Author: Notnick

Scones

Ingredients
225g/8oz self raising flour
pinch of salt
55g/2oz butter
25g/1oz caster sugar
150ml/5fl oz milk
Method

Mix together the flour and salt and rub in the butter.
Stir in the sugar and then the milk to get a soft dough.
Brush the tops of the scones with a little milk. Bake for 12-15 minutes until well risen and golden.

Chocolate Muffins

2 eggs
1 cup (200 g) sugar
1 cup (130 g) all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2/3 cup (160 ml) milk
2/3 cup (160 g) butter
4 oz (120 g) chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 deg F (Gas mark 4 or 180 deg C).

Grease 6 large muffin tins or cups (paper muffin bake cups are recommended).
Beat the eggs with sugar, mix with flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, vanilla and milk.
Fold in the melted butter.
Add chocolate chips (please note that these might end up in the bottom of the muffin).
Bake at 350 degrees until a until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, approximately 30 minutes.

Choc Chip Cookies I

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (for pure convection, adjust accordingly; I used 310 F on convection). Grease cookie sheets, or line them with parchment paper or use a Silpat (which is what I did).
Sift the flour, salt and baking soda and set aside.
Mix the sugars and butter just until thoroughly mixed, then add egg, yolk and vanilla and mix until creamy. Add the sifted ingredients and mix until just blended.
Stir in the chocolate chips/chunks, then drop dough 1/4 cup at a time on a cookie sheet, about 3 inches apart, and bake for 15-17 minutes. Leave them on the cookie sheet to cool a bit when removed from the oven (this is important… they fall apart if you move them too quickly). Once they cool a few minutes, remove the cookies to a cooling rack to finish cooling.

Simple Madeleines

(makes 18 – 20 mini madeleines) based on a recipe from Joy of Baking
75g Butter – melted and cool
100g Plain Flour
½ Tsp Baking Powder
2 Large Eggs
90g Granulated Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Essence / Orange Flower Water – to taste
Pinch of salt (if using unsalted butter)

Whisk the eggs and sugar together until they have doubled in size and are light and fluffy. Slowly fold in the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the vanilla or orange flower water. Slowly add in the melted butter, gently folding all the time. When mixed cover the bowl and put in the fridge for at least 30 mins, the batter should be foamy and full of air. Put a dollop of the mixture into a well buttered Madeleine tray, each mould should be about 2/3 full. Place in an oven at 375F/ 190C/ GM 5 for around 7 minutes until risen, golden and shrinking away from the edges of the mould.
Leave for a few minutes and then turn out.

The Madeleines are best enjoyed when still warm and crisp on the outside. They can be stored for a day but will lose that just cooked crisp outside.