Posh Potatoes

Serves 4

Ingredients:

750g Nicola potatoes

125ml Mascarpone, or for a healthy version- this also works really well with yogurt

45ml mayonnaise

Zest of 1 lemon

15g chives, finely chopped

10g parsley, finely chopped

2 spring onions, finely sliced

½ red onion, finely chopped

Maldon salt

Black Pepper

Method:

Cut the potatoes into three, and place in a pot of cold, salted water. Bring the water to the boil, and cook until potatoes are just cooked.

Remove the potatoes from water, and allow to cool completely.

In a small bowl mix the mascarpone and mayo until smooth. Add the lemon zest, chives, parsley, spring onions and red onion. You can also add a little of the lemon juice if you like.

Pour the mascarpone mixture over the cooled potatoes and gently mix them together.

Season well with salt and pepper and allow to stand for 2-3 hours for flavours to infuse.

Yummy Breakfast Crumpets

Serves 6

Ingredients:

4 cups plain flour

1 ½ cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
6 eggs
2 cups milk
4 tablespoons butter, melted 

Your favourite toppings :)

Method:

Mix all of the ingredients together.

Grease a flat bottomed frying pan and heat on a medium heat.

Place teaspoons of batter in the pan and cook on a medium heat until you see bubbles in the centre of the crumpet. Flip it over and cook the other side until golden brown

Remove from heat and cover with a clean damp tea towel while you are cooking the rest.

 Some of my favourite toppings for Crumpets include fresh berries, BACON and golden syrup (this may sound weird, but you will so not regret it if you try it), NUTELLA, jam and just plain butter

Peanut Butter Icing

Covers 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

60g butter

250g superior cream cheese

1 cup icing sugar

1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter

Method:

Using an electric mixer beat the butter until light and fluffy. Add the cream cheese and peanut butter and beat until smooth.

Add the icing sugar and fold together. If the mixture becomes too thick, thin it down with a little milk or hot water.

Use to ice you favorite chocolate cupcakes

Chocolate and Orange Mousse

Ingredients:

160g 70% lindt chocolate, broken into small pieces

40 ml orange liquor or orange juice

10g butter

Pinch of salt

2 egg, separated

Method:

Melt the chocolate with water, butter and salt over a baine marie of hot water.

Remove from the heat and beat in the egg yolks one at a time. Allow to cool and thicken.

 Whisk the egg whites stiffly and stir 1/3 briskly into the chocolate, then fold in the remaining 2/3.

Spoon the mixture into 4 serving ramekins or small glassws and place in the fridge to set.

Garnish with orange zest and a little gold dust.             

Home Made Chocolate 'CRUNCHIES'

Ingredients:

200g caster sugar

60ml golden syrup

60ml water

15 ml bicarbonate of soda

100-200g good quality dark chocolate, melted

Method

Put the sugar and syrup into a saucepan on a low heat and stir together until the sugar has melted.

Turn the heat up and bring to a boil. Cook the mixture until it reaches hard crack stage (about 150°C)

Remove from the heat and whisk in the bicarb. Pour it onto a prepared piece of lightly greased tin foil, and allow it to set and cool before breaking it into splinters and dipping it in the chocolate.