Bucket Lists

Do you ever feel that you don't actually know your city properly?! 

I was born in Aberdeen and then moved away when I was 9 years old only to return 2 years ago to be close to family again. Sometimes I feel like a stranger in my own city. This year my New Years resolution was to try as many new places in Aberdeen as I could... those old man pubs you are always too scared to go to.. that museum that you always pass wanting to go into for a snoop but don't have time for etc!?

So I am going to make a list on here of all the places I want to visit in Aberdeenshire so that I might actually manage to do some (everyone loves checking off from lists right!?) and I am hoping I will do little reviews along the way. Maybe it will come in handy for those of you who visit Aberdeen at some point in the future.. 

Museums/History/Learn

1. Aberdeen Maritime Museum
2. Aberdeen Art Gallery
3. Provost Skene's House
4. Cowdray Hall - for a lunchtime concert
5. The Tolbooth Museum
6. Gordon Highlanders Regimental Museum
7. Pitmedden Garden and Museum of Farming
8. Winter Gardens at Duthie Park
9. North East Falconry Centre
10. University of Aberdeen Library
11. Satrosphere
12. Castle Fraser
13. Haddo House
14. Drum Castle
15. Craigievar Castle
16. Fyvie Castle

Food

1. Silver Darling
2. The Stage Door
3. Cafe Boheme
4. Rustico
5. Cocoa
6. The Mariner Hotel
7. Ashvale Restaurant
8. Cinnamon
9. The Station Hotel
10. The George Hotel
11. Cafe 52
12. Manchuria Restaurant
13. Siagon
14. Mango Pickle
15. Blue Moon 
16. Yorokobi
17. Oryza Sushi
18. La Stella
19. Nargile 

Drink

1. Malones
2. The Abercrombie
3. The Howff
4. McGintys
5. The Albyn
6. College Bar
7. Dizzys
8. The Prince of Wales
9. The Malt Mill
10. Brewdog
11. Balmoral Lounge
12. The Shortmile 
13. Ferryhill Hotel

Outdoors/Play

1. Bennachie Hill Walk
2. Duthie Park
3. Hazelhead Park - Animal Petting and Maze etc
4. Balmedie Beach
5. Tyrebagger Wood
6. Aberdeen City Beach - Walk a giant bit of it
7. Union Terrace Gardens - before it changes
8. Aberdeen Harbour 
9. Doonies Farm
10. Codonas Pleasure Fairs
11. Storybook Glen
12. The Railway Line
13. AFC stadium
14. Footdee (Fittie)
15. River Don
16. Thainstone Car Boot Sales

When I write it out like that it seems a lot to do but I think I will be adding to the list for a while yet.. I plan to mark each off as I go along so keep track. 

Hope you have a lovely weekend and get to enjoy the weather tomorrow!!

Love M Xx

Coffee and Walnut Cake

Who doesn't love cake!? My mums favourite is Coffee and Walnut cake, which is two things I don't really love so never wanted to cook but after some pestering I decided to give it a try. Here is the recipe that I found from Nigella and I adapted a little for what I had at home...

INGREDIENTS

For the sponge:

50g walnut pieces

225g caster sugar

225g soft unsalted butter, plus some for greasing

200g plain flour

4 teaspoons instant coffee granules 

2 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder

1⁄2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

4 eggs

1 tablespoons of sour cream (just use a little milk if easier)

For the buttercream frosting:

350g icing sugar

175g soft unsalted butter

2 teaspoons instant coffee powder and 2 teaspoons of boiling water

2 tablespoons of cream cheese

8-12 walnut halves, to decorate

You will need: 2 x 20cm sandwich tins

Set your oven for 180oC.

With a rolling pin or food blender blitz the walnut until a powder (it will be a little damp) and mix with the sugar. 

It is such a light and fluffy batter

In a large bowl mix this with the flour, eggs, butter (I often cheat and half melt it in the microwave), coffee (which should be mixed with a little hot water first), baking powder and bicarb and then add some sour cream/milk to make a light batter. Split this between 2 sandwich tins and cook for 25-30 minutes till brown and clean when you pull a screwer out of the middle.

Let the cakes cool and then ice with the buttercream frosting (just mix all ingredients) between the 2 cakes layered on top of each other(make sure you have plenty for the top) then decorate with walnut halves. 

I was surprised at how light this cake was with so many eggs, it was lovely and moist too. I will definitely be making this again. You could add more coffee if you like it strong but I thought it might take away from the walnuts so I kept it quite light for my first attempt.   

Serve and enjoy..

Tada... The finished Coffee and Walnut Cake.
I wish I had taken a photo of the slices but I ate it too fast sorry!