I managed to find a catering company sending out boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables for my Mum. Such a huge relief. On-line shopping is hopeless and there’s a three week wait. I listened in to BBC Radio Leicester, and heard an announcement about small companies trying to survive the covid crisis, and help. And amazingly, the catering company is in the next village to Mum! I’d never heard of them, but I listened as they described filling boxes with fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, butter, eggs and delivering them around the county. Their livelihoods are at risk, all public events, parties and wedding are cancelled for this year. It’s a huge comfort to know Mum will have fresh food without having to go out. Anyway at home here, we have now run out of nice treats such as chocolate, biscuits and cakes. I never realised how many times I just popped to the shops for the odd item here and there. Not being able to go out is difficult. To say the least. I’m sharing my recipe for coffee pecan bites as they may be just the cheer-up you need today. Keep positive and focus on all the good everyone is doing. Lots of love to you all. Xx
INGREDIENTS
For the cakes:
50g self-raising flour
50g low fat spread, can be vegan spread
1 tbsp cocoa powder
2.5 tbsp sugar or granulated sweetener
1 tsp baking powder
1tbsp instant coffee powder
Pecan halves to decorate
Pinch of salt
2 large eggs ( or 1 mashed banana, or 4 tbsp oat milk, or vegan egg substitute)
You will need reusable silicone fairy cake cases. Ours came from Lakeland Plastics.
FOR THE BUTTERCREAM
This is suitable for any cakes or biscuits you might make
INGREDIENTS
25g butter, or margarine, low fat spread ( can be vegan sunflower spread )
50g icing sugar
1tsp cocoa powder
1tsp coffee powder.
METHOD
Set the oven to 190c / gas 5
Place all the cake ingredients, apart from the pecans, in a bowl and mix with an electric hand whisk. The mixture should be light, smooth and fluffy with lots of air incorporated from the whisking.
Place a tablespoon of mixture in each cake case. Stand the cake cases on a metal baking tray.
Place the cakes in a pre-heated oven and cook for 16 minutes.
Cakes will slightly shrink from the sides of the cakes cases when cooked and a knife will come out clean.
Set aside to cool
METHOD FOR BUTTERCREAM
Mix the buttercream ingredients together. If using butter, slightly warm in the microwave to incorporate. Pile 1 tsp of buttercream on top of the cakes and add 1 pecan half for decoration. You can use any nuts if you don’t have pecans. It’s very nice with almond slices or hazel nuts.
TIP
Can be stored in airtight container for 3 days. Or can be frozen before adding the buttercream.
Perfect with morning coffee, or as a sweet for a main meal. Place one on top of any fruit, such as sliced pears, to create a simple pudding. Pear and coffee/ chocolate make a tasty combination.
What recipes are you turning to to help you through this current crisis? Are you managing to obtain all the shopping items you need? I can highly recommend listening to your local radio station. They have a campaign called BBCMakingADifference. And I think they are doing so. Thank goodness.
Bramble Garden 