Sunday 30 September 2012

Mango Melba Magic



Here's the second of our adventures in cup cake land. Our Mango Melba cup cake is a creative fusion of a raspberry and white chocolate cup cake (thanks to our Chocaberry Cheese Ball Mix and Original Beer Bread Mix) with a mango glaze and topped with a velvety smooth mango cream cheese buttercream (courtesy of our Mango Mojito Dessert Sauce).  To complete the look, it is garnished with a fresh raspberry, a piece of dried mango, mint leaves and a final flourish of Mango Mojito Dessert sauce.  This is not a cup cake to be scoffed lightly, serve on your best tea plates with a little cake fork and slowly devour every mouthful.  You can find the full recipe here, Enjoy!

Clare
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Thursday 20 September 2012

Sugar and spice and all things nice




Autumn is in the air and as we say goodbye to the last few warm days of the season and drag out our woollies, here's a little something to look forward to from our kitchen - cup cakes.  This is our first cup cake recipe as we celebrate all that is sugary, sweet, plus a little spice and of course always nice.

Thanks to our client Lisa Lovell for the inspiration for the Apple Cup Cake with Canella Buttercream.  It not only features our Beer Bread Mix and Maple Caramel Sauce but a debut recipe for our new Vanilla Pudding Spices.  I promise you, baking with this new sweet spice will fill your home and your heart with the comforts of vanilla, cinnamon and our new bff, roasted cassia.

You can find the full recipe here

Next week with the expert help from 'Cup Cake Katie' we'll be turning our hands to another cup cake sensation.

Happy baking!

Clare
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Friday 14 September 2012

Saving the best for last

Do you sometimes fnd yourself scraping the barrel....well ok the jar?!
 
We love our square jars but like you, we often find ourselves trying to reach the last elusive tasty bits that get stuck in the corners. Well here are a few recipes & tips to make sure that you get the most out of our jars!  
 
Our Tapenade with Smoked Garlic & Jumping Jack Chilli Jam (& even a little Fig Pudding Pickle) are great added to Bolognese, casseroles & soups so when it's not possible to get a spoonful out, add a little hot water from the kettle, give the jar a shake & then tip into your recipe. 
 
For super speedy and simple dressings, add the extra ingredients needed for these fab recipes straight into the jar and give it all a shake. 
 
Fig Balsamic & Walnut Dressing 
Tapenade Vinaigrette 
 
How about adding a secret extra to your hot drinks? A Maple Caramel Latte is a yummy treat that if you haven't enjoyed before is definitely a must for the end of the jar - just add your hot coffee to the jar & shake it into the corners to free those last bits of Maple Caramel Sauce then pour into a mug of heated/frothed milk.   Instead of coffee you could use cocoa & enjoy a decadent hot chocolate!  
Hot chocolate is another drink that we enjoy with our Chocolate Peppermint Fondue so at the end of the jar just add in some of the hot milk & shake to melt the last bits of fondue.  
 
Maple Caramel Sauce is also delicious with apples & pears so if you are stewing or poaching these then add some hot water to the jar to free the sauce & then add to your pan of fruit.  
 
We hope these tips & ideas help you to enjoy our products right down to the last drop and maybe you'd agree that we save the best for last?!
 
- Laura Virgoe

Saturday 1 September 2012

Feeling hungry? It must be launchtime!


Today is one of the days of the year we love the most – it’s the time when we launch our new goodies for the autumn/winter season! As well as some cracking new products, we’ve news of some amazing new gift packs. Christmas may be three months away, but it pays to be prepared! And on that note, as things get busier and busier for us, we’re looking for more lovely people to come and join the team. Read on to learn more!



Secret Firecracker
Chilli Spices


After the success of our Secret Wild Garlic Spices, the ?rst product in our Secret Spices range, we’re excited to bring you another – Firecracker Chilli. This sensational seasoning is simply bursting with fiery flavours thanks to our blend of Mexico’s ‘holy trinity’ of chillies.

This includes the sweet and mild ancho, the dark and liquorice-like pasilla, and the red and fruity guajillo. Together with the flavours and spicy heat of cayenne pepper, cumin, garlic and Mexican oregano, this Secret Spice is so much easier to use than fresh chillies – just 1/4 tsp will replace one small red chilli!

To put our Secret Firecracker Chilli Spices through its paces, you could:

  • Serve onion rings (or steak and chips) with a creamy Firecracker Chill dip
  • Make you own salsa by stirring 2 tsp Secret Firecracker Chilli Spices into 400g of chopped tomatoes, onions and fresh coriander (or your own favourite combination of salsa ingredients – tropical fruits, avocado or black beans all work well)
  • Add some to natural yogurt to use to give wraps and pitta bread fillings a cheeky kick. 



Secret Vanilla
Pudding Spices


We’re proud to be the first people in the market with the concept of a sweet seasoning.

Secret Vanilla Pudding Spices cleverly combines voluptuous vanilla with cinnamon, ground coriander seed, ginger and the secret ingredient, roasted cassia.

Cassia – also known as Chinese cinnamon – has a similar appearance to cinnamon bark but with a stronger flavour.  

Roasting it also gives a wonderfully unique toasted flavour, and helps to make our Secret Vanilla Pudding Spices a must-have ingredient for autumn and winter comfort baking. It will add a tasty twist to puddings and desserts – and is especially awesome in a traditional English apple pie.

To savour our Secret Vanilla Pudding Spices you could:

  • Use it as a sweet topping for warming drinks, stirring it into hot chocolate or mixing some with sugar and using as the edging for cocktail glasses.
  • Use some as the dusting for warm donuts, French toast or for churros,
  • Serve it alongside My Secret Kitchen Chocolate Peppermint Fondue
  • Add some to custard or try some in a vanilla, rum and raisin sauce
  • Sprinkle it onto popcorn or onto marshmallows for Halloween parties
  • Use it in the buttercream for a carrot cake – or try it with apple cupcakes with canella buttercream



Our great new gift packs and hampers 


Gift packs

We’ve been hard at work creating a new gift pack range. From perfect stocking fillers such as our £10 Bread & Jam gift box, through to our sumptuous £180 Ultimate Hamper (which comprises a gorgeous 24” wicker hamper and every single one of our products) it’s our biggest and most varied selection ever.

So if you are looking for a present for a food-loving friend, or your business would like to give slightly tastier corporate gifts this year, you’ll be sure to find something that ticks all the right boxes. For more details, simply speak to your local consultant – or for corporate gift enquiries, just contact us directly.

Let’s help each other out! 


We get so busy in the run up to Christmas, so now is a terrific time to join us as a consultant. With the coming demands of next few months, we would really welcome more help.
If the idea of some extra income appeals to you, give us a call on 0845 094 5319 or send us an email to find out more and see whether being a My Secret Kitchen Consultant could work for you.