JAFFA 

CAKES.

I keep on seeing them everywhere and I really wanted to buy a packet yesterday: they are reasonably priced but the problem is I can eat two packets like I haven't seen food before. 


It is not attractive, trust me.


I mean what makes a Jaffa* cake? 


Light biscuit base
Orange jelly and marmalade
Chocolate


So I just made 12 and took a photo of two because the others were eaten by me, myself and I.


♬ Still listening to the 'Marble Cake Playlist' from earlier, with a few more tracks by Calvin Harris.


Here's how I made them:

▶ Makes 12 medium sponges.

Ingredients:

2 medium eggs

pack of orange jelly crystals

50g caster sugar (1.76 oz)

50g sieved plain flour (1.76 oz)

Marmalade

Covering:

200g Green and Black's 70% chocolate.

Method:

: First make the jelly, pour in a large tray and keep in the fridge.  

: Once it has set then preheat the oven to 180°c.

: Whisk eggs and sugar for 3 minutes until it looks pale and fluffy.

: Add the sieved flour and don't whisk but stir gently until it is a runny batter.

: Divide mixture into a 12 hole cupcake tray, you won't need cases but a good quality tray so the mixture won't stick to the bottom. 

: Bake for 10 minutes, then take out to cool.

: Cut jelly with a small cookie cutter which should be equal to the diameter of each cake.

: Brush each cake with a bit of marmalade then place jelly discs on top.
: Melt chocolate and pour on each cake, leave to cool.

Simple, fun and not made in a factory!

Next Time:

⤵  Maybe different flavour jellies and chocolate.

Favourite Song:

ê 'Bounce' By Calvin Harris Featuring Kelis.

*Jaffa orange native to Tel Aviv-Yafo in Israel. 

Blackberry and Orange Chocolate Marble Cake

A delightful twist on the traditional marble cake, one sponge with crushed blackberries and the other with orange chocolate.

What I've learnt with marble cake is that it tastes better after two days because it firms up. On the second day you could slit it and fill with your choice of buttercream, I would go for orange!

The playlist for today's cake is also gearing me up for a great weekend, and I can not get enough of the first track. I am getting closer to finding out what Rihanna's favourite cake could be. Any guesses?

Enjoy both cake making and playlist, comment when you have baked this cake or maybe have your own version for others to try.

♬

'We Found Love' By Rihanna and Calvin Harris

'Memories' By David Guetta Featuring Kid Cudi

'You Used To Hold Me' By Calvin Harris

'Dance Wiv Me' By Dizzee Rascal

'Who's That Chick' By David Guetta Featuring Rihanna

'In For The Kill' By La Roux (Skream Let's Get Ravey Remix)

'Walking On A Dream' By Empire Of The Sun

'Barbra Streisand' By Duck Sauce

'Babooshka' By Kate Bush

'Hole In The Head' By Sugababes

▶ Recipe for 20cm size tin, 10 generous slices.

Ingredients:

200g self raising flour (7oz)

110g unsalted butter (3.8 oz)

150g caster sugar (5.3oz)

2 medium eggs

75ml milk (2.54 fl oz)

80g G&B* milk chocolate

50g G&B maya gold chocolate

1 tsp baking powder (0.18 oz)

6 large blackberries

Icing:

50g G&B maya gold chocolate

* Green and Black's Organic Chocolate.

Or you could use another brand as long as it has a high cocoa mass.

Method:

: Preheat oven to 170°c and lightly butter the cake tin.

: Melt the chocolate for the cake (130g).

: Whisk the butter and sugar together, then add the milk and eggs.

: The mixture won't look very attractive but it doesn't mean something has gone wrong! Stick with it...

: Sift the flour and baking powder and whisk until smooth.

: Find another bowl and divide the mixture.

: Squash the blackberries with a potato masher and add to one of the bowls, stir.

: Add the melted chocolate to the other, stir.

: Drop alternate dessertspoons of both mixtures into the greased tin, you should have a psychedelic mixture staring up at you!

: Bake for 40 minutes and test with a knife after 35 minutes.

: Leave to cool.

: Melt the chocolate for the icing and pour over the cake, or you could do your own piece of artwork.

< Serve on the day with custard or the next day when it firms up.

Favourite Song:

ê 'We Found Love' By Rihanna and Calvin Harris

Soul Food

Tonight was all about the MOBO awards: so how did I manage to miss ALL of it? 

This photo is the reason!I was too busy cooking and enjoying my playlist: and by the time I could sit down and watch TV, the award show was over.

Gutted.

♬ MOBO Playlist:

'Water Runs Dry' By Boys II Men

'The Calling' By Kairos4tet

'Tease Me Baby' By Wizkid

'Camilia' By

'Raining Men' By Rihanna Featuring Nicky Minaj

'Simply Unstoppable' By Tinie Tempah

'Storyboard' By Triple O

'Who's Laughing Now' By Jessie J

'Spaceship' By Dappy and Tinchy Stryder

'End Of The Road' By Boys II Men

▶ Serves 2


Ingredients:

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp sage

1 fresh lime

1 tbsp olive oil

6 vine tomatoes

1 orange pepper

2 large chicken breasts

Half a can of  drained black eyed beans

Baby corn

Sugar snap peas

Half an onion 

Half a tsp salt

1 clove of garlic
100g raw spinach

Method:

Preheat oven 180°c


: In a medium pie dish add the sugar snap peas and chop the baby corn.
: Next dice the onion and pepper, chop the chicken in bite size chunks and cut the tomatoes in half. 
: Then add all this in the dish and squeeze the lime over everything,
: Crush the garlic clove and add this to the dish with all the spices.
: Using your hand marinade the chicken and vegetables.
: Add the olive oil and season.

;In the oven for 30 minutes until chicken is tender.

< Serve with rice or just on its own is fine too, the sauce tasted so good. You have to taste it to believe it.

Next Time:

⤵ Okra is getting involved.

Favourite Song:

ê 'End Of The Road' By Boys II Men


1. A song to sing out loud with friends in a car
2. Or in the kitchen using the whisk as a microphone.


I totally do the second one.

Shake It Out

Ever heard a song on the radio and you hear it a few times but you don't actually know it? This is the story of my life when it comes to music. Even a snail in my back garden might have a better idea of who has had the highest amount of downloads this week. 


Where has this all come from?


Basically I heard Florence and The Machine's new song on the radio and I'm not sure how long it has been out for! And just like I mentioned it's pretty standard for me to hear a song a year after it has been played to death. Her new single 'Shake It Out' must be new- I have been listening out for any of her new tracks for ages! So to celebrate and eat ice cream at 2.30pm,  I made milkshakes with the kids I look after.

2 pink wafers

1 banana

2 scoops vanilla ice cream

100ml milk

1 banana
5 small pineapple chunks
6 large strawberries
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
50ml milk

Birds eye view of the beauty above.

This one was quite special, looks an odd colour but trust me it's good!

1 banana
3 chocolate oreo's
1 tablespoon blackberry yoghurt
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
50ml milk

▶ With the ingredients above you need a blender.

♬ New songs or a few months old?

'Shake It Out' By Florence and The Machine

'Video Games' By Lana Del Rey 

'Blue Jeans' By Lana Del Ray

'What The Water Gave Me' By Florence and The Machine

Next Time:

⤵ Chocolate ice cream, jaffa cakes, orange chocolate, mango and a whole box of fruit will be at the ready.

Favourite Song:

ê Not sure if this song is my favourite, but it did pull a few emotional chords. It reminded me of my first break up - that's a story for another time, or another blog.

'Video Games' By Lana Del Rey

Night.x

Bacon Bread

Yesterday was the last day of sunshine here in the UK, my cycle to work this morning gave me an insight into what October is really supposed to look and feel like. 


I really wanted a hot October so I could celebrate my birthday on a beach eating Ferrero Rocher ice cream. Oh well at least last weekend was warm, this cute and uplifting playlist was enjoyed by friends and family while hanging out in the sun.

Walking on Sunshine in October Playlist:

♬


'Let The Sunshine' By Labrinth
'Walking On Sunshine' By Katrina & The Waves
'Gold' By Spandau Ballet
'Sunchyme' By Dario G
'Electric Feel' BY MGMT
'The Only Way' By Gotye
'Rose Mary Stretch'By Pepper Rabbit
'Shine A Light' By Mc Fly and Taio Cruz
'Ain't No Sunshine' By Michael Jackson


Moving on to the main attraction:


▶ BACON BREAD 


Bacon is great, don't you think? I recently came across a blog that dedicated EVERY recipe to bacon, crazy but true. 


I won't go that far but thought adding bacon to bread might be interesting!


Ingredients:


Crusty White Seeded Bread Mix
4 rashers of bacon, fried and chopped.
300ml water
Vegetable oil on hands to knead bread


: Combine fried bacon to bread mixture, add water and knead for 10 minutes until smooth. 


Leave in a bowl, cover with damp cloth in a warm area of the kitchen for 1 hour.


When it has doubled in size, knead for 2 more minutes and put in the oven.


< Bake for 30 minutes at 190°c, until loaf is golden brown on top and hard at the base.

If you make this bread be sure to eat it on the same day or make into small buns for a party.

This bread won't be as quick as the standard bacon sandwich with HP sauce but will be just as tasty. 

Serve with beans, egg or maybe marmalade?

Next Time:

⤵ Small buns all the way! OR use  700g bread flour, 1 packet of dried yeast and 330ml water.

Favourite Song:


I'm starting to dread this part because I love all the songs above! What's your favourite song? Today I am going for....

ê 'Electric Feel' By MGMT

Have a great day.x