Traditional Christmas Sausage Rolls

Me making sausage rolls is now a Christmas tradition in my family. I simply use pre-made puff pastry, quality sausage meat and an egg glaze. They're very moreish.

Mary Berry's Chocolate Mousse Cake

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/celebration_chocolate_26103

 

Great recipe.

I swapped the brandy for amaretto and decorated with mini Terry's chocolate oranges and clementines.

 

Chocolate Slab!

My dad is a hard person to buy for so I thought I'd make him something edible for Christmas. I melted 300g dark chocolate then sprinkled on dried fruit. I left it to chill in the fridge then broke it up into large pieces. I hope he likes it!

Mini Victoria Sandwiches to celebrate Bake Off 2014!

100g butter

100g caster sugar

100g self raising flour

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Splash of milk

Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Whisk in the eggs, milk and vanilla. Sift in the flour and mix until just combined. I greased and filled a mini cake tin but you could use a cupcake or fairy cake tin. Bake at 180C/gas 4 for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. 
Leave to cool. To make the butter cream, whisk 100g butter with 200g icing sugar together with a splash of water. 
Sandwich two cakes together with strawberry jam and top with butter cream. 

Jammie Dodgers!

250g butter

140g icing sugar

375g flour

Splash of milk

1tsp vanilla extract

Jam of your choice to decorate

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Mix in the rest of the ingredients until it comes together as a dough. Chill for about 15 minutes. Roll out and cut into circles. Cut a heart out of the middle of half the biscuits. Bake at 180C/gas 4 for  10 minutes or until just golden.

Leave to cool and sandwich the biscuits together in twos with jam. 

Gingerbread Christmas Tree Decorations

225g butter

175g light brown sugar

175g golden syrup

550g self raising flour

3tsp ground ginger

1tsp ground cinnamon

Melt the butter, sugar and syrup together in a pan over medium heat. Then add to the other ingredients and combine to make a dough. Leave to cool in the fridge for ten minutes. Roll out and cut into shapes. I made donut shapes using two different sized circle cutters to make hoops for tree decorations and used the middles for little biscuits. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. The biscuits will firm up when taken out of the oven so don't try and take them off the tray straight away. 

Tie the hoops together with ribbon and place on your tree! 

I glazed the little circular biscuits with a simple icing made from clementine juice and icing sugar. 

Chocolate Amaretto Cupcakes

70g dark chocolate

70g butter

60g self raising flour

100g sugar

1 egg

10g cocoa powder

Splash of milk

100g unsalted butter

200g icing sugar

Large splash of Amaretto

Preheat the oven at 180C/gas 4. Melt the butter and chocolate together. Separately whisk the egg then fold all the ingredients. Spoon into cases in a cupcake tin. Bake for 10-15 minutes, test with a skewer. Leave to cool. Thoroughly whisk the icing ingredients until light and fluffy then decorate the cupcakes. 

Mincemeat ready for Chrismas!

My mincemeat is made up of dates, apricots, cinnamon, orange and lemon zest with a large splash of amaretto. I will keep stirring, and topping the mixture up with the amaretto, every so often up until Christmas before making it into mince pies!

Iggle Piggle Cake

I made this character cake for my nephew's first birthday. I baked a rectangular vanilla sponge then shaped it before covering it in butter cream. I then coloured fondant icing to create Iggle Piggle's face.

Burgermeister! Berlin

I went to Berlin for a few days to see a friend from uni. We got told by a local about Burgermeister. It's situated on the southern side of the Berlin wall, under a railway bridge. It's probably the best street food I've ever had. The burgers are made to order right in front of you. It's very popular, there are queues from when they open at 11.30 in the morning. Really cool atmosphere as you perch on the make shift furniture listening to the pumping tunes the staff are playing.

Food for Thought, Harlyn Bay, Cornwall

 

My brothers have just taken over a burger van! This is no side of the road, greasy spoon. They serve quality, local beach food. It opens in seasonally and weekends. Go and check it out!

Bourbon Pecan Pie @ The Golden Lion, Padstow, Cornwall

This pie was a delicious. Lovely meal, everything made from scratch. Great pub food.

Honey Cinnamon Biscuits

Just made these quick, gooey biscuits. Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6. Beat 100g caster sugar and 100g butter together. Add 180g self raising flour, 1 and 1/2 tbsp cinnamon and 2 tbsp honey. Combine into a dough then divide into little balls and place on a floured baking tray. Bake for 10 minutes or until slightly browned.

Beautiful dessert at Marmadukes, York

My school friend got married at the weekend in the lovely city of York. I was very excited when this came out as the dessert. It consisted of vanilla sponge, white chocolate cream, raspberries and homemade Irish cream. It was a perfect end to a perfect day.

Minion Cake!

I made this Minion Cake for my nephew's second birthday. It's a chocolate and vanilla marble sponge with chocolate fudge icing. I turned it into a minion by decorating it with yellow, black and some white fondant icing. 

Gylly Beach Cafe, Falmouth, Cornwall

I went to uni in Falmouth and always loved going to Gylly Beach Cafe. It's right on the sand and serves great fresh food, but is expensive if you're on a student budget. When visitng the other day, I had delicious vegetarian nachos off the main menu and there are also daily specials available. 
The cakes and biscuits baked on the premises are also worth a try!

The Park Mawgan Porth, Cornwall

Great lunch at The Park Mawgan Porth. Very relaxed atmosphere in the cafe with a variety of reasonably priced food on the menu. I had a flavoursome balti chicken pie.

The holiday park is within walking distance to the beach and offers a wide variety of accommodation such as luxury lodges, yurts and glamping old American caravans. Definitely worth a visit for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Blackberry Frozen Yogurt

Now I'm living in North Cornwall, there are lots of blackberry bushes along the lanes. They are in season so I went foraging.

I made the frozen yogurt by blitzing the blackberries with a little water. Sieve the juice then combine with natural yogurt and two tablespoons of honey. Then froze!

Pulled Pork @ Poldhu Cove, Cornwall

I had a lovely evening yesterday at Poldhu Beach Cafe. For the feast night, they served delicious pulled pork in a soft brioche bun with chips and coleslaw for £10. I think you partly pay for the beautiful view from the cafe over the cove. Great atmosphere with a chilled guitar duo playing too. Looking forward to the next feast night!

Chocolate Biscuit Cake

125g dark chocolate

3 tbsp milk

150g butter

150g caster sugar

3 eggs

200g plain flour

1 tbsp cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp bicarb

 

Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4. Cream the butter and sugar together until really light and fluffy.

Whisk in the eggs. Melt the chocolate together with the milk until smooth, then combine into the butter mixture. Sieve in the remaining ingredients. Pour into a greased tin.

 

I used to different sized tins to create a tier effect.

 

Leave to cool. I cheated and used Betty Crocker's chocolate fudge icing to decorate, and added chocolate buttons, bourbons and custard creams.

The Hole in the Wall Bar, Dubrovnik Old Town, Croatia

Amazing bar. You walk through a small hole in the old city wall to get out onto the cliff with this amazing view. The bar is simple, with places to swim of the cliff. Drinking a cold cider here was defiantly the most relaxing time of the holiday. 

Cave Bar More, Lemar, Croatia

Just had a lovely week in Croatia, in the Duprovnik area. This bar is built into the cliff. Great cocktails but a bit pricey. Defiantly worth a visit though, even just for the fact that it's a bar in a cave!

Le Weekend, Sandwich, Kent

This annual French market was in Sandwich a couple of weeks ago. Great variety of stalls with authentic French produce. There was live music across the weekend and a bike race too.

Frederick's, Westgate, Kent

Lovely, little cafe in Westgate. I had a delicious slice of carrot cake and a tea. The prices are very reasonable. There are a range of afternoons teas available you, which you don't need book. Great atmosphere, I will defiantly be returning. 

What's Up Cupcake? Whitstable, Kent

I had a delicious triple chocolate cupcake from What's Up Cupcake? in Whitstable at the weekend. Tiny store with cupcakes you can take away. £1.95 each, definitely worth it.

 

Banoffee Pie

Really easy Banoffee Pie recipe.

250g hobnobs

100g melted butter

a tin of Carnation caramel

3 bananas

extra thick double cream

 

Crush the biscuits and combine with the melted butter. Press into a flan tin and leave to cool in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Spread the caramel onto the biscuit base then lay slices of banana on top. Finally, spread over the cream. Done!

Banana, Coconut and Chocolate Chip Loaf

1 and 1/2 oz brown sugar

1 and 1/2 oz caster sugar

2oz butter

1 tbsp milk

2 ripe bananas

1 egg

3oz self raising flour

1/2 tsp bicarb of soda

1 and 1/2 oz coconut

2oz chocolate chips

 

Preheat the oven to 160C/gas 3. Cream the butter and sugars together, until fluffy. Add the milk, mashed bananas and the egg and whisk until frothy. Tip in the remaining ingredients and mix until combined. Pour into a lined loaf tin and bake for 40 minutes or until no longer wet.

Raindell's, Broadstairs, Kent

Really juicy and tasty burger at Raindell's diner. Friendly and polite staff, definitely eating there again.

Plus, used my Taste Card and got one of the main meals free.

Hot Cross Buns for Easter

625g strong white flour

2 tsp mixed spice

25g butter

85g sugar

zest of 1 orange

1 and 1/2 tsp yeast

1 egg

275g tepid milk

125g mixed fruit

100g marzipan

3 tbsp melted apricot jam

 

Add the flour and mixed spice to a mixing bowl then rub in the butter. Make a well and add the sugar, zest and  yeast. Pour in the egg and tepid milk and combine to a dough. Lightly knead for 5 minutes.

Cover and leave to rise for an hour.

Knock the dough back and leave to rise for a further 30 minutes.

Divide into 12 equal pieces. I added the pieces to a greased a mini loaf tin but you could roll the pieces into balls. Leave to rise again for 30 minutes.

Heat the oven to 240C/Gas 8.

Roll the marzipan into thin strips for the crosses on the buns. Add the strips onto the buns to make the cross.

Bake for 8 minutes or until golden brown. When they come out the oven, brush the hot jam over.

Cafe des Amis, Canterbury, Kent

Lovely Mexican restaurant in Canterbury. Really friendly staff and good value. Monday to Friday, 5 til 6pm, you can get two courses and a drink for £13.95.

I had nachos and chicken fajitas. The fajitas were delicious and served with a range of tasty accompaniments.

 

I also tried the torta de chocolate. It was the nicest, gooiest torte I've had.

Cupcake Decorating @ Victoria's Coffee Shop, Whitstable

 

Two friends and I had a great evening at Victoria's Coffee Shop yesterday. Lovely owner, Victoria, led the cupcake decorating course. We learnt about butter cream and tried different piping techniques.

Victoria offers a range of other courses.

I would highly recommend trying one out.

Mini Chocolate Guiness Cakes for St Patrick's Day

125g butter

100g soft brown sugar

50g melted dark chocolate

1 egg

100ml Guinness

135g self raising flour

15g cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp bicarb of soda

 

100g cream cheese

75g white chocolate

splash of Baileys

 

Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4. Cream the butter and sugar together then add the melted chocolate and egg. Mix in the Guinness and the remaining ingredients.

Fill the tin with the mixture. I used greased mini sandwich tins but you could use a cupcake tin. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until just baked through.

 

For the icing, melt the chocolate then mix in the cream cheese. Add a splash of Baileys to loosen the mixture. Top the cakes with the icing.

Chilli Cheese Pinwheels

500g strong white flour

350g tepid water

7g yeast

pinch of salt

 

small block of chilli cheese, or any cheese of your choice

4 chillies, finely chopped

 

Combine the dough ingredients and knead for about 10 minutes. Leave to rise for an hour.

Roll out into a rectangle, sprinkle over the chillies and grate the cheese on top. Roll the far edge towards yourself like a swiss roll, then cut into thick strips. Lay the circles flat into a greased baking tray, spread apart. Leave to rise for a further hour.

Bake in at gas 6/200C for thirty minutes or until golden brown.

 

 

 

Cocktails @ Sands Hotel, Margate, Kent

Lovely atmosphere in Sands Hotel which looks over Margate bay.

£5 for any cocktails between 5-7pm Friday evenings.

Going clockwise, the above are:

Bellini

Processo and lychee liqueur

Sands

Malibu, Southern Comfort, Peach Schnapps, Blue Bols and apple juice

Sunset Bay

Cointreau, Amaretto, Grenadine and orange juice

Kent Raspberry Cooler

Raspberry Gin and elderflower sparkling cordial

 

All very tasty.

Mullins Brasserie, Margate, Kent

Great value meal at the European/Caribbean restaurant in Margate Old Town.

I had the three course set lunch menu for £12.95. To start, creole mussels. For main, jerk chicken with rice 'n' peas. And for dessert, steamed ginger pudding with toffee sauce.

 

All courses were delicious, I couldn't fault anything. I will defiantly be going back to try their dinner menu.

White Chocolate Cake made for a Valentine

 

9oz butter

5 oz white chocolate

9oz caster sugar

splosh of milk

6oz flour

4oz self raising flour

1tsp vanilla essence

2 eggs

 

Preheat oven to 170C/Gas 3. Grease then coat a tin with cocoa powder. I used a ring shaped tin but any shape would be fine. Heat the butter, chocolate and sugar on a low heat until smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients and bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown. Leave to cool.

 

To make the ganache, melt 200g dark chocolate together with 200ml double cream until smooth and shiny. The measurements don't have to be too precise. Cover the cake with the ganache and fill the hole with raspberries.

 

I then decorated the cake with broken Cadbury Flake and a white chocolate heart. For the heart, I melted some left over white chocolate, piped it into a heart shape and allowed to set.

Jamie Oliver's Orange Curd Tart

Really tasty recipe by Jamie Oliver. The recipe uses a lot of eggs though, so it's a bit indulgent. I've altered it slightly, just to fit round what ingredients I had.

6 egg yolks

200g caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Zest and juice of 3 oranges

Lime juice (to make the orange juice up to 230ml)

4 eggs

250g butter

 

For the pastry,

100g icing sugar

250g plain flour

125g butter

Zest of 1 orange

1 egg

Splash of milk

 

Pulse the pastry ingredients in a food processor until it forms a dough and chill. Preheat oven to 180C/gas 4.

In a saucepan on a low heat, whisk all the filling ingredients apart from the butter. Keep whisking for 5 minutes until it starts to thicken. Add the butter in chunks and keep whisking for about 15 minutes until thick.

Roll out the dough and line the pastry into a 25cm tart tin. Bake blind for 15 minutes, then remove the baking beans and cook for a further 10-15 minutes until golden brown.

Fill the tart when still warm.

 

Definitely worth making.

 



Burger and Lobster, Knightsbridge, London

I'd heard a lot about Burger and Lobster from friends. I had a whole grilled lobster with a lemon butter sauce, chips and salad for £20. The sauce was delicious but the lobster didn't blow me away.

Good cocktails though. I had a very nice 'apples and pears' made with cider brandy, pear juice, prosecco and lemon. But at £9.95, was quite pricey.

Fondant Fancies

This is my own recipe for fondant fancies. I used greased mini sandwich cake tins but you can use cupcake tins.

 

Preheat oven to 180C/gas 4.Cream 125g butter and 125g caster sugar together. Add 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract and 125g self raising flour, mix until combined.

Fill tins and bake for approximately 15 minutes or until golden brown. Leave to cool.

Cream together 60g icing sugar and 30g butter. Pipe small blobs on top of the cakes.

Squeeze and strain the juice from a few berries of your choice (I used blackberries). Add icing sugar and stir until a runny icing forms. Drizzle on to the cakes. Sprinkle with coconut or grated chocolate.

Cafe Turquoise, Canterbury, Kent

Cafe and patisserie down one of the lanes in Canterbury. I had a very rich but delicious chocolate truffle torte. They do lots of speciality teas, macaroons, truffles as well as pastries.

Worth a visit.

The Gallery, Ramsgate, Kent

Really cute tea room, looking out onto Ramsgate harbour. There are a number of cakes on the menu. I had a good mozzarella, pesto, tomato and avocado panini. Great value for money too.

 

Individual Lemon Meringue Loaves

For this recipe I used my new Lakeland mini loaf tins, but it can be made as whole loaf cake. 

The sponge is a Madeira cake recipe.

175g butter

175g caster sugar

Zest of 1 lemon

3 eggs

140g self raising flour

115g plain flour

2tbsp milk

1tbsp lemon juice

 

Preheat the oven to 160C/gas 3. Beat the butter and sugar together until pale. Add and combine the remaining ingredients. Fill the greased tin and bake for approximately 30 minutes for the mini loaves but an hour if in a usual loaf tin.

Leave to cool when cooked.

Coat the tops with a generous coating of lemon curd. Whisk 2 egg whites until stiff then gradually add 100g caster sugar. Pipe or spoon on the meringue mixture onto the top of the cakes then torch until golden brown.