Duckeys Chocolate owl Birthday Cake

I think my followers will always know when I am having a busy time of things as my blogs will become very spaced out! But I have been cooking none the less it is just a case of getting my posts online! So to make up for it - here is a recipe you will adore (hopefully as much as I do!)

It was my mums birthday last week and I wanted to make her a birthday cake - one to remember... so this is the recipe for my adorable owl birthday cake in chocolate!

RECIPE: A tremendous two tier chocolate and vanilla birthday cake decorated with owl like features!

You will need:

For the vanilla sponge

• 350g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 350g caster sugar
• 6 large eggs, beaten
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 350g plain flour
• 5 tsp baking powder
• 4-5 tbsp milk, at room temperature

For the chocolate fudge frosting

• 350g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
• 225g unsalted butter
• 225ml milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 450g icing sugar, sifted

For the decoration

• chocolate buttons, in different sizes
• chocolate vermicelli sprinkles
• 1 flaked chocolate bar

1. Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees or gas mark 4!

2. Mix together the cake mix - this includes the butter and sugar to start, cream until mixed then add the eggs.

3. Add the flour but make sure this is sifted first.

4. Add the baking powder which will help the cake to rise.

5. Once you have a mixture, butter two cake tins and line with baking paper.

6. Divide the mixture and put into the oven to bake for around half an hour.

7. The cakes will be light and bouncy once cooked.

8. The leave to cool for about ten minutes.

9. While the cake is cooling time to make the frosting!

10. In a bowl melt the butter and chocolate then in a separate bowl mix together the vanilla flavouring, icing sugar and milk.

11. Then mix in the chocolate and allow to set and thicken.

12. Once all have cooled put a layer of the frosting on the first base whilst sandwiching the second on top.

13. The spread the rest of the mixture over the top and sides of the cake.

14. Time to decorate - see the image and use buttons, flake bar and toffee chocolate bar to make the owl come to life.

This cake went down a treat not only did it look very cute, it tasted like heaven!

So if you want to treat someone you love then this recipe is a must! More coming soon - let me know if you like the recipe.

Been busy again...

Hi Guys!

Sorry for the lack of cooking recently.

Those of you that live in the East of England or who know me personally may know that I have been a little busy winning an award!



Last week I gained the title of East of England Young Businesswoman of the year. You can read all about it on my Apparition blog.

I am so proud that at 23 years old and seven months into my company to be recognized for such a fantastic award.

Thank you to all of you who have supported me through everything.

Duckey x

Duckeys Filo Mince Pies...

I promised a while back for my special Filo Mince Pie recipe so here it is! I swear by these Mince Pies not only are they lower fat than normal Mince Pies but sooooo easy to prepare and always a hit with your guests!

Heres how to make them!

RECIPE: Delectably light Filo Mince Pies sprinkled with flaked almonds and dusted with icing sugar.

You will need:

1 pack of filo pastry
1 Jar Mincemeat
1 pack of flaked almonds
Icing sugar to decorate
Melted butter for glazing

1. Defrost your Filo pastry



2. Cut into squares of 3




3. Take a muffin mold and while adding a slight glaze of melted butter to one square pile into the mold, do this with 3 squares in each muffin cup.





4. Once complete put the pastry in the over to harden and colour this should take about 5-10 minutes.

5. Allow to cool.



6. Add one tablespoon of mincemeat to each case.



7. Add flaked almonds and dust with icing sugar!



It's that easy!

Mince Pies will never be hard again!

Prawn Cocktail Cakes

Now a days when we think of a Prawn Cocktail something from the 80's is likely to pop into our heads... I always think of Prawn Cocktails as a Christmas starter (probably as this is what we used to have a Christmas when I was younger.

So I was watching Gary Rhodes Christmas special the other day and he did a great take on a Prawn Cocktail by turning it into a posh layered cake.

So I would like to share the recipe, which is good as a light lunch as well as a starter!

RECIPE: Festive Prawn Cocktail cakes, layered with a prawn and cucumber filling topped with roaster red pepper and king prawns.

You will need:

1 pack of king prawns
1 pack of lettuce or spinach
3 tablespoons of mayo
1 tablespoon of ketchup
seasoning
1 red pepper roasted and skinned
Cake ring to layer fillings
1/2 cucumber

1. Firstly roast a red pepper in the oven, when roasted remove the skin and allow to cool, using your cake ring molds now cut out the circular shape.


2. In a bowl mix 3 tablespoons of mayo with 1 tablespoon of ketchup and season to taste. (Put some aside if you would like to add extra)



3. Now mix in half the pack of king prawns and dice some cucumber to add in too!




4. Take your cake ring and put one of the red pepper circles at the base.

5. Next layer in some spinach then add the prawn and cucumber sauce filling.




6. Then repeat and layer some more spinach and finally the top being the red pepper circle.

7. On the red pepper decorate with the remaining prawns and decorate the plate.




8. You can swirl some ketchup and pepper over the top of the cake after removing the rings.




And its as simple as that a modern take on a traditional classic!

Duckeys Christmas Pudding Boozy Bon Bons!

The festive cooking has started! I spent some time yesterday in the kitchen after finishing in the Apparition office for the day. I am creating some little after dinner sweets for a party I am attended at the weekend and I thought they made beautiful foodie gifts!

I actually got this recipe out of the 'signed' Nigella Christmas book my lovely boyfriend bought me for Christmas last year!



These bon bons are designed to look like miniature Christmas Puddings so they are very festive and great for parties!

RECIPE: Wonderfully Festive Christmas Pudding Bon Bons, soaked in Sherry and topped with white chocolate and cherry.

You will need:

For the bon bons:

125g Dark Chocolate (I used Green and Blacks cooking chocolate)
350g of cooked or leftover Christmas Pud
60ml Sherry
1 spoon of golden syrup

To decorate

100g White Chocolate
Cherries red and green to decorate (I couldnt find the green so I used icing!)

To Make:

1. Cook the Christmas Pudding, I bought a ready made one from the supermarket and cooked it in the microwave leaving it to cool for a few hours before cooking.



2. Once cooled, break up the Christmas pudding into a bowl

3. Then add the sherry



4. Followed by some golden syrup




5. You will then need to melt your dark chocolate, this bind's the mixture!



6. Add the chocolate to the mixture and if you can get them use some disposable gloves for the next part... it can be messy!



7. Make small truffle sized balls out of the mixture

8. Line a baking tray with foil and once made put these in the fridge to cool

9. Once cooled for around half an hour to an hour melt some white chocolate




10. Add a small amount of white chocolate to decorate the top of you miniature puddings

11. Finally you can cut up the cherry and add icing in my case to create the holly on top of the puddings.



They taste great they are quite rich too which means you cant eat them all at once.

Whilst I promote 'health' I understand this might not be the healthiest of recipes but I believe that in moderation it is healthy to indulge otherwise I find you just binge which is much worse!

A new look for Duckeys Health Corner!

Well it's almost a New Year! So why not have a new look!

Any comments on the new look Duckeys Health Blog would be much appreciated!

Duckey x

Christmas is here!

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas!

Christmas is here which means finally I have some time off to get festive and start cooking again! I am so sorry for abandoning you lately.

But I am back in cooking action, and have some tasty Christmas treats to share with you this season!

THESE ARE RECIPES ALL COMING SOON...

How about my super healthy filo mince pies, I use reduced sugar mincemeat, filo (lighter option) pastry and topped with a dusting of icing sugar and almonds!


Or we could go the more traditional option with the cased mince pies...


These Christmas Rocky roads are always a favourite...



Plus I made up a recipe for gift wrapped, chocolate and mincemeat muffins (think of mince pies in a muffin!) and white chocolate and cranberry ones... very festive!


During the next few weeks I WILL be posting again.

At the weekend for a Christmas party we are having with our friends I am making a Yule Chocolate Log (Nigella Style) some Christmas pudding bons bons and my filo mince pies.

So Christmas lovers stay tuned for more recipes coming soon!