Sausage Rolls and Mince Pies

At this time of year it is traditional in our household to have sausage rolls and mince pies.  Some years ago I started baking them for the office and now it has become a tradition and many look forward to it on the last Friday before the Christmas holidays.  This year is no different.

Supplies are limited and therefore it is on a first come, first serve basis.

Happy Holidays to all and normal service will resume mid-January 2017.

Enjoy!

Coral

Encore Presentation!

As Nigel will not be in the office tomorrow I have sent an 'encore presentation' of Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread cookies.

Enjoy!

Coral

Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies

The run up to Christmas becomes very busy with sorting recipes, deciding what to bake for gifts and for home.  This year is no different.  December baking uses a lot of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

This week I have stepped away from cake and made Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies.  Upon removing one of the cookie sheets from the oven a few of the cookies did commit cookie-side.

Enjoy!

Coral

French Fruit Braid

This week I have made a French Fruit Braid.  According to the blog the last time I made this was 25th September 2009.  The filling for this braid consists of apples, raisins, cinnamon and butter.

When preparing the dough I was a little worried (as always with this recipe) as at one point it looked as though it would not rise.

Enjoy!

Coral

Banana Cake with Banana Icing

This time of year is extremely busy, not only with baking.  Looking back at the blog I had not baked the Banana Cake with Banana Icing since 30th September and I had Some very nice bananas just begging to be baked into a cake.

Enjoy!

Coral

Chocolate-Ginger Marble Cake

This week I have made a Chocolate-Ginger Marble Cake.  Rather than using the 'convection bake' setting I used the 'bake' setting. It is said that for cakes convection should not be used as this may cause an uneven surface although, as a general rule, I find that it is quite the opposite and so will go back to using 'convection bake'.

Rather than a chocolate glaze, for which whipping cream was required, the cakes were simply dusted with icing sugar.

Enjoy!

Coral

Cranberry Orange Loaf

It is mid-November and we are heading into Bazaar season.  That being said I have baking to do for the Church Bazaar which takes place on 26th November and have decided on cranberry and orange as these are festive flavours.  I am trying to decide on a recipe and therefore will be using Friday cake as a test.  I also added an orange icing to this cake.

Enjoy!

Coral

Glazed Lemon Cake

Nigel is back in the office today and that means that there is cake.  This week I thought that I would make a perennial favourite, Glazed Lemon Cake.

Enjoy!

Coral

Pumpkin Gingerbread

This week, continuing with the pumpkin theme, I have made a Pumpkin Gingerbread which is usually dusted with icing sugar.  I changed it up a little and made a Cream Cheese Icing.

Enjoy!

Coral

Chocolate Pumpkin Swirl Cake

In keeping with the October theme of baking with pumpkin, this week is no different.

This week I am trying a recipe, Chocolate Pumpkin Swirl Cake.  Usually this recipe is made in the form of a loaf but I have made some adjustments in order to make a larger cake.

Enjoy!

Coral

Pumpkin Carrot Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Butter icing

October is upon us and so, as has become traditional, pumpkin features in the baking.  This week is no exception and I have started the month with a Pumpkin Carrot Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Butter icing.

Enjoy!

Coral

Banana Cake with Banana Icing

Due to twisting my ankle on Tuesday evening, I did not know whether I would be able to stand long enough to bake.  The suggestion from Nigel was to sit on the floor.  However, this was not necessary.

I have baked the Banana Cake with Banana Icing this week.

I would like to say thank you to Reem for the gift of baking chocolate.

Enjoy!

Coral

Glazed Lemon Cake

Last week the Cinnamon Roll Cake was a big hit and apparently the 'new favourite' as with most of the cakes so will stay in the rotation.

Things have slipped nicely back into routine now that Nigel has been back for a fortnight.  Autumn (Fall) is upon us and the baking in October usually features pumpkin and/or apple but for now an all-time favourite, Glazed Lemon Cake.

Enjoy!

Coral

Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake

There has not been any of my baking for three weeks as Nigel has been travelling.  Now that he is back the usual Friday baking can resume.  I spent some time looking through recipes and came across a cake containing the flavours of cinnamon rolls (I just had to try it).  Feedback on this recipe, as with any new recipe that I try, would be appreciated.

Enjoy!


Coral

Glazed Lemon Cake

Due to the impending heat and the lack of air conditioning I decided to start the baking early.

Last Friday Nigel never made it to the office and neither did the cake.  However, the cake did make it in on Monday.

This week a request was made for something with citrus and therefore, due to the fact that the Glazed Lemon Cake is so popular, there is an encore presentation.

Enjoy!

Coral

Glazed Lemon Cake

This week it took me some time to decide on the cake.  Looking back at this blog I saw that Glazed Lemon Cake had not been made for the Office in five weeks and I had plenty of lemons and so Glazed Lemon Cake it was.  The cake will not be available until after lunch as Nigel is off site until then.

Enjoy!

Coral

Maple Glazed Doughnut Cake

Due to the temperatures we have been experiencing, the forecast high of 30C and a lack of air conditioning, I decided that it would be prudent to start the baking early.  The cake is now in the oven and it is 8.15 a.m.

This week I opted for the Maple Glazed Doughnut Cake, usually baked as a bundt cake but 9" x 13" format is much better suited to the office.

Enjoy!

Coral

Orange Drizzle Cake

At the weekend we bought a large quantity of oranges and because of that I decided that an Orange Drizzle Cake was in order this week.

Enjoy!

Coral

Carrot Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting/Banana Cake with Banana Icing

There was no entry made for 15th July due to a power failure that lasted 35 hours.  Fortunately I had baked the cake before the power failed.  Last week, 22nd July, there was no baking as Nigel took a week's holiday.  He spent some of the time tackling some of the ever growing "Honey Do!" list.

This weekend I made a Banana Cake with Banana Icing and there was plenty left and in order that it did not go to waist or waste Nigel took it to the office today.

Enjoy!

Coral

Carrot Cake and Glazed Lemon Cake

Due to work related travel and statutory holidays there has not been any Friday baking from myself since 10th June, although there was some residual cake sent in on a Monday 20th June and Tuesday 28th June.

Today, due to an excess of Glazed Lemon, there are two flavours of cake.

The recipe for the Carrot Cake makes an 8 x 8 cake. Usually, I double the recipe and bake it in a 9 x 13 pan instead.  This week I decided to make the recipe in two batches and bake it in the 8 x 8 format (only one of which has been sent to the office along with the Glazed Lemon Cake).

Enjoy!

Coral

Chocolate Banana Loaf and Banana Cake with Banana Icing

Usually, there would not be any baking today but I needed to bake three cakes for Sunday.  I made Chocolate Banana Loaf with a Chocolate Icing, Banana Cake with Banana Icing and a Carrot Cake with a Cream Cheese Icing,  The Carrot Cake was completely consumed but what was left of the other two have been sent with Nigel.  Quantities are extremely limited (although all three cakes were 9 x 13 inches).

Friday is also a National Holiday (Bank Holiday).


Enjoy!

Coral

Banana Cake with Banana Icing

I would usually be writing this on a Friday morning.  However,  Nigel was not in the office on Friday and so I am sending cake today.  it is a Banana Cake with Banana Icing.

Enjoy!

Coral

Blueberry Yogurt Pound Cake

This week I thought that I would start the day with this blog post.

Yesterday was a busy day in the kitchen.  The day started with making a ragu (to be used in a lasagne for dinner), which went into the bottom oven (slow oven) for 5 or 6 hours. After which I made the cake for today.  Followed by the filling for a Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake on the hob.

Today's cake is a Blueberry Yogurt Pound Cake made in the 9" x 13" format which is easier for the office than a Bundt.

Enjoy!

Coral

Chocolate Chip Cake

This week I am a little late writing this post (better late than never!).

For the enjoyment this week I have made a Chocolate Chip  Cake.  The recipe for this cake calls for raspberry flavoured chocolate chips however, these are not readily available so I have replaced them with semi-sweet.

Enjoy!

Coral

Banana Cake with Banana Icing

This week I raided the freezer for some nice ripe banana to make the Banana Cake with Banana Icing, a cake which, according to previous blog posts, I had not made since 12th February.

Enjoy!

Coral

Glazed Lemon Cake

Looking around the kitchen this week for inspiration there were some nice ripe lemons sitting in the fruit bowl.  Other than making lemonade what do you do with lemons?  You make Glazed Lemon Cake, a perennial favourite.

Enjoy!

Coral

Chocolate Carrot Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing

This week I have baked a Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing  using a recipe that I have only used once before back in May 2009.

Enjoy!

Coral

Orange Drizzle Cake (aka Jaffa Drizzle Loaf)

This week the cake is an Orange Drizzle Cake.  Originally I was going to make this last week but ran out of oranges before Thursday and therefore opted for the Toffee Blondies.

Enjoy!

Coral

Toffee Blondies

This week, while looking through the pantry, I had some toffee bits which got me thinking about a recipe I had only made once before (some years ago, I seem to think that maybe the children were still at school!).

For your enjoyment this week I have made Toffee Blondies.

Enjoy!

Coral

Bumbleberry Cake

With the slightly warmer weather I thought that I would make something a little more fruity.  With this in mind I opted for the Bumbleberry Cake, usually titled Bumbleberry Bundt Cake but the 9 x 13 format works best for the office.  I also had some melted white chocolate but it was too thick to drizzle and so Nigel just spread it over the top of the cake.

Bumbleberry or Jumbleberry is just a mix of berries (in this case frozen).

Enjoy!

Coral

Simnel Muffins

This week, due to Easter, I have baked a day early.  It has become a tradition over the past few years that I bake Simnel Muffins.  Quantities are very limited and for this I apologise (UK Spelling).

Happy Easter!

Enjoy!

Coral

Carrot Cake

Today the post will be short and sweet.

This week I decided on Carrot Cake for the baking.

Enjoy!

Coral

Glazed Lemon Cake

Due to work related travel and a power failure it has been four weeks since I have baked anything for the office.  This week the baking has returned in the form of a perennial favourite, Glazed Lemon Cake.

Enjoy!

Coral

Banana Cake with Banana Icing

It has been three weeks since the last post and the last cake as Nigel has been travelling.  This week the baking has returned in the form of the Banana Cake with Banana Icing.

Enjoy,

Coral

Jaffa (Orange) Drizzle Loaf (Cake)

For the cake this week I decided to bake the Jaffa Drizzle Loaf. When using this recipe I usually double it in order to bake it in the 9" x 13" format which works best for both the office and Church.

Enjoy!

Coral

Maple Glazed Doughnut Cake

Let me start by saying "Happy New Year"!

It is the first Friday of 2016 and I thought that I would start the year with a Maple Glazed Doughnut Cake.  This cake is usually baked as a bundt but, as with most of the bundt cake I adapt them for the 9" x 13" pan for ease of serving at the office.

Enjoy!

Coral