Baking Mad!

I love baking and cooking and I love trying out new recipes that I find online. One of my favourite websites is Baking Mad where people can upload their own recipes for others to try. I particularly like this as you know the results can be achieved and often you don't need fancy ingredients that cost an arm and a leg that you'll never use again. 

I recently was sent some baking goodies to try out and as I hadn't done some baking for a while I decided to crack out the mixing bowl and make something.

Even though I was sent a recipe book, I found the recipe for ice cream cone cupcakes on the Baking Mad website and decided I would give them a try.

The recipe was really easy to follow and here is my end result:

I also really enjoy making cheesecakes and there are some really good recipes available here: http://www.bakingmad.com/ideas/cheesecake-recipes

And there are some great cupcake recipes too, I am definitely going to bake the christmas tree ones at christmas:

http://www.bakingmad.com/recipes/cupcake-recipe

In the next couple of weeks I am going to bake a few recipes from the recipe book including the pink swirl meringues and jaffa cakes so I'll let you know how they turn out!

Do you like baking? What are your favourite recipes and things to cook?

PR Sample

Day Zero Project - New recipe: Fruit loaf

One of the goals I set myself on my Day Zero Project was to try 20 new recipes and the first one I've tried is a fruit loaf.

Recipe

337g (12oz) Self raising flour

Pinch of salt

150g (6oz) margarine

150g (6oz) caster sugar

262g (9oz) mixed dried fruit

3 medium eggs

3 x 15ml tablespoon of milk

Heat oven to 180˚c, 350˚F, Gas Mark 4. Grease 2 medium loaf tins or line with greaseproof paper (this is easier)

Mix flour and salt, rub in margarine

Stir in sugar and fruit. Beat together eggs and milk

Mix together to a soft consistency

Place in tin and bake in the middle of the oven for about 50 minutes

And finally....enjoy!

Recipe - White chocolate & cranberry fudge

I found this recipe last year in a magazine from a supermarket (Tesco I think) and thought that it seemed quite easy to make so I gave it a go. And it's gorgeous!

What you need

• Weighing scales
• Measuring jug
• Spoon
• Pan
• Greaseproof paper
• Baking/loaf tin
• Timer

Ingredients

• 350g (12 oz) granulated sugar
• 25g (1 oz) butter
• 175ml (6 fl oz) evaporated milk
• 100g (4 oz) dried cranberries
• 300g (10 oz) chopped white chocolate

Method

1. Cut a piece of baking parchment large enough to line a shallow 25x20cm (10x8 inch)baking tin or a 1kg (2lb) loaf tin

2. Put the sugar, butter and evaporated milk into a large heavy-based pan. Heat gently until the sugar has completely dissolved

3. Bring to the boil, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes (set a timer for this)

4. Immediately remove from the heat and stir in the cranberries and chocolate. Stir until the chocolate has melted and pour into the greaseproof paper lined tin straight away

5. Even out the mixture and place int he fridge for at least an hour to chill

6. When set, cut into squares......

AND ENJOY!