Another Chocolate Banana Cake

Although we’ve got our favourite recipe for Chocolate Banana Cake we occasionally try new variations. This recipe starts with coffee – which to this coffee lover is no bad thing.   Another Chocolate Banana Cake Print Recipe Ingredients Method Ingredients   1 teaspoon coffee or expresso coffee1/2 cup cocoa150 grams butter1/2 cup milk1 teaspoon Vanilla essence4 big eggs1 cup sugar1/2 cup brown demerara sugarpinch of salt100 ml sour cream1 1/2 cups flour1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon baking soda6 small bananas mashed200 grams dark ...

10 minute Carrot Cake

Easy and very fast. Dates from when I was keen on microwaves and baking treats quickly for my friends. 10 minute Carrot Cake Print Recipe Ingredients Method Ingredients   Ingredients for Cake2/3 cups oil2 eggs1 cup flour3/4 cups sugar1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon nutmeg2 cups grated carrots3/4 cups nutsIngredients for Cream cheese sauce75 g cream cheese75 g butter1 teaspoon vanilla1 cup sugar Method Instructions for CakeBeat oil and eggsAdd and blend the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, baking ...

Tarte Tatin (French Apple Tart) 1

Tarte Tatin (French Apple Tart)
Imagine going out to the pub and when you get home your new flatmate had left an exquisite homemade French apple pastry for you to sample. This was my introduction to Bernard’s cooking and to Tarte Tatin. Yum. I tweaked Bernard’s recipe a bit to cope with my 28 cm Tarte Tatin pan and with ...

Carrot Ginger Cake

Marie made this for dessert in Auckland once. I like carrot cake but this was great. The recipe is for an 8″ (20cm) tin, but for a 10″ (25cm) tin you just need to double the recipe.  Marie Hodges Carrot Ginger Cake Marvellous carrot cake with a bit of zing. Print Recipe Ingredients Method Ingredients   ...

Gooey Chocolate Pecan Pie

Pecan pie but gooey, with chocolate. 🙂 Gooey Chocolate Pecan Pie Print Recipe Ingredients Method Ingredients   250 grams short crust pastry1 egg100 g castor sugar25 g plain flour250 g golden syrup65 g butter melted25 g white chocolate roughly chopped25 g milk chocolate roughly chopped50 g pecan nuts roughly chopped6-8 pecan nuts for decorationicing sugar to dust Method preheat oven to 190º Croll out the pastry on lightly floured surfaceline 20 cm flan fingently prick base with a forkblind bake ...

Bran Muffins

 Fiona and I went through a vegetarian phase and hung out at the only vegetarian cafe in my home town. They served the first muffins I’d ever seen. And in those days the only muffin was a bran muffin. This is Fiona’s version. Fiona Masters Bran Muffins A classic from the days when the only ...

Tchaika Chocolate Cake (Gateau au Chocolat la Tchaika)

I’ve no idea what “Tchaika” means. Tchaika Chocolate Cake (Gateau au Chocolat la Tchaika) Print Recipe Ingredients Method Notes Ingredients   Ingredients for cake6 egg yolks retain whitescup 100 g confectioner’s sugar295 to 395 g bittersweet chocolate3 tablespoons water1 cup 140 g almonds, ground to a fine powder1 tablespoon cornflour3/4 cup 170 g unsalted butter at room temp6 egg whites from abovepinch of saltIngredients for icing1/2 cup 125 ml crème fraiche100 g bittersweet chocolate broken into small ...

Chocolate Slice

Fast, easy and yummy. Dates from when I sometimes needed to knock up a treat for friends at short notice. Steven Thomas Chocolate Slice Print Recipe Ingredients Method Ingredients   150 g butter1 Cup coconut1 cup flour3 weetbix or weetabix or whatever it is called where you live, crushed1 teaspoon baking powder2 tablespoon cocoa1/2 cup brown sugar1/3 cup walnuts1/3 cup sultanas Method Melt butter in large bowlAdd remaining ingredients to butter.Mix thoroughly.Press into flat slice ...

Hotcakes, Pikelets, and Scotch Pancakes 2

Hotcakes, Pikelets, and Scotch Pancakes
Growing up in New Zealand I discovered the joys of Pikelets – small, thick pancakes we used to eat with butter and honey for afternoon tea. Later I discovered Hotcakes, which are served up for breakfast in the US with butter and maple syrup. Much later still, when I started making my own Hotcakes and ...

Almond Tart (Pinolata)

I quite like Italian tarts. This was is “almond” flavoured.  Almond Tart (Pinolata) Print Recipe Ingredients Method Notes Ingredients   125 g butter softened150 g caster sugar25 g flour2 eggs2 egg yolks175 g ground almonds150 g pine nuts in 50 gram and 100 gram batchesRolled out Pastry6 tablespoons apricot jam or conserve Method Beat butter in warmed bowl until light and creamyBeat sugar into butterSprinkle flour over butterLightly eggs and egg yolks beat ...