Going Bananas with Fruit!

I must apologise to you my dear readers for my lack of blogging this last week or so! As I mentioned we were on holiday and had some lovely days out, we went to the seaside and could not have had better weather. A couple of day trips out to idyllic villages with stone cottages and little streams running through and weeping willow tree branches touching the water and moving gently to the flow.

On the agenda also was strawberry picking, well hubby did the picking due to my back problems. We ended up with a few punnets full of sweet ripe fruit, as a result, I made some wonderful strawberry conserve to savour for when the weather turns cold into autumn and winter. A spoonful of this conserve on homemade bread will remind me of a perfect summer’s day! We also made a visit to a local farm where they sell their own produce, I came away with bunches of beetroot – oh yes with still dirt on them ready to scrub and cook. A huge marrow to peel and stuff with mince beef, just how my mum used to make it when I was a child. Potatoes, again with dirt on them and oh boy did they taste good when washed peeled and cooked, it must be the Lincolnshire soil they are all grown in! I was let loose in a home and wear store, *I’m in heaven, I’m in heaven*, where they had beautiful cake stands, elegant cups and saucers, in fact everything you could imagine for an avid cook/baker. Hmmmm, oh yes I did come away with a few little items to add to my little repertoire of things!

Overall, it was a lovely break, which must have lead to my lack of mojo for baking of late. I hope I have rectified things with you with this gorgeous fruity banana bread. I had six very overripe bananas that need attention in some form or shape, a lovely bag of mixed berries consisting of blueberries, cranberries and golden sultanas and a few glace cherries. Well, the fruit all worked beautifully together and the taste of this banana bread is sublime. I doubled up the quantities of each ingredient and made two fruity banana breads. You could cut one and give one to your friend or even freeze one if it lasts that long! I certainly will be baking this combination of fruits in my banana bread again.

Fruity Banana Bread

Makes one 900g (2lb) loaf

Ingredients
200g (7 oz) self-raising flour
3 large very ripe bananas
Grated zest of 1 lemon
75g (3 oz) dried ready to eat apricots, chopped
50g (2 oz) mixed dried fruit berries (blueberries, cranberries, golden sultanas)
25g (1 oz) glace cherries, chopped
2 large eggs
125g (4½ oz) caster sugar
100g (4 oz) butter, softened

You will need a 900g (2 lb) loaf tin, greased with a little butter and lined with baking parchment.

Method

Preheat the oven to 170°C/fan oven 150°C/325°F/gas mark 3. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy in appearance. Add one egg at a time and beat into the mixture until fully combined. Add the dried fruit and lemon zest and fold through the mixture. Mash the bananas and fold through the mixture. Sift the flour into the mixture in the bowl and carefully fold in. Place all the mixture into the prepared tin and gently level the top with a spatula. Bake for about 1 hour in the preheated oven, but check after 50 minutes to see if it is ready. The banana bread is ready when a skewer inserted into the centre comes out completely clean. Leave in the banana bread in the tin to cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before turning out to cool completely. When cold peel away the baking parchment. Keeps well stored in an airtight tin for up to 5 days.

Lastly, pour yourself a lovely hot cup of tea and cut a slice of fruity banana bread. Relax and enjoy the world go by whilst you take pleasure in your little slice of banana nirvana!

It’s A Whopper of A Malteser Birthday!

It happens to be Mr R’s (hubby’s) birthday today and I couldn’t let this one pass by without baking his favourite cake of all time to celebrate, which just happens to be Malteser Cake! I have baked this cake numerous times for his birthday and it seems to make its honourable appearance once again this year. You see one of hubby’s treats for Sunday afternoon is a family size bag of Maltesers while watching the T.V. I never witness his hand going to bag then to mouth, feeding in those malty chocolate balls or even the slightest crunch, the only evidence that is left is the empty packet! Who am I to keep a man away from his love of Maltesers? Now you can understand why this cake is always on my baking repertoire come his birthday.

This cake originates from Nigella Lawson, which is published in her book “Feast”. I really like Nigella’s books but for me, “Feast” happens to be my favourite of all time books of hers.

This is one of the easiest cakes to make from scratch. A little melting of a few ingredients and combining wet with dry ingredients together, it really is as simple as that. However, the taste for anyone who adores that malt –choco flavour is utterly divine. The sponge rises in the oven like a billowing fluffy spongy cloud riding on high in the sky waiting when baked too be sandwiched together with a scrumptious malt-choc buttercream. The top adorned with the same malt-choc buttercream and shackles of Maltesers positioned around the top. I was lucky enough to find some white Maltesers too, so I rather went to town on placing lots on the top of the cake.

The recipe for this cake is on my Blog [link] one I made earlier for my son’s birthday! Oh yes he inherited the Malteser bug from his dad *giggle*. The only adaption I made this time was to add two extra spoonfuls of cocoa powder to the buttercream.

I will be back with you all as normal in the blogosphere from next week when our holidays have ended :0)

Lastly, take care now and I hope you will raise a glass to celebrate Mr. R’s birthday with me, cheers.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting ~ Sweet & Simple Bakes Monthly Baking Event.

The first of the month means time to present ‘Sweet and Simple Bakes Monthly Baking Event’. I presented a tried and tested recipe this month of a “Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting”. Carrot cake has to be one the best classical cakes around, and I have never found anyone yet who refuses a slice. The use of carrots has been included in many sweet recipes in Britain since medieval times. There are many recipes for carrot cake, but for me this has to be one of my family favourites! You could exchange the sultanas for raisins and walnuts for pecan nuts it really is a forgiving cake that does not mind a few little tweaks here and there. The wet ingredients added to the dry ingredients and mixed together in this bake makes for yet another sweet and simple bake. The cream cheese frosting finishes off the cake a treat. However, the frosting maybe omitted if you so wish and served plain. I have seen little fondant carrots adorn tops of cakes and they do look fantastic or for simplicity a few sprinkles of choice or walnut halves, work just as well for me.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Serves 12

Ingredients
180g (6½ oz) self-raising (self-rising) flour
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
Pinch of salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
½ tsp mixed spice (Pumpkin pie spice)
2 eggs
150 ml (5 fl oz) vegetable or sunflower oil
200g (7 oz) soft light or dark brown sugar
300g (11 oz) grated carrots
100g (4 oz) sultanas
75g (3 oz) walnuts, chopped (optional)
Cream Cheese Icing
75g (3 oz) cream cheese
75g (3 oz) softened butter
125g (4½ oz) icing sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
For Decoration
Sprinkles or walnut halves - optional

You will need a 13cm x 23cm (5 in x 9 in) loaf tin, oil and line the loaf tin with greaseproof paper.

Method

Preheat the oven to 150°C/300°F/Gas mark 2. Sift all the dry ingredients into a bowl and leave aside. Beat the eggs in a large bowl, now add the oil, brown sugar, grated carrot, sultanas and chopped walnuts. Stir in all sifted dry ingredients and bring the mixture together with a wooden spoon. Turn into the prepared tin, smooth the top of the mixture and bake in the oven for 1 – 1¼ hours or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out on a wire rack to cool completely.

To make The Cream Cheese Icing: Beat the cream cheese and butter together in a bowl until combined. Add the vanilla extract, icing sugar and mix to combine. Using a palette knife, spread the icing evenly over the top of the cooled cake. Add the sprinkles or walnut halves if desired. Served cut into slices.

Note: I would advise you to store this cake in a cool place due to the cream cheese icing.

Lastly slip into the sublime world of Carrot Cake and eat your heart out on a slice or two....mmmmmmm....

*I have submitted this post via scheduled posting to ensure the correct posting date due to holidays; we have prearranged plans for a day trip.*

Don’t worry folks; I will be back for posting the round-up tomorrow (2nd August) on Sweet and Simple Bakes Blog, please do call by and view our S&SB bakers creations. If you would like to join in our monthly bake, we would be most delighted to have you join in and bake with us – everyone is welcome!

It’s Berry, Berry Good Cake!

Do you admire a cake that also equals as dessert? Well if the answer is yes; look no further than this excellent tasting mixed berry cake. You could serve slices with whipped cream and a mixed berry sauce, or custard; whatever floats your boat!

I wouldn’t declare this is one of the prettiest cakes around with its homemade ragged style top, but to me this cake makes a statement. It’s utterly noble in size and towers above the top of the cake tin when taken out of the oven. The sponge tastes creamy and sweet with a light moist texture and soft lush summer berries studded throughout, simply delicious!

Being such an easy bake to achieve, this cake takes no time to create. Shush, this is our little secret, no one will ever guess *wink* *wink*.

Mixed Berry Cake

Adapted from Simon Rimmer of Market Kitchen

Ingredients
250g (9 oz) butter
100ml (3½ fl oz) double cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 large eggs
275g (10 oz) caster sugar
550g (1lb 4 oz) plan flour
Finley grated zest of 1 lemon
2 tsp baking powder
500g (1lb 2oz) frozen mixed summer berries
Icing sugar to decorate

You will need a 20cm (8 in) round springform tin, greased and lined with baking parchment or greaseproof paper.

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4.

In a saucepan over a low heat, melt the butter, cream and vanilla extract, and then leave aside to cool. Beat the eggs and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the cooled butter and cream mixture and mix through to combine. Sieve the flour and baking powder together over the mixture and fold through, now fold the lemon zest in. Taking all the frozen summer berries gently fold these through trying not to break the fruit up. The mixture is thick so don’t be alarmed. Spoon all the mixture into the prepared cake tin and smooth the top with a spatula or back of a spoon. Bake for approximately 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Sift a little icing sugar over the top of the cake before serving.

Serve in slices as a teatime cake or as a dessert with mixed berry sauce and whipped cream or lashings of custard.

Lastly, take a slice of mixed berry cake and enjoy the wonders of this marvellous cake!

White Chocolate, Strawberry, Banana Bread

I am eager for further blue skies and sunny days, fluttering carelessly along balmy breezes, butterflies showing off their magnificent colours in my garden attracted by a buddleia shrub. To me this suggests summertime where P.Y.O. (pick your own) strawberries are literally in abundance just down the road from me. I love to incorporate strawberries in bakes and desserts as much as possible, not forgetting a good few jars of strawberry conserve. P.Y.O. strawberries are just perfect for this and one or two may just slip into my mouth just to taste for ripeness, you understand! *Giggle*

This leads me onto my recent bake that I can’t wait to share with you! I’ve had this idea for a while now to include white chocolate and strawberries in banana bread. You can imagine just how moist the crumb is from the mashed banana and speckled throughout with white chocolate and slices of strawberries. For me it is perfect served just as it is, on the other hand, take it to another level for that utter luxuriousness and serve a slice spread with strawberry conserve, softly whipped cream and a few sliced strawberries dusted over with icing sugar.

White Chocolate, Strawberry, Banana Bread

Serves 10 -12

Ingredients
275g (10 oz) plain flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
100g (4 oz) brown sugar
100g (4 oz) caster sugar
100g (4 oz) butter, softened
2 eggs
120 ml (approx 4½ fl oz) sour cream
½ tsp vanilla extract
3 medium bananas, peeled and mashed
150g (5 oz) ripe strawberries, hulled and chopped
100g (4 oz) white chocolate chunks or chips

You will need 13cm x 23cm (5in x 9in) loaf tin, lightly buttered and lined with parchment paper.

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/350°F/Gas mark 4. Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder together in a large bowl. Add both sugars and the softened butter, using your finger tips rub the butter in until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs. In another large bowl, whisk the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract together. Add the mashed bananas, chopped strawberries and white chocolate chunks. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet mixture. Gently but thoroughly bring all the ingredients together with a wooden spoon, and then pour into the prepared loaf tin. Smooth the top, and bake in the preheated oven for 1 -1¼ hours or until a skewer interested into the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before removing from the tin and leave to cool on a wire rack.

Do I have you salivating at the prospect of dipping your fork into a slice of sweet nectar? Don’t just take my word for just how good this tastes; this is a definite bake that needs to be recreated, sliced and eaten as you drift away on a cloud to nirvana!

Let’s Go A Strawberry Feasting!

Strawberries awaken fond memories of red stained hands, balmy sunny days, playing carefree with friends and my mother watching Wimbledon tennis on the television. Even holiday times spent in Devon/Cornwall, taking cream teas of sweet scones, clotted cream, strawberry jam, and a huge pot of tea. This is reminiscing of my childhood and I smile fondly of good times gone by.

In my part of England we are still waiting for our own strawberries but I could not resist buying out of season and bringing a little of summer into my home.

Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this cake, it certainly is irresistible on taste. Now who could resist strawberries, jam and cream engulfed in a light sponge, oh boy not I that is for sure!

Strawberry Cream Sponge Cake

Ingredients
175g (6 oz) self-raising flour
1½ tsp baking powder
175g (6 oz) softened butter
3 large eggs, at room temperature
175g (6 oz) caster sugar (super fine)
1 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
For The Filling and Decoration
120ml (4 fl oz) double cream (heavy cream)
4 large tbsp good quality strawberry jam
300g (11 oz) ripe strawberries, hulled
1 tbsp icing sugar (confectioner’s sugar)

You will require 2 x20cm (2 x 8in) round cake tins. Grease with a little butter and line the base with non-stick baking paper.

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/Fan oven 160°C/350°F/Gas mark 4. Sift the self-raising flour and baking powder into a large bowl, and then add the butter, caster sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla extract. Beat together until mixed, trying not to over mix the mixture. Spoon the mixture equally into the prepared round cake tins. Bake in the preheated oven on a middle shelf for about 25 -30 minutes or until the tops spring back when lightly pressed. Leave to cool in the tins for 5 minutes then turn them out to completely cool on a wire rack.

Whisk the cream to a firm consistency for the filling. Place one sponge cake onto a serving plate and spread with the strawberry jam, followed by the whipped cream and a few of the strawberries sliced. Place the second sponge on top. Arrange a few strawberries over the top and dust with icing sugar. Serve on the day you bake this due to the fresh cream.

Lastly, cut into the cake, arm yourself with a slice, and enjoy that summer feeling of red ripe strawberries!

I am sending my Strawberry Cream Sponge Cake to a ‘dear’ fellow blogger Happy Cook- whom I affectionately call H.C. You can find H.C. @ My Kitchen Treasures who is hosting a great event called Strawberry Feasts! Now if you would like to partake in this event do call by H.C.’s blog to find out more details.

You Say Whoppers I Say Maltesers!

Where I live these delightful confections of malted milk balls are called Maltesers but perhaps in your part of the world you would know them as Whoppers? However, wherever you live they still remain the same temptations of light and crunchy, in a sphere-shaped with malted centres and dressed in a layer of creamy chocolate - *slurp*. Now if you’ve not tried these little beauties you really are missing out, but if you are like my Mr R. (hubby) you’re already totally hooked on them!

These bars are simplicity itself to make by melting and mixing a few ingredients; baking the chocolate base and spreading over the malted topping with a sprinkling of chopped Maltesers. All that remains to do is cut into bars and sit back and enjoy!

*My apologies for my absent lately once again in the blogosphere! I evidently spoke too soon when I mentioned my back felt on the mends because I've spent since my last post here resting up in bed. Oh well on the upside of things, it has given me chance to bookmark bakes that took my fancy in magazines and books. I’m looking forward to getting back into the swing of things once again*.

Malteser Bars or Whopper Bars

Ingredients

Chocolate Base:
175g (6 oz) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
175g (6 oz) good quality milk chocolate, broken up into squares
350g (12 oz) granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
225g (8 oz) plain flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
Malted Milk Topping:
100g (4 oz) malted milk powder, (Horlicks)
3 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
40g (1½ oz) butter
150g (5 oz) icing sugar
150g (5 oz) maltesers /whoppers, roughly chopped

You will need a metal baking tin measuring 33cm by 23cm (13 inch by 9 inch) lined with foil (over lapping at each long side with foil) grease foil.

Method

Preheat oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/350°F/Gas mark 4.

For the chocolate base: In a small bowl combine the flour, salt and baking powder set aside for later.

In a large saucepan melt the butter and chocolate stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar and vanilla extract. Beat in the eggs until blended in and then lastly the flour mixture until it’s fully combined. Spread the mixture over the prepared baking tin levering the top with a spatula. Place into the preheated oven and bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool in the tin on a wire rack.

For the malted milk topping: In a small bowl stir together the malted milk powder, milk and vanilla extract until combined into a smooth mixture. In another bowl, add the butter and icing sugar and beat together until blended, add to the malted mixture and beat together.

When the chocolate base is nearly cold spread all the malted topping over with a spatula until fully covered and then top with the chopped maltesers. When the topping is firm, transfer with the foil to a chopping board. Cut into bars to the size you wish each bar to be.

Lastly, sit back and relax arming yourself with one of these gorgeous bars and relish in its wonderful delights......

Vanilla Cupcakes ~ Sweet & Simple Bakes Monthly Baking Event!

Vanilla Cupcakes

Its springtime and this is my favourite time of the year in England. As I glance out of my window, colours of exploding beautiful blossoms are on view, showing light pinks from my ornamental plum trees, to a deeper pink on my large shrub bush, then white from my pear tree, who could wish for more I ask myself? Another season of awaking brings new life to us once again.

To mark this event of springtime for this month’s bake at ‘Sweet and Simple Bakes Monthly Baking Event’ I selected a recipe to hopefully reflect this in colourful Vanilla Cupcakes. This is an easy bake it’s an all-in-one- method for the sponge. The trick here is to ensure your butter is soft enough to blend in quickly with all the other ingredients. These cupcakes taste wonderful with a buttery vanilla sponge, following a creamy delightful vanilla buttercream topping - just like momma used to make!

Vanilla Cupcakes

Makes 12

Ingredients
175g (6 oz) self-raising flour
1½ level tsp baking powder
175g (6 oz) butter, softened
175g (6 oz) caster (superfine) sugar
3 large eggs
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Buttercream Icing
150g (5 oz) butter, softened
300g (11 oz) icing (confectioners) sugar, sifted
1 tbsp milk
¼ tsp vanilla extract
Edible food colouring(s) of choice, optional
Sprinkle(s) for decoration of choice

You will also require a 12 holed muffin tin lined with 12 paper muffin cases

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/Fan oven 160°C/350°F/Gas mark 4. Sift the self-raising flour and baking powder into a large bowl, and then add the butter, caster sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla extract. Beat together until mixed, trying not to over mix the mixture. Spoon the mixture equally into the prepared paper cases and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until the tops spring back when lightly pressed. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes then turn out to completely cool on a wire rack.

To make the buttercream, beat the butter until soft. Add the icing sugar and stir until it’s just mixed in, then add the milk and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Divide into as many bowls as you want different colour(s) and add edible food colouring (you only require a few drops). This is purely optional should you wish to leave out the edible food colouring(s) and keep the buttercream natural. Spread the icing on thickly with a palette knife on top of each cupcake or put the icing into a piping back and make a large swirl on top of each cupcake. Decorate each cupcake with your chosen sprinkle(s).

Top tip for this bake; ensure your butter is soft enough for mixing as this is an all-in-one-method for the sponge mixture. To ensure a feather light sponge, do not over mix the sponge mixture too much.

Lastly, sit back, relax and arm yourself with a cupcake and take a tongue tingling lick of this velvet soft vanilla buttercream, savour, then nibble your way through to the moist vanilla sponge underneath.... mmmmmm....my suggestion of how to eat a good cupcake!

Please do call by Sweet and Simple Bakes and view the round-up of our other bakers. If you fancy joining in our next monthly bake, we would be most delighted to have you bake with us – everyone is welcome!

Easter Simnel Cake

A traditional Simnel cake has a seam of marzipan baked through the middle of the cake and the top is traditionally adorned with a circle of marzipan, 11 balls of marzipan placed around the edge (omitting 1 for Judas) to represent the disciples of Jesus. You will find different recipes that have been handed down through generations as to which part of Britain one lives.

My Simnel cake this year is not quite one hundred percent traditional as opposed to my other ‘Simnel cake’. This year’s cake comes from a book I purchased last year and I have had this recipe bookmarked since then. The book in question is called ‘Cakes Galore by Valerie Barrett’, which has many gorgeous mouth-watering cakes to recreate, i.e. Red Velvet Cake, Choco-malt Cake, (the one that has Maltese’s adorned around the top of the cake) to mention but a few.

I am entering this cake into an Easter Cake Bake Round 3 event being hosted by the lovely Julia over @ A Slice of Cherry Pie. This is the third year running Julia has hosted this great event, last year I sadly missed it by the skin of my teeth and vowed I would ensure I entered this year.

Easter Cake

Makes 12-14 slices

Ingredients
500g (1lb 2oz) luxury dried fruit
2tbsp Amaretto
175g (6 oz) softened butter

175g (6 oz) soft light brown sugar
3 eggs, beaten
Finely grated zest of ½ lemon
200g (7 oz) self-raising flour
2 tsp ground mixed spice
50g (2 oz) ground almonds
500g (1lb 2oz) ready-made natural almond paste or marzipan
225g (8 oz) ready-made yellow almond paste or marzipan
1-2 tbsp warmed apricot jam
To Decorate
Coloured ribbon
Sugar-coated chocolate eggs

You will also need: a deep 18cm (7 in) round cake tin, greased and lined with greaseproof paper or non-stick baking paper

Method

Put the mixed fruit in a bowl and sprinkle over the Amaretto. Leave to soak for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 150°C/fan 130°C/300°F/Gas Mark 2. Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl. Beat in the eggs and lemon zest. Fold in the flour, mixed spice and ground almonds, then add the dried fruit mixture and mix well. Set aside. Roll out half of the natural almond paste or marzipan on a sheet of non-stick baking paper to form an 18cm (7 in) circle. Spoon half of the cake mixture into the base of the prepared tin, spreading it evenly. Place the almond paste on top. Spoon over the remaining cake mixture, then level the surface. Bake in the oven for 2-2½ hours, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Turn out onto a wire to cool.

Roll out the remaining natural almond paste and all but 50g (2 oz) of the yellow paste to form two 18cm (7 in) circles and place the yellow one on top of the natural one. Shape 8 balls from the remaining yellow paste. Lightly brush the top of the cake with warmed apricot jam, leaving a small circle in the centre uncoated. Place the almond circle, yellow side up, on top of the cake and trim the edges. Using a glass, lightly mark a circle in the centre of the cake. Using a sharp knife, cut through both almond-paste layers up to the edges of the circle to make 8 segments. Lift up the pointed end of each segment and peel it back to reveal the natural almond paste underside. Press it gently into the edges of the cake. Place a yellow almond paste ball on top. Tie a ribbon around the cake and fill the centre with sugar-coated chocolate eggs.

Lastly, sit back in wonder of the splendid cake you have created and have an “egg-cellent” slice of Easter cake!