Snow and Nice

Arctic weather conditions are still with us here in Ireland, with the north and east of the country are experiencing the worst of it.Here in Cork city we did eventually get some snow which has now frozen.I should have been out this morning but we are being warned to only make essential journeys as schools have been closed in and around the city.
Rome was built on 7 hills according to legend but Cork is all hills so we tend to come to a standstill when snow falls!
My snap dragons which I grew from seed and were late flowering are still in bloom at home and out on the plot, despite snow frost and ice!
While I was usurped from my computer I took up baking again and baked nearly every evening. This is a simple Cheesecake using marshmallows instead of gelatine.
Irish Coffee Cheesecake:
Base: 3 ozs Marge/butter
8 ozs digestive biscuits (crushed)
Melt the butter and mix in the crushed biscuits.Line the base of a greased dish with the mixture, put into fridge to set.
8 ozs of Marshmallows
3 fl ozs milk
1 dessert spoon mild coffee
3 tblsps Whiskey or Baileys
1/2 pint cream
8 ozs cream cheese
2 ozs castor sugar.
Put marshmallows,coffee granules,caster sugar and milk in a saucepan over a medium heat.
Keep Stirring!!
Wait until marshmallows melt and leave to cool
Put cream cheese and whiskey/baileys in a bowl and beat until smooth
Whip cream until it stands in soft peaks
Mix cheese mixture and marshmallow mixture, leave until nearly set,
Fold in whipped cream mixing well.
Pour over biscuit base and chill in fridge for at least 2 hours until set
Cupcakes are a firm favourite since SATC made them sexy!
BASIC CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
Pre heat oven to 350F, 180C, gas 4
line a 12 cupcake tine with paper cases
5 oz marge/butter softened
5 ozs caster sugar
6 oz self raising flour
3 eggs
2tbls cocoa powder (I prefer drinking chocolate powder)
1tsp vanilla extract

Beat eggs together
place all ingredients including beaten eggs into a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes until light and fluffy
Fill cases evenly
Bake for approx 20 mins
Leave cool fully before icing

Icing
4 oz icing sugar
2 oz butter
1 oz plain choc
1 tbsp milk.
Melt chocolate and leave to cool
Beat sugar and butter until soft
Add cooled melted chocolate and milk and mix well.
Spread or pipe over cakes and decorate as liked.



Kathryn and the girls went to London for a couple of days to shop and see the sights as they had never been to London.Hyde park was transformed into a huge winter market and playground with skating rink etc. It was very cold as can be seen from the layers of clothing but dry and sunny, they enjoyed the whole experience.