Meet Herman the German..

...the friendship cake.

So a couple of days ago my Mum passed me a portion of Herman. I remember getting Herman when I was younger and being fascinated by looking after him, so I was excited when I spotted the tea-towel-covered bowl on my Mum's kitchen side.

Herman is a sour dough 'chain cake' which 'lives' in your kitchen for 10 days, before you pass him on to three friends to keep the chain going and bake you're own cake.

Today I am entering into Day 4 as Herman's carer and need to remember to feed him. I couldn't deal with killing off a cake, plus, how could I let my friends miss out on raising their very own Herman?

Herman and his blanket!

Herman bubbling away in my kitchen - he's still alive!

Here are the instructions I received with my little pot of Herman...

Hello, my name is Herman.

I am a sourdough cake. I'm supposed to sit on your worktop for 10 days without a lid on.
You CANNOT put me in the fridge or I will die. If I stop bubbling, I am dead.

Day 1 -You get Herman and put him in a large mixing bowl and cover loosely with a tea towel.

Day 2 -Stir well
Day 3 - Stir well

Day 4 - Herman is hungry. Add 1 cup each of plain flour, sugar and milk. Stir well.
Day 5 - Stir well
Day 6 - Stir well
Day 7 - Stir well
Day 8- Stir well

Day 9 - He's Hungry again. Add the same as day 4 and stir well. Divide into 4 equal portions and give away to friends with a copy of these instructions. Keep the 4th one.

Day 10 -Herman is very hungry. Stir well and add the following:

1 cup sugar
half tsp (teaspoon) salt
2 cups plain flour
2/3 (two thirds) cup of cooking oil
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla essence
2 cooking apples cut into chunks
1 cup raisins
2 heaped tsp cinnamon
2 heaped tsp baking powder.

Mix everything together and put into a large greased baking tin. 

Sprinkle with a quarter of a cup of brown sugar and a quarter of a cup of melted butter. Bake for 45 minutes at 170-180C. When cold cut into finger pieces. Cake freezes well and is also delicious warm with cream or ice-cream.

Just like Mrs Beeton would....

....coming soon..

My own insight into the fabulous Mrs Beeton and my dreams of becoming a domestic goddess just like Isabella did. Making, mending and tending to the servants...all in a days work for a household mistress.

(Just don't expect me to make pigeon pie!)

Baking Bookshelf

I suppose I have always been a coffee-table bookworm.

There isn't much which beats opening the crisp pages of a new hardback coffee-table book. From the beautiful photography to the scrumptious recipes hidden within, everything about a new cookbook is delicious.

Sexy, stylish and super-scrumptious - in Cox Cookies and Cakes

The shelf in my bookcase dedicated to cookbooks has grown and grown in recent years with books of cupcakes, vegan delights, easy-peasy student books to my own scrapbook created from recipe cards and newspaper cuttings, displayed for all to see. 

It's not just about the ingredients and measurements, oh no. These kitchen manuals are much more than 'how to's' these days. Some people will never open their trusty copy of 'Domestic Goddess' and read it cover to cover, and nor did I. Until last Christmas....

I was kindly brought Nigella Lawson's 'Kitchen'  and on a snowy, cold and boring boxing day, I began to read it. The book captured the same flirty, witty and dearly delightful tone of her television series. It's only then I started to actually 'read' my cookbooks. 

Another worth reading is Sophie Dahl's book 'Voluptious Delights' The diaries from her kitchen adventures are just as spellbinding as her grandfather's magical tales of marvellous medicines and giant peaches.  

There are so many hidden pieces of gorgeous writing inside Dahl's books

There are so many little gems of wonderful writing hidden inside the pages of cookbooks and it's time you put down your latest chick-lit paperback and took time to read your recipe books.  I'm off to read my two newest editions - The Hummingbird Bakery's 'Cake Days' and the Official Great British Bake Off's 'How to Bake' cookbook. Yum.

Here are some of my favourites I can't help but pick of my shelf and read (even if I haven't got the time or ingredients to actually make anything!)

1. Nigella Lawson's - Nigella Express ...

...the first of Nigella's books I was brought, and still my favourite

2. The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook....

...is my all-time favourite and 'go to' cupcake cookbook.

3. Harry Eastwood's 'Red Velvet and Chocolate Heartache' ....

....Because sometimes creating cakes can be guilt-free! 

4. Cox Cookies and Cake .....

....for days when I want my sweet treats served with added sex appeal!

5. Appetite for Reduction - By Isa Chandra Moskowitz....

......for simmering up some tasty vegan dishes 

Be warned though, reading them may cause cravings for cupcakes, candy, cous cous or curry!