Old School Apple Cake

It may seem very old school but there's often nothing nicer than a good slice of Apple Cake, You might think it's difficult to make but it's not, you don't have to be a long standing cook or baker to put this apple cake together. Once you stick to the measurements, it would be almost impossible to get this wrong! It always goes down a treat when I make this for my family. 

You Will Need
225g/8oz  Self Raising Flour 
1 level teaspoon Baking Powder 
225g/8oz Caster Sugar 
2 Eggs 
Few drops Almond Essence/Vanilla Essence 
150g/5oz Butter (melted) 
350g/12oz Cooking Apples (peeled&sliced) 
25g/1oz Flaked Almonds


Method
1.Preheat oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5. Lightly grease and base line a 20cm/8" deep cake tin.


2.Place the flour, baking powder, caster sugar, eggs, almond essence and melted butter into a mixing bowl and mix well together.

3.Spread half the mixture into the prepared tin. Place the sliced apples on top of the mixture in the tin, piling them mainly towards the centre!

4.Using two tablespoons, roughly spoon the remaining mixture over the apples. Do not worry if it is a bit rough looking as it spreads during baking.

5.Sprinkle with the flaked almonds and bake for about 45 minutes to an hour until brown and set.

Try this with some warm custard or vanilla ice-cream!

White Chocolate Tart

Hey Ladies and Gents,

Here is a recipe for a white chocolate tart. Its surprisingly simple to make, you can prepare it in roughly15mins, its the waiting for it to cool/set the requires the patients. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 
  

180g white chocolate, chopped

• 2 eggs, separated
• 300ml thickened cream
• 1/3 cup (70g) caster sugar

In the interest of being lazy, use pre-made frozen short crust base -prepare to instructions on packaging.

 
• 
  

• Method
• 1.Place chocolate  in a medium heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Cook, stirring with a metal spoon, for 2-3 minutes 
• or until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Add the egg yolks and whisk to combine.
• 
  

2. Whip cream until firm peaks form. Add half to the chocolate mixture and stir to combine. Add remaining cream and gently fold to combine.


3. Whisk eggwhites in a clean dry bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and whisk until mixture is thick and glossy. Add to the chocolate mixture and gently fold until just combined


4.Spoon the chocolate mixture into  pastry case and place in the fridge to chill.

TIP: If you fancy incorporating some fruit ie rasperries into the mixture simply mix them through (whole) during step 3, alternatively you could place them on top when the tart has been cooked.

Moist Lemon Cake

I absolutely hate when you get a slice of dry cake, I think if your going to make a cake you might as well make it right. Here is a recipe for a super Moist lemon cake! 

You Will Need
175g / 6oz  Self Raising Flour (sieved) 
2 Eggs 
175g / 6oz Sugar 
150g / 5oz soft Margarine 
Rind of Lemon 150ml / 1/4 pint Milk 

Method

1. Pre heat oven to 180°C. Grease a 2lb loaf tin, or circular cake tin.
2. Put the eggs and sugar into a food processor and process for about a minute.
3. Remove the lid and drop spoonfuls of the soft margarine onto the mixture along with the lemon rind and process again until margarine mixes in well. 
4. Finally, add the flour, milk and salt and give another quick mix in the blender until mixture is smooth.
5. Transfer to the prepared tin and bake for about 45 minutes until golden brown and firm to the touch.
6. Serve with a generous helping of whipped cream!!!

Curried Chicken & Cashew Nut Salad

Hey Readers,
Here is a very simple recipe for a brilliantly tasty salad, it will not disappoint!

You Will Need

• 1/4 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt 
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon honey 
• 1/4 teaspoon  salt
• 1/4 teaspoon  ground black pepper 
• 
  
• 5 cups loosely packed baby spinach 
• 2 cups chopped cooked skinless chicken or turkey 
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped roasted, salted cashews
• 1/2 cup of thinly sliced red onion.

Method

1. Combine the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Add spinach and remaining ingredients; toss well to combine.

Add some rocket leaves to bulk up the salad if you feel the need.

Warm me up Curry - Spicy sweet potato and coconut

 

There's nothing like a nice spicy curry to warm you up when you get home in the evening. You don't have to run down to the local Chinese or Indian to get a curry, here is a recipe that is absolutely delicious and takes less than 20 mins to make. Save money and eat at home!!

You will need

• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 2 tsp of curry paste
• 2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 sweet potatoes - peeled and   cut into bite-size pieces
• 4 tbsp red lentils (if you don't have these handy you can leave them out)
• 300ml chicken stock
• 1 can of coconut milk
• 175g bag of frozen peas

2 Simple steps to prepare

1. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan or wok, stir in the curry paste and fry for 1 minute. Add the chicken, sweet potatoes and lentils and stir until coated in paste, then pour in the stock and coconut milk. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 minutes.

2. Tip in the peas, bring back to the boil and simmer for a further 4-5 minutes. Season to taste before serving.

TIP: If your cooking for a few people of feeling extra peckish throw on some boil in the bag rice or heat up some naan bread to accompany the dish.

Add some chopped chili or dried chili flakes for extra spice!

Need more help.. watch this Video

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