Showing posts with label Carrot Cake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carrot Cake. Show all posts

Friday, 7 June 2013

Return of the Nando’s-Carrot-Cake, Owls and Pie In the Garden

 

May time was a good month for pudding, my loyal pudding followers. I have made practically no pudding as of late. Laziness is probably the most likely excuse for this. *Hangs head*

BUT, I have eaten some pretty snazzy pudding related items this month! Open-mouthed smile For example, Return of the Nando’s Carrot Cake, Tea-for-two-which-could-actually-feed-about-four-people and Pie in the Garden! Open-mouthed smile972598_10151678097467774_492433245_n

557903_10200407541624555_1761728270_nSome of the Midwives made another trip to our Portugese Hunting Ground that is Nando’s in the sort of start of May. For some nice food, bevvys (non-alcoholic for the drivers) and CAKE. With the usual very courteous and friendly service from our Nando’s waitress (seen posing with my carrot cake right here) Hint: Charlotte is not the waitress. Plus she had Toffee Cheesecake, apparently that was pretty fit as well… May973349_10151678094807774_1879150018_nbe next time I will gather the courage to try a different pudding from the Chicken-Experts, BUT CARROT CAKE IS TOO AMAZING. You will have noticed this theme through out my blog this past year. It is probably the cinnamon and spicy flavours combined with the textures of soft cake with nutty nuts within, and soft smooth cream cheese frosting. Either way, WINNING. And I still think that this Nando’s Carrot Cake deserves the 4 1/2 Waffles I bestowed upon it last time

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911593_10151675800897774_818628108_nAn exciting discovery made this month was that of LUNCHBOX SIZED MALT LOAVES! Personally it took me some time, but in the past year or so, Malt loaf has become a very important and influential part of my life. One of the nicest snacks in the whole world is sliced malt loaf, sandwiched together with smooth creamy butter. It is chewy and rich, fruity and yet densely flavourful. So when  one of the midwives at work brought in these bad boys, the excitement within the room was palpable. The problem I found with them however, was that they do not come with butter. So if you want butter with them then you have to take some to work with you… Which kind of takes away the whole point. But I still find them very joyful and tasty.962068_10151694249712774_1740419835_n Becase A) they are malt loaves, and B) they are mini, and mini things are amazing.

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I took my Mum to Dobbie’s Garden Centre one Saturday this month. This is the benefit of having a car!! Oh how I have missed it! Not because I love Garden Centres, but they are definately renowned for good tasty cake and pudding! They had an offer on that day, £9.95 for Afternoon-Tea-For-Two. A selection of sandwiches, cake and tea/coffee. Sounded good to me!! But trust me, we were not expecting THIS!!!! 3 tiers comprising of sandwiches, Millionaires Shortbread, Meringues, Vanilla Slices and if that was not enough, a Cherry/Sultana scone each complete with Jam and Cream!!!! OM NOM FRICKIN NOM! We thought we wouldn’t be able to manage it between us. But needless-to-say we certainly coped quite well! Each component was delicious! Freshly made and very tasty. And it all looked so so pretty! The scone for me was the highlight. They were obviously freshly baked as they were crunchy on the outside but light, warm and soft on the inside, and combined with the strawberry jam and whipped cream, truly was the icing on the cake (LITERALLY! Smile with tongue out) So for those that love afternoon teas, and want to try one that is simply spectacular, and very reasonably priced. You must try Dobbie’s Garden Centre!! 5 Waffles!! Open-mouthed smile973439_10151695888432774_981751129_n

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To continue with the Scone theme. In the lovely sunny May weekend weather, my parents, grandparents and I went to Lamport Hall Country Show. It was a nice day out that we have attended for many many years. Consisting of shops and stalls selling allsorts of crafts, food, plants, antiques etc, and also a fair and tractor/vintage car show. When there is nice weather, the natural reaction is to picnic. My grandma being the star she is, fully arranged this, complete with pear cider out of plastic champagne glasses! But there was no shop bought pudding for us!! Grandma made 974104_10151695791662774_325761439_nher signature scones. Freshly baked, soft, fruity sultana scones filled with butter and jam for us to enjoy. I will try and snaffle the recipe off her so that I can attempt to recreate them as an adult. Because as a child you see this was one of the first confections my Grandma taught me to make Smile. With my Gradma’s effort, skill and the fact is was very sunshiny, she definately deserves another 5 waffles. OH, AND THERE WERE OWLS! I don’t think they would have tasted as nice…

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The final pudding of note in the month of May that I have not covered was a delicious Apple and Blackberry Pie in the garden Smile. But this was not just any old pie. This was a succulently fruity, warm and satisfying Mark’s and Spencer Lattice pie. Crispy pastry, juicy and tart fruit, baked till hot and served with cold vanilla ice cream. I honestly don’t remember the last time I had a fruit pie that was this nice! I certainly don’t t974899_10151705216547774_1337251156_nhink I have ever blogged about one anyway! I would definitely recommend this pudding supreme to you lovely people! The fruit was not soggy, and kept its shape and flavour, whilst giving a wonderful summery colour to the dessert, and Mary Berry would certainly approve of the lack of soggy bottom! So play some Fleetwood Mac, and pretend you are in the M & S adverts whilst nomming this beauty!

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Sunday, 3 February 2013

Update. Severely lacking

Hello lovely followers. Its coming up for my 4th week of weightwatchers. *twitchy eye* Don't get me wrong it has been successful so for!  I have lost half a stone!  But I  admit I do feel a little deprived of pudding...

And guess what I subjected myself to last night?! I made a mahoosive Carrot Cake. But not just any old carrot cake.  THE carrot cake. That deliciously decadent Jamie Oliver creation. With lime mascarpone topping.  I wanted it so much.  But do I get to shut myself in a cupboard somewhere and eat it? Do I 'eck! It is a birthday present for many baker extraordinaire of a Grandma.  When she realises now many tastes went into this cake I am she she will appreciate it even more.

But this is pretty much the only indirect pudding I have been in  with... watch this space however for a review of some intriguing dessert CHOCOLATES I had the pleasure of consuming from Hotel Chocolat. I have my Stacey to thank for that.

So yeah. Severely lacking up date.  But don't lose faith.  Pudding shall return!

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

Weightwatchers® (Friendly) Carrot Cake Buns


Date: 16/1/13

Background: Being on Weightwatchers® because I want to lose some weight to be healthier and feel more confident, it naturally means that some of my decadently delicious puddingy treats are at least for the time being off the menu. So I thought that, in order to continue enjoying pudding and blogging, I would try and make some weight watchers® friendly cakey treats! So here is my first attempt-with my favourite type of cake!

What: Weightwatchers® (Friendly) Carrot Cake Buns

How Much: Free… Well I had all the ingredients in my Mum’s store cupboard


Ingredients:
  • 250g Self Raising Flour
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 50g Margarine-melted
  • 175mls Skimmed Milk
  • 55g Caster Sugar & 55g Soft Dark Brown Sugar
  • 225g Carrots-grated
  • Zest of an Orange
  • 50g Raisins
  • 1tsp Cinnamon
  • 1tsp Ground Ginger
  • 1 tsp Mixed Spice
  • 1 tsp Ground Nutmeg
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 2 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
To Decorate:
  • 10tsp Icing Sugar
  • Enough water to make it into a thick runny paste
Method:
  1. Preheat oven to 170C/Gas Mark 4
  2. Mix together the “wet ingredients” i.e. melted margarine, milk, vanilla and eggs
  3. Stir in the carrot, orange zest and raisins
  4. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices
  5. Milk the sugar into the other “dry ingredients”
  6. Pour the “wet ingredients” into the dry ones and mix together until combined (try not to over beat)
  7. Pour the mixture into 16 prepared cake cases in their respective tins
  8. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a skewer into the centre of the cake comes out clean
  9. Allow to cool then decorate with 1/2tsp-1tsp icing
  10. Eat and Enjoy!



What was Good: It was a really light cake! Subtly spiced and with the added bonus of a little squidgey nugget of fruit as you eat it. It was moist and tasty and tasted very much like a carrot cake you would eat that was not weightwatchers® friendly! One of the best things that I found was that because it was so low in pro-points®, I could eat it without feeling guilty!

What was Bad: My icing went wrong… As you can tell… I only had 10tsp of icing sugar to work with, and I added too much water. But it did not detract from the taste of the cake! I think next time I would add more spices, to add a slightly less subtle flavour to the cake. I would also like to add some chopped walnuts to the mix, however this would up the pro-points® per serving.

Would I make them again?: Yes, give me a nice guilt-less cake anyday!

Strawb-rometer:

strawberry2strawberry2strawberry2

Pro-points® per serving:  4
SAM_0967


WEIGHT WATCHERS and ProPoints® are the registered trademarks of Weight Watchers International, Inc. and are used under license by WeightWatchers.com, Inc.

Sunday, 11 November 2012

Carrot Cake Comparison

 

Date: 11/11/12

Background: A new store “The Range” has opened in good ol’ Rugby, so we went there for a general Sunday mooch, and consequently had a coffee in their cafe.

What: Carrot Cake (Cake of the Day)

Where: The Range, Rugby store

How Much?: I got it for £3.25 on offer with a tea for one. But the cake itself would have been £2.40 (pricey!)

What was Good:

  • It was a carrot cake! If you remember my previous blog posts you will remember my passion for this particular nommable!
  • It was a light and airy cake
  • It had a nice sweet cream cheese frosting
  • It had delicious crunchy chopped walnuts to garnish it
  • I liked very much that it had an ooey gooey filling! Even if it was the same as the topping..

What was Bad:

  • Being pre-sliced, it was a starting to go a bit dry on the edges
  • The cream cheese frosting was not as nice as Jamie Oliver’s recipe from my previous blog
  • It was expensive for what it was!
  • It was not as flavoursome as my delicious cake of perfection I made previously either! It did not taste as though it had as much spice.

Would I go here again? For cake? No, too expensive! For general house/craft/hobby purchases? YES!

COMPARE-A-CAKE-WAFFLE-O-METER

 

TROPHY1st

 1st   Jamie Oliver’s Carrot Cake with Lime Mascarpone Icing 

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TROPHY2nd

2nd  Nando’s do pudding?!

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TROPHY3rd3rd   This Carrot Cake.. With a Measly

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