Lemon & Cranberry Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Flour
• 1/2 cup Ground Almonds
• 2 tsp. Baking Powder
• 1 cup Sugar
• 3 Eggs
• 1 1/2 Lemon Zest
• 1/2 cup plain Yoghurt
• 1/2 cup Oil
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 2 cups dried Cranberries

Lemon Sauce:

• Juice of 1 1/2 Lemons
• 1/4 cup Sugar

Cake Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees celsius.
2. Mix Sugar, Eggs and Yoghurt. Add the Lemon Zest and Vanilla Extract.
3. In a separate bowl mix the Flour, Ground Almonds and Baking Powder.
4. Add the Cranberries and oil. Fold everything together.
5. Place a baking sheet in your 3ocm tray and pour the mixture in. 
6. Bake for 20/25 minutes. 

Lemon Sauce Method:

1. Melt the Sugar and Lemon Juice in a saucepan.
2. Once the cake comes out of the oven poke it with a fork all over and drizzle the Lemon Sauce all over the cake.
3. Let it cool down and have a taste!  

Lemon Muffins with Dark Chocolate & Pistachio topping

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Light Brown Soft Sugar
• 1/2 cup Sunflower oil
• 3 Eggs
• 1/2 cup Flour
• 1/2 cup Ground Almonds
• 1 tsp. Baking Powder
• 1 tsp. Cream of Tartar
• 1 Lemon Rind

Filling: 

• Lemon Curd

Topping: 

• 1 Small handful of Pistachios
• 1 Small Handful of Chocolate

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees celsius.
2. Beat the eggs, sugar and oil together.
3. Add the flour and ground almonds, followed by the baking powder, cream of tartar and lemon rind.
4. Place half the mixture to your cupcake holders.
5. Put a half a teaspoon of lemon curd in the middle.
6. Add the remaining batter on all the cupcakes.
7. Chop the chocolate and the pistachios and sprinkle on top of your cupcakes.
8. Bake for 25 minutes. 

Voila! *nom* *nom* *nom* 

Yields x6 cupcakes

Gaby's Bruschetta Mix

There is nothing better than some simply chopped fresh tomatoes on some crunchy piece of bread. This recipe has been tried and tested several times, it's refreshing, tasty and yummy!


Ingredients:

• 5 Plum tomatoes (or any other available, but these seem to have a sweeter taste)
• Cup of Olives (any type will do, black are usually tastier)
• Rock Salt
• Olive Oil
• Freshly Ground Pepper
• 2 Garlic Cloves
• Couple of Mint leaves
• 5-10 Basil leaves
• Maltese Bread (If it's on the dry side, it doesn't really matter since it's going to be toasted)

1. Chop the tomatoes, Olives, Garlic cloves, Mint and Basil .
2. Add the Rock Salt, Pepper & some Olive Oil, as desired.
3. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
4. Start cutting the bread in thin slices unless previously sliced. The thinner the crunchier. You can either place them for a couple of minutes in the oven, over the bbq or simply toasted.
5. Serve Bread and Bruschetta mix seperately, let everyone make their own Bruschetta! Enjoy!

Cranberry & White Chocolate Muffins

Recipe yields 6 muffins


Ingredients:

• 1/2 a cup of Flour
• 1/2  cup ground Almonds
• 1/2 a cup  caster sugar
• 1 tsp. Baking Powder
• 1 egg
• 75gr. Butter
• 1/2 a cup Buttermilk
• 1 tsp. Vanilla essence
• 1/2 a cup Dried Cranberries
• 1/2 a cup White Chocolate

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius.
2. Mix the flour, ground Almonds, Sugar and Baking powder.
3. Melt the butter on a low heat.
4. In a separate bowl mix the buttermilk, egg and melted Butter.
5. Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and add the Cranberries, White Chocolate and Vanilla essence.
6. Pour in the cupcake/muffin tin (make sure to oil and flour the tin before pouring in the mixture). I suggest using the silicone cupcake moulds as they are non stick. 
7. Bake the muffins for 20-25min at 180degrees celsius.

Once they are baked leave them to cool down and enjoy them with a nice cuppa tea! 

Pizza

Ingredients:

• 500gr. Flour
• 1 pkt. Yeast or 1/2 a yeast cube
• 1 glass of luke warm water
• 1 tbsp. Oil
• 1 tbsp. Milk

Method:

1. Place the Flour in a large bowl and make a well in the middle.

2. In the well mix the water with the yeast and once frothy add the milk and olive oil.

3. Work the dough into a ball shape and leave to rest for around an hour.

4. Once it rises, roll out the dough and prepare with your favourite toppings.

5. Preheat the oven to 220 degrees celsius or highest and cook for around 30 - 45 minutes.

The pizza base should be nice and golden.

Topping suggestions:

• Sliced tomatoes, Mozarella, Olive oil & Basil.
• Sliced tomatoes, Ricotta & Olive oil.
• Sliced potatoes, Olive oil & Rosemary.
• Ricotta chunks, Sausage & Olive oil.
• Broccoli, Sausage & Olive oil.
• Courgette, Sausage, Mozarella & Olive oil.

Garlic & Coriander Naan

Ingredients:

• 1 packet Dry Yeast
• 4 tbsp. Sugar
• 1 cup Warm Water
• 1 beaten Egg
• 3 tbsp. Milk
• 4-5 cups Flour
• 2 tsp. Garlic
• Handful of Fresh Coriander
• 1/4 cup Butter

Method:

1. In a bowl mix the Yeast and water until it gets frothy.
2. Then add the Milk, Egg, Salt & Flour.
3. Knead for around 6-8 minutes and leave to rise in a warm place for an hour.
4. Chop the Garlic and Coriander finely and mix to the dough.
5. Roll out 12 small balls and leave to rise for another 15 minutes.
6. Heat up a pan with a drop of oil.
7. Roll out the balls into odd shapes and place in the hot pan for 2-3 minutes on each side. 
8. Once you have cooked all the naan, melt the butter and apply some to each naan with the help of a brush or spoon.
9. The naan is ready to be served!

Brown Velvet Muffins

Ingredients:

• 60gr. unsalted Butter
• 150gr. Caster Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 2 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder
• 20ml Red Colouring
• 1/2 tsp. Vanilla Essence
• 120ml Buttermilk
• 150gr. Plain Flour
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
• 1/2 tsp. Bicarbonate of Soda
• 1 1.2 tsp. Vinegar

Method: 

1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees celsius.
2. In a bowl mix the butter & sugar and finally add the egg.
3. In a separate bowl mix the Cocoa powder, Vanilla essence & Red Colouring.
4. Mix the two mixtures together and add half the buttermilk and flour. 
5. Add the other half of buttermilk and flour and finally add the Salt, Bicarbonate of Soda and lastly the Vinegar. 
6. Fill in the cupcake tin, filling them in with a bit more than half the size of the cup. 
7. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

Ingredients:

• 300gr. Icing Sugar
• 50gr. Unsalted Butter
• 125gr. Cream Cheese

Method:

1. Beat the icing sugar and the Butter, until it becomes creamy.
2. Finish it off by adding the Cream Cheese.

Voila! That easy, decorate as you wish, I put some stars and yellow decor on top of mine!

Dedicated to Beppe Sammut.