Lovely time at This Morning making Lemon Creams!!

As I mentioned last week I was at This Morning today doing a cookery slot!! Really exciting and everyone is always so welcoming and friendly.I decided to make something I've done a few times and that is really simple and easy as there isn't much time on air.So I went for Lemon Creams with Lemon and Almond puff pastry biscuits.I made it for the first round of masterchef 2009 and it's so easy but looks really impressive.
Lemon Cream

6 eggs
275g caster sugar
zest of 3 lemons
juice of 3 lemons
300ml double cream

Whisk the eggs well and ad the sugar,zest and juice still whisking.Pour in the the cream and mix well.Place in a pouring jug and leave to rest for 30 mins.
Pour into creme brulee dishes or ramekins and bake in a bain marie for 15 - 20 mins in a 150oc oven until they just have a slight wobble.Leave to cool.
Mash a punnet of raspberries (saving a few for decoration) and put through a sieve.Add a little icing sugar to taste.

Biscuits

melted butter 25g
Ready rolled pack of puff pastry
100g sugar
zest 1 lemon
handful finely chopped almonds
squeezy clear honey
icing sugar to serve

Open up pastry and brush with melted butter.sprinkle evenly with zest ,almonds and sugar. Generously drizzle with honey. Roll up pastry into a susage shape and place in fridge for 15 mins to harden slightly.
Cut into 1cm rounds and place on lined baking tray. Bake at 180oc for 10 mins till crisp and golden.
Dredge with icing sugar when slightly cooled and serve with the lemon cream.
These can be made up to point of just putting in the oven and if having a dinner party they can be baked as the main course is being cleared.They are even more delicious warm.

Holly and Ben loved them!!!!

When I got home I had a Christmassy Idea!!! Why not do the biscuits with mincemeat and make puff pastry mince pies!!

Used a jar of good quality mincemeat and added a dessertspoonful of brandy, Grated the zest of an orange and sprinkled that on the pastry before spreading the mincemeat and rolling up. Bake as above and dredge with icing sugar. Really good!!!

Gracie has the baking bug!!!

Finished the play on Saturday and had another trip to Betty's for afternoon tea.

Kenny sent me a photo of Gracie with her creation. It was the Christmas Fayre at school and as I wasn't about to bake she decided to have a go herself!! She did a fantastic job and I'm really proud of her - not bad for a 10 year old. ( Kenny did say the kitchen was like a war zone though!!)Go Gracie!!!

Lemon Cake voted in for last week!!

Well it's the last week with Northern Broadsides and, therefore, the last week of cake club.
Decided to have a vote to decide the favourite cake of the tour and Lemon won by a small majority.

York is a beautiful city and woken up this morning to snow.
Had my usual visit to Betty's tea rooms for afternoon tea and it was delicious.
I'm really going to miss everyone but looking forward to other projects.
Look out for me making Lemon creams and puff pastry biscuits next wednesday on This Morning and singing on Friday 3rd on radio 2's Friday night is music Night.

In January I'm touring with Hull Truck theatre company in April in Paris. So busy times ahead but looking forward to holiday in a couple of weeks,
So Goodbye from Northern Broadsides!!

Awards night with Sexy,Sticky Toffee Pudding!!

Last night was Northern Broadsides Comedy Awards and show party for all us cast in't The Game.
Had a really great night and lovely food made by Barrie Rutter and puds by me.

Made Cappuccino Pavlova and my famous Sticky Toffee Pudding which John Torode loved.

Barrie looked great and felt very special in his F Word chef's whites and Liz and Jos couldn't wait to tuck in!!

Scarborough has a new cake creation - Lettuce !!!

Back to a proper theatre yesterday - the lovely Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough.
Didn't get home at the weekend so I was limited to what I could bake. I decided to do a recipe I've adapted and make a Lettuce drizzle cake.

Has a really unusual earthy taste but you'd never guess there was lettuce in it until it's been in a tin and you take the lid off. Cut into squares and it went really quickly.
We have an awards do on Thursday and end of show party so I'm making a couple of puds. Will post when made.

Ginger and honey cake in a cattle market!!

Skipton beckoned last week and it was an interesting experience!!!
The Mart Theatre is in the Cattle auction mart. Cows were still being sold on the Thursday afternoon as we were due to open in the evening.The space was warm but a little smelly!!!
I made a Ginger and Honey sponge to cheer us all up.

250 g butter
250g caster sugar
4 eggs
1/2 tsp baking powder
250g self raising flour
2 tsps ground ginger
1 tblsp runny honey
3 balls crystallised stem ginger in syrup (chopped very small)

Cream butter and sugar
add eggs,honey,ground ginger.
Sieve in flour and baking powder
Add chopped ginger
Split and place in 2 bottom lined sponge tins
Into 190oc oven for 20 mins

Filling

125g butter
150g icing sugar
2tsps runny honey

Mix together and layer sponges with buttercream and ginger preserve (if possible)

Spread top with icing and decorate with chopped ginger and flaked almonds

Really gingery and gooey - didn't mind the smell after a big slice.

On Saturday there was nowhere to eat between shows so Matt and Mr Roy did a fish and chip run and Phil made a spectacular cheesecake.What a healthy supper we all had!!!! Here's Phil with his creation and Mr Roy with his chips!!

Courgette Cake in Huddersfield!

Arrived at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in a very rainy Huddersfield with a courgette and lime cake.I could see a bit of apprehension on a few faces COURGETTE - - CAKE!!!!!!! as in Peter Kay's GARLIC - - BREAD!! but as soon as they tasted it, it was a hit.

You really can't taste the courgette even though you can still see specks of green and it makes the cake incredibly moist.I used Nigella's recipe from her baking goddess book but changed the filling a little.Instead of using lime curd I used lime marmalade and made extra cream cheese topping for in between too.Delicious!!!Not sure what to do for skipton this week - will keep you posted.
I'm doing The Wright Stuff on Tuesday to promote the last 3 weeks of the play. Hopefully get pudding plug in too!!