Category: recipes

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Clodagh McKenna‏, My Carrot Cake with Orange Blossom frosting recipe

Makes 1 Cake (10 portions)

INGREDIENTS:

3 eggs

140ml/5floz vegetable oil, plus extra for greasing

220/7oz light brown sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

350g/12oz grated carrots, (grated weight)

100g/3½ oz golden raisins

100g/3½ oz walnuts, chopped

200g/7oz self-raising flour

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

For the orange blossom frosting 

300g/10½ oz cream cheese, chilled

70g/2½ oz butter, at room temperature

300g/10½ oz icing sugar, sifted

1 orange, zest only

2 teaspoons of orange blossom water

METHOD:

1.          Preheat the oven to 180°C and oil and line a 13 x 23cm loaf tin with greaseproof paper.

2.        For the carrot cake: beat the eggs in a large bowl, then add the oil, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, grated carrot, raisins and chopped walnuts.

3.        Sift in the rest of the dry ingredients and bring the mixture together using a wooden or large metal spoon until well combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf tin, smooth the surface and bake in the oven for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. If you’re using a ceramic baking dish then you’ll need to add 15 minutes to the cooking time.

4.       Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool in the tin for about five minutes before removing. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

5.        For the orange blossom frosting: beat the cream cheese and butter together in a bowl until well combined. Add the icing sugar, orange blossom water and finely grated orange zest and mix until the frosting is smooth and thick. Using a palette knife, spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cake, dipping the knife into a bowl of hot water if the icing is hard to spread out.

6.       Decorate with orange zest on top of the frosting.

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Odlums Granny’s Apple Cake 😉

What you need:

  • 225g/8oz Odlums Self Raising Flour
  • 175g/6oz Butter or Margarine
  • 175g/6oz Shamrock Golden Caster Sugar
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1 level teaspoon Goodall’s Cinnamon (optional)
  • 3 Apples (peeled & cored)

How to:

  1. Preheat oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5. Grease and base line a 900g/2lb loaf tin.
  2. Beat butter/margarine and sugar together. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  3. Stir in the sieved flour and cinnamon, if used.
  4. Roughly chop 2½ apples and stir into the mixture, then transfer to the prepared loaf tin.
  5. Slice the remaining half apple into thin circles and arrange on top of mixture.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes approx. Allow to stand in tin for about 5 minutes, then turn onto a wire tray to cool.
  7. To finish, dust with sieved icing sugar. Enjoy!

Granny’s Apple Cake

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What’s for tea?

classic-french-omelette

 Everybody, 9-90, should know how to make an omelette, then dinner is only 3 minutes away. Here it is step by step.

Ingredients

  • 3 Eggs
  • 3 teasp. water
  • ½ tablesp. fresh herbs, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Knob of butter

Filling

  • A little butter
  • 25g Oyster or button mushrooms, chopped
  • 25g Farmhouse Cheese, grated

Alternative Filling:

  • Chopped tomatoes, basil, scallions

To Cook

Prepare the Filling

A non-stick omelette pan is essential. Beat the eggs, water, herbs and seasoning together. Heat the pan well, add the butter, pour in the egg mixture. Work quickly, drawing the egg to the centre of the pan as it begins to set. This allows the uncooked mixture to reach the base of the pan. Continue until you have the omelette cooked to your liking.

Place the filling along the centre of the omelette. Starting at the handle, fold over the omelette by 1/3.Slide the omelette down the pan.

Then, with your hand under the handle, tip the omelette onto a warm plate, making the third fold. Sprinkle with finely grated cheese (optional) and serve with mixed salad leaves.