All posts filed under: Breakfast and Tea Time

Message in a Pancake! (Without Refined Sugar)

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While Valentine’s Day is not a romantic day to me, I find it a happy day nonetheless. It provides me with a great excuse to try something new… and bring on silly or tacky preparations, like these pancakes! This recipe is without refined sugar and can be ready quicker than a cup of coffee.  You can draw hearts or write messages in the pan so don’t wait until Valentine’s to make them! They are wonderful as a birthday breakfast, a weekend brunch or even as edible good news for someone special! (Check the pictures for some fun ideas.) And for a full experience, enjoy these pancakes with the original Canadian maple syrup (rather than that ‘thing’ called syrup, like ‘aunt jemima’, which contains nothing but bad sugar). Happy Drawing! Ingredients 1 large egg 1 cup of self-raising flour* 1 cup of milk pinch of salt oil (not olive oil) *If you are using plain flour add 2tsp of baking powder Optional: maple syrup fresh fruits, nuts greek yoghurt chocolate Utensils 1 large bowl 1 measuring …

Royal Icing for Beginners

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If you love arts and crafts, decorating biscuits with Royal Icing can be highly addictive. For me sitting down with a bunch of biscuits and a piping bag is like practicing mindfulness. Very easy to prepare but not so easy to use, Royal Icing is a mixture of sugar and egg whites beaten until you get a thick white paste. Once that stage is achieved, you can change its consistency and colour. This recipe is aimed at beginners and focuses on the most important tips to start decorating. It presents two difficulties: finding the right consistency and using a piping bag and I will give you tips to perfect the technique. For peace of mind, I always make my Royal Icing using meringue powder instead of raw egg whites to avoid any risk of salmonella (a bacteria that can be harmful to pregnant women, and young and elderly people). This recipe is originally from Biscuiteers with just a tiny change. If you want to make biscuits as stunning as those of Elenis in NY or …

Edible Christmas Presents!

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The biscuit dough is ready and you are looking for decorating ideas? Here are some options for your edible presents. Feliz Navidad! Biscuits to hang Once the biscuits are cut and have been chilled in the fridge, make a hole with a straw (not too close to the biscuit’s edge) and bake. 2. Pass a yarn through the hole. Ready to hang! Biscuits on a mug 1. Once the biscuits are cut and have been chilled in the fridge, cut a small rectangle with a sharp knife (I use a stencil as a guide) 2. Bake and let the biscuits cool before using them! Gingerbread men garland 1. Once the biscuits are cut and have been chilled in the fridge, make two holes with a straw and bake 2. Make a beautiful garland with a yarn! Gingerbread house You can make one of any size. I made a small one for this post. 1. Make your stencils using clean paper or cardboard Walls: draw a square and cut with scissors Roof: draw a rectangle a …

Christmas = Gingerbread Biscuits!

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To me Christmas smells of ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. I love Christmas and I’m sure many of you do too. It’s almost impossible to resist the Christmas spirit; the decorations, the lights, the music and of course the food make this time of year a special one indeed. Every country has their own food traditions but the cut-out gingerbread biscuits are a popular treat in many places. The gingerbread dough is versatile; you can use it to make decorations, little gifts or even a gingerbread house! But best of all, this dough is easy to manage so children and adults can spend time baking together. There is one must-have ingredient that gives gingerbread its characteristic golden colour. This ingredient varies and it can be honey, molasses, golden syrup or treacle. I chose to post a recipe using molasses for three reasons: first you can find molasses everywhere, second it gives the biscuit a very dark colour which contrasts with the royal icing, and third this recipe comes from a blog that I really like …

Delicious Frosting! (Dairy-Egg-Nut and Gluten Free)

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Promises are meant to be kept… In my last post https://thegingerspoon.com/2017/10/31/very-moist-chocolate-cake-dairy-egg-nut-and-gluten-free/ I wrote that I am not a great fan of frostings for baked goods but I have to admit that they are fun to make and definitely add style to any cake! After trying many recipes ‘free from’ I have settled on a chocolate frosting and a vanilla frosting. Both of them are very sweet but taste really good. Use these frostings to fill and decorate cakes, cupcakes or any baked goods. They won’t let you down! Portions: one 20 cm cake   Prep Time: 15 minutes Chocolate Frosting Ingredients 1/2 cup of non-dairy spread (neutral flavour, not coconut) 4 cups of icing sugar 1 cup of good sugar-free cocoa powder 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract **1/2 cup of oat milk (or any other non dairy milk, not coconut) **The quantity of milk depends on the consistency you are looking for. Vanilla Frosting Ingredients 1/2 cup of non-dairy spread (neutral flavour, not coconut) 4 cups of icing sugar 3 teaspoons of vanilla extract (I …

Very Moist Chocolate Cake (Dairy-Egg-Nut and Gluten Free)

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Every time I read ‘free from’ gluten, egg, nut or dairy I feel lucky not to be allergic to any of those delicious ingredients. When my baby was just one month old, she started crying in pain after every feed. The kind advice I received on how to soothe her didn’t work so in the end I decided to change my diet, quitting dairy, nuts and gluten. And it worked! To my surprise, I discovered new products that stopped me from craving dairy or wheat flour. In London the variety of products ‘free from’ you can buy is huge. Even at your local cafe it’s easy to get an oat milk latte and a poached egg over gluten free bread…what a feast! On my birthday my two older daughters were in charge of making my birthday cake ‘free from’. I read many recipes to avoid disappointing my little chefs until I found this one. It’s perfect in every way…very easy to make and yummy. The recipe was tested three times in my kitchen (I never …

The Healthy Bircher-Müesli

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  Last winter we spent a few days in the Austrian Alps and every morning I woke up with only one thing in mind; their delicious Bircher-Müesli. I recently realised that it is just as popular here in England as it is in Switzerland, Germany or Austria. I’ve even seen ready-to-go pots in Starbucks. A Swiss physician developed Bircher Müesli in the 1900s; he went on to recommend it to his patients as part of their treatment. The basic ingredient of this Müesli is raw oats, which are soaked overnight and mixed with shredded apple, yoghurt, honey, nuts and fruits of your choice. The result is a dense and fresh yoghurt with a high-fibre content, vitamins and proteins…there is no better way to start your day! The best thing (at least for a mum) is that adults and children love it equally so it is a healthy, quick and yummy breakfast for the whole family. Fancy a treat in the evening? Replace the big bowl of ice cream with this Müesli (add bitter chocolate chunks …

Sunday Mimosa

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Springtime makes New York come alive with bright colours and people out in the parks. Hello sun! Restaurant terraces and NY classic brunches wouldn’t be complete without a delicious bubbly Mimosa. This super simple cocktail, made mostly with orange juice and chilled champagne (or another sparkling white wine), is the perfect way to begin Sunday in a party mood. Treat yourself this Easter morning with a refreshing Mimosa…cheers! Prep Time: 15 min Ingredients 75 cl Chilled Champagne or Prosecco 75 cl Fresh orange juice Slices of oranges, limes, grapefruit etc A splash of Cointreau liquor (optional) Equipment Champagne glasses Squeezer Colander Instructions Squeeze the oranges and strain 2. Cut the citrus fruits in thin slices 3. Fill half of the glass with champagne 4. Fill the other half with fresh orange juice 5. Put the fruit slices in each glass (different colours and sizes look nice) 6. Add a splash of Cointreau if it takes your fancy 7. Enjoy!

Soft-Boiled Egg and New Soldiers

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This is the ideal option for an Easter brunch. Both little ones and grown ups love them! When the eggs are done properly, with a runny yolk, nothing is better than dipping your soldiers into them. In this post, you will also have some new soldiers to try… More than a recipe, this post is an invitation to remember a childhood favourite (my 5 year old can’t get enough of them!). Sometimes the simplest of recipes make us the happiest! Happy dipping! Soft-Boiled Egg Portion: 1  Prep Time: 7 minutes Ingredients 1 medium egg at room temperature salt and pepper Equipment 1 medium saucepan 1 sharp knife 1 long spoon 1 small cup Instructions 1. Fill a small saucepan with water. Put on the hob over a medium heat and bring to the boil. 2. Once the water is boiling, put the egg into the saucepan using a spoon. 3. As soon as the water comes back to the boil, set the timer for 4 minutes. This guarantees a runny yolk. 4. After 4 minutes take …

Yummy British Scones!

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Scones are a quick bread, they can be savoury, sweet or plain. They are very popular in the United Kingdom, a classic treat from Devon (England) where they produce the best cream and butter of the country! For me the way to enjoy scones is to eat them hot, straight from the oven. Add regular butter and it is heaven! But the English love to have them with clotted cream (a very thick cream from Devon and Cornwall) and strawberry jam. Scones and a cup of tea are part of what is know as the Cream Tea, a kind of Afternoon Tea which is the British version of our tea time. You can enjoy your own Cream Tea wherever you are; quick and easy to prepare, this is the perfect recipe to make with the whole family. If you are making scones with kids, have all the ingredients prepared and ready to be used. Don’t worry about flour flying everywhere, just enjoy a wonderful and fun time all together! Portions 6-7 scones   Prep Time: …