Double Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

I think the description of this is a little misleading when it says "not too rich" - it contains 500g of full fat cream cheese and 250ml of soured cream amongst other things....

Double Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

It was quick and easy to make although it took a little longer than an hour to set.  Unfortunately I am the only person in the house who eats chocolate desserts so had to have a slice every day but I've put the rest in the freezer and hope it keeps OK.  It's a lovely chocolatey cheesecake and would be a perfect end to a dinner party where the first 2 courses were quite light.

Home made buttery croissants

This is another 2 day job!  I've always wanted to have a go at making croissants and have to report it's a real faff - much easier just to buy them, especially fresh from the bakery.  I wanted them for breakfast but this recipe doesn't allow that, and so they were a little stale for next day breakfast.  I checked in my Aga cook book and Mary's recipe says all the folding and chilling is done one day, dough is put in a plastic bag in the fridge overnight so shaping and rising can be done first thing in the morning (need to get up early though!) and hey presto you get just-cooked croissants for breakfast.

I did sample one when they came out of the oven and they were lovely - crisp outside and doughy inside.

Quick Apple Tarts

Have not been doing any baking for a couple of weeks due to illness and the need to get on with the garden and allotment.  However, this morning I made these tarts using bought ready rolled puff pastry and they turned out well - quite professional looking.  Incredibly easy to make and you could do any shape or size out of scraps of puff pastry.  David had his with ice cream as suggested and it was difficult for us to stick with one - they are very moreish and really light.

Quick Apple Tarts

Cooking with the twins

Over the last few weeks I have been doing some baking with my twin grandchildren, Lucie-Mae and Sam (aged two and three quarters).  We have made chocolate crispy cakes, carrot cake muffins, fairy cakes, butterfly cakes and jam tarts.  Like all children, they enjoy taking part in mixing and licking out the bowls and of course eating the end result!  I'm trying to get them interested in cooking from an early age.