Winter is here

Well it is June 2nd so winter is officially here! The nights are growing cooler and we are making use of our wood fire in the lounge. The countryside has been transformed by the rain we received in April....everything is green and lush now...such a contrast to when we arrived in February!

Quince Paste Cup Cakes

125g butter

1/2 cup castor sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

zest of 1 lemon

1 1/4 cup plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

2 tblsp milk

quince paste

Preheat the oven to 180C. Line a 9 hole muffin tray with paper cases.

Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and creamy. Beat in the eggs, vanilla and lemon zest.

Fold in the sifted flour and baking powder along with the milk.

Divide half the mixture amongst the 9 cases. Top the mix with a 1cm square of quince paste and then cover with the rest of the mix.

Bake for 25mins.

Allow to cool then ice. To make the icing melt 1 tblsp of quince paste with 2 tblsp lemon juice. Mix in 1/2 cup of icing sugar.

The quince paste I used is homemade. When my mum was here we managed to make both quince jelly and quince paste. The paste is great with a nice sharp vintage cheddar and you could use it solely for that but I thought I would try and experiment a bit with the sweet side of things!