Millionaire's shortbread

Oh my, these have got to be the sweetest, stickiest, piggiest things known to mankind. They are heart attack inducing and one single piece may cause you to go up two dress sizes.

It is worth it though.

Sweet things on my sweet cake stand.

Millionaire's shortbread

This is apparently a Mary Berry recipe, which is appropriate since The Great British Bake Off is back on TV. However I can't remember which blog I found it on, sorry!

Base:

225g plain flour

100g caster sugar

225g butter

100g semolina

Topping:

175g butter

175g caster sugar

4 tbsp golden syrup

1 x 397g can condensed milk (yum!)

200g milk chocolate (or dark if you prefer)

Set the oven to 160C/Gas mark 2. Lightly grease/line a 20 x 33cm oblong tin. Mix the base ingredients until they form a smooth dough (I mixed by hand). Press into the tin and prick all over with a fork. Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden and firm, then leave to cool. Next put all the topping ingredients (except the chocolate) in a saucepan and stir over a low heat until the butter and sugar has melted. Bubble the mixture gently for 5-8 minutes, stirring constantly, until it is thick and fudgy and darker in colour. Pour into the tin evenly. Once that has set melt the chocolate and pour into the tin as well and spread evenly. Leave to set, (or mostly set if you're like me and desperately want a piece) then cut into squares and pig out!

semolina berry cake and weekend purchases

This has got to be one of my favourite summer cakes. I found the recipe in a newspaper supplement, although I can't remember which one as it was a few years ago. The colours of the berries look stunning and it has such a fresh, juicy flavour. A perfect summer dessert, polished off with a nice cup of tea and extra berries.

Semolina berry cake

175g self-raising flour

100g semolina

175g caster sugar

175g butter, melted

juice and rind of 1/2 a lemon

2 large eggs

200g(ish) of berries (e.g. raspberries, blueberries, blackberries. As long as it's not strawberries)

Preheat the oven to gas mark 4. Mix together the dry ingredients (flour, semolina, sugar). Melt the butter then pour into the dry mixture. Add eggs one at a time, then juice and rind of 1/2 a lemon. Mix together and spoon into a 24cm greased springform tin. Scatter berries over the top and gently press them in a little. Bake in the middle of the oven for approx. 45 mins or until golden on top and firm to touch. (Have a piece while it's still warm, it tastes amazing!)

And onto the weekend purchases.... I was in town on Saturday and couldn't resist buying these shoes. Not only was I seduced by the cute bow and colour, but they were also £10 in the sale. Hurray! It's also great to buy pretty shoes for a change rather than plain work shoes which support my feet (as I'm on them all day).

I have been lusting after this tin for quite a while online, so when I saw it in town I just had to have it. Here it is casually sitting on my Cath Kidston bedding :)

I love the colour, the font, the handle on the lid, even the feel of the tin (hmm, starting to sound creepy. I don't go round shops rubbing tins, honest!)

A girl can never have too many pretty shoes or cake tins can she?