Yule Log (Buche de Noel)

This is just such a classic and you can’t have Christmas without it!
As it’s very chocolaty I serve it with some home made custard, yummy..

Chocolate Log

Makes 1 Yule log and a pot of Custard

This is what you need;
4 eggs
75g caster sugar
25g dark Muscovado sugar
65g self-raising flour
40g cocoa powder

For the Ganache
300g dark chocolate
300ml double cream

For the Custard
4 egg yolks
50g sugar
250 ml whole milk
seeds of 2 vanilla pods

Let’s get started with the Ganache, put everything in a heatproof bowl and put over a sauce pan with simmering water, do not let the later touch the bowl. Stir and make sure that the chocolate has melted then cover and put in the fridge to set.
Preheat your oven 200C/400F/Gas 6.
Start by whisking your eggs and sugar until you have a frothy and pale mixture, then sift the flour and cocoa powder then fold in with a metal spoon. In a 30cm x 20cm greased and lined baking tray carefully pour out the mixture and make sure you get it all the way out to the corners. Bake in the middle of the oven for 10 min. Turn the sponge out on a baking parchment that’s slightly bigger, then on the long side of the sponge cut a 2.5 cm long insertion and roll up the sponge and let it cool. Once the ganache is ready roll out your sponge and fill with half of the ganache and spread evenly. Cut the edges so they are even, then roll up your sponge and cut a 10cm piece from the side, slab a bit of ganache on the angled side then attach it to the rest of the log. Then pipe the rest of the ganache to your taste then sift some icing sugar on top and serve.

For the custard; Whisk the egg yolks and sugar then in a saucepan heat the milk, once simmering, pour slowly into the egg yolks and stir until fully combined, then transfer back into the saucepan and whisk until you have the thickness you desire.

Enjoy x

My Christmas Dinners

Due to being a hostess over the Christmas period I have not had time to blog, sorry!
Put here are some pictures from my Christmas dinners listing all the festive treats.

Scandinavian Christmas Dinner

What’s on the table?

Scandinavian Christmas Dinner    image(4)

  • Swedish Christmas Ham (Cured, Boiled then covered in mustard and cloves and bakes in the oven)
  • Fish Pudding (Savory Rice pudding mixed with poached white fish and a sprinkle of nutmeg, bakes in the oven)
  • Fish Gratin (Same recipe as Gratin but you layer the dish with Anchovies and and mix the cream and the Anchovies oil)
  • Pork Joint roast (recipe to be found on the blog)
  • Pickled Cucumber (recipe to be found on the blog)
  • White/Red Cabbage (recipe to be found on the blog)
  • Meat patties (Beef mince, 1 egg, nutmeg, salt, pepper, flour, baking powder, grated onion)
  • Meatballs
  • Sausages
  • Pickled Fish
  • Boiled Potatoes
  • Christmas Bread (recipe to be found on the blog)
  • Kransekake (recipe to be found on the blog)
  • Gravy ((recipe to be found on the blog in the same post as the roast)

This is a mix of Norwegian and Swedish Christmas Dinner, if you want the recipe for any of the above email me or just comment below.

English Christmas Dinner

English Christmas Dinner   Chocolate Log

What’s on the table?

  • Roast Turkey (Roast for 20 min/kg + 70 min, I roasted mine in a roasting bag with onions, sage and a cinnamon stick)
  • Roasted Potatoes (Roasted with Goose fat, salt and pepper)
  • Yorkshire puddings
  • Gravy (recipe to be found on the blog)
  • Pickled Cucumbers (recipe to be found on the blog)
  • Roasted Parsnips and Carrots (Roasted with olive oil, pinch of all spice and golden syrup)
  • Pigs in blankets
  • Brussels sprouts (cut a cross in the bottom and boil until super green then take them off the heat)
  • Yule Log (recipe to be found on the blog)
  • Custard (recipe to be found on the blog)

As my family came over from Sweden I wanted to treat them to a traditional Christmas dinner, if you want the recipe for any of the above just email me or comment below.

Merry Christmas and a Happy 2014 x