Carrot and apple cake with a lemon drizzle icing

I am rather in love with this cake. Apple pieces are showcased to perfection against a backdrop of carrot cake, and the zestiness of the lemon drizzle allows a sweet but fresh finish. As you would expect with carrot and apple in the mix, the cake is moist (but not too moist) and it is sturdy enough to be sliced and taken on a walk (I know this because I did so).

I adapted this from a supermarket (Tesco) recipe and my changes included dropping the eggs (I didn't substitute anything else in, figuring the grated carrot would be sufficient, which it was), halving the butter / non-dairy spread component, and reducing the sugar by 25%. You won't miss what I took out because the carrot and apple give moisture and sweetness themselves.

 

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Christmas and 2015 reflections

The year is drawing to a close and what a year it has been. I may post again before the year is fully over, but it felt right to combine reflections on Christmas with thoughts on this year as a whole.

First, Christmas. It was lovely. I was getting a cold, which was less lovely, but it was our first Christmas in our new home and we enjoyed a relaxed and laid back day. There were lots of presents, lots of food, and just the right amount of effort to make it special. There is something to be said for a Christmas where you do everything just the way you want to.

 

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Honeycomb and chocolate chip biscuits {Happy Christmas}

Honeycomb has been on my 'to make' list for a long time. On the weekend, I ventured into making it and then went one step further with these honeycomb and chocolate chip biscuits (cookies). They are easy to make, easy to eat, and a fun twist on standard chocolate chip combinations.

A word of warning, though, on baking with honeycomb: it has a tendency to explode out of your biscuits if you put too much in. I used nearly a cup of crushed honeycomb pieces and found some oozed out of the biscuits to form a burnt caramel layer on the baking tray. I have reduced the quantity in the recipe to half a cup, and advise keeping a close eye on the biscuits from the 8 minute mark!

 

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Edinburgh (a final Scottish recap)

Christmas decorations in Edinburgh

This is my fourth and final recap from our November Scotland holiday (previous posts covered south-west Scotland, Glasgow, and the Scottish Highlands). Edinburgh was our last overnight stop, but we drove to it via a large loop from the Highlands across to Aberdeen and down the east coast. This is far from the most direct route, but I was keen to see Aberdeen as my family nearly moved there when I was 8. My father's company wanted to relocate him (and thus us) to the area, and it took some negotiation to avoid the move. As a result, I've always been curious about Aberdeen and the possible parallel life I could have lived there.

Suffice to say, Aberdeen was not the highlight of our time in Scotland. Until we got there, I'd been increasingly convinced we should have moved when I was 8. Aberdeen, however, is rather different to the rest of Scotland. The sprawling outer suburbs held little appeal, and the city centre was as grey as its reputation (Aberdeen is often know as the granite city due to the use of granite in most of the central buildings). The city council building, pictured below, was impressive but I didn't find  much else to warm to.

Aberdeen's most attractive (grey) building

I was still glad to see Aberdeen and lay my could-have-been parallel life to rest. Driving down the east coast also allowed us to stop at Dunnottar Castle, an impressive semi-ruined castle perched right on the coast.

Dunnottar Castle 

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Gold sparkled marshmallow crackles (vegan)

These crackle slices need a disclaimer saying "sparklier in real life than in photos". With hindsight, for photography purposes I should have made the slice chocolate flavoured, so the glitter stood out against a dark background. Still, life isn't all about photography for blogging. I promise you that if you make these, they will glitter and sparkle impressively.

Other than the sparkly top, these are a simple mix of (vegan) marshmallows, coconut oil, and puffed cereal. They're easy to make, easy to eat, and the sparkles make them perfect for the festive season. As they don't need baking, they're also a good option if you need something made in a hurry (although you will need to allow time for them to set).

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Christmas scenes and vegan recipe ideas

Houses of Parliament, London, with the London Eye behind

I've been meandering along with a vague sense that Christmas is on the horizon, and all of a sudden that horizon is almost here. Ten days to go! I am not sure I'm ready!

In the spirit of all things festive, I thought I'd share some Christmas scenes and vegan Christmas recipe ideas. I haven't decided what to make for our Christmas meal yet (!) but the recipes below all sound appealing. I'm also sharing an easy recipe for baked pears in red wine and cinnamon, which may not suit Christmas day, but is perfect if you need a festive but low-key dessert. Paired with yoghurt or ice cream the pears are simple, sophisticated and entirely delicious.

Trafalgar Square, London

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