PLANTAIN AND PECAN MUFFIS

Ok guys here it is, my final instalment in the plantain series. I know this one took a while to come but believe me it is so worth the wait. When I started the recipe testing to use plantain in new ways this was the one I was most excited about.

I was super nervous throughout the process because I wasn’t sure if they were going to taste like I had imagined they would but as I took the first bite they were even better than I could have imagined. I am so in love with this recipe, it has definitely become one of my favourites.

These are real muffins, not those little muffins that are basically glorified cupcakes, these are big with a nice high dome and packed full of flavour. Now don’t get me wrong I love cupcakes too but its a bit disappointing when you are expecting a muffin and you get a small dainty cupcake, there is a time and a place for small and dainty and that time isn’t when I want a muffin.

This batter comes together so quickly and you don’t even need a mixer; one thing that i definitely recommend is resting the batter overnight. I have done this with all my muffins since I read about it in a cookbook (Bouchon bakery by Thomas Keller if you are interested) and I promise you it is completely worth it. Resting the batter gives the flour time to hydrate, thicken and build some gluten which gives structure and helps result in a tender, moist muffin when  baked.................................. in English that means rest your batter  J.

MINI PLANTAIN PANCAKE MUFFINS

Hey guys, I’m back to continue my plantain series. I have been having so much fun experimenting with plantain. I should have probably posted this recipe last week so that you guys could have made them for shrove Tuesday or pancake Tuesday  but I’m not that organised of a blogger yet, but on the plus side pancakes can be enjoyed anytime so I’m sure you will forgive me.

As much as I love pancakes, sometimes I’m just not in the mood to  stand next to the hob frying a whole bunch of batter so when I saw these mini pancake muffins from bakerella I practically sprinted to get out my mini muffin tin.

I stirred some ripe mashed plantain into the pancake batter to make these super cute mini plantain pancake muffins. These are so delicious and a cinch to make and can easily be scaled up or down.

COCONUT PECAN AND WHITE CHOCOLATE BLONDIES

My friend had the most gorgeous baby boy about three weeks ago and I went to see them this weekend. I just love babies, so cute, cuddly and they always smell so good. I didn’t get to carry him and play with him for as long as I wanted to because there were many grandmas and uncles and so on waiting to carry himas well and I didn’t want to seem like a baby hog even though I totally am.

Even before I had decided on when I was going to visit them, I had already decided to take these blondies with me. They are so so easy to make and chewy, moist , delicious................ just how I like my blondies.  

The base recipe for these blondies is from Smitten Kitchen; I love recipes like this that can be easily adapted to suit your tastes, whatever mix ins you decide to use is entirely up to you, the possibilities are endless!!!!!!!

COCONUT FILLED CHOCOLATE HEARTS

Here I am again with another sweet treat for your sweetheart or yourself this valentines day. ok ok not necessarily for valentines day, (I've eaten most of them and between me and you I doubt they will make it to valentines day) I just said that so you would think I was a super organised blogger that brought you recipes tailored to the time of year lol!

One of my favourite chocolates is bounty and I have been telling them for years (telepathically of-course) to make a white chocolate one, since they kept ignoring me I took matters into my own hands (cue super hero theme music) and boy am I glad I did!!!!!

These are so delicious and easy, they are everything I wanted my white chocolate bounty to taste like, I dressed them up a bit and added some dark chocolate for a pretty two toned effect but feel free to use any chocolate that you like. 

RED VELVET CHEESECAKE SWIRL BROWNIES

I have been wanting to make something with a cheesecake layer for a while and after making this I am so annoyed I waited this long! OK this recipe.....OMG so decandent, so rich and believe it or not ridiculously simple to make; seriously it will take you only about 15 minutes to get these into the oven. 

These brownies are good any time of the year but the vivid red makes it particularly fitting for valentines day, this recipe is from sallys baking addiction and she adapted it from a Sunny Anderson recipe. I prefer the sally's baking addiction recipe because using just the egg yolk makes the cheesecake layer thicker (which I love) but if you'd rather not have an egg white hanging around feel free to use the whole egg in the cheesecake layer.

Whenever I make anything red velvet (brownies, cakes, cookies, cheesecake etc) I use red gel food colouring instead of liquid colour as the liquid red food colouring sold in UK supermarkets never gives you the bright red you want. The brand I use the most is Home2bake professional icing colour which you can buy from Asda. You only get basic colours like green, yellow, blue so if you need any fancy tints and shades like paprika, primrose, ice blue and so on you will need to go to a sugarcraft store or buy online. 

Now back to these brownies, after eating 3 pieces sneaking a few nibbles, I put them in the freezer for about 40 minutes so that I could get neat slices to take pretty pictures and obviously a few more nibbles made it into my mouth. Let me tell you it tasted beyond amazing, like a red velvet cheesecake truffle!!!!!!!!!!

CHOCOLATE COVERED PEANUT BUTTER PRETZEL STICKS

Valentines day is a just around the corner and as a food blogger I am required to bring you delicious treats most of which are white, red or pink and these pretzels definitely fit the bill.

These recipes came about because after I tried some peanut butter filled pretzel bites at wedding, OMG they were amazing. I ate so many of them I sure looked like a pig to everyone at the table. I was brainstorming ways to recreate those beauties and fill them with a whole array of other fillings cracking my head about how to make hollow pretzels and then fill them when I saw the pretzel sticks in my snack cupboard and eureka!  (if you get the eureka, you're a geek like me).

With just three ingredients, these pretzels are so easy to make. I love these pretzels because they can very easily be customised; peanut butter for any other nut butter or spread of your choice, dip in milk or dark chocolate or even a combination and decorate with whatever sweets or colours to match your event or holiday.

CINNAMON CHIP STREUSEL MUFFINS

Hey guys, I’m soooooooo sorry I haven’t posted anything in a while, I moved about 2 weeks ago but my router didn’t come until last week, and then when it came it wasn’t working bla bla bla........... long story short I couldn’t go online but now I can hurray!

I’m celebrating the return to my cyber life with these cinnamon chip streusel muffins; these were a request from my friend as she recently went to America and had these  and was craving them now that she was back in the UK.

Now if you are a UK baker you will know that you cannot get cinnamon chips anywhere here and so I had to make my own. I got the recipe from bright eyed baker and I don’t know what the commercial cinnamon chips are like but these were AMAZING. They gave the muffins these intense bursts of cinnamon every time you bit into one and this combined with the buttery crunchy streusel topping just makes these muffins beyond delicious!!!!!

NO BAKE MINI SPECULOOS SWIRL CHEESECAKE

Remember this speculoos, this is one of the many awesome things you can do with it. This recipe is one of my favourite ones as its super easy and will be a great part of your Christmas menu; whenever I make it everyone has multiple servings. 

This is my go to cheesecake recipe as I don't particularly like the texture of baked cheesecakes, plus I refuse to live in fear of the dreaded cracked cheesecake top (cue dramatic music!!!!).

To make these more party friendly I have served them in disposable shot glasses but feel free to make a full cheesecake and cut that into portions (notes at the end of this post). Although I have put in a measurement for the icing sugar, it’s really down to personal taste so I suggest starting with half the quantity in the recipe and then taste and adjust to suit you.

CINNAMON COCONUT DANISH SWIRLS

Ok guys I have finally decided to get into the Christmas spirit. I have been fighting against the fairy lights, tinsel and Christmas carols but I've finally given in and embraced it.

Over the next few weeks most of my posts will be Christmas inspired from recipes that would be great additions to your Christmas party, to home made gifts, to drinks etc. I'm getting excited just thinking about it all.

Anyhoo let's kick things off.  One of my favourite things about Christmas is the spices; cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg, cloves............. I looooove them which is why my first Christmas inspired recipe is cinnamon coconut danish swirls!

This recipe is super duper easy (I say that a lot don't I?) as I 'cheated' and used shop bought puff pastry. I mean let’s be honest you don't want to be stuck in the kitchen and then be too tired to enjoy all the festivities, but hey if you are a purist feel free to make your own puff pastry - it's ok, I'll still be your friend. 

HOME-MADE WHITE CHOCOLATE CRUNCH BARS

That's quite a long title isn't it? lol. Sorry couldn't think of a shorter one because I was too excited to post my first sweet recipe!!!!!!

I loved white chocolate crunch bars when I was younger but they are no longer readily available in the UK and so when saw this I knew I had to make the white chocolate version. These are more cups than bars but that's just because of the mould I used, feel free to use whatever mould you like.

I’m not even sure I can call this a recipe because it so so simple. These are great for kids' lunch boxes, for your next party or just as a snack; find a reason to make them you will not be sorry.

STICKY PORK BELLY

If you are on a diet please stop reading now...............................

 Seriously don’t go any further....................................................

You’re still reading aren't you? Fine then, you can read on but I shall not be held responsible for you racing to the supermarket to buy the ingredients you need and whipping this up. Don’t worry just do what I did, oats for breakfast, salad for lunch that way guilt free indulgent dinner!!!!! OK OK I didn't really do that but you do that ok?