Gingerbread (Wo)man

Clove-studded Gingerbread

Winter is closing in here in the North - it's got to that point when the orange and gold leaves have almost all dropped and the branches are baring out, and early mornings and evenings are covered in a frosty mist. To combat the cold, I've just made up a batch of gingerbread - warming us up from the inside out! I used Nigella's recipe, but stupidly didn't trust the Domestic Goddess and added more flour, thinking the batter was too liquid. It made for a nice, light sponge but didn't have the stickiness I love. I'm a huge fan of Lyle's Golden Syrup and Black Treacle, although the treacle's a bit like cocoa powder - I spent my childhood continually forgetting that it wasn't nice by itself, despite its appearance. I never learn. We paired the warm gingerbread with Tesco Finest Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream, which is incredibly good for its £2 price tag.

I would have loved to top this gingerbread with some crystallized ginger but I'm limited to the offerings of a student Tesco Express so... came up with an alternative. The cloves come all the way from Jerusalem; a gift from my boy when he was travelling in the Middle East last year. I'm missing our travels a little so loved bringing a little spice into a chilly British evening, especially since I have to wait just a little longer before I can get started on mulled wine and minced pies! Although the Christmas drinks at Starbucks are out now...