All 15 entries tagged Food

Chocolate Guinness Cake

Been struggling to keep up with demand for this recipe so here it is…

Cake Ingredients

• 200ml/7floz Guinness beer
• 170g/6oz plain flour
• 2 medium eggs, beaten
• 290g/10oz light, soft brown sugar
• 60g/2oz cocoa powder
• 115g/4oz margarine
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• 1 level tsp bicarbonate of soda

Dark Icing Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Guinness beer
• 115g/4oz icing sugar, sifted (Note: managed to omit this on one bake session and the cake still vanished just as quickly!?)
• 115g/4oz dark cooking chocolate
• 60g/2oz butter
• 1 pack ready-made white icing

Making the cake

1. Preheat the oven to gas mark 4 (180oC, 350oF)
2. Grease two non-stick, 8-inch baking tins.
3. Mix margarine and sugar together in a bowl, then gradually beat in the eggs.
4. Into a second bowl, sift the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.
5. Put the cocoa into a third bowl and stir in the Guinness (any surplus can be saved for more conventional use…).
6. Fold a dollop of cocoa mixture into margarine/sugar followed by an equal amount of flour mixture. Repeat until completely mixed.
7. Spread mixture into the two tins and bake for 30-35 minutes. Leave to cool while you chill out with a cold glass of Guinness :o)

Making the dark icing

1. Melt dark chocolate, then mix in Guinness (why not drink the leftovers?)
2. Beat in the butter, leave to cool for 5 minutes, then beat in the icing sugar.
3. Before icing has cooled, use it to sandwich the two cake layers, using the rest for the top and sides.

Finally, for that authentic Guinness look, cover the top with white icing, leave to set, tuck in.

Best shared with friends – enjoy :o)

Catherine Fenn : 25 Apr 2009 15:43 |  Tags: Cake Chocolate Food Guinness Life Recipes |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

December

Follow-up to November from Cath's Blog

Active

Starting to clock up 2 running sessions a week with long Sunday runs peaking @ 11 miles so far. Done a bit more swimming but really need to work on my technique. Riding at least 5 days a week mixed between playing around the fields and working shapes in the school. MTBing to work began to feel like an extreme winter sport some mornings but FUN :S

Arts

Really enjoyed the fantasy adventure movie Golden Compass.

Home

Clearing tat from the house is almost complete… well at least ALL rooms are now clear enough to use! House seems to have grown but still feels lived in.

Travel

Didn’t really get far in miles… festive season with family and I don’t need to go very far for that :) Was going to go a bit further for new year but not been well so staying a bit more cosy at home.

Food & drink

Minor rant here :(
STOP PRESS: being a vegetarian does NOT mean that I don’t like good food!? festive season has meant lots of meals out and as a vege I’ve had little or NO choice and some serious crap! One new year wish is that Gordon Ramsay produce a chefs guide to vegetarian dishes either that or I’m going to start writing myself…

Finally before signing off… this is my last month end report, it was an interesting and slightly odd experiment but 12 months is quite long enough for this style of post.
In 2008 will probably return to using this blog as a training log for running/triathlon stuff and maybe other random stuff along the way.

HAPPY NEW YEAR xx

Catherine Fenn : 31 Dec 2007 17:49 |  Tags: 2007 Drink Food Home Life Music Sport Travel |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

November

Follow-up to Autumn activities :) from Cath's Blog

Not put off by the loss of daylight here are just a few highlights from another hectic month…

Active

We (the Little Chasers) won the Bicester & Whaddon Novice TC which sort of made up for the 5.30am start (on a Sunday) but not as much as the adrenalin rush clearing the last big hedge!?
National XC relays @ Mansfield 3K (12m45s)
Tried a tri 800m swim, 6 miles bike, 7 laps track run.
Got FLM 2008 ballot place, this will be my 4th marathon.
Looking for something more challenging!!!!?

Arts

Stereophonics supported by local dudes The Enemy @ NEC

Home

Finally replaced the guttering and fascia boards – they were literally falling off the house…
Cleared the garden thanks to bonfire night.

Travel

Took time out over a long weekend to visit Dorset & Devon (Birthday treat :-) based in Lyme Regis. Hotel had the added bonus of a pool, sauna and jacuzzi – luxury. Weather mixed between bright sunshine and force 7 gales – wild and exciting!?

Food & drink

Tried out a few places around Lyme Regis including Thai at the Bay Hotel and great pizza at the Pizza & Steak place up the main drag.

Catherine Fenn : 01 Dec 2007 23:00 |  Tags: 2007 Drink Food Home Life Music Sport Travel |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Autumn activities :)

Follow-up to Changing seasons from Cath's Blog

Just a few bits from October…

Active

Coventry half marathon (1hr42m), XC @ Senneleys Park.
RC National Dressage to Music Championships – Meg went really well but far too ‘alive’ (think bright lights, banners, flags, flowers and a very sharp slightly over enthusiastic horse) to get top marks ;-)
Ten pin bowling in Leam – not that I’m any good just like to do different stuff now and again…

Arts

Trip to HOYS @ NEC
Med School of Rock – impressed by ReplicaX

Home

Didn’t spend much time here…

Travel

More transport really but treated the ANIMAL to a new battery

Food & drink

Now I know that as a vegetarian I need to be a bit more aware of my iron levels so seriously disappointed to find (from my regular blood donation visit) that my Hb levels were very low – too low to donate :( Still good excuse to drink more of the black stuff ;-) and with a dose of pills should be back on track again…

Catherine Fenn : 01 Nov 2007 13:39 |  Tags: 2007 Drink Food Home Life Music Sport Travel |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Changing seasons

Follow-up to Summer? from Cath's Blog

...September 2007

Active

Got close to overdoing the active bit this month… body nearly went on strike but after a couple of rest days seems OK now ;) Pleased with my time in the Nuneaton 10 mile and felt strength in the spirit of being an AC member. Occasionally managing to squeeze in a 2nd run each week and managed another fairly tough 10 mile route today. Despite distinct drop in temperature and daylight, still managing to keep up summer mileage on MTB – need to put serious thought to bike storage before upgrading with the aid of the new cycle scheme. Steady team effort gave us 8th place at RC Championships and have also qualified for DTM next month!? Had much more fun team chasing at Melton Mowbray, although sadly the ongoing threat of FMD has limited any further TC outings for now :( Took a small gang to XC @ Offchurch last weekend as alternative :-)

Arts

Still reading Richard Dawkins, God delusion book… not enough hours in the day for reading right now!

Home

Really starting to notice the improvement of finishing off DIY jobs, keeping up with my rather high maintenance garden and clearing clutter from spare room. Maybe soon I can start some new projects…

Travel

Traveled to *Blenheim and Burghley 3DEs (horse stuff for those not in the know), with good company and fair weather great days out. The trek to Lincoln required a night stay – turns out a double air bed in the back of the Animal (L200) makes for a really comfy nights sleep :D

Food & Drink

Harvesting stuff from the garden not only satisfying but really tasty too. Rather partial to Guinness of late… medicinal of course ;-)

*we did have a serious horse injury here but with top class Vets on hand this was well taken care of and pleased to report that the casualty in on the mend.

Endnote: this blog has reached it’s 3rd birthday this month! wow time flies…

Catherine Fenn : 30 Sep 2007 23:57 |  Tags: 2007 Drink Food Home Life Music Sport Travel |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem