Naughty treats for gloomy winter days

We have had one sunny day for weeks otherwise it is grey and windy or wet, mind you not as cold as it was few weeks ago! This lack of sun really gets to me. We have used the one sunny day wisely in the garden. M started to dig the veg patch, I cleaned the lawn and Freddie slept blissfully in his pram.

The veg patch is huge and only 1/4 has been done so far. Onions and garlic were planted, parsnips and spinach are next to go along with more onion sprouts. Then we have blackberry and loganberry bushes, we still need to clear some space for these, and I got peonies and ranunculas to be planted in the front garden which btw still needs to be prepared. Afterward we have till March to prepare the rest of the ground for more seeds. It is a big sowing month. And this is just tip of the iceberg, there are so many jobs it will take us ages but it is very satisfying.

After this strenuous work something calorific was a must so on Friday I whipped us double chocolate and nut cookies, and on Saturday chocolate and orange cake since we expected visitors.

Double chocolate chip cookies

Ingredients:

100g granulated sugar

120g soft brown sugar

115g butter, room temperature

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

175g flour

40g cocoa

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

150g dark chocolate, chopped

handful of nuts of your choice, I used hazelnuts and almonds

Preheat the oven to 150 degrees Celsius. Butter or line with parchment paper baking sheets.

Cream sugar and butter, add vanilla and egg and mix well. Combine dry ingredients and mix with the batter. Add chocolate chips and nuts and combine. Roll small balls and place them on the baking sheet with plenty of space between them. Bake for 20 min.

Chocolate and orange cake with orange mascarpone

Ingredients:

115g butter, room temperature

200g granulated sugar

240g soft brown sugar

1 egg

juice and zest of 1 orange

250ml butter milk

100g flour

100g ground almonds

75g cocoa

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

For mascarpone cream

150g mascarpone

2 tbsp powder sugar

juice of 1 orange

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius, butter baking tin.

Cream sugar and butter until smooth, add the egg and mix, add buttermilk and orange juice. In a separate bowl combine all the dry ingredients and the orange zest and mix it well with the batter. Bake for 1h. It should be bit wet in the middle.

Prepare mascarpone by combining all the ingredients, you can adjust the sugar to your liking. Serve with orange zest.