Homemade Seville Orange Marmalade!

It has been a few days since my last post and I am glad to say we did manage to get food shopping last Saturday *see previous post*. Oh but besides foodie items I must tell you, a gorgeous stack of three cake tins in various sizes with little cupcake designs on them magically appeared in my trolley, does this ever happen to you when shopping or is it just me?!?! Sunday night was a white wash of snow again and all I have wanted to do in the last few days is snuggle up in a fluffy warm blanket and hibernate and be a couch potato!

Today felt appropriate for making a huge batch of marmalade – now Paddington Bear *a marmalade sandwich-eating bear from darkest Peru* would have been extremely pleased had he come calling at my door after potting-up my golden preserves! Seville oranges are short in season from January to February in the U.K. and such a treasured import from Spain. There are many combinations of different fruits you can use to make marmalade but in my opinion Seville oranges are, “the” royalty of oranges to create the best homemade marmalade! Their sharp juices blend magnificently to the sweetness of the added sugar in marmalade. I also like to stir through a very small quantity of Scotch whisky when the preserve has cooled enough - it isn’t a dominate flavour but enhances the flavour of the marmalade.

Seville Orange Marmalade close-up

Of course this delectable marmalade can be added in cakes, puddings etc but my favourite is spreading thickly onto warm buttered toast, oh such joy - long live homemade marmalade!

The Golden Preserve

Homemade Seville Orange Marmalade

Makes approx 6kg – I used 7 small kilner jars when potting up.

Ingredients
2kg (approx 4 lbs) of Seville oranges
4 lemons
4 litres (approx 8 pints) of water
4kg (approx 8 lbs) granulated sugar or preserving sugar
12tsp Scotch whisky (optional)


Method

Put all the fruit into bowl of warm water and give them a gentle scrub to remove any impurities from the skin. Place the fruit into a large saucepan/ preserving pan with a lid and add the water and a lid and simmer for about 1½ -2 hours until the skins are soft and can be effortlessly pierced with a skewer. Remove the fruit from the water and place into a large dish/plate, to cool. Keep the cooking water – you will need this later on.

Place all the sugar in a large roasting tin and place in a low oven to warm through; this helps the sugar to dissolve quicker.

When the fruit is cool enough to handle cut them in half scoop out the pulp and pips and place with any remaining juice and water from the dish back into cooking water. Cut the orange halves very finely into shreds, *I shred about halve the peel to use – its personnel choice how much*.

Bring the pan up to a boil for 15 minutes. Strain out the pulp, pips and put all the liquid back into the pan. Add the warmed sugar and the shredded peel to the pan then heat the mixture slowly, stirring until it has fully dissolved.

Bring to the boil and continue to boil rapidly without stirring for approx 30 minutes. This should take the marmalade to setting point, *see below for setting point*, if not keep boiling.

Leave the marmalade in the hot pan to cool at little it will show signs of the peel suspended in the mixture. Add the whisky if using and stir though.

Carefully ladle the marmalade into warm sterilised jars, seal the finished jars.

*To sterilise jars* – either by putting through the dish washer or washing the jars and lids and drying thoroughly before placing the jars in a roasting tin in a low oven for at least 30 minutes.

*Testing for setting point* - put a small spoonful of marmalade onto a very cold plate – I like to put two plates in the freezer for this. Allow to cool a little and then push it with your finger. The marmalade will wrinkle up when ready - see my post for Lemon & Lime Marmalade this post has pictures showing setting point.

Dutch Apple Cake

My hubby enjoys nothing more than a hearty pudding in winter when the cold weather extends its grip upon us. It certainly has been dessert time this week with the amount of snow fall we’ve had. I’ve had this recipe bookmarked for a while from Rachel Allen’s Bake. It may not be majestic to look at but the taste of vanilla butter sponge and baked apple slices running through is magical, which certainly makes up for its looks.


This is a slightly adapted the recipe I am posting by adding demerara sugar for sprinkling over the top and also using red eating apples. I thought the demerara sugar would give a nice little crunch to the top of the cake and red apples as I had a few that need using. I do like cake recipes that can double up as a cake or dessert; this has the advantage of leftovers, which can be served in a slice with a steaming cup of tea or coffee- perfection in my book!

I am publishing this post today via scheduled posting as hubby and I are aiming to do some food shopping, weather permitting!

Dutch Apple Cake

Slightly adapted from Bake by Rachel Allen 2008

Ingredients
2 eggs
175g (6 oz) caster (superfine) sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
75g (3 oz) butter
75ml (2½ fl oz) milk
125g (4½ oz) plain (all-purpose) flour
½ tsp ground cinnamon
2¼ tsp baking powder

2 red eating apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1 tbsp demerara sugar, for sprinkling
2 red eating apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1 tbsp demerara sugar, for sprinkling

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan oven 180°C/400°F/Gas 6. Line the sides and base of a 20 x 20cm (8 x 8 in) square cake tin with parchment paper. Using an electric whisk, whisk the eggs, caster sugar and vanilla extract in a large bowl until the mixture is thick and mousse-like and the whisk leaves a figure of eight pattern. Melt the butter in a saucepan with the milk, then pour onto the eggs, whisking all the time. Sift in the flour, cinnamon and baking powder and fold carefully into the batter so that there are no lumps of flour. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the surface. Arrange the apple slices over the batter. Sprinkle over the demerara sugar and bake in the oven for ten minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 180°C/fan 160°C/350°F/Gas 4 and bake for a further 20–25 minutes or until well risen and golden brown. Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool slightly in the tin. Cut into squares and serve warm with lashing of creamy custard.

Banana and Chocolate Loaf ~ Sweet & Simple Bakes.

Time has come again to show case our monthly bake over at Sweet and Simple Bakes. This month Maria presented us with a delicious recipe for Banana and Chocolate Loaf. This is the simplest of bakes to make with an amazing texture and flavour. It’s also a fabulous tried & tested recipe just what Sweet & Simple Bakes is all about! I always seem to have a few ripe bananas lurking in my fruit bowl and I really loathe throwing away food! A slice of this loaf cake served with a steaming cuppa is perfection in my book anytime of the day.



Please do call by Sweet and Simple Bakes and view the round-up of our other bakers; also if you fancy joining in our monthly bake, we would be most delighted to have you bake with us!

Banana and Chocolate Loaf

Serves 10-12

Ingredients

250g (9oz) self-raising flour
Pinch of salt
1 tsp baking powder
150g (5oz) caster sugar
100g (3 ½ oz) butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
Finely grated zest of 1 orange
475g (17oz) whole bananas (about 4 small ones), peeled
75g (3oz) dark chocolate chips

13 x 23cm (5x9in) loaf tin *I used a 900g (2 lb) loaf tin*

Method

Preheat the oven to 170°C /325°F/ Gas mark 3. Lightly butter and line the loaf tin with parchment paper. Sift the flour, salt and baking powder into a large bowl. Add the sugar and butter and, using your fingertips, rub it in until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Whisk the eggs, vanilla extract and orange zest in another bowl. Add the bananas and mash very well with a potato masher. Add the chocolate chips. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the banana mixture. Gently but thoroughly bring all the ingredients together with a wooden spoon, and then pour into the prepared loaf tin. Smooth the top and bake in the oven for 1-1 ¼ hours or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing the cake from the tin and leave to cool on a wire rack.

Marmalade Cake

Well as I stated in my previous post, Rosie is back, oh yes, armed to the teeth for combat with whisks, spoons, bowls etc at the ready to bake and share with you! I am absent the combat jacket I must add *giggle*.....

I adore citrus flavours as much as chocolate *oh the words citrus and chocolate send my taste buds into salivating ecstasy*. Peeking out at me from my kitchen shelf was a jar of wonderful homemade marmalade just waiting to be used! So here I present you a moist sponge cake with orange flavours running through each bite, which take you on a journey of tantalisation for your taste buds. Enjoy!

Marmalade Cake

Ingredients
Cake
175g (6 oz) self-raising flour, sifted
175g (6 oz) softened butter
175g (6 oz) soft brown sugar
3 eggs, lightly beaten
Grated zest of 1 orange
Juice ½ orange
2 tbsp thin-cut marmalade

Icing
200g (7 oz) icing sugar, sifted
Juice of 1 orange
Orange edible food colouring (optional)
A few sprinkles (optional)

Method

Grease and line with baking parchment a 900g (2 lb) loaf tin. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4.

In a mixing bowl cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add a little of the egg at a time until all incorporated and beaten well in at each addition. Beat in the orange zest then add the orange juice and marmalade and stir through thoroughly. Fold in the sifted flour gently folding through to combine thoroughly.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and level the surface off with a spatula. Place into the preheated oven to bake for 40 – 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Lave to cool for 5 – 10 minutes in the tin before removing to completely cool on a wire rack.

To make the icing; add the sifted icing sugar a little edible orange food colour (optional), and enough orange juice to make a spreadable icing for coating the top of the cake. Spread over the top of the cake and add sprinkles if using.

Lastly enjoy!

Christmas Morning Muffins ~ Sweet & Simple Bake

I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year 09 and may all your dreams and wishes come true!!

I’m pleased to say it’s been a quite festive time here but with lots of good food and basically enjoying being with the family. The family are now over their bouts of flu and I wave good bye to the back of that little episode thankfully. I hope now to get back to normal baking up some tasty treats for you this year. To kick start this year off here I am presenting you with a bake from Sweet and Simple Bakes.

For our December bake at Sweet and Simple Bakes it was chosen by a poll vote and we had a sensational amount of 67 votes cast in our poll!! The clear winner was Nigella’s Christmas Morning Muffins.

These muffins are a quick and easy bake for a Christmas morning breakfast (or any breakfast come to that); with glorious aromas of spices and flavours emitting through the air as they bake. They are perfect for a light breakfast either served plain or broken open smeared with butter and marmalade. This recipe is sourced and adapted from Nigella Christmas cookbook. A very beautiful book by, The Domestic Goddess’s herself and it’s defiantly is worth purchasing for all the magnificent festive recipes inside.

Christmas Morning Muffins ~ adapted from Nigella Christmas Book

Makes 12

Ingredients
250g (9 oz) plain (all-purpose) flour
2½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
100g (4 oz) caster (super fine) sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Good grating of fresh nutmeg (or ¼ tsp ground nutmeg)
2 Clementine’s or Satsuma’s *see notes*
Approx 125ml (4 fl oz) full-fat milk
75g 3 oz) vegetable oil (or melted butter, left to cool slightly)
1 egg
175g (6 oz) dried cranberries
For The Topping
3 tsp Demerara sugar *see notes*

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan oven 180°C/400°F/Gas mark 6. Line a 12-bun muffin tin with muffin paper cases.

Measure the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, caster sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg into a large bowl; grate the zest of the Clementine’s/Satsuma’s over and combine.
Squeeze the juice of the Clementine’s/Satsuma’s into a measuring jug, and pour in the milk until it comes up to the 200ml (7 fl oz) mark.

Add the oil (or slightly cooled, melted butter) and egg, and lightly beat until just combined.

Pour this liquid mixture into the bowl of dried ingredients and stir until everything is more or less combined, remembering that a well-beaten mixture makes for heavy muffins; a lumpy batter is a good here.

Fold in the cranberries, then spoon the batter into the muffin cases and sprinkle the Demerara sugar on top.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. The muffins are ready to eat now either plain or broken up and smeared with butter and marmalade.

* Notes*

*Cranberries could also be replaced with another dried fruit of choice*

* Clementine’s/Satsuma’s*

If you’re unable to source Clementine’s or Satsuma’s, 1 orange of zest and juice would be adequate.

* Demerara Sugar is*: Large crystals, golden in colour, which also adds a crunch to baked goods.

*Question*: I can’t purchase Demerara sugar - what could I use instead?

Granulated Sugar: This is a pure, naturally white, crystalline sugar.

Sugar Cubes: Brown/white, would be a lovely addition instead of Demerara sugar; crunched up and sprinkled over the top of each muffin before baking.

Italian Christmas Sweet Bread ~ Panettone

Have yourself a merry little Christmas.

Let your heart be light,

From now on our troubles

Will be out of sight........

I must apologise for my lack of blogging of late, and I so much wanted to share with you lots of Christmas bakes! I’ve been busy looking after the sick and wounded here, what with Mr R (hubby) who is recovering from flu and now unfortunately Miss R (daughter) has come down with this nasty flu!! However, I have managed to squeeze in a few bakes one being a Panettone that I would really like to share with you today. I have seen so many of these gorgeous sweet breads around for sale in the shops at this time of year and I thought wouldn’t it be fun to bake my own this Christmas. My Panettone was made in my Kitchen Aid mixer but by all means, it can easily be made by hand to bring a little festive Italian baking into your home.........

I am also truly flattered and humbled to be the luckiest girl in the world today!! I opened my email to find waiting in my inbox an email from Aparna @ My Diverse Kitchen to let me know I had been chosen by her judges to win her blog 1st birthday event, Sweet Celebrations – with my winning bake of Hummingbird Cake!! Thank you SO MUCH Aparna for holding such a lovely event and it was such a pleasure to bake a cake for your Blogs 1st Birthday. Also my thanks go to the judges for deeming my cake worthy of winning!! The winning prize I am very excited to reveal that is being sent to me is a lovely book by, Asha Khatau’s, Vegetarian Cuisines of The World. Christmas seems to have already arrived for me with this wonderful gift I am to receive; as I type this post, I have the largest smile on my face you could imagine ~ thank you once again Aparna for making me luckiest girl in the world today!! I also have to thank the lovely H.C. *Happy Cook* @ My Kitchen Treasures for such a lovely recipe to bake from ~ thank you my dear friend!

Panettone

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients
75ml (3 fl oz) brandy
175g (6oz) raisins
550 - 620g (1lb 4oz -1lb 6oz) strong plain flour
175g (6oz) butter
5ml (1tsp) salt
65g (21/2 oz) caster sugar
Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg
2.5ml (1/2 tsp) vanilla essence
10.5g easy blend dried yeast
Finely grated rind of 1 lemon
Finely grated rind of 1 orange
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
175ml (6 fl oz) milk
175g (6 oz) mixed candied orange and citron peel, chopped
Icing sugar, to decorate if desired.

Method

Lightly oil a 17cm (7in) round spring release cake tin. Line the base and sides with a sheet of parchment paper which sits 12cm (5in) above the rim. Place the brandy and raisins in a bowl and leave to soak for 2 - 4 hours.

Sift the flour into the bowl and add the butter and salt, fit dough hook and blend on speed min for 2 minutes, until combined. Add the sugar, nutmeg, vanilla essence, yeast, rinds, eggs and milk and blend on speed min for 2 minutes, until a soft dough forms. Continue kneading on speed 2 for 2 minutes.

Remove the bowl. Cover with lightly oiled clear - film and leave for about 2 - 4 hours, until well risen and doubled in size. Drain raisins.

Fit the bowl and dough hook and knead on speed 2 for 1 minute. Add the fruits and knead on speed 2 for 2 minutes, until well combined. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a ball to fit in the cake tin. Cut a deep cross in the surface of the dough and leave until risen 2.5cm (1in) above the top of the tin.

Preheat the oven to 200°C, 400°F, Gas Mark 6 and bake the bread for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 180°C, 350°F, Gas Mark 4 and bake for a further 40 minutes. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Turn out and leave to cool completely. Dust heavily with icing sugar.

Christmas Edible Gift #2 ~ Cranberry & Almond Fudge

This fudge is a little sensation it’s so easy to make without the need for a sugar thermometer! Just a few combining of ingredients on the heat and of course stirring before being placed into a lined baking tin for chilling. Once chilled, the fudge can be cut into pieces; its texture is very creamy and sweet and with the addition of dried cranberries and almonds makes a perfect edible gift. Divided up in to little cellophane bags and tied with a festive coloured ribbon, this would make a lovely Christmas gift for family or friends.

Happy Cook @ My Kitchen Treasures is hosting a charming event for Homemade Christmas Gifts and I am submitting my fudge into this event. She is posting a round-up here where you’re able to view all the homemade gifts that have been submitted.

Cranberry & Almond Fudge

Ingredients
275g (10 oz) Icing sugar
150ml (¼ pint) full fat milk
75g (3 oz) dried cranberries
50g (2 oz) butter
60g (2½ oz) flaked almonds ~ toasted lightly
¼tsp almond extract
300g (11 oz) white chocolate, chopped a little

Method

Line a 20cm x20cm x5cm (8x8x2 in) baking tin with foil, extending the foil over the edges of the tin.

Butter the sides of a heavy based saucepan and add the icing sugar, milk and butter; stir the ingredients together with a wooden spoon. Stir over a medium heat until the mixture boils and the sugar is dissolved. Reduce the heat to medium-low and boil the mixture for 5 minutes without stirring. Reduce the heat to low. Add the white chocolate and stir on the low heat until the mixture is smooth. Stir in the dried cranberries, lightly toasted almonds, and almond extract. With a spatula spread the mixture evenly into the prepared tin. Cover with cling film or foil and place in the fridge to chill for 6 hours or until firm. Lift out the fudge with the foil from the tin and cut into 2.5cm (1 in) squares.

To toast the flaked almonds, spread them on a baking tray in a single layer and bake in a preheated oven 180°c/fan oven 160°C/350°F/Gas mark 4. Toast for 10 minutes or until golden brown, flipping the flaked almonds over in the baking tray after being in the oven for 5 minutes to evenly toast them.

Hummingbird Cake

On my travels around the blogosphere I saw a beautiful cake that my very sweet blogger friend “Happy Cook” @ My Kitchen Treasures had baked. Known to me as H.C. she has a beautiful blog and has an immense passion for cooking and baking. The range of her food is diverse from Indian, Chinese, Italian and Belgian and amongst all this a sprinkling of other cultures. Also H.C. is hosting a brilliant event at the moment for Homemade Christmas Gifts. If you desire to participate or just view the gorgeous edible gifts for Christmas ideas do take a peek here .

Thank you H.C. for sharing such a great bake :)

Another great blogger Aparna @ My Diverse Kitchen is celebrating her first year of blogging. To celebrate, she is asking bloggers and non-bloggers to celebrate with her by sending in celebratory fare. I thought this cake would be a lovely addition to this celebratory event. I had to include a candle on top of the cake in Aparna’s honour. You have until the 30th November 08 to submit your entry.

Hummingbird Cake ~ adapted from Happy Cooks recipe

Ingredients
1½ cups of self-raising flour
1 cup of caster sugar
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp cinnamon
¾ cup of flavourless oil
3 eggs, lightly beaten
Few drops of vanilla extract
¾ cup pecan nuts, chopped
2 large ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
½ cup of pineapple from a tin, drained and chopped finely
Cream Cheese Frosting
60g Cream cheese
30g butter, softened at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1½ cups of icing sugar
Edible food colour of choice (optional)
A few sprinkles (optional)

You will need a 20cm (8 in) round springform tin, lightly greased with a little butter and based lined with non-stick baking paper or greaseproof paper.

Method

Preheat the oven to 170°C/fan oven 150°C/325°F/Gas mark 3.

Sift the flour, cinnamon, bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the eggs, vanilla extract, oil, nuts, banana and pineapple and stir until just combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 1 hour or until firm to the touch in the centre of the cake or a skewer inserted into the centre come out clean.

Leave the cake to stand in its tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Remove the paper from the base of the cake and place onto a cake stand or plate to serve.

Place all the ingredients for the frosting into a bowl and beat until light and fluffy with an electric mixer. * I added my edible food colouring at the end when the frosting was all combined*.

Spread the cream cheese filling over the top of the cake and decorate if wished with sprinkles etc.

Sweet Potato Cake ~ The Cake Slice Baker’s Event!!!

This month I am pleased to reveal our second bake from ‘The Cake Slice Bakers! This is a new baking event hosted by two lovely ladies Giggi and Katie. The aims and objectives of this group are to bake a cake each month for a year from a selected book. This is a great event because reflecting on my cookbooks, somehow I never seem to work my way through them and only cook or bake certain things. The book we are baking from this year is, Sky High: Irresistible Triple Layer Cakes by Alisa Huntsman and Peter Wynne. A fantastic book packed from end to end with lovely recipes and eye-catching pictures of gorgeous cakes to drool over.

This time around we chose to bake a Sweet Potato Cake. Being Halloween end of last month, this certainly was a fitting cake for this festivity. I was intrigued by the use of sweet potato in the recipe; on the other hand take for example cakes that have potato, carrots, pumpkin, and courgette in them, they are great flavoursome cakes so sweet potato must work in the same way or would it? Well having tried a slice of this cake I can vouch this is one scrumptious cake. The sweet potato wasn’t dominant and the wonderful spices bended through well, I am positive this cake is akin to carrot cake. I served my cake for Halloween dressed up in pumpkins I made from fondant icing and a few shop brought sprinkles; I didn’t want you to think here, oh she’s gone and lost her marbles and still celebrating Halloween lol.

I haven’t got x 3 -9 inch (23cm) cake tins so I used x 3 -8 in (20cm) cake tins instead without any problems of the mixture overflowing in the oven, (thank goodness!)

A must try cake you’d be surprised at its taste!

Sweet Potato Cake

Sourced from Sky High: Irresistible Triple Layer Cakes by Alisa Huntsman and Peter Wynne.

Makes a 9 in (23cm) triple layer cake, serves 16 -20 people. You will require x 3 -9 inch (23cm) cake tins.

Ingredients
2 medium or 1 large sweet potato (12 ounces)
3 cups of cake flour ** see below**
3 tsp baking powder
1½ tsp ground cinnamon
¾ tsp of freshly grated nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cloves
5 eggs, separated
2¼ cups sugar *I used caster sugar*
1 stick plus 2 tbsp (5 oz) of butter, at room temperature
1½ tsp of vanilla
1¼ cups of milk

**The recipe calls for cake flour and if you only have all-purpose (plain) flour on hand, you can substitute ¾ cup (105 grams) all-purpose (plain) flour plus 2 tablespoons (30 grams) cornstarch (cornflour)***

**If fresh potato is not available you could use canned sweet potato, yams or pumpkin puree**

Method

Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C/fan oven 180°C/Gas mark 6. Prick the sweet potatoes in 2-3 places and place on a small baking dish and bake for 1 hour or until the potatoes are very soft. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.

Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F/180°C/fan oven 160°C/Gas mark 4. Butter the bottoms and sides of the pans and line with non-stick baking paper or greaseproof paper. Butter the paper also.
When the sweet potatoes are cool, peel off the skin and remove any dark spots. Cut the potatoes into chunks and puree in a food processor until smooth.

Measure one cup of potato puree and set aside.

Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves into a large bowl and set aside.

In a bowl of an electric mixer add the egg whites and attach the whip attachment. Beat on a medium speed until the egg whites are frothy, raise the speed to high and gradually beat in ¼ cup of sugar. Continue to beat until the egg whites are moderately stiff.

In another large bowl with a paddle attachment, combine the sweet potato, butter, vanilla and remaining sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks one at a time. Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl after each egg yolk is added. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients and milk alternately in 2-3 additions, making sure to begin and end with the dry ingredients.

With a large spatula, fold in one fourth of the eggs whites into the batter to lighten. Then fold in the remaining egg whites until no streaks remain. Making sure to not over mix or this will deflate the batter. Divide the batter among the three pans equally.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Let the cake layers cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then turn out the cake layers onto a wire rack and cool completely at least 1 hour.

To assemble the cake, place one layer flat side up on to a cake stand. With a pastry bag fitted with ½ inch round tip and filled with chocolate cream cheese icing, pipe a boarder around the edge of the cake. Fill the centre with orange cream filling smoothing it to the edge of the boarder. Place the second layer on top and repeat the process. Place the third layer on top and use all the chocolate cream cheese frosting to cover the top and sides of the cake.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Makes 3 cups

Ingredients
10 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
1 stick (4 oz) butter at room temperature
16 ounces of powdered (icing) sugar; sifted
1½ ounces of unsweetened chocolate melted and slightly cooled

In a large mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Slowly add the powdered (icing) sugar to cream cheese butter mixture. Making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Then beat until fluffy 2-3 minutes.

Measure out 1 cup of frosting and set aside.

Add the melted chocolate to the remaining icing in the bowl and beat until well combined.

Orange Cream Filling

Ingredients
1 cup of reserved cream cheese icing from above
2 tablespoons of frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
¼ tsp of orange extract
***I added fresh orange juice and the zest of 1 orange due to unable to buy frozen orange juice concentrate***

Stir together all the ingredients until well mixed.

If you would like to view more Sweet Potato Cakes made by other members of The Cake Slice, then please visit our blogroll site: The Cake Slice Bakers!

‘C’ is for Christmas Fare 2008!

I’m not quite sure where this year has gone, it seems to have flown by! It’s time again for baking my Christmas fruit cake and making up a batch of mincemeat for Christmas 2008. I like to make my fruit cake and mincemeat in October each year, to mature and develop all those Christmassy flavours. Here are my recipes that I have pleasure in sharing with you and hopefully you may try them out too this festive season!

Christmas Fruit Cake’08

Feeding the cake with brandy!

My cake will be fed leading up to the last few weeks of December by adding 1 tsp of brandy each week. This ensures for a rich matured moist fruit cake before applying the marzipan and icing in late December.

Christmas Fruit Cake’08

You will need to start soaking all the dried fruits three days prior to baking this cake to enable the fruits to swell and absorb the brandy and orange juice.

Ingredients
175g (6 oz) raisins
350g (12 oz) glace cherries, rinsed, dried and quartered
500g (1 lb 2oz) currants
350g (12 oz) sultanas
150ml (¼ pint) brandy, plus extra for feeding
Finely grated zest of 1 orange and lemon
Juice of 1 orange
250g (9 oz) butter, softened
250g (9 oz) light muscovado sugar
4 eggs
1 tbsp black treacle (molasses)
75g 93 oz) chopped mixed nuts
75g (2 oz) self-raising flour
175g (6 oz) plain flour
1 tsp mixed spice
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1 tsp cocoa powder
A large container with lid for soaking the fruits

You will need a 20cm (8 in) springform tin, greased and lined with a double layer of greased greaseproof paper and the outside of the tin double layered with brown paper and tied in the middle with string.

Method

Three days prior to baking the cake, add all the dried fruits to the container and pour over the brandy and stir in the orange zest and juice and then the lemon zest. Cover with a lid and leave to soak for three days, stirring daily.

Line the 20cm (8 in) springform tin as directed above and preheat the oven 140°C/fan 120°C/275°F/gas mark 1.

In a very large bowl, add the butter and sugar and cream together until fluffy and light. Add the eggs a little at a time until all incorporated then add the nuts and stir through. Add the flours, cocoa powder and spices and mix thoroughly until blended. Stir in the soaked fruit. Spoon into the prepared tin and level the surface, I like to leave a little dip in the middle of the mixture so the cake doesn’t dome in the middle when baked.

Bake in the centre of the preheated oven for 4½ hrs or until the cake the cake feels firm to the touch in the middle and is a rich golden brown, or a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Check the cake after 2 hrs baking and if the top is a lovely golden brown, cover with a circle of baking paper or foil to prevent the top from burning. Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin.

When cool, pierce the cake at intervals with a skewer and feed with a tsp brandy. Wrap the cake completely up in a double layer of greaseproof paper and a layer of foil. Store in a cool place for up to three months, feeding with 1 tbsp brandy every week.

Decorate with marzipan and icing in the last few weeks before Christmas.

Boozy Mincemeat

Boozy Mincemeat

I have been making this mincemeat each year ever since it appeared in The GoodFood Magazine in 2002 (you can find the original recipe here). This is a great recipe that imparts all those Christmassy flavours without much effort to achieve a fantastic moist boozy mincemeat for mince pies or last minute chocolate Christmas cake etc. I have altered the recipe slightly by using luxury mixed vine fruits and peel, glace cherries and vegetable suet. This recipe will keep from one year to the next but as Ruth Watson states; it is best used within six months.

Here is my adapted recipe for Boozy Mincemeat

Makes approximately 3.5kg (7lb)

Ingredients
3 x 500g (1lb 2oz) luxury vine fruits with added peel
200g (7 oz) glace cherries, washed and chopped
500g (1lb 2oz) Bramley apples or apple of choice, peeled, cored and grated
100g (4 oz) whole blanched almonds, chopped
350g (12 oz) Demerara sugar or soft brown sugar
100g (4 oz) dark muscovado sugar
1 rounded tsp ground cinnamon
2 rounded tsp ground mixed spice
1 large lemon, zest and juiced
125ml dark rum
125ml Disaronno amaretto liqueur
175ml French brandy

Method

In a very large bowl (I used my preserving pan), place in the vine fruits and peel, glace cherries, grated apple, suet, chopped almonds, sugars, spices, lemon zest and juice, and then lastly add all the alcohol. Mix thoroughly through together either with a large spoon or clean hands. Cover over with a clean tea towel and leave to stand for 24 hours giving the mixture a good stir as you pass by.

Next day pack the mincemeat into sterilised jars, (I used Kilner jars) and top with greaseproof paper jam covers. Seal the jars tightly and store in a cool place. This recipe will keep from one year to the next but as Ruth Watson states; it is best used within six months.

Sweet & Simple Bakes - Vanilla Apple Cake

For this month’s bake at Sweet & Simple Bakes it was Maria’s turn to post a recipe and she decided on a wonderful apple cake. The flavour to this cake is buttery with added extras of delicious sliced Bramley apples sprinkled over with Demerara sugar & a little cinnamon. This cake is gorgeous served either on its own or served as a dessert cake.

I thoroughly enjoyed baking this cake and I served this for the family after one Sunday lunch for dessert with lashings of homemade custard. My family gave the big thumbs up on this cake and I am sure to be putting this recipe in my family favourites now to bake again. Thank you Maria for posting such a lovely recipe for this month’s bake! Sweet & Simple Bakes Baking Event is open to everyone (yes everyone) from the novice to the more inspired bakers amongst us! Just imagine the delight of loved ones and friends as you share with them your homemade bakes. Nothing can beat the smell of newly baked goods wafting through the air to get an appetite in full flow! You will receive a warm welcome, so do come on over and join with us and please don’t be shy – take a peek it’s just one click away!!

For more information on how to partake click on this link – Sweet & Simple Bakes.

Vanilla Apple Cake

Ingredients
250g (9 oz) unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
250g (9 oz) golden caster sugar (or normal caster sugar)
4 eggs, beaten
250g (9 oz) self raising flour
1 vanilla pod, seeds removed and reserved (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
3 small Bramley apples, peeled, cored and cut into wedges (or any other type of cooking apple, if not apple of your choice)
2 tbsp Demerara sugar
¼ tsp ground cinnamon

Method

Heat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas mark 4. Butter a 20cm 98 in) springform tin, and line the base with baking paper.

Beat the caster sugar and butter together until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, flour and vanilla seeds or vanilla extract, then beat together quickly to make a smooth batter. Tip into a prepared tin, then lay the apple wedges on top, poking them halfway into the mix. Don’t worry if the apples appear crowded – they shrink as they cook. Sprinkle with Demerara sugar and cinnamon, then bake for 1 hour 5 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean and the sponge is risen and golden.

Leave to cool for a few minutes, then release the tin and cool the cake completely on a wire rack.