Cheese and Bacon Oval Loaves

Bread is one of my favourite types of baking, in fact any yeast based bake is. Slightly inspired by the Great British Bake Off's bread week I turned to Paul Hollywood's 'How to Bake' book. With the weather being slightly grim a good comforting loaf was in order and there aren't many things more comforting than warm cheesey, bacon bread. Definitely best eaten when warm.

Ingredients:

• 400g strong white bread flour
• 100g rye bread (the original calls for strong wholemeal flour)
• 10g salt
• 10g instant yeast
• 30g unsalted butter
• 330ml water
• 8 rashers of bacon, cooked and chopped
• 150g cheddar cheese

1. Put the flour, salt, yeast and butter in a bowl. Make sure the salt and yeast are at opposite sides of the bowl. Mix the butter in with your fingers.
   
2. Put the bowl on the stand mixer and begin to add the water, keep adding until a rough dough is formed. Knead for another 5-10 minutes.
   
3. When the ball forms a smooth skin pop it into a lightly oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with cling film and leave to raise for around an hour until it doubles.
   
4. Once the dough has risen begin to knead in the cheddar and bacon. Don't knead for too long.
   
   
   
5. Divide the dough into 4 pieces and form oval loaves and place onto two baking sheets. Cover with more cling film and leave to rise again. Pre heat the oven to 200c.
   
6. Once risen and the oven is up to temperature sprinkle the loaves with olive oil and bake for around 20 minutes. Tap on the bottom to ensure a hollow a sound.
   
   

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Ooey Gooey Chocolate Fondant

I was lucky enough to be bought some Paul A Young chocolate by my Dad last week. It's rated as some of the best chocolate in the country so I wanted to do something pretty special with it. Really there was only one thing that I wanted; an ooey gooey chocolate fondant.

Ingredients:
50g chocolate (dark is best but I used milk here to make it almost like a sticky toffee pudding sauce)
50g unsalted butter, plus extra to grease
50g plain flour
1 egg
1 egg yolk
60g caster sugar
2tbsp cocoa powder

1. Preheat the oven to gas mark 4, 160c. Butter two ramekins and then dust lightly with cocoa powder.
   
   
   
2. Melt the chocolate and butter in a glass bowl over the top of a saucepan, make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water. Put aside the bowl to cool. 
   
3. In a stand mixer whisk together the egg, egg yolk and sugar.
   
   
   
4. Mix in the cooled chocolate mixture and then sift the flour on top. Slowly fold in using a figure of 8 motion.
   
5. Pour the mixture into the two ramekins and bake for around 15-17 minutes. You want there to be some cracks on top but not overcooked. 
   

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British Pancakes

The title of this post may be a little misleading, I'm not making Union Jack pancakes or anything of the red, blue and white theme. Instead I am making what most of us class as pancakes, unlike the American Pancakes our are unleavened and look more like a crepe.

What's pretty clever about this recipe is that it can make either pancakes or Yorkshire puddings, all that matter is the method of cooking! I've been using the same recipe by the legendary Delia Smith for years and it comes out perfect every time so have no need to change it.

Ingredients:

• 110g plain flour
• Pinch of salt
• 2 eggs
• 200ml milk + 75ml water
• 2 tablespoons of melted butter

Method:

1. Sift the flour and salt together into a bowl.
2. Crack the eggs into the bowl and using a fork slowly mix into the flour.
   
3. Slowly add the milk and use an electric mixer to beat the lumps out.
4. Scrape down the bowl and add the melted butter and mix. Pour into a measuring jug to make it easier to pour into the pancake pan.
   
5. Heat your pancake pan up on a high heat before reducing to a medium heat. Pour the mixture into the pan, make sure you don't do it too thick, and tilt the pan around to cover the whole area - you'll need to work quick!
   
6. After about 30-45 seconds it'll be ready to flip. You can use a spatula or if you're feeling brave toss it up in the air and catch it again. Give it another 30 seconds before sliding onto a plate and serving!
   

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