Fridays are usually a good day, but yesterday was awful: Higher English prelim exams. *Shudders miserably* It's too depressing to reflect on...it's still too soon. Let's just say I think know I've failed.
But there's a light at the end of the tunnel, a cure to turn around even the worst of days: take that awful day of yours and smother it in a crunchy, oaty, nutty, chocolaty tray-bake oozing with a layer of caramel. It works!
'Baked In America' is one of my most cherished baking books. The smooth front cover, the enticing layout, the mouthwatering photos...I highly recommend it, if not for the delicious recipes then just for the pleasure of reading it.
On Wednesday, when I posted about the awesome Key Lime Pie, I was certain that I would make further use of the M&S books 'Easy Baking' and 'Easy Chocolate' that I got for Christmas. And that I would make more pies. Mississippi Mud Pie is a gooey, chocolaty concoction which I can verify is yummy. I plan to make it as often as possible, and so should you! (Unless you're calorie conscious, in which case you will have missed out on a whole new level of gooey deliciousness.)
A month ago today, Christmas, was when the book containing this recipe came into my ownership. My best friend = pure genius at choosing Secret Santa gifts. All the recipes I have tried so far have been awesome, easy and mentally marked as "must make again - SOON". Hence the reason for posting this, a deliciously refreshing pie with a cheesecake-style texture. You'll want to have this every day, to eat it as an alternative to meals. You'll want to live on this pie alone.
If you don't already own The National Trust Teatime Baking Book, then my advice is GET IT. The recipes are extremely reliable, easy and always turn out well. The book contains recipes for breads, fruited buns, scones, muffins & splits, tarts, flans, biscuits and cakes - talk about value for money! Here's something from the scone section, and I wouldn't blame you if you promoted it to your all-time favourite scone recipe.
Tinned caramel is one of those luxuries in life that you wish with all your heart could be discovered as 'healthy' so that when you eat loads of it with a teaspoon, you'll feel no guilt whatsoever. But let's face it: there's gonna be some guilt involved. So why not make the most of it and swirl that tin of heaven into a dreamy combination of chocolate brownie and Dulce de Leche? Out of the few trillion brownie recipes I've tried so far, this is one of my favourites. Visit the original source for cup/ounce measurements.
When I saw this recipe on one of my favourite baking blogs, Brown Eyed Baker, I knew I had to try it. And I'm glad I did - the use of simple ingredients and an easy technique (crush, mix, dip) just makes the whole experience more enjoyable, and people will think you spent a lot more time and effort in making these than you actually did. The texture is smooth and silky, yet the illusion of a crunch is created with the taste of the oreos. And as my sister intelligently observed: "Hey...it tastes like cheesecake...and oreos!" These truffles would fit in at any party or special occasion, they could be given as a gift or eaten as a treat - whatever your excuse, just find one quick and make these.
Happy New Year everyone! What better way to celebrate a new year by baking something delicious? Enter: Chocolate Banana Cake. The recipe, from the BBC, comes with a streusel topping consisting of butter, flour, demerara sugar and pecans, though you could use walnuts instead. It is completely optional as the cake on it's own is moist and flavoursome, but if you want the extra crunch, make the topping as when I made this cake without it, I felt there was an element missing. But it's up to you. Here's the recipe that will not only use up your bad bananas, but will make you want all your future bananas to blacken sooner as an excuse to make this cake.
