Recipes from a passionate cook & foodie
This moist, shallow cake from Santiago de Compostea is probably the best known almond cake in Spain. Serves: 8 Ingredients Unsalted Butter & All Purpose flour for tin. 4 eggs 1/2 tablespoon grated lemon zest 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon 3/4 cup / 180ml Granulated Sugar 3 cups / 750ml Blanched Almonds, finely ground 1/3 cup / 80ml all-pupose plain flour Confectioners Sugar / Icing Sugar for dusting Method Preheat the oven to 200oc / Gas 6. Butter a 9 inch round cake … [Read more...]
I remember the day I had carrot cake for the very first time. I was in hospital. There were no other options left. I was devastated because all the chocolate cake and Manchester Tart had gone. But I was depressed and wanted something sweet. Despite my adoration of all things vegetable I eyed the carrot cake with apprehension. I was prepared to hate it. Then I took my first mouthful, and it was like a party on my tastebuds. The combination of flavours, textures and delightful vanilla cream … [Read more...]
There are some coffee delights in this world that cannot be matched - and this Austrian coffee cake is one of them. Wonderful served with coffee at any time of the day. Delightful served as an after dinner treat. Ingredients: 6 ounces Butter - softened 6 ounces Caster Sugar 6 ounces Self Raising Flour 1 pinch Salt 3 large Eggs Coffee Sugar Brandy ½ pint Double Cream Flaked Almonds Method Cream butter and sugar together until light and creamy, add the eggs one at a time and … [Read more...]
New Year or Hogmanay is still well celebrated in Scotland. I was blessed to spend one winter there and partake in their fine traditions. It truly is far more magical than Christmas, and there is nothing more wonderful to me than to hear the Scottish pipes playing. I find that these days I do become emotional at the thought of my New Year there, and each once since I have missed the playing of the pipes. Also eaten around Hogmanay is a traditional seed cake, served with tea or … [Read more...]
All credit for this christmas cake recipe goes to my mother who created it hen I was a wee child. She has kindly consented to me posting it here. Ingredients 6oz Margarine 1tsp Almond Essence 3 eggs – room temperature 8oz Plain Flour (strong – preferably bread) 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder 1 1/2 tsp Mixed Spice 3/4 tsp Ground Ginger 3/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon 3/4 tsp Salt (not low salt) 1oz Ground Almonds (preferably bought whole and ground yourself) 6oz Stoned Raisins 5oz … [Read more...]
To be fair Christmas Log was never a large part of my childhood memories - I did not discover the delight of a christmas log cake until I was in my early twenties. My family always had a fairly small selecton - christmas pudding, sherry triffle or fruit salad! Always the same, every single year. I do love all three but sometimes it would have been nice to vary it from year to year - but variety was never the source of pleasure with my family, provided it came in vast quantities they were … [Read more...]
I love my milk chocolate cake. Its immensely simple and yet so very gratifying. Because it is such a light cake I find it especially good for kids - and if you really want to hide a hidden and healthy twist try adding a touch of wholemeal flour to the mix - not only does it add a lovely nutty texture but its so good the kids will never know its there - for this recipe check my wholemeal milk chocolate cake recipe. Ingredients:: 200 g (7 oz) Self Raising Flour 225 g (8 oz) caster sugar 1 … [Read more...]
Like Yorkshire Parkin, except its my very own recipe. I love Parkin, it holds a special place in my heart from childhood when I would have a supper of Yorkshire Parkin and a glass of milk. Something that remains with me to this day when I am in need of comfort. Of course, these days, I tend to team it with a glass of Soya Milk, but thats not the point. The aromas help to relax me just as much of the familiar taste. This is especially good served at a traditional Bonfire Night - back when I was a … [Read more...]
This is a very simple milk chocolate cake with a wholemeal twist. The wholemeal flour lends it a lovely nutty texture. Its excellent if you are really struggling to get wholemeal goodness into your kids - namely because it looks so naughty and packed with chocolate that they will never know the secret ingredient that lurks within its rich dark layers. This is a tried and tested method of getting your kids to try some wholemeal foods. Ingredients 100 g (3 1/2 oz) Self Raising Flour 100 … [Read more...]