Fat Friday #14 Halloween Special

Welcome to the Halloween Fat Friday Special! This is the first Fat Friday to fall on Halloween and I'm having some people over and am doing lots of cooking. Instead, I'm doing a round up of all my
ideal Halloween party recipes for you to bake for yourselves. Happy Baking! and have a spook-taclar Halloween!

Orange Juice Cupcakes

 

                                Ginger and Treacle Cupcakes

 Dios de los Muertos Cupcakes

 

Horror Film Gory Cupcakes

 

Gluten Free Zombie Cookies

Pumpkin and Goats Cheese Muffins

 

 Pizza Chunk Biscuits

 

Pumpkin Pecan Bars

Have a great Halloween, a Happy Fat Friday and a great weekend...Sleep tight...



Fat Friday #13 Blackberry Lemonade Marshmallows

Its unlucky week number 13 for Fat Friday! This week we're  looking at blackberry lemonade marshmallows. The tartness of the citric acid makes the white half really taste like lemonade. The blackberry was added because it's blackberry season here in the UK. It's actually a coincidence that this recipe is being published on week 13, because the first time I made marshmallows it went so wrong that I nearly cried with the amount of mess that was leftover. This time it much better than expected and they were so tasty. I gave them to a couple of friends at college and they thought they were lovely as well. I would suggest that you eat the marshmallows as soon as possible because they will sweat once you dust them with icing sugar. 

Recipe: 30 minutes (Depending on how many you cut) (Adapted recipe from Sweet Things by Annie Rigg)

Ingredients:

·       2 tablespoons corn-flour

·       2 tablespoons icing sugar

·       Sunflower oil

·       The zest of one lemon and the juice

·       200g blackberries

·       350g caster sugar

·       ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

·       6 gelatine leaves

·       2 large egg whites

·       A little salt

·       ¼ citric acid

Equipment:

·       20cm square baking tin

·       Baking sheet

·       Silicone paper x 2

·       Sugar thermometer

·       Knife

·       Saucepan

·       Blender

·       Free-Standing whisk

·       Rubber spatula

·       Palette knife

·       Sieve

·       Fine sieve

Method

1.    Mix the cornflour and icing sugar together in a bowl. Lightly grease the tin with the sunflower oil and line with silicone paper, lightly grease this again. Dust with the icing sugar and cornflour mix and save the rest for later.  
2.    Finely great the zest and save the juice and put aside.

3.    Place a saucepan with the blackberries and 1 tablespoon of sugar on low heat. Cook until blackberries have burst and they become soft.

4.    Using a blender blend until really soft and push the blackberry puree through a fine sieve to remove the pips.
5.    Cook the blackberry puree until it becomes a jam like consistency. Add the vanilla and remove from heat.

6.    Cover the gelatine in cold water in a separate bowl.
7.    In a free-stand mixer place the egg whites, salt and 1 tablespoon of caster sugar.

8.    Tip the rest of the caster sugar into a clean saucepan with 150ml of  water and heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Bring the syrup to boil until it reaches 120c/248f.
9.    Working fast switch the free standing whisk on to whisk the egg whites fast until the hold a stiff peak.
10.    Drain the gelatine and add to the sugar syrup, combine with a rubber spatula.

11.   With the mixture running on a medium speed pour the sugar syrup into the egg whites (be careful not to get any on whisk). After whisking for 3 minutes it should have doubled in size, it should be thick and glossy.
12.   Put half the mixture in another bowl and add the reserved lemon zest and citric acid. Mix well, spread in the prepared baking tin and spread evenly with a palette knife.
13.  Fold the blackberry puree into the other half of the marshmallow mixture and combine.
14.  Smooth over the lemon marshmallow to create a double layer of marshmallow.

15.  Once completely cold cover the marshmallow with clingfilm and leave to set overnight.

16.   To serve, tip the rest of the cornflour/icing sugar mixture onto a silicone paper lined tray.
17. Tip the marshmallow out of the lined, carefully peel the paper off.
18. Cut the marshmallow into pieces and roll in the icing sugar/cornflour mixture to coat.

Have you made any marshmallows before?
Happy Baking! and Have a great weekend!

Penny Reviews: Restaurants-The Aqua Hotel Restaurant

Remember a while back I said I'd be doing restaurant reviews? I didn't? Well I'm sure I did a Top Ten Tips regarding writing them. Here's the review on the Aqua Hotel in Shanklin, on the Isle of Wight. I'll leave a link to their website at the bottom of the review. Let me know what you think!

Approaching the Aqua Hotel, I was excited to see a sign outside with some seafood specials. I love all seafood, so was keen to try one of these seafood meals. 

When walking up on the stone steps to the hotel, the general look is clean and modern. The outdoor seating area was full of holiday makers who were happily sipping drinks and eating meals. The atmosphere in the bar area and the outside seating area was relaxed and casual. The views here are also fantastic. Your practically sitting on the beach! Seriously, the views are amazing (but I'm not clever enough to take a picture erg..). 

My party decided to chill out in the bar area for a drink (lemonade, pint of Guinness and a glass of chardonnay), and again the friendly bar staff made the ordering process like a breeze.

When entering the restaurant, the whole place was buzzing with customers. Its clearly a popular place! I was very pleased to find that the tables, chairs, cutlery and everything was spotless. Seriously, this place did not have a speck of dust or dirt on anything. I think the modern minimal décor enhances how clean the place is, as well as giving off the illusion of more space in the restaurant.

The young lady who was our waitress for the evening, was thoroughly pleasant and gave us nachos and a sweet chilli dip to nibble on while reading the menus. I scanned the menu and found that it was very limited so, I looked over at the specials board and found one seafood dish: Baked Salmon. To be frank, I could make that at home. The seafood specials which I had seen on the board outside of the restaurant was no-where to be seen. One may assume that the specials were not available that evening.

Many of the dishes on the menu were simple and un-complex, which is refreshing to see once and a while. There was something for everyone, however I argued to my dining party, that I could make some of the dishes at home. I was promptly told that I was being too fussy and pick something! (Which can sometimes be true, coming from a hospitality background and all). The dishes were reasonably priced and inexpensive for the quality and service of the food. (Again had a stupid moment for not keeping the receipt to work out how expensive the meal was. Won't happen again!)  

The waitress was polite, well-spoken and very helpful when I couldn't decide on what to have. I settled on Farmhouse Pate with Melba Toast for a starter and for my main, Mushroom and Spinach Penne Pasta with Chicken and Bacon.
The waitress topped up our drinks and gave us some chilled water, and popped our order straight through.

We didn't need to wait very long (6 minutes approx.) for our starters to arrive! I was a little surprised that I got doorstop sized bread instead of melba toast with my starter. Pate itself was course rather than smooth which added lots of texture and I think it was a pork pate but was a little unsure. The pate was a little rich for me and tasted like a standard pork pate but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it.

The waitress again was on the ball, and waited a few moments before taking away our starter plates and asking us if we needed any more drinks. Much like the starters, the main course came out swiftly.

I was shocked at how large my main course was! The pasta was piled on and there must have been at least one chicken breast and quite a lot of bacon too. The pasta was ladled with a creamy white wine sauce which was a little watery but did not lack in taste. I felt that it that more spinach could have been added, rocket was used as a substitute, but that's just my taste. Popeye had the right idea. As I was consuming the main course, the bulk of the dish bet me and I had a "shouldn't of had a starter moment". If you like big main courses, this is the place for you! I just could not finish it. It was that big. After that, dessert was out of the question and we got the bill.

Overall the service and friendliness of the staff really made the evening complete. I have to say that the food menu didn't stand out for me but its a popular place and the food was simple but good and with stunning views of the beach, it really makes a dining experience more special when you've got great scenery to stare at.  

If you'd like to visit the restaurant here is the link to the website.
This review was not sponsored in any way and is my 100% my own opinion.

This is my first review and I know it wasn't as good as I would like but I'm going to do much better next time.

Monday Catch Up: Back Ache Suck

Welcoming me to Monday catch up! My weekend has honestly not that great. On Thursday, I had a little bit of a twitchy back. I ignored it. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I ignored it to the extent that I even carried a suitcase to visit my granparents. I'm absolutely regretting it. Friday-back hurt a little more so I went out and walked around. Saturday-I could just about walk and I got dizzy when I walked around for too long. Which is not great when you're on an shopping trip for Christmas presents. So I'm pretty much bed bound :( . On the plus, I'm being waited on hand and foot! but seriously lesson learnt: don't push yourself to hard, or you'll hurt yourself :/ 

On a more positive note, I've started Christmas shopping early this year. I'm thinking of posting a top ten tips about how unbearably organised I'm am during the festive season. I've only got a couple of gifts so far but the Christmas cards are done. 

I've also been sorting out my Halloween bakes, I'm definitely baking pumpkin pecan bars, and maybe some chocolate cupcakes? 

Whatever I'm baking it's going to be very yummy and won't go to waste. 

Do you have any Halloween plans this year?

Fat Friday #12 Rice Pudding Soufflé served with Candied Pecans

This weeks Fat Friday is quite special because its one of the first desserts that I've made in my pastry class. It will be need to be made at least the night before. Don't worry it sounds a little complex but it makes a good dinner party dessert. Its a twist on a traditional soufflé, its made with rice pudding rather than crème patisserie (but if you want a traditional recipe here it is from a couple of weeks back!) (sometimes called pastry cream). Its very impressive sounding and looking but easy to make. Its worth making the French spiced breadcrumbs and the rice pudding in advanced.  Serve with the candied pecans, for an additional crunch to the light and airy soufflé.

Recipe: Makes 6 souffles with lots left over
1 batch of Pain D’Epices (French Spiced Bread):

Candied Pecans:

·       500g pecans

·       114g granulated sugar

·       30g water

Rice Pudding:

·       50g Butter

·       110g pudding rice

·       500ml double cream

·       500ml whole milk

·       90g caster sugar

·       2 bay leaves

·       1 vanilla pod, seeds scraped out

Souffle:

·       200g egg whites

·       80g sugar

Equipment:

·       Chopping Board

·       Heavy-based saucepan (that can be used in an oven)

·       Saucepan

·       Wooden Spoon

·       Measuring Jug

·       Teaspoon

·       Tablespoon

·       Foil

·       Timer

·       Liquidiser or blender

·       6 Ramekins

·       Tray with a damp teatowel

·       Baking sheet

·       Pastry Brush

·       Whisk

·       Fork

·       Loaf tin lined with silicone paper
·       Piping Bag

·       Scissors
·       Bowls x 3

 

Candied Pecans:

1.    Roast the pecans on a baking sheet for about 1 minute.

2.    Dissolve the sugar in water a pan and add warm pecans and mix until crystallize.

 

Preparation for the Ramekins:

1.    Chill ramekins in the fridge for as long as possible.

2.    Melt a little butter in a saucepan.

3.    Meanwhile get a tray lined with a damp teatowel ready.

4.    Using a pastry brush, brush the bottom of the ramekin and the sides using vertical strokes. Chill the ramekins in the fridge.

5.    Line the ramekins with the pain d’epices crumbs and place in the fridge until needed.

 

For the Rice Pudding:

1.    Pre-heat the oven to 170c fan/190c/375f/Gas Mark 5.

2.    Melt the butter in a heavy based saucepan. Sauté the rice for about 30 seconds in the heavy based saucepan.

3.    Add the milk, cream, sugar and bay leaves. Scrape the vanilla seeds and the pod into the pan. Bring to the boil and turn the heat down. Simmer for about 20 minutes stirring frequently.

4.    Cover the top with foil and bake in the oven for 1 hour and 30 minutes, stopping every 15 minutes to stir the rice pudding.

5.    The rice pudding should be thick and glutenous when done. Pick out the bay leaves and vanilla pods out of the pudding.

6.    Transfer the pudding mixture to a blender and blend to a smooth puree. Place into bowl, cover with cling film and place in fridge to cool down.

To Complete the Souffle:

1.    Whisk 200g of egg white with 20g of sugar. Continue to whisk and gradually add the remaining sugar until the egg whites are very fluffy.

2.    Place 250g pureed rice pudding into a bowl and carefully fold in the egg whites.

3.    Divide the mixture into the prepared ramekins using a piping bag, level with a palette knife, then pinch the sides to create an even soufflé bake.

4.    Bake at Gas Mark 4/350c/180c for 9 minutes, turning carefully once after 5 minutes they should be golden and very fluffy. 

What do you think about this new twist on a French classic? Have a great weekend!

The Cake and Bake Haul 2014

I'm so excited to be writing this (finally) after the Cake and Bake show (2014). I did set a budget and totally broke it...erg. Can't even follow my own rules..

Some great Halloween Showstoppers

My friend and I got to the show at 10:30am to bet the crowds. I'm not going to lie, it got insanely busy by 1pm. I had no idea people loved baking so much... or maybe its people love eating cake? Either way its good.

This is my Cake and Bake haul. I know this is a kind of a beauty/fashion blogger thing, with the make-up and clothes haul. But I'm all about breaking the rules and why not a do a haul post? (Also just want to point out that I didn't get paid or sponsored for this post, its all my honest opinion. I just want to point out some really great companies.)

So lets start off with something not even related to baking at all.
Heck Foods is a new company to me and specialise in making "damn good sausages" (all gluten free btw). They have a range of sausages and we got to sample them all. Honestly, there very meaty and plump, I opted for something a little different which was Smokey Chorizo Style Sausages. At 97% meat, I was expecting something really good and I was not disappointed. The smokiness of the paprika really came out and the taste really resembled chorizo. The only critique I have is that it was a little oily, but again that's the style of a chorizo sausage.

The next things I got my crumbly hands on is some amazing biscuits from Furniss biscuits. They boast traditional Cornish baked biscuits and Great Taste Awards. When Lucy and I walked past the stall at Cake and Bake, I was really sceptical because they were just biscuits. But there were free samples calling us over and we decided to stop to have a nibble... good thing we did! I fell for the West Country Cheddar biscuits, it was a cheese heaven in biscuit. I can say you don't need any sort of cheese with these biscuits. The other biscuits I settled on was the honey and ginger biscuits for those moonching on the sofa in the warm while its cold outside. Both a balanced in flavours and great addition to add into the biscuit tin. I would have liked to have seen more biscuits in a pack (8 biscuits to a pack) but the flavours make up for it.  

Its almost Halloween so obviously, Halloween sprinkles! I've been using Scrumptious for a couple of years now. I love the range of cupcakes cases, sprinkles and glitters. I recommend that you check the site out for the full range. This year I've settled on some cute Halloween sprinkles which is ideal for topping up some Halloween treats.

Another treat that Lucy and I both got was orange chocolate brownies. Now that may sound a little standard but, quite simply, BEST ORANGE  CHOCOLATE BROWNIES. Hands down. I mean it takes a lot for me to say  this (type?) but honestly, it really does rival my own brownies. Chocolicous Cakes, don't ever change this recipe, its the best.  Its rich, dark and with that orange flavour hiting you at the end.

I got a couple of moulds from The Crafty Mould Company, who were so friendly to chat too. They can do custom moulds which is something unusual. I fell in love with the dios de la muerte skull and vintage button one as well. Both are super adorable and I'm finding excuses to use them. I can't wait!

I also got 12 of super freakin' cute mini cupcakes from one of my

favourite London cupcake companies, Crumbs and Doilies!

                         

There so lovely and with a variety of flavours all packed in one box. I've even got their cookbook. I would say that it was a shame that the card machine was busted and it was a little inconvenient to get cash out for the box, but the cupcakes made up for it. Ok, the flavours I got in my box:

• Vanilla
• Oreo
• Buttered popcorn
• Rolo Cupcake
• Chocolate
• Eton Mess
• Pumpkin Spice
• Breakfast
• Lemon mess

The other flavours I didn't get to taste because my boyfriend scoffed them!

Lastly, I got really excited about this from Sugar and Crumbs, again this is a company that I haven't heard of but I wish I had! I managed to try practically every flavour of the icing sugar (made into buttercream) I fully wanted them all! I did settle for Salted Caramel and Sugar and Spice flavours, which tastes like cinnamon toast. Its such a good concept and why has no one jumped on this?! Its such a time saver. I'm definitely going to use the mix for Halloween or maybe even Christmas, this year. Give the icing sugars a try, I really recommend the pink lemonade-oh wow!

Also a big shout out to On Macaroons and Loretta Lui who do the most kawaii macaroons ever. There is a new cookbook coming out really soon, which might be on my Christmas list.

And of course, I want to say Lucy, it was such a bloody blast! I had so much fun and I can't wait to hang out again soon!

Did you go to the Cake and Bake Show this year?