Banana Cake

Delicious banana cake - I've loved this cake since I was a teenager! Courtesy of the lovely Tina!

THE RECIPE

Tina's Banana Cake

8oz self raising flour
4oz caster sugar
4oz butter
2 eggs
2 ripe bananas
1tsp of bicarbonate of soda
2 tbsp hot milk
1 tsp baking powder
(Optional icing - Icing sugar, lemon juice)

1. Preheat the oven to 150C and grease a baking tin lightly with butter (8in tin works well). 

2. Cream the butter and sugar together with an electric whisk.

3. Beat the 2 eggs and stir them in.

4. Heat up the milk in the microwave until hot (around 30secs is fine) stir in the bicarbonate of soda to make a frothy mixture.  Mash the bananas.  Add them both into the mixture together and stir slightly with a wooden spoon (not too aggressive).

5. Sift the flour into the mixture and add the baking powder, stir these in gently until all the ingredients are combined.  The mixture should be quite firm and stick together. 

6.  Pour the mixture into the baking tin and smooth off the top.  Bake in the oven for around 50 mins or until a knife comes out of the cake clean. 

7. Once cooked carefully remove cake from the tin and leave to cool on a cooling rack.  

8. (optional) Once cake is cool sift some icing sugar into a bowl,  add a few drops of lemon juice and then add boiling water bit by bit as you stir to create a thick but spreadable icing.  Judge the amount of icing based on the size of the top of the cake.  Spread over and wait to set!

This cake is delicious and also lovely eaten warm (put a slice in the microwave for 20secs to enjoy warm).

MUFFINS:

This recipe also makes delicious muffins.  Put paper cases into a muffin tin and pour the mixture into them evenly.  Bake in the oven at 180C for 20 minutes or until knife comes out clean.  Add icing to each muffin. 

Thanks Tina!

Double Chocolate Cake

Lovely moist chocolate cake with white chocolate icing.  This cake is perfect for chocolate lovers and is delicious!

THE RECIPE

Double Chocolate Cake
(Serves 12)

For the Cake:
175g butter (softened)
175g brown sugar
155g self raising flour
20g cocoa powder
1tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
3 medium eggs
100ml creme fraiche

For the icing:
175g white chocolate
125g butter
4 tbsp milk
200g icing sugar
1 Cadbury's flake to sprinkle on the top (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 170C.  Grease 2 baking tins and line the bases with baking paper (20cm/8" tins are perfect - I had one slightly smaller and it made quite a nice tier effect, so it doesnt matter on the sizes too much)

2. Place the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl, whisk together until combined.  An electric whisk is best as you'll get a much smoother softer cake at the end.

3. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into the bowl.  Beat the eggs and add them into the mixture along with the creme fraiche.  Whisk it all up together.

4. Divide the mixture into the 2 baking tins.  Smooth the tops off with a spatula and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes.  When the cakes come out, leave to cool in their tins slightly.  Then turn out onto a wire baking tray to cool fully.  Remove the baking paper.

5. Now for the icing...Place the White chocolate, butter and milk in a microwavable bowl.  Put the bowl into the microwave for 20 seconds at a time, stirring each time the timer goes off.  Continue this until the mixture is smooth. 

6. Sift the icing sugar into a mixing bowl and then add in the melted chocolate mixture.  Beat together with a whisk (again an electric whisk is best).  Allow the icing to cool, then whisk again until the mixture is thicker and keeps it's shape slightly when stirred.  (You could put it in the fridge for a while to speed up this up a bit).

7. Use a little of the icing to sandwich the two cakes together.  Then spread the rest over the top and sides of the whole cake.  Before the icing sets, sprinkle a Cadbury's flake (or decoration of your choice) over the top.

Enjoy! This one's quite a lot of work, but it's worth it!

Inspiration - Home, Parties and Weddings

I came across this website in the week:

http://www.angelatmytable.com/

It's got lovely ideas for home decoration, parties and weddings.  All with a lovely soft vintage feel.
The sell most of the stuff too!