Chocolate Meringues

I had a few egg whites left over from a recipe that I will share with you  soon, and rather than see them go to waste (or to the dog) I thought I'd use them to try making chocolate meringues. They're so simple, and would be great served with fresh berries and cream, or even chopped banana and hot chocolate fudge sauce!

Pistachio Marshmallows

 

These were actually made following James' suggestion. Someone he works with was raving about Harrods' pistachio marshmallows, and as we live a long way away from Harrods, he said I'd have to make my own. So, I did, and this is the outcome! They're quite dense and are firmer than your average pink and white mallows, but they are very moreish! I've discovered that I can't have just one! This recipe is adapted from River Cottage, and can easily be changed to suit any flavour you want to try - don't be put off by the amount of steps, they're actually really easy to make.

Red Velvet Layer Cake

I made this cake for my Grandparents’ Ruby Wedding Anniversary at the weekend – it was the obvious choice with it’s deep red colour and it made a great centrepiece on the dessert table. The buttermilk makes for a moist, dense sponge that is perfectly paired with this cream cheese frosting. It’s very rich though, so remember that a little goes a long way when it comes to cutting it into slices!

Fruity Oat Squares



Another recipe created with a handful of ingredients pulled from the cupboard that needed using up, these fruity chewy oat squares are a bit like flapjacks, but with less than half of the sugar. They're also dairy-free, making them perfect for anyone who is lactose intolerant! They'd be great with a handful of chopped nuts in too, and you can substitute the cranberries for any dried fruit you have in the cupboard.

Baked Creme Egg Cheesecake

Oh yes! A colleague posted a no-bake creme egg cheesecake recipe to my timeline last month, and so for her birthday, I thought I'd recreate my own baked version! I love the hidden 'yolk' under the chocolate layer, and it's so simple to make!

Hazelnut Caramel Bars

This bake was one of those times where I just go to the cupboard, pull out a few ingredients and see what I can make with it. No recipes to follow, just my imagination. OK, so this doesn't always work, but 9 times out of 10, it ends in something amazing. This is definitely just that! I'd go so far as to say that this is probably the best thing I have ever made up. Ever. A lovely crunchy biscuit base, topped with a hazelnut 'blondie' style sponge, studded with gooey caramel pieces. What's not to love?!