D is for Dates

Dates are one of the most versatile ingredients used in baking a variety of sweet dishes.

C is for Chocolate

This is one of the most delicious chocolate cakes I've made. Perfect with a ganache icing.

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup cocoa

1/2 Cup boiling water

185g butter

1 1/2 cups caster sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 Cups self raising flour

1/2 Cup plain flour

1/4 level teaspoon bicarb of soda

3/4 Cup milk

1 Tablespoon vanilla essence

Method:

Grease and line a 24cm springform cake tin.

Mix cocoa and boiling water in a cup and let it cool.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then add eggs one at a time, beat in well.

Sift flours together with bicarb soda and stir into creamed mixture then add milk and vanilla.

When well mixed gradually stir in cocoa mixture.

(Sometimes at this stage the mixture curdles but don't worry it won't affect the finished cake)Pour into cake tin and bake in a moderate oven (190 degC) for about 50 - 60 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer.

Let stand in tin for 5 minutes then release the sides of tin and carefully turn onto cake cooler and remove paper and base.

Variation: Round Sandwich Cakes: use 2 sandwich tins 20cm or 8 " Bake for 35 minutes.

Slab Cake: use a large baking dish 27 x 32 cm. Bake for 40 minutes.

*Note: These cup measurements are Australian Cups.

Time is against me....

Well March has all but come and gone and still no progress on my blog.
With family committments, a new puppy and DD's renovations still in progress I can't see much happening here for a little while.
I am so disappointed not to be able to blog more regularly but time has been against me.
Unless something changes in a hurry I am going to just put my blog on hold and try to post some interesting photos and recipes on my flickr account.

B is for Beetroot

This month's recipe is Mild Chilli Beetroot Chutney.

Apple Galettes

Apple Galettes are a very easy dessert to make.

Galette Recipe
2 sheets frozen puff pastry
6 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced very thinly.
caster sugar
unsalted butter
cinnamon

1. Cut out 8 circles about 18cm in diameter.
Prick circles with a fork and place them in the refrigerator
for 30 minutes to firm up.


















2. Arrange the apple in overlapping slices on each pastry circle,
starting at the outer edge and working in a spiral to finish in the centre.
Sprinkle liberally with sugar and cinnamon then dot liberally with butter.

3. Bake the galettes in a pre-heated 190 deg C oven, until the sugar caramelises, the apples are golden and the pastry is crisp.

Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

A is for Apple

A is for apple, originally uploaded by cakebaker_cakemaker.

A recipe with apples is coming soon

RECIPES FROM A - Z

During the year ahead I will post recipes according to a letter of the alphabet each month. If for no other reason but to keep me in some order. As we are starting in February, the first letter is A...the recipes will include either apple, almonds or allspice.

What I'd like to do also, is feature one of my cookbooks each month and make something out of it for you.

Any comments or questions are welcome at anytime.