Olive and Oregano Bread

June 2nd, 2009 § 2 comments § permalink

Home Baking: Olive and Oregano Bread

Home Baking: Olive and Oregano Bread

To make this, things needed are
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cups strong white flour
2 tsp yeast
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/3 cup pitted black olives, chopped
1 tbsp olive paste (optional)
1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 1/4 cups hand-hot water

1. Lightly oil a baking sheet. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and fry the onion until golden brown.

2. Sift the flour into a mixing bowl. Add the yeast, salt and pepper. Make a well in the centre. Add the fried onion(with the oil), the olives, olive paste, herbs and water. Gradually incorporate the flour and mix to a soft dough, adding a little extra water if necessary.

3. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Shape into a 8-in round and place on the prepared baking sheet. Using a sharp knife, make crisscross marks over the top, cover and leave in a warm place until doubled in size. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 7 / 425F.

4. Bake the loaf for 10 minutes then lower the oven temperature to Gas Mark 6 / 400F. Bake for 20 minutes more, or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped underneath. Cool on a wire rack.

Quickie Cup Cakes

April 9th, 2009 § 2 comments § permalink

What do you do when it is nearly tea-time, you haven’t got anything interesting to eat and your child’s giving you baleful stares? Simple! These quick and dirty cup cakes!

Quick Cup Cakes

Quick Cup Cakes

To make these, you need
Self raising flour, 125 gms
Caster sugar, 125 gms
Sunflower oil, 125 ml (or if you have it, unsalted butter / margarine, 125 gms)
Eggs, 2 large
Vanilla extract, 2 tsp

Pre-heat your oven to 180 deg C / Gas mark 4.
Take a big mixing bowl and add in all the ingredients. Rope in your pint-sized slave as sous chef and make him/her do the mixing.
Pop in muffin cups into a muffin tray and half-fill it with the cake mixture.
Bake for 12 minutes.
Allow it to cool and decorate with icing / hundreds & thousands if you have any.

Yummy cup cakes

Makes 10.