Tag Archives: recipes

Mini Carrot Cakes

Mini Carrot Cakes recipe

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Mini Carrot Cakes

Makes 12 cakes Time required 45 mins plus cooling. Per portion: 466 Kcal, 22g fat (6.5g saturated)

Bananas 2
Carrots 175g (6oz), peeled and finely grated
Self-raising flour 275g (10oz)
Baking powder 1 tsp
Ground mixed spice 1 tsp
Soft light brown sugar 175g (6oz)
Eggs 3, beaten
Sunflower oil 175ml (6fl oz)

for the topping
Butter 50g (2oz), softened
Icing sugar 300g (11oz), sifted
Full fat soft cheese 125g (4½oz)
Ready-made chocolate carrot decorations 1 packet with 12 carrots

 

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4 and thoroughly oil a 12-hole non-stick muffin tin.

2 Mash the bananas in a large bowl, then stir in the carrots followed by the remaining ingredients. Beat well with a wooden spoon.

3 Pour the mixture into the muffin tins, filling each hole to the top. Bake for 20–30 minutes until golden and well risen, then remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

4 For the icing, using a wooden spoon beat together the butter and sugar until the consistency of coarse breadcrumbs. Then beat in the soft cheese and continue beating until the icing is soft and fluffy. Generously swirl the icing on top of each cake and decorate with a ready-made carrot.

 

Recipe taken from Clever One Pot.

Father’s Day Makes and Bakes

Father's Day Gifts

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Father’s Day Makes and Bakes

When you become a mum you realise that Father’s Day becomes even more fun and yet requires a LOT more planning.

My dad has had a very challenging year this year and so I want to spoil him with something really special. Despite being in the latter part of his sixties, my Harley-riding dad is a bit ‘rock’ and so I have commissioned this gorgeous leather bracelet from Etsy with ‘Coolest Grandad’ and the names of his grandchildren.

Etsy is a fantastic place to find unusual gifts at affordable prices and often features up-and-coming artists and craftspeople. I’ve also ordered a really cool Vespa photographic print for my scooter-loving better half from the twinettes.

For a Father’s day card with impact
you can’t beat a create-your-own-card
website such as Snapfish.

I have created three lovely cards with pictures of the children for my Dad and my little people’s daddy.

I’ve also begun (a little late) a lino print for Dad of a hare, his favourite animal, which I am desperately hoping is finished by Sunday. Lino-printing is a much neglected hobby as it is so difficult to find time with a busy full-time job and three children. I do, however, find it so therapeutic and it gives me such very valuable ‘me’ time. All of this little lot have not cost the earth, but because everything is so personal to each dad I think it will make them feel special (that’s the idea anyway!)

 

Steak Ciabatta & Lemon Tart recipes

I’m also planning a delicious family lunch for the three generations.

I think these two recipes from our next cookbook, Clever One Pot, should be a big hit! Steak Ciabatta with Caramelised Onions and Lemon Tart.

Easter Recipes & Crafts

Easter Recipes & Crafts

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Easter Recipes & Crafts

As a mummy (as of yesterday ‘Mum’! to my grown up five year-old) of three small children, I am usually insistent that we get outdoors and burn off some energy whatever the weather.

However, this weekend proved to be so bone-numbingly chilly that we retreated indoors and crafted. The final results were not always worthy of a country magazine, but we had fun none the less and our nearest and dearest will receive some almost-pretty Easter goodies next weekend.

Easter Bunny & ChickOne of our favourite projects was Easter Bunny & Chick from Buttonbag. They look very cute adorning the top of our mantelpiece.

I also treated myself to an hour alone (bliss) in our local town perusing the deli and flower shop for seasonal inspiration.

After choosing a few miniature daffs
and the ingredients for our famous
Simnel cake, our house is looking,
and smelling, particularly spring-like.

Shame the outside does not mirror this!

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> Try the Simnel Cake for yourself, it’s delicious. And this Fish Pie is perfect for Good Friday.

Easter recipes from Dairy Diary

 

Have a wonderful Easter everyone.

Recipes for Mother’s Day

Recipes for Mother’s Day

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Recipes for Mother’s Day

I have been a mum for just over five years now but I still get butterflies and that little flush of pride as Mother’s Day approaches.

Sorry to sound clichéd and slightly slushy here but there’s nothing more special than being a parent and when you have to wait a long time for little ones to come along as I did Mothering Sunday never loses its shine.

Of course, I have my own fantastic
Mummy who needs to be spoilt on
Sunday too, so this week will be a
flurry of craft and cooking.

With my card-making obsession, there’ll be a home-made card and some naughty-but-nice goodies too (as well as a rather beautiful Cath Kidston bag to take on her next holiday.)

Here’s what I have chosen to cook for our special Mum’s afternoon tea party:

Both these recipes come from Take a Box of Eggs. Of course my mum and I have one of these but there are many that don’t and would love one!

Take a Box of Eggs is our latest award-winning cookbook, which features 100 delicious easy and accessible dishes for all the family. Why not treat your mum or yourself?

This month postage is free! So you can pick one up for just £7.49.

Valentine’s Day Recipes & Tips

Tips for a romantic Valentine's Day.

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Valentine’s Day Recipes & Tips

I LOVE Valentine’s Day, I know I know, what a hopeless romantic. Many people dismiss it as commercial and an excuse for the card companies and other retailers to make money. I have to say I’m a little less sceptical (although I am sure it is a lucrative industry none the less).

I think it’s fantastic that we have
a day to remind us to cherish our
other halves and take time out to
make them feel special.

We get so swept along with the mundanity and busyness of everyday life that most of us (I am sure that there are those who are romantic every day….not me!) forget or simply don’t have time to spoil our loved-ones.

It doesn’t need to be an expensive affair – you don’t even need to go out. Just have a think about a few special things that you can do to make your special person feel loved:

  • Leave secret notes – choose places where they will be discovered throughout the day; in pockets, the car, cupboards, under the duvet etc.
  • Make a special breakfast tray – croissants, preserves, a pot of tea or coffee.
  • Send a few kisses by text several times during the day.
  • Create your own card with photographs of you both together during happy times. Print them out and make yourself or order online from Snapfish or similar.
  • Lay a very special table for dinner (and if you have children, eat after they have gone to bed). Go to town, with a tablecloth, your best crockery and glasses, candles and flowers.
  • Cook a delicious dinner, see below for some recipe ideas.

Special Lamb Shanks and Valentine’s Almond Creams.

Lamb Shanks and Almond Creams recipe

Have a lovely time and don’t forget to tell us about your special day! Have you been treated too?

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Farmhouse Breakfast Week & Our Favourite Dairy Diary Breakfast Recipes

Dairy Diary favourite breakfast dishes

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Farmhouse Breakfast Week & Our Favourite Dairy Diary Breakfast Recipes

I don’t know how people can skip breakfast. I am hungry from the moment I wake up!

In fact, I think breakfast is
my favourite meal of the day.

I love pretty much all breakfast goodies (though a full fry-up can make me feel a little queasy unless followed by a hike) from fresh fruit, to cereals to toast with preserves and pastries. Yum!

Next week is Farmhouse Breakfast Week, which encourages everyone to enjoy a healthy breakfast every day and reap the rewards, such as:

  • Breakfast eaters tend to be slimmer than breakfast skippers.
  • Eating breakfast can aid concentration and mental performance at work and at school.
  • It provides you with the nutrients and energy needed for an active lifestyle.
  • Research shows that breakfast eaters are less depressed and have lower levels of stress than breakfast skippers.

 

So here’s a round-up of my favourite breakfast dishes from Dairy Diary. Enjoy!

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