Lorraine Pascale's Blog

Short cut prawn and mango salad with lentils and beans

I'm always looking for new salad ideas and this is such a speedy one.

Ingredients

150g prawns

2 big handfuls of lentils, drained (I used tinned)

1 big handful of butterbeans, drained (I used tinned)

1 handful of chopped mango

1 handful of fresh chives

Drizzle of extra virgin olive

Splash of balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper

Enjoy,

Lorraine xxx

Pan fried scallops

Ingredients/ Method

Fresh coriander, mint and chilli.

Avocado.

Lime juice.

2 large handfuls of scallops.

Pan fry the scallops for about 1.5 mins per side, depending on thickness. Chop up 1 bunch of mint and 1/2 bunch of coriander and 1/2 an avocado.

Mix the together with the scallops squeeze over a good amount of lime juice and serve.

Enjoy, Lorraine xxx

Insta-Muesli!

How to make muesli! Tag a friend who would enjoy this. Thanks to @fitmencook for inspiring me to make videos again. Homemade cashew and coconut muesli with apricots and almonds.

And the Best Body Trial winner is...

I am so excited to be bringing you the news that you Aurelie is our Best Body Trial winner! Huge congratulations!!

Aurelie's progress and wonderful #BestBodyPackage posts have been a testiment to her hard work and determination!

Do have a look at Aurelie's Instagram account for her inspiring pictures.

Thank you to everyone who took part in my Best Body Package 4-week trial. Best Body Package is a 12 week nutrition and fitness plan which I have put together with the help of some industry experts. It is packed full of filling recipes and easy to follow exercises to fit into your every day routine and to have you feeling great, confident and strong and get your best body yet!

The plan is easy to follow and you can eat loads of tasty food along the way, plus the exercises can be done either at the gym or in your home.

Thank you to all who took part: You've been amazing. Search #BestBodyPackage to see the delicious pictures from the 30 recipes which come with the package and to see the motivational fitness pictures from the trial!

The plan will be available soon. We have been working with many fabulous nutritionists and personal trainers to make this something which will enrich outside and more importantly inside. Please sign up to the newsletter on the right hand side of this website for more details.

Love, LP xx

Protein peanut butter smoothie

I use sun warrior classic vanilla vegan protein powder, not because I'm sponsored by them or get freebies from them because I'm not and I don't. It's because I LOVE the taste of it lots.

Ladies don't be scared of protein powder. It's a good way of getting extra protein (along with meat, fish and beans etc) in your diet especially if you go to the gym. The only thing which will build you up is an access of complete calories. And you won't bulk up unless:

1) You are eating too much

2) You can lift weights heavier than a muscle man and also train 3 times a day at the gym. Eating Protein along with a balanced diet of carbs and fats will keep you fuller for longer.

Ingredients

100g no fat Greek Yogurt

I tsp peanut butter

1 scoop protein powder

Plus a little water

Method

Then blitz!

Enjoy, Lorraine xxx

It's time to get your Best Body!

Update: Hi guys, thanks so much to everyone who entered to be part of my Best Body Trial. I've loved looking through all the entries and reading all your stories - some so heartfelt, and some very funny! Thank you all so much.

Many congratulations to those below who will be taking part. I can't wait for us to all get started!

Julia Brown

Asha Iqbal

Charlotte Quesnel

Jenni Townsend

Ceri Forsdike

Joe Worrall

Elle Benjamin

Victoria Thornton

Jessica Wong

Samantha Small

Richard Jagger

James & Esther Bunt

Paul Knight

Geraldine Gidley

Mel Bishop

Aurelie Owens

Ria Bourne

Tony Sartori

Claire Galloway

Kelly Gingell

Amanda Uduku

Julia England

Leah Kenneally

Kelly Nicholls

Laura Lupton

Kelly Goyette

Emma Hutchinson

Thank you and good luck!

Lorraine xx

---

Entries for Lorraine's Best Body trial have now closed.

Hi everyone,

Most of you know me best for being a chef with a passion for food. If you follow me online, you’ll also know that I’m inspired by healthy, clean eating and regular, challenging exercise – which is why, right now, I’m experimenting with some clean, lean and tasty new recipes and a great training regime.

So, wondering what’s in store next..? Well, I am looking for 30 people to trial a brand new fitness and healthy eating programme. I have worked with the two of the best Nutritionists in Europe and one of the best PTs in the industry to bring this all together. The best transformation (voted by the Best Body Package team alongside the good people of Instagram and Facebook will win a cash prize of £250 and of course you will be on your way to your new improved body ready for the summer.)

I’ll be there every step of the way – giving you recipes to try out and exercises which you can do either at home or at the gym to put you through your paces!

I’ll help you to start understanding which foods enable you to feel your best, whilst at the same time I’ll hopefully be teaching you how to enjoy your training so that it becomes a lifestyle - rather than a discipline or chore.

For the chance to take on the challenge, fill in the form below, telling me in 250 words or fewer, why YOU are ready to take the on the trial.

All I’ll be asking in return is that you can keep track of your journey to let me know how you’re getting on  (Plus, taking weekly selfies alongside regular photos of the delicious foods you’ll be eating is a great way to track progress and to keep you more determined than ever!)

Please do read the Terms and Conditions before entering. Thank you, and I can’t wait to hear from you!

Love,

LP xx

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF LORRAINE’S BEST BODY PROGRAMME TRIAL COMPETITION

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY BEFORE ENTERING THE COMPETITION

The Website: www.lorrainepascale.com (the “Website”) is the website of Lorraine Pascale which is run and maintained by James Grant (UK) Limited, trading as James Grant Digital (“James Grant”/”we”/”us”/”our”), whose registered address is 94 Strand on the Green, Chiswick, London W4 3NN United Kingdom.

Lorraine’s Best Body Programme Trial Competition: through the Website, we propose to run a competition in order to find 30 people to trial Lorraine’s Best Body Programme and to find the contestant who has achieved the best transformation by following the Programme (the “Competition”).

References to the “Entrant”/”you”/”your” are references to the author of the Entry, as defined below.

By entering the Competition you accept, without limitation or qualification, the Competition terms and conditions set out below, including the Entry instructions (the “Terms”), without modification. By entering the Competition, you acknowledge that you are bound by the Terms. This is the case notwithstanding any subsequent acknowledgement by you of the Terms.

Please note, any phrase in the Terms introduced by the term “include”, “including”, “in particular” or similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding that term.

Competition Terms

1. In order to enter the Competition, Entrants must comply with the following terms:

1.1 be at least 18 years old. Proof of identity and age may be required. Use of a false name or address will result in disqualification;

1.2 be a resident of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland;

1.3 the Entrant must submit to the Website an explanation of why they should be chosen as one of the 30 winners of the Competition (the “Entry”);

1.4 only one Entry is allowed per person. Each Entry must be made directly by the person entering the Competition and Entries submitted via agents, third parties or in bulk will not be accepted;

1.5 the Entry must be no more than 250 words, which can only be submitted on the application page of the Website;

1.6 the Entry is original to you and you are the sole author of the Entry, you own all rights in the Entry, you do not defame or violate the privacy rights of any third party and the Entry does not infringe any other legal rights, regulations or laws;

1.7 have the right to enter the Competition and are not prevented from doing so by any other agreement;

1.8 any Entries that are incomplete, illegible or indecipherable will not be valid and shall be deemed void;

1.9 the final date on which James Grant will accept Entries is midnight on 20th April 2015 (the “Closing Date”);

1.10 you grant Lorraine Pascale and James Grant an exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide licence of all copyright and rights in the nature of copyright subsisting in the Entry and all material(s) provided to James Grant (the “Licence”). In particular, under the Licence, James Grant may:

1.10.1 reproduce the Entry and all material(s) provided to James Grant in whole or in part in any media format, including but not limited to print, digital publishing, and audio;

1.10.2 reproduce the Entry and all material(s) provided to James Grant in whole or in part in any advertising or promotional material associated with this competition; and

1.10.3 grant sub-licences of the Entry and all material(s) provided to James Grant, to James Grant, to publish the Entry in whole or in part in any media format, including but not limited to print, online and digital publishing;

1.11 you shall waive all moral rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents 1988 or any similar future legislation from time to time in force in respect of the use of the Entry and all material(s) provided to James Grant under the Licence;

1.12 after the Closing Date, Lorraine Pascale and James Grant will select at their absolute discretion 30 winners (the “Winners”), who will be announced by James Grant on the Website and Lorraine Pascale on www.twitter.com/lorrainepascale (“Twitter”), by 24th April 2015. Our decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into in relation to the Competition. James Grant reserves the right to alter or cancel the Prize without notice. The Prize is non-transferable and no cash alternatives to the Prize will be provided;

1.13 each Winner must respond following notification from us within 7 days to be eligible for the Prize (as defined below). If the Winner cannot be contacted or is unable to comply with the Terms, we reserve the right to offer the Prize to another Entrant; and

1.14 you agree that your name and country of residence may be published by James Grant on the Website and on ancillary social media sites against the Entry (and Prize), together with all material(s) provided to James Grant.

2 Only entries which comply with the requirements set out in the Terms and have submitted their Entry correctly through the application page will be valid and entered into the Competition.

3 Prize: the overall prize (the “Prize”) for each of the 30 Winners will be to participate in Lorraine’s Best Body Programme Trial (the “Trial”) for a period of 4 weeks from 1 May 2015 (the “Trial Period”). The 30 Winners will start the Trial for the duration of the Trial Period and may be featured in promotional content related to the Trial on (but not limited to) the Website, www.facebook.com/lorrainepascale (“Facebook”), www.instagram.com/lorrainepascale (“Instagram”), Twitter, in promotional media features and in online advertising for the Trial. The Winners will receive advice and support from Lorraine Pascale and James Grant for the Trial Period.

4 The Winners may be provided with, including but not limited to, a user identification code, password, recipes and exercise plans. The Winners must treat such information as confidential and they must not disclose it to any third party. We have the right to disable any user identification codes or passwords at any time, if in our opinion a Winner has failed to comply with any of the provisions of the Terms.

5 We reserve the right, in our absolute discretion, to withdraw a Winner from the Trial, for any reason and without liability to the Winner.

6 At the end of the Trial Period, we shall (as decided by us alongside members of the public from Instagram and facebook) within 7 days decide which one of the Winners has achieved the best transformation (the “Overall Winner”). Our decision is final. The Overall Winner shall receive the sum of £250 (the “Cash Prize”) and payment shall be made as agreed between us and the Overall Winner. The Overall Winner must respond following notification from us within 7 days to be eligible for the Cash Prize and the Cash Prize must be claimed during this period. If the Overall Winner cannot be contacted or is unable to comply with the Terms, we reserve the right to offer the Cash Prize to another Winner. James Grant reserves the right to alter or cancel the Cash Prize without notice. The Cash Prize is non-transferable.

7 Please note that performing physical exercises or following the nutrition plan as set out on the Website and any materials in relation to the Trial can pose a health risk. Before taking part Entrants should consult their doctor or other qualified medical practitioner. The advice generated by us should not be interpreted as a substitute for medical consultation, evaluation, or treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. Entrants are responsible for their own safety and Entrants expressly waive and release us from any claim that any Entrants may have against us (or any person, company or entity or related person) and Entrants assume all risk of injury by following the plans set out on the Website and any materials in relation to the Trial. We do not accept any liability for any error or omission and exclude any and all liability for any action Entrants may take or for any loss or injury Entrants may suffer (whether directly or indirectly) as a result of relying on any information or advice on this website.

8 We reserves the right to change the Terms at any time without prior notice. Any changes will be posted on the Website. We recommend that any potential participants print and store or save a copy of the Terms for future reference.

9 The Terms and any disputes or claims arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter or formation (including non-contract disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed in all respects in accordance with English Law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

How To Be A Better Cook comes to Cooking Channel

Lorraine is out of the kitchen and on the road as she helps reluctant cooks create memorable meals for family and friends. With delicious, easy recipes and fantastic tips, Lorraine is on a mission to give amateur cooks the confidence they need to surprise and delight their loved ones.

Starting Saturday 2nd May on T

SERIES PREMIERE! Saturday, May 2nd at 10:30amET/7:30amPT - "Tony Sartori"

Lorraine helps 52-year-old builder Tony Sartori, who has never cooked a meal in his life, to master a delicious Mediterranean-inspired menu, including a grilled peach and burrata salad, crispy salmon with polenta chips and grilled asparagus, and a dessert with real wow factor.

Premiering Saturday, May 9th at 10:30amET/7:30amPT - "Bryony Crutcher"

26-year-old Bryony Crutcher admits to passing store-bought food off as her own, but now she's been tasked with hosting her best friend's bachelorette party. Lorraine creates an inspiring menu for her, including Thai Larb Gai, bite-sized chocolate Napoleons and delicate coconut meringues filled with ginger cream.

Premiering Saturday, May 16th at 10:30amET/7:30amPT - "Sonia Harwood"

Sonia Harwood is a mother-of-three who would love to create homemade family meals, but ends up relying on frozen food. Lorraine shows her how easy cooking with fresh ingredients can be, including Courgette Fritters, a quick seafood linguine and an impressive baked ricotta cheesecake.

Premiering Saturday, May 23rd at 10:30amET/7:30amPT - "Neil Forster"

Neil Forster is an impatient cook who reaches for the takeaway menu rather than making food from scratch. Lorraine shows him recipes including asparagus and cream cheese puff pastry tarts, a quick way to do roast chicken and an irresistible summer fruits pudding with a neat shortcut.

Premiering Saturday, May 30th at 10:30amET/7:30amPT - "Travis Francis"

Student Travis Francis admits his mom does all the cooking, but now he wants to cook for her. Lorraine creates a menu inspired by his family's Caribbean roots, including a prawn, sweet potato and mango curry. She also shows him a quick way to make bread, and some tempting chocolate and rum truffles.

Online in May, find Lorraine’s recipes to help pull off an impressive meal for friends and family even without any kitchen confidence! Join the kitchen conversation with #HowtoBeaBetterCook @CookingChannel

It's time to get your Best Body!

Hi everyone,

Most of you know me best for being a chef with a passion for food. If you follow me online, you’ll also know that I’m inspired by healthy, clean eating and regular, challenging exercise – which is why, right now, I’m experimenting with some clean, lean and tasty new recipes and a great training regime.

So, wondering what’s in store next..? Well, I am looking for 30 people to trial a brand new fitness and healthy eating programme. I have worked with the two of the best Nutritionists in Europe and one of the best PTs in the industry to bring this all together. The best transformation (voted by the Best Body Package team alongside the good people of Instagram and Facebook will win a cash prize of £250 and of course you will be on your way to your new improved body ready for the summer.)

I’ll be there every step of the way – giving you recipes to try out and exercises which you can do either at home or at the gym to put you through your paces!

I’ll help you to start understanding which foods enable you to feel your best, whilst at the same time I’ll hopefully be teaching you how to enjoy your training so that it becomes a lifestyle - rather than a discipline or chore.

For the chance to take on the challenge, fill in the form below, telling me in 250 words or fewer, why YOU are ready to take the on the trial.

All I’ll be asking in return is that you can keep track of your journey to let me know how you’re getting on  (Plus, taking weekly selfies alongside regular photos of the delicious foods you’ll be eating is a great way to track progress and to keep you more determined than ever!)

Please do read the Terms and Conditions before entering. Thank you, and I can’t wait to hear from you!

Love,

LP xx

Fill out my online form.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF LORRAINE’S BEST BODY PROGRAMME TRIAL COMPETITION

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY BEFORE ENTERING THE COMPETITION

The Website: www.lorrainepascale.com (the “Website”) is the website of Lorraine Pascale which is run and maintained by James Grant (UK) Limited, trading as James Grant Digital (“James Grant”/”we”/”us”/”our”), whose registered address is 94 Strand on the Green, Chiswick, London W4 3NN United Kingdom.

Lorraine’s Best Body Programme Trial Competition: through the Website, we propose to run a competition in order to find 30 people to trial Lorraine’s Best Body Programme and to find the contestant who has achieved the best transformation by following the Programme (the “Competition”).

References to the “Entrant”/”you”/”your” are references to the author of the Entry, as defined below.

By entering the Competition you accept, without limitation or qualification, the Competition terms and conditions set out below, including the Entry instructions (the “Terms”), without modification. By entering the Competition, you acknowledge that you are bound by the Terms. This is the case notwithstanding any subsequent acknowledgement by you of the Terms.

Please note, any phrase in the Terms introduced by the term “include”, “including”, “in particular” or similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding that term.

Competition Terms

1. In order to enter the Competition, Entrants must comply with the following terms:

1.1 be at least 18 years old. Proof of identity and age may be required. Use of a false name or address will result in disqualification;

1.2 be a resident of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland;

1.3 the Entrant must submit to the Website an explanation of why they should be chosen as one of the 30 winners of the Competition (the “Entry”);

1.4 only one Entry is allowed per person. Each Entry must be made directly by the person entering the Competition and Entries submitted via agents, third parties or in bulk will not be accepted;

1.5 the Entry must be no more than 250 words, which can only be submitted on the application page of the Website;

1.6 the Entry is original to you and you are the sole author of the Entry, you own all rights in the Entry, you do not defame or violate the privacy rights of any third party and the Entry does not infringe any other legal rights, regulations or laws;

1.7 have the right to enter the Competition and are not prevented from doing so by any other agreement;

1.8 any Entries that are incomplete, illegible or indecipherable will not be valid and shall be deemed void;

1.9 the final date on which James Grant will accept Entries is midnight on 20th April 2015 (the “Closing Date”);

1.10 you grant Lorraine Pascale and James Grant an exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide licence of all copyright and rights in the nature of copyright subsisting in the Entry and all material(s) provided to James Grant (the “Licence”). In particular, under the Licence, James Grant may:

1.10.1 reproduce the Entry and all material(s) provided to James Grant in whole or in part in any media format, including but not limited to print, digital publishing, and audio;

1.10.2 reproduce the Entry and all material(s) provided to James Grant in whole or in part in any advertising or promotional material associated with this competition; and

1.10.3 grant sub-licences of the Entry and all material(s) provided to James Grant, to James Grant, to publish the Entry in whole or in part in any media format, including but not limited to print, online and digital publishing;

1.11 you shall waive all moral rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents 1988 or any similar future legislation from time to time in force in respect of the use of the Entry and all material(s) provided to James Grant under the Licence;

1.12 after the Closing Date, Lorraine Pascale and James Grant will select at their absolute discretion 30 winners (the “Winners”), who will be announced by James Grant on the Website and Lorraine Pascale on www.twitter.com/lorrainepascale (“Twitter”), by 24th April 2015. Our decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into in relation to the Competition. James Grant reserves the right to alter or cancel the Prize without notice. The Prize is non-transferable and no cash alternatives to the Prize will be provided;

1.13 each Winner must respond following notification from us within 7 days to be eligible for the Prize (as defined below). If the Winner cannot be contacted or is unable to comply with the Terms, we reserve the right to offer the Prize to another Entrant; and

1.14 you agree that your name and country of residence may be published by James Grant on the Website and on ancillary social media sites against the Entry (and Prize), together with all material(s) provided to James Grant.

2 Only entries which comply with the requirements set out in the Terms and have submitted their Entry correctly through the application page will be valid and entered into the Competition.

3 Prize: the overall prize (the “Prize”) for each of the 30 Winners will be to participate in Lorraine’s Best Body Programme Trial (the “Trial”) for a period of 4 weeks from 1 May 2015 (the “Trial Period”). The 30 Winners will start the Trial for the duration of the Trial Period and may be featured in promotional content related to the Trial on (but not limited to) the Website, www.facebook.com/lorrainepascale (“Facebook”), www.instagram.com/lorrainepascale (“Instagram”), Twitter, in promotional media features and in online advertising for the Trial. The Winners will receive advice and support from Lorraine Pascale and James Grant for the Trial Period.

4 The Winners may be provided with, including but not limited to, a user identification code, password, recipes and exercise plans. The Winners must treat such information as confidential and they must not disclose it to any third party. We have the right to disable any user identification codes or passwords at any time, if in our opinion a Winner has failed to comply with any of the provisions of the Terms.

5 We reserve the right, in our absolute discretion, to withdraw a Winner from the Trial, for any reason and without liability to the Winner.

6 At the end of the Trial Period, we shall (as decided by us alongside members of the public from Instagram and facebook) within 7 days decide which one of the Winners has achieved the best transformation (the “Overall Winner”). Our decision is final. The Overall Winner shall receive the sum of £250 (the “Cash Prize”) and payment shall be made as agreed between us and the Overall Winner. The Overall Winner must respond following notification from us within 7 days to be eligible for the Cash Prize and the Cash Prize must be claimed during this period. If the Overall Winner cannot be contacted or is unable to comply with the Terms, we reserve the right to offer the Cash Prize to another Winner. James Grant reserves the right to alter or cancel the Cash Prize without notice. The Cash Prize is non-transferable.

7 Please note that performing physical exercises or following the nutrition plan as set out on the Website and any materials in relation to the Trial can pose a health risk. Before taking part Entrants should consult their doctor or other qualified medical practitioner. The advice generated by us should not be interpreted as a substitute for medical consultation, evaluation, or treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. Entrants are responsible for their own safety and Entrants expressly waive and release us from any claim that any Entrants may have against us (or any person, company or entity or related person) and Entrants assume all risk of injury by following the plans set out on the Website and any materials in relation to the Trial. We do not accept any liability for any error or omission and exclude any and all liability for any action Entrants may take or for any loss or injury Entrants may suffer (whether directly or indirectly) as a result of relying on any information or advice on this website.

8 We reserves the right to change the Terms at any time without prior notice. Any changes will be posted on the Website. We recommend that any potential participants print and store or save a copy of the Terms for future reference.

9 The Terms and any disputes or claims arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter or formation (including non-contract disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed in all respects in accordance with English Law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

Rum & Pear Simnel Cake

From Baking Made Easy.

Serves 12-14

INGREDIENTS

currants, sultanas and raisins 350g

dried cranberries 80g

medjool dates, deseeded and roughly chopped 80g

soft died apricots 80g, roughly chopped

mixed peel 80g

brandy or a good Jamaican rum (or regular tea if you are on the wagon) 500ml

butter 250g

soft light brown sugar 250g

eggs 5, lightly beaten

plain flour 250g (plus 70g for tossing the fruit in)

baking powder 15g

mixed spice 2 tsp

nutmeg 1 tsp

ground ginger 1 tbsp

treacle 1 tbsp

ground hazelnuts 100g

lemon zest of 1

orange zest of 1

fresh ginger 2 x 2cm pieces, grated

pears 2, peeled, deseeded and cubed

To decorate:

ready-made marzipan , the best you can afford 300g

apricot jam 4 tbsp

egg 1, lightly beaten

METHOD

Preheat oven to 180C/gas mark 4. Line (bottom and sides) a 2.5cm x 20cm deep round baking tin, with a double thickness of greaseproof paper. Put a double thickness of newspaper around the outside of the tin, too. (The cake needs a long cooking time, so the double greaseproof will protect the outside from cooking too quickly.)

Put the currants, sultanas and raisins, cranberries, dates, apricots and mixed peel in a bowl and cover with the brandy/rum or tea, and leave to steep overnight. If you don't have time, just leave them for an hour or two.

The next day, cream together the butter and sugar until they are well combined, add half of the eggs and half the flour and stir to just combine, then add the rest of the eggs, flour, baking powder, mixed spice, nutmeg and ground ginger and mix to just combine. Finally drain the fruit, reserving the brandy/rum/tea and toss the fruit in the 70g of flour. This will stop it from sinking to the bottom of the cake during baking. Add the fruit along with the treacle, hazelnuts, lemon and orange zests and fresh ginger and stir until the mixture looks uniform, and then fold in the pears.

Dollop into the cake tin and make a well in the centre of the cake batter. This will ensure that the cake does not rise with a peak at the centre and cooks with a level top.

Preheat oven to 180C/gas mark 4 and bake for 2-2½ hours or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean and the sides have shrunk slightly from the sides of the tin. Once it is cooked, remove it from the oven and prick holes over the top of the cake and pour some of the brandy/rum liquid over the top so it runs into the holes and "feeds" the cake with booziness.

Then allow the cake to cool. Once it is cool, remove it from the tin and set it on a serving plate. Roll out the marzipan to about 5mm thick on some icing sugar, then put the cake tin on top of the marzipan and, using a knife, mark round the tin. Remove the tin from the marzipan and remove the offcuts, so you have a perfect circle. Brush the top of the cake with the apricot jam. If the jam is quite thick, heat it in a pan with a little water to loosen it up. Then place the marzipan circle on top of the cake and press it down gently. I like to flute the edges to make it look more presentable.

Take some of the marzipan offcuts, roll them into 12 balls about the size of 1p coins and arrange them around the outside of the marzipan, sticking them on with the apricot jam.

Preheat the grill to high and brush the marzipan with the lightly beaten egg. Then place the cake under the grill until the marzipan begins to brown. You can use a blowtorch to brown the marzipan if you have one.

Sesame pretzel buns

From A Lighter Way To Bake.

I cannot pretend that pretzels are an all-encompassing part of the UK eating psyche, but with a little recipe experimentation, failure, followed by tears and then some progress, I genuinely believe that these are quite literally some of the tastiest buns I have ever made.

Despite being only fractionally lower in fat and sugar than similar recipes out there, they get their nutritional brownie points from a boost of high-fibre wholemeal flour. They’re really easy on the eye too.

Makes 12 buns.

INGREDIENTS & EQUIPMENT

Large bowl or freestanding electric mixer set with the dough hook

200g strong wholemeal bread flour

175g strong white bread flour

125g plain flour, plus extra for dusting

11⁄2 tsp fast-action dried yeast

1 tsp salt

325ml warm water (from the tap)

Spray oil

125g bicarbonate of soda

1 egg, lightly beaten

11⁄2 tsp sesame seeds

METHOD

Put the flours, yeast and salt together in a large bowl (or food mixer bowl). Make a well in the centre and pour in the warm water. Mix everything together well (by hand with a wooden spoon or in a machine fitted with a dough hook) to give a smooth, soft dough ball. Knead the dough for 10 minutes on a lightly floured surface if doing by hand or for 5 minutes if using a food mixer.

To test to see if it has been kneaded enough, form the dough into a ball with a nice taut top. Put some flour on your finger and then prod the dough to make an indent about 5mm deep. If the dent springs back all the way, this means the dough is kneaded enough. If not, then knead it a little bit more.

Divide the dough into 12 equal-sized pieces. I like to find out the weight of the dough and divide it by 12 to get the exact weight each one should be — that way they all look nice and uniform. Knead each piece into a ball with a nice taut top and place them seam side down and spaced apart on a large baking sheet.

Spray the dough balls with a little oil and cover them well with cling film. The cling film should be airtight so that it provides a nice cosy atmosphere for the bread, but not too tight as it needs some room to grow. Leave the dough in a nice warm, but not too hot, place for about 45 minutes, until it grows by about a quarter. It will not grow that much due to the types of flours used in it (the wholemeal flour makes it much heavier and the plain flour is not as stretchy as strong flour, but the buns will still be great).

About 15 minutes before the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 200°C, (Fan 180°C), 400°F, Gas Mark 6.

Bring about 2 litres of water to the boil in a large, wide pan. Once it is boiling, add the bicarbonate of soda and allow it to fizzle up and then calm down a little. Remove the cling film from the buns and, using a slotted spoon, drop three of the buns into the boiling (and slightly fizzing) water. Leave to boil for about 30 seconds, constantly turning them around so all sides are immersed in the water. Remove the buns and place back on the baking tray, again seam side down. Repeat with the rest of the buns. This part of the process will give the buns a very deliciously distinct flavour and it will also make the tops take on a characteristic dark brown ‘pretzel’ look.

Brush the tops of the buns with the beaten egg and sprinkle the sesame seeds evenly over. Use a sharp knife to slash the tops of the buns. I like to either use three small slashes that are fairly deep or put a little cross in the centre. Bake in the oven for 20–25 minutes or until the buns sound hollow when tapped underneath and the tops have gone a medium to dark brown.