Whisks at the ready; It's Pancake Day!

Evening and almost morning foodies,

We are barely minutes away from pancake day, so I hope you're planning on having some tasty pancakes! Whether you like french pancakes, like crepes, or American style fat pancakes, sweet or savoury - this day is the day to get your pans at the ready for some flipping!

I mean, I really cannot flip a pancake, so I admire anyone who can. I am the one with the spatula, messing the pancake up trying to turn it over. Embarrassing.

I made these for my house mates the other week, with this cheeky, little Good Food recipe. So get flipping foodies...

• 200g self raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 egg
• 300ml milk
• 15g butter (melted)
• oil or additional butter for the pan

1. Mix together the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Beat the egg with the milk, make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and whisk in the milk to make a thick, smooth batter. Beat in the melted butter.
2. Heat a teaspoon of oil or a small chunk of butter in a medium sized non-stick frying pan. Drop a large tablespoon or ladle of the batter into the pan (around 7.5cm across). Cook for three minutes until bubbles appear on the surface of each pancake and then flip over for 2-3 on the alternate side, until golden brown. If you want to make a big stack, cover with kitchen paper to retain the heat.

Serve with traditional lemon and sugar or fresh blueberries, syrup, nutella or even stew if you prefer savoury. Go wild!




Keep calm and get your whisk on!

Love,

Jess xo

Hired: Culinary Arts Specialist!

Afternoon Foodies,

So I have some majorly exciting news! I have been hired to go to the USA,  with CAMP LEADERS this coming summer, to teach culinary arts! I am unbelievably excited, as you can imagine. I get to share, inspire and enthuse the upcoming generation on my absolute favourite topic: FOOD.

Me celebrating on the train home with some sweet and salty Propercorn - well worth a try!

The camp I am going to be working with is Equinunk and Blue Ridge and I will be based at The Ridge (check out the cool interactive map!). The facilities look fabulous and you know how much I LOVE a good kitchen!

If you've been thinking about summer camp - just do it! Call Camp Leaders or get online NOW and get ready for the summer of a lifetime! I honestly cannot wait :)

HOWEVER, this does mean I will be on a short baking hiatus! :( Not for long foodies! I have thought out some exciting plans for summer, including scheduled posts and a few little quirky extras, which will all become clear when I relaunch my website. You really cannot get rid of me that easily...

With major national food days coming up and some exciting orders, oh and including my 21st birthday, you are sure to see a lot more of me over the next few months, so stay tuned. I may even do a post on smores!

Any GUEST BLOGGERS are welcome to make some suggestions and even get on board?! I would love to do some collaborations before summer so email suggestions TODAY! jessicaaleisha@hotmail.co.uk.

Keep calm and spread the love,

Jessica

xo

Busy Bee Me & Citrus Kick Cupcakes :)

I had quite a busy, but productive, week last week. Feeling rather refreshed this January and ready to step everything up a notch. After deciding on selling my baking, I decided that last week I would do a little cupcake mixology and refine my favourite flavours. SO MUCH FUN! Can you wait for my valentine edition? Well I might just make you ;)...

As for recipes...heres another little alcoholic number for you to try. This little request was for a vodka kicking cupcake...keep calm it's only a tipple kiddies ;)

Citrus Kick

Ingredients

Sponge
80g softened unsalted butter
280g golden caster sugar
240g plain flour
1 heaped tbsp baking powder
pinch of salt
240ml semi skimmed milk
2 medium eggs
juice of half a lemon
rind of half a lime

Frosting
100g unsalted butter
40ml semi skimmed milk
2 tbsp of vodka
400g icing sugar
sugar flowers/lime rind etc. to decorate

Magic Method

1. Preheat your own to 190c and line a muffin tray with cases.
2. Using an electric whisk (or spending a lot of time by hand) slowly beat butter, sugar, flour and baking powder, until the ingredients resemble a fine breadcrumb consistency.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the milk and eggs, until light a frothy and slowly mix into the dry mixture.
4. Once everything is mixed in, blitz with an electric mix until a super smooth batter is formed. Add in the extra rind and lemon juice and combine.
5. Divide between the muffin cases until three quarters full and then bake in the oven for 20 minutes, until golden and springy to touch.
6. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack until cool.
7. Whilst the buns are cooling, make the icing. In a large mixing bowl beat the butter, milk, vodka and half the icing sugar. This make take a while by hand, and even a few minutes with an electric whisk.
8. Add the remaining icing sugar and beat until smooth and creamy.
9. Once the cupcakes are cool, decorate the cupcakes, with the buttercream, using a palette knife to create a neat swirl.
10. Decorate with lime rind or sugar flours.

Sorry for the delay guys, look out for the next few posts on store cupboard essentials and Valentines treats...

Keep calm and don't get too tipsy...

Best wishes,

Red Velvet xo