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.