New Venture - Manchester Tarts

Not managed to keep this blog up to date as I had hoped because I have been very busy with a new venture. Tentatively started a cupcake business a few months ago after positive feedback from people I supplied with cupcakes for events late last year . Then, as soon as we had everything in place and were ready to take orders a few weeks ago, things suddenly went a bit mad and I have been spending almost every waking minute when I'm not doing my 'day job' creating cupcakes with my partner.

You can find out what we have been doing here: Manchester Tarts.

Graze - free box with code 29Q3X3FB

Been doing plenty of eating lately - obviously - just not tried many new recipes. Something new which I have tried, though, are the fabulous snack boxes from graze.

Although I do enjoy eating many things which are unhealthy, I also love fresh fruit, nuts and seeds so, when I saw this great little box scheme mentioned on somebody else's blog, I just had to give it a go.

And now you can try it too... for free! Visit the website and enter the code 29Q3X3FB to get your first box free and another for half price. Best thing about it is you can choose the kinds of things you like and also tell them what you don't want. You can also stop deliveries at any time so are guaranteed not to have stacks of boxes dropping through the letterbox if you decide it's not for you.

Aimee Cake (Banana, Walnut and Date Loaf)

My daughter made a cake for me on Mother's Day back in March. Nothing very remarkable about that you might think, but she is 21 years old and this was the first thing she had ever baked on her own. The original recipe came from my ever growing pile of yummy looking things that I want to try and it was selected because it looked foolproof and, more importantly, we had a couple of dodgy looking bananas sitting on the side waiting to be used or dumped. Well, it was so easy and she was so pleased with her self that she now makes it when people are visiting her home for coffee - hence the reason we now refer to it as 'Aimee Cake'.

Ingredients:

225g self raising flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
175g very soft butter, unsalted
100g light soft brown sugar
3tbsp clear honey
2 eggs, beaten
2 medium ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
100g stoned dates, chopped
50g walnut pieces
Banana chips (optional)

Turn the oven to 160C/gas mark 3. Butter a 900g loaf tin, line with greaseproof paper, then butter the paper.

Tip the flour, cinnamon, butter, sugar, 2 tablespoons of the honey and eggs into a large mixing bowl. Add the bananas and chopped dates.

Beat the mixture for 2 minutes using a wooden spoon until well blended.

Spoon into the tin and scatter over the walnut pieces and banana chips (if using).

Bake for 1 hour or until firm on top.

Cool for 15 minutes in the tin, then lift out using the paper.

When cold, drizzle the remaining honey over.

Cook's Notes: Nothing to add except this is yummy warm from the oven, but even better the next day. If you don't like dates or walnuts you could probably substitute something else like pecans or raisins although I wouldn't leave out fruit altogether.

Helloooo?? Anybody there??

It's been a long time, but I think I am now ready to start posting again. Probably won't be doing weekly challenges, but I will be sharing ideas and recipes I've tried because I still really enjoy baking and cooking. Watch this space and there should be something new posted in the next couple of days.

Monday Treat - Chocolate Orange Muffins

We usually have muffins on Wednesdays, don't we, but I thought we could have them today too because this recipe is a good one. The addition of orange really makes a difference and the muffins don't feel quite as heavy and naughty as a standard chocolate muffin - a lovely treat to start the week.

Ingredients (makes 12 standard muffins)
300g self raising flour
50g cocoa powder
250g caster sugar
125g butter, melted
180ml buttermilk
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tbsp orange juice
2tsp orange zest, finely grated

Preheat oven to 200C/gas mark 6 and either grease or line a 12-hole standard muffin tin with paper cases.

Sift the flour, cocoa and sugar in to a large mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl, mix the melted butter, buttermilk, egg, orange juice and zest.

Pour the liquid mix into the flour mix and stir until just about combined.

Pour the muffin mixture into the prepared tin.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until the muffin tops feel slightly firm.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Cook's Notes: The original recipe also included some chocolate pieces pushed into the batter before cooking, but they don't really need it. These could also be served warm as dessert with cream or even a light custard.

Challenge #13 - Valentine's Day Biscuits

I had hoped these biscuits would be ready in time to post for the challenge yesterday, but my partner and son have only just finished making them (and it's now 3:15pm on Valentine's Day!).

Ingredients (number of biscuits varies depending on what size cutter you use)
225g unsalted butter, at room temperature
100g caster sugar
200g plain flour
100g ground almonds
150g jam
icing sugar for dusting

Mix the butter, sugar, plain flour and ground almonds in a food processor or bowl until the mixture forms a dough.

Knead the dough into a large ball. Cover in cling film and leave to chill in the fridge for several hours (or overnight).

Preheat the oven to 140C/gas mark 1. Grease several baking sheets.

Remove the dough from the fridge and knead until softened. Divide into three equal portions and roll out each portion into a sheet approximately 5mm thick.

Cut out an even number of biscuit shapes using a heart shaped cutter. Carefully place half the biscuits (palette knife works best) on to one of the greased baking sheets

Using a smaller cutter, punch out the middle portion of the remaining biscuit shapes.

Carefully transfer these onto a baking sheet and bake all the biscuits for 30 minutes or until the biscuits are just golden brown.

Remove the biscuits from the oven and immediately transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.

When cool, spread a generous spoonful of jam on to the centre of the whole biscuits. Place the biscuits with cut-outs on top and press together so the jam pushes out slightly.

Sieve a little icing sugar over the top.

Cook's Notes: Very easy, very tasty and they look pretty too. We also added a teaspoon of almond essence to the biscuit mix and used black cherry jam so ours were a little bit reminiscent of the flavours of bakewell tart.

Midweek Muffin - Apple Custard Muffins

Not really sure what the custard adds to the recipe because I haven't yet made them without it, but these are a very nice, fruity muffin.

Ingredients (makes 12-ish standard muffins)
225g self raising flour
160g wholemeal self raising flour
30g custard powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
100g light brown sugar
2 egg whites
250ml milk
60ml vegetable oil
395g apple fruit pie filling
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp caster sugar

Preheat oven to 200C/gas mark 6. Line a standard (12 hole) muffin tin with paper cases.

Mix the flours, custard powder, cinnamon and brown sugar in a large bowl.

Stir in the egg whites, milk, oil and three quarters of the apple pie filling.

Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases, top with the rest of the apple pie filling.

Combine the extra cinnamon and caster sugar before sprinkling over each muffin.

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.

Cook's Notes: I couldn't actually find pie filling in the supermarket so went for the better option of peeling, chopping and stewing a couple of cooking apples with a splash of water and a sprinkle of sugar until they resembled something very similar.