Cake Up Your Mug

It took me a while to come up with this blog title, it's not even that great but because I don't want to waste it I'm going to explain it - though I am sure you are all understood it's layered meaning ;)

1. It's a cake in a mug so you are literally caking up your mug.
2. Mug can refer to your face and unless your planning on giving it to someone else (highly doubtful - it is delish) you'll be caking up your mug (face) as well.

This is the result of studying English Language for two years at college, I have a greater appreciation for language and its potential so I try to exploit it as often as I can.

But you're not here to hear me, but to have the recipe!

I was feeling peckish so I just typed in on the internet "cake in a mug recipes" my sister has made quite a few before and they didn't look that difficult. Results in seconds.

I chose this one: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2405644/microwave-mug-cake. It's very simple and quick.

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons self raising flour
• 4 tablespoons caster sugar (any kind)
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 3 tablespoons oil (vegetable/sunflower)
• 2-3 drops vanilla essence (any flavour you want really)
• 2 tablespoons chocolate chips

I didn't have all the ingredients, the ones in bold are the ones you really need - the other are extras and not necessary for the cake!

Method:

1. Choose a pretty big mug - mine was one of those low but really wide ones and it filled it completely. Probably you don't want the mixture to come up more than half of a regular sized mug. It will explode in the microwave otherwise.

2. Put the flour, sugar and cocoa in the mug and mix together.

3. Now add the egg. Mix it into the dry ingredients - there isn't enough to get the whole mixture wet so don't worry just stir as much as you can - it will become a little stiff.

4. Add the milk and mix it in - stir well make sure all the dry ingredients are covered and the flour and cocoa lumps are gone.

5. Add the oil (I thought 3 tablespoons was a bit much so I just put 2 in and it turned out okay). Stir well and make sure the mixture is all stirred together.

6. At this point add any flavourings and the chocolate chips if you want them. Mix them in well.

7. Put your mug in the microwave. It takes between 3-5 minutes depending on how well cooked you want it. It will rise pretty fast.*

8. I poured cream on mine, tastes even nicer but that's your choice!

*I put mine in for four minutes but the middle was a little dry - I would say stick it in for three pull it out and check it with a spoon down the middle. If it is too sticky put it back in for another 30 seconds - a minute.

Meringues

I knew what went into meringues, egg whites and caster sugar but I didn't know the ratios or cooking time. It took me ages to find a simple meringue recipe I don't know how people manage to add so many extra ingredients. Eventually I found a really good one, http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4630/summer-berry-meringues.

Meringue Recipe:

• 3 egg whites
• 150g caster sugar

With those quantities I made thirteen palm sized meringues, probably call that twelve good sized ones and then you can make up the quantities from there.

Method:

1. Preheat the oven at 1/4 gas (mine doesn't have that setting so I just stuck it somewhere between 1 and 2) for electric 110, fan electric 90.

2. Separate the eggs, all three of them and put the whites in a mixing bowl.

3. Electrically whisk the egg whites, whisk them until they get thick and foamy. If you drag the whisk through the peaks should stay.

4. Weigh out the caster sugar into a bowl.

5. Add the caster sugar to the egg whites a spoonful at a time. Don't add the next spoon until the previous one has been mixed in completely.

6. When all the sugar has been added keep whisking until the egg whites are really glossy they should shine.

7. Line a tray with baking parchment then spoon the meringue mix onto it in circles. I did mine palm sized. 

8. Cook for 2 hours until they are crispy and you can pull them off the tray easily.

 

 Mine turned out pretty well. One issue I noticed was some sugar-caramelised thing that came out of some of the meringues, I think I didn't get all the caster sugar mixed in properly. Something to work on for next time.

 

The recipe I took this from suggested some summer fruits thing to go with it but I didn't have the ingredients so I covered some with raspberry jam instead. It tasted really nice.

It was fun making them, they tasted good and I can't wait to make them again.