After a long work week, what better way to relax and let loose than to put on those baking gloves and indulge in the joy of baking. This week we've focused on two sweet treats, a good old chocolate brownie and a traditional welsh cake. Easy to make, these treats are perfect for a quite weekend at home or even a shared teatime date with a special one.
Chocolate brownies
Brownies are an eternal favourite, but when done wrong, they can be a source of major disappointment. This week I present you a simple 1-2-3 step brownie recipe that packs just the righ amount of punch.
Ingredients
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
½ cup butter
½ tsp. vanilla
80gms of melted chocolate
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup cocoa powder
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
Handful of cashew nuts (optional)
Sift the dry ingredients and keep aside. Cream the eggs and sugar. Add in butter and vanilla essence along with melted chocolate and cashew nuts. Mix everything till well combined. Fold in the dry ingredients. Bake for 20 minutes in a preheated oven at 180 degree celsius, or until a toothpick comes out clean or with crumbled bits of brownie (not uncooked batter).
Welsh cake
Welsh cakes are traditional teatime treats originating in the heart of rural Wales. An old favourite for the British, the beauty of this cake lies in it's home cooked simplicity. Unpretentious and full of the feel good flavour of a treat that has been passed on through generations, these spiced cakes have everything you need for a quick afternoon snack. These little ones are a balanced combination of sweet and salty, crumbling in your mouth with each bite. Best served with lots of butter or a generous sprinkling of sugar.
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup butter
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp sugar
Zest of a lemon
Handful of raisins
Handful of fresh or tinned blueberries
A pinch of salt
A pinch of nutmeg
1 egg
2 tbsp of milk
Mix flour and butter with the help of your fingertips till it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in baking powder, sugar, lemon zest, salt, nutmeg and the dried fruits and blueberries. Crack in an egg along with a small amount of milk and knead lightly to form dough. Roll out the dough onto a floured surface and cut into small rounds using cookie cutters. Cook them over a fry pan on medium heat, 3-4 minutes on each side. Serve with custard crème and berries of your choice.
