Can't stop craving coffee

The whole point of this earlier post was to cure my coffee cravings my making a coffee cake. It worked reasonably well.

Inspite of some strong cravings and the fact that on any given work day I walk past at least six establishments where I could purchase a cup, I have been off the liquid bliss for quite a while.

As a result my sinus headaches all but disappeared.

I got over-confident last Sunday morning when I found myself at a friend's house for brunch. A friend who has a fantastic coffee machine. It would have been rude to refuse a cup.

That latte was out of this world.

Did I ever pay for it though.

A few short hours later and I started to lose my sense of smell and I knew I'd pushed it too far. Just proof that coffee really isn't for me.

So I'm back on the coffee cake wagon.

Today's coffee cake version is care of Delia Smith, the merticulousy magnificant English cook.

While my list of 'favourite' chefs/cooks/food writers

is long and varied Delia will always be number 1.

I promise you, that no harm can come to your baking

or cooking when a Delia recipe is being followed.

Here is the recipe for Delia Smith's Austrian Coffee and Walnut Cake with Coffee Cream.

The only variation I made to the recipe

was to use only mascapone in the coffee cream,

I simply doubled the amount required.

Cure a Craving with Cake

I love coffee.

Whether it be made at home or a barrista is fine by me.

So long as it's not instant I'll drink it in a heart beat.

Sadly I've had to cut coffee from my life as it's been

adding to my sinus headache problems of late.

Being half Italian has made this a very difficult task indeed.

The results are worth it as my head feels better

but I'm still craving coffee on a daily basis.

I'm hoping that the coffee cake below will help me somewhat.

Melt 'N' Mix Coffee Cake

(Recipe from The Australian Women's Weekly Quick Mix Cakes)

125g butter, chopped

2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/3 cup castor sugar

1/2 cup milk

2 teaspoons instant coffee powder (I used ground coffee beans)

2 eggs

1 + 1/2 cups self-raising flour

Grease a 14cm by 21cm loaf pan

Combine butter, sugars, milk and coffee in medium sauce pan. Stir over low heat without boiling until butter in melted. Stand 10 minutes. Stir in eggs and flour. Pour into prepared pan. Bake in moderate over about 40 minutes. Turn onto wire rack to cool. Ice if desired.