Friday, 13 December 2013

Bird Food: Citrus And Honey Microwave Sponge

Without much of a kitchen to speak of blogging about cooking is not easy. It's something I've wanted to do for ages but I've been waiting for my ideal kitchen and it's taking too long!

On my fourth date with Allan I figured I'd go all out and make a three course meal using my limited resources of a fridge, a microwave and very little in the way of cutlery (I only realised once I'd started that I had no sharp knife)!

My menu of Caprese, Vegetarian Spaghetti Bolognese and dessert actually went down a treat, especially this sponge, so I made it again this week. It's so easy and cheap and tasty, I'll definitely be making it lots more! Citrus And Honey Microwave Sponge - BBC Food

1 lemon, zest peeled and flesh finely sliced
1 orange, zest peeled and flesh finely sliced
110g/4oz caster sugar
110g/4oz self-raising flour
125g/4½oz soft butter, plus extra to grease
1 free-range egg
2 tbsp honey, plus 1 tbsp extra 1. Place the orange and lemon zests, sugar, flour, butter, egg and honey into a food processor and blend until a smooth sponge batter is formed (I just did this by hand, it might be fluffier with a machine). 2. Grease a small oven proof bowl with butter and brush with the extra honey. Line the bowl with the orange and lemon slices (remember to pick the seeds out first). 3. Pour the sponge batter into the lined bowl and cover with cling film. 4. Place the bowl in a microwave and cook on full power for five minutes, or until the sponge is cooked through (check this by sticking a knife or cocktail stick into the centre and if it comes out clean you're good to go).

The trick is not to make it in a tub that's too deep or else it'll mangle when you flip it out (speaking from experience)! I tried making individual sized ones in smaller tubs too and they only took about 60-90 seconds. I think if you added some custard you'd be winning too! So there you go, my first recipe based post! Let me know if you try it and what you think, or if you have any tips!
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