Cherry Cake

not my picture

I Love Cherries! So, having just come across this recipe ... I am posting it here for safe keeping till I can get around to making it :)
I may try making it with black cherries soaked in brandy :)

Cherry Cake

To make it you need alcohol (brandy, coconut rum, amaretto, whatever you prefer) to soak the cherries in. Soak the cherries atleast a few days before you make the cake.

Ingredients:
Alcohol
500g Cherries (pitted)
200g Butter
200g Sugar, caster sugar
4 eggs (yolks and whites split)
Rind of a lemon
Pinch of Salt
250g SR Flour
2 tbsp milk
Icing sugar to sprinkle

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celcius.

2. Mix the butter, sugar and salt together til it looks creamy.

3. Add the egg yolks, one at a time.

4. Mix in the flour slowly, bit by bit, alternating with the milk.

5. In a separate bowl, fluff the egg white til stiff peaks form. Fold that whiteness into the mixture! And don't be rough, ruffian!

6. Pour half of the mixture into a well greased tin, then add a layer of cherries, and add the remaining mixture.

7. Bake the sucker for 55 minutes or until golden.

8. Once it's cooled, sprinkle the icing sugar on top and serve.

Banana cake with cream cheese frosting

nb: not my image, I stole it.
Banana cake with cream cheese frosting


Ingredients
Melted butter, to grease
125g butter, at room temperature
315g (1 1/2 cups) caster sugar
1 1/4 cups mashed overripe banana (about 2 large bananas)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
100ml buttermilk
225g (1 1/2 cups) self-raising flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 banana, extra, to decorate
Fresh lemon juice, to brush

Cream cheese frosting
125g cream cheese, at room temperature
50g unsalted butter, at room temperature
230g (1 1/2 cups) icing sugar mixture
1 1/2 tsp buttermilk

Method
Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush a round 20cm (base measurement) cake pan with melted butter to grease. Line the base and side of the pan with non-stick baking paper.
Place the butter, sugar, banana, eggs and vanilla in the bowl of a food processor, and process for 2 minutes or until well combined.
Add the buttermilk and process until combined.
Add the flour and bicarbonate of soda, and process until just combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Shake the pan to settle the mixture.
Bake in oven for 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Set aside in the pan for 10 minutes to cool slightly, before transferring the cake to a wire rack to cool completely.
Meanwhile, to make the cream cheese frosting, use an electric beater to beat the cream cheese and butter in a bowl until well combined.
Add the icing sugar and beat until well combined. Add the buttermilk and beat until the mixture is pale and creamy.
Place the cake on a serving plate. Spread the cream cheese frosting over the top of the cake.
Peel and thinly slice the extra banana. Lightly brush 1 side of each slice of banana with lemon juice.
Arrange the banana slices, lemon juice side up, around the edge of the frosting to serve.



Freezing tip: Before frosting, wrap the cake in two layers of plastic wrap, then in foil. Label, date and freeze for up to four months. Thaw overnight at room temperature.

Salsa

I stole this recipe from Molly - original HERE :)

Salsa Recipe - Mild Version

Ingredients:
5 kg tomatoes
5 medium onions
1 large red capsicum
1 hot chilli
1 tablespoon of salt
5 garlic
25 grams fresh coriander
1/4 cup of vinegar
1 tablespoon of sugar

Method:
Chop tomatoes, onions and capsicum and place in large pot, bring to boil, stirring occasionally.
Add chilli and chopped coriander.
Add salt and garlic.
Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 2 hours to reduce water content.
Add vinegar and sugar and cook for a futher 15 minutes.
Place in sterilised jars and then in water bath for 20 minutes. ** Although, I presume that placing hot salsa into hot sterilised jars and putting lid on, and allowing to cool inverted would also form a sterile seal.


NB: Now if you like a hot salsa, just add more chilli, onion and capsicum and take a few of the tomatoes out:)