Sherry and Cherry cake

Another of Dan Lepards cakes.  Anyone would think he was paying me.  This is a sherry and cherry cake only without the sherry.  Very nice and moist.  Shame the sugar on top just sank in so no crunchy topping.

Marbled chocolate crumble cake

I finally got round to trying one of Dan Lepard's sweet recipes.  Once again an easy to make recipe which tasted pretty good too.  Although I must admit we ate this still hot from the oven, so I have to assume it tastes as good cold (but I guess the chunks of dark chocolate wouldn't still be melted then).  This cake would make a wonderful hot pud with ice cream.  

Cinnamon and raisin loaf

I've been at it again making bread, this time Dan Lepard's cinnamon and raisin loaf.  I just can't help myself his recipes are so easy.  This bread came out so well.  Smells amazing and tastes pretty good too.  This is the sort of thing I would be proud to give people as a present.

Gingerbread Traybake

Back to Mary Berry's traditional cakes this week.  A gingerbread traybake with crystallized ginger in the icing.  A good, tasty, filling cake.

Spelt and ale loaf

I seem to be working my way through Dan Lepards breads at the moment.  Today's is his spelt and ale loaf which worked very well although it was stickier that his other recipes on the last knead.  The ale doesn't come through too strong and it was a lovely soft bread.

I really must move on to some of his sweet treats.

Honey wholemeal cake

And finished with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's honey wholemeal cake, which was super easy to make, but it hasn't sunk.  No that is me not reading the instructions which suggest you leave the cake to cool in the tin for a little bit and then remove it, rather than trying to flip it over with a fish slice while still steaming.  Still it tasted wonderful while still hot; it would make a good hot pudding with custard.

Wholemeal loaf

This weekend turned into a bit of a wholemeal celebration.  It started with this lovely wholemeal loaf from Dan Lepard (he really is a bread god).  It was easy to make and tastes so much better than the wholemeal bread you get in the shop.

Lemon curd marble muffins

For Christmas I didn't just get Dan's book, I also got River Cottage Everyday by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.  But I hadn't had a chance to try anything out until now.  I decided to have another attempt at muffins, in this case lemon curd marble muffins, and although they haven't come out as the biggest muffins ever they have risen and they haven't flattened and I am very pleased.  

Banana caramel cream pie

Rather than spend way too much on average food for Valentines night we decided to stay home and make ourselves a special meal.  We agrees that while I would be in charge of the main, 'im outdoors would do pud. He chose Dan Lepard's banana caramel cream pie which we both really enjoyed.  I think it tasted like banana fitters.  Thanks love.