AFTER: when I became Delia!

This is the finished cake! How yummy does it look?! It smells pretty good too! Can't wait to taste it but unfortunately I'm still all full up from licking the bowl!

BEFORE: when I became Delia!

This is the cake I am baking this afternoon BEFORE it went in the oven. I now have to wait an hour until it is cooked to see if it is ok!

It's an Apple and Cinnamon Cake. My mum gave me the recipe and it is delicious, when it works! I haven't made one for ages as the last time I did it was a little too moist.

No one has food poisoning... yet!!

Well... we - me, the boyf and a few unsuspecting friends - have now sampled the delights of the cupcakes and we're all still here to tell the story! Phew!

For anyone who was wondering, the recipe is below.

Tia Maria cupcakes

14-16 cupcakes

Ingredients:
110g castor sugar
110g butter or margarine
110g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp organic cocoa powder
2 eggs
1 tsp Tia Maria
1 tbsp milk

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas mark 5. Line a cupcake baking tray with paper lines.
2. Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well, then add the Tia Maria.
3. Sieve in the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder and mix well. Add the milk and mix.
4. Spoon the mixture into the cupcake tray, up to about 1/2 full. Place in the centre of the oven for 10-12 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the baking tray and place on a wire rack to cool.

Part three in the story of the cupcakes!!

Here are the finished product! Just got to leave them in the fridge for the icing to set a bit and then for the tasting!

The end.

The cupcake story so far... (Pt 2)

These are the cupcakes straight out of the oven! I plan to ice them tomorrow night and will post another photo then. Don't know how they taste but the leftovers in the bowl certainly tasted good.

Tea time

There is nothing better - in my humble opinion - than the smell of cakes baking in the oven. It is a smell that takes me right back to my parents' house when I am about 9 or 10 and my mum was baking a birthday bake for me or my sister.

My first attempt at baking a cake was in my first year at university. It was an unmitigated disaster. Despite being in the oven for nearly two hours it never set! I have no idea what we did to it but something was not right.

In the last year however I have learnt to love baking. Cupcakes are a particular favourite of mine these days. I usually make vanilla or chocolate cupcakes with a lovely buttery icing on top. Tonight however I might attempt Tia Maria cupcakes from the rather lovely cupcake recipe book that my mum gave me for my birthday.

I'll keep you posted on how they turn out (and post a pic if they are any good!). Love, SG