For someone who genuinely did not like scones, I have been baking rather a lot of them recently. And I have concluded that homemade, or well made bakery scones, are a million miles away from the prepackaged, heavy, scones of my past. During my recent scone bake-a-thon I adapted my Super Light Scones recipe to create an all butter version, which makes the most delicious savoury scones. Welcome my Beauvale Cheese Walnut Scones.
Beauvale Cheese Walnut Scones fabulous served warm.
These Beauvale Cheese Walnut Scones are incredibly tasty and two out of our three children loved them. Let me add that they would not eat blue cheese on a cracker. A massive win for me as a mum!
Beauvale Cheese Walnut Scones perfect for lunch, picnics or just because they are so good!
Flavour Alchemy
Truly though, their taste is a reflection of just how much delicious flavour is packed into these scones. The salty melted BeauvaleCheese, against an all butter scone, with the crunch of toasted walnuts and balanced with just a hint of honey.
And I bet you didn’t see that last ingredient coming?
Because blue cheese and honey pair beautifully together, I was going to caramelise the toasted walnuts in honey. Finally though, I decided that I wanted the sweet honey to be no more than a kiss on our tastebuds.
Beauvale Cheese Walnut Scones a buttery cheesy scone with added crunch.
Beauvale Cheese is a soft blue cheese, that doesn’t have the intensity of Stilton. Beautiful eaten with bread or crackers and served on a cheese board, this cheese comes alive when baked in the scones. Warm and melted, it has a rounder, salty and buttery flavour that blends nicely with the toasted walnuts and that little hint of honey.
So, I urge you to try these Beauvale Cheese Walnut Scones, they are incredibly simple to make and are perfect for using up leftover cheese.
Recipe: Makes 12-14 Beauvale Cheese Walnut Scones
50g/2oz Walnut Pieces or Halves
450g/1lb Plain White Flour
3tsp Baking Powder
75g/3oz Very Cold Unsalted Butter
125g/4.5oz Beauvale Cheese – mine was from Pong Cheese
Method: Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan, gas mark 7
Making The Scone Dough
First of all, in a dry iron skillet or frying pan add the walnut pieces and place over a medium until lightly toasted. You will just be able to start smelling the wonderful walnut oils. Remove from the heat and set to one side to cool.
Into a large bowl sift the flour and baking powder.
Add the sea salt and pepper.
Using the large grating side of a box grater, grate the very cold cheese straight onto the flour – I find it easier to have my bowl on digital scales.
Cover the butter with flour, use a butter knife to separate any clumps, so that the butter is evenly distributed.
Grated cold butter covered in seasoned flour.
Next break off chunks of the Beauvale Cheese and drop them into the bowl.
Golden Beauvale Cheese with a ripple of blue.
Using a butter knife flick the flour over the cheese so that it is covered. This will stop it from clumping together.
Chop the walnuts roughly and add to the bowl. Stir with the butter knife to distribute evenly.
In a jug add 2 teaspoons of honey to the milk. Whisk briefly to disolve the honey.
Make a well in the centre of the bowl and pour the milk/honey mixture in.
Use the butter knife to briefly stir the ingredients and then use your hand to bring them together into a rough dough.
The trick to creating the lightest scones is to handle them as little as possible and only very lightly flour the worktop on which you roll and cut them out.
Shaping The Dough And Portioning The Scones
On a lightly flour dusted worktop tip out your scone dough and flatten with your hands so that it is 5cm/2″ deep.
Use a rolling pin to gently roll the dough to 2.5cm/1″ thickness.
Gently roll the scone dough out.
Line a large baking tray with baking parchment or a silicone baking mat.
Using a 7cm/3″ cutter press straight down and cut out the scones. If you twist the cutter as you cut the scones it can cause uneven rising.
Add the last teaspoon of honey to the milk, stir and then brush the tops of the scones.
Beauvale Cheese Walnut Scones ready to be baked.
Baking The Cheese And Nut Scones
Place the scones in the top of the preheated oven and bake for 20-25minutes, until they are risen and golden brown in colour.
As soon as the scones are baked remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack – be careful as they will be hot!
Beauvale Cheese Walnut Scones inhale their wonderful aroma as they come out of the oven.
Enjoying These Beauvale Cheese Walnut Scones
These utterly delicious Beauvale Cheese Walnut Scones are perfect served warm, split with butter, a little extra cheese (the contrast between the cold and baked cheese is delicious), or just on their own. Also they taste great cold and so are perfect for packed lunches, picnics and afternoon tea.
Since these scones have higher fat content, they will last 3-4 days in an airtight container. Also, I have successfully frozen similar scones for up to one month. To refresh, defrost and place in a warm oven for 5-10 minutes and they’ll taste as though they’ve been freshly baked.
Beauvale Cheese Walnut Scones a delicious savoury treat!
If you have enjoyed this Beauvale Cheese Walnut Scones recipe here are some others you may also like:
There are so many wonderful ways of using cheese in cooking and baking. And during the next few months we will discover together, wonderful sauces, dinners, recipes and bakes.
Pong Cheese has a wonderful selection of cheeses on their website. I look forward to widening my cheese palette and creating recipes with all the different cheeses.
I hope that you will join me on this creative journey and together we can have fun discovering new ways to make and bake with cheese in our kitchens? Having fun along the way as we cook up some cracking feasts.
Sammie xx
Pong Cheese provided the cheese for this recipe. All opinions, views, content and photographs are my own. This is not a sponsored post. Please see my Disclosure Policy.
For for those of you who have visited Feasting is Fun before, you will be very aware of my love affair with lemons. I absolutely adore not only their tart, intense flavour, but also their ability to transform a sweet or savoury dish. After using lemon curd to create my Lemon Ripple Ice Cream, I decided to use it in a bake. Specifically this delightful LoveliestLemon Curd Cake.
Loveliest Lemon Curd Cake perfect for afternoon tea.
A wonderfully moist, damp cake, the lemon curd injects a wonderful tartness in the centre that is balanced by the lemon swirled buttercream on top.
If you love lemons, then I’ll guarantee this LoveliestLemon Curd Cake will delight you!
Loveliest Lemon Curd Cake whatever time of year brings the sunshine indoors.
Baked as a whole cake, that is then cut in two, this refreshingly flavoured cake is simple to make and decorate.
Loveliest Lemon Curd Cake with an added sprinkle of glitter.
I was sent a new cake tin to try out, so I decided on this Loveliest Lemon CurdCake. The cake batter has both finely grated lemon zest and lemon extract oil in it. I’ve given an alternative for the oil in the recipe, although I do recommend buying some if you can. It brings another level of lemonyness to the cake and unlike fresh lemon juice, does not cause any curdling of the cake batter or buttercream.
Loveliest Lemon Curd Cake look at how the light shines through the lemony yellow of the cake?
Lemons have such a sunny yellow colour that they really do bring the sunshine indoors whatever the weather!
Recipe: LoveliestLemon Curd Cake serves 8-10
You will need an 8″/20cm diameter cake tin that is 3″/7.5cm deep
275g/10oz Unsalted Butter – plus a little extra for greasing
4-5tbsp Lemon Curd – I use Waitrose luxury lemon curd – make sure you pick a tart one
For the icing:
100g/4oz Unsalted Butter
200g/7oz Sifted Icing Sugar
1/2tsp Lemon Oil – or 1tbsp Lemon Curd
2tbsp Very Hot Water from a kettle
Optional – Sprinkles and edible glitter
Method: Preheat the oven to 160C/140C fan, gas mark 3
Grease with butter and line the base of the cake tin with baking parchment. I was testing a new PushPan. I still greased and lined the tin.
Into a large bowl add the butter, salt and sugar.
Whisk/beat until pale and creamy.
Add all 6 eggs (I crack mine into a separate bowl first) and the lemon oil/substitute with 1tbsp of lemon curd if no lemon oil is available.
Sift in the self raising flour.
Mix on a low speed until just combined.
Add the finely grated zest of one whole lemon.
Mix the cake batter until just smooth – I do this by hand using a spoon.
Spoon the Loveliest Lemon Curd Cake batter into the cake tin and smooth the top.
Loveliest Lemon Curd Cake ready for the oven.
Place the cake tin into the centre of the oven and bake for 1 hour – 1 hour 15 minutes. The cake is baked when an inserted skewer comes out clean. My cake took 1 hour 15 minutes to bake.
Once the cake is baked remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the cake tin.
Baked Loveliest Lemon Curd Cake cooling in the tin.
When the cake is cold remove from the tin.
With the PushPan tin I used, I simply popped the pan on to a tin of beans and pressed the sides down. The cake released from the tin very easily.
Loveliest Lemon Curd Cake easily released from the PushPan
Making the lemon buttercream:
Into a large bowl add the softened butter, sifted icing sugar, lemon oil or curd and 2 tablespoons of hot water.
Whisk slowly at first, increasing in speed as the icing sugar is absorbed. Continue whisking on high for a couple more minutes until you have a pale, creamy, light buttercream.
Scoop the buttercream into a disposable piping bag fitted with a large closed star tip.
Carefully cut the cake in half horizontally, so that it becomes a sandwich cake.
Spoon enough lemon curd on to the bottom layer to cover it generously.
Add a generous layer of lemon curd.
Place the top of the cake back on and pipe six buttercream swirls around the edge and one in the centre of the cake.
Loveliest Lemon Curd Cake so pretty but there’s room for a finishing touch.
Add sprinkles and edible glitter (if using) and your Loveliest Lemon Curd Cake is ready to be sliced and served.
I do love a slice of cake for Sunday afternoon tea, or any day of the week afternoon tea, when the cake is this good!
Loveliest Lemon Curd Cake perfect for any occasion, but especially afternoon tea.
I honestly think the pictures in this post speak for themselves. This LoveliestLemon Curd Cake bursts with lemony yellowness once cut and tastes absolutely perfect. The soft buttercream and tart lemon curd, with a deliciously moist lemon cake.
Today will not be the only time I make this cake!!
If you have enjoyed the recipe for this Loveliest Lemon Curd Cake here are some others you may also enjoy:
Whilst this Loveliest Lemon Curd Cake looks pretty with the buttercream swirls, it really is the layers of lemon flavour that make this cake so enticing.
Whatever you are making and baking in your kitchen this weekend I hope that you are having fun. As I popped a couple of slices of this yummy cake over the back fence to our neighbours, almost blinded by the glitter sparkling in the sunlight, I was reminded of how much I simply enjoy sharing.
Baking for my family, friends, neighbours, postman and postlady, random delivery drivers, makes me feel good. Why?? Because it puts a smile on someones face. The heart of this blog is to share, enjoy feasting with people and have fun whilst doing so.
When baking there is one disposable item that I use very frequently, baking parchment. So when GOLDENSPOON sent me 2 Premium Silicone Non Stick Baking Mats I was interested as to how they would perform. Also, carrying out a Silicone Baking Mat Review was going to be interesting and fun!
Silicone Baking Mat Review would my gooey cookies come off easily?
Setting Out The Silicone Mat Review
After some research as to how hot Silicone bakeware can be cooked at. Since they are safe to bake up to 250C, I decided to test these vibrant green edged mats in three ways.
First of all, bake at a high temperature – for this I choose to bake a puff pastry tart.
Also, bake my most gooey and sticky recipe – for this I choose my Rolo ChocolateCookies.
And finally, use in place of baking parchment for setting messy melted chocolate – for this I covered some strawberries in chocolate to decorate a cake.
Silicone Baking Mat Review 2 mats.
I received 2 Premium Silicone Non Stick Baking Mats, dimensions 27cm x 40cm. Following a quick wash in warm, soapy water, a quick dry and they were ready to use. And I was very pleased to find that they fitted nicely inside my two biggest, most used, baking trays.
First Test – Baking The Silicone Mat In A Hot Oven
Because puff pastry is baked at a high temperature, I decided to make a quick Asparagus Prosciutto Ham Tart.
Recipe: Asparagus Prosciutto Ham Tart serves 4
320g Ready Rolled Puff Pastry
10-12 Asparagus Spears – washed and trimmed
1 Medium Egg – whisked with a teaspoon of milk fit the egg wash
3 Medium Tomatoes – sliced
6 Slices Prosciutto Ham
Approx 50g Soft Cheese – I used Goddess Cheese from Pong Cheese. Alternatively you could use Brie, or mozzarella cheese.
Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper.
1tbsp Olive Oil
Basil leaves to garnish
Assembling and baking the tart:
First of all, preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan, gas mark 7, 425F.
Place one Premium Silicone Non Stick Baking Mat on to a baking tray.
Un roll the pastry and place directly on to the mat – removing the paper it is rolled in.
Use a pastry brush to lightly cover the pastry in egg wash.
Place the asparagus and sliced tomatoes on to the pastry and season with salt and pepper.
Silicone Baking Mat Review see how perfectly the pastry fits on the mat.
Place the baking tray in the top of the oven for 15 minutes.
After the baking time has elapsed remove the tray from the oven.
Break off small chunks of the cheese and scatter around the tart. Then lay the Prosciutto ham over the tart, in the same direction as the asparagus. Add a small drizzle of olive oil.
Asparagus Prosciutto Ham Tart easily assembled on the silicone baking mat.
Place the tart back in the oven for 10 minutes to crisp the ham and finish baking.
Asparagus Prosciutto Ham Tart
As soon as the tart is baked remove, from the oven and scatter over some whole basil leaves.
Remove the tart from the silicone baking mat before cutting.
The finished result is a delicious tart, that baked beautifully on the non stick silicone baking mat. It slid off the mat easily. The mat had a quick wash in warm soapy water and was as good as new.
Fantastic! These Premium Silicone Non Stick Baking Mats cook at a high temperature with no affect on taste and no change in appearance to the mat 10/10.
Baking Rolo Cookies
Next the gooey, sticky test. I used my Rolo recipe for this test. The cookies were prepared according to the recipe and baked using both mats, instead of baking parchment, as instructed.
This recipe requires the cookies to cool on the baking trays before removing.
Once cooled the cookies removed easily, with only a little of the melted caramel staying on the mat. This is usual with baking parchment too so I had expected it. A quick wash and the mats were clean and ready to use. A firm 9/10.
Finally Test As A Baking Parchment Substitute
Now for the melted chocolate test!
Silicone Baking Mat Review with messy melted chocolate.
The strawberries were dipped in chocolate and left to set on the silicone baking mat. Once set they removed easily and were used to decorate a beautiful cake. Another quick wash in warm soapy water and again as good as new! A firm 10/10.
In conclusion I am thrilled with these Premium Silicone Non Stick Mats and thoroughly recommend them. Since they are so easy to use for a variety of baking and cooking purposes. Also they take up very little space, I store them flat in the bag they came in on top of some tins in a cupboard.
While also reusable and in my opinion better than baking parchment, these have to be a great choice, not only for our kitchens but also our planet!
If you have enjoyed this Silicone Baking Mat Review you may like these recipes to bake with your mats:
Strawberry Chocolate Vanilla DripCake are what the chocolate covered strawberries decorated.
Having carried out this Silicone Baking Mat Review I am now a complete convert to baking with silicone. I wholeheartedly recommend every kitchen, where baking takes place, to switch to these silicone baking mats. Over time they will pay for themselves and are more environmentally friendly than using baking parchment.
So, whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchen, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.
Sammie xx
GOLDENSPOON provided me with the 2 Premium Silicone Non Stick Baking Mats for the purpose of a review. All views and opinions are my own, as are the recipes, photographs and content of this post. I was not paid to review this product. Please see my Disclosure Policy.
Hello, I have an exciting recipe to share today. Since I first admiring the variety of Drip Cakes on Pinterest I have wanted to make one. This past weekend with the help of 2 Wright’s Baking cake mix kits, I did it (full recipe instructions for making this cake from scratch are included). Finally, I have now made this Strawberry Chocolate Vanilla Drip Cake.
Strawberry Chocolate Vanilla Drip Cake
Had it not been for the cake mixes from Wright’s I honestly would not have had the energy to make this cake. Yet, I proved that with a little bit of patience and guidance anyone can make a drip cake using great packet mixes, plus some extra chocolate and strawberries.
The Chocolate and Victoria sponge mixes create cakes that are as light as clouds. I baked the cakes on Saturday and then assembled and decorated this gorgeous Strawberry Chocolate Vanilla Drip Cake on the Sunday.
Strawberry Chocolate Vanilla Drip Cake
You Too Can Make This Drip Cake :
If you have ever wanted to make a drip cake, yet been too scared or overwhelmed to try? Use the following step by step photographs and instructions to show you how. You need not be a proficient baker or cake decorator, yet you CAN make this Strawberry Chocolate Vanilla Drip Cake.
Taking you through every stage, you will learn how to achieve a stunning drip cake. Once you have learnt the basics you can create all different kinds of drip cakes. I wanted to keep my cake simple, yet elegant. The chocolate dipped strawberries add height and a pop of colour.
Strawberry Chocolate Vanilla Drip Cake
Above all, I never dreamt that my Strawberry Chocolate VanillaDrip Cake would turn out so well.
Pushing Out Of My Cake Decorating Comfort Zone:
Because cake decorating isn’t my strongest skill, learning new techniques can be challenging. Also sometimes my hands can be really shaky, resulting fewer cake recipes making it on to the blog.
What I’m trying to say is, I’m just like you. Yes I’ve learnt to pipe roses with buttercream, but that really is the extent of my cake decorating knowledge. So my hope is to teach you how to create a show stopping cake and that, with a little patience you too can create one!
Strawberry Chocolate Vanilla Drip Cake
There’s No Shame In Using Great Quality Cake Mixes:
Starting with a good quality boxed cake mix from Wright’s meant that all my concentration could be used decorating the cake. I will be creating recipes with different flavours, colours and toppings in the future, but for my first drip cake, all I wanted to concentrate on was creating that iconic ‘drip’!
Chocolate and vanilla were chosen simply because the inside of the cake would then reflect the beautiful outside. The cake mixes are so easy to whip up and bake, plus the buttercream mixture is included in the box. All I needed to add was butter.
Strawberry Chocolate Vanilla Drip Cake
Note: in order to decorate this cake successfully you will need a large palette knife (not a small offset one – that I mention in some of my recipes). Also if making the cake using my recipes you will have ire than you need. Perhaps you could bake an extra layer?
( Make the cake batter as instructed in the recipe. Use half of the vanilla batter to bake 2 plain sponges. Add 75g Cocoa powder and 2tbsp milk to the remaining batter, stir gently until the ingredients are fully incorporated. Bake the chocolate sponges as instructed.)
2tbsp Butter for greasing the sandwich cake tins
240g Unsalted Butter- softened to room temperature
200g White Chocolate – I use Waitrose Belgian white chocolate
100g Dark Chocolate minimum 70% Cocoa Solids
15 Good Quality Fresh Strawberries medium/large in size – if only very large strawberries are available you may want to use fewer.
Note: if making your own buttercream you will need 250g unsalted butter, 100g good quality cocoa powder (sifted) and 400g icing sugar (sifted), prepare as for the buttercream including the 2tbsp very hot water.
Method: Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan, gas mark 4, 350F
Making And Baking The Sponge Cakes:
Grease 2 x 7″ (17.5cm) sandwich cake tins and line the base with baking parchment.
Make up one packet – I used the Victoria sponge mix first – according to the instructions on the box.
Divide the cake batter equally between the 2 tins.
Place the sponge tins in the centre of the oven and bake for 15- 20 minutes. The sponges are baked when they are a golden colour and spring back from a light touch. Mine took just under 20 minutes to bake. Also, baking times may vary slightly if making from scratch*.
As soon as the cakes are baked remove from the oven.
Allow the sponges to cool for 5 minutes, then run a palette knife around the outside rim of the cake.
Turn the cake out gently and place right side up on a cooling rack.
Wash up the sponge tins in warm soapy water, dry, grease and line the bases as before.
Make up the chocolate sponge mix according to the packet instructions.
Divide the cake batter equally between the 2 tins and bake in the middle of the oven, as before for 15 – 20 minutes. Mine were baked at 15 minutes.
As soon as the chocolate sponges are baked remove from the oven. See note * above.
After 5 minutes cooling run a palette knife around the outside of the cake, turn out gently and allow to cool on a rack.
Once cool your cake is ready to assemble and decorate.
Making The Frosting And Assembling The Cake:
Gently peel the parchment paper away from the base of each sponge.
Whisk/beat 240g of softened butter in a large bowl.
Add both packets of buttercream mix – chocolate and vanilla.
Slowly whisk until they are incorporated into the butter.
OPTIONAL – I always add 1-2 tablespoons of very hot water to any buttercream that I make. I added 2 tablespoons to the buttercream mixture. I would not advise adding water if you are using stork or other margarines.
Continue whisking until you have a smooth, glossy, chocolate buttercream.
I recommend using either a cake board or a flat plate placed on a cake stand, or cake decorating turntable. I used a cake board on top of my cake stand. This is so that once covered in buttercream, the cake, will fit into the fridge to chill.
First of all add a generous tablespoon of buttercream to the cake board, this helps anchor the cake whilst it is being assembled and decorated.
Place the first sponge flat side up on the centre of the board.
Using a palette knife thinly coat the upper, flat side of the sponge in buttercream.
Next add the second chocolate sponge, again flat side up and cover with a thin layer of buttercream.
Continue in the same manner with the vanilla sponges, leaving the last sponge without a covering of buttercream.
Covering The Cake With Buttercream Frosting:
Ensure that you have plenty of space to work around the cake. I moved mine to the dining room table where I was able to sit (better for my back) and cover the cake.
Add enough buttercream to cover the top of the cake evenly – approximately 0.5-1cm deep. Run the palette knife across the top to roughly smooth it.
Next add buttercream to the side of the cake near the top. Spread it with the palette knife so that it fills in the gaps between the sponges. I started at the top and rotated the cake stand, working my way down to the bottom of the cake as each sponge layer was covered. Always aim to keep the buttercream as even and smooth as possible, using a palette knife.
The whole cake is now covered in buttercream with a roughly smoothed top and sides.
Fill a large jug with very hot water and have some pieces of kitchen paper to hand.
Clean the palette knife and let it sit, immersed in the hot water for a minute.
Remove the palette knife and wipe dry with the kitchen paper.
Hold the flat side of the palette knife to the side of the cake and smooth the buttercream. Repeat by dipping the palette knife back into the hot water, drying and smoothing, rotating the cake stand as you do so. This may take a little practice but you’ll soon get the hang of it.
The buttercream becomes very glossy and smooth. Continue until the sides are as smooth as you can get them.
Next smooth the top of the cake in exactly the same way.
Use kitchen paper to gently go around the base of the cake and remove excess buttercream from the board. I remove any big lumps and then hold the kitchen paper to the board as I rotate the cake, gradually getting closer and closer to the cake.
Place the covered cake into the fridge to chill and set for 30 minutes.
When it is touch dry you may start to decorate it.
Decorating The Strawberries With Chocolate:
Break up the white chocolate into a heatproof microwaveable bowl.
Zap in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between each heating session. When the chocolate has half melted remove the bowl from the microwave and continue stirring until all of the chocolate is melted.
Set to one side to cool.
Meanwhile break up the dark chocolate and melt in exactly the same way as for the white chocolate.
Dip half of the strawberries into the dark chocolate, ensuring they are completely covered with only the green showing, use a teaspoon to pour the chocolate near the top of the strawberry. Set the strawberries on to a silicone mat or some baking parchment.
Remove 2 tablespoons of the melted white chocolate and place in a small, disposable piping bag. Snip the very end off leaving a small hole.
Pipe lines across the uncovered strawberries and over the chocolate covered strawberries. You can also experiment with piping little dots on to the strawberries. Leave the strawberries to set.
Creating The Drip Effect:
Finally, while the white chocolate is still pourable but cooled you can start creating your drips.
Using a spoon pour the cooled, melted chocolate around the edge of the cake encouraging drips to form by adding a little more chocolate in places. Aim for a variety of drip lengths around the outside of the cake.
Next spoon the remaining white chocolate on to the centre of the top of the cake. Use the spoon to spread it to meet the rim formed by the drips and then swirl with your spoon to give an attractive finish.
Adding Chocolate Strawberries For A Spectacular Finish:
Gently add some strawberries to the back of the cake, building height by laying them on top of each other. Also add a few strawberries around the base to create a stunning, professional finish.
Strawberry Chocolate Vanilla Drip Cake
Place the cake back into the fridge, especially during warmer weather, until it has set.
Strawberry Chocolate Vanilla Drip Cake
Now take lots of photographs as it is great to have a visual reminder that you have accomplished something so stunning.
Importantly, keeping some of the strawberries red, with just a little piped white chocolate really makes the whole cake pop. Having a burst of colour stops the cake from being all brown and cream, which is definitely not as fun as a spot of red here and there!
If you have enjoyed the recipe and tutorial for making this Strawberry Chocolate Vanilla Drip Cake here are others you may also like:
Fluted Chocolate Lemon Marble Cake a great cheat at making an amazing looking cake.
Finally, while not being the world’s best cake decorator means I can learn. Baking and decorating cakes should be fun. And it can be with instructions and photos to guide you through the process. Above all, cakes are made for sharing with friends, family and even the Post Lady!
Have I inspired you to try a new cake decorating technique?
Have fun decorating, making and baking your feasts.
Sammie xx
Wright’s Baking provided me with the cake mix kits to try. All content, opinions, views and photographs are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy. I am not a professional baker or cake decorator, any advice given is purely for guidance.
Goddess Cheese Pine Nut Muffins vibrant strips of aromatic basil run through these delicious buttery cheese, pine nut studded muffins.
Goddess Cheese Pine Nut Muffins a delightful flavour combination.
Also these delightful muffins are so easy to make, quick to bake and perfect for breakfast, packed lunches, picnics……
Goddess Cheese Pine Nut Muffins perfect for picnics.
Whenever we have friends and family round, I always provide a cheese board. Since I have more of a savoury palette, I generally choose cheese and crackers over dessert on most occasions. While I adore all cheeses, this Goddess Cheese, sent to me to try byPong Cheese is beautifully buttery and creamy.
A cider washed edible rind conceals the most gorgeous, gooey, buttery cheese, perfect for spreading on crackers, with a glass of something chilled to go alongside. The initial buttery flavour is layered with a nutty taste that is perfectly paired with the pine nuts in these Goddess Cheese Pine Nut Muffins.
Goddess Cheese Pine Nut Muffins a great way to use up left over cheese.
Whilst spreading this cheese on crackers is a perfectly acceptable way to indulge your senses, my creative side knew that it would taste so good baked in a muffin. After a party or family gathering I am quite often left with cheese and other delectables. I avoid waste as much as I can, so incorporating this beautiful cheese into a bake gives it a second life in these delicious muffins.
Goddess Cheese Pine Nut Muffins are incredibly easy to whip up and bake. In fact these took less than 30 minutes from start to eating!
Oh boy, these muffins are fabulous warm out of the oven.
Recipe: Makes 12 Goddess Cheese Pine Nut Muffins
50g/2oz Pine Nuts
300g/11oz Plain White Flour (self raising can be substituted – leave out the baking powder)
2tsp Baking Powder
2 Whole Free Range Eggs
200ml Semi-Skimmed or Whole Milk
4tbsp Vegetable/Sunflower Oil
Goddess Cheese 150g/5oz – mine was from Pong Cheese
Method: Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan, gas mark 6
First of all place the pine nuts into a dry skillet or frying pan and toast over a medium heat until golden. Remove from the pan and place on to a plate to cool. Reseve some pine nuts for topping the muffins.
Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl.
Pile the basil leaves on top of each other and cut into fine strips.
Add the cooled pine nuts, basil, and seasonings to the bowl.
Stir with a fork to incorporate.
Break the Goddess Cheese into lumps and add half to the flour mixture – I found it easier to have the bowl on the scales.
Gorgeously gooey Goddess Cheese.
Cover the cheese in the bowl with the flour mixture. This will stop it clumping together.
Add the other half of the cheese, again pinching off gooey lumps and dropping them into the bowl. Cover in the flour mixture as before – dry mixture.
Into a jug add the milk, oil and eggs. Lightly mix with a fork – wet mixture.
Make a well in the centre of the dry mixture and pour in the wet mixture.
Stir with a fork approximately 10-12 times until the ingredients are just mixed.
A few flour streaks are fine.
Note: Over mixed muffins will be tough!
Place muffin liners in a muffin tin – I didn’t but would advise you to as it does make the muffins easier to remove.
Divide the muffin mix between the 12 cases.
Top with the reserved pine nuts – if you have forgotten to reserve any don’t worry they will still look and taste delicious.
Goddess Cheese Pine Nut Muffins ready for the oven.
Place the tin in the top of the oven and bake for approximately 15 minutes.
The muffins are cooked when they are just firm to touch and golden brown.
As soon as the muffins are baked remove from the oven.
Beautifully golden Goddess Cheese Pine Nut Muffins.
Transfer the Goddess Cheese Pine Nut Muffins to a cooling rack until warm and then devour!
Enjoy these muffins at their absolute best, warm straight from the oven. While the cheese is still slightly melted and the flavours of the toasted pine nuts and basil come through.
Look how moist and delicious these muffins are.
Having had to split a muffin for the photographs, I also really enjoyed them cold. All the buttery, nutty cheese, pine nut and basil flavours are still present which I am really pleased with. This makes the GoddessCheese Pine Nut Muffins perfect as portable food.
I will definitely be making more of these for picnics, packed lunches and just for eating warm from the oven!
Muffins are always best on the day made, however, stored in an airtight container they are good for 3 days, or frozen for up to a month. To refresh just pop in a moderate oven for 10 minutes and they’ll taste like they’ve just been baked.
If you have enjoyed this recipe for Goddess Cheese Pine Nut Muffins you may also like these:
Chorizo Goats Cheese Muffins a fantastic blend of flavours.
No longer do you need to look at an oozing, gooey leftover Goddess Cheese and wonder what to do with it. Instead you can make Goddess Cheese Pine NutMuffins and as they don’t use a whole packet of cheese, leave you enough for your cheese and crackers.
This recipe started in my mind with the intent of using up leftover cheese. Oh no! These are so good I would happily buy the cheese to make them.
Whatever you are making and baking in your kitchens, have fun and enjoy sharing the feast you are preparing.
Sammie xx
Pong Cheese provided me with the cheese to make this recipe. All content, views, opinions, recipes and photographs are my own. Please see myDisclosure Policy.
June is Asparagus season, here in the U.K. Such a vibrant, distinct colour and flavour when cooked. So I decided to incorporate it into this utterly delicious Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche.
Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche such a delicious flavour combination.
Making the best use of seasonal vegetables is so important to me. Also, it makes me appreciate them more. While strawberries always taste better in the summer, because that’s when they grow in this country. Asparagus is the same. Vibrant, green shoots that can be enjoyed in any number of recipes.
And one of my favourite ways to enjoy them is in this Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche!
Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche perfect with salad.
Easy Baking Using Seasonal Produce
I have made this quiche twice now, in as many weeks and believe me when I say, I’ll probably make it next week too. In fact I should probably make two, so that I can stash one away in the freezer for when asparagus is no longer available.
Using good quality, outside reared bacon makes all the difference to this dish. Because it is not pumped full of water and who knows what, when placed in a hot, dry skillet the bacon sizzles. There wasn’t any liquid leaching from it and oh, it tastes so good!
Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche a tantalising bite 😉
Making this Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche is easy. So is making your own pastry, there’s a link in the recipe. It doesn’t take long and is a tried and tested recipe that creates the most delicious buttery crust for it’s eggy filling.
I like to get the pastry made first thing in the morning. I always make double as it takes hardly any extra time and stores really well in the freezer. If using frozen pastry defrost it overnight in the fridge.
Recipe: Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche – serves 6
500g/1lb 2oz All Butter Shortcrust Pastry see Perfect All Butter ShortcrustPastry the recipe will also give you tips on how to line a tart tin, blind bake and there’s another quiche recipe as well
12 Rashers Smoked Streaky Bacon – take off any rind and cut into 2.5cm/1″ chunks
6-8 Asparagus Spears – washed trimmed and cut into 5cm/2″ pieces
6 Large Free Range Eggs – note if making to freeze add an extra egg and leave out the cream – my eggs were from Waitrose
50ml/2fl oz Double Cream
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Making The Shortcrust Pastry Tart Case
Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan, gas mark 7, 425F.
Note – the filling can be prepared whilst the pastry case is baking.
Make the pastry, wrap and leave to rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Place your quiche tin on a baking tray.
Lighty dust the work top with flour and roll out the pastry, from the centre outwards. Move the pastry around to ensure that it isn’t sticking to the work top.
Use the rolling pin to transfer the pastry, lay it gently into the quiche tin.
Gently push the pastry into place, if you stretch it, it’ll shrink during baking. I know trust me!!
Nicely finished pastry case.
Roll the rolling pin over the top of the quiche tin and it will trim the pastry, leaving a lovely clean edge.
Use a fork to dock the bottom of the pastry, it allows steam to escape during baking.
Cut a piece of baking parchment slightly bigger than the tin, scrunch up, line the pastry case and fill with baking beans.
Place in the top of a preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, lift out the baking beans and return for a further 5 minutes until golden in colour. Remove from the oven and set to one side.
Assembling The Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche
Reduce the oven temperature to 200C/180C fan, gas mark 6, 400F.
In a dry skillet/frying pan, over a medium heat dry fry the bacon until cooked, but not crispy. Off the heat add the asparagus and allow to sit for 5 minutes or a bit longer.
When the bacon is cool enough to handle arrange in the base of the pastry case.
Then arrange the asparagus spears however you like.
Top with the finely grated cheese.
Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche ready for the egg custard.
Crack the eggs into a jug – I always crack mine separately into a small bowl first.
Add the cream, if using and a good season of black pepper.
Whisk with a fork to combine and then pour carefully over the pastry tart.
Leave a gap between the pastry rim and the custard. The quiche will rise whilst baking and it’s not the end of the world if it leaks, but prevention is better than cure. Gosh I sound like my Grandma, what a wise woman she was.
Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche ready for the oven.
Baking The Quiche
Place the quiche into the centre of the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until it is puffed and golden without a wobble in the centre.
Once baked remove from the oven and allow to sit for at least 15 minutes.
Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche it’s freshly baked smell is tantalising.
Serving And Storing The Quiche
This delicious tasting Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche can be served hot, warm or cold, making it perfect for buffets, picnics, easy dinners, packed lunches.
I had the last piece of quiche, cold from the fridge today, for lunch. It was absolutely yummy and as it is quite muggy, it was refreshing as well as filling.
Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche a delicious summer meal.
Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche will keep well wrapped in cling film, in the fridge for up to 3 days and successfully freeze for one month. In fact I have a lovely friend on Twitter – Lou – who baked this yesterday, without the cream and popped it in the freezer for a party in a few weeks time.
Make the most of the asparagus season, it is all too short!
If you have enjoyed the recipe for this Smoked Bacon Asparagus Quiche you may also want to try these:
Pastry is such a versatile medium to bake with, see my TwistedFruity Jam Tarts . It lends itself very well to portable food, which means it’s great for family and friend get together’s. Since the heart of Feasting is Fun is sharing. I share my recipes, as do some of you. We share our makes and bakes with neighbours, unsuspecting delivery men – oh that’s just me on that one then. Most of all we have fun enjoying the smile a homemade dish can bring to another’s face.
So, whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.
Sammie xx
No part of this post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy.
Since Father’s Day coming up this Sunday, here is an easy to make and decorate treat for Dad. Lemon and chocolate intertwined within every part of this stunning Fluted Chocolate Lemon Marble Cake. While I am using lemon in this cake, other flavours such as orange, coffee or perhaps a liqueur could also be considered.
Fluted Chocolate Marble Cake perfect for any celebration.
You can make this cake for Father’s Day, or as a special celebration cake. Since the blend of chocolate and lemon throughout every part of this cake is a taste sensation. And if you have never tried the two together then you need to trust me and make this cake.
Fluted Chocolate Lemon Marble Cake whoever receives this will be thrilled.
While orange and chocolate is a more common flavour pairing, I was inspired to make this cake when I discovered that Elizabeth Shaw Chocolates made Chocolate a Lemon Flutes. And having used the Amaretto flutes for my ChocolateAmaretto Cake I knew how stunning and yet simple they were to use.
Fluted Chocolate Lemon Marble Cake made with love.
So if you want to make this cake for your Dad this coming Sunday, or a special birthday cake I am right here to show you how to make this stunning Fluted Chocolate Lemon Marble Cake.
Homemade Gifts That Are Baked With Love
Nothing is quite as special as something that you have made yourself for someone. Putting the time, energy and love into baking a cake, for me truly shows someone that I love them. Especially if it is centered around their favourite flavours.
Elizabeth Shaw sell a range of flavoured flutes and you can easily tweak this recipe to fit the flavour of your choice. And adding the flutes around the edge, with the extra touch of a beautiful ribbon transforms a nice cake to a wow cake.
Fluted Chocolate Lemon Marble Cake plenty for sharing.
Method: Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan, gas mark 3, 350F.
Making The Marble Cake Batter
First of all, grease and line with baking parchment an 8″ or 18cm cake tin – that is also fairly deep – at least 4″/10cm. Ensure that the baking parchment is at least 2″/5cm higher than the sides of the cake. This will ensure a nice even rise and moist cake.
In a large bowl add the softened, room temperature butter and caster sugar.
Whisk/beat until pale and creamy.
Sift the flour into a medium sized bowl – you will need the bowl later.
Add 1/3 of the flour and 2 eggs to the butter mixture, mix slowly until just incorporated.
Repeat the last step.
Add the last 2 eggs, remaining flour and the zest of 2 lemons.
Use a large spoon or spatula to fold in all of the ingredients until combined – be careful not to overmix.
In the spare bowl (which had the flour in it) place half of the lemon flavoured cake mixture – I do this by eye but, use scales if you want to be exact.
Sift the cocoa into the mixture in the spare bowl and add the 2 tablespoons of milk. Fold in the cocoa powder until the mixture is combined. It will be a gorgeous chocolate colour.
In the othe bowl squeeze in the juice from half of a lemon. Stir until fully combined.
Begin by alternating the cake mixes.
Spoon dollops of the chocolate cake mixture around the base of the tin, leaving a gap in between.
In the gaps spoon dollops (sorry but I love that word 😉) of the lemon cake mix.
Continue by layering spoonfuls of the chocolate cake mixture on top of the lemon and vice versa.
This is how the cake tin looks with all the cake batter added.
Creating The Classic Chocolate Marble Swirl With The Cake Batter
Now to get swirling! I always use the handle of a wooden spoon, as it won’t rip through the baking parchment.
With the upturned spoon in hand swirl through the cake mixture. I like making figures of eight!
You need the whole cake mix to be marbled NOT mixed.
One beautifully swirled marble cake and I stuck the overlapping parchment together with cake batter!
Please don’t worry if you think you’ve over or under swirled your cake. This is a gift for someone. They will love that you’ve taken the time to bake them a cake.
Baking The Marble Cake
Place the cake in the middle part of the oven and bake for 1 hour 30 minutes – 1 hour 45 minutes.
This is a long slow bake that ensures a moist, evenly coloured cake. Please trust me. If you cook at a higher temperature the outside will be baked before the middle and you are likely to end up with a dry cake.
The cake is baked when an inserted skewer comes out clean.
As soon as the cake is baked remove from the oven and place the tin on a cooling rack and allow the cake to cool in the tin. I made this cake the day before I decorated it, however, as long as it is cold it can be decorated on the same day.
Beautifully baked, don’t worry about any cracks they will settle and close as the cake cools.
If leaving overnight before decorating, remove the cooled cake from its tin and wrap in cling film.
Preparing the Chocolate Ganache Icing:
Break up the 250g of dark chocolate and add to a heatproof bowl that fits on top of a small saucepan. Add the butter to the chocolate.
Place 1-2 inches of water in the base of the saucepan and heat until just bubbling.
Place the bowl containing the chocolate/butter on top of the saucepan, ensuring the base of the bowl does not touch the water – this is called a double boiler.
Stir continuously until both the butter and chocolate have melted.
Glossy chocolate ganache.
Next add 1 teaspoon of lemon extract (if using) and the sifted icing sugar.
Stir in the icing sugar.
When the icing sugar is no longer visible remove the bowl from the heat and very gently, as this mixture will be hot, switch to a balloon whisk and stir, then whisk as the mixture cools, until all icing sugar has dissolved.
The best way to tell if the mixture is smooth is to rub a little between your finger and thumb, if it still feels gritty keep whisking – it took 5 minutes of gentle whisking until my ganache was smooth again.
Glossy, silky smooth chocolate lemon ganache.
Next switch to an electric mix and whisk gently, increasing in speed as the ganache starts to thicken.
Keep whisking until the mixture is still soft but will hold a figure of eight.
Thickened ganache that can hold its shape – but not stiff.
Covering The Marble Cake With Chocolate Ganache And Piping The Swirl Decorations
Place half of the ganache into a piping bag fitted with a large star. If it is a hot day cover the nozzle with cling film and place in the fridge.
Place your cake on a board or cake stand. I suggest placing the board on a cake stand as it makes the cake easier to decorate.
Spoon 3/4 of the remaining ganache on to the top of the cake.
Using an off set palette knife spread the mixture so that it covers the top of the cake.
It’s a thick coating don’t worry!
Spoon the rest of the ganache around the outside edge of the top of the cake.
Gently, with your palette knife encourage the icing to cover the side of the cake. Turning the cake stand as you go, working round until the sides are covered.
Hold your palette knife flat against the side of the cake and rotate the stand. This will give your sides a nice even edge.
Run your palette knife flat across the surface of the cake to achieve the same effect. Don’t worry if it’s not perfectly flat, as long as the icing is even it will look great.
Next pipe swirls around the edge of the cake and finish with one in the centre.
Look how beautiful your cake is!
Adding The Chocolate Flutes And Final Decoration
Have the flutes opened and ready. You will see that one side of the flute is flat.
Press the flat side of the flute against the base of the cake, the ganache will hold it in place.
Continue, placing one flute next to another, taking care to ensure they are straight, until the whole cake is surrounded.
Take your ribbon, place it halfway up the flutes – it is helpful if you have a spare pair of hands to hold it in place, if not use a pin to secure it at the back of the cake – wrap it around the cake and tie a bow at the front.
Place a silver dragee ball on the top of each swirl and add extra small, edible pearls to the swirls.
Serve your stunning Fluted Chocolate Lemon Marble Cake sliced with a cup of tea or coffee and a big smile.
Fluted Chocolate Lemon Marble Cake made with love.
This beautiful Fluted Chocolate Lemon Marble Cake, made with love and shared with your Dad, or friends and family for a special celebration is sure to wow and impress them with the delicious flavour combination!
If you have enjoyed the recipe for this Fluted Chocolate Lemon Marble Cake here are some others you may enjoy:
CLICK ON THE PHOTOS FOR LINK
Raspberry Vanilla Naked Celebration Cake
Raspberry Vanilla Naked Celebration Cake
Chocolate Amaretto Cake
Chocolate Amaretto Cake
Raspberry Lemon Celebration Layer Cake
Raspberry Lemon Celebration Layer Cake
This Fluted Chocolate Lemon Marble Cake is beautifully rich, decadent, full of flavour and so easy to make. So I hope that you enjoy the calming practise of baking and then decorating a cake. While I was not having the best of days yesterday yet, sitting decorating this cake, I became totally immersed in what I was doing. As a result, I felt a lot better and had accomplished something that I hadn’t done before. So I thoroughly recommend baking and cake decorating as a very therapeutic, calming practise. And even if you don’t feel any better at the end, your time will have been well spent.
So, whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.
Sammie xx
Although Elizabeth Shaw Chocolates gifted me the flutes to decorate this cake. I did not receive any payment for writing this post. So, all content, recipes, photographs and opinions are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy.
Toffee Cookie Cups easily made from Wright’sBaking new cookie mix. Tasty toffee flavoured cookies, with pieces of real toffee in the dough, shaped into cups for you to add a scoop of your favourite ice cream!
Toffee Cookie Cups great with Chocolate Honeycomb Ice Cream.
It is a well established fact here on Feasting is Fun that there are two things I am passionate about. Sharing is integral to who I am as a person and I genuinely believe that food really does taste better when shared. Also I love cookies. Not just – oh ok I’ll bake a batch – I really love cookies. I start almost everyday with a cup of tea and a cookie or two, so when Wright’s sent me their new Toffee CookieMix, well I was ridiculously excited!
Toffee Cookie Cups – what will you fill yours with 😉
After a little discussion with Deb-the-bread, Wright’s very own jewel in their crown, I decided to have a go at making the new cookie mix into cookie cups. Let’s just be clear on something, I had never baked these cookies before. Never having attempted to bake cookie cups before this was a first. Since I had never baked a Wright’s cookie mix before – because I couldn’t, this IS their first cookie mix.
Due to the Toffee Cookie Mix only just having been released, stocks were super low and there wasn’t a spare mix for me to practise with! Ok so we all know I love a challenge. Time to put my trust in Wright’s reputation for making fabulous mixes and my ability to ‘wing it’! I mean I have baked a fair few thousand cookies in my lifetime.
Toffee Cookie Cups – a resounding success.
As you can see from the photos, I not only managed to make Toffee Cookie Cups, using Wright’s new Toffee Cookie Mix, they are also the perfect size for one scoop of ice cream. Easy to pick up with your hands and eat. Similar to an ice cream cone, except if the ice cream drips it is caught in the cup shape.
I cannot begin to explain how thrilled I was that I’d made cookie cups. Ridiculously so. More than that though, they taste ooh so good. I filled ours with Chocolate Honeycomb Ice Cream.
However, you could use coffee, caramel, chocolate, banoffee, in fact any flavour that pairs well with toffee would work well in these gorgeous cookie cups.
Enough waffling you want to know how they’re made and I’m desperate to share how I made them with you!
Vegetable Oil or Butter – I used butter & would recommend it for making the cookies into cups, simply because it firms up on coolinf, helping to give the cups rigidity,
Cake release spray, oil or butter for greasing the bun tin.
Method: Preheat the oven to the temperature recommended on the packet.
To make these Toffee Cookie Cups you will need a regular 12 hole fairy cake – NOT MUFFIN – tin.
I find it is always better to have everything I need to hand before I start baking.
Make up the Toffee Cookie Mix according to the packet instructions – I actually melted the butter.
Stir to combine the cookie mixture.
The Toffee Cookie dough.
Grease all of your fairy cake tin, not just the holes – I used cake release spray as I wanted to be sure these wouldn’t stick, I would advise brushing the whole tin lightly with vegetable oil.
Divide the cookie dough into 10 equal-ish sized balls.
The dough ball size and pressed out cookie cups.
Place a cookie dough ball into one of the fairy tin holes. Gently with your fingers press it into the hole and sides so that it is equal thickness all the way around. Ensure that you press the dough into the bottom of the tin so that it has a definite base.
Continue for the remaining cookie dough balls.
When all the cookie cups have been moulded place the tin in the middle of the oven and bake for 12-14 minutes. Mine took 14 minutes.
The Cookie Cups will puff up whist cooking DON’T PANIC!!
When golden brown and baked remove the tin from the oven.
Beautifully golden with a wonderful toffee smell, Toffee Cookie Cups.
Place the tin on a cooling rack and allow the cookie cups to cool in the tin as the cookies/cookie cups harden on cooling.
As the cookie cups cool slightly, very gently press the slightly puffed up base down.
Once the cookie cups are cooled remove them from the pan – mine came away easily, if yours are proving stubborn use a small palette knife to run between the top of the cookie cup and where it lays flat on the tin, this should loosen them.
Congratulations you have made 10 fantastic Toffee Cookie Cups!
To serve, add a scoop of your favourite ice cream, share and enjoy.
Toffee Cookie Cups already tasted by me!!!
Such an easy yet fantastic way to enjoy Wright’s new Toffee Cookie Mix. I have a couple more ideas but I will have to wait for more stock.
The Toffee Cookie Cups keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
If you have enjoyed this recipe for Toffee Cookie Cups you may also like these:
These Toffee Cookie Cups are a fun and delicious way to eat ice cream anytime of the year, but especially when it’s hot and we all need a little cooling down.
Whatever you are making and baking in your kitchens I hope you are having fun and remember to stash a couple of packets of Wright’s Toffee Cookie Mix in the cupboard. They take under 20 minutes to make and bake and are perfect for unexpected guests, or for when the urge for great cookies hits!
Sammie xx
Wright’s Bakingsent me a packet of their new Toffee Cookie Mix to try. I was not paid, or even asked to write this post. All opinions, views, content and photographs are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy.
This week happens to be National Picnic Week and as you’ve probably realised by now, I’m a big fan of outdoor eating. So, my Red Onion Sausage Plait is not only perfect for picnics, it’s also delicious served for dinner too! Great quality sausage meat mixed with red onion marmalade, encased in golden, all butter puff pastry. Utterly delicious.
Red Onion Sausage Plait full of flavour and texture.
Using Condiments As Ingredients
The lovely people at Hawkshead Relish sent me some savoury relishes and marmalade to try out. I am a huge chutney fan, everything from jellies, to chutneys, relishes and marmalades. However, with this review, I wanted to use them as ingredients and see just how well they worked being in a dish. While also serving alongside as accompaniments.
I made this Red Onion Sausage Plait twice, as unfortunately I wasn’t able to get good pictures the first time round. Although, nobody in our house complained that I had to make this again. Since we all enjoyed the flavour and added texture from the red onion marmalade that contains raisins and crunchy pine kernels.
Red Onion Sausage Plait, juicy, crispy with incredible flavour.
So, I set about making another Red Onion Sausage Plait, with great enthusiasm. Because, I love, I mean absolutely, completely, adore this Red Onion Marmalade and I knew this would use the last of it. Still I cheered myself with the fact that it makes such a knockout recipe and that I’d be eating it for dinner!
Red Onion Sausage Plait also great as a mid week meal with salad and potato wedges.
Not Only For Picnics!
Warmed and served with a huge pile of salad and some potato wedges that I had in the freezer, this Red Onion Sausage Plait really does make a tasty, weekday meal. Also, it’s easily made ahead, left uncooked, wrapped in cling film and kept in the fridge until dinner time. Since it only takes 40 minutes to cook, which is why, seeing as the oven was already on I whacked in some potato wedges from the freezer.
The huge bowl of salad I made to accompany the meal also had thinly sliced red onions in it which echoed the flavours in the sausage plait.
The caramelised onion flavour works so well with the meaty pork sausage. This is definitely a firm, family favourite now and is made frequently. I always look forward to eating this Red Onion Sausage Plait, whetheron picnics and for dinner many times in future.
Recipe: Makes one Red Onion Sausage Plait serves 4 – 6 people
450g/1lb Good Quality Pork Sausagemeat – free range or organic for preference
3 heaped tablespoons of Red Onion Marmalade from Hawkshead Relish
320g Ready Rolled All Butter Pastry Sheet – I used JusRoll
Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan, gas mark 7, 425F.
First of all, line a large baking tray with baking parchment.
Place the sausage meat in a bowl with the red onion marmalade.
I enjoyed smooshing the mixture together with my hands!
Using clean hands smoosh the mixture together, through your fingers, until it is fully combined (a tack I particularly enjoy)! Set to one side and wash your hands.
On a clean work top unwrap the pastry sheet.
Place the sausage meat mixture down one side of the pastry, rather like a huge sausage roll, leaving a gap at each end and the side of at least 2.5cm.
The right side of the pastry will fold over the sausage meat.
Crack the egg into a small bowl and whisk with a fork until well mixed. This is known as an egg wash.
Dip a pastry brushing into the egg wash and brush all of the visible pastry (not the sausage meat) with egg wash.
Bring the right side of the pastry over the sausage meat so that both side edges are together.
Crimp with a fork or twist all the pastry layers together, where they overlap to seal them.
Transfer the Red Onion Sausage Plait to the baking tray. Mine fits only when placed at an angle!
Brush over the entire outside of the sausage plait with egg wash. Finally sprinkle with a little sea salt.
Red onion Sausage Plait with diagonal slits.
Using a sharp knife cut light diagonal slits through the pastry. This allows steam to escape and enhances the look of the finished bake.
Baking The Sausage Plait
If not baking straight away, wrap the entire tray and sausage plait in cling film and store in the fridge. For best results, bake within 24 hours.
When baking immediately, place the baking tray in the middle of a hot, preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes. The sausage plait should be a deep golden colour and any juices must run clear. If there is any doubt slice a portion of the plait off of the end and check. There should be absolutely no pinkness to the sausage meat, if there is pop back into the oven for 15 minutes and reduce the heat by 20C.
As soon as Red Onion Sausage Plait is baked, remove from the oven and leave to cool slightly on the tray.
To serve, allow the Red Onion Sausage Plait to cool for at least 15 minutes, longer if possible. Slice into portions and serve with salad, or my Crunchy Homemade Coleslaw, new potatoes, or for ease potato wedges. Serving with my Tangy Lemon Potato Salad also compliments the sausage plait well.
Golden pastry and sausage meat with caremelised red onion.
To store and for packing up for a picnic, allow the sausage plait to cool. Cut into slices, I find a serrated knife is best when it’s cold. Pack the slices into an airtight container, or wrap in cling film. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Delighfully savoury and full of texture, slices of this Red Onion Sausage Plait also make a welcome change to packed lunches!
If you have enjoyed this recipe for Red Onion Sausage Plait then here are some others you may also want to try:
Using the Red Onion Marmalade as an ingredient, rather than just as a condiment has opened up a whole world full of flavours. I have so many more idea, from pasta dishes to soups, stews and many more.
Do you ever use condiments in your cooking? Let me know in the comments section. I’m always interested to here and learn about new recipes and cooking methods.
So, whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.
Sammie xx
Hawkshead Relishprovided me with a sample jar of their red onion marmalade. All views and opinions are my own. All content, recipes and photographs are my own and covered by copyright law of the land. Please see my Disclosure Policy.
Who loves the idea of eating jam tarts for breakfast? I certainly do. My Twisted Fruity Jam Tarts are a fun way to start the day.
Since being inspired yesterday by a conversation on Twitter and with a spare packet of ready rolled, all butter pastry in the fridge, I challenged myself to come up with a twist on the regular jam tart. Literally! So I set about creating a tart that as well as being easy to pick up and eat, also has the filling covered.
Resulting in these Twisted Fruity Jam Tarts, that taste rather like a Danish pastry. While being easy to make, the golden pastry hides an apricot half and strawberry jam. Follow with a final sprinkling of demerara sugar over the egg washed pastry, a quick bake and the result is a delicious, fruity, flaky pastry delight!
Twisted Fruity Jam Tarts so easy to make and easier to eat 😉
Having never tried to bake something like this before, I was unsure how they would turn out. I couldn’t have been more thrilled. Each twist is strong enough to hold the entire tart by, which makes them ideal as picnic and finger food.
Also, the demerara sugar caramelises on the pastry, nudging each twist into a sweeter flavour sensation. Combining apricots with strawberry jam was utter flavour heaven. While the bake softened, tart apricots are offset by the sweet strawberry jam. Most importantly, for the very best flavour, use all butter puff pastry when making these tarts.
Twisted Fruity Jam Tarts
Making these Twisted Fruity Jam Tarts was one of those moments in the kitchen when everything goes to plan and turns out better than I could of ever hoped for. And if I can make these, then so can you!
Recipe: Makes 6 Twisted Fruity Jam Tarts
320g Ready Rolled All Butter Puff Pastry – I used Just Rol
6 Apricot halves – I used tinned ones from Waitrose
Method: Preheat the oven to 210C/190C fan, gas mark 6, 425F.
Assembling The Fruit Tarts
Unroll the puff pastry ensuring that you have a baking tray that fits the size of the pastry. Trim the paper that the pastry has been wrapped up in so that it fits within the tray, as you will be using it to bake the tarts on.
Use a sharp knife to cut the pastry into 6 equal squares.
This photo shows how to cut the squares.
Cut diagonally from each corner towards the centre two thirds of the way. See the photograph above.
Crack the egg into a small bowl and whisk. This is the egg wash.
Brush each of the squares with the egg wash.
Place a scant teaspoon of strawberry jam in the centre of each tart.
Put half an apricot, flat side down, over the top of the jam.
Twisted Fruity Jam Tarts
Take the right hand point of the triangle at the front and place it over the apricot. Pressing down to secure the fold.
Next take the left hand point of the opposite triangle and do the same.
Continue for each tart, placing a cocktail stick through the pastry and apricot in the centre to secure it while baking.
Next take the top right hand point of the triangle on the right of the tart and fold it so it is on top of the other point of the triangle.
Work in the opposite direction for the left hand triangle.
Each tart has an X type shape.
Brush the tarts with egg wash again and sprinkle over liberally with demerara sugar.
Baking The Tarts
Place the Twisted Fruity Jam Tarts in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes and bake until they are puffed and golden.
As soon as the tarts are baked remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack.
The portion size of these fun and delicious tarts is perfect. And not having to transfer the tarts from a floured board to baking parchment really does make these so easy to whip up. Although I haven’t tried it, I suspect these Twisted Fruity Jam Tarts would also freeze well, for up to one month. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and then refresh by reheating in a moderate oven for 10 minutes.
Twisted Fruity Jam Tarts
In future I will definitely make a double batch, as these tart have proved very popular here at home.
Also, I need to make these again soon as I am sure they would be delicious served warm with a scoop of myVery Vanilla Ice Cream
So there you go easy peasy jam tarts, with a twist!
If you have enjoyed this recipe for Twisted Fruity Jam Tarts you may also like these:
Pastry is such a wonderfully versatile baking medium. I always have a stash of all butter puff pastry in the freezer. Because it is so handy when a quick meal, dessert, or even a decision to go out for the day tomorrow, as the weather looks good picnic!
If you try these Twisted Fruity Jam Tarts please let me know how you get on? I love reading your comments and appreciate you taking time to write them. Also, I love seeing your makes and bakes on Twitter and Instagram. And if you tag me in and I will be sure to give you a shout out and retweet.
So, whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.
Sammie xx
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