sweet

29Mar

Sticky stem ginger cake

I have often spent Chilli mornings at the start line of marathons. I’m there to be supportive, not to run. I sit there watching my husband and hundred of others doing their warm up routines and wondering what does it take for people to pump themselves up like that in order to run. I like running, but in a temperature controlled environment, and only like max 5k. My brain does not feel the need to push by body to run non stop for 42k. When it comes to pushing myself the equivalent of a marathon for me is baking cakes. I need to pump myself for it – watching piping videos on YouTube. I tried sticky ginger cake for the first time last year, and since then I have sought for the perfect balance of ingredients to replicate it. Sticky stem ginger cake 115g  flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp nutmeg 60g butter, cut into cubes, plus extra for greasing 60g dark muscovado sugar 60g black treacle 60g golden syrup 150ml strong chai tea 100ml double cream 70g drained stem ginger, finely grated 1 egg 1. Preheat the oven to
2 mins read
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15Mar

Dainty pistachio and rose shortbread

    It is not easy to make friends as an adult. It seems that by the time people get to their 30s they have an established, close knit group of friends and no more need apply. For some reason any new acquaintances are nice to have a chit-chat with but it’s hard to get deeper than that. Do we get lazier as we get older? You know when someone cancels a coffee or a meeting at the bar and you actually feel relief? Not because you don’t like that person, but because you don’t have to make the effort to get dressed up and venture out, you can instead stay in and watch Real Housewives in your pyjamas. As children we go to school, we see our friends everyday, whether we want to or not, and the relationships blossom from that daily contact. As adults is a lot easier to hide from social relationships, even at work. Effort is needed to build meaningful relationships. My good, old friends are all in Brazil. Or Abu Dabi, or Germany and I miss the closeness that I developed with them. My work is so social, there are a lot of girls that
3 mins read
997 Views
29Oct

Scary gummy sweets

I have only started to be invited to Halloween parties as an adult, as a kid I never went around trick or treating and can only imagine what a joy that must be. I mean, all that free candy can last you a whole year, right? So maybe parent readers will appreciate treats that are a little less naughty? Gelatin has many health benefits and although I used the shop bought stuff if you really would like to make a healthier gummy sweet you can use grass fed gelatin and fruit pulp. But as I had little time and a lot to do I just used what I had in my cupboard and they turned out really well. You can also get the kids involved in helping to make them, it only takes 3 ingredients and 30 minutes to have one batch ready, so have your scary moulds at the ready! Scary gummy sweets 60ml of boiling water 70g jelly (I used Hartley’s – blackcurrant, raspberry and lime flavours. Don’t use the sugar-free version!) 12g unflavoured gelatine Silicone moulds 1. Using a paper towel rub a little oil in the cavities of the silicone mould and set aside. Add the
2 mins read
1218 Views
16Apr

Carrot cupcakes with lime cream cheese frosting

I love having an excuse to cook and bake and the holidays are always a great one. After Christmas Easter is the first time many families have the opportunity to meet up again especially if you live far away from your family, like me. I enjoy making something at home to take to these family gatherings, I find it is like a gift that you take, it makes others happy. And what I make is often of the sweet kind. This Easter my sweet gift is carrot cupcakes with a lime cream cheese frosting. You can’t have Easter without carrots! I have come across many carrot cake recipes that take a lot of spices such as cinnamon and cloves, but to me these spices remind me of the autumn season, so I decided to make a spring version of this recipe and I must say I was proud of the result. Carrot cupcakes with lime cream cheese frosting (makes 12) For the cupcakes: 125g butter, at room temperature 80g muscovado sugar 1 tsp vanilla essence 2 eggs 100g plain flour 1 tbsp baking powder 100g almonds or hazelnuts, ground 150g carrots, grated 100g white chocolate, finely chopped or chips For
3 mins read
852 Views