Fathers Day

It's Fathers Day on Sunday so I decided that I would bake my wonderful Dad some delicious chocolate brownies and make him a card.

The recipe I used was Jamie Oliver's - straight off his website. This could possibly be the best chocolate brownie recipe in the world! The trick to getting the brownies right is to use good quality chocolate (70% coco minimum) and not to cook for too long, you want them all sticky in the middle still. You can see the recipe on his website here. I made way too many and took the rest into work - they seemed to go down a treat as I had none left by lunchtime!

My Dad loves horse riding so I made a card in Illustrator with his beloved horse Burt on it (the one on the card is a bit fatter). If anyone needs a last minute Fathers Day card then feel free to print mine off - there is also a hot air balloon version if your dad's not that crazy about horses.

knitted flower cardigan

I've been knitting this little wraparound cardi for my niece Olivia for the past couple of months and just don't seem to be able to finish it. I really get bored of putting all the bits together - I've only got one sleeve to sew on but it's just my least favourite part of knitting. The cardi has some really cute knitted flowers that are sewn on after and they are really easy and quick to make so I thought I'd share the pattern with you.

Knitted flower pattern

You will need:
Pair of 3 ¼ knitting needles
DK wool
Darning needle

Cast on 10 sts

Row 1 - (RS), cast off 1 st, *slip st on right needle back onto left needle, cast on 2 sts, cast off 3 sts; rep from * to end and fasten off.

Run gathering thread through cast on edge and pull up tight. Fasten off securely, joining ends to make flower shape.

I think these flowers will look really cute with some beads or a button sewn into the centre.

sticky toffee come dine with me

On Wednesday it was my turn to cook for Come Dine With Me.  I decided to keep it simple with a Thai Green Curry, with mango salad followed by Sticky Toffee Pudding.  I rang my mum up to get her amazing Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe, which is the beast I have ever tasted (honestly!). Anyway the evening was a success - especially the Sticky Toffee Pudding so I thought I should share the recipe with you...

Mum's Sticky Toffee Pudding (serves 6)

For the cake
2oz soft butter
6oz granulated sugar
8oz plain flour
1tsp baking powder
1 egg (beaten)
6oz stoned dates
½ pint boiling water
1tsp bicarbonate of soda
1tsp vanilla essence

Preheat the oven to 180C/370F/Gas 4.

1.  Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl.
2.  Sift the flour and baking powder together.
3.  Beat the egg into the butter and sugar with a little of the flour (this prevents it from curdling).
4.  Beat the egg/sugar/butter mixture for 1 minute.
5.  Add the remaining flour and mix.
6.  Flour the dates and chop finely.
7.  Pour boiling water over the dates, add the bicarb of soda and vanilla essence.
8.  Add the date mixture to the flour and sugar and mix thoroughly.
9.  Line a geased 11" x 11" square cake tin (I used a loaf tin and it worked just fine)
10.  Pour the mixture into the tin.

Bake in the oven for aprox 40 mins - until the cake is firm and a skewer comes out clean.

For the sauce
7oz brown sugar
5oz butter
½ pint double cream

Melt the sugar, butter and cream in a pan, simmer for 5 mins.

Tip: I find the cake bit is always a bit stickier the next day.  I usually bake the cake the day before and put it into tupperware.  I can then slice of the ammount I need and microwave, whilst making some sauce.