This recipe comes from the BBC Good Food Magazine website, and originally appeared in the magazine in January 2002.

Ingredients

For the cake

225g softened butter, plus extra for greasing

225g golden caster sugar

4 medium eggs

2 limes, grated zest and juice

250g self-raising flour, sifted with a pinch of salt, plus extra flour

25g ground almonds

100g each blueberries and raspberries

For the syrup

8 tbsp lime juice (about 4 limes)

1 lime, grated zest

140g golden caster sugar

Method

1. Line the base and sides of a 20cm/8in square cake tin (not loose-based) with greaseproof paper and butter the paper. Set oven to 180C/Gas 4/fan oven 160C.

2. Cream the butter and sugar together until light. Gradually beat in the eggs, adding a little flour towards the end to prevent curdling. Beat in the lime zest, then fold in the flour and almonds. Fold in enough lime juice – about 3 tablespoons – to give you a good dropping consistency (the mixture should drop easily from the spoon when tapped).

3. Fold in three quarters of the blueberries and raspberries and turn into the prepared tin. Smooth the surface, then scatter the remaining fruit on top – it will sink as the cake rises.

4. Bake for about 1 hour (cover with foil if beginning to brown too much), or until firm to a gentle prod in the centre. A skewer pushed into the centre should be clean when removed.

5. Meanwhile make the syrup: put the lime juice, zest and sugar in a small saucepan. Put over a gentle heat and stir, without allowing to bubble. The sugar should dissolve a little. As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, prick all over with a skewer then spoon the syrup over it. To store, cool before wrapping in paper and/or foil.

6. Carefully remove the cake from the tin, discard the lining paper and cut into 12 pieces to serve. Enjoy!

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This is a delicious combination which makes normal flapjack just that bit more special. The recipe is from the Gu Chocolate Cookbook (another book that comes highly recommended if you have a sweet tooth – you’ll want to make everything! I’ll definitely make these again but will probably double the flapjack amounts and chocolate – we used a brownie pan to make it in, and it didn’t stretch quite far enough. I’ve written the original amounts here. It does taste really good if you chill the flapjack in the fridge overnight before baking, just to make it really chewy.

Ingredients (for a 16 x 25cm baking tin)

125g unsalted butter
50g light soft brown sugar
Pinch of salt
100g golden syrup
1 tbsp condensed milk
225g jumbo oats
100g dark chocolate (original recipe suggests 50% cocoa, but we went for the 85% stuff!)

For the caramel layer

75g light soft brown sugar
75g unsalted butter
200ml condensed milk

Method

1.For the flapjack base, tip the butter, sugar and salt into a pan. Add the golden syrup and condensed milk and gently heat to melt everything together.

2. Tip the oats in and mix well. Scrape the oaty mixture into the baking tin, spread out evenly and cover with cling film. Put it in the fridge to rest overnight if you have time.

3. Preheat the oven to 170C/Gas mark 3 and bake the flapjack for 10-15 minutes or until just starting to go brown around the edges. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

4. Whilst the flapjack is cooling, make the caramel layer by gently heating the sugar and butter in a saucepan, stirring until melted. Add the condensed milk and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5-8 minutes, stirring continuously until the caramel has thickened slightly.

5. Pour the caramel onto the flapjack base and give the tin a tap on the work surface to remove any air bubbles. Place in the fridge to set.

6. When the caramel has set, break the chocolate into small pieces and melt in a bowl over a pan of boiling water. Spread it over the caramel and place it back in the fridge to harden. When the chocolate has set, cut into pieces and enjoy – try not to eat it all at once!

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This is another of my Mum’s tried and tested recipes and it’s really tasty and easy to make. You can either make the pastry yourself, or use cheat pastry from the shop if you want to make it quickly during the week (which is what I did!). Smoked bacon works really well with this recipe, but you could use unsmoked if you prefer. Use a loose bottomed tin for this so that it is easy to remove after baking, and leave to cool for 5 minutes before serving (or serve cold too).

Ingredients (for a 12″ tin, or 2-3 smaller tins)

(For the pastry)
225g/8oz plain flour
125g/40z margarine or butter
A pinch of salt
About 2-3 splashes cold water

(For the filling)
900g smoked bacon joint
2 medium sized leeks
3 eggs
Olive oil
Semi skimmed milk
Black pepper

Method

1. Fill a large pan with cold water and place the bacon joint in the pan. Bring to the boil and cook for around an hour (check the instructions on the pack – I always cook for slightly less than the time given, as it will cook again in the quiche).

2. Meanwhile, to make the pastry, put the margarine, salt and flour into a food processor and blitz (or rub together if using hand method). Slowly add the cold water and mix – just add as much or as little, making sure the mixture is not too wet. Knead a little and then wrap in cling film before chilling in the fridge for at least half an hour.

3. When chilled, roll out the pastry. Grease the tin and then line with the pastry, before blind baking (this works best with baking beans) for around 20 minutes at 200/400/Gas mark 6.

4. Whilst the pastry is cooking, prepare the filling. Chop the leeks length ways and then slice into 1cm pieces. Heat a little olive oil in a pan and soften the leeks for a few minutes.

5. When the bacon is cooked, remove from the pan and leave to cool for a few minutes. Slice into chunks and place in a food processor, blitzing it briefly. Place the bacon in a bowl with the leeks and stir well. Season with black pepper.

6. Beat the eggs and add milk, making it up to around 450ml. Season with black pepper and then add some of it to the bacon and leek mix, stirring well.

7. When the pastry case is cooked, add the filling and spread the mixture evenly. Then slowly pour the egg over until it almost reaches the top of the case (you might need to squash the mixture with a fork to make sure the egg will bind everything together).

7. Place in the oven and bake for around 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. You will need to keep squashing the mixture with a fork during cooking time to make sure that the liquid comes to the top – this will help it to cook quicker and ensure that it is cooked right through.

8. You can eat this hot or cold – if serving hot, it is better to leave to stand for 5 minutes before serving. It goes well with summery salads or winter veg, so enjoy!

You may also like my Tuna and Courgette Quiche! Both quiches freeze really well – just reheat for around 25 minutes.

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Ingredients (for a 12″ tin, or 2-3 smaller tins)

(For the pastry)
225g/8oz plain flour
125g/40z margarine or butter
A pinch of salt
About 2-3 splashes cold water

(For the filling)
2 medium sized courgettes, grated
2 tins tuna in brine or spring water (but not oil!)
3 eggs
Semi skimmed milk
Black pepper

Method

1. To make the pastry, put the margarine, salt and flour into a food processor and blitz (or rub together if using hand method). Slowly add the cold water and mix – just add as much or as little, making sure the mixture is not too wet. Knead a little and then wrap in cling film before chilling in the fridge for at least half an hour.

2. When chilled, roll out the pastry. Grease the tin and then line with the pastry, before blind baking (this works best with baking beans) for around 20 minutes at 200/400/Gas mark 6.

3. Whilst the pastry is cooking, prepare the filling. Grate the courgettes and then squeeze out as much of the water as you can – this is really messy, but much better than a soggy quiche!

4. Drain the tuna and add to the courgettes, stirring well. Season with black pepper.

5. Beat the eggs and add milk, making it up to around 450ml. Season with black pepper and then add some of it to the tuna and courgette mix, stirring well.

6. When the pastry case is cooked, add the filling and spread the mixture evenly. Then slowly pour the egg over until it almost reaches the top of the case (you might need to squash the mixture with a fork to make sure the egg will bind everything together).

7. Place in the oven and bake for around 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. You will need to keep squashing the mixture with a fork during cooking time to make sure that the liquid comes to the top – this will help it to cook quicker and ensure that it is cooked right through.

8. You can eat this hot or cold – if serving hot, it is better to leave to stand for 5 minutes before serving. It goes well with summery salads or winter veg, so enjoy!

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