Indulgent Chocolate Brownies

• 250g unsalted butter
• 200g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), crumbled
• optional: 75g dried sour cherries pre-soaked in cherry liquor
• 80g cocoa powder, sifted
• 65g plain flour, sifted
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 360g caster sugar
• 4 large free-range or organic eggs

Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4. Line a 25cm square baking tin with greaseproof paper. In a large bowl over some simmering water, melt the butter and the chocolate and mix until smooth. Add the cherries, if you’re using them, and stir together. In a separate bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and sugar, then add this to the chocolate and cherry mixture. Stir together well. Beat the eggs and mix in until you have a silky consistency.

Pour your brownie mix into the baking tray, and place in the oven for around 25 minutes. You don’t want to overcook them so, unlike cakes, you don’t want a skewer to come out all clean. The brownies should be slightly springy on the outside but still gooey in the middle. Allow to cool in the tray, then carefully transfer to a large chopping board and cut into chunky squares. These are excellent served with a good strong espresso.



Enjoy!

Dutch Fruit Cake (by martine)

This recipe is Perfect for morning or afternoon tea and an ideal snack for a kids lunch box.

Ingredients
* 2 tsp Baking Powder
* 500g White Flour
* 200g Whole Meal Flour
* 200g Brown Sugar
* 2 tbsp Mixed Spice
* Pinch of Salt
* 500ml Milk (Soy or Rice if preferred)
* 100g Butter
* 175g Dried Fruits (cut into small pieces)
* 2 Handfuls Walnuts, chopped

Method
* pre-heat oven to 170 Celsius/338 Fahrenheit
* Soak the dried fruit in hot water for 10 minutes
* Butter a 10cm by 22cm cake tin
* Sift flour & baking powder together in a bowl
* Add mixed spice, sugar & salt and stir
* In a pan warm the milk, do not boil
* Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the milk
* Stir until butter is melted
* Add milk mixture to the flour mixture and combine
* Stir until mixture is smooth and sticky
* Finally add the dried fruit & nuts and mix in well
* Pour mixture into baking tin and cook for 50 minutes
* To check it is done insert a fork into the cake - on removal it should come out clean
* Cool and cut into slices

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