Orange Juice Muffins

Ingredients:
2 cups buttermilk baking mix
4 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 egg
1 tsp grated orange peel
1/3 cup orange juice
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease bottoms only of 12 medium muffin cups. Mix baking mix, 2 tablespoons sugar egg, orange peel and orange juice. Beat vigorously for 30 seconds. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full. Mix 2 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon; sprinkle each muffin with about 1/2 tsp of sugar mixture. Bake 15 minutes. Serve with butter and honey.

Banana Poppy Seed Muffins

Ingredients:
2 medium bananas, peeled
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation:
Puree bananas in blender (1 cup). In medium bowl, mix bananas, egg, sugar, oil and orange peel until well blended. In large bowl, combine flour, poppy seeds, baking powder and salt. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture until evenly moistened. Spoon batter into greased 2 1/2-inch muffin cups. Bake in 375 oven 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan; cool on wire rack. Dip warm tops in sugar. Makes 12 muffins

Apple Coffeecake Muffins

Ingredients:
Filling:
1 Small Unpeeled Apple,finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Muffins:
1 1/2 cups 100% bran cereal
1 1/2 cups milk
1 Egg
1/2 cup packed Brown Sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation:
Grease large muffin tins or line with paper baking cups. Combine all filling ingredients; set aside. Combine cereal and milk; let stand 5 minutes. Stir in egg, brown sugar and oil. Mix remaining ingredients in large bowl. Stir cereal mixture into dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Spoon half of batter into muffin cups. Top each with 1 tablespoon apple filling, pressing gently into batter. Spoon remaining batter on top. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until firm to the touch. Cool in pans 5 minutes; remove muffins and cool on rack. Store in airtight container.

Apple Butter Muffins

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1 egg,lightly beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup thick apple butter

Topping:
1/2 cup crushed pecans or walnuts
3 tablespoons sugar

Preparation:
In a medium bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Combine egg, milk and oil; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups with a round tablespoon of batter. Top each with a rounded teaspoon of apple butter and remaining batter. Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over muffins. Bake at 400 F. for 15-18 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to wire rack.

Welsh Cakes

Ingredients:
450g (1lb) Flour
110g (4oz) Lard
110g (4oz) Butter or Margarine
50g (2oz) Dried Fruit
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 Egg
A little milk

Preparation:
Sieve flour, baking-powder and salt together
Rub in butter and lard and mix into stiff paste, adding the egg and milk.
Add the dried fruit.
Roll out thinly and cut into rounds.
Cook on a bakestone, until golden brown.
Serve hot with butter, honey or jam.

Irish Whisky Cake

Ingredients:
225g (8oz) Raisins
160g (6oz) Softened Butter
160g (6oz) Soft Brown Sugar
160g (6oz) Plain Flour
150ml (¼ pint) Whiskey
3 Eggs
1 tsp Baking Powder
Grated rind of 1 Lemon
1 pinch Salt
1 pinch Ground Cloves

Icing
225g (8oz) Icing Sugar
Juice of 1 Lemon
Warm water as needed

Preparation:
Pre-heat the oven to 180°C: 350°F: Gas 4.
Place the raisins and grated lemon rind into a bowl with the whiskey, and leave overnight to soak.
Grease a 7-inch cake tin, and line the bottom with parchment paper.
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Separate the eggs and sift the flour, salt, cloves and baking powder into a bowl.
Beat the yolks into the butter and sugar one by one, adding a spoonful of flour and beating well after each addition.
Gradually add the whiskey and raisin mixture, alternating with the remaining flour, do not over beat.
Whisk the egg whites until stiff and fold them into the mixture with a metal spoon.
Transfer to the prepared cake tin and bake for about 1½ hours, or until well risen and springy to the touch or test with a skewer:, when it comes out clean, the cake's ready.
Turn out and cool on a wire rack.
To make the icing by mix the lemon juice with the sieved icing sugar and just enough water to make a pouring consistency.
Pour the icing over the cake a tablespoonful at a time, letting it run down the sides.

Chocolate-Orange Guinness Cake

Ingredients:
275g (10oz) Self-Raising Flour
225g (8oz) Butter, room temperature
225g (8oz) Soft Dark Brown Sugar
150ml (¼ pint) Guinness
4 Eggs
2 tbsp Cocoa
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 pinch Salt
Grated rind of 1 Orange
Icing
225g (8oz) Icing sugar
110g (4oz) Butter
Orange

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 190°C: 375°F: Gas 5.
Grease 2 8-9-inch cake tins.
Cream the butter and sugar until light, sift the flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa into a bowl.
Add the orange rind to the mixture, beating well.
Carefully fold in the Guinness, blend thoroughly without over-beating.
Divide the mixture between the tins, smooth down, and place the cakes into the centre of the oven.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the cakes are springy to the touch and have shrunk slightly in the tins.
Turn out and cool on a wire rack.
Cream the softened butter and icing sugar together thoroughly, then blend in the grated orange rind and enough juice to make an icing that is soft enough to spread.
When the cakes are cold, use half the icing to sandwich them together, and spread the rest on top.

Irish Dulse Soda Scones

Ingredients:
450g (1lb) Plain White Flour
1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
340ml (12fl oz) Buttermilk or Sour Cream
1 Egg, beaten
½ oz Dried Dulse
1 tsp Salt

Preparation:
Pre-heat oven to 200°C; 400°F: Gas 6
Place a baking sheet in the oven to heat.
Soak the dulse in water for five minutes.
Discard the water and chop the dulse into fine strips.
Sieve the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large cool mixing bowl, mixing thoroughly.
Add the chopped dulse.
Make a well in the centre and pour in most of the buttermilk.
Work around the bowl, drawing the flour into the buttermilk, until absorbed.
When the dough comes together it should feel soft but pliable, add more buttermilk if needed.
Turn onto a floured board, knead lightly.
Using the palm your hand, shape the dough out into a round about 1 inch thick.
Either score the surface into four or six, or use a biscuit cutter to cut out rounds.
Brush lightly with the beaten egg.
Place on the heated baking tray and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.

NB: Dulse is a type of seaweed, may by purchased at healthfood stores.

Old Fashioned Treacle Tart

Ingredients:
50g (2oz) fresh white breadcrumbs
140g (5oz) rich short crust pastry
6 tbsp Golden Syrup
1 lemon (zest only)
1 tsp lemon juice

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 200°C; 400°F: Gas 6.
Put the syrup into a saucepan with the breadcrumbs, lemon rind and juice and heat gently until just melted.
Allow the mixture to cool.
Roll out the dough and line an 8 inch baking dish.
Pour in the syrup mixture.
Roll out the dough trimmings and cut into long, narrow strips.
Arrange them in a lattice pattern over the filling.
Bake for 25 to 30 min or until the pastry is slightly browned.
Serve hot or cold.
Serves 4

Derbyshire Oatcakes

Ingredients:
450g (1lb) Fine Oatmeal
450g (1lb) Flour
1.42lt (2½ pint) Warm Water (approximately)
25g (1oz) Yeast
1 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Salt
Oil

Preparation:
Mix the oatmeal, flour and salt in a warmed bowl.
Cream the yeast with the sugar and add to ½ pint of warm water.
Pour the yeast mixture into the dry ingredients and add the remaining water, mixing slowly to produce a thin batter.
Set aside for about 30 minutes in a warm place, until well risen.
Lightly oil a large frying pan and heat.
Pour a cupful of batter into the hot pan and cook like thick pancakes for 4-5 minutes on each side.
The oatcakes will keep for 2-3 days.
Serve warm with bacon and eggs or toasted with cheese or jam.
Serves 4

Moist Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:
170g (6oz) Margarine
170g (6oz) Caster sugar
110g (4oz) Self Raising flour
85g (3oz) Drinking chocolate
3 Eggs, well beaten
1 tbsp Hot Water

Buttercream Filling
110g (4oz) Icing Sugar
50g (2oz) Margarine
50g (2oz) Drinking Chocolate
Water or milk, if required

Glace Icing
170g (6oz) Icing Sugar
50g (2oz) Drinking Chocolate
2 tbsp Hot Water to mix (approximately)

Preparation:
Pre-heat oven to 180°C: 350°F: Gas 4
Grease and line two 8 inch sandwich tins.
Sieve together the flour and drinking chocolate.
Cream the margarine and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs, a little at a time, adding a tablespoon of the flour mixture to prevent curdling.
Fold in the remaining flour and chocolate mixture and stir in the hot water.
Place the mixture into the tins and smooth the tops.
Bake for 25 minutes or until the surface springs back when pressed lightly.
Remove the cakes from the tins.
Allow to cool on a wire rack.

Buttercream Filling
Mix all the ingredients together until smooth and light.
Spread on one of the cakes and sandwich together.

Glace Icing
Add the hot water to the sugar and the drinking chocolate to form a thick paste and coat the top of the cake before serving.
Use a knife dipped in boiling water hot to spread the icing.
Serves 4-6

English Muffins

Ingredients:
225g (8oz) Flour
140ml (¼ pint) Buttermilk
55g (2oz) Butter, melted
1 Egg
2 tbsp Sugar
2 tsp Baking Powder
½ tsp Salt

Preparation:
Sift the flour, salt and baking powder into a large bowl, add the sugar.
Mix in the lightly beaten egg, milk and melted butter together in a separate bowl.
Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour quickly and lightly, to produce a soft dough.
Do not overwork the dough, ignoring any lumps.
Using floured hands divide the dough into eight pieces.
Roll each piece into a ball and flatten to a thickness of 1 cm (½ inch).
Lightly grease the griddle (or baking tray).
Cook on both sides until lightly browned, (use crumpet rings if required).

Christmas Peppermint Biscuits

Ingredients:
450g (16oz) Quick Cooking Oatmeal
450g (16oz) Flour, sifted
225g (8oz) Butter
225g (8oz) Brown Sugar
110g (4oz) Peppermint Sweets, crushed
1 Egg
1 tsp Baking Powder
½ tsp Salt

Topping
340g (12oz) Icing Sugar, sifted
3 tbsp Milk
3 tbsp Peppermint Sweets, crushed
1 drop Food Colouring [Optional]

Preparation:
In a large bowl, cream the butter, gradually adding sugar, beat until light and fluffy.
Add beaten egg.
Sift together flour, baking powder and salt and add to the mixture.
Fold in oatmeal and peppermint sweets and mix well.
Preheat oven to 180°C: 350°F: Gas 4
Roll in 1 inch balls and place onto a lightly greased baking tray
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
Cool completely and glaze.
For the topping;
Combine the icing sugar, milk and food colouring and mix well.
Drizzle on biscuits and sprinkle with crushed sweets.

Eccles Cakes

Ingredients:
1 packet Flaky Pastry, defrosted
50g (2oz) Currants
50g (2oz) Sultanas
25g (1oz) Sugar
1 tbsp Butter
Caster Sugar

Preparation:
Pre-heat oven to 220°C: 425°F: Gas 7
Roll out pastry ¼" thick, cut into 4" rounds.
Cream the butter and sugar, add the dried fruit.
Place a large teaspoonful of the mixture in the centre of each round of pastry.
Gather the edges together, pinch firmly to form into a flat cake.
Place the cake pinched side down and flatten gently until the fruit begins to show through.
Make two cuts on top of each, brush with water and dust with caster sugar
Bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Allow to cool on a wire rack.
Makes about 12 cakes.

Scones

Ingredients:
2 cups of wheat-flour (you can also compensate a part (1/5) of this with oat flakes)
2-3 teaspoons baking-powder
1 teaspoon relatively runny margarine
1 sliced onion
a bit of grated cheese or crumbs of cheese
1 cup of water (warm)

Preparation:
Mix the dry ingredients; wheat-flour + baking powder. Add the sliced onion & cheese & a tiny pat of margarine. Notice: Mix well. Add water, mix well. Strew generously wheat-flour on the dough and make a cruller after kneading the dough a bit. Cut the cruller into "scones" with a knive and tap them carefully on the cookie sheet (however, do not make them too flat). Spread some soft margarine on them, then cheese. Put to oven, middle level, 220C, about 10-15 mins. Do NOT let them brown, scones are supposed to be light. You can change this recipe by adding a bit of grated carrot, for example.

Submitted by Marjo & Robert (Finland)