Peppermint
Well-Known Member
There have been a lot of food-related posts lately so I thought it would be nice to share the culinary love in one place. Full-blown dinner menus, naughty puddings, superlative snacks, tasty sides, dips, relishes, pickles and sauces... let's have 'em. I particularly like recipes which have a story or an anecdote attached - even if it's just 'My Grandma used to make this when I was little' - so feel free to share
As an aside, would people prefer to keep this thread vegetarian? No wish to cause offence but I am aware quite a number of people on here do eat meat, so feedback on this would be useful.
I'm going to kick things off with
MINI VICTORIA SPONGES WITH STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM
Not exactly rocket science, but hell, it's summer, and these little babies looked so cute I wanted to show them off. I made these recently for my kids as a treat because the boys are working so hard at their exams and... well, just because. I also think anything 'mini' in food is instantly nicer.
Makes 12
INGREDIENTS
For the cakes:
2. Beat the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until pale, light and fluffy. Add the eggs bit by bit, beating after each addition. Fold in the flour, vanilla and milk with a metal spoon and mix very gently until fully combined.
3. Divide the mixture evenly between the cupcake cases. Bake for around 15 minutes, until lightly golden and springy to the touch. If your oven has 'hot spots' you may want to turn the tray around halfway through, to make sure they are evenly baked and don't burn.
4. When cool, peel off the cases and slice in half with a serrated knife.
5. Whip the cream until still slightly sloppy (you want it to hold its shape but not be 'dry' and stiff).
6. Spread the bottom of each cake with a good coating of jam; then add strawberries; then pile on cream and sit the 'lids' on the top. Sieve over a little icing sugar and scoff.
As an aside, would people prefer to keep this thread vegetarian? No wish to cause offence but I am aware quite a number of people on here do eat meat, so feedback on this would be useful.
I'm going to kick things off with
MINI VICTORIA SPONGES WITH STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM
Not exactly rocket science, but hell, it's summer, and these little babies looked so cute I wanted to show them off. I made these recently for my kids as a treat because the boys are working so hard at their exams and... well, just because. I also think anything 'mini' in food is instantly nicer.
Makes 12
INGREDIENTS
For the cakes:
- 300g soft butter
- 300g caster sugar
- 5 large eggs or 6 small or medium eggs, beaten
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
- 4 tbsp milk
- 300g self-raising flour
- 200g strawberries, washed and chopped
- Good strawberry jam
- 120ml double cream
- a little icing sugar, for dredging
2. Beat the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until pale, light and fluffy. Add the eggs bit by bit, beating after each addition. Fold in the flour, vanilla and milk with a metal spoon and mix very gently until fully combined.
3. Divide the mixture evenly between the cupcake cases. Bake for around 15 minutes, until lightly golden and springy to the touch. If your oven has 'hot spots' you may want to turn the tray around halfway through, to make sure they are evenly baked and don't burn.
4. When cool, peel off the cases and slice in half with a serrated knife.
5. Whip the cream until still slightly sloppy (you want it to hold its shape but not be 'dry' and stiff).
6. Spread the bottom of each cake with a good coating of jam; then add strawberries; then pile on cream and sit the 'lids' on the top. Sieve over a little icing sugar and scoff.
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