This is a cake that I have always wanted to try, having seen them in bake shop windows . . . but I never had the dariole type of tin molds that you need to bake them in . . . so I despaired of ever being able to bake them . . . at least until I saw this recipe!



Adapted from the cookery book, Women's Institute Cakes, by Liz Herbert, this particular recipe does away competely with the traditional tin molds!



Baked in ordinary paper muffin cases, these are simple and uncomplicated. There's no buttering or flouring of molds . . .



The paper cases peel very easily off the cakes, which are then simply coated in sieved jam and dessicated coconut.

Mmmm . . . soooooo scrummy yummy!

I hate to admit it, but I inhaled two of them quite accidentally . . . before I knew what was happening.



The rest have been put under lock and key . . .

Unfortunately I have the key, tee hee! (Or should I say luckily!!) I'm soo, soo bad, I know . . .but in a very good way.☺ ☺ ☺




*Cupcake Madeleines*
Makes 14
Printable Recipe

A variation of the traditional English Madeleines, except using paper cases instead of the tin molds normally used. Quite, quite delicious!

4 ounces butter, softened (1/2 cup)
4 ounces soft margarine (tub) (1/2 cup)
4 ounces caster sugar (a generous 1/2 cup)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs, beaten
4 ounces self raising flour (1 scant cup)
1 TBS milk

For the topping:
2 ounces dessicated coconut (1/2 cup)
4 to 5 TBS red fruit conserve, sieved
7 glace cherries halved

Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5. Place 14 paper muffin cases on a baking tray. Set aside.

Cream together the margarine, butter and sugar until soft and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. Gradually beat in the eggs, a little at a time, making sure each addition is throughly incorporated before proceeding. If the mixture begins to curdle, add a spoonful of the flour and continue. Once the eggs are completely beaten in, fold in the flour and just enough of the milk to make a soft batter.

Divide the mixture equally amongst the baking cases. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until well risen and golden brown. Remove from the oven to a wire rack to cool completely.

Once the cakes are completely cooled, remove the paper cases. Place the jam into a small bowl and warm slightly in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Place the coconut into another bowl. Using a pastry brush, brush a thin coating of jam over the base and sides of each cake. Roll them into the coconut to coat the jammed surfaces. The top of the cakes is now the bottom. Place on a wire rack to set. Brush the bottom of each of the cherry halves and use to garnish the middle of each cake. Enjoy!!

I recently found myself with an extra jar of marmalade in my larder that would soon be going out of date so wanted to find a way to use some of it up. Normally that isn't a problem, because we both love marmalade.



I think marmalade is one of those things that you either love or you hate. Some people love it's almost bitter tang and others . . . well, they wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole!

Me, I am a lover, from way back. I just can't get enough of it and have been known to slather so much of it on my buttered toast, the actual toast is hard to find!!!




In other words, I could eat it by the spoonful and sometimes do . . . ahh . . . I know . . . I'm incorrigible!



These soft moist cakey squares are only mildly flavoured with it's delicious tang . . . it's unmistakably there, but quite subtle . . .



Combine that with the deliciously tart lemon drizzle icing . . .



And the sweet candied orange peel topping . . .




And you get something quite close to bliss. Seriously.

Well . . . as long as you like Marmalade and cake that is!




*MarmaladeTray Bake Squares*
Makes 12
Printable Recipe

Marmalade is one of those things you either love or hate. We happen to love it. Delicious cake squares, with the underlying tang of marmalade, set off by a zingy lemon glaze icing and a garnish of candied orange peel and baby orange jelly slices.

3 ounces of butter, softened (a generous 1/3 cup)
3 ounces soft margarine (a generous 1/3 cup)
6 ounces caster sugar (a scant cup)
the grated zest of one unwaxed lemon
the grated zest of one unwaxed orange
4 TBS of orange marmalade
2 eggs, beaten
8 ounces self raising flour (a scant 2 cups)
3 TBS fresh orange juice

For the decoration:
the peel of half an orange
2 TBS granulated sugar
3 fluid ounces water
the juice of half a lemon
8 ounces icing sugar, sifted (2 cups)

petite orange jelly slices (optional)

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter and base line an 11 by 7 inch tin. (I like to leave an overhang on the two short sides for ease of removal.)

Place the butter, margarine and sugar into a bowl, along with the fruit zests. Cream together with an electric hand whisk until light and fluffy. Beat in the marmalade and then slowly beat in the eggs. Fold in the flour and orange juice to make a soft dropping consistency. (You may or may not need all the Orange juice.)

Spoon the batter into the prepared tin, leveling off the surface and making it slightly hollow in th emiddle. Bake for 30 to 25 minutes, until well risen, golden brown and just firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.

Pare the peel from the orange, taking care to remove any white pith. Roughly chop into small pieces. Dissolve the sugar in the water in a small pan. Add the orange peel and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until the peel is candied. Drain the peel from the syrup. (I like to keep the syrup to use in other things. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.) Set the peels aside to cool.

Whisk the icing sugar and lemon juice together until you get a smooth paste. Pour over the top of the cooled cake and spread to cover evenly. Pile 12 small heaps of the peel evenly spaced over the top of the cake, along with a jelly if using. Leave to set completely before cutting into pieces to serve.

There is nothing I enjoy more than taking a traditional British baking idea and adding my own creative twist to it. Call me crazy, but . . . I get a whole lot of satisfaction out of this activity.



One of my favourite flavours over here has to be Bakewell anything . . . tarts, pudding . . . I think it's just fabulous.



Bakewell tarts are little shortcrust pastry tarts filled with jam and almond flavoured sponge. Topped with an almond fondant icing and a cherry, I even enjoy the cheap grocery shop versions.



Bakewell pudding traditionally has a flakey pastry base, covered with jam and an almond frangipane filling, and is exclusive to the Derbyshire town of Bakewell.



Call it what you will, I just love the elements of Bakewell . . tart, pudding . . . whatever. If you have almonds cherries and jam involved, I am there!



I have made the traditional Bakewell Tarts on here in the past, and then I have played with the flavours a bit more and created Bakewell Whoopie Pies. (Oh my but they were good, good . . . GOOD!) I even once baked a Raspberry Bakewell Cake from a recipe I found in BBC Good Food Magazine.



When we got home from church today I thought I would bake some scones and I thought to myself . . . hmmm . . . Bakewell Scones might be tasty!



Imagine it now . . . yummy sweet seedless raspberry preserves, sandwiched between two scone layers made all buttery and flakey with marzipan and butter having been rubbed in . . . with a touch of flaked coconut (not traditional I know) for some added texture, and then topped with an egg wash and flaked almonds. Baked until scrummily flakey and crisp on the bottom and top and then drizzled with an almond glaze and topped with a glace cherry half, I have only two words to describe these little delights.



Moreishly Moreish!!

Sooooooo scrummily yummy! I bet you can't stop at eating just one . . .



Sinful I know! But what a wonderfully wicked way to go! I think I have found a new weakness to add to the rest . . . sigh . . .



*Bakewell Scones*
Makes 8
Printable Recipe

Raspberry preserves sandwiched between two layers of a scrummy almond and coconut scone dough, topped with crunchy flaked almonds and then finally glazed with an almond glaze and topped with a glace cherry!

8 1/2 ounces plain flour (2 cups)
2 TBS caster sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 ounces flaked sweetened coconut (1/2 cup)
3 1/2 ounces marzipan, chilled (about 1/3 cup)
2 ounces chilled unsalted butter (1/4 cup)
100ml of milk (1/3 cup)
1 large free range egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 1/2 TBS seedless raspberry preserves
1 egg yolk, beaten together with 1/2 tsp water
3 TBS flaked almonds
To glaze:
2 ounces icing sugar
a few drops of almond extract
water
4 glace cherries halved

Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*f/ gas mark 5. Lightly butter a baking sheet and set aside.

Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and coconut together in a bowl. Cut the marzipan and butter into bits and drop them into the flour mixture. Rub into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Whisk the whole egg, milk and extracts together. Add all at once to the flour mixture and stir in with a fork to make a soft dough. Divide in half and pat out 3/8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Stamp into 8 rounds with a 2 1/2 inch biscuit cutter, gathering the scraps and repeating until you have 8 rounds. Place the 8 rounds on the baking sheet. Top each with 1/2 tsp of raspberry jam, keeping it in the centre. Pat out the remaining dough to the same thickness as the first lot and stamp out 8 more rounds, once again gathering the scraps and re patting. Place these rounds over top of the jam topped rounds, pressing gently around the edges to seal the jam inside. Brush the tops of each lightly with the egg yolk mixture and sprinkle with flaked almonds, pressing them in gently.

Bake in the heated oven for 18 to 22 minutes, until well risen and golden brown on the tops and bottoms. Remove from the oven to a wire rack.

Whisk together the icing sugar, almond extract and enough water to make a smooth drizzable glaze. Dribble this over the warm scones and top each with a cherry half.

Delicious served warm or cold. Store in a tightly covered container.

Occasionally we have people over for drinks and nibbles . . . nothing alcoholic . . . we are Mormons . . . but just for some nice soft drinks, and a nibble or two . . . salty, sweet . . . and everything in between.



It's all about fellowshipping and sharing . . . friendship and food.



Good food and good friends . . . the two seem to go together like . . . well . . . peas and carrots!



We're having some people over tonight and I decided to make these lovely Lime and White Chocolate Finger biscuits to share. (You do realize of course that over here, cookies are called biscuits.)



Pretty and elegant . . . tangy and sweet . . . and oh so easy to make and to eat!!



I think they'll enjoy these with some warm mulled apple juice. What do you think?



*Lime and White Chocolate Fingers*
Makes 18
Printable Recipe

Delicious cake like finger biscuits, tangy and buttery at the same time, drizzled with sweet white chocolate. Yummo!

250g plain flour (2 cups)
1 tsp baking powder
5 ounces caster sugar (2/3 cup)
75g unsalted butter, melted (2 1/2 ounces)
2 TBS lime juice
the finely grated zest of two limes
1 large free range egg, lightly beaten
1 large free range egg yolk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

To glaze:
150g good quality white chocolate (5 1/2 ounces)
chocolate curls (optional)

Preheat the oven to 179*C/325*F/gas mark3. Lightly grease and flour two baking sheets. Set aside.

Whisk the butter, lime juice, zest, egg and egg yolk and vanilla together.

Whisk the flour, baking powder and sugar together in a bowl. Add the liquid ingredients all at once and mix in with a fork until a firm dough forms. Using lightly floured hands take tablespoons of the dough and roll into thin logs, about 4 1/2 inches long. Place on the prepared baking trays, leaving 2 inches between each.

Bake in the heated oven until firm, for ten minutes, switching the baking trays around halfway through the baking time. Remove from the oven and allow to set on the baking trays for 10 minutes before scooping off with a spatula to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Put the chocolate for the glaze into a heatproof bowl. Sit over simmering water without letting the bottom of the bowl touch the water. Stir frequently until the chocolate has melted. Alternately you can melt carefully in the microwave.

Place the biscuits closely together on the wire rack. Using a fork drizzle the melted white chocolate decoratively over them. Sprinkle with the chocolate curls if using. Allow to set before serving. These will keep for up to 2 days in an airtight container once decorated. (Undecorated they will keep for about a week.)

I think I must subscribe to just about every cooking magazine going. I know . . . I am obsessed. Todd thinks I'm crazy . . . but, having said that . . . he does more than enjoy my cooking efforts daily.



Usually I flag recipes from each magazine that I want to try out at some point. Of course there are far more than I could ever conceivably try in reality . . . but, at least I am well intentioned. Sometimes I get there and, well . . . sometimes I don't . . .



I flagged this pudding recipe in the October issue of Good Food magazine as one that I definitely wanted to make. It's taken me almost a month to get to it, but today was the day.



All my stars were in alignment or something coz I actually got it done! Roly Poly pudding is a favourite around this house with my old school hubby as is bread and butter pudding, and we are both nuts about anything with jam in it!



This lovely pudding combines elements of all three! Lovely little buttery roly poly bread and raspberry jam sandwiches laid on a bed of more raspberry jam, and then baked in a sweet vanilla custard, until it all souffles up in a rich cloud of baked custardy goodness . . . soft and creamy inside, with lovely buttery sweet crunchy bits on the outside.



You take a slightly trembling spoonful and place it in your bowl, licking your lips in anticipation . . . you want to dig in immediately, but daren't for fear the jam will burn your lips . . .



You finally lift a spoonful to your mouth and gently blow before you plunge the delightful mass past your trembling lips . . .



mmmm . . . ahhh . . . did you feel that?

That, my friends, was an itty, bitty taste of heaven . . .



*Roly Poly Bread and Butter Pudding*
Serves 8
Printable Recipe

Little bread butter and jam rolls baked in a delicious vanilla custard until light fluffy and scrummy yummy! You will want to use very fresh bread for this. Dry bread will not roll properly.

3 ounces softened butter, plus extra to butter the baking dish (3/8 of a cup)
12 ounces of raspberry jam (1 1/2 cups)
1 large fresh unsliced loaf of white bread
4 large free range eggs
14 fluid ounces of milk (1 3/4 cup)
14 fluid ounces of double cream (1 3/4 cup)
3 ounces of caster sugar, plus a bit extra for sprinkling on top of the pudding (3/8 of a cup)
1 tsp of vanilla paste, or the seeds scraped from one vanilla pod

Butter a deep two litre baking dish. Stir the jam well with a fork and then spoon half of it into the prepared baking dish.

Trim the crusts and rounded top off of the loaf of bread so that you have a large rectangular block of bread. Carefully cut the bread into 4 long slices lengthwise. (This is the hardest part as fresh bread is a bit squidgy, but persevere and go slowly. It will be worth it.) You can whiz all the edges and leftovers into bread crumbs and store in the freezer for something else.

Spread each of the four long slices of bread on one side with butter. Flip them over and spread the jam on the other sides. (Yes it will make the counter a bit of a mess, but again, it's worth it!) Roll up the bread slices, rolling up from the short sides, until you have 4 fat swiss rolls. Cut each in half carefully, so that you have 8 jammy rolls, and then place them, cut sides down into the jam lined baking dish.

Whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, sugar and vanilla. Pour through a strainer over top of the jammy bread rolls, stopping to allow it to soak in, until all the mixture has been used up. Let stand for half an hour on the counter before baking,

Preheat the oven to 160*C/325*D/ gas mark 3. Place the baking dish on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the top with some more caster sugar and then place in the heated oven to bake for about an hour to an hour and a quarter until the top is lightly browned and the custard is gently set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for five minutes before serving. Delicious!

Note - I knew that there was no way that the Toddster and myself could eat a whole one by ourselves, so I cut the recipe in half. It worked out great!

Ohh, I found this lovely cookie recipe on the BBC Good Food site earlier today and I just knew I had to make them. They sounded really, really scrummy!



With crisp brown edges and chewy centres, they satisfy the crunch/chew factor perfectly! Chock full of bits of bittersweet dark creamy white chocolates, and sweet chunks of glace cherries, these cookies please on many levels.



Butter, crisp and chewy . . . and moreishly delicious! The nuts are my own addition, because . . . well, why not!! You can never have too much nuts in my opinion . . . or chocolate!



The two together . . . bliss!



*Gooey Double Chocolate and Cherry Cookies*
Makes about 2 dozen large cookies
Printable Recipe

Oh my, but these are yummy scrummy. Each bite brings you the sweetness of white chocolate, the bitterness of the dark chocolate and the chewiness of the cherries! OH SO GOOD!!

200g of butter, room temperature (7/8 of a cup)
85g of light brown muscovado sugar (1/2 cup packed)
85g caster sugar (a scant half cup)
1 large free range egg
225g of self raising flour (2 cups)
50g of dark chocolate roughly chopped (50-70%cocoa) (about a cup)
50g of white chocolate, roughly chopped (about a cup)
a handful of natural colour glace cherries, roughly chopped
Optional: 120g of chopped toasted pecans or walnuts (1 cup)



Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5. Butter a couple of flat baking sheets and set aside.

Cream together the butter and both sugars, until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, until thoroughly mixed in. Stir in the flour until well mixed. Stir in the chocolates, fruit and nuts if using. Drop by heaped spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving a lot of space inbetween each. (These spread a lot!) Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown and set. Allow to rest on the cookie sheet before lifting with a flat spatula onto a wire rack to finish cooling. Store in an airtight container.

I'm afraid I rather made a pig of myself with these . . . *blush*

We are great fans of sultanas in this house . . . those lovely golden coloured seedless raisins . . . so sweet and yummy. I could eat them by the handful.

Originally Sultana raisins were imported to the English speaking Western world from the Ottoman Empire. There is a quaint little story saying that they came to be when a Sultan from the Empire fled from a tiger attack, leaving his grapes in the sun to dry . . .



Not sure how true it is, but it surely adds a bit of fun and interest to a rather plain looking fruit!



Rather plain looking indeed, but oh-so-delicious! Especially when baked into lovely squares such as these . . . with a buttery oaty base and topping . . . the filling sweet and sticky . . . with just a hint of lemon.



Oh my but these are moreishly wicked. You will surely find yourself escaping into the kitchen to cut yourself one more little bite at every available opportunity.



And then they'll be gone . . .



You'll just have to bake another pan!!



*Sultana Oat Squares*
Makes one 8 inch square pan
Printable Recipe

These are so deliciously scrummy!

For the Crumble:
5 1/4 ounces rolled oats (1 1/2 cups)
7 1/2 ounces soft light brown sugar (1 cup, packed))
6 1/2 ounces of plain flour (1 1/2 cups)
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/4 tsp salt
6 ounces butter, melted (3/4 cup)

Filling:
3 3/4 ounces soft light brown sugar (1/2 cup packed)
2 TBS cornflour (cornstarch)
6 fluid ounces water (3/4 cup)
6 ounces sultana raisins (1 cup)
the juice and finely grated zest of one unwaxed lemon

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Lightly butter an 8 inch square baking pan. Line with baking parchment, leaving an overhang to help lift the baked squares out.

Place all the ingredients for the filling in a saucepan, with the exception of the lemon and lemon zest. Cook and stir until the mixture boils and thickens. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon zest and juice. Set aside.

Whisk the oats, brown sugar, flour, soda and salt together in a bowl Pour the melted butter over top and mix well together until nice and crumbly. Press half of the crumbs into the prepared pan. Spoon the sultana filling evenly over top. Sprinkle the remainder of the crumbs over top and press down lightly.

Bake for 35 - 40 minutes until golden brown and firm to the touch. Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares to serve.