So I've had another busy week plus it's been a bit of an emotional roller-coaster with some personal stuff I've been processing but today was the perfect ending. Spending time with good friends makes everything feel much better and of course getting out and exercising in the forestry surrounding our town is the perfect tonic when you're feeling a bit down about things. After a couple of hours of somewhat leisurely biking and chatting we headed back into town and home to shower then we gathered again for some more girls talk over tea and cake at my place.
For some reason I felt like baking late yesterday afternoon and was also in the mood to try out a couple of new recipes that I had come across recently. The above loaf is a coconut loaf with pink raspberry icing. Perfect for a girls afternoon tea not that I had that planned at the time of making it :-) Here's a quick run-down of the recipe because it is too delicious not to share.....
- 125g butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut essence
- 3/4 cup coconut cream
- 1 1/2 cups self-raising flour
- 3/4 cup desiccated coconut
Preheat oven to 175C. Line loaf tin with baking paper.
Beat butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add coconut essence and coconut cream and beat to incorporate. Stir in flour and coconut. Spoon into prepared loaf tin and bake for 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Once cold, drizzle with pink, raspberry flavoured icing made with 2 cups of icing sugar, a drop or 2 of red food colouring and 1/2 teaspoon of raspberry essence, 20g melted butter and 2 tablespoons of boiling water. Slice to serve. Enjoy!!
The second item I made was these maple walnut bars which are divine ! You can find the recipe here on Susan's blog Hanging on by Needle and thread. Susan often shares her delicious recipes :-) and this one certainly is a keeper.
Today has reminded me how thankful I am to have such caring and supportive friends and to live in a town with so much to do right on our doorstep.
6 comments:
Yum - afternoon tea sure looked good. I hope that things are starting to look up for the rest of the year for you.
Took your advice and finally started up my own blog - now I just have to figure out how to use it.
Have a great weekend and happy sewing.
Well you'd need something to fortify you after all that bike riding ;o)
That cake looks good. I'll give it a try when I get some coconut essence. Exercise and cake are always good mood lifters!
The outdoors, friends and cake. A good combo to cheer you up, well done and hugs.
Your baking looks delicious! So glad you were able to get out and do some bike riding. It looks like a nice track. Sending you a big bloggy hug xx
That doessound like a great day. And the cake looks tasty
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