Summer Berries and White Chocolate cake

Hi, I'm back!

After the long break I took for my summer holiday, I'm so happy to be posting on my blog again!
One of the things I love the most of this season must be the bright colours of nature, and especially of forest fruits. There is a particular recipe I have enjoyed the most, which is adapted from a Lorraine Pascale recipe, and is sure to please everyone. I find that the light taste of white chocolate and lemon complements the sweetness of the fruits perfectly, and the yoghurt keeps the cake nice and moist- enjoy!

Ingredients:
300g self-raising flour
3 eggs
180g sugar
3tbsp oil
1tbsp milk
Lemon zest from 2 lemons
3tsp baking powder
150g white chocolate
200g greek yoghurt
150g frozen berries- plus extra for the topping
Icing sugar for the topping

1) Preheat the oven to 170C and line the bottom of a baking tin with baking parchment.
2) Melt the white chocolate in the microwave with the milk.
3) Separately, mix the sugar, oil, yoghurt and lemon zest, gradually add the eggs while mixing.
4) Add the melted chocolate with the flour and baking powder, lastly adding the frozen fruit.
5)Pour everything in the baking tin and bake for 30-40 minutes.
6) When cool, top the cake with berries and add icing sugar.

Doesn't it look lovely and summery? Sure to uplift any mood!!

 xx

Good foods to give you a boost

With Summer soon arriving and many of us having to sit through exams in the next few weeks, this is not the ideal situation to be in. Its normal that we feel tired and in need of a break. Are you guilty of eating too many unhealthy treats to keep you going throughout the day? I know I am! So here is a list of my favourite yummy foods that are also good for your health and energy levels. Enjoy!

Natural yoghurt- Contains lots of calcium and healthy bacteria to support your immune system. Is also fat burning so is good eaten daily.

Nuts- Have many nutrients and healthy fats which keep your skin, hair and nails looking good. A fistful contributes to your 5-a-day and will keep you full until you next meal, as it is full of protein and fibre.

Oats- My favourite breakfast must be porridge! They are low fat and offer slow release energy which keep you feeling full until lunch time. Check out my previous post on them!

Blueberries- Famous for making you 'clever' they are considered to be a super food with a high level of antioxidants. This supports your immune system as it fights all the free-radicals which want to attack your body.

Green tea- Used traditionally in Chinese medicine to treat anything from headaches to depression, this is also considered to be a super food by many. It speeds up metabolism and is anti-inflammatory.

Dark chocolate- Low in sugar so is much better than milk and white chocolates. Likewise to other foods listed above, it is high in antioxidants and releases endorphins, which are good for your brain and heart. Vitamins and minerals can also still found, improving your general health.

Lastly, even if this is not food, it is still extremely important....

Laughing- Known as the best medicine as it releases endorphins, relaxing the whole body. Good for your general health as it lowers stress, depression and heart problems. Did you know that laughing for only 10 minutes a day can boost your metabolism for a whole 12 hours?

Also remember to drink lots of water and sleep well, giving you plenty of time to complete tasks.

Good luck x

Microwave Muffins

The past week for me has been a school holiday so I've had lots of spare time- guess how I've decided to spend it? Not doing something productive like revising for exams, finishing some work or getting on with chores, but experimenting in the kitchen! I am so good at procrastinating. 

Some time ago I found some very quick and easy recipes of Microwave muffins that used only a couple of ingredients, and was intrigued. There was no need to use flour or any baking powder as they used oats instead, and everyone saying how lovely they tasted. 

Here's what happened when I tried:

First try (Chocolate and Blueberries): The original recipe I found was 4tbsp oats, 1 egg, handful of berries, 2tsp sugar, 2tsp cocoa powder. The egg and cocoa powder in this one tasted weird, so decided one had to be removed.

 Second try (Blueberries): Even if I removed the cocoa powder I realised the egg was what it was making it taste odd, so had to find something to replaced it with.

Third try (Apple and Cinnamon):  At this point I didn't just run out of berries :( but it also BURNT. I used oil instead and cooked it for the normal 2-3 minutes- it just didn't work.

Fourth try (Banana and Rolos): This was LOVELY. I used 4 tbsp oats, half a banana, 2 tbsp milk and a handful of rolos, mixing well in the mug. I put in the microwave for 2-3 minutes until it was firm. The banana and oats make a nice shell on the outside and when cut into all of the nice chocolate and caramel sauce came out.......divine.

One thing I have learnt this week is NEVER add egg to a microwave muffin. On the other hand, I have found a great quick dessert to make from scratch which I am very happy about.

Have you ever tried making a microwave muffin?