Very Lemony Cupcakes

A couple week's ago our friend was having her baby shower and I wanted to try out a new yummy cupcake recipe for her. I went to look for a cupcake recipe from my Hummingbird Bakery books and forgot that I haven't tried out their newest book, Home Sweet Home. (As of today, March 30, 2014, the book is only £5!! Great price!) I had a look through but couldn't find one that I really wanted to make for the baby shower. So what did I do?! I changed a recipe slightly and combined it with another one. I started off with their Key Lime Cupcake recipe and changed everything to lemons and didn't make the custard. Then I had to figure what kind of frosting to pair up with the tart lemon flavour. I decided on making Lemon Cream Cheesing frosting from another recipe in the book. I ended up with a vanilla sponge, filled with lemon curd, and topped with lemon cream cheese frosting. They turned out lovely and went down well at the baby shower. The tart lemon curd was balanced by the cake and cream cheese frosting. I was really happy with how they turned out and the yummy cupcakes disappeared fast!! It was also the first time that I've made lemon curd... I had no idea how easy it is to make and can't wait to make it again.

To make this recipe follow the curd recipe on page 52 of Home Sweet Home, replacing the limes with lemons and don't use the double cream. Then on the same page, follow the sponge recipe exactly. Then on page 106, follow the frosting recipe exactly. Then you have very yummy Very Lemony Cupcakes, perfect for Spring time! If you don't have the Home Sweet Home recipe book yet, go out and get it! Lots of yummy recipes!
 

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Steak Slice with Broccolini

This is my second favorite way to have steak and I wanted to share the recipe with you. It's nice and quick and the only way I will make mine. My favorite steaks are grilled by my Dad and I'm not even going to attempt that as they will be no where near as good as his grilling. Since I don't have a nice fancy grill like him, I use a grilling pan for my stove top and this recipe produces great steaks. This is my take on a Nigella Lawson recipe.

Recipe
Inspired by Nigella Express
Ingredients:
650g of 2.5cm thick Rump Steak
100ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Zest and Juice of 1 Lime
2 Cloves of Garlic, chopped
Good Handful of Coriander, chopped
2 Spring Onions, chopped
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
Salt and Pepper to your liking
200g Broccolini

Steps:

1. HEAT your grill pan to a very high heat. While it heats, cut away any fat from around the edge of the steak.

2. PREPARE the marinade for the steak, mix together the EVOO, lime zest/juice, garlic, and coriander  in a wide swallow dish.

3. GRILL the steak for two minutes on each side. Then place in the marinade for five minutes on each side. Juice the lemon into hot grill pan and let it bubble with the meat juices then pour over the marinating steaks. Season the steak with salt and pepper. Once you have marinated the steak, slice into thin strips.

4. STEAM the Broccolini for about 5-7 minutes. Once steamed, arrange on plate and put slice steak on top.

Yum!!

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