baking – Page 13 – Feasting Is Fun

Lemon Drizzle Cake Bars

It is no secret that I love lemon. Whether it be in a glass of Franklin’s tonic water with clinking ice and a slice of lemon, cut into quarters as part of savoury Lemon Thyme Roast Chicken recipe, or even in a sweet bake such as my Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake. Lemons are very versatile. And they bring sunshine into the kitchen on the dullest day’s. So let me introduce my Lemon Drizzle Cake Bars.

While a sturdy, yet delicious oat biscuit base covered in lemon curd and then topped with the lightest lemon sponge ensures these bars are easy to handle. And a drizzle of fresh lemon juice icing ensures your tastebuds wake up with a zing. Resulting in a tasty bar that keeps you feeling full for longer because of the oats.

FF Lemon Drizzle Cake Bars — Lemon Drizzle Cake Bars

Especially ideal for picnics, packed lunches, or just as a mid morning or afternoon snack to keep you going until meal time.

Although I really do need to get around to making my own lemon curd, for this recipe I used Waitrose own luxury lemon curd. Because using a good quality lemon curd makes all the difference to the overall flavour.

Recipe: Makes 16 Lemon Drizzle Cake Bars

For the Oat Biscuit Base:

225g/8oz Unsalted Butter

125g/4.5oz Caster Sugar

1/8tsp Salt – I use Maldon

1tsp Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey

1 Large Free Range Egg Yolk

100g/4oz Rolled Oats – not quick cook

125g/4.5oz Plain White Flour

3tbs Lemon Curd – use the best quality one that you can afford

For the Lemon Sponge Layer:

125g/4.5oz Unsalted Butter

100g/4oz Caster Sugar

1/8tsp Salt

1/2tsp Vanilla Extract

2 Large Free Range Eggs

125g/4.5oz Plain White Flour

1tsp Baking Powder

Finely grated zest of 1 Lemon – reserve the juice for the icing

For the Lemon Drizzle Icing:

100g/4oz Icing Sugar

Juice of 1 Lemon

Method: Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan, gas mark 6, 400F.

Making the Oat Biscuit Base:

First of all, line a 28cm x 20cm x 5cm (12″x 8″x 2″) Swiss roll tin with baking parchment. I have found that I am able to line mine without greasing, however, lightly grease the tin if it is easier to keep the parchment in place.
In a large bowl beat/whisk together the butter, cream and salt until pale and creamy.
Add the vanilla extract and egg yolk and continue to beat/whisk until combined.
Add the oats and flour and stir together until combined.
Place the biscuit mixture into the lined tin and press into place using clean fingers.
Place the tin in the fridge and chill the biscuit mixture for 30 minutes.
As soon as it is chilled place the Swiss roll tin in the centre of the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove after the 20 minutes has elapsed and turn down the oven temperature to 160C/140C fan, gas mark 3.
Spoon the lemon curd on to the hot biscuit base and spread so that it covers and almost reaches the edges.

Making the Sponge Layer:

Note: This can easily be made whilst the oat biscuit base is baking.

In a large bowl whisk/beat the butter, sugar and salt together until they are pale and creamy.
Add the 2 whole eggs and vanilla extract. Whisk/beat until light and foamy.
Sift in the flour and baking powder. Add the finely grated zest of 1 lemon.
Fold all the ingredients together, using a spoon, until they are just combined.
Spoon the mixture over the lemon curd coated biscuit base.

Spread the cake batter using the back of a spoon, or an offset spatula, until it covers almost all of the biscuit base.

Place the Swiss roll tin in the centre of the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.
The sponge is baked when it springs back from a light touch and is a light golden colour. Don’t worry if it is paler than you expect, the lower baking temperature stops it browning as much as you may be used to.
As soon as the sponge is baked remove the tin from the oven, place on a cooling rack and allow the entire bake to cool in the tin.

When the bake is completely cooled, lift out of the tin, using the baking parchment and a palette knife and place on to a board.
Peel back the sides of the baking parchment and tuck them underneath.

Making the Lemon a Drizzle Icing:

Sift the icing sugar into a small bowl.
Add the juice of one lemon.
Mix until you have a smooth, slightly runny paste.
Using a spoon, drizzle the lemon icing over the top of the cake/biscuit slab. I prefer a line style drizzle, but you can drizzle your icing however you wish. Let your creative juices flow! Although I do advise against pools of icing gathering on top of the bake.
Set your Lemon Drizzle Cake Bars bake to one side to allow the icing to set.

Once set you may cut your slab into individual bars.
Cut down the length of the bake in the middle.
Next cut across the width of the bake, creating four quarters.
Cut each quarter into four individual bars.

Because of the sturdy and delicious oat biscuit base, these Lemon Drizzle Cake Bars are the perfect, portable food.

Store in an airtight tin (I use old biscuit tins, usually from Christmas), separating layers with pieces of baking parchment and eat with 5 days.

I had one of the Lemon Drizzle Cake Bars with a cup of tea for a rather late lunch and it was incredibly tasty and refreshing. While using good quality Lemon Curd ensures the right balance of tartness within the bar, as does using fresh lemon juice in the drizzle icing. So I highly recommend these delightfully tangy Lemon Drizzle Cake Bars!

If you have enjoyed this recipe for Lemon Drizzle Cake Bars, here are a few more you may like too:

Bakewell Shortbread Bars

Macadamia Apricot Flapjacks

Double Cherry Drizzle Oat Bars

Since my family love having something homemade to take to school or work in their packed lunches these bars are ideal. Also I hope I have inspired you to try these delicious Lemon Drizzle Cake Bars. Alternatively, why not bake a batch and take them into the office as a Friday, or mid-week treat for everyone?

Finally, whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchen, 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.

Feta Red Onion Marmalade Quiche

I love chutneys, relish, chilli jam, savoury marmalade. So when I saw the varieties that Hawkshead Relish make and sell I was in my element. And challenged to use the jellies and marmalade as an ingredient, I immediately thought of quiche. So I set about making this delicious Feta Red Onion Marmalade Quiche.

Perfect Shortcrust Pastry

First of all, however, I set about creating a foolproof all butter shortcrust pastry recipe, for both sweet and savoury bakes. You can find it here – Perfect All Butter Shortcrust Pastry.Also, you will find another quiche recipe using Hawkshead Relish Ale Jelly as an ingredient!

So, with a reliable, consistent pastry recipe, that has been tested and retested, I was then able to let my creative imagination run wild.

Flavour Inspiration

We have some tea rooms near us that are joined to a local artists gallery and a wonderful shop that stocks local pottery, glass and a million other things. Going to the tea rooms is truly a treat day out. In the tea rooms they serve a range of dishes, from light lunches to hearty meals. One of my favourites is their Quiche Lorraine, particularly as it is always served with chutney and onion marmalade in separate little pots.

And this memory sparked my idea was to have the red onion marmalade inside the quiche. Then I needed to decide what to pair it with. A recent love affair with crumbly, salty, Greek Feta Cheese provided the answer. Finally, topped with freshly sniped chives from the garden this Feta Red Onion Marmalade Quiche is so much more than the sum of it’s separate parts.

Quiche Indulgence

The chives provide a beautiful top to the quiche and indeed echo the onion flavour from the marmalade. While the feta cheese mellows in the eggy custard providing the perfect balance to the warm red onion marmalade. The difference that a small amount of heat adds to the base layer of this quiche is quite dramatic.

If you enjoy Red Onion Marmalade with your cheese and crackers, using it as an ingredient in a dish lifts it to a whole different level. Since the sweet/sour caramelised onion flavours come alive on your tongue. It is pure heaven!

Recipe: This makes one deep Feta Red Onion Marmalade Quiche serves 2-3, baked in a loose bottom tart tin.

For a larger quiche, double the recipe.

1/3 Quantity All Butter Shortcrust Pastry

50g/2oz Feta Cheese

2-3tbsp Red Onion Marmalade from Hawkshead Relish

4 Large Free Range Eggs

2tbsp/30ml Whole Milk

1/4tsp Sea Salt I use – Maldon

1/4tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper

1tsp Chopped Fresh Chives

Making And Baking The Feta Red Onion Marmalade Quiche

Method: Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan, gas mark 6, 400F

Prepare the pastry and blind bake according to the instructions given for Perfect All Butter Shortcrust Pastry.
Reduce the oven temperature to 180C/160C fan, gas mark 4, 375F.
Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of Red Onion Marmalade into the bottom of the pastry tart shell.

Crumble the feta cheese on top.

Crack the eggs into a jug. Add the milk and seasoning. Whisk to combine.
Carefully pour the egg mixture into the tart shell, taking care not to overfill it. Better to have some egg mixture left over, than over fill the tart case.

Place the quiche carefully into the centre of the preheated oven.
Bake for 35-40 minutes until the egg is set in the middle. It should be firm and not wobble.

Leave to cool slightly before serving.

I personally like this Feta Red Onion Marmalade Quiche best when it is warm. Served with a crisp, green salad, my Tangy Lemon Potato Salad and an extra spoonful of the delicious Red Onion Marmalade.

Perfect to take in your packed lunch as a change from sandwiches. Once cooled, wrap in cling film and store in the fridge. Also, this quiche freezes successfully for up to one month. Remove from the metal tart tin and wrap in cling film and then foil.

I found this really handy when I was recipe testing and made 6 quiches over one weekend!

If you have enjoyed this Feta Red Onion Marmalade Quiche recipe, here are a few others you may also like:

Spicy Sausage Rolls

Quiche Lorraine

Sausage Plait With A Twist

I was so thrilled with the outcome of this particular recipe. Because it had honestly never occurred to me before to use savoury chutneys and marmalades as ingredients. And look out for the upcoming Hawkshead Relish Review where there will be other tasty recipes using their products as ingredients.

The flavour and texture of the Red Onion Marmalade is very different from traditional, sticky onion marmalade. Since this marmalade has a chunky, more chutney texture and the flavour is delicious. Sweet, caramelised onions, with a very slight sour vinegar flavour that works to balance the whole taste experience.

Has this encouraged you to try using condiments as ingredients?

Thank you for sharing all of your makes and bakes with me on Twitter and Instagram. I not only enjoy seeing you bake my recipes, but whatever you make inspires me. Please keep the comments coming. Not only do I really enjoy reading them, but I’ve been told other readers also enjoy reading them too.

So, whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.

Sammie xx

Hawkshead Relish provided me with a sample of their Red Onion Chutney. All recipes, content, photography, views and opinions are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Black Forest Giant Doughnut

Today is #NationalDonutDay. While I can only assume from the spelling that it applies to those in the United States and yet here I am baking a Black Forest Giant Doughnut. Because any reason to eat doughnuts is good enough for me!

Making a Black Forest Gateaux has been on my list of bakes for a while. Finally I took the opportunity of making a Black Forest Giant Doughnut. Alternatively, if you do not have doughnut moulds – mine were from Lakeland are were very reasonably priced – I see no reason why this recipe shouldn’t work using 7-8″ sandwich tins.

Since this has the lightest of chocolate sponges I opted to add a little Kirsch (cherry liquer).

Cherries And Chocolate Sponge

When in season fresh cherries, that have been macerated in a little liquer and sugar will be used. Because they aren’t quite in season yet, I opted for tinned cherry pie filling. Alternatively, morello cherry jam would work well here. Since this is a very adaptable recipe, use whatever you have to hand, or can easily get hold of.

FF Black Forest Giant Doughnut. — **Black Forest Giant Doughnut** deliciously easy to make and assemble.

Although this is a giant doughnut I would happily bring it out for dessert after dinner, or serve with afternoon tea on a sunny day in the garden. Most importantly I encourage you to share this delicious bake. Because it is simply too good to be kept hidden away.

Recipe: Makes one Black Forest Giant Doughnut serves 8

200g/7oz Unsalted Butter – plus a little extra for greasing the moulds

200g/7oz Caster Sugar

Scant pinch of salt – no more than 1/4 tsp

1 tsp Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey

6 Large Free Range Eggs

75g/3oz Cocoa Powder

125g/4oz Plain White Flour

1.5 tsp Baking Powder

For the filling/topping:

200ml/8fl oz Double Cream

1 x 410g Tin Cherry Pie Filling – note morello cherry jam and fresh cherries can be used instead.

Optional – 1tbs Kirsch

Method: Preheat the oven to 160C/140C fan, gas mark 3, 325F

Making And Baking The Chocolate Doughnut Halves

First of all, grease the inside of both doughnut moulds well with soft butter.
In a large bowl add the butter and sugar.
Whisk/beat until pale and creamy. Approx 5 minutes, this helps create a very light sponge.
Add all 6 eggs and the vanilla extract to the bowl – I always crack my eggs into a separate bowl first.
Sift the flour, salt, cocoa powder and baking powder into the bowl.
Whisk/beat on a slow speed until all the ingredients have come together.
Using a large spoon give the chocolate sponge mix a good stir to ensure all the ingredients are well combined.
Divide the cake batter in half and spoon into each of the 2 doughnut moulds.

Place the doughnut moulds on to a baking tray, ensuring they don’t squash each other (I actually switched trays after this photo was taken).
Put the tray into the centre of the oven and bake the doughnut halves for 30-40 minutes.
The doughnut halves are baked when they spring back from a light touch.
As soon as the doughnut halves are baked remove from the oven.

Carefully place each silicone mould on to a cooling rack.

Adding A Kick Of Kirsch

If adding Kirsch carefully prick each mould lightly with a cocktail stick, being careful not to puncture the silicone mould.

Spoon half a tablespoon of Kirsch over each half of the doughnut sponge whilst it is still hot.
Leave to cool for 5 minutes and then turn each of the sponges out onto the cooling rack. Cool fully before decorating.

Decorating The Black Forest Giant Doughnut:

In a medium bowl add the double cream and whip until it holds a firm peak.
Fill a piping bag with a large star tip (I use Wilton #1M) with the whipped cream).
Place one half of your doughnut, flat side up on a cake stand or plate.
Reserve 8 whole cherries to decorate the top, spoon the remaining cherry pie filling on to the bottom half of the doughnut – DO NOT over fill.

Pipe the cream in a swirl pattern on top of the cherries.

Place the top of the doughnut on to the base. Wipe away any excess cherry syrup – notice that in my finished photos there isn’t a doilie.
Pipe 8 swirls evenly around the top of the doughnut and top each with a reserved cherry.
Pipe stars around the outside of the middle of the doughnut, this creates a tidy, professional finish.

Serve the Black Forest Giant Doughnut cut into generous slices, with a smile and a lovely hot drink!

While growing up I had Black Forest Gateaux every year, for my birthday. So taking a classic recipe and turning it into an amazing giant doughnut was fun.

Finally this is a stunning, yet easy to accomplish bake. Since a slice of Black Forest Giant Doughnut is bound to evoke memories of the retro gateaux and break out smiles once tasted and devoured!

If you have enjoyed this Black Forest Giant Doughnut Recipe here are some others you may like to try:

Raspberry and Cream Giant Doughnut

Black Forest Cupcakes

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

While this recipe can be made using sandwich tins I recommend buying the silicone doughnut moulds. Because they create a beautiful rounded doughnut shape, are incredibly easy to use and inepensive to buy. Alternatively add them to your birthday or Christmas list!

Sammie xx

Toffee Apple Crumble

So it is June 1st 2016 today. If you were expecting an ice cream recipe, or a light, summery pavlova, sorry folks. It’s been pouring with rain since yesterday, with very little let up and it’s cold. Instead I have a wonderfully comforting pudding for you, Toffee Apple Crumble.

The perfect combination of flavours. Tart, just cooked slices of Bramley apple, covered in a light crumble with more than a hint of toffee flavour.

Toffee Apple Crumble came about as the result of a need for something warm and comforting, that was also not too labour intensive to make. Whatever the reason; tiredness, pain, just-can’t-be-bothered, it’s been a long day, this recipe is quick and easy to make. Bake in the oven, whist you relax and you have yourself a top notch pudding that feels like a warm blanket is being wrapped around you as you eat.

I will also confess an extra cheat. I had 2 x 300g packets of ready prepared, frozen Bramley apple slices, from Waitrose in the freezer. Some days I just have to use ready prepared and I’m good with that.

Now, in all honesty, I wouldn’t describe myself as a ‘pudding’ person. In most instances I’d rather have cheese and biscuits…….. Thought I’d give you all a moment there to digest that fact (my puns are getting worse!!!).

However strange it may seem, I do actually like a proper pudding instead of a meal. Yesterday, when I made this Toffee Apple Crumble, I actually ate it for lunch. Quite often, for example over Christmas, I’ll have Christmas pudding and cream for lunch or supper. So I do enjoy puddings, just on their own, as a meal in itself!

I know I am in the minority and that there is such a thing as a ‘pudding tummy’ where, once you have finished your main meal there is ALWAYS room for something a little sweet to round off the meal. I applaud you, I really do. When I’m full, well, that’s me finished. No pudding or cheese and biscuits.

Oh how I wish I could eat as much as I did when I was younger and competing in every sport I could!!!

Oddly, I really enjoy making puddings. My hubby is definitely a pudding man. Upon receiving a microwave as a wedding present, it took him under 30 seconds to find the recipe for lemon sponge! Something I still have yet to make for him. Oops!

I think it is the joy of seeing someone’s face, full of pleasure, as they tuck in and devour a well made, tasty pudding, that gives me so much pleasure. My wonderful hubby’s face when he saw the Toffee Apple Crumble, was absolute pleasure. Married twenty years this year and I still enjoy cooking for him as much as I always have.

Recipe: Toffee Apple Crumble serves 6 real pudding lovers!

250g/9oz Plain White Flour

1/2tsp Baking Powder

175g/6oz Unsalted Butter – cold and cut into cubes

1/2 packet Wright’s Baking Toffee Cake Mix – TIP make double the amount of crumble topping add a whole bag of Toffee Cake Mix and freeze half in a freezer bag for up to 3 months!

2 tablespoons Demerara Sugar

600g Peeled Sliced Bramley Apples – peeled weight – start with approx 1kg of apples

1 teaspoon Corn Flour

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1 tablespoon Granulated Sugar

Method: Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan, gas mark 4

Place the flour and baking powder in a large bowl, add the cold, cubed butter.
Use either a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour see Perfect All Butter Shortcrust Pastry, or rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs.
Add the toffee cake mix into the bowl and thoroughly mix.
Place the Bramley apple slices in a deep pie dish.
Add the corn flour, sugar and cinnamon and toss the apple slices, to coat them with clean hands.
Cover the apple slices with the toffee crumble mix and then sprinkle over the demerara sugar for extra crunch and an added toffee flavour.

Place the Toffee Apple Crumble dish onto a baking tray and place in the centre of a preheated oven.
Bake for 1 hour, or until the top is golden and the apples underneath are softened.
Once baked remove from the oven and allow to sit for 15 minutes before serving. I’ve found that letting a crumble sit for a while stops the topping from falling apart as I dish it up.
Serve with homemade custard (recipe coming soon), cream, vanilla ice cream, or on it’s own. If it hadn’t been so cold and wasn’t raining, I would absolutely have gone out to the garage and had Very Vanilla Ice Cream with my custard!

Toffee Apples are traditionally associated with Autumn, when apples are in abundance. My Toffee Apple Crumble brings those flavours together in a dessert that is perfect, whenever a warm, comforting pudding is needed.

If you have enjoyed this Toffee Apple Crumble recipe here are a few others you may also like:

Amazing Apple Pie

Blackberry Nectarine Tart

Almond Blackberry Pear Crumble

Do you have a ‘pudding tummy’?

Do you choose your dessert first, when out for a meal?

I love hearing what your eating habits are, as weird as that sounds. I’m not talking peculiar flavour combinations, simply which foods you prefer and those you try to avoid.

Thank you again for all the kind comments that you leave here on the blog and on Instagram and Twitter. Please keep them coming along with the gorgeous photos of your makes and bakes.

I hope the weather is beautiful wherever you are and you can enjoy feasting and haing fun in the sun!

Sammie xx

Wright’s Baking sent me some cake mixes to try. I was not paid for writing this post and as always, all pictures, content, opinions and views are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Chocolate Sunflower Cake

Last week the Chelsea Flower Show was held by the Royal Horticultural Society. Hard working gardeners, growers and designers showcased their talents, for a few days, in the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. So inspired by this theme, I decided to try and bake a flower cake. I hope you enjoy looking at and eating my Chocolate Sunflower Cake.

Baked in the Blossom Bundt Tin made by Nordicware this rich, moist chocolate cake is coated in the centre with milk chocolate, yellow coloured white chocolate was used to define the petals. A dusting of gold glitter highlighted the petals and dark chocolate granite by Callebaut was used for the centre of the bloom.

Whilse Sunflower’s are a little early to be shown at Chelsea, this Chocolate Sunflower Cake is perfect to eat anytime of the year. Today it is really brightening my day, it is very wet and windy outside. Not how I hoped the weather would be at the end of May!

I knew I wanted to bake this cake in my Blossom Bundt tin, but I was honestly stumped for ideas on how to decorate it. Making a chocolate cake would, hopefully ensure everyone enjoyed the flavour, I just needed to come up with a design!

My very good friend Vicky, suggested, after seeing a photo of the cooked cake, that it looked like a sunflower. That was all the inspiration I needed. I formulated a rough plan in my head and went with it. Also, I think the finished cake is more a Van Gogh sunflower, than an absolute replica. Finally, I’m so pleased that it turned out so well, especially as cake decorating is not one of my strongest gifts!

Recipe: Chocolate Sunflower Cake serves 10

You will need the Blossom, or similar type Bundt tin to make this cake as I have.

Cake Release Spray – I use Wilton

275g/10oz Unsalted Butter

275g/10oz Caster Sugar

1/4tsp Sea Salt Flakes- I use Maldon

5 Large Free Range Eggs

2tsp Vanilla Extract I use Nielsen-Massey

75g/3oz Cocoa powder

200g/7oz Plain White Flour

2.5tsp Baking Powder

100ml/4fl oz Double Cream

To Decorate:

100g/4oz Good Quality Milk Chocolate

200g/7oz Good Quality White Chocolate

100g/4oz Dark Chocolate Curls or mini dark chocolate chips

Optional – Yellow Gel Food Colouring and Gold Edible Glitter

Making The Cake Batter

Preheat the oven to 160C/140C fan, gas mark 3, 325F.

First of all, in a large bowl add the butter, sugar and salt.
Whisk/beat until pale and creamy.
Add the vanilla extract and beat in until combined.
Sift the cocoa, flour and baking powder into a separate bowl – dry mixture.
Measure the cream into a jug and then add the 5 whole eggs ( I crack them into a small bowl first) – wet mixture.
Add 1/3 of the dry mixture and 1/3 of the wet mixture whilst beating/mixing slowly.
Repeat the last step.
Add the last of the wet mix and then the last of the dry mix. Fold all the ingredients together until just combined.
Spray the Bundt tin with cake release spray (if using the liquid use a pastry brush to ensure every part of the inside of the tin is completely covered).
Spoon the chocolate cake mixture into the Bundt tin, pushing the mixture into every part of the tin. The Bundt tin should be 2/3 full. If using a different Bundt tin ensure it is filled no more than 3/4 full.

Baking The Chocolate Bundt Cake

Place the cake in the middle of the oven and bake for 1 hour.
The cake is baked when an inserted skewer comes out clean.
As soon as the cake is baked remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes in the tin.

After 10 minutes cooling in the tin turn the Chocolate Sunflower Cake out onto a cooling rack.

Allow to fully cool before decorating the cake.

Decorating the Chocolate Sunflower Cake:

Preparing the chocolate

Separately chop/break up the white and milk chocolate and place in separate heatproof, microwaveable bowls.
Zap the milk chocolate first for 20 seconds at a time, stirring in between heating sessions. When the chocolate is nearly melted remove from the microwave and stir until completely melted.
Repeat the last step for the white chocolate.
Place the cooling rack across a clean baking tray.
Have 2 clean teaspoons to hand for each of the melted chocolates, the dark chocolate curls and glitter. It’s also handy to have some kitchen towel to hand as working with chocolate can get very messy!!
Dip a cocktail stick into the yellow food colouring gel and add to the white chocolate, mix thoroughly until the desired colour has been reached.

Creating The Chocolate Centre Of The Sunflower

Start by spooning the milk chocolate all around the centre of the cake, so that it completely covers the inside of the Bundt hole.

Cover the milk chocolate as fully as possible with dark chocolate curls or chips. The centre of a sunflower is the darkest part.
Tap the cooling rack to remove any stray dark chocolate pieces.

Adding The Yellow Chocolate Petals

Next come the petals! The blossom Bundt is not symmetrical, so pick the first petal, next to the milk chocolate to start.
Using a small teaspoon, spoon melted white chocolate on to the petal. Filling out the shape of the petal and encouraging the chocolate to drip, just at the tip of the petal. This detail may get lost as you work your way around the cake, however, I found the top petals the easiest to fill, so it’s great practise for creating the eventual outline of the flower petals.
Once you have completed the top petals, start filling in the next level down. Most importantly, keep standing back and looking over the cake to ensure an even look.
Continue adding length to the petals, evenly around the cake, until all the chocolate is used. The whole cake will not be covered in chocolate and that is how it should be. It makes the petals and the centre really stand out.

Adding The Finishing Touches

If using the glitter, start by adding it just to the tips of each defined petal. Then you can follow the central line on the petal with a light dusting of glitter.
Finally give the centre of the cake a really good dust of glitter. The glitter also represents pollen, in fact I wish I had a fondant bee to add to this cake, I think it would look amazing. If you are good with fondant, perhaps try making one to add to your Chocolate Sunfower Cake?
Once decorated move the cake to a cake stand or board so that it doesn’t stick to the cooling rack.

My Cake Decorating Journey

For me, the beauty of this cake is in it’s organic, natural design.

When first completed I wasn’t very happy with the finished outcome. Since looked too messy in my eyes. Rather like a great piece of music that grows on you the more you listen to it, this Chocolate Sunflower Cake has really grown on me. Technically it is the most difficult cake I have ever decorated and two days on, whilst looking at these photographs, I cannot believe that I created this cake.

I am not looking for praise. No one is a harsher critic of my work than me. Honestly I’m not sure I could say I had fun decorating this cake. Also, I was too deep in concentration (not easy when you are in a lot of pain) and determined to create a cake that vaguely resembled a flower. Finally, I see now that I accomplished what I set out to achieve and that gives me a great sense of joy. Also if I can do it, so can you!

Taste wise this cake is utterly delicious. The cream lends a moistness to the rich dark chocolate flavour and the chocolate decoration adds just a hint of sweetness.

If you have enjoyed this Chocolate Sunflower Cake here are some others you may like too:

Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake

Swirl Lime Drizzle Cake

Strawberry Sweetheart Cake

The Chocolate Sunflower Cake was truly a challenge to decorate. In challenging ourselves, we will make mistakes. The way to improve is to not let those mistakes stop us from trying again and again until we have achieved our goal.

Do you like to be challenged, or do you prefer to stay in your comfort zone?

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.

Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies

So, if you’ve spent a little time on this blog, you’ll know that I am a self confessed Cookie Monster. And cookies are my favourite go to sweet treat. Perhaps that’s why there are 21 cookie recipes on here! Anyway I try to keep on the oat/nut/fruit side of things but I craved CHOCOLATE! So I caved and made these unbelievably good Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies.

They are so good!

Oh yes I did. I totally stacked a piles of these very yummy Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies. Because what’s better than one cookie? A whole stack of them!

So there you go, that’s my kind of maths.

Also adding oats to cookies does two important things; it nudges them slightly more toward the healthier end of the nutritional spectrum and it gives them a wonderful, chewy, almost nutty flavour.

A Family Of Cookie Lovers

While you all know how much I love and adore my family. I have the best hubby in the world, who has all but given up his office, so that I can store baking equipment. Bundt tins take up a lot of room you know! Also there’s my Star and Snugs, our two gorgeous girls who, help me so much. Whether it’s cooking dinner, cleaning, vacuuming and much more. Last but definitely not least is our little man, who isn’t so little anymore so I’ll call him by his best friends nickname, Bob. He is growing into a loving and strapping lad who is always ready to help, especially fixing things. And Bob has definitely inherited his paternal Grandad’s capability with his hands.

So you see I love them all – but – they also are cookie monsters. Which is fine I make food to be eaten, except out of this batch of 18 cookies I only ate 1. It didn’t help that I’d spent a few days in bed (see here ) after making these. While I appreciate that they bring me cups of tea, however, as I’d ordered some shortie biscuits, which I love, they brought those with my hot drink. So it was only a few days later, when I was able to venture downstairs that I realised they’d all gone!

A stack of Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies — Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies

I was sad for a teeny tiny moment and then very thankful and flattered that my lovely family had enjoyed them so much.

Family, My Biggest Supporters

Since they are my biggest supporters, along with extended family, it really gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside knowing I’ve made them something that they have really enjoyed. Although, being stuck in bed is not fun, knowing there is a tin full of cookies downstairs in the kitchen, helps me to feel that I am more present, than in reality I am.

Recipe: Makes 16-18 Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies

225g/8oz Soft Light Brown Sugar – I used Billingtons

150g/5oz Unsalted Butter- at room temperature

2tsp Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey

1 Large Free Range Egg – plus

1 Large Free Range Egg Yolk

175g/6oz Plain White Flour

100g/4oz Plain Rolled Oats – not quick cook

1/2tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

Pinch of Salt

150g/5oz Milk Chocolate Chips or Chunks

50g/2oz Dark Chocolate 70% cocoa

Method: preheat the oven to 170C/150C fan, gas mark 4, 350F

Making The Oat Cookie Dough

First of all, line 3 large baking trays with baking parchment.
Place the sugar and butter in a large bowl and whisk/beat for 5 minutes until pale and creamy – whisking for 5 minutes here and then after adding the eggs is very important to the finished texture of the cookie.
Add the vanilla extract and the eggs and continue whisking/beating for a further 5 minutes.
Sift in the flour, bicarb. salt and add the oats.
Add the chocolate chips.
Fold all the ingredients together until you have uniform cookie dough.
Using a medium sized ice cream scoop, or a spoon and your hands, scoop/roll 5cm/2″ ball of cookie dough and place onto the baking tray.

FF Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies — Cookie dough balls.

With slightly dampened fingers (it stops the cookie dough sticking to them), press down on each ball to flatten slightly.

Baking The Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Place the baking trays in the centre and lower parts of the oven. I rotate mine halfway through baking.
Bake for 15-20 minutes. The cookies are baked when they have spread out and are golden brown.
As soon as the cookies are baked remove the cookies from the oven. Because they will still be very soft, leave on the baking tray to cool and set.

As soon as they are cooled lift each cookie free of the baking parchment, use a palette knife to slide underneath the cookie first. Place the cookie back on the baking parchment.

Adding The Dark Chocolate Swirl

In a heatproof, microwaveable bowl add the chopped/broken up dark chocolate.
Zap for 20 seconds in the microwave stirring after each heating session. When the chocolate is almost melted remove from the microwave and continue stirring until fully melted.
Pour the liquid chocolate into a small disposable piping bag.
Snip the very end of the piping bag off, creating a small hole.
Pipe swirls onto each of the cookies. Use all of the chocolate up, simply pipe over the swirls again.

Set the cookies to one side to allow the chocolate to cool and set.
As soon as the chocolate is set, pop the kettle on, invite a neighbour round and spend some time chatting over a cup of coffee and delicious Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies.

In the United States and Canada where my friend Liz lives, they carry out cookie exchanges during the holiday season – usually from Thanksgiving through to Christmas. I love that idea! Baking up batches of cookies, sharing, swapping, making new friends, remembering old friends. Liz is an amazing cook and her attention to detail always leaves me impressed.

What do you think, should we have a cookie/biscuit exchange here?

Not because it’s ‘another American custom’ simply because it’s a great idea?

If you have enjoyed these Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies you may also like these:

Double Chocolate Nut Spelt Cookies

Caramac Caramel Cookies

Rolo Chocolate Cookies

Thank you to everyone who reads this blog. I really do appreciate you. It’s been wonderful seeing all the bake photos that you have been putting up on Twitter and Instagram. Please keep them coming and if you every have any questions about a particular recipe, either leave a comment, or probably for a quicker response send me a Tweet.

We have a three day bank holiday weekend coming up. So, whatever your plans, I hope that they involve lots of smiles, laughter, fun and feasting with friends, family and neighbours.

Sammie xx

No part of this post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Garlic Cheese Bombs

Who doesn’t love garlic bread, served alongside a great pasta dish, with a glass of something chilled? I certainly do and after seeing a fantastic foodie craze on Pinterest I knew I had to try it. Everyone is mad about these Garlic Cheese Bombs!

Baked mozzarella stuffed buns being pulled apart to show the gooey, melted cheese. — Garlic Cheese Bombs

In our house these are the BOMB 😉.

Everyone loves it when I make them and having successfully frozen them, uncooked, they are great to have on hand. Fresh or frozen.

Honestly these Garlic Cheese Bombs have become such a massive hit in our house. I’m really glad that they freeze well as my family would scoff the whole lot if I baked them all at once. I have learned from the first time I made Garlic Cheese Bombs

Baking With Children

If you have little ones, they will thoroughly enjoy making these.

The only extra ingredient required to make the Garlic Cheese Bombs is a little patience. Making 30 – 40 individual, little cheese wrapped buns, could be seen as tedious – not here at Feasting is Fun though. We don’t do tedious!! So put on some great music or a play, clear the table and enjoy some therapeutic relaxation, whilst you play with dough!

Before you know it you’ll have two trays full of delicious, homemade, bread buns proving and you can give yourself a ~~smug~~ pat on the back, knowing that one tray is going to be stashed in the deep freeze.

Baking bread is a real passion of mine, second only to my faith see Important Stuff. As this week has been Real Bread Week it seemed fitting to end on a recipe that is fun to make and tastes best when feasting with family and friends.

Made From Scratch Versus Using A Bread Mix

I have made these Garlic Cheese Bombs using both my own dough recipe and a Wright’s bread mix. Truthfully and this almost hurts to write this, the children preferred the ones made with the bread mix.

Our children are very honest!!

Personally I think they are both great. The Wright’s bread mix is handy if you’re an infrequent bread baker, or haven’t made bread dough before and want to ensure they turn out great. My dough recipe is for those of us who are happy to make their dough from scratch. That said, there’s room in my kitchen for both.

Recipe: Makes 30 – 40 Garlic Cheese Bombs

1 quantity of dough that’s been proved and knocked back, from either my Farmhouse White Loaf or using Wright’s Baking Premium White Bread Mix

2 Tubs Mini Mozerrella Balls – there are approx 15 – 20 balls per tub

4 Fat Garlic Bulbs – or more if you want an extra garlic kick

100g/4oz Butter

4tbsp Olive Oil

1tsp Sea Salt – I use Maldon

1/2tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Bunch of Fresh Parsley to garnish and add flavour

Making The Garlic Cheese Bombs

You will need a foil freezer/baking tray or 2 if you intend to freeze these.

Drain the mozerella balls well and count how many you have.
Make up the dough according to your chosen option.
Allow the dough to prove until doubled in size and then tip out on to a lightly floured surface.
For the very precise among you, weigh the bread dough and then divide that number by the number of mozerella balls. That will tell you exactly how much each piece of dough should weigh.
If you are more ‘laissez faire’ about things, like me, simply divide the dough evenly into 3 or 4 equal pieces (depending on whether you have 30 or 40 mozerella balls) and then divide each potion into 10.
Flatten a small portion of dough into a rough circular shape.
Place the mozerella ball in the centre of the dough circle.
Bring the edges of the dough up so that they cover the cheese and seal by pressing together.
Place the Garlic Cheese Bomb seam side down on a lightly oiled baking tray.

FF Garlic Cheese Bombs — After a while you get into a rhythm and the process becomes very relaxing.

Continue until all of the Garlic Cheese Bombs have been made, allowing space in between each one the tray so that it has room to rise.

Proving The Buns

The Garlic Cheese Bombs in the photo above are from the first batch that I made.
Leave until doubled in size.
Whilst the rolls are proving, make the garlic butter.
Place the butter, oil, crushed/finely minced garlic, salt and pepper into a small saucepan over a low heat.
Cook until all the butter has melted. Set to one side.
Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan, gas mark 6, 400F.
When the Garlic Cheese Bombs have doubled in size, remove the damp cloth/cling film and brush liberally, using a pastry brush, with the melted garlic butter.

Freezing The Uncooked Bread Rolls

Now is the stage at which the Garlic Cheese Bombs can be frozen. Double wrap the foil tray with freezer safe cling film, label and pop in the freezer. They should be fine for at least one month in the freezer.

Baking The Garlic Cheese Bombs

To bake the freshly garlic glazed buns, place into the middle of the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown.
When baked remove the tray from the oven and immediately transfer the individual Garlic Cheese Bombs to a serving platter. Be careful as they will be very hot.
Pour over any garlic butter left in the tray and garnish with roughly chopped parsley,
Leave for 5 minutes before serving to allow thm to cool slightly.
Serve with a smile and watch as people break open these golden, light, cheesy rolls, flavoured with garlic butter.

Baking From Frozen

To bake from frozen, preheat the oven to 190C/170C fan, gas mark 5, 375F. Remove all cling film/foil. Place the frozen rolls into the middle of the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, until golden and baked through. To test remove a roll and cut in half, if the mozerella is gooey and melted then the Garlic Cheese Bombs are baked. Serve as for freshly baked.

Making Ahead Tips

So you’ve got a party in the evening and you want to make these earlier in the day? I’d suggest making them the day, or even a few days aheadand stashing them in the freezer. Alternatively make them in the morning, glazed with garlic butter before their final prove (it’ll save you stinking of garlic as you great your guests 😉), wrap in cling film and keep in the fridge. Take them out 10 minutes before baking, whilst you preheat the oven and bake as for fresh.

Make ahead recipes are fantastic as they allow you to enjoy spending time with your guests, rather than being stuck, on your own in the kitchen!

If you have loved these Garlic Cheese Bombs, then here are some other recipes you might like to try:

Breadsticks with Garlic and Herb Dipping Oil

Garlic Rosemary Focaccia Bread

Cherry Tomato Mozzarella Basil Focaccia

I really hope you do try making your own bread. Most bread doughs can withstand a reasonable amount of mistreatment and still turn into fabulous loves, breadsticks, baguettes. The possibilities are endless and nothing, not even chocolate cake such as this White Chocolate Swirl Fudge Cake beats the smell of home baked bread.

Thank you for all you lovely comments, especially on Twitter regarding the great yeast debate – more on that in a future post! It really makes my day to see pictures of you baking my recipes and in most cases they look even better. Which I think is completely brilliant. You all inspire me to try harder and write easy to follow, delicious recipes.

Together we really do make Feasting Fun!

Sammie xx

Wright’s Baking provided me with the Premium White Bread Mix used in this recipe alongside my own bread dough recipe. All opinions, views, content and photographs are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

White Chocolate Swirl Fudge Cake

Today it is National Devil’s Food Cake Day! Who knew there was such a thing? Not me! So, never one to shy away from a challenge, I decided it was time that this cake had a makeover. Meet my White Chocolate Swirl Fudge Cake.

I have taken the classic Devil’s Food Cake and given it a makeover!

Having a packet of Wright’s Baking Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix to hand meant that making and baking this cake was so easy. The only change I made was using 60ml of melted butter, rather than the oil stated on the packet. The reason for doing this – well I had completely run out of vegetable oil.

Improvisation should be my middle name!

Creating THE Best Chocolate Fudge Icing EVER:

While the cakes were cooling I thought about the icing. Chocolate ganache, the mixture of chocolate and double cream was what I needed for this cake.

Or so I thought!

It would seem adding Rolo’s to hot, chocolate ganache, where they melt and become one, utterly fudgey icing, was a brilliant idea!

I have them occasionally 😉

As the chocolate fudge icing cools, ~~assuming you have some left after eating it~~ ~~from the bowl with a spoon~~, it retains a beautiful, glossy shine. The sun came out as I took these photos and the cake looked stunning.

As beautiful as this cake looked, draped in all it’s glorious chocolate fudge icing, it needed a lift.

Now I know there will be Devil’s Food Cake purists who disagree with the addition of dreamy, white chocolate swirls. That is why I have called this cake White Chocolate Swirl Fudge Cake – take off the swirls and you have a great Devil’ Food Cake.

Personally I love the white chocolate swirls. I think they make the cake look classier, plus they add a great vanilla taste, which rounds out the dark chocolate fudge icing.

So I’m keeping them. If you want to leave them off that’s your choice and I will not judge you.

Recipe: Makes one White Chocolate Swirl Fudge Cake serves 10

1 Packet Wright’s Baking Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix – alternatively you can use the chocolate cake recipe from this recipe – Chocolate Honeycomb Sponge Cake

60mls Vegetable Oil or Melted Butter – plus a little extra for greasing the cake tins

300g Dark Chocolate – I use Callebaut callets (which are mini buttons suitable for melting. I buy the from Amazon)

300mls Double Cream

4 Packet Rolo’s

50g White Chocolate

Method: Preheat the oven to 160C/140C fan, gas mark 3, 325F.

Making And Baking The Chocolate Fudge Cake:

First of all, grease 2 x 8″/20cm sandwich cake tins and line the bases with baking parchment.
Make up the chocolate fudge cake mix according to the packet instructions.
Divide the cake batter evenly between the 2 sandwich tins.
Place on the middle shelf of the oven.
Bake for 30 minutes. The cake is cooked when it springs back from a light touch.
Once baked remove the cakes from the oven and place the tins on to a cooling rack.
When the cakes are warm turn them out on to the cooling rack and allow to cool completely before icing.

Chocolate Fudge Cakes cooling.

Making the Chocolate Rolo Fudge Icing:

Fill a small saucepan with approximately 1 inch of water and place over a low heat.
Break or chop up all of the dark chocolate and place into a heatproof bowl that sits on top of the small saucepan.
Add the double cream and place the bowl on top of the saucepan, ensuring the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. This is called a double boiler.

When the chocolate has completely melted and combined with the cream, add the 4 packets of Rolo’s.

Once the Rolo’s have melted remove the bowl from the pan – be careful as it will be hot.
Continue stirring the chocolate fudge icing to help it cool down and thicken.
When the icing is cooled, but still pourable, it is time to assemble the cake.

Icing The White Chocolate Swirl Fudge Cake

Place the bottom cake, right side up onto a cake board or stand.
Pour over enough chocolate fudge icing so that when spread, using a palette knife, it almost reaches the edge of the chocolate cake.

Place the top half of the cake, right side up, on top of the icing filled bottom half.
Gently pour over the the chocolate fudge icing, starting in the middle. When the icing has reached the edge pour more icing around the outside edge so that it drips down and covers the sides.
Use a palette knife that has been kept in a jug of hot water and then wiped with a clean, dry cloth, to smooth the icing around the sides of the cake.
Set the cake to one side to set. In very hot weather place in the fridge to set.

Creating The White Chocolate Swirls:

When the icing is set – note it will not set hard like chocolate – you can decorate your cake.
Break up the white chocolate and place into a heatproof, microwaveable bowl and zap for 20 seconds at a time, stirring after each zap, until the chocolate is almost melted. Remove from the microwave and keep stirring until you have liquid, vanilla scented, white chocolate.
Pour the melted chocolate into a small, disposable piping bag.
Snip off the very end and pipe swirls around the outside edge of the cake, Let your creativity flow and swirl away!

This White Chocolate Swirl Fudge Cake is the perfect cake for feasting and sharing. It’s not everyday we make a cake like this, so when we do, invite all your friends and family round for some fun and cake!

Decadent, rich, deep chocolate cake, with layers of THE best chocolate fudge icing, finished with elegant swirls of white chocolate.

Devil’s Food Cake you’ve had your day – this cake is on another level!

If you know a chocolate lover, make this cake for them.

Got a friend who is down in the dumps, make this cake for them.

Want to show someone how much you care, make this cake for them.

Do you know someone who loves baking, but is a bit short of cash? Print off this recipe and buy the ingredients and gift it to them.

White Chocolate Swirl Fudge Cake – is the cake to bring a smile to people’s faces.

Who will you make smile??

If you have enjoyed this White Chocolate Swirl Fudge Cake then you may also like these recipes:

Glazed Orange Bundt Cake

Classic Coffee Walnut Cake

Double Cherry Drizzle Oat Bars

Feasting is Fun is all about sharing. I create great recipes for you to use and bake with and in doing so, hopefully encourage you to share your makes and bakes with others.

Never under estimate the power of a small, handmade gift. It can change a person’s day, make a family smile, or even make a lonely person feel cared for.

I hope you have fun making and baking in your kitchens. Thank you so much for sharing all of your bakes on a Twitter and Instagram, please keep them coming. I also love reading your comments, thank you for taking the time to write them.

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.

Lighter Wholemeal Loaf

Bread is an everyday staple for a lots of people around the world, especially here in the U.K. Yet finding a loaf that is light, tasty, with added fibre can be hard. So, look no further my friends, as I present tasty, Lighter Wholemeal Loaf of bread.

And I must admit I am a bit of a ‘bread head’ – does that make me sound cool? By that, I mean that I adore most breads, providing they are well made, do not contain additives and have a flavour of their own that contributes to the final dish. Especially if that is a simple slice of buttered toat.

Since I do not live near an Artisan Bakery, where freshly baked bread, in all its array of shapes and flavours can be purchased, I make our bread at home instead.

Lighter Wholemeal Bread full of flavour. — **Lighter Wholemeal Bread**

Extra Flavour And Extra Goodness From Your Bread

This Lighter Wholemeal Loaf is one of our family’s favourite breads. Also, this bread slices beautifully, so is perfect for packed lunches, or toasted for breakfast and then slathered in homemade jam.

While I have 100% wholemeal bread recipes such as my Wholemeal Cob Loaf and Wholemeal Loaf, if I’m honest, as delicious as they are, having the same bread every single day can get a bit boring. So I like to switch things up a bit, keeping our taste buds interested and in reality, ensuring our teenagers eat a decent portion of their lunch.

And they say variety is the spice of life!

Lighter Wholemeal Loaf just add butter for a delicious feast. — **Lighter Wholemeal Loaf**

While eating bread I want it to contribute to the flavour of the whole dish. Most importantly, it shouldn’t, mustn’t, simply be be a limp carrier for other flavours. While the butter and cheddar cheese, used in the photo above, adds great flavour to a sandwich, the bread’s texture and flavour adds an additional element to the sandwich.

And this sandwich, with the addition of some Red Onion Marmalade, truly is one of my favourite lunches. Since each component adds flavour and varying texture, so that as a whole, the resulting sandwich is incredibly appetising and filling.

Lighter Wholemeal Loaf a heart, flavour packed lunch. — **Lighter Wholemeal Loaf**

Start The Bread Making Journey Using Good Quality Flour

I use a mixture of stone ground, organic strong wholemeal and white flour from Shipton Mill to make this Lighter Wholemeal Loaf. Shipton Mill traditionally mill their flours between large grinding stones, using the flow of river water for as a source of energy. Resulting in flour that is consistently excellent, while it’s production is sympathetic to and works in harmony with the environment.

In order to guarantee consistent, excellent results when making this Lighter Wholemeal Loaf, this recipe has been thoroughly tested, with the resulting loaf being approximately one third wholemeal flour. Since a 2:1 combination of Strong White to Strong Wholemeal flour gives a great, nutty, wholesome flavour, while also keeping the bread light enough for everday use. And, it is a great way of adding extra fibre into your own and your familiy’s diet, especially if their preference is for white bread.

Recipe: Makes one Lighter Wholemeal Loaf

150g/5oz Strong Wholemeal Flour – preferably organic plus a little extra for dusting the work top.

350g/12oz Strong Unbleached White Flour – preferably organic

360ml Tepid Tap Water

7g/1 Sachet Dried Yeast

1tsp Honey

7g/1tsp Sea Salt – I use Maldon Sea Salt Flakes

25g/1oz Unsalted Butter

Method:

The ‘bowl’ is either a large bowl, with which to mix the bread, by hand, or the stand mixer/bread maker bowl.

Making And Proving the Dough Using Three Different Methods

For all methods:

First of all, pour the water into the bowl. Add the honey and yeast. Swish about with clean fingers to activate the yeast.
Now add the flour on top of the liquid.
Add the salt and the butter.

When using a bread maker, set to dough cycle and start the program. As soon as the cycle is completed re-start for 1 minute. This ‘knocks back’ the dough.

If using a stand mixer, attach the dough hook and mix on medium speed until the ingredients are combined. Continue to mix for a further 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Stop mixing. Scrape the dough from the dough hook and combine with the dough in the bowl. Form into a ball, place back into the bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and leave in a draught free place until doubled in size (approx. 1hour). Gently punch the dough to knock it back.

Alternatively when hand mixing, bring all the ingredients together with your hand until they form a doughy mess! Place this dough onto a very lightly floured worktop. Knead for approximately 10 minutes. If the dough gets sticky, keep kneading and working it. Avoid adding extra flour as this can result in a tough loaf. After a further 5-10 minutes kneading, the dough should have a smooth elasticity. Finally, place the kneaded dough into a oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth and leave in a draught free place until doubled in size, 1-2 hours. Knock back as for stand mixer.

Shaping The Dough

To shape the dough: Tip the knocked back the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently flatten the dough into an oval/rectangle shape.

Fold the top third of the flattened dough over.

Next fold the bottom third of the dough up and slightly over the previous fold.

Rotate the dough by a quarter, gently flatten out and repeat the folding process.
Repeat the turning and folding twice more, ensuring the last turn and fold is quite tight. This folding technique does not take long and unlike pastry, this bread dough can withstand being moved and worked. Most importantly the purpose of turning and folding is to build a good structure within the dough.
As soon as the folding and turning is complete turn the dough over so that it is seam side down.
Place into a greased 3lb loaf tin. Cover with a tea towel and leave in a warm, draught free place until doubled in size.
Finally, sprinkle some wholemeal flour over the top of the dough. Since this gives a nice, rustic finish to the baked bread. Omit this stage if you want a glossy finish to your bread – see below.

The dough can take between 45 minutes and a couple of hours to double in size, depending on the ambient temperature and humidity.

Baking The Lighter Wholemeal Bread

While the dough has it’s final prove, preheat your oven to it’s hottest setting.
5 minutes before your loaf is due to be baked, fill a tray with ice cubes and place on the lowest shelf in the oven. The hot, steamy environment will help the dough to rise even further before the crust sets (this is known as oven spring) and helps bake a crusty loaf.

Lighter Wholemeal Loaf beautifully risen and ready for the oven. — **Lighter Wholemeal Loaf**

Place the loaf into the centre of a preheated oven and immediately reduce the oven temperature to 220C/200C fan, gas mark 7. Bake the Lighter Wholemeal Loaf for 30 minutes.
The bread is baked when it is a golden brown colour and sounds hollow when rapped on the base of the loaf with your knuckle.
As soon as the bread is baked remove from the oven and immediately tip out onto a cooling rack. Alternatively, for a thicker crust, place the loaf directly onto the oven rack and bake for a further 10 minutes.

Lighter Wholemeal Loaf such a delicious and versatile bread. — **Lighter Wholemeal Loaf**

Advantages Of Homemade Bread

First of all, the smell of freshly baked bread is unbelievably good. Our postman really likes delivering to us in the morning, as that tends to be when the bread is either baking or cooling! And the flavour beats anything you can buy from a supermarket.

Do not be surprised if your neighbours pop in, just for a chat, as they catch a whiff of freshly baked bread escaping from your house!

Rub a used butter wrapper over the top for a glossy finish.

This Lighter Wholemeal Loaf will keep in a bread bin for up to 3 days. To freeze, ensure the bread is completely cold and wrap tightly in cling film. Fresh bread can be frozen for up to 3 months. To defrost, remove all the cling film and allow the loaf to stand on a large trivet or a cooling rack at room temperature, until fully defrosted.

I like to refresh frozen bread, this simply involves preheating the oven to 220C/200C fan, gas mark 7. As soon as the bread has fully defrosted, spray it lightly with tap water and place directly onto the middle oven shelf for 10-15 minutes. After removing from the oven allow the loaf to cool and it will taste like it has been freshly baked that day! I won’t tell!

If you have enjoyed this recipe for Lighter Wholemeal Loaf, then I have some others you may like too:

Farmhouse White Loaf

FF Lighter Wholemeal Loaf — **Farmhouse White Loaf**

Oat Bran White Bread

Knotted Poppyseed Rolls

Using a bread maker or stand mixer to carry out the kneading part of making bread dough isn’t cheating. Since hand kneading some incredibly sticky Brioche dough for 20 minutes at the weekend, it has really taken it’s toll on my body, especially my thumb joints. So, if using kitchen appliances enables us to eat better quality, homemade bread, that is also much cheaper than it’s shop bought counterpart, why not?

I hope that the detailed, yet easy steps in this recipe have encouraged you to bake your own bread. And you may find that once you start it is impossible to go back to mass produced, plastic wrapped loaves!!

Also, I’m always willing to answer any questions you may have with this, or any of my other recipes. Either leave a comment, or for a quicker reply message me on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter).

Whatever you are making, baking and creating I your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.

Sammie xx

Finally, this is not a sponsored post. I have been buying Shipton Mill flour for almost as long as I have been baking my own bread.

No part of this post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Spicy Sausage Rolls

Sunshine, glorious sunshine. It lifts our spirits and makes everyday seem that little bit brighter – literally. Windows flung open, coats discarded, sunglasses at the ready. Who wants to eat lunch, or any meal for that matter, indoors? Not me! Even if my ‘picnic’ is sitting out in the garden with a cool glass of something refreshing and a plate of these jalapeño fired Spicy Sausage Rolls.

For those of you with a more gentle constitution, don’t worry these Spicy Sausage Rolls do not ‘blow your head off!’ Instead they have a gentle warming, fruity heat that lifts an otherwise everyday sausage roll to a whole different level.

The inclusion of some paprika filled chorizo sausage, further elevates the incredible flavour of these picnic favourites. Delicious good quality sausage meat, mixed with finely chopped jalapeño chilli and just the right amount of chorizo, encased in flaky, all butter puff pastry, makes for the perfect addition to any packed lunch, picnic or easy meal.

Spicy Sausage Rolls change up your daily packed lunch! — **Spicy Sausage Rolls** change up your daily packed lunch!

If you like sausage rolls, you will absolutely love these Spicy Sausage Rolls!

Spicy Sausage Rolls an easy, tasty,mid week meal. — **Spicy Sausage Rolls** an easy, tasty, mid week meal.

Using The Freezer To Keep Grocery Costs Down

Puff pastry is such an incredibly handy product to have stashed away in the freezer. All butter is my preferred type, especially for sweet bakes such as my Blackberry Nectarine Tart , however, I do sometimes use the mixed vegetable fat/butter for savoury bakes, especially if it is on offer!

Having chatted to a few of my Twitter friends recently, we all concluded that the cost of groceries seems to have suddenly risen. For me, this means creating recipes that stretch more expensive ingredients that little bit further and also really trying hard to keep food waste to an absolute minimum.

Spicy Sausage Rolls are great with a handful of cherry tomatoes off the vine. — **Spicy Sausage Rolls** are great with a handful of cherry tomatoes off the vine.

As I spend a lot of time testing recipes and batch baking/cooking in the kitchen, the opportunity for waste can become even greater. Especially if after a few days cooking and baking I then spend the next few days in bed due to my health problems see here.

This is where the freezer becomes my best friend! Having made the Spicy Sausage Rolls on a day where I had also cooked dinner, they were in danger of getting forgotten about, boxed up in the back of the fridge. Of course we shared a couple between us to taste test them and we were not disappointed. After the photos were taken the following day, I popped the remaining sausage rolls in the freezer – keeping a couple out for our daughter and I to share for lunch.

I have no doubt that they will not stay in the freezer long, yet it saves potential waste. Which is primarily, not only good for our planet, but also our grocery budget!

Recipe: Makes 12 Spicy Sausage Rolls

350g/12oz Block of Puff Pastry all butter if possible- defrosted in the fridge overnight if frozen – I used frozen Just Rol all butter puff pastry, alternatively use my fantastic Perfect Butter Shortcrust Pastry recipe.

454g/1lb Pork Sausagemeat – good quality at least 85% Pork, any casings removed

50g/2oz Chorizo Sausage – casing removed

1 Jalapeño Chilli Pepper

1 Medium Free Range Egg – I use Burford Browns Eggs from Clarence Court

Method: Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan, gas mark 6, 400F.

Making The Spicy Sausagemeat

Place the sausage meat into a bowl and add the chorizo sausage pulled into pieces.
Remove the seeds and membrane from the jalapeño chilli pepper and chop finely.
Add the chopped chilli to the bowl and squish (mix) everything together using clean hands.

Creating The Sausage Rolls

Roll out the puff pastry on a clean, flour dusted work top, until it is 30cm x 20cm (15″ wide by 8″ deep).
Trim the edges of the pastry and then divide the pastry in half width ways so that you have 2 long strips.
Divide the sausage meat mixture in two.
Evenly lay the sausage meat down the middle of each length of pastry.

You can see the flecks of green chilli and red chorizo throughout the sausage meat.

Crack an egg into a small bowl and whisk with a fork.
Using a pastry brush, brush beaten egg down the length of the pastry, either side of the sausage meat.
Bring the top edge of the pastry evenly over the sausage meat and continue rolling so that the pastry overlaps (and seals) underneath the sausage rolls.
Using a sharp knife, cut each long roll in half and then cut each half into 3 even sized sausage rolls. In total you will have 12 medium sized sausage rolls.

Spicy Sausage Rolls ready for their egg wash and to be baked! — **Spicy Sausage Rolls** ready for their egg wash and to be baked!

Place the sausage rolls on to a lightly oiled baking tray.
Brush each sausage roll with the beaten egg – this will give the pastry a wonderful, crisp, golden finish once baked.
Finally using a sharp, pointed pair of scissors, snip the top of each sausage roll twice – as can be seen in the picture below.

Spicy Sausage Rolls ready for the oven. — **Spicy Sausage Rolls** ready for the oven.

Baking The Spicy Sausage Rolls

Place the baking tray into the middle/top part of the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes.
The Spicy Sausage Rolls are cooked when the pastry is flaky and golden brown all over. If in doubt cut a sausage roll in half, the meat should be cooked all the way through.
Once baked remove the sausage rolls from the oven.

Golden, flaky, hot Spicy Sausage Rolls fresh from the oven. — Golden, flaky, hot **Spicy Sausage Rolls** fresh from the oven.

Transfer the baked sausage rolls to a cooling rack and allow to cool slightly before trying!

Spicy Sausage Rolls that smell so delicious and inviting. — **Spicy Sausage Rolls** that smell so delicious and inviting.

Perfect eaten hot or cold, with a good chutney, some cherry tomatoes and a glass of something refreshing.

To store, allow to cool completely and then pack into an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Alternatively, as I did, pack into a freezer bag or box, label and keep in the freezer for one month. Defrost thoroughly and reheat until piping hot in a moderate oven.

Serving The Sausage Rolls

If fresh puff pastry has been used, not frozen, these Spicy Sausage Rolls can also be frozen uncooked. Place some baking parchment on a baking tray, put the sausage rolls on top and then place into the freezer and freeze until solid. Once frozen pack into freezer boxes, separating each layer with baking parchment. To cook, remove as many sausage rolls as required, place onto an oiled baking tray and bake in a preheated oven as before. The sausage rolls will take approximately 45 minutes to bake from frozen. This can be particularly handy over the Christmas holiday period.

Sorry to mention Christmas, however, in our house a buffet is incomplete without a plate of hot sausage rolls. This year we can really turn the heat up!

Obviously you can control how spicy you make these, as well as the size. I would perhaps make them a little smaller for a buffet spread.

If you have loved these Spicy Sausage Rolls as much as we have you may also enjoy these other recipes:

Quiche Lorraine

Sausage Plait With A Twist

Tomato Thyme Garlic Focaccia Bread

If you think about it, a buffet is really an indoor picnic!

Who doesn’t love unloading a picnic hamper or walking around a buffet table tasting little morsels of yummy different foods. We have a daughter who would happily eat from a buffet table/picnic hamper most days of the year.

The sun is blazing as I write up this post. Whether you make and bake during the sunshine or snow, have fun feasting with friends, family and neighbours.

Sammie xx