06/03/2012 by D.

These are adapted from the Peyton & Byrne British Baking cookbook.

240g self raising flour
2 tsp baking powder
40g caster sugar
pinch salt
60g chilled unsalted butter
175ml buttermilk (or 90ml milk, 90ml plain yoghurt)
60g sultanas (optional)
milk for glaze

Preheat oven to 170c.  Line or grease a baking tray. 

Blitz flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and butter in food processor for 30 seconds until fine.  (or gently cut up butter into everything else, then blend with fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs).  Add sultanas if using.

Carefully stir in buttermilk or milk/yoghurt combo with a knife until it comes together as a dough.

Flour a surface and pat the dough into an oblong which is about 2cm thick.  Cut into even sized squares - 8 or 12, and brush with milk.  Bake for 15-25 mins until light brown on top.

Serve with jam & cream.

Posted in Sugar, Raisins, Milk, Yoghurt, Vegetarian, Butter, Recipe | Print | Comments Off

28/02/2012 by D.

1 pack Halloumi
1/4 red cabbage, shredded
1/4 iceberg or other lettuce, shredded
1 tomato, sliced
1/4 cucumber, sliced
4 tbsp Hummous
4 wraps
chilli sauce - optional

Slice the halloumi and grill until browned on both sides.  Gently warm the wraps under the grill on in a microwave.

Layer hummous, halloumi and salad, then fold up wraps tightly and munch!  Makes a lovely quick lunch for four (or two hungry) people.

Posted in Red cabbage, Lettuce, Halloumi, Cucumber, Tomato, Lunch, Recipe | Print | No Comments »

24/02/2012 by D.

 This is a chewy version of the usual rice crispy cakes.  You can subsitute some of the crispies for raisins if you like.

1 Mars bar
1 Milky way
25g bar dark chocolate (bournville or green & blacks)
25g butter
100g rice crispies
1 tbsp golden syrup
1 tbsp milk
12 muffin cases

Break up chocolate and melt with butter and syrup over a very low heat in a saucepan, stirring regularly until it makes a thick, smooth mixture.  It takes around 10 minutes.  Add milk, and stir in well. 

Pour chocolate mixture quickly into rice cripies and mix well.  Divide between 12 muffin cases.

I usually make a double batch as they keep well in an airtight tin for a few days (if they aren’t eaten before that).

Posted in Rice crispies, Cake, Chocolate, Recipe | Print | No Comments »

15/02/2012 by D.

dry
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon

wet
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar (or 2 tbsp honey)
1/2 cup melted butter (or 1/2 cup olive oil)
2 tbsp greek yoghurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pot apple puree (I use a spare organix pot)
3/4 bar dark chocolate, chopped (or 1 cup nuts, raisins, cranberries or milk chocolate chips)

Preheat the oven to 200c.  Put out 12 muffin cases on a baking tray.

Mix all the dry ingredients apart from the chocolate and stir well.

In another bowl beat eggs, then add sugar (or honey).  Add yoghurt, vanilla, apple puree and butter (or oil).

Stir dry ingredients into wet, then stir in chocolate chips (or nuts etc).  Divide between the muffin cases and bake in the centre of the oven for up to 15 mins until a knife comes out of the mixture clean.  The tops should be nicely brown.

Leave to cool before eating (if you can).

Posted in Cake, Chocolate, Butter, Apple, Recipe | Print | No Comments »