A Little bit of Crafting, a little bit of baking

New Brooches

My Best Ever Gluten-free Baking

I am so pleased with this Apple Cake, beautifully moist with a sweet crust, perfect for a summer picnic, afternoon tea or served warm with home made ice cream.

Here is my recipe: 

4 oz Pure Soya Spread
5 oz Golden Caster sugar
2 Eggs
5 oz Doves Farm Self-raising White Flour
1/2 tsp Gluten-free Baking Powder
1 tsp Xanthan Gum
2 Bramley Apples - peeled and grated

Oven 180
Line a 2lb loaf tin 
Beat the spread and sugar together until soft and light.
Beat in the eggs.
Sieve flour, baking powder and xanthan gum into the mixture and mix well.
Carefully fold in the apple.
Pour into the tin and smooth the top of the mixture.
Bake for approximately 45 mins or until golden and just firm. Check with skewer to make sure centre of cake is cooked.
Serve cake warm as a pudding with home made ice cream or leave to cool before slicing. 

 

Today's Cakes

Another beautiful sunny day!
My local church held  a Fun Walk (Fundraiser) today, I made cakes and served refreshments for the walkers, here are a few pictures of the treats :

Sweet Little Cream Cakes

Grandma's Shortbread

Chocolate Malteser Cake

Lovely Lemon Cake - Gluten-Free/ Dairy-Free

Lovely Lemon Cake - Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free

 Deliciously moist, light Lemon Cake with a tangy, sweet glaze. Perfect with a cup of afternoon coffee or as my son prefers - with a glass of milk for breakfast.

Here is my recipe:

4 oz Gluten-Free Flour ( I have used Juvela White Flour Mix)
1 tsp Baking Powder (Gluten-Free)
4 oz of Golden Caster Sugar
4 oz Pure Soya Spread
2 Med. Eggs
Grated Zest of 1 Lemon
Juice of 1 Lemon

Icing:
2 oz Icing Sugar
2 tsp Water
1 tsp Lemon Juice

Oven 180 C
Sift flour and b.powder, add all other ingredients, beat well.
Spoon into lined loaf tin.
Bake in middle of oven for 40 mins or until firm but still pale in colour.
Remove from oven and leave in tin.
Mix icing sugar, water and lemon juice togther and pour over warm cake. Leave cake to cool befor removing from tin.

A New Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Recipe

Mmm.. carrot cake - and it's gluten-free!

This is a delicious recipe for gluten-free carrot cake, a special bake for my dad who is Coeliac.
I adapted a recipe I found on Pintrest called 'Scrumptious Carrot Cake' (it was originally posted on www.healtheries.co.nz). 
I chose to use a different flour blend than the original recipe and also slightly altered the spices to my own taste.

Here is my version of the recipe:

1 1/2 cups of your chosen gluten-free flour mix (I used Juvela gluten-free White Mix)
2 tsp mixed spice
1/2 tsp ground ginger
Large pinch ground cloves
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup golden caster sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup sunflower oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup roughly chopped walnuts
2 cups grated carrots
2 Tbsp desiccated coconut

Grease and line a 20cm tin
Oven 180
Sieve flour, spice and baking powder.
Add rest of ingredients, stir carefully until mixture is just combined - do not over mix.
Pour into tin and gently smooth surface of mixture.
Bake for 1 hour - check with a skewer to make sure baked in the centre.
Remove from oven, remove tin and baking paper and allow cake to cool.
I'd serve the cake with natural yoghurt but you could make a cream cheese icing to go over the cake if you have a sweet tooth.

A Little Cath Kidston Gift

A Gift for the Cat-Sitter

My parents have just got back from a trip to Wales, they had a lovely sunny time. I am their resident cat-sitter, last evening I was presented with a lovely gift of thanks. They are very sweet, thought I'd share it.

My new Cath Kidston Mug and Organic Rose, Chamomile and Lavender Flower Tea

 

Healthy Cookies

Here is a little recipe we tried at home recently courtesy of my daughter - 

'Healthy' Choc Chip Cookies

Mine were very healthy as I substituted the chocolate for fruit but the original recipe is much better!

2 Bananas 
1 cup of Oats
1 cup of Chocolate Chips
1-2 tablespoons Peanut Butter

Oven 180
Mash bananas, thoroughly mix all ingredients together, shape mixture into 12 cookies and bake on a lined tray for 15 mins. 
Leave to cool on the tray. 
Store in an airtight container for a couple of days.

Beautiful Books - Lullaby Knits by Vibe Ulrik Sondergaard

Lullaby Knits by Vibe Ulrik Sondergaard

I gave myself a beautiful book at Christmas and have just got round to enjoying it. 
Gorgeous photographs of little cherubs wearing adorable hand knits, easy to follow instructions and helpful advice - perfect way to spend a few stolen hours with the knitting needles!

Beautiful photographs throughout

Simple, easy to follow instructions

Completed sweater 0-3 mnths

Sweet Little cardigan 3-6 mnths