Sultana Cup of Tea Cake

This was a recipe my mum used to make and it always reminds me of her.
Her 'cup-of-tea-cake' is a fat-less loaf cake that is delicious on its own, or spread with butter. 

Using the same size mug
Put 1 mug caster sugar 
and 1 mug dried sultanas into a large bowl
Pour over 1 mug of hot tea
Leave for at least half an hour, but longer if needed. 
Stir occasionally to make sure the sugar dissolves.

Add 1 beaten egg
2 mugs of self-raising flour

Mix together and pour into a loaf tin
Bake for 1 hour on Gas 4

Cranberry Tea Loaf

The baking for family camp began in earnest this morning. I started out with one of my favourites - cup-of-tea-cake. It's a fat-less loaf cake that is delicious on its own, or spread with butter. Either way it keeps well, and lasts longer than muffins.

Using the same sized mug -

In a large bowl mix
1 mug cranberries
1 mug caster sugar

Pour in 1 mug hot tea 
Leave for at least half an hour, longer if possible, for all the sugar to dissolve, stirring occasionally.

Then mix in:
1 beaten egg 
2 mugs of self-raising flour

Pour into a loaf tin and
Bake for 1 hour on Gas 4

Mandarin and Cranberry Muffins

In honour of my grandson's first visit to my house, and the fact that he would get to meet his great-grandad while he was here, I thought I ought to bake something just a bit delicious, and these certainly hit the spot.

In a large bowl mix together:
375g self-raising flour
220g caster sugar

In a small bowl mix together:
90g melted butter
half cup sour cream
quarter cup milk
a few drops of vanilla essence
2 large eggs

Mix the wet into the dry then stir in:
half cup chopped, drained, tinned, mandarin's
half cup dried cranberries

Divide the mixture between 12 muffin cases
Bake on Gas 5/6 for 20-25 minutes
Leave in the tin for a few minutes before removing onto a wire rack to cool

Suitable for all generations!!! Well not the newborn ones of course, but just give him time and he'll soon be in the kitchen helping granny bake and licking out the bowl.

Berries!

These were the deliciously fruity contents of my last batch of muffins - a few blueberries, strawberries, cranberries and dried cherries. A most tasty combination - and one that definitely left me feeling I had celebrated becoming a granny in style.

In a large bowl mix together:

375g self-raising flour

220g caster sugar

In a small bowl mix together:

90g melted butter

half cup sour cream

quarter cup milk

2 large eggs

a few drops of vanilla essence

Mix the wet into the dry then stir in:

1 cup mixed fruits (see photo above)

Divide between 12 muffin cases

Bake on Gas 5/6 for 20-25 minutes

Leave in the tin for a few minutes before removing onto a wire rack to cool

Chocolate Chip and Cranberry Chocolate Muffins

It was pizza night while we watched the climax of the Six Nations Rugby on Saturday, so muffins were required to cope with the stress inflicted upon us by the France v Ireland match going to the last two minutes while we still, remarkably, had a chance to win the whole event. 
Unfortunately 'that forward pass' will be remembered for a while as it scuppered our chances of hoisting the trophy. 

We consoled ourselves with chocolate and cranberry muffins, floating in a bowl of vanilla and raspberry ice cream. as you do!!

In a large bowl sift together:
300g self-raising flour
50g cocoa powder

Stir in:
220g caster sugar

In a small bowl mix together:
90g melted salted butter
half cup sour cream
three quarters cup milk
1 large egg

Mix the wet into the dry then stir in:
100g white chocolate chips
half cup dried cranberries

Divide the mixture between 12 muffin cases
Bake on Gas 5/6 for 20-25 minutes
Leave in the tin for a few minutes before removing onto a wire rack to cool

Christmas specials

Tonight I needed to get ahead of the game and bake the muffins for tomorrow's Christmas party.

I opened  the baking basket and found so many different yummy things that I couldn't decide, in the end I went for a bit of a mixture, so long as they had Bailey's in them I didn't mind. 
I ended up using lots of typical Christmassy flavours; like almond, orange peel, chocolate, cranberries and alcohol!!
Better warn the kids they are adult only muffins.

In a large bowl mix together:
375g self-raising flour
220g caster sugar
finely grated rind of an orange/satsuma 

In a small bowl mix together:
90g melted butter
half cup sour cream
quarter cup milk
quarter cup Bailey's
2 large eggs
a glug of almond essence

Mix the wet into the dry ingredients
Then stir in:
half cup dried cranberries
half cup chocolate chunks

Divide the mixture between 12 muffin cases
Bake on Gas 5/6 for 20-25 minutes
Leave in the tin for a few minutes before moving onto a wire rack to cool

Cranberry & White Chocolate Muffins

Today is 11/12/13 here in England, so to mark the occasion I'll post a recipe. 

This is the recipe I made at the weekend when I had friends over for tea. Alex reckoned she couldn't bake muffins so I was determined she got to see how easy it is to do, and despite having the help of a two year old, we managed to bake a delicious batch of festive muffins.

In a large bowl mix together:
375g self-raising flour
220g caster sugar

In a small bowl mix together:
90g melted butter
half cup sour cream
quarter cup milk
2 large eggs

Mix the wet into the dry then stir in:
half cup dried cranberries
half cup white chocolate chunks

Divide the batter between 12 muffin cases
Bake on Gas 5/6 for 20-25 minutes
Leave in the tin for a couple of minutes before removing onto a wire rack to cool

And as you can see the little 'un loved them .

Cranberry Tea Loaf

I ran out of sour cream today, so no muffins for tonight's Garden Party - instead I just had time to make a 'cup-of-tea-cake' as my mother used to call it. 
I found some organic fennel, chicory and cardamom Teabags in the cupboard, so I soaked some dried Cranberries (Craisins) and hopefully the end result will be delicious. the hot tea smells wonderful - like liquorice - mmm 
 

Make a pot of strong tea
In a small bowl pour in:
one mug of craisins
one mug of caster sugar
one mug of tea

Leave to infuse for at least half an hour

Then stir in:
2 mugs self-raising flour
1 large egg

Pour into a loaf tin
Bake on Gas 4 for 1 hour

Fat free and delicious!

Cherries and Berries

Well this was one of three batches of muffins I made for a few get togethers I'd been invited to over the weekend. 
They were so eagerly awaited that someone just couldn't wait to get tucked in his and managed to flip it into his water glass rather than his plate.

My mixed pack of dried cherries and berries included: cranberries, blueberries, sour cherries and large raisins

In a large bowl mix together:
375g self raising
220g caster sugar

In a small bowl mix together:
90g melted butter
half cup sour cream
quarter cup milk
2 large eggs

Mix the wet into the dry then stir in:
1 cup mixed dried cherries and berries (170g packet)

Divide the mixture between 12 muffin cases

Bake on Gas 5/6 for 20-25 minutes
Leave in the tin for a few minutes before removing onto a wire rack to cool

Cranberry and Orange Muffins

This was a great variation - which I sampled on the few staff that did manage to get into school today despite it being closed because of the snow.

We were all asked to try and get in to help clear the paths, then the fun began - we made snow angels, took loads of photos and built a snowman between the goal posts.
In amongst all this I asked if I could have a go at using the jcb (some builders had come round to help us dig out a clear path for the students so that we can re-open tomorrow). The builder said 'yes', and taught me how to use it - it was so cool!!! I hadn't even bribed him with a muffin at that point.

In a large bowl mix together:

375g self-raising flour

220g caster sugar

In a small bowl mix together:

90g melted butter

half cup sour cream

quarter cup clemantine juice

2 large eggs

Mix the wet into the dry

Stir in:

150g dried cranberries

1 large tablespoon homemade marmalade

Divide between 12 muffin cases
Bake on Gas 5/6 for 20-25 minutes
Leave in the tin for a few minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool

Just the type of muffins you need to help you drive a jcb - they don't call me Ice Road Trucker for nothing you know.

Cranberry Muffins

Well disaster struck half way through the baking today - I ran out of butter. That never happens, and then I discovered the sour cream was nearly out too. But as my new pinny said I 'kept calm and carried on baking' regardless. They were a bit drier than normal, but they all got eaten before I had chance to take a photograph, so you'll have to put up with another one of my photos instead - enjoy.

I bet he's never eaten a cranberry in his life!

In a large bowl mix together:

375g self-raising flour

220g caster sugar

In a small bowl mix together:

90g melted butter

half cup sour cream

quarter cup milk

2 large eggs

Stir the wet into the dry then mix in:

1 cup dried cranberries

Divide the mixture between 12 muffin cases

Bake on Gas 5/6 for 20-25 minutes

Leave in the tin for a few minutes before removing onto a wire rack to cool

Cranberry Chocolate muffins

Well this was the next step in Christmas flavours, and doesn't Santa look happy (or should that be bemused?) ~

In a large bowl sift together:

300g self raising flour

50g cocoa

then stir in:

220g caster sugar

teaspoon nutmeg

In a small bowl mix together:

90g melted butter

three quarters cup sour cream

half cup milk

1 large egg

Mix the wet into the dry

Then stir in:

150g dried cranberries

quarter cup milk chocolate chunks

Divide between 12 muffin cases 
Bake on Gas 5/6
For 20-25 mins
Leave in the tin for a few minutes before removing onto a wire rack to cool

(My critics said I needed more nutmeg as they couldn't really taste it, but then I didn't actually measure it out, i just sprinkled it across the dry ingredients, so a teaspoon may actually be enough - you'll find out when you try it)  

Chocolate Craisin Muffins

I'm up early today to get the baking done for our lunch time get together. Having only one egg left I decided I'd make chocolate Bakewell muffins, but there wasn't nearly enough ground almonds, and cherries, so they turned into these using up some random contents of the baking cupboard as listed below!

In a large bowl sift together:

360g self-raising flour

50g cocoa powder

Stir in:

15g ground almonds

220g caster sugar

In a small bowl mix together:

90g melted salted butter

half cup sour cream

three quarters cup milk

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 large egg

Mix the wet into the dry

Stir in:

100g milk chocolate chips

half cup craisins (dried cranberries)

Divide the batter between 12 muffin cases

Bake on Gas 5/6 for 20-25 mins

Leave in the tin for a few minutes before removing onto a wire rack to cool

And voila! yummy muffins to keep the friends happy

Chilli Chai Cranberry Loaf

Tonight's little gem is my favourite tea loaf made with chilli chai tea and, instead of the usual mixed fruit, I used cranberries (only because I ran out of mixed fruit). But it looks just fine, and hopefully the guys at work will love it when it reaches the staff room on my birthday. 

First make a pot of hot strong chilli chai tea

In a bowl stir in together:

1 cup of caster sugar 

1 cup of dried cranberries

Add 1 cup of hot tea, 

Stir and leave to brew for at least half an hour, longer if possible.

(I left mine all day today)

Then add:

1 large egg

2 cups self-raising flour

and mix together

Pour the mixture into a loaf tin

Bake on Gas 4 for 1 hour

And voila!! Fabulous Fat Free Food  

Tomorrow I need to squeeze in baking a couple of batches of muffins before I go out to celebrate the impending birthday with a wonderful Indian meal at the Mango.

Inger's choice

Our lovely Norwegian Schnuppa Inger has arrved to stay for the weekend so we needed to bake, naturally. I gave her the baking basket and said choose the combo - she came up with Cranberries, Haxlenuts and Chocolate. So bake we did and here they are.

In a large bowl mix together:

300g self raising flour

50g sifted cocoa powder

220g caster sugar

In a small bowl mix together:

90g melted butter

half cup sour cream

three quarters cup milk

1 large egg

Mix the wet into the dry then stir in:

half cup dried cranberries

half cup of chopped hazlenuts

Divide the mixture between 12 muffin cases

Bake on Gas 5/6 for 20-25 mins

Leave in the tin for a few minutes before removing onto a wire rack to cool

Then make sure you re-read your text before hitting send explaining that you have 'muffins baking in the kitchen' because predictive text is a terrible thing and announced that I was 'nude baking in the kitchen' - so glad i didn't hit send!!!

Cranberry and Rhubarb Muffins

What to do with the left over Rhubarb yoghurt? was the question I found myself thinking this afternoon. As I don't like to eat it (neither does anybody else that I've had visiting lately) I had to bake with it, so I found some Craisins (dried cranberries) and made a batch of muffins.

In a large bowl mix together:

375g self raising flour

220g caster sugar

In a small bowl mix together:

90g melted butter

quarter cup of Rhubarb yoghurt

half cup of sour cream

2 large eggs

Mix the wet into the dry
Stir in 1 cup of dried cranberries

Divide into 12 muffin cases
Bake on Gas 5/6
for 20-25 mins
Leave for a few minutes in the tin, before removing onto a wire rack to cool

Cranberry and White Chocolate Muffins

This is tonight's little creation ~ to help 'World Book Day' go with a smile at  tomorrow's cake sale. 
For your information: I shall be eating these muffins dressed as Where's Wally!!

In a large bowl mix together:

375g self raising flour

220g caster sugar

In a small bowl mix together:

90g melted butter

half cup sour cream

quarter cup milk

2 large eggs

half teaspoon vanilla essence

mix the wet into the dry ingredients

Stir in:

half a cup of white chocolate chips

half a cup of dried cranberries

Mix together and divide into 12 muffin cases
Bake on Gas 5/6
20-25 mins

Leave in the tin for a few minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool

White Chocolate and Cranberry Muffins

Today, in honour of the Groenewegs moving house I invented another flavour combination to encourage the workers to unpack a few more boxes. On the back of the recent success of my Cup-of-Tea Muffins (see recipe October 2011) - I went for green tea infused dried cranberries and mixed them in with white chocolate chunks. Knowing there'd be some fussy eaters there, I concealed them as chocolate muffins and watched them all tuck in without realising that they were not the regular Triple Chocolate Muffins (see March 2011 for recipe)

Put half a cup of dried cranberries into a small bowl,
pour over a cup of hot, strong green tea (or any other tea - whatever you fancy really). leave the fruit to absorb the flavour while you prepare the rest of the batter.

In a large bowl mix together -
220g castor sugar
25g cocoa powder
350g self raising flour

In a small bowl mix together -
90g melted butter
three quarters of a cup of sour cream
2 large eggs

add the wet to the dry ingredients and mix together

then drain the cranberries and add them to the mix
add half a cup of white chocolate chunks
mix together and

divide between 12 muffin cases
Bake on Gas 5/6
for 20/25 mins