Sometimes life can reward you in unexpected ways.
I have been going to and using the Moat Theatre in Naas, Co. Kildare since I was a teenager. Recently, when the cafe in the theatre became available for new management, I debated the option. I hummed and hawed but eventually decided that it wasn’t the right thing for me. Really what I wanted was to bake for a cafe. I was delighted when I realised a school friend, Amy had taken on the challenge. I was excited for the creativity and imagination she would bring to the venture. Amy asked me if I would be interested in baking for the newly named Duck and Cup Cafe, and it seemed like perfect serendipity.
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Category Archives: Cake
Spiced Red Velvet Bundt Cakes
Having bought mini bundt tins, Spiced Red Velvet Bundt Cakes with Baked Cream Cheese Filling seemed like an obvious option. Yes, I know, I am a little obsessed with red velvet cake, but these little beauties will help you understand why. The hint of cinnamon really emphasised the chocolate flavour while the characteristic light crumb melted on your tongue. Throw in the excitement and luxury of a baked cream cheese filling and you’re onto a winner.
Courgette, Lemon & Elderflower Drizzle Cake
Courgette, Lemon & Elderflower Drizzle Cake really is a delicious treat. The combination of courgette, lemon and elderflower in a cake is one that I hope will appeal to gardeners! I grew up on an organic farm and the realities of seasonal foods were an everyday normality for me. More than that, the relationship between the soil and the land around me with the food I ate was a natural and obvious connection. I believe that my interest in cooking stemmed at least in part from a desire to find ways to use up a glut of that eggs or make something of the crab apples growing in the hedgerows.
Cranberry and White Chocolate Blondies
Cranberry and White Chocolate Blondies are the perfect festive treat to bring along to all those Christmas gatherings that we have this time of year.I have, for some time, been lamenting that I can’t make the gorgeous Rhubarb and White Chocolate Blondies I made during the summer, so this is a reworking of the recipe that works for winter (a shameless reworking – I even use some of the same pictures!). The cranberries in this recipe bring the same tartness as the rhubarb and using orange really brings a warmth and sweetness too.
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Raspberry and Coconut Traybake: A last taste of summer
Having swanned off to Italy and neglected my poor blog, I now present with a very non Italian recipe for Raspberry and Coconut Traybake. I promise the future holds recipes from all the inspiration I got on this wonderful Italian adventure. For now though, it’s all about traybakes.
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Rhubarb and White Chocolate Blondies
Rhubarb and White Chocolate Blondies: Small dense pale coloured cakes. It’s cousin, the brownie often takes all the glory, but a blondie has an almost butterscotch quality that is so delicious. Rhubarb and White Chocolate Blondies are particularly good. Alongside the chewy sweetness of the white chocolate, the tart lime and rhubarb and the warmth of the spices, these are gorgeous. I actually think these are some of the tastiest things I have ever made. As often is the case, they are also really easy to make.
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‘Almost Healthy’ Sticky Toffee Pudding
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Coffee Sour Cream Bundt cake with a Walnut Swirl (at The Cup and Duck Cafe Launch!)
Sometimes life can reward you in unexpected ways.
I have been going to and using the Moat Theatre in Naas, Co. Kildare since I was a teenager. Recently, when the cafe in the theatre became available for new management, I debated the option. I hummed and hawed but eventually decided that it wasn’t the right thing for me. Really what I wanted was to bake for a cafe. I was delighted when I realised a school friend, Amy had taken on the challenge. I was excited for the creativity and imagination she would bring to the venture. Amy asked me if I would be interested in baking for the newly named Duck and Cup Cafe, and it seemed like perfect serendipity.
Continue reading →