Dawn's Kitchen

This week's recipe..... well, I say recipe but it's not so much a recipe as throwing ingredients in a Nutribullet.
Try as I might, I cant face eating breakfast in the morning.... but I can happily drink it, slow time, over the course of a morning.
Possibly, because it takes me a while to finish it but also likely due to the high protein, it also stops me getting brunchy munchy.

The Incredible Bulk Smoothie 💚
(named because it’s green… and keeps you feeling full)

Ingredients:
• 50g spinach (don’t panic, you can’t taste it… promise)
• 100g berries (my fave combo is 50/50 raspberries and blueberries)
• 10g milled chia seeds
• 10g milled flax seeds
• 2–3 Brazil nuts (tiny but mighty)
• 30g whey protein (my fave is chocolate hazelnut flavour)
• 250ml plant milk (soya, oat, almond)

Method:
Chuck it all in a Nutribullet/liquidiser.
Blitz it till it's combined.
I throw all of the ingredients, other than the milk, in 3 jugs, to save time in the morning for a meal prep win.

Why it’s basically magic:
✔️ 37g protein (hello gains 💪 ....OR if you're my age, hello none-crumbly bones)
✔️ Keeps you full till lunch
✔️ Nearly all your daily fibre & calcium
✔️ 100% vitamin C + 300% vitamin A (basically a multivitamin in a cup)

It’s healthy. It’s filling (honest, im definitely not a couldnt eat a whole Mars Bar kind of girl and this really does keep me full till lunch).
Plus, it’s delicious!

Give it a go and let me know.
Dx

Hello… remember me?!

After another false start, on a new location, I'm taking a new approach for now.
Free online content.....but just for now.

Did somebody say...

✨ FREEBIES ✨

We’re kicking things off with Basbousa 🇪🇬
A soft, syrup-soaked semolina cake that’s light, comforting, and just sweet enough. Perfect served warm with a cuppa, no fuss, no fancy ingredients processes or equipment, just proper feel-good baking.

I’ve got a tried, tested, small-portion recipe in the comments waiting for you👇

(And yes… you can absolutely scale it if you’re feeding the masses 😉).

Give it a try and let me know what you think.
Dx

What happens when you blend a classic with a trend…

✨ Dubai chocolate inspired doughnuts ✨

Fresh from the fryer.
Filled with silky pistachio cream.
Topped with a shard of Dubai chocolate — just a hint of the luxury within.

Honestly? Not quite my favourite. A little too rich… and dare I say… a bit boring 😅

Give me a Biscoff and jam filling any day.
Custard? Yes please.
Classic comfort always wins in my book.

So where did I find myself in doughnut nirvana?

Playing with flavours for a private doughnut class for the most delightful group of ladies — the annual Dawn’s Kitchen reunion class 💛

A perfect chance to test-drive my new location…
and experiment with some exciting new flavour combinations!

Now tell me —
What’s your ultimate doughnut filling? 🍩✨
Dx

Note to self..... check the quantities when online shopping. So what do you make when you thought you were ordering 500g lentils and 5 kilograms arrives?! Dx🫤

My current status is.....
Sadly waving goodbye to Ferrero Rocher and Candy Kittens for breakfast season 😔 😟 🙁.
Dx

Ultimate Trifle!!

Several years ago we decided to revisit a traditional family favourite: Bird’s Trifle. Honestly, it’s not just ultra-processed it’s mega, final-boss-level ultra-processed… but like many flavours of childhood, it’s inexplicably delicious.

However.
I can make every single component of a trifle from scratch, so this year I decided it was time to upcycle it. Possibly gentrify it. Definitely over-engineer it.

Here we go....
I used this recipe to make the savoiardi (ladyfingers):
https://www.marcellinaincucina.com/sponge-fingers-recipe/

Next: raspberry jelly.
I made a sugar syrup, softened some frozen raspberries in it, then mashed and sieved them to remove the seeds because I am not a monster. My one compromise with premade ingredients: I had some leftover red berry coulis that I refused to waste, so that went in too. Bloomed gelatine added and bish bash bosh—JELLY.

Assembly – Part 1:
Pour jelly into a glass bowl.
Cram in as many bits of savoiardi as physically possible (arguably the best bit).
Refrigerate overnight.

Controversial observation:
No fruit. No alcohol.
Although this was an upcycle, I wanted to stay true to the original concept, so no sherry. If you feel your alcohol levels are dangerously low feel free to make your own adaptations and chuck in some sherry... Or and you might tempt me on this but maybe your custard is begging for some Baileys?

On that note.... Custard time.
My standard recipe, but with extra cornflour, some clotted cream, and an amount of vanilla that some might describe as “excessive” and I would describe as “correct”.

Assembly – Part 2:
Custard goes on top of the jelly.

Dream topping:
My classic whipped chantilly cream (again… maximum vanilla). Then I added a tub of mascarpone because life is short and dairy is joyful.

Final assembly:
Blob the topping all over the custard, then gently spread with a spatula like you’re tucking it in. Finish with hundreds and thousands or chocolate strands because restraint is overrated.

It is genuinely epic.
Trifle nirvana.
Bird’s Trifle, thank you for your service, but your watch has ended.

Let me know if you want the full recipe.
Dx

Bakers and crafters.... Just me?
Dx

She's not a looker but perfect for the end of a heavy meal.

Spiced vanilla panna cotta 🍮, splash of couli, sprinkle of pistacchios. Job done!!
And relax.....
Merry Christmas from DK.
Dx

DING DING DING 🔔 Round 2!
Plain rice ✔️
Bombay potatoes ✔️
Curry… ✔️

Or should I say The Dawn Special 😏
A curry that started life as a jalfrezi, flirted with butter chicken, took a hint from korma, then got a serious kick from scotch bonnets from the Chilli Mash Company🌶️🔥.

At this point it’s less a recipe and more its own legend.

Still pud to go… it’ll be a challenge, but I reckon we can just about squeeze in a small portion 😅🍰
Dx

Christmas lunch this year was a bit different!! 🎄✨
We still had all the trimmings
..... Just with a twist....💫
Poppadoms, samosas, onion bhajis & chutneys to start…
Coming up next, the main event… A Christmas curry feast! 🍛🔥
Be honest.... would you swap turkey for curry?

Dx