I Vote United Kingdom!

 

Date: 14/10/12

Background: For my World Pudding theme of late in my blog, and simply because I love a cake lunch, I went to Marks and Spencer’s in ROYAL Leamington Spa. That statement itself is very British. I mean, Marks and Spencer (for those of you that do not know) is a major British retailer with 703 stores in the United Kingdom and 361 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It is a beacon of pure Britishness in all it’s glory, and the cafe does sell some rather tasty goodies. And as for Royal Leamington Spa, for those of my readers who have not had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful town, with it’s elegant stunning white townhouses, spacious parks, and well known for it’s often upmarket shops, you must add Leamington to your list of places you need to visit-if anything, for it’s culture!

What: Ginger and Treacle Loaf Cake

How Much?: £2.95

What was Good: Its dense rich amber colour was enticing enough. I am a sucker for a good loaf cake, especially if it has the words ‘ginger’ and ‘treacle’ in it’s name. My mouth started to water at the thought of it! I absolutely love the sticky and chewy qualities that treacle tends to give cakes, and with the Autumn arriving as if from nowhere, with turning leaves and a cold chill in the air, the idea of a warming ginger spice was a very welcome one. The topping of the cake was an interesting choice, but more on that later. The loaf cake certainly delivered on the texture front. It was moist, dense but not cloy-y, very flavoursome confection, and I enjoyed it very much. I will definitely be trying to make/bake and review this cake, so watch this space!

What was Bad: Unfortunately, I was not entirely sold on the topping. It was drizzled with a little white chocolate icing, however it could have been yoghurt , and sprinkled with crystalized ginger. I can see why the crystallized ginger is appropriate, I did not like the texture, and the icing, although not unpleasant, I do not believe ‘went’ with the gingery cake. When making it myself I will also ensure that more ginger is added to the actual cake batter itself, because although it had a lovely flavour, I believe it could have benefitted from being more robust!

Waffle-O-Meter:

Pudding Redemption

 

Date: 26/8/12

Background: First thing’s first, yes I (Amy) am aware that there is no cake, or in fact any complex carbohydrates involved in this pudding, which was quite a bizarre experience I can tell you! But after a week of complete over pudd-ing-dulgence it was a welcome chance to redeem myself with a light healthy fruity bowl of saintliness. As after all, what is a dinner without a pudding?!

What: Fresh British Raspberries and Strawberries with Lancashire Farms Probiotic Yoghurt

How Much?: Strawberries = 67p per serving (£2 per 454g punnet), Raspberries = 67p per serving (£2 per 200g punnet) (Tesco), Lancashire Farms Probiotic Yoghurt= 20p per serving (£1 per 1kg pot!) (Asda) Overall= £5 but only £1.54 per serving!

What was Good: It was so fresh! There certainly was no sickly stodgy cake-expansion feeling today! The raspberries were soft, melt-in-the-mouth tender, with their natural zingyness that catches your sour taste buds in a very pleasant way, but not so tart that you pull a ridiculous face like those on the Haribo Tangfastic’s advert. The strawberries were equally delicious! I don’t know about you, but when I am ambling leisurely round the supermarket, I will happily pick up a punnet of strawberries to inhale their perfume around this time of year, even if my student £1-an-item budget does not usually stretch to actually buying them. There is something about the combination of raspberries and strawberries that is a winner in my eyes. I think it is probably the texture differences- robust versus delicate. And the sinless probiotic yoghurt also meant that this is the first guilt-free pudding I have had in over a week which will also make my gut happy! The yoghurt was thick and creamy and complimented the fresh fruit well. And the price, although expensive in total for the ingredients, per serving it is a bargain!

What was Bad: Being a carbaholic I think perhaps some nice toasted granola, or even pumpkin seeds with some soft sultanas/raisins would have gone well with this pud. Mainly because that texture combo has always been a firm favourite of mine in the “healthier” pudding category! The yoghurt was nice, don’t get me wrong, but it was a bit too tangy for my liking, and I prefer the less viscous consistency of some other brands of natural rather than probiotic yoghurt. And sadly, I am not going to lie, if I saw this on a menu next to a Belgian waffle or chocolate brownie, however “saintly” I am feeling, I know my temptation would not stretch that far… But maybe that says something about me…

Waffleometer:

Although it should probably be