Caramel Apple Traybake

I've got an oven!!! I know this is a fairly standard piece of kitchen equipment, but when I moved in, back in August, the oven was ripped out and I was left with a gaping hole in my kitchen. Actually, more accurately, I was left with no kitchen - the whole thing was ripped out, and new pieces are slowly being put in, as and when there's a free weekend.

Now it's finally starting to look like a kitchen, I jumped at the chance to do some Autumn baking. The leaves on the trees are starting to turn, and the air is just that little bit crisper. High time for the flavours of Autumn to come out to play. So without further ado, I give you Caramel Apple Traybake, with a crumbly, biscuity (slightly burnt, thanks new oven) topping. I used a muffin recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction, every so slightly modified, and then poured a standard caramel sauce recipe over the top. Just to make it extra naughty and extra delicious.

Apple Traybake

Topping
140g Light Brown Sugar
25g Granulated Sugar
120g Melted Unsalted Butter
170g Plain Flour

1. Mix the sugars with the melted butter.
2. Stir in the flour to form a thick, crumbly, uhm.... crumb! Then set aside.

Cake
115g Unsalted Butter
100g Light Brown Sugar
50g Granulated Sugar
2 Eggs
120g Greek Yoghurt
220g Plain Flour
2tsp Baking Powder
60ml Milk
2 Apples chopped into chunks (when weighed, mine were around 250g)

1. Combine the butter and sugars.
2. Add the two eggs, followed by the yoghurt.
3. Fold in the flour and baking powder.
4. Gradually add the milk.
5. Fold in the chopped apples.

- Pop the mix into a lined tray, then spread the topping over the mix.
- Bake at 200 degrees for around 40 mins. Keep an eye on the topping, you might need to cover the bake with tinfoil halfway through to stop it from catching!

Caramel Sauce
200g Granulated Sugar
90g Salted Butter
120ml of Double Cream

1. Heat the sugar in a pan, stirring all the time until it forms clumps, then melts down into an amber liquid.
2. As soon as you have the liquid, add the butter - it'll splash everywhere, so watch out!
3. Once the butter melts, add the double cream, stirring alllll the time. Once again, watch out, because there will be lots of bubbling.
4. Let it bubble for about a minute, then remove from the heat and allow to cool.
5. Put half in a piping bag and top your traybake. The rest will last in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of weeks, but you'll to warm it up for a few seconds in the microwave to use it.

Clerk's Bar

The idea of one day living in Edinburgh has always been the dream for me. Some people want to climb Everest, others want a different pair of shoes for every day of the week - I just wanted Edinburgh. I never had a rational explanation for it, the closest I could get is that my Dad's never ending, as yet unexplained fascination with the city rubbed off on me.

When moving suddenly and quite unexpectedly became a reality, I was both completely overexcited and completely terrified. Terror that it wouldn't live up to my expectations, excitement that, well, it would! One of the things that most excited me was the prospect of some really good food (shocker). Not to put down the Frozen North, but after four years in a pretty small city, I was well versed in all of the affordable yet delicious options out there.

So far, I've struck lucky with eating out, very lucky. One of the first places I stumbled into was Clerk's Bar. It specialises in slow cooked meat and craft beers, and I've been back three times. In three weeks. The food is that good (their Monday night quiz is a good one too!)

On my first trip I basically fell through the door after climbing Arthur's Seat on just a bowl of weetabix. Spoilt for choice by the menu, I was pleased that there was a good variety of food ordered by the table, and I got to have a little nose at each thing.

First up, a burger, which comes with onion rings and salad anyway, but a hungry climber also topped it with cheese, bacon and pulled pork. Personally I think I would have died from the sheer volume of meat if I'd have eaten it, but it got a big thumbs up from the person who had to actually eat it, and that's all that matters!

I opted for a small portion of ribs and some sweet potato fries, and I'm not sure which bit was better. There was heaps of meat on the ribs and it fell off the bone as soon as you started to pick them up. The sauce was tangy and, happily, not overwhelming. The fries were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and there's a high chance that I could happily live off them for the foreseeable future if I had to.

Although the both the pulled pork (below) and chicken burritos hit the spot after our energetic afternoon, it has since been concluded (after rigorous taste testing) that actually, the beef is the one to go for.

With it's cool decor, mouthwatering food and a beer collection that gets the boys very excited, I'm not surprised Clerk's is packed out every time I go in. It's got a fantastic atmosphere. But, really, top marks go to the staff, who are possibly some of the nicest I've ever encountered.

You can find all of this goodness at: 

74-78 South Clerk Street

Edinburgh

Hello

I know. It's been nearly a month. There's tumble weeds that have taken over my blog. 

Since we last spoke, I have moved to Edinburgh.

I have become an expert in building IKEA furniture, painting walls* and living with just a microwave and a temperamental sink.

I have fought a long hard battle with EE, and finally got my little flat connected after three weeks offline.

I have started a Masters and applied for all the part time jobs.

I have become so lost that at one point I had to ring someone, describe my surroundings and get them to direct me based on them.

I climbed a big hill. Yes, that one up there!

I have made some great friends and found myself a flatmate - who thought I was normal until she helped me unpack my kitchen stuff. My six boxes of kitchen stuff.

It's been more than a little bit challenging; an enormous adjustment from the Frozen North. But now that I have an oven and a basic understanding of how to get from A to B, I'm feeling better, and I'm ready to start sharing again. I'm excited to start sharing again! And I'm definitely excited to start catching up with my endless, unread bloglovin' feed.

But for now, I leave you with some more pictures from my afternoon up Arthur's Seat.

*Except not because I accidentally painted the living room wall lilac. Colour charts are not my friend.