Baking

Recipe of the Week: Frosty Top Lemon Loaf

This light and zesty cake has a gorgeous crunchy topping.

It’s absolutely gorgeous!

 

Frosty Lemon Cake

Frosty Top Lemon Cake

  • Servings: 10 slices
  • Difficulty: medium
  • Print

Calories 136 per portion
Fat 6g (2.9g sat) per portion
Suitable for vegetarians
Suitable for freezing

Ingredients

  • For the cake
  • Butter 50g (2oz), at room temperature
  • Caster sugar 75g (3oz)
  • Self-raising flour 75g (3oz)
  • Ground almonds 25g (1oz)
  • Egg 1 Lemon ½, grated zest only
  • For the topping
  • Lemon ½, juice only
  • Granulated sugar 50g (2oz)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4, then strip line and grease a 450g (1lb) loaf tin with non-stick baking paper or use silicone bakeware.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together all the cake ingredients until smoothly blended. Spread the mixture in the tin and bake for 35 minutes until just firm to the touch.
  3. For the topping, mix the lemon juice with the sugar and spoon it evenly over the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven. Leave in the tin to cool for at least 10 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack to cool. Slice for serving.

Cook’s tip
Leave out the lemon zest and topping but add 50g (2oz) dried fruit to the mixture and sprinkle the top with 25g (1oz) chopped hazelnuts before baking.

 

 

Recipe taken from the fabulous Cooking For One Or Two cookbook.

 

Top 3 Freezable Cakes

It’s a busy and very exciting week for me this week as I get married on Sunday!

It’s going to be great fun, but it will be an inexpensive do and much of it is homemade, with generous help from friends and family.

Instead of purchasing a fancy wedding cake, we have asked guests to bring along their favourite bake – nothing fancy, just a tasty cake to add to the cake table and serve as dessert. I have also made three, but as I’ll be busy with other preparations, I chose my favourite Dairy Diary bakes that can be frozen.

Here are the three recipes – they’re ideal for any type of occasion, such as parties, fetes and fairs when you want to bake ahead. Just defrost the day before.

Frosty Lemon Cake

Frosty Top Lemon Cake

This mouthwatering Frosty Top Lemon Cake recipe is taken from the Dairy Diary. This light and zesty cake is quick and easy, with a gorgeous crunchy topping. It’s a great one to share!

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE

For more delicious recipes visit the Dairy Diary Recipe Collection.

Chocolate Fudge Cake

Chocolate Fudgey Cake

Chocolate Fudgey Cake is a really grown-up chocolate cake, which goes perfectly with a hot mug of coffee, or even a cheeky glass of red wine! Recipe taken from Just For One Or Two Cookbook.

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE

For more delicious recipes visit the Dairy Diary Recipe Collection.

Gingerbread

Gooey Gingerbread

The best kind of gingerbread is the sticky variety! You won’t find this Gooey Gingerbread cake hanging around for long as it’s much better than anything shop-bought. A Just for One or Two Cookbook recipe.

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE

For more delicious recipes visit the Dairy Diary Recipe Collection.

Just For One Or Two cookbookThere are plenty more freezable recipes in the Eat & Freeze section of our fab cookbook; Just for One or Two.

The Just For One Or Two cookbook shows you how to cook delicious meals for one or two people with little effort and minimal waste.

A superb collection of recipes for all occasions including delicious main courses, sumptuous desserts and brilliant bakes.

Excellent value at £8.75

READ MORE

5 Positive Things to Do

Positive Thinking

I’m not sure if positive thinking is a learned behaviour…

or if it’s within our genetic make-up, maybe a bit of both. I’m lucky (I think) to be a natural optimist, but my parents did teach me to notice and focus on the beauty around me – from a stunning rainbow to a simple pattern of raindrops on a window pane, and I think that this appreciation of small things makes me more prone to positivity.

It does us all good to step back once in a while and have a think. An article on positive thinking in this year’s Dairy Diary says this:

‘A step towards positive thinking is to take time to appreciate life in general, and your own life in particular. Remember to stop and smell the roses – that may be a well-worn notion but it works.

‘Some people call it living in the moment, becoming aware of everything around you – sights, smells, sounds, tastes, your feelings, yourself. Focus on things as they are at that moment, accept them without judgement, and you will start to see things you have taken for granted in a new light.’

 

Here are 5 things that we can all do this week to help us feel more positive.

  1. Pay someone a compliment; if you think notice someone wearing a pretty dress, doing a good job or being kind, tell them, even if it’s a stranger. It will make them feel good and you feel good too.
  2. Look for beauty in nature; from the dew on a flower to an early misty morning or even birdsong, there’s always something you can find, notice and appreciate.
  3. Find somewhere quiet and concentrate on your breathing for a few minutes. Breathe in slowly, hold for a count of six, breathe out slowly. Feel the sensation of breathing.
  4. Sometimes we so used to being surrounded by negativity that we hardly notice it. Take a few days break from TV; the news, documentaries or even soaps can make us feel very downcast. Listen to some music that you love instead.
  5. Do a little good turn. Something simple like baking a cake for a friend or a neighbour. Why not try the Dairy Diary recipe below. I’m sure they’ll appreciate it.

Try this irresistible Raspberry & Macadamia Cake recipe from The Dairy Book of Home Cookery.

#positivethinking

#baking

#cake

Recipe of the Week: St George’s Steak & Ale Pies

 

Recipe of the Week: St George’s Steak & Ale Pies

Celebrate St George’s Day with one of these scrumptious little pies.

 

St George’s Steak & Ale Pies

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Calories 961 per portion
Fat 61g (25.3g sat) per portion
Suitable for freezing

Ingredients

  • Olive oil 3 tbsp
  • Onion 1, peeled and chopped
  • Rindless unsmoked back bacon 4 rashers, chopped
  • Carrots 2, peeled and sliced
  • Braising steak 700g (1½lb)
  • Flour 2 tbsp
  • Pale ale 1 x 500ml bottle
  • Beef stock 300ml (½ pint)
  • Dried mixed herbs ½ tsp
  • Puff pastry 500g
  • Egg 1, beaten

Instructions

  1. 1 Heat half the oil in a large pan and cook onion for 5 minutes. Add bacon and cook for 3 minutes. Add carrots and cook for 3 minutes. Set aside.
  2. Toss beef in flour and brown in remaining oil. Return onion mix to pan and mix well, then pour in ale and stock. Add herbs and bring up to boil, stirring. Partially cover and cook gently for 2 hours or until beef is tender, stirring occasionally.
  3. Divide meat between four individual pie dishes. Cool.
  4. Preheat oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Divide pastry into four. Roll each out 4cm (1½in) bigger than dish. For each Pie: Cut a strip of pastry for rim of the dish and attach with water. Press pastry onto dish. Trim excess and knock back edges. Glaze with egg and make a small hole. Set on a tray and bake for 30-40 minutes.

 

A Dairy Diary recipe.

 

#stgeorgesday

5 Favourite Easter Recipes

Easter gives us the perfect excuse to get together with friends and family and enjoy some quality time.

Try one or two of these delicious recipes – they’re sure to meet with your guests’ approval.

Baked Salmon recipe

Often informal gatherings are the best. Serve a couple of salads, some buttered new potatoes and this gorgeous salmon for an effortlessly delicious lunch.

Baked Salmon

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Calories 465 per portion
Fat 35g (11g sat) per portion

Ingredients

  • Salmon fillets 4, each approx. 150g (5oz), skin removed
  • Lemon ½, juice only
  • Fresh dill 15g (½oz)
  • Butter 20g (¾oz)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Cucumber ½, thinly sliced
  • White wine vinegar 2 tbsp
  • Caster sugar 1 tsp
  • Chives 15g (½oz), finely snipped
  • Chopped watercress 2 tbsp, plus sprigs to garnish
  • Soft cheese 110g (4oz)
  • Light mayonnaise 2 tbsp
  • Steamed new potatoes to serve (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°fan/Gas 4. Line a large baking tray with foil.
  2. Place the salmon fillets on the foil, drizzle with the lemon juice, sprinkle with a little torn dill, dot with the butter and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Enclose the salmon in the foil then bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until the fish flakes easily and is even in colour when pressed with a knife.
  4. Meanwhile, add the cucumber slices to a bowl with the vinegar, sugar and a little salt and pepper. Reserve a few more dill sprigs for garnish, chop the rest and add half to the cucumber and the remainder to a second bowl. Add half the chives to the cucumber and the rest to the second bowl. Gently toss the cucumber together and set aside.
  5. Add the chopped watercress, soft cheese and mayonnaise to the bowl of herbs and stir together until well mixed. Spoon into a serving bowl.
  6. Stir the cucumber once more then spoon onto a large shallow platter. Arrange the cooked salmon on top then garnish with the watercress sprigs. Serve with the sauce and new potatoes, if using.

Cook’s tips
Thick cut pieces of smoked cod loin could also be cooked in the same way in the foil then served with the sauce on a bed of stir-fried or microwaved spinach.

 

Lamb Crown Roast

Lamb Crown Roast

This show-stopping Lamb Crown Roast will be sure to impress! This tasty Sunday Dinner idea is a Dairy Diary recipe. For more delicious recipes visit the Dairy Diary Recipe Collection.

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE 

Strawberry Puffs recipe

A favourite of our Divisional Manager, this creamy pastries are a real treat.

Strawberry Puffs

  • Servings: 8
  • Print

Calories 356 per portion
Fat 25g (14g sat) per portion
Suitable for vegetarians

Ingredients

  • Ready-rolled puff pastry 320g pack
  • Icing sugar 50g (2oz), plus 1 tbsp, plus extra to dust
  • Mascarpone 250g (9oz)
  • Fromage frais 200g (7oz)
  • Lemon 1, grated zest and juice
  • Strawberries 450g (1lb)
  • Caster sugar 25g (1oz)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°fan/Gas 7. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
  2. Roll out the pastry to about 36 x 23cm (14 x 9in), then sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of icing sugar. Cut into 16 equal-size rectangles. Place on the baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes until risen and golden. Cut into two lengthways and leave to cool.
  3. Mix together the mascarpone, fromage frais, 50g (2oz) icing sugar and the lemon zest. Chop one third of the strawberries and stir into the mascarpone.
  4. Put the remaining strawberries in a food processor with the caster sugar and lemon juice and whizz to a purée, then sieve.
  5. Sandwich four pastries with three layers of the mascarpone mixture. Repeat to make eight puffs. Drizzle each serving plate with the strawberry coulis, add a strawberry puff, dust with icing sugar and serve immediately.

Cook’s tips
Vary the fruits depending on what’s in season; autumn blackberries with a little chopped fresh mint, or forced rhubarb mixed with frozen strawberries in early spring.

 

Dairy Diary Favourites CookbookAll of these recipes are taken from our iconic cookbook; Dairy Diary Favourites, which is available to buy here for just £8.25.

Use the code DDPR and you can get free P&P (a little Easter treat from us).

 

Simnel Cake recipe

A classic for Easter.

Simnel Cake

  • Servings: 11
  • Print

Calories 722 per portion
Fat 30g (13.2g sat) per portion
Suitable for vegetarians

Ingredients

  • Butter 250g (9oz), softened
  • Light muscovado sugar 250g (9oz)
  • Eggs 4
  • Plain flour 300g (11oz)
  • Baking powder 1 tsp
  • Ground mixed spice 2 tsp
  • Ground almonds 50g (2oz)
  • Luxury dried mixed fruit 500g (1lb 2oz)
  • Lemon 1, finely grated zest and 2 tbsp juice
  • White marzipan 500g (1lb 2oz)
  • Apricot glaze or sieved apricot jam 2 tbsp

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 150°C/300°F/Gas 2 and line a 20cm (8in) cake tin with baking parchment.
    Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a spoonful of the flour along with each egg. Sift in the remaining flour, baking powder and spice and fold the almonds, dried fruit and lemon zest and juice into the mixture. Spoon half into the cake tin and smooth the surface level.
  2. Roll out one third of the marzipan until it’s a circle, just smaller than the cake tin, and lay it on top of the mixture in the tin. Spoon the remaining mixture over the top and level the surface.
  3. Bake the cake in the centre of the oven for 2–2¼ hours, or until a skewer comes out clean after being inserted into the cake. Cover with a sheet of baking parchment if it starts to brown. When cooked, remove the cake from the oven and leave to cool.
  4. Remove the cake from the tin and peel away the lining paper. Spread the apricot glaze or jam over the top. Roll out half of the remaining marzipan to fit the top of the cake. Place it on the cake and smooth down, taking care not to trap any air pockets underneath. Pinch around the edges.
  5. Divide the remaining marzipan into 11 pieces and roll each into a ball. Brush a little apricot glaze or jam onto the base of each and evenly space around the top of the cake. Place under a hot grill to brown the marzipan lightly. Remove from the grill and leave to cool before serving.

Cook’s tips
The cake will keep in an airtight container for up to a week.
If you have a choice of marzipan, choose white marzipan, which has a more natural flavour than golden marzipan.

 Chocolate Lolipos

Chocolate Lollipops

Looking for something to make with little ones? These ‘sheepish’ chocolate lollies are great fun. This is a Dairy Diary recipe. For more delicious recipes visit the Dairy Diary Recipe Collection.

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE

#EasterRecipe

#delicious

Recipe of the Week: Decadent Red Velvet Cake

This recipe needs specialist cake decorator’s food colouring, but wow is it worth it!

What a showstopper! And perfect for Mothering Sunday.

P.S. Don’t forget to put your clocks forward this evening.

 

 

Decadent Red Velvet Cake

Decadent Red Velvet Cake

Decadent Red Velvet Cake

  • Servings: 16
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Calories 500 per portion
Fat 29g (18g sat) per portion
Suitable for vegetarians

Ingredients

  • Unsalted butter 475g (1lb 1oz)
  • Caster sugar 250g (9oz)
  • Eggs 3 large, separated
  • Vanilla extract 2 tsp
  • White wine vinegar 1 tsp
  • Specialist cake decorator’s red food colouring paste 1 tsp
  • Cocoa powder 1½ tbsp
  • Bicarbonate of soda 1 tsp
  • Self-raising flour 275g (10oz)
  • Buttermilk 284ml pot
  • Icing sugar 425g (15oz)
  • Full fat soft cheese 180g tub

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°fan/Gas 4. Grease and line a round deep 20cm (8in) tin.
  2. In a large bowl cream together 250g (9oz) butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks, vanilla, vinegar and colouring. Sift in cocoa, bicarbonate and half the flour, then mix in half the buttermilk.
  3. Mix in remaining flour and buttermilk. In a separate bowl whisk egg whites until foamy then fold into cake mixture.
  4. Spoon into tin and bake for 50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Cool in tin until cold.
  5. Level top and cut in half horizontally, reserving crumbs. Beat together icing sugar, remaining butter and cheese. Use to sandwich cake together and spread around sides and top. Sprinkle with cake crumbs.

 

#motheringsunday

#mothersday

#tripletested

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