Cinnamon Coconut Cake

If you're new here, you'll quickly notice that I love sheet cakes. I love a three tier cake too, but there haven't been many occasions in the last 12+ months for those unfortunately. This type of cake is quicker to make and you can cut it up before serving for easier access for sharing.

The great thing about this recipe is that you can either make 1 sheet cake or a three tier cake. Or cupcakes! The below recipe, I managed to get a full sheet cake and 5 cupcakes.

This cake is sweet and nutty, but the cinammon brings a lovely warmth. This is a cracking cake. I want it for my birthday! Obviously some desiccated coconut would be perfect on top but I completely ran out, so I went with my new favourite, bright bold sprinkles.

Spicy Bacon Pasta

 

There is nothing better than a bowlful of pasta.

This is my new, absolute favourite pasta dinner. It is quick, tasty and uses a lot of kitchen staples which I always seem to have on hand. It is a perfect mid-week dinner that I probably make once a week. It's a take on amatriciana but it's got so many changes to that classic that I can't call it that in good faith.

The only slightly niche ingredient is nduja which, if you frequent hipster pizza establishments you'll probably have come across before. It's a very spicy Italian pork paste that has basically unlimited uses. It's fabulous mixed into a sauce like this where it confers a warmth. It's AMAZING in a grilled cheese sandwich where the spiciness really comes through. You can also just spread it on a cracker. No rules.

I get mine from the butcher but I have seen it in supermarkets too. Try it. Once I started using it, I couldn't imagine life without it. I basically have to have it in the fridge at all times.

Serves 2 generously, I usually add a little more pasta and make an extra portion for lunch the next day

Za'atar Dinner Rolls

It's a bold statement, but I think my all-time favourite spice mix is Za'atar. I think I've obsessed over this since encountering it for the first time in Beirut last year (oh, travel eating.. how you are missed). It's thyme, it's sesame, it's herby and nutty and a little bit tangy and I found it in Morrison's spice aisle so it isn't unknown to the UK!

I add it to every pizza dough I make, I throw it into any meat I marinade for a shawarma meal, and I haven't made a loaf without it since finding some. In lockdown, this is what I stockpiled. I am obsessed.

When I saw these little za'atar rolls, I pretty much made them for dinner the following day. 

So good. Make them now.

White Chocolate Coconut Cake

It's funny where inspiration is found these days. I was reading an article about how Tom Cruise bought a lot of his friends a specific cake for Christmas. It was a white chocolate coconut bundt cake and that just sounded delightful to me. 

Full disclosure, I first tried this cake as a bundt cake and it failed miserably. In fact, I can't recall a time when I've ever successfully extricated a bundt cake from a bundt pan. I've tried the tricks. I think my pans are just really old without modern non-stick technology.

I added a little bit of cinnamon to this cake which I think just elevated the basic sponge and really goes with the chocolate-coconut topping. It's a delicious cake-y version of those coconut Ferrero Rochers and it hits the spot.

This makes one sheet cake. If you want to make a three tier cake, increase the recipe by 1/3 (so 225g butter, 180g sugar, 3 eggs etc etc).

Nutella Tiramisu

 

It's a little dribbly but it's goooooood.

I didn’t think I liked tiramisu until I was tempted to try some in a little deli in Venice where tiramisu was their specialty. That’ll do it!

It was delicious. I haven’t eaten it since because I figured it would be a let down - how could mine stack up to the professionals?

Well, apparently tiramisu is easy to get right, because I NAILED it on the first go. It’s a really simple recipe that doesn’t use a ton of ingredients (but they are a little niche, it’s not all store-cupboard stuff) and the best part is that it is encouraged to make a day in advance! It’s even better after it is allowed to rest and mingle overnight. Perfect for having company over (a concept I’ve nearly forgotten) or for prepping on a Friday night and enjoying all weekend.

You need a nice deep dish for this, mine was about 20x10cm and I got three layers. I think having two layers is more traditional, so a bigger dish will be needed for that.

Brown Butter S'mores Cookies

 

Necessity is the mother of invention!

Or, how I learned to make my favourite cookies at home.

A local amazing bakery sells these brown butter cookies and after trying my first one I was HOOKED. The bakery in question is currently closed, and has been closed for weeks. So, because I wanted my fix, I had to work out how to make them myself.

And lads, I don’t think I can make any more cookies without browning the butter first – it elevates the flavour to this rich, deep, nutty, caramelised deliciousness that you have to taste to believe!

Yes, it’s an extra step and it’s a little annoying but it is completely worth it. These cookies are the best. And easy. You can easily leave the marshmallows out, or substitute in nuts. The base of these cookies are insanely good so feel free to play around with the additions.

 

Spetsofai

As with all good meals - photographs questionably but tastes fantastic

A firm Greek favourite to finish off 2020.

I go to the same Greek restaurant all the time – but obviously not recently. One thing I was really missing was this amazing chorizo and pepper stew which tastes rich and delicious. I think cooking time is the key, this could be a great slow cooker meal. But I have nothing if not time on my hands at present, so I had time to cook it low and slow on the stove.

The boyfriend required chips with his.

I had mine with flat bread, but this would also be amazing with a fresh slice of thick bread, or even a nice crisp side salad. Rice and chips also work!

Chokladbiskvier

These are the weirdest little biscuits - apparently a Swedish staple! They feel very festive to me, little bite-size almondy chocolate treats!

So they have three main parts - a meringue base, a buttercream filling and a chocolate glaze topping. Making all three parts is a little time consuming but none of the techniques are particularly difficult and they are the loveliest little moresels when they're done.

According to my Swedish insider, you find these all over Sweden in little cafes. Bite size, crunchy and smooth and deliciously sweet!

Mughlai Chicken - Creamy Almond Chicken

This delicately spiced meal is visually reminiscent of a korma, but it's got a huge depth of flavour that I'm obsessed with. It's borrowed from my ride-or-die Nigella, with a few little tweaks.

It's one of those brilliant meals that's even better re-heated the next day and it's quick and easy enough to whip up after work! If I'm willing to make that effort on a weeknight then it must be easy, I swear. The whole spices make it taste like a meal that takes a lot more effort than it actually does. 

Speaking of the spices, I'll admit that there are a fair few ingredients. Having said that, the whole spices don't really go off and I find myself reaching for them often - it's worth having them in your cupboard!

Marbled Oreo Fudge

I think it's close enough to the festive season that I can get fudge recipes going. For me, fudge feels very Christmassy.

However, you never need to go without fudge again (at any time of year!), because making this recipe is super simple and makes a fudgy, creamy, sweet slab of deliciousness.

There are two ways to melt the mixture together, and I did both in this recipe. You can melt everything together gently in a saucepan over a low heat. Or you can do the same thing with a bowl and microwave, microwaving in 30 second increments until everything is smooth and melted together. Both are easy, I did the darker chocolate one in a saucepan because there was more of it, and the white chocolate one in a bowl. This also meant that I was able to do both at once which reduced the time between making it and getting it in my mouth.

Cinammon Cake With Peanut Butter Buttercream

I haven't updated in a while - blogger changed their interface and writing new posts with pictures has become a real drag. I will do better!

Starting with this cake of dreams. I don't know about everyone else, but sometimes I just get a massive craving for cake. It's not that often, and when it happens, I usually default to my all-time favourite - mocha walnut cake (it seriously is my favourite, first posted all the way back in 2013 and rarely do I make a better cake).

But I saw an instagram post for peanut butter buttercream and I just had to try it. I really didn't want the hassle of a three tier, frosted, epic cake situation so I made a really simple sheet cake and bunged a load of frosting on top.

And it was INSANELY delicious.

I make a really nice peanut butter cookie that is rolled in cinnamon sugar - so I thought a light yellow sponge with a hint of cinnamon running through it would be a really nice but unusual pairing. It worked beautifully - but I think the chocolate sponge from my Oreo cake would also be amazing.

makes enough for a rectangular sheet cake (my tin is approx 25x17cm) and I got 4 spare cupcakes

Ingredients for the cake

• 325g plain flour
• 25g cornflour
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• pinch salt
• 230g butter, softened
• 150g granulated sugar
• 150g packed brown sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla sugar or 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 240ml buttermilk (or regular milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice)
• 80ml sour cream
• 3 large eggs

Ingredients for the buttercream

• 230g butter, room temp
• 80g peanut butter, room temp
• 440g icing sugar
• 25g cocoa powder
• 3 tbsp milk or double cream
• pinch salt
• Sprinkles, to finish

Method

Preheat the oven to 170 degrees C.

Begin with the cake - mix the flour, cornflour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt together and set aside.

In a smaller bowl, mix the milk, sour cream and eggs.

In another, larger bowl, beat together the butter, sugars and vanilla until lighter and slightly fluffy.

Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix well, and then add 1/3 of the liquid mixture and mix well. Continue to alternate adding the dry and wet ingredients, mixing well after each addition.

Bake for 35 minutes until golden and cooked through (I always check mine with a knife).

While the cake is cooking or cooling, make the buttercream.

Whip the butter for a few minutes, then add the icing sugar, cocoa powder, milk and beat again. Finally, add in the peanut butter and salt and beat until combined. You can always add a little more icing sugar if its too runny, or more milk if its too stiff.

When the cake is cooled, pipe or spoon your icing on top, however you do it, and throw on some sprinkles if you're into that.

Slice and eat! Delicious!

Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies

Am on a cookie binge these days. These are SO GOOD. I love the rich flavour of sesame in basically anything - so why not cookies!

And the addition of tahini makes a regular chocolate chip cookie into a buttery, savoury, beautifully rich cookie.

And these cookies are really easy to make. I love cookie recipes where you chill the dough overnight, because when you're ready to bake them the next day, it's about 30 minutes from rolling the cookies to eating the (warm) cookies. DREAMY!

Creamy Peppercorn Sauce

Sometimes you just get weird cravings for stuff. I was never really into peppercorn sauce until recently, and the other day I just HAD to have some. I didn't have steak or anything on hand, but I had all the ingredients for peppercorn sauce, so I roasted some chicken and threw it on top.

The next time, I would serve this my absolute favourite way - potato bread on the bottom, sliced steak on top, sauce all over.

There's not really many pictures of this because it's just that easy. Put everything in a pot. Cook it for a bit. Pour it over food.

Stacked Brownies

Stacks on stacks on STACKS.

Can’t decide whether you want a cookie or a brownie? I'm here to say "why not both?" It's building up to be another wet weekend, so sweet comfort foods seem smart.

These are some multi-layered brownie ridiculousness. Make a soft but sticky cookie dough, then top it with a layer of Oreos and THEN over the top of that pour over a silky smooth brownie batter.

Bake it. Eat it. Weep.

I have heard people put all sorts in the middle of the two layers, including peanut butter cups (YUM!). I've been thinking a lot about this - a distinctly delicious UK twist would be to use custard creams in place of the Oreos. Or even better, the king of biscuits, BOURBON CREAMS.

 

Chewy Ginger Nuts

I bought a tin of dark treacle ages ago when I had a craving for Jamaican ginger cake and then it just sat sadly at the back of my cupboard, unused.

But then I was spending a Sunday trawling through my recipe books for inspiration and I found a killer recipe for chewy ginger biscuits. I made a few subs to get my treacle in there and they came out PERFECTLY. Really soft but with crisp edges. Sweet but dark. Ridiculously flavourful. Hella delicious.

I love a crackle-top cookie!

Bake and enjoy! They are perfect for a little snack, but I am also picturing a dessert featuring them slightly warmed, with vanilla ice-cream on top and then drizzled with chopped nuts/honey and thinking that would be INCREDIBLE.

Japanese Milk Bread Loaf

Okay I hope you lovely people are finding yeast because you have to try making this bread.

This dough is obscene. It’s silky and smooth. It is a dream to work with and cooks like a dream. This reminds me of a brioche dough, but with a traditional roux starter, or tangzhong.

Peaking on my little resting dough babies

This is a little time consuming but really is my ideal way to spend a weekend. It would also make amaaaazing French toast which is a great Sunday brunch food.