Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 ½ cups plain flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• 1tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups grated carrot
• ½ cup chopped pecans

Method

 

1. Pre heat oven to 180 deg C. 
2. Place the sugar, vanilla and the oil in a bowl and beat for 3 min. Add eggs 1 at a time beating well after each addition. 
3. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and ginger into the sugar mixture. 
4. Add the nuts and carrot and mix gently.
5. Pour the mixture into an 8 inch round tin lined with baking paper and bake for 55-60 min. 

Serves 8

 This carrot cake does not contain sultanas for people who don’t like dried fruit we know you are out there and this is for you.

Cream Cheese Icing

250g (8oz) cream cheese

1 ½ tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup icing sugar

Beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Add sifted icing sugar and the lemon juice and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Spread thickly.  This icing is great on Banana cake, Madiera cake or Ginger cake too!

Enjoy!

Amanda

Vanilla Pavlova with Summer Fruit

Ingredients

• 4 egg whites
• 3/4 cup vanilla sugar or 3/4 cup castor sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp white vinegar
• 1 tsp corn flour

Method

1. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form.  Mix the cornflour in with the sugar and add a spoonful at a time to the egg whites.  Beat until thick and glossy.
2. Add vinegar and mix well.
3. Line a cookie sheet pan with baking paper.  Spread mixture to make a 23 cm circle ( it's a good idea to trace a circle with the base of a cake tin on the back on the baking paper as  a guide)
4. Bake in a slow oven 150 deg C for30 minutes.
5. Reduce to very slow 120 deg C for 45 minutes.
6. Turn the oven off and allow the Pavlova to cool in the oven with the door slightly open.
7. Remove from the baking paper to decorate and serve.

Serves 8 

Enjoy!


Amanda

Chantilly Cream

Chantilly Cream is a delicious accompaniment to just about any dessert or sweet snack.  The name sounds fancy, but it is simply whipped cream flavoured with vanilla and sugar.

A dollop on top of warm applie pie, spread on scones with jam, inside fresh profriteroles or with seasonal berries.  The possibilities are endless!

Ingredients

• 300ml thickened or heavy cream
• 1 Tbsp powdered sugar (sifted)
• 1-2 tsp vanilla extract

 

Whip cream to soft peaks, add sugar and vanilla and mix well.

Enjoy!

Amanda

Chocolate Chip Waffles

Ingredients

 

•  2 Cups plain flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
• 2 eggs (separated)
• 4 Tbsp canola/vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 Cup chocolate chips

Method

Combine the dry ingredients. Mix together the buttermilk and the egg yolks. Stir in the oil and vanilla.

Brush the waffle iron lightly with oil and preheat it. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Beat the egg whites to soft peaks. Fold them gently into the batter.

Spread a small ladleful of batter onto the waffle iron, check after about 3 minutes, they may take up to to 5 minutes, depending on your iron. Serve immediately or keep warm for a few minutes in a low oven.

**Prepared waffles freeze well and can be heated up under the grill for a few minutes when you are ready to serve them**

 

Amanda