Meal Planning Monday

I was missing last week. I wasn't being lazy, I was (as Joe Mangle would say...) crook. I was a horrid, festering pile, and had no energy for Meal Planning Monday. It also meant my taste buds were shot, so I wasn't that hungry anyway. However, I've been a bit of a pig this weekend, so it's now time to try and eat a little better this week.

Monday: Not sure yet. It depends what time the delivery man comes with my replacement KitchenAid. Yes, really. I am now on my fifth pink mixer since March. All with different faults. Let's hope this is the last... I'll probably end up having a bigger lunch and having some cereal at silly-o'clock.
Tuesday: Steak and frites with broccoli.
Wednesday: Chicken, vegetables and low fat coleslaw. Boring but necessary.
Thursday (Friday Eve): Yay! We're going back to Solita with Wayne and Vicki! Excited as a bugger! Deep fried coke here we come! If I am talking in riddles you really must investigate...
Friday: Probably something quick and easy (code for take-away from Chicco's...) because I'll be making teeth from sugarpaste. That's right. Teeth. I'm making more monster cupcakes...
Saturday: I will be baking the cakes and decorating them on Saturday afternoon before they are collected for Ewan's party. I'm sure I will be overcome by sugar fumes at this point and want something savoury. I think I might make St John's Welsh Rarebit as we've plenty of ale in!
Sunday: Nothing planned for the first time in ages! Possibly out for tea. Who knows!?

Cider and Cinnamon Cake

Yesterday our friends Wayne (@Brazly) and Vicki (@MrsPetticoat) came round for tea. This means two things:

1. I will make enough food to feed an entire army. 
2. I wait until everyone has just lost that 'full as a bugger' feeling, then I pounce with cake!

Vicki shares my enthusiasm/obsession for cinnamon. This means I can really go to town with the stuff! I decided to make one of my old faithfuls for last nights soiree. I call it an old faithful, yet I have never made it the same way twice. I generally look for inspiration in the supermarket booze aisle! This cake is so easy to adapt it's ridiculous. It's also exceptionally easy to make and behaves very well in the oven. Granted, it's not the prettiest cake in the world, but it packs a punch with flavour. 

It has a lovely soft crumb and retains moisture well, but the addition of wholemeal flour adds a little texture to the cake. I generally serve this as either a wedge with a cup of tea, or (as I did last night) with a little vanilla ice cream.

Serves 6

Ingredients: 

• 100g unsalted butter - softened
• 100g golden caster sugar
• 2 medium eggs - beaten
• 100g self raising flour
• 100g wholemeal plain flour
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 3 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1.2 tsp mixed spice
• 170ml cider (feel free to substitute with pear cider, ginger beer etc). I used Magner's Spiced Apple with Honey.

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to Gas 4/180 C
2. Grease and line a 7 inch cake tin
3. Cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy
4. Beat in the eggs a bit at a time (add a tablespoon of the flour if it curdles)
5. Add the flours, bicarbonate of soda and ginger to a bowl
6. Sift in in 3 batches, alternating with the cider. Fold into the mix gently
7. Put the mix into the prepared tin and bake for 50-55 minutes in the centre of the oven.
8. Allow to cool in the tin for 15 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.

Herman the German Friendship Bundt

A few weeks ago I made Herman the German Friendship Cake for the first time. Since then a few portions of Herman have been doing the rounds at work, and I found myself in possession of a 'spare'. I love nothing more than to tinker with recipes, and I couldn't help but feel my first Herman was a bit safe. I had bundts on the brain...

I cultivated the spare Herman and then took the plunge. I made an Apple and Cinnamon version this time, as I had a cake tester/colleague who was most militantly opposed to sultanas, but everyone thought apple was the way forward.

I made the cake in exactly the same way apart from I used two portions of Herman instead of one. This also means doubling up the ingredients on day 10 (see below). I was a tad concerned that this cake mix just wouldn't tollerate a bundt tin, and that it may stick a little. It does take longer to cook because of the size, but I adjusted the oven temperature so the top wouldn't burn. I stayed with the simple fluted tin design to minimise stress...

It worked perfectly! I just left it in the oven until the edges started to shrink from the sides of the tin, and it came out quite easily. If you get a Herman starter, try something a little different!

Herman the German Friendship Bundt Instructions:
Day 1: Take Herman home and decant him into a big bowl. Leave him on the worktop (not the fridge - it's chilly in there) covered with a tea towel.
Days 2 & 3: Stir well.
Day 4: Feed him with 200ml milk, 200g caster sugar and 250g self raising flour. Stir well.
Days 5-8: Stir well.
Day 9: Feed him with 200ml milk, 200g caster sugar and 250g self raising flour. Stir well and split into four equal portions. Split into three portions where one portion is half of the mix and the other two are the remaining quarters. Give the two quarter portions away.
Day 10: Feed him with 300g self raising flour, 6 beaten eggs, 300g caster sugar, 4 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp mixed spice, 2 tsp baking powder, 300g finely chopped apple and 200ml sunflower oil. You can substitute the combined fruit with your own favourite fillings! Spread him into a greased and floured bundt tin. I used a 10 inch tin. Bake him for about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours on gas 3/160 C.