Summer Cakes-Chocolate and raspberry Victoria sponge.

There are raspberry growing down the end of my garden that have been there since I remember. This year they really flourished and have started to ripen. A good bunch are still to follow. My idea of a summer cake involves lots of fruit, a Victoria sponge wedge with cream and fruit. Although this summer is looking to be another wash out, it's still nice to bake!

So yesterday evening I went down and picked a bunch of the ready ones. It's so great picking your own fruit. These I guess are considered organic also with hardly any human interruption.
I decided to make a chocolate Victoria sponge wedged together with sweetened cream and my garden grown raspberries and the same on top. To make the sweet cream I used:

• 250ml double cream
• The scrapping of one vanilla pod
• About a handful of icing sugar

I just beated the cream with the vanilla with an electric beater and gradually added the icing sugar in until it was just thick enough to not drop off the spoon. The vanilla speckles the cream,which is lovely. I have never been a fan of cream but I love this! I think I'm going to make icing for cupcakes this way. A lot less sweeter than butter icing.

I pipped the cream on top for decoration affect and just spread it out in between the cakes.

I used this recipe to make my sponges but added chocolate drinking powder and some cocoa. I find cocoa dries cakes out a lot so I add lots of milk to moisten it up. I swear by this.

YUM!

The Cake Café

www.thecakecafe.ie

Georgia and I tried to find the cake cafe a few months ago but couldn't find it. All we knew is that it was off pleasant street. We decided to try again last week and with the help of google maps on my phone we found it! When you look down the street it is on, it doesn't look like it would be located there.

It is located in this really cute courtyard. Outside there is tables that are decorated with floral table clothes. All the cutlery is old antiques, by the looks of it!

They serve savory food but we were both really full so just went for a coffee and scone.

They had lots of cakes and cookies too! I got this one for Jesse, but It broke a little bit.

Strawberries and Chocolate

Summer means strawberry season! Raspberries are soon to follow and then it's wild blackberry time. Raspberries and Strawberries in cakes is such a summer cake. Can't wait to make a nice fruity Victoria sponge.

So strawberries and chocolate is my favourite.

So far I've had some good combinations.

Today while at the movies in the park @ People's park, DunLaoighre, I decided after eating falfafel and drinking coffee to get a crepe. I was so full but it had to be done. They were making nuttella and strawberry ones. It was destined to be tasty and yes it was! Georgia got the banana and nuttella one.

'crepes in the city'

I whipped this together. We have cookies, strawberries and melted nuttella. Winning combo.

Cadbury's fingers and strawberries. Also winning!

Strawberries <3

A yum summer sandwich!

Bread

Hummous

Spring onion

Grated carrot

All together and voila! I had this sandwich at a party a few years ago and have been eating it since. Also tastes way better with black pepper.

Food up dates!

A huge carrot cake I made the other day after finishing exams. I usually bake when I have to study but having free time to bake is great! I have used this Hummingbird cookbook recipe before and is a winner every time!

Poppies cafe appreciation! The one down in Dunloire does very good mochas and scones. There's also a lovely window seat to look out.

I'm not to mad on meat substitutes and always a bit scared to try them. One evening I was craving spaghetti bolonase, so decided to buy some and give it a go. It is really easy to make and very yummy! I have used it a few times since. I need to use it for other dishes like lasagna and tacos.

A salad I made for college one day. It had broken up homemade vegi/bean burgers, rocket, carrot along with some left over bulgar wheat.

Milanos pizza. This is from the lighter range. There's a hole cut in the middle and it is filled salad. It it beyond delish.

This is a terrible picture but it is a sweet potato burrito from burritos and blues! I was never to much of a fan of burritos but this changed my mind.

Best malts around! This malt is from The Counter. So chocolaty and the burgers and staff are great!

Select stores Yum. A salad from the Blazing Salads's salad bar and a chickpea curry.

Boojum Vegi tacos and chicken burrito. Jesse and I sat in the park and ate this lovely dinner.

A beast of a dinner. Homemade burger, salad, salsa, potatoes and a sweet potato stuffed pepper. #fatty

And just a potato salad!

I haven't updated this properly in a while!

I have been taking pictures of all sorts of things anyway so here it goes!

Food glorious food

Turns out I was using the wrong cupcake cases all along. I got some proper ones in a little shop in town called The Irish Yeast Company. I got loads for around 2 euro, I think.

Vegetarian Mexican Nachos. When in London, we went to a Mexican restaurant in Soho, I think. I forgot the name of the place but they were yum. I really wanna make something like this soon.

My first ever macaroon. I got this in London from a French cafe called Paul. Was delish. Gonna try make them soon.

Just some cooking. A orange loaf and a lentil lasagne. Both didn't last too long because Nick, our foster dog got them both :(

Milkshakes! My new fav thing to make. They're so yummy in the summer and easy to make.

Banana and Honey Porridge.

I have never seen the attraction of porridge at all. It has always just been sludge and only tasting alright with piles of sugar on it.

When I was in London, this all changed. We were in Marks and Spencer grabbing breakfast and Georgia got the Banana and Honey Porridge. She didn't finish it all so I had the rest. It was so tasty and wholesome. I could tell that it had been cooked in milk and left quite milky.

So, I tried to make some myself. I have had it the past 3 mornings and the difference it makes to my apeitite through out the day is amazing. I'm not hungry and craving everything.

You need about a handful of porridge oats per person. Slice some banana in it. I use half a banana for one serving, a whole banana for a 2 servings etc. Add Honey, a fair bit and some brown sugar. Heat it up slowly while continually stirring it to break up the banana. I always add more milk in to it at the end to moisten it up.

I serve it with more honey and sugar on top and voila! I have had it with a smoothie made with freshly squeezed orange juice, a banana and a few strawberries.

My favorite cakes

Cheesy bites

I saw these being made on river cottage, a show I love to watch. He used courgettes in his but I am using peppers instead. These are perfect party food and soooooooo yummy.

First off you just chop some garlic and peppers finely and fry off until soft.

Grate some cheddar cheese along with whatever other cheese. I've made them with feta cheese and mozzarella and both taste good. So put the cheese, garlic and peppers in a bowl along with a beaten egg and bread crumbs. Mix it all up and mold into little balls and then bake for around 15/20 mins and voila!

Bean Burgers

I have allready posted about them before but here is a couple different ways to use them.

I sometimes get sick of having them as a sandwich so I stuffed a pepper with one along with chilli and honey and baked them. Was so yummy.

I enjoy them most in a wrap and they are perfect with salad cream, hummous, a salad and nandos sauce. I always bring one of these in for my lunch.