Month: May 2013

Rhubarb crumble

Published on by Hanna1 Comment

IMG_3927

When visiting my parents this past weekend it was (as usual) a lot of focus on food and seasonal produce.

My mother loves gardening and even though she doesn’t grow as much as she used to when I was younger, there is still plenty of fruit and vegetables to pick in the garden throughout the summer. Around this time of year it is only really the rhubarb that’s ready for picking, so that’s what we did.

And for me, there is nothing better than making a crumble out of the first fruit of the season, and this crumble recipe (a modified Delia-ism) is absolutely divine, especially when served still warm with either vanilla icecream or homemade raw custard (N.B. contains raw eggs so not suitable for everyone).

IMG_3933

Rhubarb crumble, serves 4

ca 250 g rhubarb, washed and cut into smaller pieces

100-120 g soft brown sugar (to balance the acid from the rhubarb)

Crumble:

100 g softened butter

200 g plain flour

135 g soft brown sugar

1 tsp baking powder

Butter an ovenproof dish. Place the rhubarb pieces in the bottom. Scatter the sugar on top. Combine the ingredients for the crumble in a mixing bowl using a wooden fork. Pour on top of the rhubarb. Place in 175C oven for about 30 minutes or until the fruit is soft and the top golden brown. 

Nettles and wild garlic

Published on by HannaLeave a comment

IMG_3898

The last five days I went back home to the south of Sweden to visit my parents and my friends. I had a lovely time seeing everyone and eating great food and even the weather was cooperating (we had the same glorious weather as in Britain, just a few degrees cooler)!

My parents live in the countryside, close to a lake and some woods and with plenty of fields in the near surroundings. It is just as idyllic as it seems and I have so many happy memories from the woods from my childhood. Now I enjoy more seldom, but it just brings back happy memories walking around there.

IMG_3909

This time we stayed for quite a while, picking the first small nettles so I could bring them back with me, but also the wonderful wood anemones for pure decoration. There is also plenty of wild garlic, which I love and I picked plenty of that too before leaving.

I have quite a few recipe ideas using nettles and wild garlic, but before I post them I’d like to remind you of some wild garlic recipes already on the blog. I can highly recommend wild garlic mayo which I eat out of season too (just steam and freeze the wild garlic and use whenever), mother’s delicious wild garlic soup and it is always a good pairing with asparagus, like in this quiche.

Chocolate chip cookie cake

Published on by HannaLeave a comment

cccc

The third (and last) cake my colleagues had the pleasure of tasting this month was a giant chocolate chip cookie. Inspired by this lovely lady I used a tried and tested recipe to create this baby.

It was fun trying this, and it saves a lot of time when baking for several people, but I still prefer the texture of the individual cookies.

Chocolate chip cookie cake, serves 10

170 g  butter

300 g flour

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1/2 tsp salt

210 g brown sugar

100 g sugar

1 egg yolk

1 egg

1 tbsp vanilla extract

170 g chocolate (I mixed dark and milk)

Melt the butter. Mix flour with bicarb and salt in a bowl. Stir together both sugars with the melted butter. Beat in the egg, the egg yolk and the vanilla extract, until the mixture turns light and fluffy. Stir in the flour mixture, and finally the chocolate.

Butter a 23 cm springform and press the mixture into the dish, evenly. Bake at 165°C for 20-30 minutes.

Fortnums

Published on by HannaLeave a comment

IMG_3638

I also took my parents to Fortnum & Mason when they were visiting, and just like me they adore St James’s.

IMG_3636

I like the old vibe of the area, something you can’t easily find in Sweden, and we certainly haven’t got a department store dating from the 1700s. Sadly.

IMG_3637

I really appreciate the quality of Fortnum’s products and I usually buy things here for my friends as little gifts for friends and family. Something I almost regret after mummy and daddy have developed an addiction to a certain Morello Cherry and Cognac Preserve…

Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly  London W1A 1ER

Frosted chocolate cake with almonds

Published on by HannaLeave a comment

sk1

We’re serious about our cakes and other baked goods in Sweden, but sometimes I roll my eyes at the names the cakes get. This cake is called ‘Success Cake’ in Swedish, don’t ask me why, and I just refuse to call it that in English, but the more describing name frosted chocolate cake with almonds, doesn’t really do it justice either.

I mean, yes, it is a frosted chocolate cake, but a very yummy one. Just go ahead and make it and see for yourself!

Frosted chocolate cake with almonds, serves 10

150 g salted butter 
180 g caster sugar
1 1/2 eggs
75 ml cocoa
90 g plain flour
3/4 tbsp vanilla sugar
1 tsp baking powder

Frosting:
150 ml double cream
120 g caster sugar
1 1/2 tbsp golden syrup
100 g dark chocolate 
75 g butter

Decoration:
50 g almond slivers

Preheat the oven to 175°C. Butter a normal sized baking tray. 

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Remove from heat and add sugar and eggs. Mix cocoa, flour, vanilla sugar and baking powder in a bowl. Add the dry mixture to the butter mixture and incorporate well. Pour into the tin and bake in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes. 

Mix cream, sugar, syrup and chocolate in a saucepan. Let it simmer until the frosting has thickened and the chocolate has melted, it takes about 15 minutes (less on a gas hob). Remove from heat and add the butter in chunks and beat it into the frosting. Pour the frosting over the cake, spread it evenly, decorate with almond slivers and place in the fridge to set.

A weekend at home!

Published on by Hanna3 Comments

IMG_0702Right now I am on my way home to Sweden. I can’t wait to spend a long weekend here catching up with friends, seeing my parents and hanging out with my best friend Emma.

Food wise I am looking forward to dinner at Atmosfär in Malmö and brunch at Rosen in the same city. Other than that I want to barbecue and go for a walk in the woods and stock up on spring nettles and wild garlic.

Hampton Court Palace

Published on by Hanna2 Comments

IMG_3655

Partly because of the gardens, my parents and I also visited Hampton Court Palace when they were in town.

IMG_3657

IMG_3682

It was actually Henry’s (VIII) adviser Thomas Wolsey that built the Tudor palace that was later taken over as residence for the king.

IMG_3692

IMG_3694

It is incredibly large with several courtyards and a large garden and although it is very interesting walking around here we were a bit overwhelmed to walk around the whole place and chose the parts we were most interested in; the garden and the kitchens.

IMG_3729

IMG_3731

IMG_3743IMG_3736IMG_3733

Unfortunately it was raining when we looked around the garden, so it wasn’t as pretty as it can be with the sun shining, but still very pretty.

IMG_3695IMG_3697IMG_3701IMG_3703

The kitchens had lots of props trying to make them look used, but I think I would have enjoyed looking at them without the props even more, but maybe that’s just me, wanting things to be ‘real’. Definitely worth a visit regardless.

Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU