Coffee and Cake

I've been more than a little impressed with Asda's home wares collection recently. I don't know what they've done but suddenly it's all very gorgeous, and affordable too. You may remember a few weeks ago that I shared my new tea towels (and may I just say that I love being able to do that here and that none of you think I'm bonkers) and, well, I sort of went back and bought some more. Oh, and I have matching mugs too - I bought them about a month ago and they have become firm favourites. I wish they'd do some matching place mats, I really need some new ones, the wipeable sort. We are a messy family.

I had fun picking a few bits and bobs which I like...mugs, cushions, lamps, pretty things:

And there's other stuff not in the stores, like coffee tables, sofas - everything you might need to enjoy coffee and cake, really. And talking of which, here is a recipe for you. It's my mum's, her go-to, foolproof, fail-safe, cake-tin filler of a recipe, and it's become mine too. It's ridiculously easy (to make and to eat) and only uses one bowl. 

Ingredients:

1 lb or 450 g oats

8 oz or 225 g sugar (brown or white, although I prefer the toffee flavour brown gives)

8 oz or 225 g butter

3 tbsp golden syrup

Method: 

• Pre-heat the oven to 180°C or 350°F.
• Melt together the sugar, butter and syrup. I always do this in a large bowl in the microwave, although you could do it in a saucepan on the hob. 
• Stir in the oats.
• Tip into a square baking dish and press flat.
• Bake for 15 minutes.
• As they are cooling, cut them into squares. You'll easily get 16 large flapjacks.
• Store in a tin - they keep for ages, a week easily.

Variations:

Add grated apple and cinnamon, or chocolate and banana chips, or sultanas and cherries to the mixture before baking. 

You could cover them with melted chocolate while they are still in the tin, before cutting them. That's very good indeed.

They are good for snacking, lunchboxes and coffee breaks. I always intend to eat one while sitting down with a cup of coffee and a magazine, but what usually happens is I eat it standing up at the kitchen worktop while waiting for the kettle to boil. But that's just greedy old me.

This is a sponsored post, in collaboration with Asda.