Coffee cake

Inspired by The Great British Bakeoff, I thought it was time I tackled Mary Berry's coffee Victoria sandwich.

It's easy peasy and tastes delicious.

Preheat oven to 180C / 160C fan and grease and line two tins.

Break four eggs into a bowl (I used duck eggs), then beat in 2 tsp instant coffee until dissolved.

Add 8oz softened butter, 8oz caster sugar, 8oz self raising flour and 2 tsp baking powder, then beat until thoroughly blended.

Add to tins then bake for about 25 minutes or until done. Cool on a wire rack.

Now the best bit - the buttercream icing! Blend 2oz softened butter, 6oz sifted icing sugar and 1 heaped tsp instant coffee dissolved in 1tbsp hot water.

Use some of the buttercream to sandwich the cake together then spread the rest on top. Don't forget to lick the bowl!

Eat and enjoy.

Summer fruit pudding

This taken from the July edition of Prima magazine. It is delicious!

Beat an egg and 15g caster sugar together until light and fluffy. Then beat in 40ml milk, 1tsp vanilla extract, 25g plain flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder.

Pour mixture over 400g mixed summer berries (I used strawberries, raspberries and blueberries). Slice strawberries in half.

Bake in preheated oven (200c, 180c fan) for 15 mins until cake cooked and golden.

Dust with icing sugar and enjoy!

Goats cheese filo parcels

These are yum!

Cut a strip of (shop bought) filo pastry and brush it with melted butter. Place another strip across it so you have a cross shape.

Put some slices of goats cheese and caramelised red onion chutney in the centre then wrap your parcels. Use the melted butter to seal the parcels and also brush the outside.

Bake in the oven at 180c for about 10 mins or until pastry golden.

Enjoy!

The photos don't do these justice. And they didn't last long.

Pancakes!

It's Pancake day aka Shrove Tuesday so I decided to channel Nigella first thing.

Her home made instant pancake mix is ace! And you can look like a domestic goddess in seconds....

So, taken from Nigella Express -

Pancake mix:
600g flour, 3 tbsps baking powder, 2 tsps bicarbonate of soda and 40g sugar. Place in a container, put the lid on and shake to mix.

To make the pancakes:
Whisk together 150g pancake mix, 1 egg, 250ml milk and a tbsp of melted butter.

Spoon mixture onto hot pan, allow to bubble then flip. Cook until both sides golden brown.

Enjoy with golden syrup. Yum!

Ps they didn't last long enough to photograph.....so here's the pic from the book.

Home made beefburgers

I am relieved that I can honestly say I have never bought a value burger from any supermarket. In fact, I rarely buy any sort of burgers and do my best not to buy any processed food.

So, in light of the current horse meat in burgers scandal, a few thoughts.

1) support your local butcher
2) buy locally reared meat (or at the very least know where it comes from)
3) make you own burgers

Add a finely chopped onion to som minced beef. Season with herbs, e.g. Basil, sage, thyme (whatever you like). Add a beaten egg and mix together with your hands.

Shape into beefburgers and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Cook by either grilling or frying.

Serve with a ciabatta roll, cheese, slice of beef tomato and a dollop of mustard mayo (mix mustard and mayo together).

Eat!

(Apologies for the photo quality - the first burger got eaten very quickly and this one didn't last long either).

Mary Berry's carrot cake

I warned you there would be a lot of Mary Berry coming up!

This cake is delicious and moist, and much easier to make than I thought. And I am counting it as one of my 5 a day.

Measure into a large bowl: 225g self-raising flour, 2tsps baking powder, 150g light muscavado sugar, 50g chopped walnuts, 100g grated carrots (mind your fingers!), 2 mashed ripe bananas, 2 large eggs and 150ml sunflower oil.

Beat until smooth and turn into 8 inch deep round cake tin, base lined with baking parchment. Bake at 180C (160C fan) for 50 - 60 minutes.

For the topping, beat 175g full fat soft cheese, 50g softened butter and 100g sifted icing sugar.

Decorate with walnuts.

Enjoy!

Mary Berry's Victoria sandwich

Quite a lot of my posts from now on are likely to start with "Mary Berry's..." - I am currently working my way through her Baking Bible, which was a wee Christmas pressie from my father-in-law.

I have been following Mary's all-in-one method. Up until now I creamed the butter and sugar before folding in the flour. However everything has turned out perfectly!

For the Victoria sandwich, mix together 8oz butter, 8oz sugar, 8oz self raising flour, 2tps baking powder and four eggs.

Divide mixture into two greased and lined eight inch sandwich tins and bake at 180C (160C fan oven) for about 25 minutes.

Traditionally, a Victoria sandwich is sandwiched with strawberry or raspberry jam; however his one was sandwiched with buttercream. (2oz butter and 8oz icing sugar), then dusted with icing sugar.

It didn't last long.