Birthday Cake

Blondies

At first I thought that the very dramatic twist on the all time favourite brownie would have been too much for me to handle yet I was pleasantly surprised with the deliciousness of these morsels of white fudge. The substitution of white chocolate for the dark is such a simple change yet it transformed the treat beyond recognition. I would defiantly reccomend that you give them a go. There are loads of recipes to choose from and also you could throw in a few chopped nuts to add the textures. Hope you have a good weekend of cooking and baking!!!

Indian Shepards Pie

Just another picture from the week gone by. It was that time of week again and I was lumbered with the responsibility of cooking for my family albeit only 5 of us. The task seems to become more daunting each week as you search for something new and try to avoid a repeat of a less successful family meal. Due to my ever increasing amount of homework and essays I took the easy route out and opted for my easy and simple meal that is an Indian Shepards Pie. At first it may sound unusual to those unacquainted with Anglo-Indian food but I can assure you that it is better than the original. Just a few simple ground spices like coriander and garram massala along with the three cornerstones of Indian cooking; garlic, chilli and ginger transform the rather drab English dish into a league of its own. Enjoy the picture and have a go at adding some Indian flavours to your meals.

Christening Cakes

I know that I have neglected my blog in the last few months but everyday life has seemed to have taken over leaving me with hardly any time to enjoy the things that I truly want to. Theses are just a few pictures from earlier on this month which I wanted to share. They were for a friends christening and whilst I was making them it reminded me of the comments and delight I used to get when I blogged I hope you enjoy and I will try and stay more committed this time round. 

Puff Pastry Pizza

Just thought I would post a picture of a little lunch time treat I made myself the other day. I was faced with a near bare fridge which provided no inspiration yet with a few store cupboard classics I created something which satisfied my needs as well as something which is sure to stay in my recipe folder. My meal was a puff pastry pizza, (more so a tart) which I layered with tomato puree and a variety of toppings. Something magical must of happened in the oven as I had no expectations but soon was urging for more. Feel free to give it a go and have a quick look over the ingredient lists. Just make it up as you go along and see what happens.

• 125g Puff Pastry
• Sprinkling of Oregano
• 1 1/2 tsp t puree
• 1 Mushroom
• 30g Cheese
• 20g Sliced onion
• Topping of Your Choice
• Olive Oil 

Carrot and Coriander Soup

A thick, rich, velvety soup such as carrot and coriander may not scream summer to the entire population but to me it does. The hearty nature of the soup instantly fills you with warmth and makes you feel that little bit better. The fresh flavour of the coriander cuts through the over flavours and brings the soup into a league of it's own. I made a batch of this rather delicious creation the other day and have been enjoying it ever since. The carrot and coriander combination of flavours is a match made in heaven which seems impossible to dislike. To me this is definitely one of the best staple soup every foodie should have in their recipe folder and even though it may be a tad too warming for some people to enjoy in summer I can guarantee that it is a winter warmer for all. Enjoy the pic I took.

Indian Onion Chutney

This is a quick recipe for a simple yet scrumptious cold onion chutney which I served last night with my meal. It goes great with mango chutney and poppadoms as well as with the curry itself. It tastes even better if you allow it to refrigerate for an hour as the onion fully takes on the other flavours. Give it a go and I am sure you will not be disappointed.

• 1 Medium Onion, Finely Diced
• 1 tsp Vegetable Oil
• 1 ½ tsp Tomato Puree
• ½ Clove Grated Garlic
• ¼ tsp Chilli Powder
• 1 ½ tsp Fresh Chopped Coriander
• Salt

1. Add the finely diced onion, oil, tomato puree, garlic, chilli powder and coriander to a large mixing bowl and fully incorporate until all the ingredients have coated each other.
2. Add salt to taste, transfer to a refrigerator and allow the chutney to rest for up to an hour to allow the flavours to strengthen.
3. Remove from the refrigerator 5 mins before serving and divide the onions between several ramekins. Serve alongside your main meal or starter to make your meal extra special.

Onion Chutney Served With Poppadoms