Tiramisu cupcakes

2 young children, 2 babies, 6 adults.  All on 'that' side of the family.  All coming to our house on a Sunday afternoon.  Screams, tears and tantrums were predicted (and not just from the children).  There was nothing for it but to prepare ahead and try a recipe out of my newly gifted (luv ya Cat!) Hummingbird Bakery 'Cake Days' Cookbook. 

I've also been unfortunate enough to miss the @edincakeladies Back to Basics night, so I feel the need to console myself by writing up this post.

There are lots of very interesting and drool-worthy recipes in the book.  But it just had to be the Tiramisu recipe. Reasons:  I have had very many bad Tiramisus in my time; But my homemade Tiramisu is the dogs; Many members of 'that' side of the family love coffee flavoured things; Most members of 'that' side of the family love cake.  It had to be win win.

I realise that a number of people have had issues with hummingbird recipes, hence their release of baking tips.  However, this recipe turned out well - call it luck, call it skill (I will of course call it skill!).

The Sponge - Very easy to make.  Slightly alarmingly runny before baking, but I went with it.  Turns out a lovely light, moist, sponge.

The Filling:  GOD, how I LOVE cupcakes with a hollowed out centre & a filling.  Soooo much more interesting.  This one really rocks - a reduced coffee & Kahlua syrup soaked in to the sponge (there are other coffee based liqueurs available) - don't worry, the booze is boiled off.  With some of the mascarpone mix (see below) squished in before the hollowed out top goes back on.  The cake is now truly starting to look like the food of gods. 

The Topping:  Mascarpone, Cream, more Kahlua - what is there not to love?

Verdict:  Children - hard to tell but by the double handed shoving in-of-cake-to-mouth - good.  Adults - unanimous praise from the in-laws (result!).

No 1 Sushi Bar

Tollcross is an odd place (I'm allowed to say that as I stayed there for 5 years).  An eclectic mix of shops, restaurants and businesses, the area has never really achieved the transformative gentrification predicted for it a few years back. 

There's a lot going on however, and in particular the Cameo Cinema and the Kings Theatre still very much generate a significant amount of footfall for restaurants in the area.  And it was the Cameo, and the fantastic Sound It Out, that meant we found ourselves heading across the road to No.1 Sushi Bar - the HUGE shiny lettering like a beacon through the absurdly windy Thursday night. 

Sushi bars are popping up all over the place in Edinburgh, but a few have been long standing features, including No. 1.  The interior is basic, but I always find this reassuring, rather than off-putting, when you’re just after some quick tasty and good value food, as we were.  

We were in a bit of a rush to get back to the Cameo so unfortunately didn’t get to try any starters, which meant I could merely look longingly at the pot-sticker style Japanese dumplings.  We couldn’t however pass up the opportunity for some edamame.  God, how I LOVE these little pods of soyabean goodness; I could eat about a million of them so just as well we were brought an enormous steaming bowl-full.

Tasty bowls of miso continued the soya theme, and then came our main courses.  Given the weather, I just couldn’t see past something hot and noodle-based.  I’m also still pining for another Friday Brunch at Nobu in Dubai and have been a bit sniffy about Japanese food in this country ever since.  I’m pleased to say I am now over this irrational aversion, as I ended up wishing I had plumped for something more similar to my fellow diners’ options (though repeat trips to Nobu still very welcome).  

The deep fried chicken yakiudon were good, but you can’t really go wrong with thick gratifying udon, and crisp, succulent deep fried chicken is truly of the comfort food gods.

Deep-fried chicken breast yakiudon

More adventurous was the Japanese bbq eel with unagi sauce.  This was a taste sensation!  Snow white sushi rice the perfect vehicle for the intense little pieces of eel, basted in unagi sauce then barbequed and served with more of the eel broth, soy sauce, rice wine and sugar reduction.  Only downside was the surprisingly fishy after-burps (too much information?).

Bbq eel with unagi sauce

Fresh tuna on rice was served ‘scattered sushi’ style.  More of the steaming sushi rice, this time vinegared, was topped with spankingly fresh tuna, pickled radish, crab eggs and sesame.

Fresh tuna on rice

Given the number and quality of other sushi places now dotted around Edinburgh maybe it’s not worth a special trip, but No. 1 Sushi Bar is definitely somewhere you should consider popping in to if you’re in the area.  By the way, a good choice of Japanese beers, and nice service too.

Loving leftovers

No recipe required today, just a post in reverence of leftovers.  We eat leftovers for probably two or sometimes three of our weekly meals at home, and we've certainly never had any qualms about just whipping them out the fridge, slapping them on a plate, and bunging them in the microwave - hey presto - dinner ready in approximately 5 mins. Tastier than anything you'll ever buy in a supermarket box.  

Spend an eency bit more time however, and you can forget that slight groundhog day feeling - you'll have a scrummy taste sensation that will trick your tastebuds in to believing you're not eating yesterday's dinner.

Take this fine bubble & squeak specimen: 

1.  Mash up some leftovers - spuds, savoy (previously quick fried with some garlic, salt, & pepper).

2.  Shape in to rounds.  Dust with flour.

3.  Shallow fry on both sides in vegetable (or another tasteless frying oil) on a low to medium heat until golden (10-15 mins).

4.  Serve topped with a fried or poached egg.

5.  Scoff.

Check out http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/ for more ideas.