The Drizzliest Lemon Loaf.

Happy Birthday Fabian!

Have no fear my lovely cinnamon swirls, Jess is here! Ah, ah, ah! Okay, so, I promise that I have a good excuse for being so silent recently. I know it's unacceptable. Look at me, wanting to start a blog, reaching someone in Spain, posting a recipe, being all 'blogworthy' and then just... mute. I apologise, I really do. However this latest instalment I'm sure will go down well with you all.
Yes. Indeed. Make way everyone. The Lemon Drizzle Cake recipe has arrived.
Original right? No, I didn't think so either.
I know it's generic, but I really do believe that no baking archive (blog/book/scroll/bible) is complete without this gorgeously simple bake. There's just something so fresh about the zing of lemon and sugar coinciding with a crumbly cake that makes my mouth water.
So what's caused Jess to share with us her lemony adventures? I hear you ask.
Well of course, being the storyteller and general chatterbox that I am... I will tell you.
Actually, it's not greatly exciting (I live in a village remember, not a lot goes on. In fact, getting caught up in a cow crossing is pretty much the highlight of any day) however, this particular cake was requested of me a while ago from a friend who managed to get me a ticket to Glastonbury Festival next year! I was so unbelievably happy that without thinking I exclaimed 'Fabian, oh my gosh! Thank you so much!!! I'll bake you anything you want. You name it, I'll bake it.'
I instantly realised that right there, he had the perfect opportunity to conjure up any crazy concoction in his head and I would be faced with the challenge of baking it... I felt weirdly nervous as he thought of what he fancied.
And then, with a smile spreading across his face he said 'Y'know what? Lemon Drizzle is my absolute favourite...'
Unfortunately, it all got forgotten about with the whirlwind of work/revision etc. until now.
Today was Fabian's 17th birthday and I decided not to back out on a promise. So he finally got his lemon drizzle. I think he enjoyed it. ;)
And so, my little sugar plums, my Lemon Drizzle Loaf! (Taken from The Primrose Bakery Book - These recipes are wonderful!)

Ingredients
155g self-raising flour, sifted
1tsp baking powder
155g golden caster sugar
20g cornflour
155g unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 large eggs
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

For the Drizzle
160g granulated sugar
juice of 2 lemons

Method
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees/gas mark 4. Grease 1 x 900g loaf tin and line with baking paper or a loaf tin liner
Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar and cornflour into the bowl or a food processor. Pulse the mixture for 4 seconds, or mix with a wooden spoon until evenly mixed.
Add the butter, eggs and lemon zest and juice. Process briefly until evenly blended, or beat with an electric hand whisk until evenly blended.
Pour the mixture into the loaf tin and level the top with a spatula.
Bake in the centre of the oven for 35-40 minutes until golden brown, or when a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Leave the loaf to cool.

The Drizzle
Stir the sugar and the lemon juice in a jug.
Prick the loaf all over with a fork, pour the drizzle over the loaf and allow it to set.

(apologies for the pictures not being so great, the artificial lighting in the common room was terrible!)

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Carnival Fever!

Father and daughter carnival faces!

And as the cold snap of Autumn begins to arrive on a daily basis here, there's something quite magical about the evenings. I just love walking home from my school bus stop and seeing the lights of the houses burning through the dusky air, especially if it's been a cold, sunny day. Especially when it's been one of those days where there's a frost on the ground, not a cloud in the sky, you're wearing your cosiest scarf and just starting to think about doing a bit of Christmas baking. This is my favourite time of year!
Yesterday was certainly no exception and even though it poured with rain for the majority of the day, I still couldn't wait to get home, get comfy and HEAD OUT TO CARNIVAL!
Now, if you're not from the West Country, I'll explain, as to this day I am amazed to see the bemused faces of new people I meet as I try to describe what carnival is to them.
What's carnival? WHAT'S CARNIVAL?
Where I come from, it's one of the biggest community 'get-togethers' of the year. Always on a Monday evening in early November, hundreds of people (and I mean HUNDREDS) families, babies, cousins you name it, all turn out to watch tens of beautiful floats parade through the town, with millions of golden light bulbs twinkling at you in the darkness. It's truly magnificent, watching the walkers wave at you from the road, wearing elaborate handmade costumes adorned with lights and moving parts!
For the past couple of years I've taken part in it myself, as a group of us from my dance school annually parade with a choreographed piece, which is incredible! I just loved feeling like part of something and everyone volunteers, which is even better! I know it's cliché, but 'giving back to the community' is totally the phrase that sums it all up! :)
But this year, I decided to take a break. A levels are getting heavy pretty quickly and rehearsals were coming too thick and too fast. So, this year, I took a back seat and watched it with my Mum, Dad, Nana and Granfy, just like I always used to... It was the perfect family evening. Complete with a cosy scarf.

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'Lighter Than Light' Cakes - With White Chocolate Leaf Decoration.

And so, my little chocolate drops I bring you my first recipe!!
It's been an absolutely MANIC day. As well as remembrance day (haven't they had wonderful weather for the ceremony? I also really loved Queenie's poppy brooch. Note to self: Make one next year...) we've celebrated my Auntie's Birthday and also watched an INCREDIBLE firework display this evening! (I was so excited, in fact, that I completely forgot to take my camera, otherwise there would be MILLIONS of pictures posted on here to show you all!)
With the little amount of time that I had, the 'baking morning' I had scheduled was cut a little short! But I did spend time mulling over something short and sweet to bake. My conclusion? Of course, it had to be.. Fairy cakes. The speed demons of the baking world. :)
However... I wanted to give them a slight autumnal twist, (after all, I'd gotten cute little floral paper cases for them to bake in) and added these clever little white chocolate leaves for decoration which I took from a book named 'Cakes & Cake Decorating, Step by Step', I found it in a second hand bookshop and it's a godsend! They're so easy, but so effective, whoever came up with this idea is an absolute genius!
These little spongey gems are so light and fluffy, they take no time at all and go down a treat.
Happy Baking!

Makes 24

Ingredients

225g butter (softened)

225g caster sugar

4 large free-range eggs

225g self-raising flour

For The Leaves

150g white chocolate (however, you can make this cute decoration with any type of chocolate!)

Method

Preheat the over to 180 degrees. Line two bun trays with 24 paper cases.

Beat the butter and sugar together until creamy.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time, adding a tablespoon of flour with each addition and beat really well after each addition.

Fold in the rest of the flour.

Spoon the mixture into the cases (until about 3/4 full)

Bake for 20 minutes (until the tops spring back when touched, or when a skewer inserted comes out clean.) and cool them on a wire rack.

Leaves

Have a wander round your garden, find any leaves you think are the right size for the size of your cakes (mine were pretty small, so I put two on some cakes, I'd say rose leaves are the best!)

Melt the chocolate.

Using a very small paintbrush, carefully spread the melted chocolate on the underside of each leaf (be careful not to go over the side of each leaf)

Leave on a piece of baking parchment until completely set. (I usually put them in the fridge, and they usually take about 10 - 15 minutes to set, but it depends)

Once set, very gently peel the leaf from the chocolate and arrange them on each cake.

Once you are happy with your arrangement, gently sprinkle some icing sugar on top of the cakes for a prettier effect, and make up a small amount of icing with icing sugar and warm water.

Gently dab a bit of icing on the back of each leaf and place on the cake. Leave to set and stick. 

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Baking Withdrawal.

This is getting serious. I haven't concocted anything remotely creative for two days. TWO DAYS.
Somebody, call for an ambulance...
BUT HAVE NO FEAR MY LOVELY CHOCOLATE DROPS, I have a 'baking morning' scheduled for Sunday! Just to keep you all on your toes.

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My Blogging Debut.

So.. I'm ready for my close up!
I honestly, really, truthfully cannot believe that this is my first ever post on my first ever blog. I think I will savour this moment... it's pretty big... okay... and breath... take it all in.... take in the fabulousness of the blogging world... one day Jess, one day you may be famous... from this one simple post... your face could be plastered on cookery books all over the land...
SORRY, sorry. I had a bit of a daydream there. I do that a lot.
Anyway, so this is it for now. Just me saying a quick Hi, Hey, Hello, Howdy to everyone.
Of course, from the title of this archive of wonderment, (does that even make sense? I DON'T EVEN CARE, THIS IS MY FIRST BLOG.) you will have cleverly deduced that this is a blog all about the gorgeous, therapeutic, sweet-smelling, gut-busting hobby/lifestyle/obsession that is amateur baking! And if you haven't, well re-read it. You beautiful fools. :)
Now, not for one second will I be comparing myself to the greats, (although when I grow up. I kinda wanna be Mary Berry. Jus'sayin'. She does floral so well...) but hopefully, with a bit of luck and commitment I will share my passion for baking with all you lovelies, all of you wonderful people who love to eat, just like me.
I started baking about a year ago, as with all my GCSE exams I was getting so stressed and found the only way to calm myself was to make sweet treats for my friends and family.
I don't know what happens to me... just that feeling of popping something slightly squidgy and perhaps a little lop-sided into the oven thinking 'argh, this is never going to work...' and watching, silently, in awe, as it turns into something beautiful (and hopefully pretty tasty too).
In the end, my GCSE's went really well! And as I am now doing my A levels (I'm taking English Language, English Literature, French and Theatre Studies) I find myself wanting to bake more and more, perhaps just taking the time out from completing a mammoth French grammar booklet, and making a tray bake. Nothing spectacular. But something to make me smile.
AND SO, this is what I aim to do here! Post yummy looking things that wont only get your tummy rumbling, but hopefully inspire you to do the same! After all, happiness is home-made. xxx

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