Twist it up

Bread is always a wonderful gift for a dinner party host or hostess. Even the pretty crude rosemary rolls I brought to my sister's for dinner were well received when used to mop up her delicious lasagna. This twisted loaf is filled with green pesto, but you could use red pesto or tomato sauce and cheese for a pizza version. We served up the bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil and everyone tore in. 

Once I'd kneaded my second batch of dough (the first was a flop, made with out-of-date yeast),

I rolled it out, spread pesto all over (fresh, as ever, is best, but the jar stuff does the job), and rolled it up lengthways. I sliced it down lengthways and then, on a baking tray, twisted the two halves together. This makes a right royal mess but looks beautiful once it's done. Try it to take to a dinner party this weekend!

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Salted Caramel

Today I have cooked. And cooked. And cooked. 

Not for the faint-hearted, this chocolatey goodness is closer to a mousse than a cake, in that it involves six eggs, with whites beaten into cloudy foam. It's a bit unusual with a touch of cardamom and cinnamon to spice up the sweetness. It's topped with salted caramel - which seems to divide my family and friends into fans and foes. I'm a former, and the extra jug of caramel sauce went down all-too-quickly. We served this up with crème fraîche (which, to be honest, no one chose), ice cream, cream and caramel sauce. It's a beast. Enjoy it.