It was a packed St Jame’s Hall in Dalby that witnessed the crowning of Fiona Cain as the winner of the Margaret Killey award and winner of the Isle of Man Creameries trophy for the best Bonnag. Other winners included Alex Beavis who won the Men’s category and Ben Awkal who won the junior section.

The event was a great success, well supported and raised £406 towards Peel life boat, Send a Cow and St Jame’s Church fund.

Unfortunatley I couldn’t attend the event, but Gourmet Shark is looking forward to putting in an entry next year and who knows, could be a world champion this time next year?

I am a bit of a novice when it come to bread making, but when it works the results are fantastic, and well worth the effort!

This is sweet bread recipe with a bug dollop of chocolate spread in the middle, its mighty satisfying to make and equally satisfying to eat. So here goes! This make two large loafs.

What you need
650g of strong white flour (ideally from Laxey flour mill)
2 teaspoons of salt
4 tablespoons of sugar
15 grams of Isle of Man Creameries unsalted butter
1 7gram sachet of dry yeast
400ml of warm water
2 large tablespoons of Cadbury Milk Chocolate spread

What to do
Preheat your oven to 230C
In a warm bowl mix in your flour, salt, sugar and yeast and gently rub in the butter
Add the warm water and mix this in to the dough
Knead the dough for 10 minutes
Divide the mixture into two
Gently pull each piece of dough apart and place a large dollup of the Cadbury spread and drop this in the centre of the dough, then gently fold the dough around so the choccy is in the middle
Add the dough to two greased loaf tins and cover for 30 minutes (or until it has doubled in size), either with a tea towel or cling film
Remove the covering and place in the oven for 30 – 35 minutes

Gourmet Shark Tip To check the bread is cooked, turn it out of the tin gently and tap its bottom and side. If it sounds hollow, the bread is done!

This is ideally served warm with a cup of coffee or tea plonked in the middle of the table with plenty of great conversation amongst friends or family!

When you think of traditional Manx recipes and cooking you will probably have Manx Bonnag in your top three, with possibly Spuds and herring and Queenies?

I am not sure if this is that true to tradition, but is was given to me by a good friend Carol Leece of Onchan and it sure tastes good to me!

What you need
1/3 of a cup of sugar
2 cups of self raising flour
1 cup of dried fruit – sultanas are good
1 cup of sour milk
1 and 1/4 cups of margarine

What to do
Heat your oven to 190C/375F or gas mark 5
Add the flour, sugar and fruit to a bowl
Then mix in the sour milk and finally the margarine
Mix this well with a wooden spoon until everything is all mixed in
Lightly grease a 2lb loaf tin
Pour the mixture into the tin and place in the oven on the middle shelf
Bake for approx 55 minutes

Gourmet Shark Tip: If your not sure if the Bonnag has cooked or not gently put a knife of skewer in the centre, if it come out clean its cooked.

Set aside to cool and then gently remove from the tin.

Bonnag can be served plain or with butter. I enjoy it best with a nice cup of sweet tea – thanks Carol!

If you love those cookies that M&S make that are all soft an yummy in the middle then you will love these – they rock, but aren’t rock if you know what I mean!

Makes approx 48 cookies, but you can adjust quantities accordingly. Go on, your worth it!

What you need
2 1/2 cups of oats, porridge oats or dare I say it Ready Brek!
2 cups of self raising flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
12oz or 340 grams of semi sweet or milk chocolate coarsley chopped
1 1/2 cups of coarsley chopped walnuts

What to do

Blend you oats up in food blender, its better to do it in batches rather than all at once. You want to get the oats to a fine powder.
Combine the oats, , flour, baking powder, baking soda, slay and mix well.
By hand or with an electric whisk, whisk the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy like a butter cream.
Then blend in the eggs, vanilla nd the dry ingredients. When well mixed, add the walnuts and chocolate.
Leave to chill in the fridge for at least an hour.

Preheat your oven to 375F or 200C.

With a tablespoon, form the mixture into golf ball size balls and place on your tray or cookie sheet with at least 2inches apart.

Gourmet Shark Tip: No need to grease your tray hear yessir, they wont stick!

Bake in the oven for approx 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
Remove from oven and set aside on a baking rack to cool.

Once they have cooled, get the kettle on, get your soaps on Sky plus, turn up the heating and sit back and let the soft, squidgy cookie centre send you to heaven and back! And then have another!

I make these regulary with my 3 year old daughter, she loves making them and Daddy loves eating them! Good old fashioned Sunday afternoon fun!

What you need

1 pack of chocolate chips.
150grams of soft Isle of Man Creameries butter.
2 ½ cups of Laxey Glen Mills flour.
2 tablespoons of coco powder
4 medium eggs from Staarvey Farms
1 cup of sugar.
¼ cup of milk.
1 tablespoon of baking powder.
½ teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Good pinch of teaspoon of salt.

What to do

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C)

Beat the butter and the vanilla extract together to form a light, airy mixture

Add the eggs one at a time, and beat gently

Add ¼ cup of the sugar after each egg and mix thorougly

Put the baking powder and salt in the milk, then add to the mixture

Fold in the flour, cocoa powder and the chocolate chips

Pour the mix into your muffin cups, rougly ¾ full

Bake for 20- 25 minutes or until muffins turn golden brown

Leave to cool on baking rack

Offer to make numerous cups of tea so that you have another excuse to sample your muffin delights!