist cake. It's unusual method, but trust me, you won't be disappointed. The large amount of sugar is necessary to counterbalance the bitterness of the Guiness, so don't be tempted to cut it down. The classic cream cheese frosting cuts the richness of the cake beautifully.

Ingredients:
  • 250ml/1 cup Guiness
  • 400g caster sugar
  • 100g cocoa powder
  • 250g unsalted butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 100ml buttermilk
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 250g plain flour
  • 2 tsp bicarbonate soda
  • 1 tsp salt
Cream cheese frosting:
  • 125g unsalted butter, softened
  • 175g full-fat soft cheese
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 500g icing sugar
  • cocoa pwder, for dusting
Method:

Preheat oven to 180C/160C for fan oven. Grease a 20cm baking tin and line with baking parchment.

Put the Guiness, sugar, cocoa and butter in a pan over a low heat and stir gently until the butter has melted. Leave to cool slightly.

In a large bowl or food mixer, beat the eggs with the buttermilk and vanilla, then add the Guiness mixture, beating until combined.

Sift the flour, bicarbonate soda and salt together. Add in the flour mixture to the Guiness mixture in 3 stages, stirring gently after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix to make sure everything is evenly combined.

Pour the mixture into the prepared tin; it will be really runny. Bake for 60 minutes, until the skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely before decorating.

To make the frosting, beat the butter until softened. Add the soft cheese and beat gently, then add the vanilla and icing sugar and beat until thick and creamy. Spead over the top and sides of the cake and dust with cocoa.


Saturday, 13 April 2013

Chocolate Mocha Cake


I found this recipes in goodtoknow recipes. Try out this recipe recently and yes I totally agree this cake is an adult cake which comes with strong, dark coffee and rich dark chocolate. Serve this cake with dark chocolate frosting and plenty of walnuts for crunch. Serve with a warm cuppa as an afternoon treat.

Ingredients:
  • 175g butter, softened
  • 175g castor sugar
  • 3 medium eggs, beaten
  • 200g self raising flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2tbsp instant coffee, dissolved in 2 tbsp boiling water, and cooled
  • 60g plain chocolate,finely chopped
For the icing:
  • 125g dark chocolate, broken into pieces and melted
  • 125g butter, softened
  • 250g icing sugar
  • walnut pieces to decorate
Method:

Preheat oven to 180C/ 160C fan. Grease and line a 20cm round cake tin with greaseproof paper.

Put all the ingredients for the cake mixture in a mixing bowl  of an electric mixer and, starting on a low setting, beat together all the ingredients well, Beat for a couple of minutes to make sure all the ingredients are well combined and you have a creamy cake batter. Spoon into the prepared cake tin and bake for 45 to 45 minutes or until the skewer tested in the centre of the cake comes out clean.

Cool in the tin for about 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire cooling rack.

For the filling and topping, carefully melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Leave until cool, but still liquid. Beat the butter and icing sugar, then add the melted chocolate. Beat well before slicing the cake in half horizontally and sandwiching together with half of the icing. Use the remaining icing to swirl on the top and scatter with walnuts pieces.



 

Sunday, 24 March 2013

Citrus olive oil cake


This cake gets its fat content from the healthier option of olive oil. Along with the citrus flavours of lemon and orange, this cake is light and zesty. It only takes 55 minutes to rustle up and is full of flavour. If you fancy jazzing this cake up a bit, top with a light icing and grated orange zest for the prefect finish. If you are on a dairy free diet, substitute the milk for soya milk.

Ingredients:
  • 2 eggs
  • 150g castor sugar
  • 190g self raising flour
  • zest and juice of one orange
  • zest of one lemon
  • 125ml olive oil (not extra virgin)
  • 60ml milk
  • 2 tbsp icing sugar
Method:

Preheat oven to 180C/160C for oven assist. Grease a 20cm cake tin and line with baking parchment.

Whisk together the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the zest of the orange and lemon, and the oil  and mix until combined. Stir in half of the flour, mix well. Stir in half of the milk and orange juice. Stir in the remainder of the flour. Add in the remainder of the milk and orange juice. Pour into the prepared tin.

Bake for 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool fully. When fully cooled transfer to a serving plate and dust with icing sugar.


Raspberry & Blueberry Lime Drizzle Cake


I was greedy the other day & bought too much fruits from the farmer market. Who can blame me as the fruits looks so delicious and mouth watering. Decided to google & found this recipes on BBC Goodfood.  This cake is perfect for teatime treat, this moist and fruity cake is easy baking at its best.

Ingredients:

For the cake:
  • 225g butter, softened
  • 225g castor sugar
  • 4 medium eggs
  • 2 limes, grated zest and juice
  • 250g self raising flour sifted with a pinch of salt
  • 25g ground almonds
  • 100g each blueberries and raspberries
For the syrup:
  • 5 tbsp lime juice ( about 2 limes)
  • 1 lime, grated zest
  • 140g golden castor sugar
Method:

Line the base and side of a 20cm/8in square cake tin with greaseproof paper and butter the paper. Set the oven to 180C/160Cfor fan oven.

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Gradually bet in the eggs, adding a little flour towards the end to prevent curdling. Beat in the lime zest, then fold in the flour and almonds. Fold in enough lime juice, about 3 tablespoons to give you a dropping consistency ( the mixture should drop easily from the spoon when tapped)

Fold in three quarters of the blueberries and raspberries and turn into the prepared tin. Smooth the surface, then scatter the remaining fruit on top, it will sink as the cake rises.

Bake for about 1 hour (cover with foil if begining to brown too much), a skewer pushed into the centre should be clean when removed.

Meanwhile make the syrup: put in the lime juice, zest and sugar in a small saucepan. Put over a gentle heat and stir, without allowing to bubble. The sugar should dissolve a little. As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, prick all over with a skewer then spoon the syrup over it.

Carefully remove the cake from the tin, discard the lining paper and cut into 12 pieces to serve.

To store, cool before wrapping in paper and or foil.

Sunday, 3 March 2013

Tiramisu Cake



These coffee infused cupcakes are easier to make than they look. With an extra soft and moist sponge and a creamy coffee-infused topping, these cupcakes only take 15 minutes to bake. Not only the look impressive, they tast delicious too with an extra strong coffee flavour. These cupcakes are elegant and would make a great food gift for friends and family.

Ingredients:
  • 30g plain flour
  • 30g sel raising flour
  • 15g corn flour
  • 15g custard powder
  • 3 eggs
  • 70g castor sugar
For the topping:
  • 200ml double cream
  • 3 tbsp icing sugar
  • 250g mascarpone
  • 60ml espresso coffee or strong coffee
  • 25ml Masala wine
  • 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
Method:

Preheat the oven to 160C and lone the trays with 12 cupcake cases.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk all the eggs for 1-2 minutes using electric mixer on medium speed, then turn up the speed and whisk for a further 10 minutes. Add the castor sugar gradually, beating until the sugar has dissolved, then beat on high for a further 10 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Fold the mixture into the flour until just combined.

Fill the cupcakes cases to three quarters full and bake for around 15 minutes. Test they are cooked by inserting a skewer, if it comes out clean, thet are done. Remove from the tray and cool on wire rack for 30 minutes.

For the topping:

Using a skewer or toothpick poke holes almost through to the bottom of the cupcakes.

Mix 30ml of cold espresso and 10ml of Masala and using a teaspoon or syringe or brush, dribble a little of the mix into the hole in the cupcakes.

Place 2 tbsp of cold espresso, 1 tbsp Masala, the mascarpone and double cream and icing sugar into a large bowl and whisk until the mix is stiff enough to pipe. Stop mixing just as its thickening or it will be too thick to pipe.

Pipe or spread the cream on to the top of the cupcakes. If you would like to pipe the topping, just snip the end off a disposable piping bag, there is no need of a nozzle. Start in the centre and pipe up around into a spiral, finishing by pushing down a little and pulling up quickly.

Dust with the unsweetened cocoa powder just before you serve them.