Upside-down pear and ginger cake

Hello poppits'

i've got another recipe for you today , this time it's a supper nice pear and ginger upside down cake!

There's no supper amazing picture of it because we were out on a picnic and how really wants to wait around hungry whilst somebody takes picture ?? not I that's for sure.

the cake was really easy to make and because of the golden syrup it gives it a lovely dark cakie colour and scrumptious taste!

oh and the pears are truly delightful ! they are moist and infused with all the spices that are in the cake ! 

oh and a few picnic snaps :)

Recipe: Donna hay issue 56

Cake:

1 cup (350g) golden syrup

1 cup(175g) brown sugar

3/4 cups(180ml) milk

1 2/3 cups (250g) plain flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp mixed spice

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

125g butter, chopped

1 egg

5 pears, peeled and checks removed 

Pre heat you oven to 180c 

put the golden syrup, sugar and milk in a saucepan and heat over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved and set aside to cool.

place the flour, baking powder, all the spices and butter in a mixer and beat until the mixture looks like bread crumbs. now you can add the golden syrup mix with the mixer running until you have a smooth mix. 

now place your egg in and mix until combine. 

line a 20x30cm tin with backing paper and place the pear checks  cut side down and pour the the cake batter over them. bake for about 50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. 

let cool for 10 minutes or so and then turn out onto a cooling rack or just eat it now and then !


TTFN,
Lilixx
P.s Enjoy !!!

Amazing toffee and Almond slice

Hello Poppits 

How have you been? long for a sweet nutty snack, well here is your answer in one !

I stumbled across this recipe in one of my favourite cooking books Belinda Jeffery mix and bake.

Everything I've ever cooked out of it has turned out Amazing! and this was no exception. Sweet nutty and crunchy, with a lovely shortbread texture base without being too rich or heavy like some bases can be. The nut topping was so so yummy and moreish  everyone was very sad to see the last two slice gone to our lovely old hairdresser and his wife, but they enjoyed it so much and that made the slice even more enjoyable and memorable.

 oops those sticky crumbs 

RECIPE: belinda jeffery Mix and bake 

Base:

250g butter at room temperature

1 cup (220g) Caster sugar

2 egg yolks 

1/2 tsp vallina extract 

2cups(300g) plain flour 

1/2cup(75g) sr flour 

1/3(40g) custard powder

1/2 tsp salt

Topping:

1 cup (220g) brown sugar 

2 TBS honey 

180g butter

1/4 tsp salt

250g flaked almonds 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

Pre heat your oven to 180c

For the base:

in a large bowl beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy, now add in one egg yolk at a time until well mixed in, then add i your vanilla.

When this is all nice and mixed you can add in your flours, custard powder and salt, sift them if you like but i never bother and mix everything until nicely combined. 

scrape the dough into a lined slice tin , pat out evenly with you're hands and then role a small glass over to compress the base. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and puffy. 

Meanwhile for the topping:

put the brown sugar, honey,butter and salt in a heavy base pan over a low heat string until the sugar is dissolved and the butter melted. Now stop stirring and simmer the mixture for ten minutes. Add the almonds and the vanilla and mix well.

When the base is ready remove form the oven and let the base cool slightly so that the base doesn't cave in when the almond mix gets put on. pour the topping onto the base and working quickly spread the mix to completely cove the base and until smooth. return to the oven for about another 15 minutes but keep an eye on it. Remove when the topping is slightly golden and bubbling.

Leave to cool, once almost cool turn out onto a chopping board and cut into scrummy bits !

Enjoy.

TTFN,

Lili xx

Eccels

Hello poppits ,

I just had to share this yummy treat with you, sadly I no longer have the recipe for these scrummy Eccles in my possession but you can find it in this amazing book called Ladies a plate . This book is a must have for anyone who love a little something sweet and slightly old fashion, the recipes range form gypsy cookies through to curried eggs( bit weird but you get the gist) let my say it again Amazing 

Th Eccles were so so yummy It was  a sad time when they where finished off with a nice hot drink, but all good things must come to an end at some point in time ...

Basically for this recipe you need to find a recipe for flakey pastry and make up and currents, spice and apple mix and you'll by flying but maybe to be on the safe side have a look for a recipe...

Hope you try them really soon.

TTFN,

Lili