Almond Honey Cake with Apricots

Ingredients

1 tsp vanilla essence
100g read-to-eat dried apricots
2 large eggs (or medium, whatever you have)
180g honey
150g peeled and finely grated sweet potato
finely grated zest of 1/2 unwaxed lemon
100g spelt or any other type of flour
100g ground almonds
2 tsps baking powder (more generous if using wholemeal)
1/4 tsp salt (if you wish)
100g whole blanched almond (keep a dozen or so for the top)

3 tbsp apricot jam or 1 tbsp of clear honey to glaze the top

20 - 23 cm tin

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.  Grease the tin.

Chop the apricots into small cubes (about 1/2 cm).

Beat the eggs, honey and vanilla essence in a mixing bowl (about two minutes).  Add the grated sweet potato and lemon zest and mix well.  Add the flour, ground almonds, baking powder, salt (if using) and mix thoroughly.  Add apricots and blanched almonds and mix gently, so as not to break the almonds.

Put the mixture into the tin.  Decorate the top with the 12 remaining almonds and place in the centre of the oven for 40 minutes.

Remove cake and while hot, brush over heated jam or honey.

Enjoy with yogurt or ice-cream.  Mummm.


PS  This receipe was adapted from 'red velvet, chocolate heartache'

Chocolate & Chilli Fudge

Ingredients 

• 550g unrefined caster sugar
• 550ml double cream 
• 75g liquid glucose
• 150g melted dark cooking chocolate 
• ½ teaspoon chilli powder

Put the sugar, double cream and liquid glucose in a deep pan.  Slowly heat together, stirring continually, until the sugar melts then fast boil until the thermometer reaches 118^oC.  Turn off the heat and add the chocolate and chilli powder, mix really well and pour into a 22cm square non-stick tin quickly.

Leave the fudge overnight to set then turn out and cut into squares.  Delicious!

Brussel Sprout & Gorgonzola Tart

Ingredients

• 300g brussel sprouts, cut in half or broccoli
• 4 eggs
• 200ml crème fraiche or double cream
• handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 25cm tart case, baked blind
• 150g crumbled Gorgonzola or Stilton

Heat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4.

Steam the brussel sprouts until just cooked, leave in the colander to dry.

Mix together the egg and cream, add the chopped parsley and season.  Spread the cooled broccoli over the base of the tart case.  Add the Gorgonzola to the tart, packing it into the gaps and making sure the tart is nice and full.  Pour over just enough of the egg mixture to reach the rim of the case.  Bake for 20 minutes, until just set.

Remove and leave to cool slightly before serving.  Serves four.

Dan Lepard's Mulled Wine Plum Jellies

 

Ingredients:

• 500g dark plum flesh, skin on, stones cut out, chopped 
• 250ml red wine
• 500g granulated sugar, plus extra
• ½ tsp each ground cinnamon and nutmeg
• Pinch ground cloves (optional)
• 50ml of lemon juice, about 1 small lemon
• 125ml liquid pectin

Line the base and sides of an 18cm square cake tin with nonstick baking paper.

Put the plums and wine in a blender and purée until smooth but with flecks of peel visible. Tip into a saucepan with the sugar, spices and lemon juice, and bring to a boil. Skim off any froth that comes to the top, and then boil for approx 25 minutes, stirring often with until it hits 105C.

Remove from the heat, stir in the pectin, return to a boil and cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until it reaches 106C. Pour into the tin and leave to cool for three to four hours.

Cut the jelly into cubes, roll in sugar and place on a baking tray lined with nonstick paper. Turn the oven to its lowest setting (40-50oC), leave the door ajar and dry them out for an hour and a half to two hours (alternatively, the jellies will dry if left at room temperature for a few days).

Remove, roll carefully in extra sugar and leave to cool.

Enjoy with cheese after dinner or with dark chocolate!

Fruit & Nut Biscotti

Ingredients

• 250g spelt flour
• 170g - 250g unrefined muscovado sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
• 3 medium organic eggs, lighted beaten
• 55g plump sultanas
• 55g dried cherries, cut in half
• 55g pitted dates, chopped
• 75g shelled pistachio nuts
• 55g whole blanched almonds
• 55g of shelled hazelnuts
• finely grated zest of 1 lemon

Preheat the oven to 180c. 

Mix the flour, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl.  Add half the beaten eggs, and mix well.  Then add more egg little by little until the dough takes shape (you may not need all the eggs).  If it's too wet add some more flour.  Add the fruit, nuts and lemon zest and mix well.

Divide the dough into six and roll each sixth into a sausage shape, about 3cm in diameter.  Place at least 6cm apart, on baking parchment on baking trays.  Wetting your hands when rolling out helps to prevent the dough sticking to your hands.  Lightly flatten the sausages and bake until golden brown, about 20-30 minutes.  Remove from the oven and leave for 10 minutes to cool down and firm up. 

Reduce the oven temperature to 140c.

With a serrated knife, cut the biscotti on the diagonal into 5mm slices and lay these on the baking trays to cook for a further 12 minutes.  Turn the biscotti over and cook for the third time for 10-15 until pale golden.  When ready remove from the oven and place on cake racks to cool.

Enjoy!

Cranberry Chutney

Christmassy Cranberry Chutney 

•  25g olive oil or butter
• 350g onions, chopped
• 450g cooking apples, peeled and sliced
• 1 teaspoon ground mixed spice
• 350g cranberries, fresh or frozen
• 450g unrefined sugar
• 425ml white malt vinegar (or apple cider, or a mixture)

In a large very deep saucepan, add the oil, onions, apples and spice and cook until the onions are soft (about 20 minutes).

Add the cranberries and sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add the vinegar, bring to the boil and stir occasionally (to stop it sticking to the bottom of the pan).

Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 – 1 ½ hours, until it is reduced to a thick consistency.

Spoon into sterilised jars and cover with vinegar-proof lids. Label and stores for 4-6 weeks before using. When open, keep refridgerated.





Mediterranean Tart

My daughter is struck with the worst case of Hay fever (any remedies welcome).  We have been house-bound  for ages in this glorious weather!  She is cooking the Tart with a little help from her sous chef.  At seven years old, it's a great activity bringing together lots of different skills, as well as having the satisfaction of making something delicious.

Parmesan Pastry: as previous blog

Roll out the pastry thinly on a lightly floured surface and line one 20cm flan tin.  (The left over bits of pastry can be baked to a make for nice savoury biscuits.)  Cover and chill for about 20 minutes.  Prick the base several times with fork and bake blind at 200c for about 15 minutes or until crisp and golden brown.

450g onions, peeled and fine sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon of dark brown sugar
50g sun dried tomatoes in oil, chopped
125g feta cheese
2 tablespoons basil, chopped

Meanwhile heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the onions and saute over a high heat, stirring until they begin to brown, about 5-6 minutes.  Stir in the brown sugar and cook for a further 3-4 minutes until the onions caramelise.  Allow to cool slightly.

Add the sun dried tomatoes, crumble the feta cheese and mix together with the onions.  Fill the tart and sprinkle with the basil.  Season with Pepper.



Enjoy.

Brocolli & Spinach Quiche

It's not that I haven't been cooking and baking, just that our stomachs shout their requests before the camera manages to come out of the bag.

This was supposed to be a Seafood Quiche, but like all cooking, adapting it to your taste is far more important than following a recipe.

Quiche

The original shortcrust pastry I replaced with a more flavoursome Parmesan pastry.

175g Wholemeal Spelt (or plain flour)
75g Olive oil not Extra Virgin (or butter)
3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1 egg yolk

Sift the flour into a food processor (it's easier into a bowl and then the processor) with the oil, Parmesan, egg yolk and 3-4 tablespoons of cold water.  Mix till it forms a firm dough.  If a little too dry add water spoon by spoon.  This is a crumbly dough, so don't worry.

Roll out the pastry thinly on a lightly floured surface and place in a 20cm flan tin.  Cover and chill for about 20 minutes.  Prick the base lightly before baking blind at 200c for about 15 minutes or until crisp and golden brown.

defrosted Spinach (I used three cubes of chopped and frozen from the supermarket!)
Broccoli
Olive oil
1 bunch spring onions trimmed and chopped
3 large eggs plus the left-over white
150ml single cream (I suppose you could use Crème fraiche, but I haven't tried it)
1 tablespoon of tomato puree
pepper
25g grated cheese of your choice, maybe cheddar or Gruyere

Heat the oil in a small saucepan and add the spring onions, cook gently for 5-7 minutes.  Do not allow the onions to brown. 

Meanwhile, cut the broccoli into small florets, wash and microwave in a covered dish for 3 minutes.  They need to have a bit of bite to them.

Beat the eggs, cream, puree and pepper.  Mix in the broccoli and spinach and pour into the pastry case.  Sprinkle with cheese and bake in a preheated oven 150c for 30-35 minutes.

Have with veggie or a lush salad.  Enjoy.

PS  I don't add salt, but please do if you prefer.
PPS

Pancake Sunday

Well I didn't make a cake yesterday, but made Nigella's American Breakfast Pancakes this morning for the girls.

A frenzy occurred with more than half devoured.

Regarding the recipe linked below, a few changes were made:

• Wholemeal Spelt replaced plain flour;
• Olive Oil was substituted for butter;
• and Goat's Milk for cow's milk.
• No salt was added.

www.nigella.com/recipe/recipe_detail.aspx?rid=221