White Chocolate Buns

Today I decided to enjoy a lazy Sunday doing a touch of easy baking and bake a recipe I’ve had book-marked for a while. The selected recipe is for these White Chocolate Buns from Rachel Allen’s “Food for Living”, a must have cookbook if you love Rachel Allen. I have all her books and each and every one of them is filled with lovely recipes and this recipe is no exception. If like myself you love white chocolate then these babies are sure to satisfy that craving. The buns have a light and fluffy sponge, finished off with a swirl of melted white chocolate. Perfect to serve with afternoon tea among friends.

White Chocolate Buns

Makes 12

Ingredients
125g butter
75ml milk
75g white chocolate, chopped
200g caster sugar
150g plain flour
½ tsp baking powder
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla extract

For the topping
75g white chocolate, chopped

Preheat the oven to 170oC/325oF/Gas mark 3 and line a bun tray with 12 paper bun cases.

In a medium-sized saucepan on a low heat melt the butter and then add the milk, white chocolate and caster sugar and stir until the chocolate has melted and the sugar dissolved. Stir to mix and set aside to cool for 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, sift the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl and beat the egg in a separate small bowl. Add the beaten egg and vanilla extract to the chocolate mixture, stir to mix and then pour into the dry ingredients, folding it together. Pour the mixture into the bun cases and bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until pale golden and just firm on top. Remove from the oven; take the buns out of the bun tray and leave to cool on a wire rack.

For the topping, melt the 75g of chocolate in a bowl sitting over a saucepan of simmering water. Allow it to cool slightly until it’s a little thicker, then, using a table knife or the back of a teaspoon; spread the melted chocolate over each cooled bun. Alternatively, drizzle the melted chocolate from a spoon in delicate patterns over the top. Allow the chocolate to set before serving.

Baked Cheesy Pasta

After a long day of shopping, getting my hair cut and daily house chores I wanted something quick and easy to fix for tonight’s dinner. I had the perfect recipe in mind and one I’ve been dying to try for ages. This Baked Cheesy Pasta is delectable and comforting and nothing fits the bill like creamy, cheesy, baked pasta after a long day!

Baked Cheesy Pasta

Serves 4-6

Ingredients
375g/13oz dried pasta, such as conchiglie shells, fusilli or macaroni
300ml/ ½ pint single cream
125ml/4fl oz vegetable or chicken stock
1 tsp Dijon mustard
150g/5oz Gruyere cheese, grated
150g/oz Cheddar cheese, grated
50g/2oz Parmesan cheese, grated
Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 180oC/160oC fan/350oF/Gas mark 4. Cook the pasta according to packet instructions. Drain. Meanwhile, place the cream and stock in another saucepan and bring to the boil. Take off the heat and add the mustard, the Gruyere and Cheddar cheeses and half of the Parmesan. Stir to melt all the cheese. Season with some pepper (it may not need any salt). Pour into the drained pasta and stir to mix.

Pour into a 25cm/10in square or similar rectangle ovenproof gratin dish and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese. When you are ready to eat, place the dish in the oven and cook for 15-20 minutes or until brown on top and bubbling around the sides.

Recipe from Rachel's Food for Living