Easy Waffles from Jamie Oliver

I wish I could say that I just magically knew how to make waffles from scratch, but I don't. Like most people I had to look it up. I mean someone somewhere in time must have said lets mix flour, egg, and milk together and heat it up in a pan or griddle or waffle maker or whatever they used way back in the day and magically made waffles.

However, when it comes down to the simple things, like waffles, they have generally been done before. That's why I have borrowed Jamie Oliver's recipe - which probably wasn't his recipe to begin with either to be fair. But in today's world of copyright and people owning things I will give him credit here as it was his website I found the recipe I use to make waffles.

Since picking up a waffle maker for only £5 (marked down) I have been making waffles for my girls and I for breakfast and dessert. I hadn't thought of sharing it on the blog because I hadn't changed the recipe up at all and toppings are subjective to individual taste.

Then I thought well people are missing out on this super easy waffle recipe to then top with whatever they want! I mean they might find it on Jamie Oliver's site like I did, but if they are like me they are skeptical of how it might turn out and as I have made this about a dozen times now I can say yes this is a good waffle recipe.

Easy Waffles

150g self rising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp sugar
1 large egg
240ml milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Mix the dry ingredients together. Then beat the egg in a separate bowl before adding it, in about three parts, to the dry ingredients. Then slowly add the milk beating until smooth between each addition until it's perfectly smooth. Then following the instructions on your waffle maker make waffles!
I usually get about 6 -8 waffles out of the batter.

*I wish Jamie Oliver was paying me to say or to share this, but he's not. If you'd like to visit his site the recipe is here. The amazing lovely lady at Moose Maple Butter sent me a tub of the butter to try out and it's amazing on waffles. Thought it was worth a shout out on here! I met her at Food Blogger Connect a few years back now and received a tub from her there and made these delicious Maple Butter Bars! All opinions are my own and if you want further information see my contact/policy page above!

Moose Maple Butter Bars

When I attended Food Blogger Connect I was introduced to Moose Maple Butter!

They were giving us samples of it on a square of toast and I kept going back for more! It was sweet and delicious!

The Moose Maple butter consists of exactly 3 things: Grade A Maple Syrup, oraganic butter, and sea salt. The less ingredients the better it usually is!

After talking to the ladies there they gave me a tub to take home! Ever since I have been thinking of ways to use it in my baking before I ate it all on my breakfast toast.

First I thought for sure I would use it in a frosting to top cupcakes, but I have been making a lot of cupcakes lately and it just wasn’t how I wanted to showcase this delicious butter!

So, eventually I decided I wanted to make a cookie/brownie like bar and so I did. They turned out better then I could image.

They are thin like a cookie, but gooey like a brownie and completely irresistible! 

Moose Maple Butter Bars:

130g plain flour

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

120g Moose Maple Butter

170g light brown sugar

1 large egg

½ vanilla extract

1 tablespoon Maple Syrup

50g white chocolate chunks

Heat the oven to 180C/350F and line your brownie pan or 8 inch square tin with baking paper. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside and melt the butter and light brown sugar on a low heat until the butter is completely melted and it’s a bit grainy still. Then gently whisk in the egg, vanilla extract, and maple syrup before folding in the dry ingredients until just combined. Pour into your prepared pan/tin and sprinkle the while chocolate chunks on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes until it has a nice light brown color and it starts to come away from the sides a bit. Cool before cutting into squares. Then enjoy!

notes: Moose Maple Butter was given to me to try. Please see my contact/policy page above for further information.

5 ways to use your Brioche Pasquier Loaf

1. Cinnamon Toast

Cinnamon Sugar: 2/3 cups sugar mixed with 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

Toast your brioche slice and liberally butter sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top leave for about a minute then tap off the excess cinnamon sugar back into the cinnamon sugar pot/jar.

2. PB & J Sandwich

All you need is your favorite jam be it strawberry, raspberry, or bramble on one slice of brioche and peanut butter on the other. Then enjoy!

3. Hamburgers

Some trendy burger joints are now offering brioche buns for a small extra fee. And other trendy burger places are using sliced bread instead of buns. So, I thought I’d use both trends and use sliced brioche for my hamburgers!

4. Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding:

260g sliced Brioche Pasquier, cubed

100g chocolate chips

3 large eggs

40g light brown sugar

2 tbsp of dark rum

600ml full fat milk

4 handfuls of demerara sugar

Lightly butter a baking dish and add the stale cubed bread. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the stale cubed bread. Whisk the eggs, brown sugar, rum and milk together before pouring all over the stale cubed bread. Then sprinkle about 4 small handfuls of the demerara sugar over the top, this is what gives it a nice sugary crunch on top. Heat the oven to 170C. Soak for about 20 minutes while the oven heats up. Bake in the oven 40-50 minutes. Let it cool slightly before serving!

5. Classic Bread & Butter

Let’s be honest Brioche is delicious and I ate at least half of my Brioche Pasquier loaf with a slathering of butter. Sometimes with Maple Moose Butter! When it's paired with the sweetness of the brioche loaf it is something pretty special! Yum! 

notes: I was given a couple of loaves of Brioche Pasquier to try, please see my contact/policy page for further information. Moose Maple Butter was also given to me at Food Blogger Connect. Recipe is adapted from Nigella’s Kitchen.

Rock n Roll {Ed's Diner Review}

This weekend I had an opportunity to visit Ed’s Diner, that recently opened up in The Oracle (Reading, Berkshire). 

It wasn't my experience at Ed’s. The first time was years ago wondering around London and randomly happened upon an Ed’s at lunchtime.

Then not too long ago one opened up in Basingstoke, which I made my husband take me too. If that doesn't tell you that I am a fan of Ed’s Diner then I don’t know what will. It’s also pretty obvious then, that I was super excited to see one open up in Reading!! 

My friend, Cathy who loves American style food (I honestly think it’s the only reason she’s friends with me) was my date for the night. We weren't disappointed. The food and atmosphere was great. The staff was friendly and helpful. It was an all around good experience.

Cathy had an Oreo Milkshake, Chili Cheese burger combo plate, and a pancake stack for dessert. Here is what I had!

Rootbeer Float:

Big Bubba’s Bacon N’ Cheese Burger:

Atomic American Fries:

Lot of Waffle:

Have you ever been to an Ed’s Diner? If so what was your experience? What did you get? What flavor of milkshake or malt would you suggest?? (I love the peanut butter one!)

Notes: Check out my full review!! (removed as of 31.1.2016) Ed’s Diner Reading: Upper Floor, Broad Street Entrance; The Oracle Shopping Centre; Reading RG1 2AG (NOW CLOSED 2017) and Ed’s official site visit to sign up for the newsletter you get a coupon for a free shake a few weeks around and including your birthday! 

Forever Nigella #23 Nostalgia American Pancakes!!

Forever Nigella #21 Christmas was the first FN I participated in and it was a lot of fun! It was great seeing what everyone else decided to make! The big bonus for me was the support and kind words in the comments! I didn't participate in January’s just for lack of time management! So, as I went into February with the FN theme, Nostalgia, firmly in the forefront of my mind. Every time I opened my Nigella books I asked myself “What Would Nigella Do?”

Okay not really, but I was struggling to find something that was nostalgic to me being an American Expat and all. Nothing immediately stood out for me - until today (Strove Tuesday). As I was making pancakes for my girls and a few of their friends, using the trustworthy American Pancake recipe from Domestic Goddess, it occurred to me that they would be perfect for this month’s FN!

Growing up, pancakes and eventually waffles after the waffle maker came to live with us, were usually brunch on most holiday mornings and lazy weekends. It’s funny how a food can bring back memories, faded and fuzzy memories, but memories all the same. So, for my Forever Nigella #23 Nostalgia I give you Nigella’s American Pancakes. 

The recipe is located in How to be a Domestic Goddess. Nigella's American Breakfast Pancakes can also be found on her site! Thank you to Botanical Baker (this month’s host) and Maison Cupcakes for bringing us Forever Nigella #23!

half with maple syrup and the other with Lotus biscuit spread

Oh and I love the fact that pancakes here in England are called “American Pancakes”. Never had to clarify before! ;0] 

Sticky Maple-Apple Traybake!! {review: The Great British Bake Off App}

It’s that time of year…The Great British Bake Off has started again! I know this Tuesday will be the fifth episode and that I haven’t said too much about it here on my blog, but I watch every week!!

I love watching the bakers show their skills and creativity when being presented with a challenge. I think to myself if they can do it, then surely I can as well, right? The show has inspired many to take up baking; with books and an iPhone app (out last month) home bakers have lots to choose from for inspiration!

Not owning any of the books that accompany the show, when I was given the opportunity to check out the app I jumped at it!

The app contains fifty amazing recipes selected from The Great British Bake Off: How to Bake and the new book for this year, How to Turn Everyday Bakes into Showstoppers. The recipes will look and feel familiar if you are an avid fan of the show like me.

It didn’t take me long to decide what to make first. As it’s officially fall now all I think about are apples! When I saw the Sticky Apple-Maple Traybake on this app I didn’t have to look any further.

The cake is super moist and full of flavor!! I am finding it really hard at the moment not to go and grab another slice!

The directions say 30-35 mins I only needed 25, so know your oven!

My littlest one saying she "want that" gotta love baby talk!

Big pieces of apple and walnut in a light moist cake!!

The best part of using this app was I didn’t have to touch the screen of my iPad with mucky fingers to get to the next screen! This part took me a minute to figure out… first you need to turn the iPhone, or in my case my iPad, horizontally! It was a light bulb moment for me! Then you touch the little hand picture (see picture above) and you just wave your hand above the screen and it scrolls through as you go!

This app is great for all levels of bakers! Within the app you can take pictures and share on Facebook or Twitter. I am on both under United Cakedom! ;0) At 2.99 you can’t really go wrong with this app!!

links: 

The Great British Bake Off App

The Great British Bake Off website