Monday Inspiration - Whisky Tea Loaf

Sister and Nieces came to stay on the last weekend of the easter holidays.

Sister had watched a programme about Thomas Heatherwick.  He has designed things including the new London Routemaster buses and the Olympic Cauldron.  In the programme it showed his rolling bridge so we decided to go and watch it curl up!    The footbridge only curls up once a week at Midday on a Friday.   

It's at the Paddington Basin, so we got there in plenty of time to have a wander before joining the little crowd to watch it. We spotted one Shaun in The City.  

Afterwards we walked along the canal to Little Venice.  It's so pretty and it was such a lovely day.  

We then got the bus to Notting Hill to the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising.   This was a complete trip down memory lane for my Sister and I, especially the 1970's and 80's!!!  Full of old board games, chocolate bars and crisp packets.   This quirky little museum is definitely worth a visit - we spent the whole time saying "oh we had that" and "oh I loved those"!!!    

We then walked to Portobello Road and had a good wander round the stalls and shops.   

We ended up in Kensington Gardens and a well deserved sit down at Pizza Express for tea!

We also went to see Tom Stoppards new play The Hard Problem at the cinema through National Theatre Live.    Niece1 is a huge Damien Malony fan, they had tried to get tickets to see this at the National Theatre but they had sold out so she was able to see him on the big screen.   This is a great way for people outside of London to see plays.  There was a lovely introduction by Emma Freud and you could see the theatre filling up behind her. Having not seen a Tom Stoppard play before I didn't know what to expect but I enjoyed it, Sister wasn't sure and Niece1 only had eyes for Damien.....

I made a Whisky tea loaf - my recipe came from Stacey Bakes book, there are lots of different tea loaf recipes but the use of whisky in this one is amazing, everytime I opened the tin to have a piece the kitchen filled with the smell!

Thanks for visiting,
Bakebakegirl

Today's top three Spotify songs:

1. On Top of The World - Imagine Dragons
2. Whenever, Wherever - Shakira
3. Love Me Again - John Newman

Monday Review - The Garden Gate Tearoom

Minibakebakegirl went out with her friend yesterday afternoon, so I suggested to Hubby we go for a walk as it was such a beautiful afternoon.   

On the edge of Hitchin is Oughtonhead Common, we hadn't been there for years, the last time was probably when Minibakebakegirl was about 8.  I had heard of the Garden Gate Tearoom at Oughtonhead Farm so we decided to go and try it out on the way to the Common. 

We had no trouble finding it, we just followed everyone else!  It's only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11-4.    It was very busy when we arrived but we were in no rush, there are about 3 tables inside and lots of tables outside.   It was very windy so we decided to sit indoors.

We both had cappuccinos, Hubby had a huge slice of coffee and walnut cake, and I had a huge slice of victoria sponge with fresh strawberries.   Both were lovely and very generous slices.   We will definitely go back!

After our pit stop it had clouded over but it was still a very pleasant afternoon. 

Thanks for visiting,
Bakebakegirl

Today's top three Spotify songs:

1. Love of The Common People - Paul Young
2. Wherever I Lay My Hat - Paul Young
3. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Paul Young

Monday Bake - Chocolate and Guinness Cake

As an easter treat I made Edd Kimber's chocolate and Guinness cake, the idea of the added Guinness intrigued me and he is right - you cannot tell its in there.   This cake almost has a devils loaf cake texture and it was actually better the next day.  You can find the recipe here.  

We have got Sister and Nieces down soon and I think I will make this cake for them too.   I went for my easter decoration of choice of mini eggs instead of the chocolate curls.

I bought Edd Kimbers Say It With Cake Book ages ago (in Liverpool I think!) as it seemed to have quite a few gluten free recipes.   I think I will do one for cake club next time.

Hope you had a lovely easter, 
Bakebakegirl

Today's top three Spotify Songs:

1. Lollipop - Mika
2. Grace Kelly - Mika
3. Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) - Mika

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