Showing posts with label ice cream. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ice cream. Show all posts

Monday, 19 August 2013

Almond Raisin Cake with Madeira


Almond raisin cake with sherry

With the impending return of The Great British Bake Off, Ralph's dusted off his easy baking recipes to share with you all and help you avoid the palaver they have on the telly.  All the recipes will be quick and simple to make and we'll be starting off with this delicious Almond Raisin Cake with Madeira (sweet or medium sherry's OK too), perfect for afternoon tea!


It only takes 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook, so it's as easy a baking recipe as you could ask for, but delivers maximum flavour and serves 6 to 8 people (if you can bear to share it).





Ingredients:


250g raisins
200ml Madeira
150ml thick natural yogurt
150ml vegetable oil
3 fresh local eggs (in-keeping with The Egg Award ethos)
140g plain flour
100g ground almonds
2 tsp baking powder
100g light muscovado sugar
icing sugar, to serve





Method:

Tip the raisins into a bowl, pour over the Madeira, then leave for at least 30 mins to soften. 

Meanwhile, heat oven to 180C/ fan 160C/gas 4. Lightly grease a deep 20cm round cake tin, then line the bottom with a circle of greaseproof paper.

Mix together the yogurt, oil and eggs. Put the remaining dry ingredients into a large bowl, pour in the yogurt mixture, then stir together until smooth. Scoop half the raisins out of the Madeira, then stir into the batter. 


Spoon into the prepared tin and smooth the surface with a spoon. Cook in the oven for 50-55 mins until the top springs back when pressed lightly and a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.


Then take the skewer and prick all over the cake. Pour over 5 tbsp of the soaking Madeira and let it soak in. 

You can make up to this point 3 days in advance and store in an airtight container. Serve warm or leave to cool, then dust with icing sugar. 

Warm the rest of the soaked raisins and Madeira, then serve alongside the cake with some vanilla ice cream.

This cake keeps really well so you can make it at least a day in advance. If you want to warm the cake before serving, put it back in its tin, cover with tin foil and set in a 160C/fan 140C/gas 3 oven for 10 mins.




Just in case you've forgotten, here's Ralph's easy home made ice cream recipe..... 

Silly twits ice cream
Ingredients.....

  • 4 fresh local eggs (in-keeping with The Egg Award ethos)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 140g caster sugar
  • 300ml pot double cream


Method.....

Separate the eggs. Beat the yolks and and vanilla extract with an electric whisk until light and foamy. 

Clean the whisk, then in another bowl whisk the egg whites, gradually adding the caster sugar until it's
thick and glossy, a bit like making meringues.

Lightly whip the double cream until it softly holds its shape. Mix with the yolks and egg white mixture 
until everything is combined. 

Turn into a container, cover and freeze until solid. 

Take out of the fridge about 10 mins before serving.

Friday, 23 November 2012

Café bocboc.....the perfect place to meet and eat.....

Opened in 2010 and situated in Eccleston, St Helens Café bocboc's aim was to provide a European style coffeehouse with an enjoyable and relaxing atmosphere for their customers to enjoy, and boy have they succeeded!

  

Café bocboc is a unique business in itself and proving to be a destination venue to eat and meet. It's the first and original coffeehouse, ice cream parlour and patisserie to be established in St Helens and the surrounding area.

The image and décor is based on creating a modern cosmopolitan establishment, providing something exclusive, elegant, yet still achieving a friendly and relaxed atmosphere for their customers to enjoy.


Their concept is unique in this area as they combine specialty Italian coffees, fresh cuisine made from the finest fresh (locally sourced where possible) produce by two qualified Chefs, Luxury ‘Award Winning’ Ice Cream (the Rum 'n' Raisin is to die for) and irresistible desserts.

They use a selection of local suppliers to provide fresh produce and ingredients. They constantly search for other suppliers and give other business the chance to offer their produce, which in turn helps them to regularly change the menu and to provide excellence with 'elan.  That, combined with the qualified Chefs provides the perfect match to offer creative and delicious food, a selection of beverages, old fashioned drinks and the luxury desserts on offer.



Bocboc are
 confident that their great food and quality coffee, served by trained and friendly staff will make Café bocboc a special place to meet, eat, relax and socialise with family and friends.  Light breakfast, Seasonal salads, homemade soups, luxury sandwiches created from fresh, in-house baked bread served with hand carved meats are just some of the highlights from their menu. 



Not forgetting the kids, as they have a selection of meals dedicated to providing healthy, yet appealing choices.  Always looking to take advantage of seasonal produce, this is reflected in the menu and so as the seasons change, you’ll see the menu and specials board updated on a regular basis.


Their blend of coffee is unique as it's roasted to their specification and provided fresh on a regular basis to give that perfect elegant flavour to suit all. The result, a warm fresh flavoured espresso produced from high quality coffee beans and is the perfect selection to suit the wide range of coffees on offer.



They have a local award winning ice cream supplier – Cheshire Farm Ice Cream and the brand name speaks for itself as Cheshire farm take pride in producing fresh, high quality ice cream in a range of flavours to suit all.
In the café they offer an extensive range of Cheshire farm products. Traditional vanilla, strawberry and chocolate, sit alongside luxurious honeycomb, Maltese and toffee fudge – adult favourites include stem ginger, mango and Bailey’s.
So, you can complement your choice of coffee and keep the children happy with an excellent selection of ice cream!



The selection of patisseries are as exquisite to look at as they are to taste. They're elegant, delicious and comparable whith any found in a fine dining restaurant. Dressed to perfection with cream and seasonal fruits, they're a truly luxurious accompaniment to a coffee or the perfect way to end a meal.

If that's not enough they have luxury collection of ‘flowerpot’ muffins, rich fruit filled granola, sweet pastry chocolate twists and traditional scones served with cream and jam. This list goes on, but what you can be certain of is that they'll have an indulgent treat to satisfy everyone!



Cafe bocboc has launched Junior Masterchef 2012, open to Young People in senior school years 7 – 10 in the St Helens Area. They're working with What's on in St Helens to promote this great competition.

They'll be sending the information to all St Helens High Schools to get involved and encourage young children to produce a healthy dish that they would be proud of and a chance to include it on the menu.












Apr 14, 2012 by Danielle Whitby
Bright, friendly and gorgeous food :-) perfectly located and very handy for a Saturday treat or catch up with friends after the school run!

My children love it .. Even my 2 year old asks to go! Love it and would tell anyone who would listen to me :-))
Response: thank you very much for your comments

Superb


Nov 24, 2011 by clare
superb cafe and we like it so much that we will come back a again and again and agian
Response: thank you

Fresh food on offer


Sep 06, 2011 by M Scott
Excellent choice of fresh, succulent meals, pleasant decor and friendly enagaging staff - well done. Provides a stylish and vibrant focal point which amalgamates good food and good conversation.
Response: Once again, its so rewarding to hear nice comments like this. Thank You

Community Love this place


Aug 31, 2011 by A Stahler
Excellent, staff always helpful. Nice place to walk to and have lovely food. Regenerated the Eccleston community ...provided a heart to the village. Long awaited.
Response: We appreciate your kind words and our aim is to provide a place for the community to socialise. Thank You

Excellent Place


Aug 09, 2011 by S Tabern
Lovely, lively place to enjoy lunch/snack, friendly staff, superb food, excellent choice and value for money. Provides the community with an upmarket venue which caters for all ages.
Response: Thank you for your valuable visit and see you again soon.

Excellent Place to Eat


Aug 01, 2011 by I Swift
Excellent, good value/service, pleasant surroundings and a godsend....somewhere decent and child friendly for the people of Eccleston. Made the district more attractive and appealing to all ages - nice surroundings and good value and quality food.
Response: Really glad you enjoyed the visit to cafe bocboc. Thank you

bocboc is the place to be


Jul 26, 2011 by H Miller
I really enjoy coming to Bocboc, its a welcoming place, lovely, clean and stylish. Food and service are excellent. A really nice meeting place giving Eccleston a 'village feel'. Easy to find from the A580..St Helens needs more quality cafes and restaurants.
Response: Glad you enjoyed it and hope to see you again. Thank You

Really Nice Place


Jul 23, 2011 by J Beech
Wonderful, Staff and service are very good and friendly. The food is very good, the ambience is just right and the decor is bright , fresh and contemporary. Its a great meeting place to meet with friends and relax.
Response: Your comments mean a lot to us as a business.

thank you


Cafe bocboc168 Kiln Lane St HelensMerseysideWA10 4RB UK  • 01744 24480