Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Scones. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Scones. Sort by date Show all posts
I wanted to bake a cake today that would reflect celebrations. There is just so much to celebrate this month! I love apples and my husband loves Spice cakes, so I decided to combine the two.
I am rather fond of spice cakes myself, but I won't be eating much of this. Its mainly for my husband. Today is our 17th wedding anniversary, so in part it is to celebrate that . . . but there is even more reason for celebrations . . .
Today is also the day we I have been waiting for, for what seems like forever. My book is finally out for sale! I am officially an Author! I am really proud of this achievement as you can imagine.
My husband says I have written a beautiful book and I know he is a bit biased, but my Editor also says that, so I guess I have to believe what they say. My friend Tina was here the other night and she fell in love with it, as did the ladies at church last night that I showed it to. I am happy for that.
From the time I was a little girl I had the dream of one day writing a book, and now that dream has come true.
"Learn how to cook the complete
breadth of English cuisine with The English Kitchen. Award winning
blogger and former personal chef Marie Rayner shares 510 recipes to
cover every meal from the famous ‘Full English’ breakfast to late night
treats of cake and biscuits. Every meal that could cross a traditional
English plate is on offer, with modern favourites from around the
British Isles and abroad making an appearance too.
You will find recipes for fry ups, lemon toast, custard creams, honey cake, Bakewell scones, the ultimate chicken Caesar salad, ploughman’s lunch, toad-in-the-hole, pork chops, Lancashire hotpot, hunter’s chicken, gardener’s pie, chips and mushy peas, how to make the perfect Sunday roast, Yorkshire pudding, bubble and squeak, coronation chicken, rock cakes, crumpets, crumbles, roly polys, sticky toffee pudding and more!
Marie also shares her years of experience in running a kitchen, with an entire chapter of Kitchen Wisdom to teach you the hints, tips and secrets behind making it all look (and feel) easy.
Marie came to the UK in the year 2000 and swiftly fell in love with the British culinary style. These are her tried and tested, very best recipes. They don’t have to be fancy, but they are each and every one delicious. Throughout she will educate you with gentle humour and beautiful illustrations, whether you are a native Brit looking for the taste of home, or an anglophile waiting to discover the traditions for the first time."
Hard cover, 724 pages, full colour and filled with lots of tastiness you can buy it on Amazon in either the full print version or kindle version. It is up to you. I believe it is also available from The Book Depository.
Amazon UK
(Available in both Print and Kindle versions)
Amazon US
(Available in both Print and Kindle Versions)
Amazon CA
(At the moment it is only showing the Kindle version here, but I am sure the print version will be available soon)
You will find recipes for fry ups, lemon toast, custard creams, honey cake, Bakewell scones, the ultimate chicken Caesar salad, ploughman’s lunch, toad-in-the-hole, pork chops, Lancashire hotpot, hunter’s chicken, gardener’s pie, chips and mushy peas, how to make the perfect Sunday roast, Yorkshire pudding, bubble and squeak, coronation chicken, rock cakes, crumpets, crumbles, roly polys, sticky toffee pudding and more!
Marie also shares her years of experience in running a kitchen, with an entire chapter of Kitchen Wisdom to teach you the hints, tips and secrets behind making it all look (and feel) easy.
Marie came to the UK in the year 2000 and swiftly fell in love with the British culinary style. These are her tried and tested, very best recipes. They don’t have to be fancy, but they are each and every one delicious. Throughout she will educate you with gentle humour and beautiful illustrations, whether you are a native Brit looking for the taste of home, or an anglophile waiting to discover the traditions for the first time."
Hard cover, 724 pages, full colour and filled with lots of tastiness you can buy it on Amazon in either the full print version or kindle version. It is up to you. I believe it is also available from The Book Depository.
Amazon UK
(Available in both Print and Kindle versions)
Amazon US
(Available in both Print and Kindle Versions)
Amazon CA
(At the moment it is only showing the Kindle version here, but I am sure the print version will be available soon)
Now lets talk about cake!
This deliciously moist cake is filled with lots of warm baking spices . . . cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice, cloves . . .
The use of soft light brown muscovado sugar, applesauce and buttermilk also insure it is a moist, moist, moist cake.
There is even more warm spicy flavours in the Cinnamon Buttercream Icing . . . you could also make a cream cheese frosting if you wanted to.
Cream cheese is different over here and I don't like the way it turns out. Icings made with it are always too slack.
This is a moist somewhat dense cake, and deserves an icing that will stand up to that!
It would also be great for the looming holidays . . . that is why I chose to top it with mini mince pies. My husband loves mince pies, and he really enjoyed this addition!
I also thought they looked really pretty, but you can top it with whatever you want to top it with.
However you want to dress it up . . . caramel bits, candied ginger, dried apple chunks . . . crushed gingernuts. All would be fabulous!
*Apple Spice Cake*
Makes 1 (9-inch) layer cake
125g butter, at room temperature (1/2 cup)
495g icing sugar sifted (3 3/4 cups)
1/2 tsp vanilla paste
1/2 tsp cinnamon extract
3-4 TBS milk
Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter two nine inch
layer cake pans and line the bottoms with baking paper. Butter the
paper. Set aside.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, soda, and spices together until well combined. Set aside.
Rub
the brown sugar through a sieve into a large bowl. Beat in the
applesauce and oil, using an electric whisk, until well mixed together.
Beat in the vanilla and the eggs, one egg at a time, stopping to scrape
the sides of the bowl after each addition. Stir in half of the flour
mixture on a low speed, just to combine. Blend in the buttermilk. Stir
in the remaining flour at low speed until well combined. Divide the
batter between the baking pans, smoothing the tops.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the tops
spring back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the centres
of the cakes comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tins for about 5
minutes before inverting onto a large wire cooling rack. Carefully
remove the baking paper and then allow to cool completely before
proceeding.
If you only bake one cake for the holidays (other than a fruit cake of course, you gotta have one of those) let it be this . . . you are sure to love it, and do be sure to check out my book as well. There are previews and all sorts on the Amazon page . . . you know that option where you can search through this book. Anyways, Bon Appetit!
I've added my cake to the Bake of the Week, sponsered by Helen from Casa Costello and Jenny from Mummy Mishaps.
As you all know by now, I really love to spoil the Missionaries. They're really great lads and far away from home, doing the Lord's work . . . tramping the streets in all kinds of weather, come what may. The mother in me just can't resist taking care of them in any way that I can. Mitzie loves them too, as you can clearly see!
I was reading my e-mails the other day when this popped up. Kevin and Amanda, Chocolate Chip Lava Cookies. There often isn't anything pertinent to me on that page . . . but sometimes there is a gem hidden amongst the travelogues and product reviews, and that gal takes fab pictures!
Anyways this gave me a great idea of how to really spoil the lads, and I have to confess that two of them are leaving tomorrow for other areas . . . and so I extra specially wanted to give that cheeky chap Elder Hopper an extra superfantastic treat before he leaves, as well as Elder Smith . . . and the other two Elders as well of course.
I have to admit to having a certain soft spot for Elder Hopper though. He's been here six months and it will be hard to see him go. He has become very special to us. I have made him promise to come back one day for a visit. We do have an extra couple of beds going!
I used my own chocolate chip cookie recipe because in my opinion it seriously cannot be improved upon. I've been honing it for over 25 years! When I cooked at the big house I used to bake them at least twice and sometimes three times a week! The Mr and the staff all loved them. I used to have to bake extra batches for him to take when he went away as well. He did love those cookies!
So what I did was take Kevin and Amanda's idea and adapt it to my own cookie recipe.
Am I ever glad these won't be living here for very long.
They are uber dangerous. Those lads spend all day walking . . . they can take it. My hips??? Well, the hips don't lie and mine are telling me now . . . walk away . . . just . . . walk . . . away.
And don't look back! To do so would be to risk being turned into a pillar of salt . . . or lard. Take your pick!
*Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups*
Makes about 24 huge cookies
Printable Recipe
Double the pleasure. Double chocolate chip cookies, filled with a milk chocolate centre. Decadently scrummilicious!
220g of butter, at room temperature
201g of soft light brown sugar (1 cup packed)
191g of granulated sugar (1 cup)
2 large free range eggs
1 TBS pure vanilla
500g of plain flour (3 1/2 cups)
1 tsp fine seasalt
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
10 ounces of pure chocolate chips, semi sweet (1 1/2 cups)
To fill:
4 ounces milk chocolate chips (1/2 cup), melted
Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Lightly grease two medium size nonstick muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
Cream together the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Stir in the vanilla, salt and soda. Stir in the flour until well mixed. Stir in the semi sweet chocolate chips.
Using about 1 dessertspoon measure for each roll the dough into balls. Flatten half of them and place into the prepared muffin tins. Top each with about 1 tsp of the melted milk chocolate chips, taking care to keep it in the middle. Take another ball of dough, flatten it and place it over the melted chocolate and press around the edges lightly to seal the chocolate in. Repeat until all the dough has been used.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, rotating the muffin tins halfway through the baking time. They should be lightly browned on the edges and set. Immediately upon removal from the oven run a sharp knife around the edges to loosen. Allow to cool completely in the muffin tins before popping out. Store in an airtight container.
Note: To serve as a dessert cup, lightly reheat the number of cookies you want in the microwave for a few seconds. Place each on a plate. Top with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and drizzle with some chocolate syrup. If you have homemade so much the better!!
I have a fantastic chocolate sauce recipe here. It's the best!
Over in The Cottage today, Carrot Cake Drop Scones.
I could hardly wait to share this lovely 8 X 8 snack cake recipe with you today! Especially now with it almost being time for school to start up again. I don't know about your family, but my children were always starving when they got home from school at the end of the day.
I raised five children and I tried always to have something delicious to share with them when they got home from school. It was an opportunity for us to gather around the kitchen table and catch up with what had gone on in their day at school.
I tried always to keep the lines of communication open with my children and this was one very important way I did just that. There is nothing so comforting or homey as breaking bread together around a table.
Not only did this give us a chance to talk with each other, but it also gave them something to look forward to at the end of their school day.
Of course we did that at supper time as well, but that was a bit more formal and a bit later in the day. This after school snack time was much more casual. I would usually have baked cookies or a snack cake for them to enjoy.
With five children, three of them boys with hollow legs, nothing was around long enough to go stale, which was just how I loved it. All I ever wanted to be was a mother and a wife, a homemaker, and keeper of the home.
I spied these lovely fresh local cherries at the farm market when I was there last week with my sister. I adore cherries. I had in mind to make this Cherry, Coconut & Almond Snack Cake!
When I lived in the UK and was living and working down in Kent, we used to have cherry sellers come over from the South of France every year. They would set up stands in the layby's and you could buy 1/2 pound paper bags of freshly picked cherries from them.
They were so delicious. Sweet and ripe and warm from the sun. I always had to buy two bags of them because for sure I would have eaten one bag before we even got back to our cottage.
I think it is fair to say I love adore cherries! In any way shape or form!
Beautiful eaten fresh and out of hand. Fabulous in pies, tarts and turnovers. Splendid in desserts such as Clafloutis or Trifle.
Stupendous in cakes. Especially in this cake I am sharing with you today!
One thing I can tell you is that Cherries and Almonds have a beautiful affinity for each other. That is the basis for the infamously delicious Bakewell Tart. You can find my recipe for that here.
I also love to use that delicious combination of cherries and almonds in things such as my Small-batch Bakewell Blondies, and these fantastic Bakewell Slices.
Bakewell Tart Muffins are another favorite, as are my Bakewell Scones, and Steamed Cherry Bakewell Pudding. And these few recipes are only the tip of the Bakewell iceberg on my blog.
I am well versed in this delicious combination of cherries and almonds and am not afraid to share my obsession with others. This quick and easy cake is a delicious play on that delicious flavor combination!
There are also a few other delicious flavors added in this cake. First you have a fabulous batter, made with a combination of both flour and almond flour/ground almonds. A quantity of coconut is stirred into the batter along with the use of coconut or canola oil.
Flavored with vanilla and coconut extract (the coconut extract is optional) it has a lovely dense texture. The use of buttermilk helps to ensure that is is beautifully moist.
A quantity of halved fresh cherries is sprinkled over the top of the cake. They do sink down a bit, but I fear if you stirred them into the cake they would all sink to the bottom, so sprinkling them on top is the best way to go.
Flaked almonds are sprinkled over the top of the cherries . . .
And then even more coconut is sprinkled on top of the flaked almonds. So you have double coconut and almond here! Lush and nutty.
A final sprinkle of sugar dusts the top and then the cake is baked. The sugar gives a tiny bit of sweet crunch to the top of the cake.
The original recipe comes from a book of mine entitled Snacking Cakes, Simple Treats for Anytime Cravings, by Yossy Arefi. I have it on my kindle.
This is the second recipe I have baked from the book to great success and I think I may just have to buy myself the hard copy. Yes, it is that good of a book. Both recipes I have baked have been deliciously sound.
Just look at how lovely the texture of this cake is. Perfect for cutting into squares for eating.
I dare say this is going to become a fast and firm favorite around here. I gave half of it to my sister when she dropped off some mail for me this afternoon.
I think it is a great snack cake, but it would also make a fabulous dessert served with a dollop of whipped cream spooned on top, or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
I am so very pleased with how it turned out. This is a winner and is going into my retinue of tried and true favorites!
I am so pleased with it I am sure it is bound to become a favorite with you as well. I find myself pondering what it would be like if I switched out the flavors a bit with blueberries and lemon. Food for thought there.
In any case, I do hope that you will be inspired enough to make this. You won't be sorry. You can use fresh or frozen cherries. Its a keeper for sure!!!
Cherry, Coconut & Almond Snack Cake
Yield: Makes one 8-inch square cake
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 45 MinTotal time: 55 Min
Nutty, sweet, buttery, and delicious with plenty of cherries, coconut and flaked almonds.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (150g) plus 1 ½ tsp granulated sugar
- 2 large free range eggs
- 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk, well shaken
- ½ cup (120ml) canola oil
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ tsp coconut extract (optional)
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (140g) all-purpose plain flour
- ½ cup (55g) almond flour/ground almonds
- ½ cup (40g) plus 1 TBS unsweetened shredded coconut
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup (140g) halved and pitted cherries, fresh or frozen
- 2 TBS sliced almonds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/ gas mark 4. Butter an 8 inch square baking pan and line with baking paper leaving an overhang to lift the baked cake out with.
- Whisk ¾ cup (150g) of the sugar and eggs together in a bowl until pale and light. Add the buttermilk, oil, vanilla, coconut extract (if using) and salt. Whisk well to emulsify.
- Sift together the flour and baking powder. Add to the batter along with the almond flour, and the ½ cup (40g) of coconut. Whisk together until everything is well combined. Pour into the prepared baking tin.
- Scatter the halved cherries on top evenly. Sprinkle with the 1 TBS of coconut and the sliced almonds, along with the remaining 1 ½ tsp sugar.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes, until risen, puffed and golden brown. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes on a wire rack before lifting out to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to two days.
On the weekends I like to pull out the stops a bit and make something special for breakfast. Just because I live all on my own now doesn't mean that I can't still do that. Usually at the weekend you will find me enjoying bacon and eggs or pancakes or something similar!
I do need to apologize for the photos today. It's such a dull and gloomy day and although I like to take my photos with natural light, I was forced today to take them at my dining room table as I just could not get decent photos in front of my window. I hope you will forgive me!
.jpg "BHG 1943 Cookbook")
The recipe I am sharing today for these tasty Griddle Cakes was adapted from one found in the Vintage Better Homes & Garden Cookbook, published in 1943.
I love cookbooks, and I confess that I love vintage cookbooks most of all. Although some adaptations need to be made according to present knowledge and ingredients, most of the recipes in them are sound and well worth trying.
.JPG "Vintage Griddle Cakes (1943)")
So it is with this griddle cakes (or pancakes as they are also known) recipe which I am sharing with you today. I confess that these are some of the best pancakes I have ever made or eaten.
They are light and fluffy and puff up very nicely, without deflating after you cook them. Always a bonus! They have become my favorite pancakes!
.JPG "Vintage Griddle Cakes (1943)")
Perfect for serving fresh off the griddle with butter and syrup and your favorite bacon and sausages. I know, I am a glutton at the weekend!
Usually, I will also add canned sliced peaches, but today I didn't have any!
.JPG "Vintage Griddle Cakes (1943)")
Just look at how lovely and puffed up those pancakes are! And this is after sitting in the oven while I take the time to cook all of them!!
Normally they will deflate somewhat in the waiting. Not so with this recipe. Not so! They were lovely, light and quite puffed!
.JPG "Vintage Griddle Cakes (1943)")
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE VINTAGE GRIDDLE CAKES (1943)
Pretty basic ingredients. There is nothing out of the ordinary here.
- 2 cups (480ml) of whole milk
- 2 large free-range eggs, beaten
- 2 TBS melted shortening (I use butter)
- 2 1/2 - 3 cups (312g - 374g) of plain all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 2 TBS sugar
.JPG "Vintage Griddle Cakes (1943)")
I like to begin with all of my ingredients being at room temperature. I am not sure if this is what makes the difference or not, but it is just how I do things.
I also like to use whole milk. In face I keep nothing but whole milk in my house. It doesn't make sense for me to buy several kinds of milk when there is really only me living here.
.JPG "Vintage Griddle Cakes (1943)")
I don't really like using shortening if I can help it, which means I almost always substitute butter for it, which works fine in this recipe. I do also like to butter the griddle pan a bit. Just me. The recipe doesn't ask for it. But, really, can you ever have too much butter?
Most times I don't need a full three cups to make these. This can vary according to the weather (damp or dry) and of course the brand of flour. You only need to use as much as will give you a thick droppable consistency. Not too thick. Not too thin.
.JPG "Vintage Griddle Cakes (1943)")
HOW TO MAKE VINTAGE GRIDDLE CAKES (1943)
It's a pretty basic recipe. Measure and whisk, then cook/bake. In the UK I had a dedicated griddle pan. Here in Canada, I have to just use a skillet, which works fine.
Whisk the milk, eggs, melted shortening/butter together in a large bowl.
Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the liquid ingredients and mix thoroughly to combine until smooth. (Begin with 2 1/2 cups of flour and only add the remaining flour to give you a proper consistency. It should be thick, but not overly so.)
Heat your griddle pan or skillet until quite warm over medium heat.
Ladle the batter onto the ungreased griddle pan using a 1/4 cup measure, spreading it out with the bottom of the cup until you have an even circle.
.JPG "Vintage Griddle Cakes (1943)")
Cook until the mixture is covered with small bubbles on top and is starting to look dry. It should also be golden brown on the bottom. Flip over and cook the other side until golden brown.
Keep warm in a low oven until you have cooked all of your griddle cakes.
Serve hot with pats of butter and maple syrup.
.JPG "Vintage Griddle Cakes (1943)")
I can promise you I didn't eat everything on that plate! haha It was for presentation purposes only. I probably only ate one of the pancakes, a sausage and two strips of bacon. (I adore bacon and I only ever very seldome have it. Oh how I miss British bacon.)
The plate is a very old China one that my sister gave me to use for my food photos. The cloth is a fluor sac tea towel that I hand embroidered. The cute tea cosy is one that a lovely friend knit for me. Together I thought they made a beautiful vintage presentation. But perhaps that is only my own flight of fancy!
.JPG "Vintage Griddle Cakes (1943)")
There is no shortage of pancake recipes here in The English Kitchen. These griddle cakes today are very similar to what are called Griddle scones or Scotch Pancakes or Irish Pancakes in the UK, usually served with jam. Some other ones you may enjoy are:
Fluffy Ricotta Pancakes. These fluffy pancakes have a deliciously creamy texture. They make a particularly scrumptious breakfast for that special someone in your life, but they also make a delicious dessert when topped with sweetened whipped cream!
Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes. Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes are the best! You get all the wholesome and nutty flavor of a tasty Oatmeal Cookie . . . except in the glorious deliciousness of a breakfast pancake!
Yield: 16 pancakes
Vintage Griddle Cakes (1943)
Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 30 MinTotal time: 35 Min
One of the best pancake recipes I have ever made. Light and fluffy and thick!
Ingredients
- 2 cups (480ml) of whole milk
- 2 large free-range eggs, beaten
- 2 TBS melted shortening (I use butter)
- 2 1/2 - 3 cups (312g - 374g) of plain all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 2 TBS sugar
Instructions
- Whisk the milk, eggs, melted shortening/butter together in a large bowl.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the liquid ingredients and mix thoroughly to combine until smooth. (Begin with 2 1/2 cups of flour and only add the remaining flour to give you a proper consistency. It should be thick, but not overly so.)
- Heat your griddle pan or skillet until quite warm over medium heat.
- Ladle the batter onto the ungreased griddle pan using a 1/4 cup measure, spreading it out with the bottom of the cup until you have an even circle.
- Cook until the mixture is covered with small bubbles on top and is starting to look dry. It should also be golden brown on the bottom. Flip over and cook the other side until golden brown.
- Keep warm in a low oven until you have cooked all of your griddle cakes.
- Serve hot with pats of butter and maple syrup.
Notes
The time is estimated for what it might take to cook all of the pancakes. It should take you no more than 3 or 4 minutes to cook each individual one.
Thanks so much for visiting. Do come again!
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