Chocolate Fudge Cake Take 2

One of the first recipes I ever posted was this chocolate fudge cake, it's deliciously dense and fudgy and I've made it many a time for girls at school and for Josh.

Today is Josh's dad's birthday and after asking what I could do to help with the party, I was given the task of baking the birthday cake.. No pressure.

I waited for what seemed like forever for it to cook. I put it in for 20 mins at 180 celcius, then back in for about another 50 with foil over the top to keep the top nice.

I got a tub of Philadelphia, mixed it with some butter and icing sugar and slathered it on the cake.

Then came to decorating.
I haven't met anyone who doesn't like Mars, so seeing as Josh's cake last year went down so well when I piled it high with Skittles and M&Ms, I thought I'd pile these on.

Mum was kindly given some pots of edible gold by one of her clients at work, which she kindly gave to me.

I used the moisture from the chocolate to stick the gold leaf onto the planets to make it look more jazzy and special.

I'm not meaning to blow my own trumpet, but this is the best chocolate cake I've had, plus the lack of butter in the ingredients means I can swap the milk for coconut or almond milk!

Original recipe with full ingredients and directions here.

Apple & Cinnamon Muffins

Up until a few weeks ago I had completely forgotten about the whole idea of incorporating fruit and cake, and if I did think about it the only thing that did come to mind was a dense fruit cake.
But after this recipe, my life was changed and I remembered this recipe that I made a couple of times when I was younger.

100g butter (4oz)
225g self raising flour (8oz)
100g soft brown sugar (4oz)
150g raisins or sultanas (6oz)
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons of honey
2 apples (medium to large, I used Pink Lady)
1 tsp. cinnamon
125ml milk

First rub your butter and flour until it's all breadcrumby,

Stir in the sugar, sultanas, eggs and honey,

Peel your apples with a (clean) potato peeler, cut them into boats,

Then chop them finely, or as chunky as you want your buns to be.

Put those along with the cinnamon into the mixing bowl and lastly stir in your milk.

This recipe made 12 generous muffins which took about 20 mins in an oven at about 180 celcius.

  

Grab a fork, but if you're like me you'll probably end up using your hands instead!

This would work equally well in a bread tin but it would take considerably longer.

Thanks Emily for re-evoking my love of fruity bread!

Emily's Banana Bread

So, I know I haven't blogged in a while but I've done two out of three exams and the last one is next Friday (revision is next week's problem) so I'm just easing myself back into my routine.
One of my favourite bloggers, Emily, posted this recipe and after spying it and feeling envious on Instagram, I had to make my own loaf, and then show you all.

Whilst the cake was baking, the whole house filled with its delicious aroma, and that, in my opinion, is how you can tell that it's going to be a good cake.

I lurked around the oven for the last 10 mins, yanking it out when the timer went, then, my sister and I descended. Hindsight has taught me that it's probably a good idea to let it cool a bit before slicing it open, because the break in the crust sort of broke, but that doesn't affect the taste, so it doesn't matter.

Lucy had to make do with grated chocolate on hers because we couldn't find any Nutella, and I went for a naked slice (the crust obviously, the best bit).

 

 

 

Oh my goodness, you have to make this because a) if you need comfort food it's the most homely thing b) it's the best banana bread I've ever tasted.

I'm finishing this post off so I can charge back downstairs for my 4th slice...

The Big 1-8

Yesterday I hit the big 1-8, and after my form's track record of celebrating birthdays, I wasn't sure what to expect.
The night before I had started churning out chocolate chew balls and sausage rolls in their masses ready for my form and my mum even made one of her specialities, brownies, complete with marshmallows and chocolate chips.

WARNING: FOOD PORN!

To start the day off I went out for breakfast to Crabtrees with my mummy and my godmother, Jill.

Crabtrees is the best café near me, their wedges are to die for! Sadly, I didn't get the chance to take a great deal of photos because I was so ravenous and over excited but all three of us went for smoked salmon with poached duck eggs on toast which had definatley been homemade.
It was incredible.
Ever since I can remember I have had an aversion to eggs, I don't mind it when I can't see them like in cakes but not any more!!

Both the meal and the company were the perfect way to start the day but I had bid my farewells and get off to school.

Our class have always organised joint presents, everyone puts in about £10 and gets the birthday girl a joint present, my class gave me such amazing presents, I mean just look at the card!

 

 

 

This is a cookie stamp, so before they jump into the oven I can make sure everyone knows they're homemade!

 

And obviously there were cheese pies...

 

I thought we were ordering pizzas for lunch, and I went to get them with I and M, but instead they drove me to the Suffolk Food Hall where the rest of my class and boyfriend were waiting, I don't think I've ever been so shocked, again I didn't get many photos at all because I was a little bit overwhelmed.

The week before M and I had had a mille-feuille and her lovely mum (who I've never met) made me this beautiful cake, layers of delicious puff pastry, sandwiched with cream and topped with berries and rosemary flowers, then surrounded by beautiful blossoms and sprigs of mint from their garden.

 

Outside the food hall is the most fantastic thing ever. A bouncy pillow.

After gorging ourselves silly we thought it best to work it off!

 

In the evening my boyfriend and mum cooked up a storm with some chicken satay, a delicious Jamie Oliver recipe that I must repost.
I wasn't allowed to do anything but arrange the lettuce, so here's my contribution.

 

Then it was time for cake!
I was literally so full, but you probably know by now that I can always manage some more!

I had the best birthday I've ever had, and today was my last day of school, as a little tribute to my lovely class I thought I'd include a couple of pictures of our day:

Yes, we did spend the day as chillis, there wasn't an actual reason why, and yes, one of our pranks was leaving dead mice we got from a pet food shop around the school, it wasn't my idea!