Chocolate cake with molten middle

My friend T is on a search for the ultimate chocolate cake with molten middle, This was my attempt at success...

I used a Chocolate Lava Cake recipe from Taste.com, by googling "lava cake recipe frozen mixture". My sister told me the recipe wasn't so important so long as you freeze the puddings before you cook them the centre will come out liquidy and gooey.

The other tip is not to cook them too long, I checked them after 8 minutes but after 12 they had actually risen above the  rim of the ramekin and had gone a little crispy on top which I think helped it to stay upright rather than to be a total squash when serving! If you overcook them they are still tasty you just loose the lava centre.

Whilst I enjoyed this recipe it turned out more like a souffle rather than a cake, It was delicious served with vanilla ice cream and that's really all I was going for. But the search is still on for the perfect gooey individual cake recipe.... if you have any suggestions be sure to let me know!

Birthday Afternoon Tea

I've sampled Afternoon tea in a fair few places but Buxton in the peak district is aparently famous for it so since it was my friend Dr G's birthday and my birthday hadn't long since past it was time to check it out.

Although it was late in the day they had no problems fixing up an Afternoon tea for us, They offered to split one between two if we wanted but we were there to spoil ourselves (and were planning to head out for birthday cocktails without any dinner) so we went for the one each option!

The pot of tea arrived before the food which is just the way it should be - The tea has time to brew so it can be enjoyed at the same time! The tea was in a nice large pot and Dr G managed to convince me to wait until it was properly brewed and the correct colour. whenever I make pots of tea the first cup is always too week as I'm too impatient to have tea NOW!

Wow! It makes me happy just looking at it! A Three Tier cake stand of Goodness! So, we have....

Tiny Sandwiches! and I mean tiny, I felt like a giant! We had the clasic cucumber sandwich, smoked salmon and a honey roast ham. Surprisingly the ham was the winner, the smokey flavour with the soft white bread was perfect!

We went for the Sultana Scone over Cherry (who has cherry scones? really?) The scones were big and fluffy, we could have used a little more clotted cream but probably because we are a bit gluttenous and like to pile it high on two sides of the scone.

We had a selection of four cakes: Victoria sponge, Bakewell tart, Gingerbread and some sort of Tiffin? (is that what it's called?) We really wern't hungry by this point but felt we must at least taste them, The Gingerbread was the stand out with cristallised ginger on top, mmmmm.

Turns out neither of us like almonds so the bakwell tart was abandoned on the plate. How lucky we hadn't gone to Bakewell which is just a short drive away! Ah well G we always knew we had similar tasts except for pineapples which I love and you hate!

Number 6 was a lovely Birthday treat and a great place for two old friends to gather for a LONG catch up, we didn't feel rushed and the service was attentive without hasseling us at all. We felt very welcome. The room is filled with teapots of all shapes and sizes and was warm and cosy on a cold-ish October day.

Number 6,
The Square,
Buxton
UK
Tel: 01298 213541
Website: http://www.no6tearooms.co.uk
Opening Hours: Monday to Firday 10am-4pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm

Loca-vore Stirling

Sometimes friends know exactly what you need, or maybe you are friends because you are similar. I woke up late after a night out and found a text on my phone "Tea and cake?"

Perfect! My friends picked me up and we went to Stirling the home of Tea and cake!

Loca-vore on the main street looked nice and had a few people sitting on the outside tables.

We headed inside and stood at the bar, 2 staff making coffees paid no attention so we found a menu and took a seat. sign on the table sent us back to the bar to order.

A long time later we managed to order
One Iced Coffee, with Apple Tartin
One cup of tea, (no pots avaliable) with Apple Tartin
One Hot chocolate with citron Tart


Cue Iced Chocolate. Nope not our order... The waitress plonked it on the table and started to walk away before we could adk what it was. her responce when we explained we didn't order it was "Huh, but then I'll haveto make it again, can't you just have this one?" erm no.


Cue Apple Tartin, hmmm, I didn't really enjoy it too much something... maybe cloves?


The Citron Tart was much nicer, very sweet


After we had pretty much finished our cake the hot chocolate came out, and then my tea (well hot water a tea bag and the ultimate sin hot milk)

I really likes the ethics of this place, Local ingrediants sourced from within 100km. such a shame the service was such a let down

Photos by Dr Vix

Banana Choc Chip Muffins

Adapted Recipe from "Muffin Mania" by Cathy Prange and Joan Pauli

3 Ripe Bananas
3/4 Cup White Sugar
1 Egg
1 tsp Bicarb of Soda
1 tsp baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1 1/2 Cup Plain Flour (I did half plain half wholemeal)
1/3 Cup Melted Butter
(I added a good Shake of Chocolate Chips)

Mash Bananas (I started mashing with a fork but ended up doing it with the blender so had some big lumps and some mush) add Sugar and slightly beaten egg (I just noticed I needed to add an egg so I missed this out and they came out fine)

Add the melted butter

Add the dry ingredients (I added the chocolate chips here) and bake 180ºC for 20 min

Makes 9 Large muffins, (I made 12 smaller ones, but should have gone with 9 but I wasn't sure how high they would rise)

Tasty, Not healthy, Ah well.

Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake

Today one of the guys I work with was moving to another shift. He wasn't very happy about it so I decided to make him a cake.
I've been thinking about making a cake in the slow cooker since I discovered this is possible. I simply used a chocolate cake mix and cooked it on the slow cooker but it was really interesting and the house smelt fantastic!

Chocolate Cake

2 boxes cake mix (I have a 6L slow cooker so went double quantities)
3 eggs
Oil and water as back of packet.

Sprayed slow cooker pot with oil and placed two strips of greaseproof paper to make a cross to lift the cake out with also lined the bottom of pot with greaseproof paper and sprayed everything with oil again, (panicking about things sticking, moi? surely not!)

Mixed all ingredients up in a bowl with electric mixer as cake box instructions.
Pour into pot.

Cooked on High for 3 hours with lid venting with a chopstick to stop condensation.

Cake came out a bit burnt at the back, I think next time I would cook on high or 2 hours then turn down to low. I trimed burnt crust and it was fine.

Turn out on wire rack and cool

Ice with Cake mix Icing!!!!! Lick bowl.


Cake went down a storm at work!
Was lovely and moist in the middle with slightly hardened crust.
I liked baking in the slow cooker but next time will keep watch and adjust temperature (I'm on Nightshift so I went for a nap while it cooked and set my alarm).
I think this is the first time I've ever baked alone! I always did it with friends or family to help before! Does that mean I'm a grown up?