Blueberry Muffins

I have to admit it - I have never tried a blueberry! Or a blueberry muffin! Crazy?! I am not a fruit lover, it's the texture rather than the taste. I can do crunchy, so apples are fine. But I can't do soft, bananas are a no no! So a blueberry just seemed wrong. But after seeing blueberries on offer in a supermarket and constant pressure from Craig, I decided to make muffins with them. It didn't seem to tricky, so I did it with the children. Here's how we did it.

Ingredients;

100g fresh blueberries
100g caster sugar
100g margarine
300g self - raising flour
1tsp baking powder
2 eggs, beaten
1tsp vanilla extract
140ml milk

Method;

1. Line a 12 hole muffin tin with muffin cases and preheat the oven to 160C
2. Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy and add the eggs, one at a time
3. Add the milk and vanilla extract then fold in the flour and baking powder to make a thick batter. I have always been told to not over mix when it comes to muffins and not to worry if there are any lumps.
4. Add the blueberries and spoon the mixture into muffin cases. I always use a ice cream scoop to ensure I get the same amount in each muffin case.
5. Bake in the oven for 30 mins, then remove and leave to cool

These were a hit with the children and Craig and.......... I loved them! The blueberries sort of, burst, so it's almost like jam inside. And the blueberries give such a wonderful colour, it was lovely seeing the children eating them and the bluey/purple juice run down their chin and hands - they thought it was hilarious! I will definitely make these again - what a success!

Tropical Fruit Flapjack

Tropical Fruit Flapjack

My partner, Craig's favourite thing to eat, in the whole wide world is flapjack. Thankfully it's also a fantastic way of sneaking a bit of fruit in for the children I am childminding. This recipe comes from www.lylesgoldensyrup.com and it's called Classic Flapjack, however I have added dried tropical fruit. I also changed the butter to Stork baking margarine.

Ingredients;

• 150g Margarine
• 75g Soft brown sugar
• 3tbsp Golden syrup
• 250g Porridge oats
• 100g of chopped dried tropical fruit and coconut (This just came in a bag and contained pineapple, apricots, mango, raisins and coconut)

Method;

• Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/Gas 4. Grease and line a shallow 20cm square tin with baking parchment. I two used silver disposable trays 18cm - 11cm each
• I melted the margarine, sugar and golden syrup together in a saucepan. I took it off the heat and added the chopped fruit and then stirred in the oats.
• I pushed the mixture down evenly into the trays and baked in the oven for 25 - 30 mins
• I removed them from the oven and cooled for 10 mins before cutting into squares whilst warm in the trays. I waited till the flapjack was completely cooled before I tipped them out of the trays and cut again.

And it was a complete success!

An Introduction

So here goes. I'm new to this blogging malarkey, as I am sure you'll gather. So instead of beginning with a simple blog, I have started two. They will no doubt mingle together on occasions as one is work and one is a hobby. As my work is more of a hobby they will cross paths from time to time. I am even considering the possibility of a third, but lets try this one first!

From the title of this blog, you may gather that I do love a bit of cake. I loooooove cake. Cake, cake, caaaakkkkee. But who doesn't?! As well as eating it, I love making it! I find nothing more satisfying than spending hours reading a recipe, gathering ingredients and beginning that first step to baking gloriousness. Rarely does it go wrong. I love tipping a gloopy mixture into a tin and anxiously waiting for the timer to ping whilst the aroma of cake fill the house. Then having to wait for what seems like days for your cake to cool so you can sample that first bite. But the most gratifying thing of all is baking and icing a cake for someone else. For me, it's my family, I love them. And I love nothing more than a family gathering where I can supply treats for them to sample. To be told that something you have made looks and tastes delicious fills me with immense pride and I begin planning my next delightful treat and of course set a date for the next family gathering.

The name of my blog was inspired by my Grandad, who was also a cake lover. His favourite part of a meal was dessert and he was well known for asking for "a little bit of each" when he couldn't possibly decide which of the 3 or 4 puddings to choose from. Unfortunately I don't get to hear him say those words anymore and they are probably the 5 words I miss most from hearing. But from every cake I make, I know a little is saved for him and I remember those 5 words.