Baking

Apple, Honey and Cinnamon Cakes recipe

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Felt like some apple cakes, and realised I hadn’t tried any yet as small muffins or fairy cakes. So, adapted my blueberry muffin recipe slightly and made some very tasty cakes.

125g – caster sugar (but will try brown sugar next time)

125g – plain flour

55g soft butter

130g – grated apple with skin on (2 gala apples in this case)

1 – egg

1 – big tbs cloudy honey

1 tsp – baking powder

1/4 tsp – bicarbonate of soda

Cinnamon

Cream the butter and sugar together, add egg, honey and cinnamon, mix until smooth.

Add the apple, and more cinnamon until combined.

Add the flour and baking power and bicarb, mix thoroughly until ready to be spooned into paper cases, or a greased muffin tray.

Bake for around 20-25 minutes at 180°c, until well browned. Then leave to cool, and eat.

(c) K Wicks

Homemade hoisin sauce

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Didn’t have any when needed, so thought I would see what the ingredients are and how difficult it was to make. Turns out very easy to make, and almost had the ingredients, but what I didn’t have, I had the substitutes for. It wasn’t quite the same taste, but it was still really nice, and after a bit of tinkering, I believe it will be better.

But here is the line up of ingredients.

4 tbsp Soy Sauce

2.5 tbsp Golden Syrup (should have been mollasses)

1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar (should have been rice wine vinegar)

2 tpsp Light Olive Oil (should have been sesame oil)

2 tbsp peanut butter, I used crunchy, but some recipes called for smooth, which I might try next time

1 garlice clove minced, they said two, but were quite large so didn’t want to overdo it

3 tbsp Sweet Chilli Sauce (the recipe I read used Sriracha sauce)

1/4 tsp ground pepper – I just used black pepper

The recipes I read also use cornstartch and water, but I didn’t need it as it thickened up just fine on it’s own.

So, the method was, put in all in together and heat gently until it all combines and starts to thicken up. Took about 10 to 15 minutes, but you’ll just have to judge it yourself. It thickens further once cooled as well, and is sticky and sweet. Good first attempt I thought.

(c) K Wicks

Caramalised bananas

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Not sure why I hadn’t tried this previously, easy and delicious. Bananas, melted butter and sprinkle brown sugar over while they are lightly frying, turn over after a few minutes and cook on both sides. I put a little coconut on as well and had with vanilla ice-cream.

Use a banana that’s still a touch green as they hold better, and about 1 tbsp of butter per banana.

(c) K Wicks

Homemade coconut bites

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Another surprisingly easy recipe, makes me wonder why I never made these as a kid, my mum loved condensed milk, and I loved bounty bars.

190g sweetened condensed milk

180g desiccated coconut

180g dark chocolate

Combine the condensed milk and coconut, making a very sticky mixture. Use your hands to squeeze into small balls, logs or what shape you can manage (like I did). Then put in the freezer for 30 mins or so to harden them up.

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler, roll them around in it (or try being delicate with 2 spoons like I tried and failed to do), then place on a tray back in the freezer for a bit.

Kept in the fridge thereafter and are extremely tasty.

(c) K Wicks

Homemade dog treats

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Not to leave out anyone in the household for homemade goodies, thought I would try making dog treats with some left over corned beef. They seem to be greatly enjoyed so it’s a win 👍

200ml beef stock

300g wholemeal flour

150g corned beef

1 banana

1 egg

Mix all together, and make into shapes. This is a really sticky mixture so extra flour is needed, but it works. Roll out to required thickness, shape and put on lined or greased trays. 20 mins at 190.

(c) K Wicks

Orange cordial – recipe

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Having made elderberry cordial, I figured it must be fairly easy to make orange cordial too. And it is. I’ve never been a fan of orange squash, it doesn’t taste right and I don’t like all the extras with sweetners and the like.

250ml fresh orange juice (or tangerines)

300ml water

200g sugar

5 grapes juiced

That’s it, that’s all that goes in.

Heat the sugar and water until dissolved, for about 10 mins until it starts to go syrupy.

Add the orange juice, then simmer for another 10 mins.

Then pour into a clean bottle through a fine mesh strainer, put the lid on and leave to cool. Then it’s ready. I keep it in the fridge as it’s really nice cold. And it hasn’t lasted more than a few days because its so refreshing, so have no idea how long it lasts 😉

(c) K Wicks

Homemade chocolates

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Went for making more orange cream filled chocolates as its been a while. Thought it might be nice to make the filling green this time. It looked a bit like snot while mixing the filling 🤣, but I decided on it being apple coloured instead, yes, definitely apple. But tastes like orange.

(c) K Wicks

Chocolate covered coconut flapjacks recipe

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A very easy and tasty recipe 😋

Oven at 160 fan assisted (180 otherwise).

225g oats

150g butter

50g sugar

2 tbs golden syrup

20g dessicated coconut

140g chocolate (or however much suits)

Melt together the butter, sugar and syrup. Take off the heat. Stir the coconut through the oats, then add the mix to the metled butter and sugar. Line your tin and tip your oat mixture in and press down.

Bake for 15 mins. Allow to cool.

Melt the chocolate, pour and smooth over the top (or as a pattern). I added some edible gold glitter too for exta sparkle ✨️

Put in fridge and allow chocolate to set. Then cut into pieces and enjoy. I put them back in the fridge though as it’s quite warm still so they’ll melt if left out.

Very tasty, could do with a bit more coconut I think next time.

(c) K Wicks