Apple and Raisin Rock Buns

Here is a variation to the basic rock bun recipe i shared with you prior.

Ingredients:

250g whole-meal self-raising flour

1 tsp grated lemon rind

150g raisins

1 large green apple, cored and diced.

3 tbsp brown sugar

60g melted butter

2 tbsp oil

1 egg, beaten (size AA)

3 tbsp milk

Method:

1. Mix the flour, lemon rind, raisins and apple.

2. Separately, beat sugar, butter, oil, egg and milk together until creamy and pour into the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Do not over mix.

3. Place heaped table-spoonsfuls of the mixture onto greased baking trays. Bake at 19 degree Celcius for about 20 minutes.

Makes 12 buns

Banana Balls

A great nutritious way to tempt children into eating bananas. And if they already do, they will not be able to wait for you to finish baking.

Ingredients

2 ripe bananas, mashed.

1 tbsp vanilla essence.

1 tbsp honey

2 cups cocoa pops

60g desiccated coconut

Method

1. Combine all the ingredients except desiccated coconut.

2. Form into small balls.

3. Roll in desiccated coconut.

4. Serve in pretty paper cups.

Rich Chocolate Cake

If cleaning up is always the chore that puts off the idea of whipping up your your cake, then the following recipe will entice you as it is relatively easy.

Ingredients:

60g grounded almonds

180g caster sugar

125g corn oil

2 tbsp strong brew coffee (diluted with 1 tbsp hot water)

4 eggs, separated (size AA)

125ml plain yogurt

185g self raising flour

4 tbsp cocoa powder

pinch of salt

Method:

1. Mix evenly caster sugar, oil, coffee, egg yolks, yogurt and almond.
2. Sift flour, cocoa powder and salt into the mixture and fold.
3. Whisk egg whites until soft peak forms. Fold into cake mixture.
4. Pour into an 8 in round cake tin, greased and lined.
5. Bake at 180 Deg celcious for 40 min or until cooked.

Serving Suggestions:

To indulge into this simple rich chocolate cake, drizzle chocolate ganache or ready to use chocolate sauce available in supermarkets accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. Serve cake warm.
 

Crisp Oat Cookies

This is an easy to make cookie that is healthy as well. My recommendation is to make them in XL size. It makes a great snack for your office tea breaks.

Ingredients

160g Oats

120g butter

100g icing sugar

25g corn flour

50g plain flour

25g milk powder

1 large egg

1 tsp soda bicarbonate

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

Method

1. Beat butter and icing sugar with mixer on medium speed until very smooth

2. Add in egg, milk powder and vanilla

3. Fold in corn flour, plain flour, soda and salt

4. Add oats and fold in with a wooden spoon

5. Drop one tsp mixture on a greased baking tray. Spread out thin with the back of a fork (if mixture sticks, dip fork in water)

6. Bake at 150 degree C for about 20 mins.

Banana Apple Butter Cake

This is a lovely tea-time treat for your friends and family. This cake is moist and rich.

Ingredients

250g butter

170g castor sugar

5 large eggs

200g superfine flour                 )

1 tablespoon baking powder     )

40g custard powder                 ) sift together

50g evaporated milk

100g mashed bananas

1 1/2 Granny Smith apples (cored, skinned and sliced)

Method

1. Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy

2. Add eggs gradually, beating well in between for about 1 minute

3. Fold-in sifted flour, alternatively with milk in 2 batches

4. Add mashed bananas and mix well

5. Pour 1/2 mixture into a 9 inch cake tin which is greased and lined

6. Arrange apple slices on the top. Add remaining mixture and bake at 175 degree C for about 50 minutes.

Spiced Pumpkin Loaf

This is a special cake recipe by a very dear friend, from Australia. I have tried it and must say that it is very delicious and makes a nice breakfast treat.

Ingredients

180g plain flour

1 tsp soda bicarbonate

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp all spice powder

3/4 cup mashed pumpkin

3/4 cup chinese brown sugar (purchase from medical shop)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup walnut, chopped coarsely

2 large eggs

A pinch of salt

Directions

Mix everything together. Combine well and bake in a greased loaf pan at 175 degree C for 45 mins or until cooked.

Note: Chinese brown sugar is less sweet and gives a nice colour to the batter. You may replace it with brown or castor sugar.

Party Foods

Here are some simple ways to keep children (and adults) happy at the next birthday party. You can create a variety of finger foods with puff pastries, which are readily sold in supermarkets and hypermarkets. It's convenient.

A. Mini Sausage Rolls

* Roll out and cut puff pastry as per instructions on the wrapper

* Cut into 4 inch squares. Put one sausage on each square

* Fold puff pastry over and seal using the teeth of a fork

* Cut into 2, egg wash and bake at 220 degree C until pastry is puffed and golden brown

Note: Make sure oven is really hot to help pastry puff nicely during baking

B. Tuna Puffs

* Just replace the sausages with canned tuna mayonnaise

C. Sardine Puffs

* Replace the sausages with sardine (drain off sauce) mixed with some chopped bombay onions and 1 tablespoon tomato sauce

D. Ice Cream Puffs

Baked puff pastry in muffin moulds making sure the edges come up from the moulds. Cool after baking. Fill with ice cream and top with cut fresh fruits.