United Cakedom: Great British Bake Off

Showing posts with label Great British Bake Off. Show all posts

Coconut & Lemon Bakewell (recipe review) Inspired by Soul of Cinder by Bree Barton

Soul of Cinder by Bree Barton is the third instalment of the trilogy that started with Heart of Thorns and followed by Tears of Frost. Soul of Cinder picks up right where Tears of Frost left off with Mia and Pilar on another journey, but not really sure of where they are going. What they do know is that after having just found each other the worst thing would be to lose the other one, but it's hard to support someone when you are still trying to figure out what it is you need or want.

The whole series is a journey of these amazing characters over coming hardships and set backs only to finally grow into who they were always meant to be. People who can make real change in a really messed up world. I don't know what else to say without giving anything away that happens in the previous books! All I can say is that I highly recommend this series, it has some really good twists and although set in a fantasy setting is one of the most real series I have read in a while.*

On to the the Coconut and Lemon Bakewell in Soul of Cinder when Mia and Pilar arrive in this new land one of the first things they expreience is a lemon coconut.

Where the image of what this hybrid fruit would look like, in my head, is still inclusive it didn't take much of a stretch to know what it would taste like and that I would have immediately thought of all the things I could bake with it!!

I finally settled on a Coconut & Lemon Bakewell Tart! I do live in England and a Bakewell Tart is a classic so why not? I found this recipe in John Whaite Bakes by John Whaite winner of The Great British Bake Off season 3! For this recipe you will need time to make the pastry as it needs to rest before baking so if time is an issue you could make the pastry dough the night before.

Short Crust Pastry:

250g plain flour
125g salted butter, cubed
1 large egg
cold water

1 egg white, beaten (you need the yolk so keep it!)

- In a bowl rub the flour and butter together with your hands until it resembles bread crumbs. You want to do this quick as not to allow the heat from your hands melt the butter to much. Add the egg and 1 tsp of water and bring the pastry dough together. Add water sparingly if needed until the mixture comes together. Knead gently for just a moment before wrapping in baking paper and resting in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Roll out the pastry, line your 10 inch/25cm loose bottomed tart tin with pastry pressing it into the grooves and trimming the edges off. Don't forget to prick the base with a fork and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Make the filling(s)

frangipane filling:

175g unsalted butter, room temp

175g golden caster sugar

4 large eggs

85g desiccated coconut

90g ground almonds

1 tbsp plain flour

zest of 2 lemons

Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and mix until just combined, then fold in the coconut, almonds, flour and zest. The mixture looks a bit funny, but trust me it's okay! Fill a piping bag with the mixture and put to the side.

lemon curd filling:

150g lemon curd

1 egg yolk

Mix the lemon curd with the egg yolk and set aside.

continue: Preheat the oven to 190C or 170C fan. Line the pastry with baking paper and fill with baking beads or rice or whatever it is you use and bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Then remove from the oven and take away the baking beads and blind bake for 12 minutes. After that take the pastry out and brush over the egg white, it helps avoid a soggy bottom and pop into he oven for another minute!

Let the pastry cool slightly before layering first the lemon curd mixture and then carefully pipe on the frangipane filling. I smoothed mine out before popping into the oven for 30-35 minutes. It should be golden brown and slightly wobbly when it comes out of the oven. Allow to cool completely before icing!

for the icing:

250g icing sugar

2 tbsp of water

desiccated coconut and lemon zest to top

Mix the icing sugar and water together it should become a pourable but thick icing. If need be add a little more water but add it little by little so it doesn't become too runny. Top with coconut and lemon zest!

Soul Cinder by Bree Barton is out now!!! I bought my own copy all opinions are my own. I made a recipe inspired by the first book in the series Heart of Thorns! That can be found here!!

*Please note the series does delve into sexual assault and depression.

John Whaite Bakes is an old book and I was sent it to review back in 2013 when it was published, but besides the book I did not receive any other compensation. It is a great book and have made several recipes from it! Full review of the book is here!!

Easy Choc Dip and Drizzle Cookies from Dr Oetker {recipe/product review}

I don't have a microwave. Some people find that weird and others don't have them either and so can relate. It really hasn't affected my kitchen life.

Until I agree to try out a recipe from the Dr. Oetker website and even picked the recipe I thought looked great, only to find out that the White Easy Choc pot suggests it to be microwaved. It was at this point I was annoyed with myself for not paying attention to all the details.

However, as I re-read I was excited to see I didn't need a microwave at all because I could just put the pot in a bowl and then pour hot water around it just like a bain marie aka water bath aka double boiler type situation. Perfect!

This recipe is one of the easiest cookie recipes I have tried and would be a great one to make with kids, once the cookies are dipped you could easily let them decorate them with all sorts of sprinkles! I kept mine plain because I was lacking in sprinkles... I should really stock back up.....

Back to what I was saying these are easy cookies to make and what I haven't said yet is that they are soft and chocolatey! They would make a perfect treat after school or dinner or bake sale! As Dr. Oetker are the proud sponsors of the Great British Bake Off I think I can safely say ....

Get ready, set, bake!

Easy Choc Dip and Drizzle Cookies

100g unsalted butter

75g dark brown sugar

1 medium egg yolk

100g plain flour

25g cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder

1 pot of Dr. Oetker White Easy Choc

Heat the oven to 190˚C (170˚C fan oven, 375˚F, gas 5). Line 1-2 baking trays with baking parchment. In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until creamy and well blended. Beat in the egg yolk.

Sift the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder into the butter mixture and beat until just combined. Divide the mixture into 16 rounds approx. 4cm (1 ½ inches) in diameter and place on the baking trays, spaced slightly apart.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until just firm and lightly cracked on top. Cool on the baking trays for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Melt the Easy Choc as directed on the pot, and leave to cool for 10 minutes. Arrange the cookies on a board lined with baking parchment. And, using a teaspoon, thickly drizzle half of them with the melted Easy Choc. Half dip the remaining cookies and place back on the parchment to set.

*Dr. Oetker got in touch with me and sent me a few of the products mentioned above to bake these cookies from their website, the recipe can be found ~~here~~ link no longer available. There was no other compensation given - all opinions are my own for more information please see my contact/policy page above.

Sweet Potato & Sweet Smoked Paprika Bread

This summer has been pretty disappointing. We had some glorious weather early on and that was about it. With the cooler weather lately I have already been thinking of fall/autumn flavors. Dinner has already started changing from chicken salads and sandwiches to creamy delicious macaroni and cheese and cottage pies! If dinner is already changing why not my baking!

With bread being the star of The Great British Bake Off this week, plus I just received a new bread book, and I had a whole bag of strong white flour in my cupboard I thought I’d make a loaf of bread! With fall/autumn like weather I decided to go with a sweet potato and paprika flavored bread.

You know how when decorating a room you either have plain walls with decorative accessories or you have fun wall paper and plan accessories. That’s how bread is. You either have plain bread with flavor packed toppings or flavor packed bread with butter or for dipping in soup. If done tastefully you can decorate a room with wallpaper and colorful accessories and that goes for bread too. If you know how to pair it just right you get yummy fillings/toppings to go with your flavor packed bread.

Well, after that load of ramble here is how I made this loaf of Sweet Potato and Paprika bread. The recipe comes from Simply Good Bread: Delicious home-baked recipes for everyone by Peter Sidwell. Somewhat adapted as my method varied from his direct instructions. The title says it all the recipes all seem pretty simple and easy for everyone. There are even instructions for those who are using a bread maker.

Sweet Potato & Sweet Smoked Paprika bread

200g sweet potatoes, baked/soft
500g strong white bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fast action yeast (about 1/2 of a 7g sachet)
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
300ml water
1 tablespoon smoked sweet paprika

Start by baking the potato(s) and mashing them. Set aside.
Mix the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a measuring jug measure the water before adding the yeast, sugar, and paprika - stir to combine.
Make a well in the centre of the flour/salt and pour the liquid mixture in the middle. Add the mashed potatoes before using a spatula gently bring the dry and liquid ingredients together before using your hands to start to work the dough. Once it starts to come away from the bowl tip out on to a well floured surface and knead for 5-10 minutes. The dough is sticky so keep floured and have a dough scraper near by.
Once kneaded place back in the bowl and leave to rise until doubled in size should take 30-40 minutes in a warm place.
When it’s ready gently tip it out and knock it back or gently knead for about a minute. Then place in a 1kg or 2lb loaf tin, grease if it’s not non-stick. Leave to double in size while you pre-heat the oven to 200C.
Bake in the heated oven for 40 minutes until golden brown on top. Gently tip the loaf out and knock on the bottom, if it sounds hallow then it’s ready. If not cook for 5-10 more minutes.
Slice and enjoy!

notes: I hope break week on The Great British Bake Off encourages you to give bread a go! If you do you should enter it into Jen’s Food and Utterly Scrummly’s Bread Challenge - Bready Steady Go! I did!

To see a few other books I recently added to my bookshelf beside's Mr. Sidwell's check out my last post here!

Baking For the Love of It {book review Crumb by Ruby Tandoh}

Every time I write a book review I always feel it important to say that I don’t buy baking books any more. But that’s just not true; I do still buy baking and cook books.

The truth is I’m just pickier about which ones I buy. My shelves really are straining from the weight.

I hadn't known that Ruby Tandoh from the Great British Bake Off had written a book. When I had wondered into my local Sainsbury’s and saw it on the shelf curiosity got the best of me and I had a look through.

It visually appealed to me and after I read the intro I found myself putting it in my basket. I tend to stalk and contemplate a book with great scrutiny until I finally buy it. It’s like my husband when he’s deciding on some electronic gadget. However with this book it just felt right in my hands.

That probably sounds weird, but it’s true.

Once I sat down with a nice cup of coffee and started to read I was very impressed. It is more then just recipes; it’s a genuine intro to baking. If I were teaching Baking 101 I would have this on top of my list for recommended reading.

It’s informative not only of the how to of baking but of the why. Which is refreshing after the amount of baking books that to no fault of their own can leave a lot to guessing.

The book covers the basics of basic baking with the ability to take what you've learned and experiment on your own. The chapters include: Cake, Bread, Sweet Dough, Biscuits, Puddings & Desserts, Pies & Tarts, Pastries, and Extras.

There are quite a few recipes I wouldn't mind having a go of for instance the Orange & White Chocolate Loaf Cake or her Cornish Splits and I have always wanted to make Monkey Bread! I think I will have a lot of fun experimenting with this book!

There is a wealth of first hand experience in this book and I really enjoyed reading it!

notes: I bought this book for my collection at Sainsbury's for 9.99 it came with an exclusive Sainsbury's booklet with a handful of extra recipes. All opinions are my own please see my contact/policy page above for more information. Stay tuned for the first recipe I tried from the book!

Meeting Mary Berry! {a book signing}

In my about me page I mention that I started baking when I made my daughter’s first birthday cake.

I had never baked a cake from scratch before. So, I did what every normal person does, I went on Amazon and ordered a book on cakes.

The book I happened to choose for both the title and the price was Mary Berry’s Fast Cakes.

Being American I had no idea who Mary Berry was, nor at that time did I even think to care who she was.

All I knew is that I wanted to bake a cake from scratch and I wanted an easy and fast way to do it.

However when my friend asked about my cake making and I said that I had a Mary Berry book, she was not surprised.

It was a few short years later she was in the spot light again for The Great British Bake Off. Now Fast Cakes has been republished with a new cover, as I’m sure a lot of her other titles have been.

I was excited to learn she had published a new book Mary Berry Cooks!

And even more excited when I found out Mary Berry was going to be in my town signing books!

The line was huge! I arrived a good couple of hours early and it was already snaking around the bookshelves.

The line moved quickly. We weren't allowed to take photos with Mary, it was a little disappointing, but I understand why. It would have taken forever!

I never know what to say to people I admire so I usually end up saying something silly like I did when I met the David’s from Outsider Tart. This time I had a 4 year old with me and she took the pressure off, by telling Mary that her hands were sticky.

Considering she’s cuter then me she got the attention and I was just another person in a line.

But hey I got my book signed!

I also got one signed for my mother-in-law for Mother’s Day. When I asked her about Mary Berry she told me this:

“Mary Berry was my very first cookery book, given to me as a wedding present from my Aunt Maisie back in 1979. So, Mary got me cooking much more. Some of her cake recipes I still use today as they are my favourites and always work! Love the woman and she inspired me to be adventurous in making family meals! Want a great shortbread recipe – Mary Berry! Want an easy to make cheesecake – Mary Berry! She is my cooking bible! Mary’s recipes are easy straight forward and don’t trash your kitchen.” ~ Kate (my mother-in-law)

Which basically sums up the fact that Mary is classic and her books will be on bookshelves for many years to come!

notes: An image of my first cake is here, it's the pink one with a number one on it! Want to know what I said to the David’s of Outsider Tart? See that post here!

Best of The Great British Bake Off! {Clandestine Cake Club}

This month's theme for Reading's Clandestine Cake Club was the Best of the Great British Bake Off! It was open to cakes from the show, contestants, presenters, and so on.

I have Edd Kimbar's first book, both of Jo Wheatley's, and John Whaite's new book plus a couple of the GBBO books that accompany the show.

In this case having too much choice was a bad thing. I couldn't decide on anything! In the end I went with a cake from Edd's The Boy Who Bakes, the Orange and Passion Fruit Cake:

This is all that was left, but I am not complaining! I love going to cake club! However because we are all trying to eat as much cake as possible we only take very thin and little slices and I always end up with a lot of cake left over. Again not something I would normally complain about, but I tend to make cakes for cake club for me. I mean I tend to pick flavors and cakes I would like and I usually think of my family first. Therefore I want the cake to go because it would end up being me eating the rest of the cake!

Here are the cakes from last night! I do apologize for the lighting, I really do need to invest in a better camera!

Orange & Passion Fruit Cake: Edd Kimbar
Me

Toffee Apple Cake: GBBO Showstoppers

Chocolate: Mary Berry
Clara

Raspberry Ripple Cake: Edd Kimbar
Louise

Mocha Cake: Mary Berry

Battenberg: GBBO book
Jen

All the cakes were amazing! We really do have a talented bunch of bakers! I am looking forward to next month meet up! We were talking Halloween themed which is fine by me as it's my favorite holiday!

notes: Find a Clandestine Cake Club near you! I do apologize for missing one cake from a late comer and I am also sorry that I failed to learn everyone's name! Please let me know and I will correct it! Also check out Jen's awesome blog here!

Cake & Bake Show Thoughts

I let fate decide weather or not I was going to go to the second Cake & Bake Show. I couldn't decide on what to do. It's just that I didn't know what I wanted to get out of the show.

Currently I am not after any baking supplies and I am not into the decorating side of cake making. I mean I like simple decorations, sprinkles and glitter etc... but fondant isn't something I get excited about. Therefore, I don't need a lot of decorating tools and what not.

Then they don't have online when things are and who is talking or have demonstrations. If they do I couldn't find it so please correct me if I am wrong. Therefore I wasn't sure when to go and who I'd see.

As I couldn't decide I thought I'd just let it go this year and reconsider next year. Then I was having a lazy morning hanging out on Twitter and Cupcake Heaven Magazine were giving away a ticket to the show if I only retweeted the tweet. So, that's what I did and I won!

Then I went! I just walked around with my biggest mini baker. We saw Paul A. Young make a chocolate and pecan tart and talked to him briefly afterwards. Then we bought a few bakes from here and there, some sugar from Billington's Sugar Shake, and met some fun people!