Baking and Books discussion

So, I'm really struggling with a throat infection - my voice has completely gone - my inclination is always to bake but I'm so tired I couldn't be bothered to do proper cake. A friend suggested I try this one: http://zoomyummy.com/2011/11/11/5-min...

It's nice enough but it exploded in the microwave and is both slightly dry and slightly rubbery. My suspicion is that my microwave is too fierce. Does anyone have any other favorite fast cakes, or can you suggest what I can tweak next time?

ugh :( exploded! With you sick and all that wouldn't be fun. I hope you feel better soon.

What about baking something like Brownies (I'm not sure if that's what you call them in the UK) where you just use one bowl, no mixer and they are pretty fast?

Here's a recipe I've used, but I use melted butter instead of the oil...

href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mmm-mmm-...

I found some recipes for the same sort of thing you tried, but one at least talks about microwave wattage..do you know what wattage your microwave actually is?

I think it's a 700w, but it's particularly vicious...has a tendancy towards hotspots. I'm going to try that same recipe without the chocolate and dump loads of golden syrup over it next time. :)

They look like good brownies! I thought about flapjacks, too, but realised my flapjack/brownie dish was at the back of the cupboard and I was too tired to dig it out...

Flapjack? We call pancakes 'flapjacks' sometimes. But we wouldn't use the same type of pan we use for brownies. Are those different pans or are flapjacks something different in the UK?

HA! We found another one :) Flapjacks are sort of like a cereal bar - oats, syrup, sugar, butter. Melt together and chill. I use a flat square cake tin for any kind of traybake. My preferred recipe is proper Scots Porage oats, raisins and a handful of granola with lots of dried fruit (I'm particularly partial to some Dorset Cereals).

Like this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyl...

Pancakes are totally different, they're a batter of flour, eggs and milk.