recipe – Lauren Gemmell

Ginger and Ale Cupcakes : Guest Post

On 11th November 2013

In Cakes and Desserts, Recipes, Scottish Food

Today I have a bit of a treat for you – CoffeeMuffin’s first guest post! This guest post is from Simone Gribble author of Grrr. Cupcake. (cupcakes for men). As you may know I hate the craze for cupcakes with huge amounts of frosting. Thankfully now Simone has people like me covered with her latest ebook.

The cupcake craze has been raging since the 1990s and hit Edinburgh a few years ago with the opening of a few specialist cupcake bakeries in the city centre. I’ve been baking my own cakes ever since I was a little girl and resisted additive and preservative rich store bought cakes. My icing skills weren’t as good though so when these speciality shops opened, professing to sell handmade cupcakes, I thought I should give them a try, for research purposes, you know.

I bought two. One was a banana caramel cupcake with two inches of icing and a dried banana chip on top. It sure looked pretty. Imagine my disgust when I bit into the cake only to find that the banana and caramel flavour existed only in the icing – the cupcake itself was pretty bland. The second cupcake, whose flavours I don’t even remember, fared no better.

Gingerbread and Sultana Mug Cake (5 minutes)

By lauren

On 28th October 2013

In Cakes and Desserts, Christmas, Recipes

I’ve just started a sewing class, you know to learn how to use a sewing machine and make a skirt. It’s a Sunday night class, because I can’t make the ones during the week, and it turns out these things take concentration.

Sewing in a straight line takes focus and sewing a curve is worse. By the time I leave with a skirt full of unpicking to do… it’s blowing a gale outside, it’s dark and raining. I want something to eat but I know we have nothing in the cupboards.

Then I get into the house, it’s bright and warm, my husband asks me as I enter the front door if I want a hot drink, and suddenly I relax. I know what I am going to make.

Apple and Sultana Buns

By lauren

On 27th October 2013

In Bread, Cakes and Desserts, Recipes

Although I am not immune to a little Christmas excitement in late October – I am already thinking about how to ice my Christmas Cake this year and if I can hand make Christmas Decorations to give out as gifts. I feel it is still to early for those heavy Christmas spices, ginger, allspice, cloves etc and you need to ease yourself in gently with some autumnal cinnamon first!

Cauliflower Curry

By lauren

On 7th October 2013

In Dinner

I had to admit I was pretty surprised to see that I have never blogged a Cauliflower Curry before.

I have taken pictures before, I have folders and folders of them on my Mac, but I guess it just seems too simple to post. Let’s face it, Cauliflower is never going to be the sexiest vegetable.

However if you have a huge cauliflower and a husband that dislikes Cauliflower cheese, then maybe this recipe will also be helpful for you too!

Eat Clean: Cauliflower Rice

By lauren

On 29th September 2013

In Dinner

For the month of September I have been mostly following the Blogilates Sweatember Workout Calendar, it’s been hard work but enjoyable.

As part of the workout plan it is suggested that you eat clean, which I mostly ignored. It seems to be lots of lean proteins and broccoli 😉 However I did look at some of the recipes out there and a couple appealed, including this Cauliflower rice.

Sweet Potato and Lentil Pockets

By lauren

On 19th September 2013

In Bread

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I have been looking for baking projects that I can make over the weekend, freeze and then take into lunch during the week. I found this recipe on The Kitchn for Spiced Lentil, Sweet Potato and Kale Pockets which seemed to fit the bill.

Think of a pizza pocket, but instead of the stringy cheese, you have spiced lentils and sweet potato. The wonderful thing about these pockets is that they don’t need to be reheated, you can just let nature defrost them for you.

Strawberry Cookie Tiramisu No Bake Dessert

By lauren

On 17th September 2013

In Cakes and Desserts

Think of this dessert like a tiramisu but instead of ladyfingers you use chocolate chip cookies. Still need more reasons to make this dessert?

It takes 5 minutes to make.
Can be made in cute individuals pots.
Or made as a big dessert to slice and share.
Did I mention Tiramisu and cookies?

Memory Boosting Mackerel Salad Recipe

By lauren

On 23rd May 2013

In Dinner, Recipes, Scottish Food

You may have seen over the internet recent reports that B vitamins can boost your memory, and overtime may counteract the effects of Alzheimer’s.

As a disease that has affected both my grandmothers (thankfully both in later life) this research is something that I am particularly interested in. While the research is in its early phases, by eating more foods rich in B vitamins – what is the worst that could happen? It may have no affect on memory, but it’s still good for you!

Strawberry Tart Recipe

By lauren

On 22nd May 2013

In Cakes and Desserts

Last August I made a batch of 4 strawberry tarts. It’s taken me a while to write them up 🙂

I’ve always loved a fresh cream strawberry tart, topped with that gloopy sweet glaze and fresh strawberries (that haven’t been frozen first).

When looking for Strawberry tart recipes getting the proper glaze was the hardest part, as they are almost always listed as jam / preserve based glaze. This is not what I had from local bakeries growing up, and was never going to replace my Tesco strawberry tart habit!