Apricot & Ginger Teabread

Combine 200g chopped dried apircots with 2 pieces of finely chopped stem ginger, 50g raisins & 10.5flozs orange juice, & soak 30 mins. Grease & line base of a 2lb loaf tin with half tsp oil & non stick paper. Heat oven 180C/gas 4.

Sift 225g SR flour in a large bowl & stir in 8tsp ganulated splenda. Beat 2 eggs into apricot mixture. Make a well in the flour & add mixture gradually, beating to make a batter. Pour into prepared loaf tin & bake 45mins til golden & a skewer comes out clean. Leave in tin 10 mins before cooling on a rack.

Butter almond raspberry sponge cake

Heat oven to 180degrees (fan asssited). Use a non stick 8" cake tin or line with greaseproof paper.  Cream 5oz butter with 5oz castor sugar.  Whisk 2 eggs and add 2 drops of almond essence for a few seconds then add eggs mix to creamed mix. Beat in 2floz of milk and add 5 oz sifted SR flour along with 5oz ground almonds folding in until just mixed.  Add 5oz raspberries & fold gently.  Bake 50 - 55 mins or until a skewer comes out clean.  Remove from oven, allow to cool for 10 mins.  Dust with sifted icing sugar and decorate with raspberries.

Caramelised Bananas & Fresh Pineapple Flambeed in Brandy

Peel & slice 2 bananas lengthwise & cut 2 rings of fresh pineapple into cubes half width of bananas. Heat a wide frying pan on medium heat & use enough oil just to coat the bottom then melt 30g butter into it.  When it starts to bubble place the bananas in cut side down to the outside of the pan & the pineapple slices in the middle where there will be most heat.  Sprinkle 2tbsp sugar over the fruit, continue frying turning pineapple frequently, the bananas less so until the sugar starts to caramelise & the bananas turn golden on both sides (the pineapple will have a little ‘bite’ & not be soft like the bananas).  Pour in 3 tbsp brandy & after 30 seconds add 2 tbsp double cream, the juice of half a lime & a touch of cinnamon.  Serve with a dollop of crème fraiche & chopped nuts sprinkled over.

Apple & Pear Honey Crunch

Peel, core & slice an apple & a pear. Place in alternate layers in a medium microwavable dish, thin slice a small banana as a final layer & drizzle 1 tbsp of clear honey over this.

Put 1 oz butter in another bowl & microwave for 1 min to melt. Stir in 1 tbsp of clear honey & 2oz muesli type breakfast cereal mixing well to coat. Spoon this evenly on top of the fruit & microwave 5 mins. Serve with hot custard.

Queen of Puddings (easy childhood favourite)

For 4 portions: place 3 egg yolks, 50g(2oz castor sugar), 1pt milk & 2 drops vanilla essence in a jug & whisk,  then microwave 4 mins. Put 175g (6oz) fresh breadcrumbs & half a grated lemon rind in a 2pt casserole dish, add the milk mix & stir well. Microwave 5.5 mins stirring halfway through cooking time. Set aside.

Place 2tbsp jam  in a dish & microwave 1 min. Spread jam over cooked breadcrumb & milk mix.

For topping: whisk 3 egg whites until mixture resembles peaks, fold in 175g (6oz) castor sugar. Spread mix over jam & swirl into decorative peaks then brown under a hot grill.

Hot Spiced Pears

A little longer  to prepare but I'm including this recipe as it's drool worthy:

Preheat the fan oven 180 degrees. Peel some pears & leave whole in a heatproof dish & place 2 star anise & a cinamon stick (snapped into 2 pieces) on pears along with 6 chopped dates or a handful of sultanas.

In another pan heat 150ml(quarter pt) red wine with 4tbsp orange juice, 35g(1&half oz) soft brown sugar, stir & bring to boil (or microwave 3 mins). Mash a banana & blend into the mixture. Pour this mixture over the pears spooning over a few times to coat the pears well. Cover the dish & bake up to 50-60mins until pears are soft. Remove pears & fruit & place upright in your serving dish.

Discard spices from the red wine liquid mixture & bring to boil stirring until reduced & thickened (around 4 mins). Spoon over pears & dribble with delight.

Fruit & Spice Loaf (your bloke will love this)

Put 250ml (8.5fl oz) strong cold tea into a bowl with 4tbsp marmalade & 175g (6oz sultanas) & leave to stand for 1 hour. After an hour add 225g (8oz) billingtons unrefined light muscovado sugar, 375g (13oz) allinson wholemeal SR flour, 2 med beaten eggs, 1tsp mixed spice & mix well. Put mix into a 2lb loaf tin 150c, 300f, gas2 on oven middle shelf for 50 minutes. Check it is cooked using a metal skewer in centre of loaf, if it comes out clean it is cooked. Bake longer if necessary.

Use a portion of the above cake for a super pud

Blueberry Fruit Loaf with Sauce

Use an inch slice of the loaf to make blueberry & fruit loaf with sauce by placing blueberries on top of slice & put under grill 3 mins til the blueberries start to split & soften. Make sauce by putting some blueberries into a pan with 3tsp sugar & 2tsp water, heat gently til sauces thickens slightly. Pour sauce over prepared fruit loaf slice, top with cream or ice cream.

Another Berry rich anitoxidant pudding CRUNCHY BERRY CRUSH

Readers' weekend favourite treat HONEY CHOC BREAKFAST BARS

Crunchy Berry Crush

Mix together 400g fromage frais, 200g natural yoghurt, & 2tbsp icing sugar.  Spoon in 50g meringue nests which have been lightly crushed, reserving a little for decoration. 

In a separate bowl mix drained canned fruit consisting of 290g sizes - raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, blackcurrants taking care not to break them up.  Spoon a little of the berries into the bottom of 4 glasses.  Add a layer of fromage frais mixture, repeating with alternating layers of berries & frais, reserving a few berries for decoration.

Finish with fromage frais, then chill.  Serve decorated with meringue & berries.

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants click for more information on the importance of ANTIOXIDANTS

INDEX: Links to my established blogs

 

Ozzy Spaniel Quotes for Life

http://spanielquotes.blogspot.co.uk/

A guide on what herbs to use & why;& vitamins & minerals for health:

http://rosesblog4herbsspicesallthingsnices.blogspot.com/

Just Snacks

http://rosesjustquicksnacksblog6.blogspot.com/

Just (microwave) Food

http://rosesblog7justmicrowavefood.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-blogs-index.html

English springer spaniel dog training blog

http://essdogtraining.blogspot.com/

Deep Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

Preheat oven 180c, gas 4. Put cupcases in 12 hole muffin tins. Sift 2 & quarter cups flour, three quarters cup cocoa, 1 & half tsp baking soda & 1 & half cups castor sugar into a large bowl, then stir in three quarter cup of coconut.

In another bowl, mix in three quarters cup of veg oil, 1 & half cups cold coffee or water & 3tbsp vinegar.

Combine other bowl contents & pour mix into cupcake cases & bake 20 mins. Leave to cool 5 mins then turn out onto rack to cool.

Ice with choc icing (previous blog post when cool):

http://rosesblog5justpuddingscakesandtreats.blogspot.com/2012/03/chocolate-weetabix-slice-with-choc.html

Alternative: Bake in 23cm cake tin for 45 mins. Flavour improves the after baking.

Chocolate Weetabix Slice with Cocoa Icing

Preheat oven 160c. Line a tin with baking paper with overhang to lift the whole thing out.

Melt 125g butter (or marg or flora cuisine equivalent) in a large pot, let it cool briefly then add three quarters cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 1tsp vanilla, 2tbsp cocoa, 1 cup SR flour, half cup dark chocolate chips, three quarters cup shredded coconut, 2 crushed weetabix (or 12 fruit & nut weetabix minis), 1 tbsp milk & mix well. Press firmly into prepared tin, bake 20 mins or til a skewer comes out clean. Cool completely.

For icing:

Sift 2tbsp cocoa powder & 1 cup icing sugar into a bowl. Add half tsp vanilla & 3tbsp milk. Add more milk if its not runny enough. Spread over the slice & cut when set.

Honey Choc Breakfast Bars

Put 125g butter, half cup peanut butter, half cup honey & quarter cup brown sugar in a saucepan & melt gently together.  Simmer 5 mins. 
Place 1&half cups toasted muesli, 2 & half cups rice krispies, and half cup each of dessicated coconut & chopped nuts & dried fruit & dark chocolate chips in another bowl.  Add the melted mixture.  Press into tin lines with foil, cool for 10 mins then put in fridge.  Slice into desired portions size.
Store in fridge in airtight container.

Alternative: white chocolate chips & dried apricots are a good combination instead of dark chips & dried fruit.

Pineapple dessert

Whizz 2 tbsp crushed, tinned pineapple in a blender with 1 tbsp ground almonds, a ripe banana and a cup of frozen raspberries for a smoothie that will double equally as well as a breakfast or dessert.

Easy chocolate fudge

Line base & sides of shallow 20cm square tin with baking paper. Put 25g butter, 275g castor sugar, 150ml evaporated milk, half tsp vanilla flavouring, pinch salt in pan & stir over a low heat til sugar dissolves. Bring to boil then simmer 6 minutes. Remove from heat & add 75g mini marsh mallows & 200g milk chocolate drops stirring til melted. Place in prepared tin & leave 2 hours, Cut into 20 squares.

Cherry Batter Pudding
Soak 45g pitted cherries in 3 tbsp cherry brandy (optional).  Separate 2 eggs and add the yolks to 50g plain flour and 50g castor sugar.  Add 300ml milk and pour in 85g melted butter.  Whisk the egg white until it forms soft peaks.  Add the cherries to this and fold together gently with flour mixture.  Pour mix into a flan dish that has 1tbsp melted butter in it.  Bake 220degrees C, gas 7.  After 15 mins reduce heat to 180degrees C, gas 4 and continue cooking for 20 mins.

Other soft berries can be used instead of cherries.

Chocolate rice pudding

Place left over cooked rice in a saucepan with sugar, dark chocolate pieces & cup of milk. Simmer 20 mins. Add sliced bananas on top to serve.

Here's a tasty recipe from my Just Food blog which have my tried & tested quick & easy recipes (click title to link):

Turkish leeks with carrots