Citrus Cheesecake

I love no-bake cheesecake, baked ones just seem wrong to me and are never as good.

Every Sunday myself and the brood go to my husband's Great Aunt's house for a roast, the woman is 92 but wouldn't have it any other way. I set the table, do the gravy and drinks, Aunty P and Brad dish up. I tell you what, her roasts are sooooooo good! 

Anyhoo, last Saturday my husband decided it would be a good idea to take a baseball bat to our windscreen! (not really, he broke it with a plank of wood by accident) Thus rendering us car-less at the last minute.

So it was down to me to make us a roast! Um...OK, I'll just wing it, it'll be fine.

And it was LOVELY!! So chuffed with myself. 

The only problem is that I didn't have any carrots (edible ones anyway) because the hubby decided to go all fancy and not peel them or boil them, but to just cut the ends off, throw them in a tin with a foil tent and throw in what I can only describe as EVERY BOTTLED JUICE WE HAVE in there...lemon, lime, Worcester etc!!

URGH!!

The rest of the roast was at least edible.

The best bit though, was the dessert, which I made in 20mins + chilling while the food was cooking.

Us women can multi-task...oh yes!

I call it Citrus Cheesecake because of the lemon, lime and mandarins used, here's what I did....

Ingredients

300g digestive biscuits

140g unsalted butter (melted)

4 tbsp lemon curd

1 tbsp icing sugar

2 tbsp lime juice

300ml double cream

300g cream cheese (at room temp)

1 tin of mandarin segments (in juice NOT SYRUP)

1. Line the bottom of a 8" round, deep sided cake tin.
2. Blitz the biscuits in food processor (or by hand) until fine crumbs.
3. Add the butter and mix until it looks like damp sand.
4. Put base mixture into tin and press firmly and evenly.
5. Chill while you make the topping. (15mins minimum)
6. Mix the cream cheese with the lemon curd, lime juice and icing sugar.
7. In another bowl whip the cream until it just gets to the thick whip stage.
8. Using a hand whisk mix the cream into the cheese mixture.
9. Smooth the mixture onto the base and decorate with the mandarins.
10. Chill for at least an hour.

Serve this delicious dessert straight from the fridge by placing the tin on a pint glass, slowly pull down the sides of the tin to release the cake, then slide the cake onto a plate and dish that beauty up!!

My guests definitely thought this cheesecake was the best part of the meal.

ENJOY

xx Kat xx

Hellooooo Spring!! Pic-fest!

Spring has sprung people!!

Whoop!

I got all excited and trigger-happy and so here's what me and the kids did yesterday...

Mr & Mrs Chicken

Hello Mr Bumblebee 

Fun fun fun...

To celebrate the arrival of Spring I'll be making some cute novelty cupcakes.

Keep and eye out for them!

Enjoy the weather...long may it continue.

xx Kat xx

Loopy Bars

KIDS...

WHY DO WE DO IT TO OURSELVES!?!

I took my boys shopping, leaving the little miss at home with daddy.

They're normally very well behaved, as they were this time, however my eldest decided it was about time he started telling me what to buy! 

This week it was Fruit Loops; I have to admit I love all things from across the pond and have always wanted to try Fruit Loops, so I didn't put up much of a fight.

M.I.S.T.A.K.E

Fruit Loops are not the best, the boys are definitely NOT keen. 

So, after a week of arguments and bribery I gave up trying to get them to eat the loops.

What to do?

Whack them together with some white chocolate and mini marshmallows? Er...YEAH!!

Oh Mah Gah!! These are sooo amazing, I cannot even tell you. 

They were eaten...in 10 mins!

It's really easy to do......

Ingredients

150g white chocolate cake covering

60g Fruit Loops

30g mini marshmallows

1. Smash up the loops into little pieces (leaving a few whole ones)
2. Melt chocolate according to packet instructions.
3. Mix the loops and mallows into the melted choc and stir until everything is covered.
4. Pour mixture into a square takeaway tin and leave to set.
5. Cut to desired sized pieces.

I got eight good sized bars out of this recipe.

ENJOY

I'm linking this post to my Sweet Leftovers Link Party go take a look at what others are doing with their sweet leftovers.

Have a great Monday!

xx Kat xx

Banana Maple Loaf

My hubby loves Banana Loaf...I find it boring to make as I've made it a thousand times!!

I always make it when I'm on the verge of throwing browning bananas out, this time is no exception. 

Here's how it goes....

I MAKE IT

THE BOYS WANT IT

THE HUBBY EATS IT.

All in one day! 

I feel I need to tell you that my hubby is a farmer working long hard days, so I let him off the greediness most of the time.

I also hate sultanas in baked goods but he likes it so I do this for him...

The ingredients seem a bit choppy but this is all I had available (I usually use all wholemeal flour)

Ingredients ~ makes 1 loaf

100g butter

100g sugar

90g wholemeal flour

20g self raising flour

1 egg

1 large, overripe banana (mashed)

100g sultanas (don't add these if you don't want them)

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tbsp maple

1. Preheat over to 180/GM4/160 fan.
2. Grease and line your loaf tin.
3. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add the egg and beat in until full incorporated.
5. Add the syrup and mix well.
6. Take just over a pinch of flour and toss the sultanas in it (this stops them sinking)
7. Fold in the flour and baking powder.
8. Fold in the mashed banana.
9. Fold in the sultanas.
10. Fill your tin 3/4 full and bake for 40 - 50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

Et Voila!!

A beautiful Banana Maple loaf (with added sultana's for the hubby).

ENJOY

xx Kat xx

I'm linking this recipe up to my Sweet Leftovers Link Party...go check it out!

Sweet Leftovers Link Party #2

So last week my link party was very dull, only two entries, both of which were mine!!

But...I'll stick with it in the hope that my blogging pals will share their sweets made with leftovers. 

I'm going to link up my Banana Loaf tomorrow as it was made with banana's that weren't going to be eaten as they'd started to brown. 

In the mean time Link up you goodies!

THE RULES

1. Create some yummy SWEET TREATS using leftovers and post it on your blog.
2. Add your creation to my link list, you can use old posts if leftovers were used.
3. Include a link to this link party in your post.
4. Follow my blog so you'll know when my next link party gets started. Not absolutely necessary!
5. Enjoy looking at all the fab creations from fellow bloggers and they'll do the same :-)

I look forward to seeing your creations.

xx Kat xx

Versatile Blogger Award

I'm ashamed to say it's taken me just shy of a month to post this....

I was surprised to hear that Cupcake Girl of My Cupcake Habit has given me the Versatile Blogger Award! It's great to know there are people who read my blog and like it enough to award me! Whoop whoop 

Thank you very much Cupcake Girl, I would've nominated you if you'd not already nominated me! :-) 

This award is a "get nominated and past it on" kind of thing. It's a way for bloggers to reconise and appreciate each other.

Here's how it works...

When you're nominated you need to thank the person who nominated you, then you need to nominate 15 others. People who have been nominated before can be nominated again, however I'd make sure it was more than a year ago. On your post you also need to share 7 things about yourself so your readers can get to know you a bit better.

I went through my list of fav blogs and came up with 15 however 5 of then had already been nominated within 12 months, so I've compensated by adding 5 more things about me...you're welcome! 

So I only have 10 but they are awesome, check them out....

What Kate Baked
Obsessive Compulsive Baking Disorder
Nelly's Cupcakes
Hugs & CookiesXOXO
Diary of a Mad Hausfrau
Coleen's Recipes
Chocolate Teapot
Chocolate Log Blog
Cakes and Bakes by Kate
Butter Hearts Sugar

Here are my seven twelve things...

1) I have the worlds best husband.

2) I have 3 wonderful dark haired, blue eyed children who are super sweeties (all under 5!!!) 

My babies!!

3) I'm currently on maternity leave which allows me to just about keep my 4th baby, which you are reading, going.

4) My favourite colour is purple.

Yes this is my sofa :-) 

5) I have a hen called Dave, a cockerel called Chick and a Jack Russell called Milly.

6) My favourite flavour combo is mint and chocolate.

 

7) Black coffee is my best friend!!

image courtesy of Precision Nutrition

8) I'm definitely NOT a morning person.

9) Vampire Diaries is my addiction...mmmmmmm, Damon!!

VAMPIRE LUST!!

10) If you haven't noticed I'm having a cupcake slump, I'm sure I'll be making them again soon.

11) I will be married 7 years on 29th of this month.

Hubby & Me

12) I find it impossible to let my eldest help me bake, I'm too much of a perfectionist!!

Well there you go...my favourite blogs and some slightly interesting things about myself.

I hope you enjoyed reading.

Make sure you check out the above blogs, you won't be disappointed.

xx Kat xx

Apple Crumble Cake

My favourite dessert is apple crumble...or any fruit crumble for that matter.

I ADORE IT!!

Really hot with vanilla ice cream or cold with hot custard.

Mmmmmmmmm crumble...

Because of my crumble fetish I have worked hard to perfect my crumble topping and by-heck I've gone and done it! Crunchy, sweet (but not too sweet) and not powdery at all.

I had some apples which none of my brood wanted to eat (as they were on the bruised side) so, as I've made crumble loads already, I decided to see if I could turn it into a cake.

The result....?

AMAZEBALLS APPLE CRUMBLE CAKE!!

Here's how you can nail crumble cake too...along with the best crumble ever for a million different sweets!

Cake ~ makes 2 x cakes (or 1 cake and 6 cupcakes...as I did)
4 apples (stewed & cooled)*
200g butter
150g caster sugar
50g soft dark brown sugar
200g s/r flour
2 x eggs
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
50ml milk

Crumble ~ covers both sponges
200g plain flour
150g butter
125g demerera sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Always make the crumble first so the cake batter isn't hanging around...

1. Add flour and cinnamon together and mix well.
2. Add the butter and rub into the flour using your fingers (kids love doing this) until it looks like crumbs.
3. Add the sugar and mix in the same way as the butter.
4. Cover and set aside while you make the cake batter.

You can freeze any unused crumble to up to 3 months for your other crumbly projects! Whoop whoop

Cake instructions...

1. Preheat over to 180/GM4/fan 160
2. Grease and line 18cm/7", deep, loose bottomed round tin.
3. Put all dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
4. Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
5. Add the eggs one at a time making sure one is incorporated before adding the next.
6. Add the Vanilla and mix.
7. Add half the dry ingredients and fold in.
8. Add the milk and fold in.
9. Add the remainder of the flour and fold in.
10. Finally fold in the apple mixture.
11. Pour into the tin and flatten off, sprinkle the crumble on top making sure there is even coverage.
12. Bake in oven for 50-55 mins until the top is golden and a skewer comes out clean.
13. Leave to cool.

You can serve this cake warm (not straight from the oven) with ice-cream.

When I first cut into the cake I was shocked at how dense this cake is, but don't worry it's definitely cooked. The thick apple cake plus the crunchy crumble topping was pure heaven on a plate!!

I could seriously marry this cake!!! 

I'm adding this recipe to my weekly Sweet Leftovers Linky List because of the borderline apples used.

I've also sent this over to Ros of The More Than Occasional Baker for this months Alphabakes challenge which this month is the letter "A".

Next month I believe the host of the Alphabakes challenge next month will be Caroline of Caroline Makes, go have a look at the beginning of May to join in or head on over to The More Than Occasional Baker to enter this months challenge.

Also I'm doing the Calendar Cakes blog hop as hosted by Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes.

       

ENJOY

xx Kat xx

* To stew the apples, place them in a pan with a splash of water. Turn the hob to a medium to high heat and cook until they are mush, stirring regularly. Add dashes of water as you go if it starts to stick to the bottom. I got impatient after about 20mins...stubborn bloody apples...and used my hand blender to get the smooth paste. Don't let your stewed apples get too wet as it will ruin your cake batter. 

Cranberry Flapjacks & my first Sweet Leftovers Link Party #1

Well Hellooo,

This week has been full of thriftyness for me...

I hate waste, HATE it!! 

So I've been rummaging through my pantry finding open foods, almost out of date stuff and fruit that is past it's best. All of which have been thrown into my bakes and puds.

It's so much fun finding something random(ish) and old food and trying to incorporate it into my baking, it gets the creative juices flowing. 

Today it's cranberry flapjacks...because I had 1/3 of a pack of dried cranberries left from Christmas.

Ingredients

350g porridge oats (4c) 

80g sugar (1/3c)

250g butter

3 tbsp golden syrup

90g (all I had left) dried cranberries (roughly chopped)

1. Pre-heat oven to 180/GM4/160 fan
2. Line a square 8" pan with parchment paper
3. Melt butter, sugar and syrup until all the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved
4. Take off the heat the throw in the oats and cranberries 
5. Pour into the lined pan and squash it down until nice and packed and level on top
6. Bake for 30min until golden all over

When still warm cut into desired slices...if you want bars you'll easily get 12 if you want square bites you'll get 24. Leave to cool.

Because I'm nosey, I love to see what others are up to, I've decided to do a weekly Link Party so we can all see what others are doing with their leftovers. It'll be every Friday, for five days, that's when the leftovers start to take over the cupboard!!

Rules

1. Create some yummy SWEET treats using leftovers and post it on your blog.
2. Add your creation to my link list. You can use old posts if leftovers were used.
3. Include a link to my blog and this link party in your post.
4. Follow my blog so you'll know when my next link party gets started. Not absolutely necessary!
5. Enjoy looking at all the fab creations from fellow bloggers.

Come join my party!!!

Kat xxx