Currant Cake

This is one of the easiest cakes I know and therefore I do make it very often. It doesn't contain much butter because I just wanted to make it a little bit healthier and not to blame myself for eating four slices at once. This might be good with other berries too but the amount of sugar should be decreased then. Hope this will become your another favorite easy-yummy-summer-cake.

Currant Cake

175g flour
1 tsp baking powder
pich salt
1 tsp vanilla sugar
200g sugar
40g butter, melted
2 eggs
80ml milk
2 cups red and black currants
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp flour

1) In a small bowl, beat together eggs, milk and butter.

2) In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, sugar, vanilla sugar and salt.

3) Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Spread the mixture into a lightly greased cake tin.

4) Coat the currants with 1 tablespoon of flour. Sprinkle them on top of the batter and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sugar.

5) Bake in a 180C preheated oven for 40-45 minutes.

Recipe by collecting memories

Chocolate Currant Oatmeal Bake

I have been feeling super tired recently as I have to prepare for the exams. I have much less time for baking and that makes me feel so bad. I can't wait to pass all the examinations and go on holiday! As a reward, I promise to bake something reeealy good. Probably a big fat cake or a cookie pie with some homemade ice cream (which I've been craving to make for such a long time). But for now I make foods which don't require lots of time. Breakfast made of oats always lifts my mood and makes me feel good. This oatmeal bake has everything I need to feel happy. A healthy amount of chocolate and some tart berries. Honestly, this is my new favourite breakfast. Of course, I often eat it for the supper, too. Believe me, you have to make this. It's sweet, tart, chewy and healthy!

Chocolate Currant Oatmeal Bake

2 cups quick oats
500ml milk
100g unrefined brown sugar
pinch salt
vanilla extract (optional, sometimes I use it, sometimes I leave it out)
1/2 - 1 cup red currants (You may use other berries or a mixture of them but currants are tart and this creates a perfect balance between sweet and tart)
1 egg, lightly beaten
50g semisweet chocolate, chopped into chunks

1) In a bowl, mix together the quick oats, brown sugar and pinch salt. Add in the berries and toss them to coat. Place the mixture into a 20x20cm baking dish.

2) In another bowl, combine together the milk and the egg. Pour this onto the oat mixture and stir with the fork so it is evenly distributed. sprinkle the chocolate on top. Do not mix.

3) Bakefor 30 - 40 minutes or until golden brown on top and the center is firm. (I don't remember the time as I always check it by inserting a toothpick into the center. So probably you should check it earlier as the ovens differ)

P.S. I recently noticed that my pictures often get lost in pinterest or tumblr so I decided to write the name of the blog on the pictures so people can find the recipes easily. I don't know if it's a good idea but let's try and see how it works!

Recipe by collecting memories

Strawberry & Banana Oatmeal Bake

Recently I am quite obsessed with healthy food. I'm constantly thinking of ideas to bake something healthier. I started using more applesauce, bananas, honey as natural sweeteners, reduce sugar and butter amounts in my baked goods. Actually I just created a recipe of a totally healthy cake which doesn't contain any butter or oil and just a small amount of sugar and flour. I hope I will post the recipe soon. However, now about this oatmeal bake. It is one of these healthy breakfast which inspired me to bake more and more from oats, honey, berries and fruits. This oatmeal bake has become one of my favourite breakfast. To be honest, I ate it all the same day I made it. Terrible. But it's not that bad as it sounds! Because I definitely consider it guilt-free. What is more, it reminds me of summer so much! I don't remember when I last baked with strawberries. When their smell started coming out of the oven, it really felt like spring is almost here! And really, time will pass so quickly and we will indulge in warm sunshine and summer breeze again. Can't wait!

Strawberry & Banana Oatmeal Bake
1 cup quick cooking oats
1 tbsp brown sugar + 2 tbsp honey (or add a little more if you like it sweeter)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tbsp grated orange zest
1/4 teaspoon spice (I used cinnamon, cloves, cardamon)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
A handful of black currants (optional)
1 cup milk
1 egg
1 tbsp butter, melted
1/2 ripe banana, peeled, cut in slices 
(I also added a handful of black currants)

1) Preheat oven to 190°C. Lightly oil the baking dish.

2) In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sugar, baking powder, orange zest, spice, salt and half the strawberries. In another bowl, whisk together the milk, egg and butter.

3) Add the oat mixture to prepared baking dish. Pour the milk mixture on top and put the remaining strawberries and bananas on everything.

4) Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the milk mixture has set. You may sprinkle some brown sugar on top when almost fully baked and put into the oven for an additional minute. I reccomend serving with maple syrup, honey or any other syrup of choice.

Banana Pancakes With Black Currant Sauce

Recently I've been obsessed with pancakes. I eat them almost every day and there's so much fun to experiment with the ingredients. Today I made myself a batch of banana pancakes. Actually I've never tried to mix mashed banana into the batter. I wasn't sure how much sugar to add and what consistency the batter should have to turn out soft and thick. And can you believe it? I was surprised with the results. The flavors were perfectly balanced. And luckily yesterday I found some frozen currants in my freezer (I had no Idea they were still there). If you like sweet and sour combo, follow the steps below.

1 large ripe banana, mashed

2 small eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup buckwheat flour

3/4 cup all purpose flour

pinch salt

2 tablespoons sugar

Approx. 1 cup of frozen black currants, thawed

2 tablespoons sugar

Sour cream, to serve 

Put the currants into a bowl. Sprinkle the sugar on top and let sit until sugar melts. 

Mix together the dry ingredients and set aside. In another bowl, beat the eggs and pour in the milk. Mix in the banana. Start adding wet ingredients into the dry ones. Mix until combined. Bake in a preheated frying pan until lightly browned on each side.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream and currants.