Ginger Squares

It might suprise you to know that I love cake.

And one of my favourites are these Ginger Squares.

Delicously soft and fluffy, they stay nice and moist for a several days when kept in an air tight container. I had a huge tin of these that were a god send when I was a fresher! They're also ridiculously easy and relatively cheap to make (if you regularly bake the only thing you will probably have to buy is the ginger). No larking about with separating eggs or folding, just bung all the ingredients into a bowl and mix. Let's go!

You will need:

6 ounces (175g) soft margarine
6 ounces Light brown sugar
6 ounces self raising flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
3 eggs
2 tablespoons milk


For the topping:

1 1/2 ounces (40g) finely chopped stem ginger
6 ounces (175g) icing sugar (sieved)
2-3 tablespoons ginger syrup (from your jar of stem ginger)

Preheat your oven to 180°C/ Gas mark 4. Grease and line your cake tin with some greaseproof paper.

Combine all your ingredients into a large bowl and beat well. Use a whisk if you're lazy like me, life's too short!

Spead your mixture evenly round your tin and bake for 20 minutes

Sprinkle over some of your finely chopped ginger, and bake for another 15 minutes. Take it out when it's a nice golden brown colour. Leave to cool in the tin.

Blend your icing sugar with the ginger syrup and the rest of the chopped ginger. Once the cake is cool you can drizzle it over the top. It's up to you how you want to do it, I'm not a particularly neat person and was in a bit of a rush so i just flicked it all over the cake with a spoon.

Stack 'em up on a plate and enjoy with a big mug of tea.

Apple and Cinnamon Infused Pancakes

Mmmmmm, pancakes.

What better way to start off the day?! And these are not just any type of pancakes, ohh no. These are my grandmas scotch pancakes. Whilst I'm partial to the odd crêpe, when it comes to breakfast I like 'em thick and fluffy. And ladled with a lovely cinnamon-apply sauce. Here's how you do them...

You will need:

For the Batter (Serves 2-3)
4oz Plain Flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp Cream of tartar
1 tbsp sugar
1 egg
A good splash of milk (1/8th of a pint to be precise, but it's not advanced chemistry here so go with your instincts!)

For the apple sauce:
1 large bramley apple
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Sift the flour, bicarb and tartar into a large bowl and add your sugar and cinnamon. In another bowl whisk together your egg and milk. Pour into the bowl with your flour and stir together

Peel and slice up your apple and cook in a pan with a little butter. Add the sugar and cinnamon and stir gently until the apples soften.

In another large saucepan, Fry spoonfuls of your pancake batter in some hot butter. Give them 2-3 minutes on each side, they don't need long!

Stack them up on a plate and dollop on your sauce.

I will go to the gym later, I promise.

Sziget 2013

I love music festivals.

I love how unlike the real world it is. No computers, just good company and your favourite bands.

I love how you can become best friends with people you pitch your tent next to, and how it feels like you've known them for years rather than a few days.

I love standing amongst thousands of people, echoing the lyrics of the headline act for the encore, and seeing the artists faces hearing all those people singing their song. It's moments like that when you realise how strange music is. How just a combination of sounds and words affect people's moods. They can cause euphoric moments, mosh pits or make people cry. Pretty special for just a bit of noise, really.

The Sziget Festival in Budapest is one of my favourite music festivals. It has all the charisma and quirkiness of Glastonbury, without the mud. You can wonder around in flip flops, go to their very own beach and soak up the sun whilst listening to your favourite acts. It's never over crowded, which means it's easy to make your way to the front of the main stage and the toilets are a lot nicer. Plus the price of booze and food is cheap on site. What's not to love?!

This year the line up included Biffy Clyro, Franz Ferdinand, Editors, The Fratellis, David Guetta, Empire of the Sun, Tame Impala, Chase and Status, Sebastian Ingrosso, Dizzee Rascal, and one of my favourite ever bands, BLUR.

Here are some of my highlights:


The Balloon Party

The Waterslide

Dad at Chase and Status. Yes, my Dad

Bumping into some uni friends for Kees Van Hondt. Dutch Band that cause a tree rave at any festival. Total Bonkers

Recovering at the chill out tent

Becoming the official Flag Bearer for Budapest Party Hostels

Meeting Santa. And superman!

The Colour Party

Blur

Turning into Hippies

David Guetta Closing show*

*Photo from Sziget Festival Official

The Luminarium

And all the rest...

If only everyday was a festival!

Now excuse me, whilst I detox my liver...