I'll Bring You Flowers...On Chocolate!

Cake:

What a beautiful looking cake, well I think so anyway! This my friends (take a deep breath) is a triple chocolate Génoise*, first layered with apricot jam and then the second sponge had Macblack raspberry jam, covered in organic chocolate ganache and edible flowers. 

Tunes:

As I was cycling to make the cake drop off, I couldn't help over hear these songs blasting out cars that drove past. 

♬ 

'Flowers' By Sweet Female Attitude

'War' By Edwin Starr

'I'm Gonna Be Alright' By Jennifer Lopez

'Uh Ooh' By Lumidee

'One Love' By Bob Marley and The Wailers

'Yeah' By Usher

Decoration:

The flowers were a random purchase from Budgens and they added that 'ooh' to the cake, I'm all about bright colours and this turned an average chocolate covered cake into something special.

The Chocolate ganache was made with Green and Blacks milk and 70% dark chocolate.

Seriously good cake for a lucky lady.x

Favourite Song:

ê 'Yeah' By Usher

*Génoise Cake


This cake name derives from the Italian city of Genoa, and is a sponge that relies on loads of eggs; and a strong arm for whisking lots of air in the batter over heat. I found the cake had a dry texture but pricked a few holes in the sponges and spread hot jam to seal the flavour.


 I hope that makes sense, if it doesn't click here.

Bacon&Egg&Rosemary

♬ 'Up To Now' By Snow Patrol 

Been listening to Snow Patrol's album 'Final Straw' this week, an album I played over and over again at university.  A few of their songs have been flying around my head recently and I had them on while making breakfast.

Realised I haven't blogged about breakfast for a while, so wanted to create something filling and rich.

Gutted I didn't have time for a full fry up, could have done with a can of beans or mushrooms; well bacon and egg worked out well.

I'm not sure why I added rosemary but it complimented the egg nicely.

Definitely give it a go.

▶ Serves 2

: I fried two rashers of bacon, then chopped finely.

: Scrambled two eggs in olive oil, added a 5 sprigs of rosemary.

: Stirred in 1 teaspoon of mayonnaise.

: Toast at the ready

: Feta cut in small cubes.

Enjoyed with a good cup of tea. Not as quick as a lovely bowl of cereal but shorter than sorting out eggs benedicte!

Favourite Song:

ê 'Spitting Games' By Snow Patrol

Blue Monday Chicken Pie

The traditional pie and mash to end Monday, why Blue Monday? Simply because I heard New Order, and created a playlist to compliment the dreaded day of the week.

I am gutted about one thing: after I took this photo I happily ate and had a good chat to my brother.

Hold on...my viewers won't actually be able to see what is IN THE PIE!

So sorry about that, this is me all over. I get excited about a dish, start eating it then realise its too late to take a decent picture. Both tasted so good, my vocabulary cannot stretch to  describe how incredibly delicious this was. 

Pie and mash is one of my favourite winter meals, but yesterday heard that the UK would be having a heat wave this week! Well this 'heat wave' better be in the parts of London I hang out. All I'm seeing is pure rain and dark clouds, and then cycle home to cook something, just so I can get the right lighting for the finished dish.

The lighting like in the above picture will happen a few times a week. I use my iphone, not a digital single lens reflex big monstrous camera that gives me neck ache!

♬

'Blue Monday' By New Order

'Love Will Tear Us Apart' By Joy Division

'Let's Dance' By David Bowie

'Numb/Encore' By Jay-Z and Linkin Park

'Stole' By Kelly Rowland

'Common People' By Pulp

'You Come Through' By PJ Harvey

'If I Can't' By 50 Cent

'Hound Dog' By Elvis Presley

'Chasing Pavements' By Adele

▶ Chicken and Bacon Pie with Cheesy Mash.

Serves 1.

Ingredients:

Pie Filling:

Olive oil

Chicken breast mini fillets 170g 

2 unsmoked bacon rashers, chopped.

thyme (2 sprigs)

rosemary (leaves from 2 sprigs)

1 garlic clove

1 tbsp mascarpone cheese

50ml milk

4 chestnut mushrooms sliced.

Mashed Potato:

2 large potatoes (I always keep skin on)

Butter

Cream cheese (two teaspoons)

Milk (a drop of this, depending on how creamy you like your mash)

You will need:

Ready to roll puff pastry

Method:

Preheat oven 200°c

: Boil your potatoes.

: Fry chicken, bacon and garlic in olive oil on a low heat.

: Add the rosemary, thyme and mushrooms.

: Stir through the mascarpone cheese, season and pour into a small pie dish.

: Brush the edges of pie dish with egg and cover with a small sheet of puff pastry.

: Brush egg over the pastry and prick over with a fork.

: Pop in the oven for 20 minutes until sauce bubbles through the pastry.

: The potatoes should be done so drain water and start mashing. Add the cream cheese last, but with butter and milk add how much you want.

< Serve straight away with gravy and vegetables.

Next Time:

⤵ Will cover the pie dish, leaving a lot more pastry hanging over the side.

Favourite Song:

ê 'Let's Dance' By David Bowie

One more thing:


Blue Monday also refers to something else, click here.

She Ate A Raspberry Beret ...Cake!

I heard Lady Gaga's 'You and I' single and thought the cover looked very similar to Prince! So I created a playlist with some of his hits and other beautiful men that I would like to cook for. The song 'Raspberry Beret' inspired me to make these cakes because I had it on most of yesterday and had a pack of raspberries that had to be used.

 These cakes were my second attempt to relive my first baking disaster which was a chocolate meringue roulade- so gutted it went wrong. I wasted 8 eggs (1 egg yolk from the first 4 leaked in the egg white mixture, then the second batch went well but the meringue looked awful).

With one egg left and Prince blasting in the kitchen, I made these cupcakes which turned out amazing.

♬ 

'Raspberry Beret' By Prince

'She Wants To Move' By N.E.R.D

'Are You Gonna Go My Way' By Lenny Kravitz

'Live Your Life' By TI Featuring Rihanna

'American Woman' By Lenny Kravitz

'Alright' By Jamiroquia

'About A Girl' By Nirvana

'Diamonds and Pearls' By Prince and The New Power Generation

'Banana Pancakes' By Jack Johnson

'Hero' By Dave Grohl Performed for Radio One Live Lounge

'The Most Beautiful Girl In The World' By Prince

'Chop Me Up' By Justin Timberlake Featuring Timbaland & Three 6 Mafia

▶ Makes 12 


Ingredients:


100g plain flour (approx 3.6 oz)
50g cocoa powder (approx 1.7 oz)
1 tsp baking powder (4.8g)
1 tsp lemon essence or zest (5ml)
3 raspberries
50g chopped dark chocolate (approx 1.8 oz)
100ml milk (approx 3.4 oz)
1 medium egg
100g caster sugar (approx 4 oz)
150g butter (approx 5.3 oz)


Filling:


Raspberry jam or any dark fruit conserve.


Topping:


100g soft butter
22 raspberries (11 for buttercream and 11 to decorate)
125g icing sugar (approx 4 oz, or one cup)


For my U.S lovers, please let me know if this site is any good:


http://www.traditionaloven.com/conversions_of_measures/flour_volume_weight.html

Method:

Preheat oven 180°c

: For the sponge, whisk butter and sugar until fluffy, add the egg.


: Fold in the flour and everything else apart from the chopped chocolate. Stir until batter is smooth and drops away from the spoon.

: Split the mixture in two separate bowls and in one mixture stir through the chocolate.


: With the mixture that doesn't contain the chocolate chunks, divide into cases.


: With a small spoon, scoop in small amount of jam.


: Spoon the chocolate chunk mixture on top of the jam, and press down lightly with back of spoon.

; Bake for 25 minutes, and leave to cool until cold to touch.


: Make the topping by whisking everything until it is a pink colour. I didn't want the traditional buttercream smooth look, so that's why there is a higher amount of raspberry flavour than butter.
: Squash down the raspberries so they resemble a beret*.

< Share and enjoy.x

Next Time:

⤵ Muffin cases!

Favourite Song:

ê 'Diamonds and Pearls' By Prince

*A beret is a snug fitting hat that can be shaped in a variety of ways, mostly pushed to one side. I see a lot of pretty ladies and men in Shoreditch wearing them, and the hat itself has been known to symbolise many things. I am not a fashion expert, so if you need to know more please google!!

Honey and Lemon Chicken Soup

♬

'Shiny Happy People' By R.E.M

'Rolling In The Deep' By Adele

'Shiver' By Natalie Imbruglia

'Rehab' By Amy Winehouse

'Fantasy'By Mariah Carey

'Just Like A Pill' By Pink

'I Can See Clearly Now' By Johnny Cash

'Super Duper Love' By Joss Stone

'If The Stars Were Mine' By Melody Gardot

'Cheek To Cheek' By Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

'Call It Off' By Tegan and Sara

'Heartbeats' By Jose Gonzalez

'Skinny Love' By Bon Iver

'L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N' By Noah And The Whale

'White Sky' By Vampire Weekend

'What You Know' By Two Door Cinema Club

Blogging from my bed would be great if i wasn't feeling so ill. Somewhere along the lines of keeping fit, eating well and staying positive the chesty cough comes along and hits me in the face. 

Great- just great. My appetite has slowly gone down a dark hole and I want it to come back this weekend - I want to bake!

Many people have told me to take honey and lemon in a drink; I struggle with drinking this mixture, the only hot drinks I can handle when ill are milk, chai and fresh orange juice.

Before I go and watch Nigel Slater's 'Made For Each Other' I want to share this recipe and playlist with you. Both go very well together....

▶ Serves 4 

Ingredients:

Two cooked chicken breasts, shredded (11oz)
1 garlic clove
225ml of water (8 fl oz)
200g fresh spinach (6oz)
2 tablespoons organic honey (1.5oz)
2 fresh lemons
Olive oil (1oz)

: Squeeze both lemons over the chicken in a bowl.

: Meanwhile fry the spinach in olive oil and add the water.

: Add the chicken and the honey.


: Make a slit in the garlic clove and add this to the soup


: Pinch of salt might be needed.

< Simmer for 5 minutes and there you have it! Since the chicken was already cooked, only the spinach needs to soften. A quick soup that should make you feel better, also take out the garlic before serving!

Next Time:

⤵ Would be interesting to add rosemary to the chicken, what do you think?

Favourite Song:

ê 'White Sky' By Vampire Weekend

Lamb Chilli with Hot Ladies Playlist

♬

'Right Here' By SWV
'Don't Let Go' By En Vogue
'Stay' By Shakespears Sister
'Heaven is A Place On Earth' By Belinda Carlisle
'Just A Step From Heaven' By Eternal
'Never Ever' By All Saints
'Shiver' By Natalie Imbruglia
'The Tide Is High' By Atomic Kitten
'Eternal Flame' By The Bangles
'Lose My Breath' By Destiny's Child
'Red Dress' By Sugababes
'Creep' By TLC

That ill feeling is creeping on me and last night I made this hot and spicy chilli: I wanted a quick remedy!

I put this playlist on and started to add all my favourite ingredients in a large pot.


I feel a lot better this morning, but getting ill will inevitably happen.


▶


Ingredients:

400g lamb mince

1 medium red chilli finely chopped (still with seeds)

small chunk of grated fresh ginger (depends on how much you like)

2 garlic cloves crushed

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp marjoram

I medium onion, chopped finely.

1 can of chopped tomatoes

Salt flakes

Pepper

Few coriander leaves

1 medium sweet potato

1 tablespoon rice flour (or any thickener)
Vegetable oil

Method:

: Fry the onions, garlic and ginger with a small amount of oil.

: Add the mince, and stir until light brown

: Peel sweet potato and chop into small chunks, keep to one side.

: Add everything else apart from the rice flour and sweet potato.

: Fill the empty tomato can with water and add that to the chilli.

: Add the sweet potato and leave to simmer for 40 minutes.

: If you want the sauce to be thicker add the flour, if not let it cook until the lamb has separated and looking lovely and brown.

: Check if sweet potatoes are done, and if they are soft you can turn the heat off.

< Serve with rice or crusty bread.

Next Time:

⤵ Kidney beans, beetroot and maybe a piece of dark chocolate should go into the mixture. 

ê I really cannot decide on my favourite track, so this time I will leave it up to you, let me know.xx

Messy Choux Buns

A surprise pudding for the kids.

If these buns were presented on The Great British Bake Off, I'm not sure they would be good enough. Thank goodness I didn't apply, I need to practise a lot more before I go on a show like that!

♬


While making and decorating the buns, I listened to these tracks because they remind me of the kids I look after.

'Boom Boom Pow' By The Black Eyed Peas
'Radio Ga Ga' By Queen

'Mamma Mia' By Abba 

'Dynamite' By Taio Cruz

'Written In The Stars' By Tinie Tempah

'Who's laughing Now' By Jessie J

'Breathe and Stop' By Q Tip featuring Taggy Matcher

'Are You Satisfied' By Marina and The Diamonds

'Human' By The Killers

'Only Girl (In The World)' By Rihanna

'Billionaire' By Travis McCoy Featuring Bruno Mars

The boys said the buns looked "awesome", that put a big smile on my face. 

▶ Makes 20

Ingredients:


For the choux pastry:


200ml water
teaspoon of caster sugar
85g unsalted butter (3 oz)
120 plain wholemeal flour (approx 4.3 oz)
4 medium eggs beaten


For the cream filling:
Anchor squirty double cream


For the chocolate sauce:
150g dark chocolate (approx 6oz)


Decorate:
Raspberries
Blackberries
Strawberries
Candles

Method:


1 teaspoon = 5ml
1 tablespoon = 15ml


Preheat oven 190°c and lightly grease a large baking tray.

: In a large pot heat the water and butter.
: Once all the butter has melted, increase the heat and tip in the flour.
: Turn off the heat and keep on stirring until the batter no longer touches the pot.
: Add the eggs a bit at a time and keep on stirring until a smooth glossy dough smiles back at you.
: Get a cup of warm water and put a teaspoon in (yes this really is part of the method!)
: Spoon out a mixture with this teaspoon on the tray, do this 20 times. Press down each bun with a bit of water so they are crunchy on top.
: Bake for 20 minutes, then take out and stab a hole at the bottom of each one.
: Put back in the oven for 5 minutes.


; Take out, and let them cool.


 If you don't want to decorate all 20, then these buns can be stored for a week in an airtight tin.


: Melt the chocolate in a bowl over boiling water.


9 Fill the buns with cream when you are ready to serve. You could slice them open or use the hole you made.

: Use a big spoon to scoop chocolate and pour over the buns.
: Randomly scatter the fruits and candles.


: Light up someones day, it doesn't have to be their birthday. Maybe they have a lot going on and need a pudding like this to cheer them up!


Next Time:

⤵ I will pipe the pastry, making it look more professional and neat.

Favourite Song:

ê 'Are You Satisfied' By Marina and The Diamonds

xxx

Chocolate Pastry Squares

♬ 19th September's Playlist


'Romeo' By Basement Jaxx
'You Need Me, I Don't Need You' By Ed Sheeran
'Puff The Magic Dragon' By Peter, Paul and Mary
'UnderDog'(by Kasabian) Performed By Kelly Rowland For Radio One's Live Lounge
'Little Lion Man' By Mumford and Sons
'I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself' By The White Stripes
'Top Of The World' By Brandy Featuring Mase
'Can't Nobody Hold Me Down' By P.Diddy and Mase
'Unfinished Sympathy' By Massive Attack
'Praise You' By Fatboy Slim


Mental Monday.


I really can't type anymore about the day, so tired.


I should really start another blog called 'Mita Poppins', so you can read how random and funny my job is. But I will stick to music and food!




READY TO ROLL PUFF PASTRY:


Love. Love. Love.


This means you can just cover or wrap whatever you want, and after 20 minutes in the oven you have something ready to be devoured.


Desert tonight was easy and hit the spot. 

▶ Chocolate Expresso Parcels with Fruit, makes 8 with medium square cutter


Ingredients:


1 Bar of Green and Blacks Expresso Chocolate 50g (keep the other 50g for covering)
Fresh raspberries
Fresh Cherries, halved and pitted

1 egg
Ready to roll puff sheet pastry
Pack of walnuts


Use:
Pastry brush




Method:


Preheat oven 190°c

: Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.

: Unroll pastry out the packet, start cutting out squares.


: Beat egg in small cup and brush on the edges of the bottom square.


: Place one small peice of chocolate in the middle and one raspberry or half a cherry on top, press down the fruit but don't squash it.


: Secure with another pastry square on top and press down the sides with fingers. 


: Poke a few holes at the top with a fork and brush over egg.


⤵ Repeat the above until you make 8 parcels.


: Keep a decent amount of space between each parcel, about two finger spaces each side.

< Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.


: Melt other half of chocolate, cover each parcel and top with walnut.

Next Time:

⤵ Will make heart shape parcels with orange chocolate and fresh strawberries.


OR


Use fresh mint with dark chocolate.


OR


Caramel and chocolate filling glazed with honey.

Favourite Song:

ê 'Romeo' By Basement Jaxx

Tomato and Artichoke Soup

♬  'These Streets' By Paolo Nutini


Ever had a random song that enters your head in the morning? 


For me it was 'Jenny Don't Be Hasty' by Paolo Nutini. I bet Paolo likes chunky soup or maybe a chicken biryani. If anyone could let me know that would be great!


Anyway I made this soup because I stupidly skipped breakfast and went to a ridiculously early yoga class. I was so hungry and tempted to buy a cheap sandwich, but could feel myself getting ill.


This soup sorted me out.

▶ Serves 4

Ingredients:

18 cherry tomatoes 

3 marinated artichoke hearts in olive oil, diced

1 clove of garlic crushed

1 tsp grated ginger

1 tablespoon of tomato ketchup

salt 

pepper

Olive oil

1 small chopped onion

1litre of water

Crème fraiche

You will need a hand blender!

Method:

: Chop the cherry tomatoes in quarters

: Fry the onions with garlic and ginger in a large pot

+ tomatoes

+ artichokes

+ water

: Simmer for 10 minutes until the tomatoes are soft

: Take off the heat and blend in the pan until smooth

< Serve with dollop of crème fraiche and crusty seeded bread

Warming and soothing soup, great if you feel like you might be getting a cold. Lovely to make for friends that need cheering up and don't feel like chewing anything.

Next Time:

⤵ Red pepper soup

Other Favourite Song:

ê 'New Shoes' By Paolo Nutini