Week ending 25th May

This week I have attempted a fat free fruit cake, rocky roads, tried my hand at a Paul Hollywood recipe for a white loaf (twice), melting moment biscuits, my first ever attempt at a swiss roll in my new swiss roll tin, and my first attempt at a meringue base (I had some egg whites left over and some cream from the swiss roll filling - and its a shame to waste it lol), and finally a coffee and walnut tray bake from the Mary Berry Baking Bible.

First up and its the rocky roads - most of these went to my daughter Jo's place of work!!

Then two loaves using a Paul Hollywood recipe this time and using the dough hook in my Kenwood - this is the first loaf from dough through to loaf

And this is the second one made a couple of days later - I like the recipe a lot although I still think my favourite white loaf is the one from Jo Wheatley's first book  'A passion for Baking' http://www.sainsburysentertainment.co.uk/en/Books/Hardback/Jo-Wheatley/A-Passion-For-Baking-Sainsbury-s-Exclusive/product.html?product=E11076373

Fat free fruit cake (from a Rosemary Conley magazine courtesy of my sister)

Melting moments - these were so easy and taste delicious (oops more weight gain I feel)

Next my first ever attempt at a swiss roll with jam and cream filling this time

And my first ever meringue base, quite small as I only had two egg whites this time. and its a fairly thin base but still scrummy - if i only had two whites another time I would make the circle smaller and thicker, but no complaints were had from those who ate it - and yes that included me!!

Finally, (for this week anyway - have plans in my head for next time already.....) a coffee and walnut tray bake

Now what was I saying about weight gain.........!!!!

Fortnight ending 18th May

Well, another busy week, but I didn't have time last week to post or bake, so this is in fact from two weeks ago.

Okay, so this particular week I made a white loaf, some of Jo Wheatley's take on Maryland cookies, chocolate celebration cupcakes, a banana walnut raisin and cinnamon loaf cake, two variations on a vanilla tray bake, one for the nursery girls and one for hubby to take to his place of work too.

So here we go with some photos:-

bread from dough to loaf

Maryland cookies, 

Chocolate celebration cupcakes before and after decorations

Banana loaf

Nursery girls tray-bake topped with butter-cream and maltesers

and final bake of that week - another tray-bake but with extra swirl of butter-cream topped with flake

Week ending Sunday 5th May

Another busy week when I have made a plaited loaf, a dozen white soft rolls, tried out a new (and very successful) way of doing the butter-cream for my sponge cake (duly decorated and mostly eaten by the day nursery girls ;-), banana and blueberry cupcakes, Anzac cookies and honeycomb bars too. phew, wipes brow.....

So here we go with some photos...

Plaited loaf from dough stage to baked loaf - it was very light and a lovely loaf, definitely doing this one again

Soft white rolls - need to find some proper parchment paper, or may flour the grease-proof paper first as two or three did stick very slightly to the paper, but it didn't deter from the taste and they were wonderful for egg and bacon brunch - photo of brunch also attached ......

Sponge cake next - before and after chocolate topping!

Banana and blueberry cupcakes

Anzac cookies

and finally (for last week anyway)

Honeycomb bars - 

I am now busy reading through my many, many cookbooks to see what I can make this weekend :-). As mentioned before, if anyone would like any of the recipes posted please let me know.