Turmeric & Lemon Loaf | Chetna Makan

Ingredients:

150g room temperature unsalted butter in cubes

150g caster sugar

150g plain flour 

3 large eggs

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp turmeric powder

zest of a lemon

1 tbsp lemon juice

pinch of salt

2 tbsp black poppyseed <optional>

Icing:

50g icing sugar

2 tbsp lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 180℃. Grease and line a 900g loaf tin having said that: I use a disposable liner.

Put the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl fitted with a paddle attachement and mix until it resembles softened ice cream. 

Add all other cake ingredients and  mix for 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix for a futher minute.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf tin and bake for 40 minutes or until a skewer/uncooked spaghetti/knife comes out clean. 

Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 5 mintues before removing it.

Combine the icing sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl and pour onto the cake whilst it is still warm.

Serve warm or cold.

Lemon Cake | Book of Elsa

• Ingredients:
• Finely grated zest of 3 large lemons mixed with 3 tablespoons lemon juice 
• 350g Plain Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 225g Unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 400g Caster Sugar
• 3 Large Eggs
• 200ml Buttermilk or Whole Milk with a table juice of lemon juice added

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180℃. 

Grease and flour your choice of baking tin. Or line a tin with parchment paper.

In a stand mixer using a paddle attachment whisk the butter until fluffy. 

Add the sugar and mix until it resembles soft ice cream.

Add all other ingredients except the zest and juice mixture and mix into a smooth batter.

Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the zest mixture and mix for another few seconds.

Pour batter into a prepared tin and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and half. 

Cake is done when a skewer comes out clean.

place on a wire rack to cool completely.

https://youtu.be/PxVLWt3fF4M

Gluten Free Clementine Cake | Book of Elsa

This is a cake more convincing as a pudding for a dinner party, it keeps well due to the high moisture content and taste better the next day. It happens to be gluten free and you could turn it vegan by substituting the eggs for mashed ripe bananas! Which I imagine would be a delicious hybrid, not to mention 'of the moment'.

Happy New Year 2019 | Pandoro Cake | Book of Elsa

This started life as a Galette des Rois that flopped quite literally because I cannot make very thick custard (no matter the recipe I always end up with a puddle of loose yellow cream). I wanted to try again making the puddle work for me so to speak. So here is a part cake, part trifle but wholly delicious dessert.

Tiramisu | Book of Elsa

Five ingredients make a light as air coffee dessert by the name of Tiramisu. Beware though: it has to be made the day before you need it but I find that useful. Also it helps the texture of the finished dish if all the ingredients are at room temprature before you begin. 

Cake Cake Cake | Book of Elsa

Gabriellas' Pavlova Book of Elsa

I've had a love affair with pavlova on/off for the last 10 years. Adjusting recipes in order to achieve crispy sides and bottom with marshmallowy insides has not been easy. My first attempt can only be described as a crispy egg white and sugar biscuit with over whipped cream and limp defrosted berries. 

Now please don't let the description above stop you from trying this. I mention it only so that YOU dear reader know that if for whatever reason the following recipe doesn't work the first time. PLEASE try again. 

The recipe below comes from How To Eat by Nigella Lawson (1998) p. 373 

Some words of wisdom before we begin:

1. Do wipe your mixing bowl and whisk with a segmented lemon or lime before you begin. The eggs just won't grow in volume if there's any grease.
2.  Any fruit/berries on top will do. I'm using strawberries here as they are my sister Gabriella favourite. Indeed this is her favourite dessert. But please no frozen defrosted ones. You'll just end up disappointed. Take it from me: it's not worth it.

Mickhaels' 12th Birthday - Book Of Elsa

Gateaux Bedoum - Book of Elsa

Roughly translated, Gateau Bedoum are puffed up cakes. The recipe below is one I use often; not too sweet and traditionally they are drenched in granulated whilst served in newspaper from the lady down the street.

What I've Been Up To?! - Book of Elsa

Apple & Almond Cake - Book of Elsa

Apple & Almond Cake - Book of Elsa

Gluten Free and contains absolutely no FAT - Basically healthy (sugar doesn't count, right?)

Enjoy!

xo

Sunday Funday - Book of Elsa

Sunday Funday 

Weekends were made for this...
xxo

Happy Sunday - Book of Elsa

Happy Sunday,

Today is the second Sunday in March and it officially feels like spring is here. After the winter we've had I believe some sunshine is long overdue. Therefore below is a video from my very recent holiday to the Canary Island of Fuerteventura.

Hope you enjoy and have a great end to your weekend.

Elsa

xxo

My Favourite Brownie Recipe - Book Of Elsa

My Favourite Brownie Recipe 

Made brownies to take over to my mums' on Christmas Eve and this is my favourite recipe. Ever.

By the way you can find the actual recipe here.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 

XO

Caramel Croissant Pudding - Nigella Lawson

Caramel Croissant Pudding - Nigella Lawson. 

Nigella Express by Nigella Lawson is one of my favourite books for a number of reasons:

Not only was it the first cookbook I ever bought, I've tried almost all the recipes and love them all. However, the lust I hold for this one is beyond measure and I thought I would share in pictures... how I make it. 

Hopefully Nigella won't mind. You can find this recipe right here.

My Life Changing Cookies are HERE!!!!!!

HOPE YOU LIKE THEM AS MUCH AS I DO :-) XOXO

My Week in Moving Pictures, Sunday 29 June 2014

Hi, welcome to Book of Elsa

This week has gone by so quickly it seemed only natural to make a video instead of the usual picture post. Hope you like! :)

xo

Edinburgh Travel

Hi!
Welcome back,
I've only just got back from my trip to Edinburgh and may I just tell you: The pictures will not do it justice. It is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever visited combining old and new parts of town seemingly. The Scots are so warm and friendly I cannot wait to show you guys... I'm making/editing as I type. The excitement was killing me so I'd thought I'd share a little now.
ENJOY XXO :)

Pancakes

Hi!
Made pancakes this beautiful morning thought I'd share the recipe:

Ingredients:
Makes about 24 pancakes, obviously less if they're larger.
1 cup plain flour
1 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
pinch of salt
2 tablespoon of sugar

1 egg

1 tablespoon of melted butter

Method:

whisk all the ingredients in a blender or using a whisk until just combined, leaving the butter till last.

Dollop one tablespoon of mixture at a time on a hot griddle. Once bubbles appear, flip and cook for a further 30 seconds. Remove to waiting plates. 

Apply to face and Enjoy!

XXO

Chinese Style Dumplings

Hi Everyone!
Here is the recipe for my take on char sui bao including a video of how I make it.
XXO

Ingredients:

• One cup of milk
• One sachet fast acting yeast
• Three tablespoons sugar
• Two cups of plain flour
• Two tablespoons of vegetable oil
• pinch of salt
• One teaspoon baking powder