Tag Archives: cake

Ginger loaf cake

I’ve been loving the ginger loaf cake that Starbucks have for their Christmas period but alas it will soon be no more. I thought I’d have a go at my own instead.

This beauty has stem ginger, sticky black treacle and orange zest in it. I’ve topped it with cream cheese icing. It was inspired by this version over at BBC Good Food.

I love January for being quiet. I get my time to clean and cook back. Too much of that and I get bored but I love the shift in balance and my liver loves the lack of alcohol. Expect many more baking posts this month!

birthday afternoon tea

the tuesday just gone was my mum’s birthday and sadly I couldn’t make it down to south to see her. I thought it only fair that I push the boat out and make amends with a proper afternoon tea.

so out came the tea set and the brand new pink teapot and we ate a floral inspired spread all washed down with black earl grey tea.

rosemary scones topped with cream cheese, white grapes and parma ham

take an ordinary scone recipe, replace the sugar with flour, add 2 tsps of chopped fresh rosemary and a pinch of fresh ground black pepper.

violet petal shortbread

a basic vanilla shortbread recipe with a small piece of crystallised violet pressed in to the top whilst they are cooling.

lemon and rose drizzle cake

taking this recipe as a starting point, use 2 tbsp of rosewater for the cake mixture instead of lemon juice. For the drizzle, use a mixture of 2 tbsp rosewater/1 tbsp lemon juice to prevent too strong a perfumey taste and add a little pink food colouring. decorate with rose petals instead of lemon zest. It needs baking for 50 – 60 mins max though – not 1hr 15 like the recipe suggests.

Perfect for a beautiful sunny day. Happy birthday mum!

vanilla drizzle cake

my friend penny and I have developed a bit of tradition in terms of cakes.

for the past few years we have made each other birthday cakes. and today is penny’s birthday hence pulling out all the stops to make something lovely.

this one was a bit of a different one. lots of eggs, greek yoghurt and lots of fresh vanilla seeds to create a classic sponge. it is topped with a drizzle of icing sugar and more vanilla seeds mixed with water.

fluffy, light and gorgeous hopefully. I am about to find out…