Those who actually read my posts will know I always go on about the weather!! I can't help it...I am an island girl after all!! The weather has been excellent over the past few days......I love seeing my washing drying on the clothes line with the smell of washing powder and comfort filling the air. I love the longer evenings, and that we can maybe be just about brave enough to go out in a t-shirt! (that doesn't include me - I'm still wearing a scarf indoors).

But dark, cold evenings does mean more time to look at Pinterest to find more ideas and things to bake, so Hmm how about these below........probably about two thousand calories per slice - I wouldn't even try to work it out!!

Chocolate Cookie, Oreo, Brownies - a layer of chocolate chip cookie dough, covered in oreo's, smothered in brownie mix and baked to perfection!!

Oven temperature 180 degrees Celcius, greased and lined 9 x 13 inch pan

Cookie Dough

1 cup butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup dark brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups plain flour

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1 cup chocolate chips

2 pkts oreos

Brownie Mix

350g dark chocolate, broken into small pieces

250g butter

3 eggs

250g dark brown sugar

100g plain flour

1 teaspoon baking powder.

Method

To make the cookie dough - Cream the butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract. Add the flour and bicarbonate of soda and mix together until all the flour disappears. Mix in the chocolate chips. Press the cookie dough into the prepared pan.

Lay the oreos over the cookie dough and then set aside.

To make the brownie Mix - Melt the chocolate and butter together in a heat proof bowl ( I use the microwave). In another bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together until pale and fluffy. fold the chocolate into the egg mixture with a large metal spoon. Fold in the flour and baking powder.

Pour the mixture over the oreos and cookie dough and spread out. Bake for approximate 40 minutes until the surface is set and slightly cracked on the top. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin.

For extra calories - add ice cream or cream and serve while the brownie bars are still warm.......then eat nothing but carrot sticks for the rest of the week!!!

I have been rather lazy recently......wanting to update my posts but just not getting sorted and getting down to it!! I am blaming it on the recent cold snap - I'm a Leo - so I need sun, sun, sun....so the recent cold spell has left me feeling pretty despondent!! Still there have been moments of joy.....seeing Snow Patrol on a rather snowy night in Birmingham in early February was brilliant! I am also lucky to have a lovely family who appreciates all my baking efforts and this caramel apple cake was definitely one that was a lovely treat on a cold evening and boy did it taste good!! A moist sponge with lots of apple pieces, enrobed in caramel = heaven!!

3 cups plain flour

2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

4 eggs

1 cup sunflower oil

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups apples finely chopped

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Caramel

1 cup dark brown sugar

6 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons cream

Heat the oven to 180 C/ 350 F/ Gas Mark 4. Lightly Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan

Mix the flour, sugar, baking soda and cinnamon together in a bowl.

In another large bowl, beat together the eggs, oil and vanilla until light and foamy.

Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture with a spoon and stir until the flour is combined. (It will be a little stiff and gluey, but will loosen when the apples are added.)

Stir in the apples and nuts if using.

Scrap the batter into the pan and bake for about 45 minutes until golden, risen and cooked.

Remove the cake from the oven, leave it in the pan and place on a wire rack.

For the Caramel

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and cook, stirring all the time over a medium heat until the mixture gently boils. Cook for 2 -3 mins after the mixture begins to boil. Remove the saucepan from the heat, then pour the caramel over the hot cake. Leave the cake to cool before serving.