Fortnight ending 28th September

As i had a fairly quiet week baking last week (unusual I know!) I have combined last weeks efforts with this weeks. Starting with last week I made some banana and chocolate chip muffins, some cherry bakewell cupcakes and a batch of oat and raisin cookies. This week I make another batch of the oat and raisin cookies (think this is becoming a regular order each week now), plus some almond macaroons, tried a new recipe for vanilla frosted cupcakes from a new purchase -The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook ;-), a batch of orange flavoured muffins with a covering of chocolate orange ganache and I also made a batch of apple, blackberry and cinnamon chutney too.

Here goes with the photos, starting with last weeks first:-

Banana and chocolate chip muffins

Cherry Bakewell cupcakes

Oat and raisin cookies

This weeks now starting with the frosted vanilla cupcakes - these were slightly smaller than I anticipated so I am going to make them again this week coming but increase the quantities by 50% and have a change of colour frosting and some different toppings

Chocolate and orange flavoured cupcakes

Almond macaroons

and just for a change - another batch of oat and raisin cookies

and finally the chutney :-)

Week ending 14th September

A few things to add this week, no surprise there I am sure to those who read this blog... 

I started this baking week on Wednesday and made some banana and blueberry muffins aided and abetted by my young grandson Max - he loves stirring and also cracking open the eggs, although this can be hit and miss - note to self, have plenty of eggs available and floor cleaning stuff (not needed this week I hasten to add Karen!! )....

I then arrived home in Devon and made a raspberry torte from Jo Wheatley's book A Passion for Baking, followed the next day by more banana and blueberry muffins for hubby's work place, a lovely vanilla sponge cake, again this cake is courtesy of Jo Wheatley's book above, with added broken flake sprinkled over the top. I then thought it was time to make some biscuits, so Jo Wheatley's book came out again (my current favourite book) and I made oat and raisin cookies from A  Passion for Baking, and finally this morning I used my Mary Berry book, Baking Bible, and attempted her crown loaf, which is 12 mini rolls baked in a sandwich tin and pulled apart to eat. Unfortunately, although the finished result is more than edible I did forget to oil / grease the cling film used for the second rise in the tin, and when I took it off, very slowly and carefully, it messed up the tops and the lines between the rolls are not as defined as they should by. Having said that it does tear easily enough, but will remember this another time.

First batch of banana and blueberry muffins 12 large and 2 Max sized ones

Raspberry torte next - think I would reduce the temperature by 10 deg next time, but it was well received by all

More muffins, 

Vanilla sponge cake - one view from the top

Oat and raisin cookies - very moreish!!

And finally the crown loaf (well almost)

That's it for this week I think, apart from some Yorkshire puddings to accompany tonight's roast beef which are not made yet.... Have a few ideas milling around for next week, including a blackberry apple and cinnamon chutney.......

Week ending 7th September

After a couple of weeks away with my grandchildren I have had a baking day today at home ..... I did make some mini muffins with Max (grandson aged 2 3/4) just before I came home on Wednesday, and today I have made a white loaf, an apple cake, some banana and blueberry muffins and some ice cream cone cakes. The loaf, apple cake and ice cream cone cakes are all from recipes from Jo Wheatley's book A Passion for Baking Jo's Blue Aga and from her column in Sainsburys magazine. The muffins are a variation on a favourite banana loaf recipe adapted by me for muffins and with blueberries added, they are very moreish and will definitely do them again.

First up the mini muffins, aided and abetted by Max, he took great pleasure in accurately placing the maltesers in the centre of the muffins. The recipe said 24 mini muffins but I had enough mixture left over to make 3 adult sized ones too ;-)

Before decorating

 Now iced by me and maltesered by Max 

White loaf

Apple cake

Banana and blueberry muffins

Ice cream cone cakes

and add your own toppings if required

I am posting this today (Friday) but could add to it over the weekend, off to maker a chilli now for tonight's dinner, enjoy.

Ran out of bread, last loaf all eaten so just made another...