CAKES

FRIDAY is cake-bake day at my place.

The small rituals of baking are very soothing;  warming the oven, beating the sugar and butter in a small bowl, adding the fresh eggs from Gidget and the girls then transferring the mixture to a larger bowl.

Sifting in the flour and cocoa alternatively with the milk, then using the spatula to ensure every ingredient is evenly combines.

Pouring the mixture int a well greased and baking-paper line tin or individual patty pans.

Then when they come out of the oven the whole kitchen smells like home.

Thank goodness for Fridays!

Most of these will come into work with me for my colleagues to enjoy for morning tea.

Here's the recipe

Alison's chocolate butter cakes

185g butter
3/4 cup castor sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup of mil
2 cups sifted SR flour
1/2 cup sifted cocoa

1. Preheat oven to 180
2. Prepare greased cake tin or put patty tins in tray
3. Cream butter and sugar in small bowl
4. Add eggs
5. Transfer mixture to large bowl
6. Add flour and cocoa alternatively with milk - you may need to add a little more milk
7. Pour into tins / pans
8. Bake for 15-25 minutes depending on your oven
9. when cakes spring back to you touch they are ready
10. Enjoy!

Pancakes please

PANCAKES are the perfect autumn and winter weekend breakfast.

After a bracing surf or cycle down the Great Ocean Road - or even a sleepy stroll to get the newspapers - siting down to pancakes made with fresh eggs from the chooks is always a great meal to start the day.

Saturday's pancakes ready to enjoy.

Versatile too.

You can add blueberries to the mix or serve them on the side.

Instead of butter, lemons and sugar or maple syrup, I'm a sucker for no-fat Greek yogurt and a handful of berries. Or a splash of real-deal maple syrap.

Here's the recipe - if you like your flapjacks on the fluffy side then add 1/2 cup more flour or if you like them more crepe-like then add a splash more milk.

This recipe makes heaps - they freeze well but I usually give any leftovers to the hens.

2 fresh eggs
3 cups milk
3/4 cup wholemeal SR flour
3/4 cup plain flour

Get out the medium sized Sunbeam mixmaster
Beat the eggs, add milk
Gently add flours
Mix until resembles cream
Let it sit for a few minutes
Cook in a pan with a little oil or butter, flip when one side is all bubbly. (If cooking for a few friends, then I'll use two pans to keep things moving.)
Enjoy!