Accidently Vegan Millionaire’s Shortbread

So it finally happened. I submitted my thesis, and now I am in limbo waiting for the final exam, and the next stage to begin. But mostly, I am exhausted.

The last weeks were horrible. I lost all interest in food, had porridge for almost every meal, and developed hideous stomach cramps that took me out for hours. I am fairly sure they are related to stress, but a small creeping doubt has manifested itself, and prompted me to give up dairy.

I have eaten dairy my entire life with no repercussions other than total joy, but recently, I have noticed an uncomfortable correlation between it and hours of unbearable stomach pain, migraines, and general tiredness for days after. I have been lactose free for a month, and so far, so good.

HOWEVER, I am not saying this is it. I think self-diagnosis is dangerous, and now that I have more time, I am definitely going to reintroduce and see what happens. But for now, what I do best, adapted.

Inspired by bake-off, i.e. watching ten variations on millionaire’s shortbread, dairy-full and delicious, forced me to do some research, get into the ‘alternative’ aisles, and construct this…which I would give the ultimate badge of honour, in that it tastes like it is not dairy-free. Which is all I want in a cake.

Accidentally Vegan Millionaires’ Shortbread 

For the shortbread base:

250g plain flour

75g caster sugar

175g Sunflower Spread (or similar) (if you are lactose intolerant, then you can use Lactose free butter for a more buttery taste, although obviously not vegan).

For the Caramel

300g brown sugar, I used a light brown

70ml soya cream

70 ml coconut cream, check the fresh aisle of Marks and Spencer

70 g of Sunflower/Lactose free butter

200g of Dark Chocolate (again here you can choose, I used a dark chocolate with no milk, (Lindt 70%) which is not technically vegan. You could use your own favourite vegan chocolate, or any other!)

Method:

Line a tin with baking paper and grease it. I used a square brownie tin.

I think shortbread genuinely works better in a blender, less hand contact means it is less likely to be rubbery, and remains SHORT, which is the endgame here obvs. Put all the shortbread ingredients in the blender until a rough dough forms. Don’t worry if it is crumbly, that’s perfect.

Tip in the tin, and quickly press out. Use your knuckles, then press out with a fork. Touch it as little as possible to get an even base. Prick all over with a fork and bake for half an hour at Gas Mark 5ish, until golden brown. Leave to cool.

While it is cooking, make the caramel. This requires careful attention so MONITOR and do not touch it. Hot sugar is like lava, and burns forever (see my croque en bouche entry for more on this). Use a heavy bottomed pan. Pour in the sugar and the both creams, and mix until the sugar begins to dissolve. Add the butter. Turn on a medium heat, and stir continuously whilst bringing to the boil.  Turn the heat down, and stir until you reach soft ball stage.

Soft boil stage: drop some caramel into a glass of cold water. If it forms little balls, it is ready. Here is a google search for soft ball stage, because it’s tricky to know. If you have a sugar thermometer then use that, but I don’t, so I didn’t.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=soft+ball+stage&rlz=1C5AVSZ_enGB688GB689&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjk1d_Kxr7WAhXnAcAKHTXkCVEQ_AUICygC&biw=1464&bih=711

When the caramel is ready, take off the heat. Pour over the cooled base. Leave to cool for 20 minutes, then put in the fridge until cool. Don’t put it straight in the fridge, or will destroy everything you hold dear in there.

Melt the chocolate, pour over the (cold) caramel and shortbread layers. Cool until solid. Cut in to squares. Watch bakeoff. Don’t feel left out.

 

Peace and love

Unchained Baking and Danny xx

A post about happiness. With fairycakes.

I am usually happy, even during the most difficult times- especially now that I live in my favourite city, I study and teach for a living, and I am within an arms reach of boyfriend, rather than syncing up our schedules over skype and staying up until 6am. But even then I was happy- sad sometimes, stressed often, lonely occaionally-but happy ran though it.

I suffered anxiety, and still do, but it slowly became manageable- with help and a realisation that you miss out on so much when abstract fears take over. So I try not to let them. I still have the occasional duvet day when I hit Netflix hard and question my life decisions, but who doesn’t. The point is, however utterly disastrous, miserable, upsetting, and awful (and that was just my last haircut) something may seem, there are a million better things waiting.

Today I received some news which was the perfect example of happiness, and it inspired this blog post. So here are five things that make me happy, and my happy fairycakes, the easiest way to feel creative.

1. Be creative.

I have a myriad of projects (largely unfinished) that I relax into after a unproductive archive day or a particularly stressful tutoring session. I have tackled quilts, rugs, bags, pouches, decopatch, cards, paintings, collages- anything that makes me feel productive. Craft projects are the ultimate statement- you were here and you made something……HEAR ME ROAR. Even sewing injuries can’t faze me (for long).

2. Baking.

This was a grumpasaurus rex, made for a sad flatmate. Baking! An extension on creativity perhaps, but nonetheless, a fantastic way to feel happy- and unlike rugs, quilts, bags, cards etc, you can eat what you make.

3. Animals.

My cat is back in Cotswolds and descending into “older cat madness”, but I still love him and miss him every day in London. Being around animals is both relaxing and hilarious, and the feeling can be quite hard to come by, especially as urban foxes and battered pigeons offer little in way of affection. My boyfriend and I pulled on walking boots and heading to Hackney City Farm- for a small square of the Cotswolds within a very urban landscape. Several punky chickens and lazy pigs later, and I felt more relaxed and so happy.

4. Good Deeds.

The cupcakes below were baked for a fundraiser, and it feels so good to do something fun for a good cause. You get a happiness buzz from doing something for others ESPECIALLY if you get the fun of doing something creative in the mean time.

5. Walking.

Walking is the ultimate way to maximise happiness. Its free- very important, it allows you to see every part of a place, and, as we all know from Elle Woods, exercise releases endorphins, and endorphins make you HAPPY. I have never been a runner, despite my mindless optimism, and walking has always made me feel so much better- a healthy, fresh air alternative that doesn’t shatter your kneecaps. The great thing about walking in London- apart from the fact its free, did I mention that?- is that you can pass through parks, markets, high streets and alleyways, and still be within walking distance from home. This place is so varied, and I love that so much.

So anyway. Happiness. And fairy cakes really do embody happiness- creativity, bright colours, enjoyment, eating, sweet things….it goes on. The following were created for various charity events, and I had so much fun inventing patterns for each one.

This post is dedicated to my friends and my family- who I love, whether I am happy or not (I usually am.)

Stay Unchained<3

10 Baking Likes and Dislikes….

Sitting on the train the other day, on the way back from the London library that has been my home for the past three months, I calmed myself with some train doodling. The theme of this scribbling was my baking likes and dislikes, and I’ve collated them here for you. Let me know if you agree or disagree…

…but before I begin, A  moment please to commemorate Ryan…

Likes ❤

1.Great British Bake-off. Obviously. I am writing this blog in the aftermath of a tragic episode. I began in good humours… And now I know. And its going to colour the whole blog, day, life.

However, I cannot tell you the beauty of this programme. There are no producers setting people up to fail, no horrible ‘celebrities’ judges, and the worst insult I’ve ever heard was ‘you’ve slightly overcooked your plums.’ I love bake-off and I loved Ryan damnit. next.

2.Baking Presents.

Baking for someone else is superior to baking for yourself. fact. I’m not talking about the 3am eating cake with your hands alone in halls of residence because you got dumpedwhateverdidn’thappen. I just mean that no-one ever looks sad when confronted with cake.

I presented my wonderful parents with this, to say thank you for the postgraduate support. Focaccia, duo chocolate ginger hearts, hazelnut and dark chocolate biscotti, chocolate cake pops and coconut jam thumbprint biscuits. 🙂

3. Vanilla.

I just love vanilla, any type, any method. I love it.

4.Decorating

Whether it’s rustic or time consuming, decorating and design creates really beautiful baking.

Coconut and Jam Thumbprint Biscuits.

My Piped Roses

5.Cats

Ultimate 3am baking companion. I love my American but he is not baking proficient after 12am- and lonely kitchen syndrome is real. Also Danny never judges me when I chain-eat buttons at 1am. This is perfect company.

Dislikes 😦

1. Caloric Intake.

Speaks for itself. I don’t know why a combination of butter, sugar, butter, flour, chocolate and butter doesn’t aid weightloss. We just don’t know. Let it be. Have some shortbread and live your life.

2. Bananas and Tomatoes

I have seen tarte tatin made with both of these mistakes of nature. What happened in that baker’s  life to make them this way? How dare you. Bananas and tomatoes are the last resort of mad-men and I won’t tolerate it any longer.

3. 3am Baking Failures.

We have all been here.

4. Long Distance Baking

Myself and Evan used to bake, real- time, over skype. It was lovely, I could teach him how to make English puddings that he didn’t fully understand.

However, to those of you who have done long-distance, you know that Skype is switched off in seconds, and the illusion of company is gone. Baking long-distance leaves you alone, with no choice but to eat an entire pie.

5.Cats. Here’s why…

 

Well…..! hope you enjoyed my baking list. My dissertation is in and it’s time to take this SERIOUSLY. Stayed Unchained. ❤