Fruity Breakfast Creatures

Hot Chocolate Float with Sprinkles

When you can't wait for hot chocolate to cool down before drinking-hot choc float!

His n Hers

Quick Healthy Chocolate Fruit n Nut Brownies

This recipe has been requested by many who have tried them. Made healthy by adding lots of dried fruits and 'good fat' nuts.

In a bowl add:

• 150g golden granulated sugar
• 100g dark muscovado sugar
• 75g ground almonds
• 65g cocoa powder
• 100g SR flour

A handful of each or either of:

• pumpkin seeds
• milk chocolate chips
• white chocolate chips
• dried cranberries or sour cherries
  
• dried bluberries or raisins
  
• dried organic apricots
• pecans or walnuts
• chopped hazelnuts or brazil nuts
  Mix these together (the bold is my preferred combination) and then add:

• 200ml rapeseed oil
• 2-3 t vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
  
  

Mix dry with wet and tranfer to a rectangle cake tin lined with greaseproof paper and cook at 160C for 25 minutes. Allow to cool in tin before cutting into desired pieces. Great with coffee!

Photos to follow with next batch. I keep giving them away and my family miss them so its back to the baking bowl.

Cheese Scones

Cheese Scone Flower

Mmmmmmmmm! So cheesy and moreish warm out of the oven.

Ingredients:

80z S.R. flour
2oz (salted) cold cubed butter
1/2 t mustard powder
1/2-1 t freeze-dried chives
1 pinch smoked paprika
1 pinch salt
1-2 grinds of pepper mill
3-4 0z red leicester or cheddar grated cheese
5-6oz full-fat cold milk

I had a lazy moment and used my food processor to grate cheese for baked potatoes. Now I had lots of grated cheese left over plus a dirty food processor!
Solution!
Make cheese scones without having to do the mix the butter and flour into breadcrumbs stage by hand.

Method:

• Process together dry ingredients with the butter and 2oz of cheese
  
• Transfer to a bowl and remaining cheese
  
• Add milk as needed and mix into a dough by hand
• Divide mixture into even sized balls and gently shape by hand and place on floured baking tray
• In oven for 10-12min at 180C
• If cheesy topping wante, remove and add grated cheese to top and place back in oven at 180C for 2 further minutes
• Eat warm:) with organic butter and watercress,rocket and spinach salad dressed with maple syrup and lime juice.
  

Play Dough Recipe

It really quick and easy and smells more natural than the freaky scents you get in shop bought dough. Children love to help you to make it too and kneading the warm dough is therapeutic and relieves stress . You need(knead-lol) to put the first 5 items in a pan and stir until smooth. Let it cool slightly and knead, colour and play:).

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup warm water
• 1/4 (0.25) cup salt
• 2t cream of tarter
• 1 t oil
  
• food colours.

NB. cream of tarter looks like baking powder and is found on the same shelf at the shops. Also I use alittle extra oil when kneading.

Can you spot the ham sandwich, poached egg, cauliflower, cheese and chips dipped in mushy peas, soya bean-edamame, sausages, banana and pears?

Spanakopita: filo pastry, spinach and cream cheese

This is a great way to get the kids to eat Spinach. Put it in a filo pastry pie with some creamy cheesy mixture(cream cheese or ricotta for a lighter healthier option), with sauteed red onion and nutmeg.

Choc Cake Recipe

Sponge

• 6oz SR flour

• 6oz cadbury's drinking chocolate and 0.5 t baking powder

• 6oz soft butter

• 6oz light brown muscovado sugar

• 4 large eggs

• Optional 1-2 T chocolate chips(milk and dark choc)

1. Cream butter and sugar together
2. Add beaten eggs one at a time
3. Add sieved dry ingredients
4. Divide between 2 cake tins and bake at 180 deg. C for 20-25minutes
5. Cool and ice.

Icing

• 7oz good quality milk choc

• 3oz good quality dark choc

• 1 standard carton organic double cream( about284 ml)

• 1 t vanilla extract

1. Melt the chocolate pieces in a glass bowl placed over boiled water in a pan.
   
2. Stir from time to time, and cool a little once melted
3. Add cream and vanilla extract and beat together
4. Use to sandwich cake and ice.
   

Cakes, cakes and more cakes!

I think I may have to change my blog title to something more cakey soon! I just can't resist posting cake pictures! A request has been made (via phone) for the strawberries and cream cake.

Basic sponge cake recipe

It is a basic sponge cake recipe. I usually use the all in one method and the important thing is too have all ingredients at room temperature and the butter does need to be very soft. All ingredients I use are organic where possible.
You need:

6oz soft unsalted soft butter
6oz caster sugar
3 large eggs
6oz self-raising flour(Or plain flour with 1t baking powder and 0.5 t bicarb)
1 t vanilla extract

Mix all together and transfer into two sandwich cake tins and bake on 180 deg.C for 20-25 minutes. Cool and use as you wish.

For the strawberries and cream cake I sandwiched together using homemade rhubarb and raspberry compote and butter icing. Top iced with double cream and vanilla dusting sugar and decorated with organic strawberries.

Strawberries and Cream Cake

Happy Birthday to a dear friend

She shared it generously with all her families! |Her sweet little niece said it is the best cake she has ever tasted. Ahhhh, Thank you.

Boiled Egg and Garlic fried Mushroom toastie

Add cheese if feeling the need for more filling!