Coffee and Chocolate Loaf

Another recipe from Hummingbird (I picked my four favourites). This is on a theme I have made before but I like the idea of the small amount of strong coffee to bring out the chocolate flavour. Also it's the type of cake where you always have all the ingredients in the baking cupboard.
(image from diaryofabakeaholic)

7oz each butter, and  light brown sugar

41/2 oz plain flour

3 eggs

2oz cocoa

1tsp baking powder

3/4 fl oz milk

1 tbsp strong brewed and coolede strong coffee

 

8.5x17.5 cm loaf tin

 

oven 170/mark 3

 

cream butter, sugar till pale, add eggs  one at time. Sift flour cocoa & baking powder. Pour milk into jug and mix with coffee. add dry ingredients to cake batter in two batches alternating with coffee-milk mix. Mix well to smooth batter and pour into greased and floured loaf tin. bake 1 hour.

Orange, Almond and Yogurt Loaf

 (Image from fabulousbakerboy.co.uk)
Perfect with a cup of tea, I love plain loaf cakes and the addition of yogurt helps to keep the cake moist.

190g/7oz unsalted butter plus extra for greasing
190g/7oz plain flour plus extra for dusting
1 tbsp finely grated orange zest
190g/7oz caster sugar
3 large eggs
60g/2oz ground almonds
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
25g/1oz plain yogurt
1 tsp vanilla essence
10g/1/3oz flaked almonds
(8.5 x 17.5cm loaf tin with 7.5cm sides)

Pre-heat the oven to 170C/Gas 3.
Grease tin with butter and dust with flour.
Cream together the butter, sugar and orange zest in a mixer until soft and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and keep whisking.
In a separate bowl, mix the flour, ground almonds, baking powder and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture in two batches, beat together until combined and then beat in the yogurt and vanilla.
Pour into the loaf tin, sprinkle the flaked almonds on top and bake in the oven for about 50-60 mins, until the top if firm and a skewer comes out clean.
Allow to cool on a wire rack

Vanilla cupcakes

I had always thought that American cupcakes were the same recipe as the fairy cakes; (4oz each butter, sugar, flour+ 2 eggs), but the recipe is completely different. heavy on the sugar and low on the fat plus a load of milk, the method is different as well.

(recipe amounts halved from book)
Makes 12
4½oz/120g plain flour
5oz/140g caster sugar
1½ tsp baking powder
A pinch of salt
1½oz/40g unsalted butter, at room temperature
4½floz/120ml whole milk
1 egg
¼ tsp vanilla extract
1 quantity vanilla frosting(9oz/250g icing sugar,3oz/80g butter1fl oz/25ml whole milk, few drops vanilla extract)
Hundreds and thousands or other edible sprinkles, to decorate
A 12-hole cupcake tray, lined with paper cases


Preheat the oven to 170C/325F/gas mark 3.

Put flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in mixer with a paddle  (or use a hand-held electric whisk) and beat on slow until you get a sandy consistency.Gradually pour in half the milk and beat until the milk is just incorporated.
Whisk the egg, vanilla and remaining milk in a separate bowl, then pour into flour mixture and beat until the mixture is smooth. Do not overmix.
Spoon mixture into cases until two-thirds full and bake 20–25 minutes,until light golden and the sponge bounces back when touched.
Vanilla frosting
Beat icing sugar and butter together until well mixed. Combine milk and vanilla in separate bowl, then add to butter mixture a couple of tablespoons at a time.  Once all the milk has been incorporated beat until light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. The longer the frosting is beaten, the fluffier and lighter it becomes.

(From: Cake Days)

'Took Strength To Tackle Those Hills' Photography exhibition

5th Jul 2012 (Thu) - 17th Jul 2012 (Tue) from 10:00 - 21:00

Tristan Hutchinson

Took Strength To Tackle Those Hills, 2010-2012, is a photographic portrait of a community and a landscape experiencing particular economic and social transition.

Cork Harbour's dramatic topography of steep Victorian hinterland, lush greenbelt woods and forests sits side by side with the generating stations, oil refinery and the grey geometries of multinational corporations hidden behind gently undulating hills and the waning of its curved harbour. The relics of heavy industry past lie abandoned on its shores, the landscape irrevocably transformed, leaving behind the imprint of economic and political endeavours. This suggests an uneasy and complex alliance between politics, economy and nature.

The project aims to look at how and why ambiguous choices take prevalence and can be made at the detriment of its natural surroundings and human well-being. The photographs present portraits of its people; explorations of the landscape and vistas offer a glimpse into the idea of community within the larger context of contemporary Ireland.

This work scrutinizes the paradoxes and contradictions arising from a myriad of personal histories, and the realities facing many Cobh residents as they strive to move forward and maintain identity in uncertain times.

The work is due to premiere at this years PhotoIreland Festival in Dublin, July 5th - 17th at Filmbase, Curved St, Temple Bar.

http://www.culturefox.ie/

Open Now Belfast Photo Factory Open Submission Exhibition

20th Jun 2012 (Wed) - 1st Jul 2012 (Sun) from 11:00 - 18:00

Group Show

Gallery of Photography is delighted to host Open Now – an open submission exhibition organised by Belfast Photo Factory, a young photographic collective providing resources and opportunities for emerging photographic artists to develop and continue their practice

Gallery of Photography,
Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, 2, Dublin.

The Big Gay Wedding Project

I love the sound of this and will try to get in to see it during its short run.
Starting from 22nd Jun 2012 (Fri) from 20:00 - 22:00
23rd Jun 2012 (Sat) - 30th Jun 2012 (Sat) from 12:00 - 22:00
An Exhibition for the Benefit of Marriage Equality
Photographer Shawna Scott is proud to announce her fundraising photographic exhibition, The Big Gay Wedding Project. The exhibition will be held the week of Dublin Pride (June 22-30, 2012) at Exchange Dublin, with proceeds in aid of Marriage Equality.

Nevan Lahart Solo Exhibition at Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, Dublin

http://www.templebargallery.com/ 

"Temple Bar Gallery + Studios is pleased to present Won-Nil, a solo exhibition of newly commissioned work by Irish artist Nevan Lahart. Lahart makes irreverent social commentaries in his work, often highly politically charged and full of humour. However this use of wit and irony is always matched with a profound investigation into the history of art and contemporary art’s position within the ‘real’ world.

About fifteen years ago, Nevan Lahart submitted a proposal for a ‘percent for art’ public art commission. The proposed piece was to be situated on a motorway roundabout in Co. Cork. His proposal was an attempt to commemorate a collective national experience which could be seen to have symbolically kick started the 15 good years in Ireland, known universally as the Celtic Tiger. The proposal was rejected.

Over the intervening period, he stuck to the idea as one that was still worth doing, even as the opportunities to present public art works – ostensibly under the Irish per cent for art scheme – faded with the recession. In this time, Lahart has also come to the realisation that public art projects are a ‘pain in the arse’. With this in mind he will make a 1/3 scale maquette of the roundabout sculpture, serving as a memorial to more heady days when people came home as opposed to leaving home.

Lahart will also show a scale model of a more recent failed public art proposal for Temple Bar Gallery + Studios. It involves two of Ireland’s most prominent public figures, one of whom is on record as a self declared Hero. He will also unveil the first installment of his new ‘Value for Money Paintings that Won’t Get You Far’ series."

(Other of Lahart's work)