I’ve decided to post some of my video reviews onto YouTube. If you are interested in watching them, my channel can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/charlotteskitchen1
Easy Vegan Banana Bread – archive post
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| My loaf fresh out of the oven |
This banana bread is so simple and can be whipped up in a matter of minutes using storecupboard ingredients. I’ve used cups to cut down on washing up for this recipe.
Makes 1 large loaf (2 lb tin)
Ingredients
3 large bananas, mashed
1 1/2 cups plain flour (wheat flour, or 1 1/4 cups gluten free plain flour)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sunflower oil
1/2 cup light brown soft sugar
1/3 cup milk (you can use soya or rice milk to make this cake vegan)
Optional extra
1/2 cup sultanas, walnuts, chocolate chips or cranberries
Method
- Preheat the oven to 160C/ Gas Mark 3
- Grease and line a 2lb large loaf tin
- Combine the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt in a large bowl
- Whisk the oil and sugar together in a separate bowl. Add the mashed bananas and milk and combine evenly
- Add the dry ingredients and fold in gently.
- If you are adding any extras such as dried fruit or nuts, add them now and stir to combine evenly
- Pour the batter into the loaf tin and place in the oven. Bake for 40 – 45 minutes.
Wimborne Food Festival – Archive post
Wimborne Food Festival – the recipe!
Well, we all had a fantastic time at Wimborne Food Festival at the weekend. Fortunately, the weather was kind, and the event was packed out as ever. It was such a great opportunity to catch up with other interesting and inspiring food writers, particularly Josceline Dimbleby and Lucas Hollweg.
As it was National Baking Week, I just had to demonstrate a cake, and my cake of choice was a very tasty Chocolate & Pear cake using lovely local, seasonal conference pears. I was thrilled to hear that so many people in the audience went home and made this cake straight away, to great success. For those of you who wanted the recipe, it is below. Hope you like it!
Chocolate & Pear Cake
Ingredients:
· 85g butter
· 85g dark chocolate
· 85g caster sugar
· 1 tbsp brandy
· 3 eggs, separated
· 85g ground almonds or hazelnuts
· 4 very ripe pears, peeled, halved and cored
Method:
1) Grease and line a 25cm springform tin
2) Preheat the oven to 180 / Gas mark 4
3) Melt the chocolate and butter together
4) Stir the brandy and leave to cool
5) Whisk the eggs and sugar in a large bowl until pale and thick.
6) Fold the melted chocolate and hazelnuts into the egg and sugar mixture
7) In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites to soft peak
8) Fold one tablespoon of egg whites into the chocolate mixture, followed by the rest of the mixture in two additions.
9) Gently pour the mixture into the prepared tin
10) Lay the pear halves into the mixture in the tin
11) Bake for around 40 minutes
12) You can dust with icing sugar and serve with crème fraiche
