Monday Bake - Cinnamon Madeleines

Much excitement in my home town this weekend as they have been filming a new BBC1 drama called Dr Forster, starring Suranne Jones and Robert Pugh.   When I left work on Thursday they were filming a scene in the town centre so me and my friend stood watching for a while.   Suranne Jones is in the car and you can just see Robert Pugh behind the car.

Can't wait to watch it and see the scene we saw being filmed and spot all the places I know!  A bit like when we watched Case Histories being filmed in Edinburgh and then spotted the scene on the tv!

Today I made Madeleines, I have made them on my blog here and gluten free ones here - this is another recipe from Sainsburys magazine.  It makes 24, but you can make the 12 in your Madeleine tin and keep the batter in the fridge to make the next batch another day. Madeleines are best eaten warm straight from the oven, the cinnamon smell as they are baking is amazing.

Ingredients:
75g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
50g self raising flour, plus extra for dusting
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
50g ground almonds
2 medium eggs
100g light muscovado sugar

Method:
Preheat the oven to 200c, GM 6.  Grease the madeleine tin with butter and dust with flour.
Melt the butter and set aside to cool slightly.
Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and a pinch of salt into a bowl. 
In another bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar with an electric whisk for 5 minutes.
Pour half the melted butter into the egg mix and add half the flour mix too.  Using a large metal spoon, fold together.  Then repeat with the rest of the ingredients.
Using half the mixture, fill the holes of the tin and bake for 8-10 minutes until risen.
Leave the baked madeleines for a couple of minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.   Wash the tin and repeat to bake the rest of the madeleines.

Thanks for visiting,
Bakebakegirl

Today's top three Spotify songs:

1. Mr Rock & Roll - Amy Macdonald
2. Glorious - The Pierces
3. Moonlight Shadow - Mike Oldfield

Monday Bake - Lime and Coconut Drizzle Cake

Another drizzle cake I hear you say!  Yep and this one is a goodie.   The recipe is in this months Sainsburys magazine and is by Ed Kimber.   You can find the recipe here.   I fancied trying this after Victoria Woods traybake on the Great British Comic Relief Bake off.  You can find her recipe here - which I will definitely make over easter. This is a really good cake for several reasons, really light and fluffy, but mostly that it contains coconut milk.   I make a gorgeous thai butternut squash soup which uses part of a can of coconut milk so this is a great way to use up the rest.    Several recipes I do have cooking partners.   Recipes with left over egg whites always become meringues.   Recipes with left over egg yolks become homemade ice cream, as does left over condensed milk.  I hate waste.

I went to see Made In Dagenham at the theatre last week.  Me and FriendD really enjoyed it - it was very funny and Gemma Arterton was excellent.  I haven't seen the film so I may watch that over easter too.

Hope to see you next week,

Bakebakegirl

Today's top three Spotify songs:

1. That Man - Caro Emerald

2. Merry Happy - Kate Nash

3. Secret - Pierces

Monday Bake - Ham and Pineapple Muffins

I made these muffins for lunch at the weekend.  Hubby called them pizza muffins - and I think they would be quite nice with chopped sun dried tomatoes added.  the recipe was in March copy of the Asda magazine. As with all muffins - the key is to not overmix the mixture!

Ingredients:
300g plain flour
1 level tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp mustard powder
227g can pineapple chunks, drained thoroughly and chopped into small pieces
200g ham, chopped into small pieces
125g cheese - grated
2 large eggs
100g butter, melted
175g semi skimmed milk

Method:
Preheat the oven to 180c/GM 4
Line a 12 hole muffin tin with muffin cases.
Sift the flour, baking powder and mustard into a large bowl, add the pineapple, ham and cheese.  
Lightly beat the eggs, butter and milk together.  Pour into the flour mixture, stir till just mixed.
Divide the micture between the cases and bake for 25-30 minutes.  
The muffins can be eaten hot or cold.

Thanks for visiting,
Bakebakegirl

Today's top three Spotify songs:

1. Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
2. Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel
3. I Can't Dance - Genesis

Monday Bake - Shortbread

Being Scottish I feel I should have a go-to shortbread recipe, however, each time I fancy making it I seem to try a different recipe.   This WI recipe was in the Daily Mail Saturday magazine a few weeks ago.

Ingredients:
200g plain flour
50g caster sugar
100g butter, cubed

Method:
Preheat the oven to 160c/GM 3.
Sift the flour into a bowl.  Stir in the sugar and rub the butter in until the mixture comes together.  Press into a 7inch square tin and bake for 12-15 minutes or until pale golden. Cut into fingers.

We had some with icecream for pudding on Sunday.  

I was very excited, as usually I can only get Mackies Vanilla icecream where I live but Sainsburys have started to stock Honeycomb!!  Hopefully they will do their other flavours soon too!

Thanks for visiting,
Bakebakegirl

Today's top three Spotify songs:

1. Dreamer - Supertramp
2. Goodbye Stranger - Supertramp
3. Over My Shoulder - Mike and the Mechanics

Monday Bake - Lemon Yoghurt Cake

I have had this book for a while and I have only made the soda bread.  After a flick through the other day. I found this lemon yoghurt cake recipe.  It is a really easy recipe and being an American recipe it means I can use my measuring cups!  It says in her book that this cake can easily be made without a mixer.  You can find the recipe on the Barefoot Contessa website here.

I love the smell when I am zesting the lemons and the smell while this was baking was amazing!   I would definitely make this again.  I think even without the icing glaze it would be delicious.

I think I will made Ina's Tri Berry Muffins next.

Thanks for visiting,
Bakebakegirl

Today's top three Spotify songs:

1. When The Beat Drops - Marlon Roudette
2. My Favourite Game - The Cardigans
3. Sound of the Underground - Girls Aloud

Monday Bake - Flourless Apricot and Almond Cake

Cake Club comes round so quickly - there are five of us to take turns baking but already we are nearly at the end of February and it is my turn again!  Last time I made this cake - the recipe was in the Sainsburys Festive Food leaflet. 

Ingredients:
Cake
150g butter, softened
Juice and zest of 2 large oranges
200g soft dried apricots
200g caster sugar
4 large eggs - beaten
200g ground almonds
100g polenta
1 tsp baking powder

Buttercream
100g butter, softened
100g icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Method:
Preheat the oven to 180c, Gas mark 4.  Grease and line a 23cm  springform tin.

Pour the orange juice into a measuring jug and add enough cold water to make up to 275ml.  Add to a pad with the apricots, bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes,  cool then blend until smooth in a food processor.

Put the butter, caster sugar and orange zest in a bowl and beat together.  Gradually whisk in the eggs, stir in the apricot and orange puree, then fold in the almonds, polenta and baking powder.

Spoon in to the tin and bake for 45 - 55 minutes until a skwer inserted in the centre comes out clean.  Cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Make the buttercream by whisking all the ingredients together until smooth, spread on top of the cooled cake and serve.

We all enjoyed it and I would definitely make it again.

Thanks for visiting,

Bakebakegirl

Today's top three Spotify Songs:

1. Love Train - The O'Jays

2. Back Stabber - The O'Jays

3. If You Don't Know Me By Now - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

Monday Review - Westgate Galleries North Berwick

Once a year when I go up to Edinburgh to stay with Sister we make a trip to Berwick Upon Tweed - usually when I am up in February.  Our Mum and Dad are buried there, so first stop is to lay flowers on their grave. Then we make a day of it and it always is a lovely day - this time there was so much sunshine. We have lunch at the Town Hall (a few more cafes have popped up but Minibakebakegirl says we need to keep up the tradition and have lunch there!) and then a wander round the shops.   Lots of independent shops - some are a bit hidden away but it is a nice wee town to walk round.  I took a lot of pictures - here are some of them.

Then we drove back up along the coast and stopped off at the Westgate Galleries in North Berwick for coffee and cake.   I had a huge slice of chocolate cake - yum! 

Afterwards we went for a bracing walk along the beach.   The sky was such a pretty shade of pink as the sun was going down.

 

Hope to see you next week,

Bakebakegirl

Today's top three Spotify Songs:

1. Love of The Common People - Paul Young

2. Come Back and Stay - Paul Young

3. Every Time You Go Away - Paul Young