Tag Archives: chocolate

Counting down to cake week

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bake off

Just a few hours to go until it’s time to get ready, set, bake!

Twelve new contestants will be donning their aprons, rolling up their sleeves and doing their best to impress the judges as The Great British Bake Off 2016 gets underway.

And with the focus on cakes tonight, it’s no surprise that June, Tina and Sue will be joining millions of viewers across the country glued to the TV to find out what this year’s amateur bakers will be facing.

Whose buns will come out on top? Will there be any soggy bottoms? And above all, will there be chocolate?!

Rumour has it that things don’t go too well for some of the contestants, with four of them forced to ditch their cakes and start their recipes from scratch in the showstopper challenge. It sounds as though there may be a few tears and tantrums in the Bake Off tent tonight…

On their own show this Sunday, the Girls Around Town will be turning the spotlight on the phenomenon that is GBBO. They’ll be making some early predictions about favourites for this year’s title and looking at some of the reasons why a massive 15 million viewers tuned in to see Nadiya Hussain take the 2015 title last October. What’s the betting Mr Hollywood features on their list?!

Join them on air or listen online between 10am and 12 noon – and why not take part in the debate by adding your own thoughts and comments to the GAT Facebook page?

A crafty collab

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sock monkey

It’s all about collabs these days, especially in the fashion world – everywhere you look, someone’s collaborating with someone else to bring out a new collection or launch a new range.

Think H&M x Kenzo, Moschino x Barbie, Adidas x Kanye West or Puma x Gosha Rubchinskiy (he’s the Russian designer of the moment if you were wondering!) to name just a few…

And now, there’s a new collab in town!

Michelle Baker has teamed up with a group of like-minded ladies to turn the top floor of Newark’s  Crafty Betty into a space that’s bursting at the seams with goodies.

Whether you’re looking for supplies for your own projects or searching for a gift with a difference, it’s a veritable treasure trove offering everything from fabrics, patterns and paints to cushions, brooches, sock monkeys and more.

Michelle and fellow busy bees Amanda Thompson, Julie Webster, Sally Harrison and Rachael Cumberland didn’t take much persuading to switch off their sewing machines next Sunday morning to join June and Tina in the studio.

Let’s face it, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to combine chatting to the Girls Around Town with the opportunity to try out a rather special cake in the latest Chocolate Moment?!

Tune in or listen online between 10am and 12 noon to hear all about their new venture, some of the events and workshops in the pipeline and of course the crafty collab’s verdict on that chocolate cake…

The proof’s in the pudding

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chocolate chia seed puddingIf you’re looking for a healthy breakfast that’s quick and easy to prepare, chia seed puddings are the perfect choice…

And they make great desserts too – especially when chocolate is involved!

Packed with fibre, omegas, potassium and magnesium, the little superfood seeds in them are great for boosting energy, improving endurance and will even help to regulate digestion.

Make the pudding the night before, adding just a few other ingredients, pop it in the fridge to set and by morning it will be ready and waiting for you.

If you’re really pushed for time first thing, you can even put your breakfast in a lidded jar or cup and take it with you for later!!

The variations are endless – check out some of the different recipes here – or why not try the one June made earlier for this week’s Chocolate Moment?

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Adapted from a recipe by The Minimalist Baker

Will keep in the fridge for 2 to 3 days but best served fresh

Ingredients

  • 360ml unsweetened almond milk
  • 63gms chia seeds
  • 24gms cacao or unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Quarter teaspoon of sea salt
  • Half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon (optional)
  • Half a teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)
  • 2-5 tablespoons of maple syrup

Directions

  1. Put all the ingredients except the maple syrup in a bowl and whisk well to combine.
  2. Sweeten to taste with the maple syrup.
  3. Cover or put into a lidded jar and leave to set in the fridge overnight or until a pudding-like consistency is achieved (at least 3 to 5 hours).
  4. Serve chilled, topped with fresh fruit, nuts or granola.