New Recipes
Feta Spinach stuffed Baguette
make 3 half baguettes 300g ricotta 120g mozzarella, grated 150g feta, crumbled 300g chopped blanched spinach (or frozen and defrosted) ¼ tsp nutmeg freshly grated 1 lemon zest salt and pepper to taste 3 small baguettes Combine all ingredients together and season to taste. From the top, cut out the centre of the baguettes and stuff with the filling. Place on a lined tray and bake in a hot oven until golden (about 10 minutes). Cut into slices and serve warm.
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Honey Walnut Crescents
Makes 64 600g self raising flour Pinch salt 300g cream 250g unsalted butter, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Filling: 250g walnuts 70g melted butter 80g honey 6g cinnamon 20g caster sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Combine the filling ingredients together and set aside. Whip the butter, salt and vanilla until light, then fold in the cream and flour to form a ball. Divide into 8 equal pieces and roll out to a circle 2-3mm thick. Cut into 8 triangles and place a small spoon of mix at the base (large end) of each triangle. Roll into the centre and slightly bend in the ends to create a crescent. Repeat until all the dough has been used. Place onto lined baking trays and cook at 165 for 10 minutes until lightly golden. Allow to cool completely and store in an airtight container. Dust lightly with icing sugar and serve. Alternatively toss in caster sugar or cinnamon sugar while warm then allow to cool
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Whipped Ricotta and Feta Dip
150g ricotta 180g feta 1 garlic clove 50ml olive oil ¼ cup good quality honey 1 teaspoon cracked pepper 30g toasted walnuts Fresh thyme or rosemary to garnish Blend the ricotta, feta, garlic and olive oil together in a food processor until smooth. Spread on a plate, pressing the centre down to make a well. Fill the well with honey. Sprinkle with cracked pepper, a sprinkle of thyme or rosemary and toasted walnuts. Serve with warmed pita bread.
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Hummus Platter
Serves 4-6 INGREDIENTS For the platter 4 pita pockets 400g hummus ½ cup cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed olive oil to drizzle Salt and pepper to taste 1 Lebanese cucumber, diced ½ cup marinated olives ½ punnet cherry tomatoes, cut in half 1 spring onion, sliced ½ jar marinated feta For the hummus 400g cooked chickpeas, 60g Tahini 40-50ml lemon juice 1 clove garlic Salt and pepper METHOD Make the hummus Place the chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice & garlic in a blender or food processer Blend until smooth, seasoning with salt & pepper to taste Set aside until ready to serve Assemble the platter Brush the pita pockets with olive oil & lightly toast in a frypan or on the BBQ until warmed through & golden Cut into triangles & set aside Spread the hummus onto a serving platter or board Top with the cucumber, chickpeas, olives, feta, cherry tomatoes & spring onion Drizzle with olive oil (the oil from the marinated feta works beautifully) & season with salt & pepper Serve immediately with the warm pita bread
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Olive Oil Crackers
Makes 12-14 long crackers 150g warm water 5g dry yeast 5g caster sugar 300g plain flour 1 ½ tablespoons finely chopped rosemary 30ml olive oil 2g salt olive oil for brushing flaky sea salt to sprinkle freshly ground black pepper Combine the flour, salt, yeast, rosemary and salt in a bowl. Add enough warm water to form a soft dough. Knead for a few minutes then cover and allow to prove until doubled. Pinch off small balls of dough and roll out in rough long oval shapes 2 mm thick. Place onto a lined baking tray and brush with oil. Sprinkle salt flakes and pepper and bake at 170 for 8-10 minutes until golden. Cool on a rack.
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Pistachio & Cranberry Bread
150 Egg whites 150g caster sugar 150g plain flour sifted ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste 1 orange, finely zested 90g pistachios (shelled) 90g dried cranberry 60g glace ginger diced Whip egg whites until stiff peak. Add the vanilla and sprinkle in the sugar and whip until dissolved. Fold in the flour, then the fruit, nuts and zest. Pour into a lined baking pan and smooth over the top. Bake at 175 for 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool completely before slicing. With a sharp bread knife slice the loaf in thin slices and place on a cake rack with a tray underneath. Place in a warm oven about 100 -120 degrees and dry for about 5 to 10 minutes until dry and crisp. Allow to cool and store in an airtight container.
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Coffee Fruit Cake
1kg dried fruit, diced (raisins, sultanas, currants, apricots, figs, cranberries, dates, prunes) 350ml water 150ml WB espresso martini cocktail mix 50ml brandy or rum 300g self-raising flour sifted 20g mixed spice 1 grated apple (optional) 1 large orange zested 2 tablespoons golden syrup Grease a fluted cake pan.Combine water, brandy and espresso mix, golden syrup and zest with the dried fruit and macerate overnight. Fold in the sifted flour and spice. Spoon into the prepared cake pan and bake 160 for about 40-50minutes.Allow to cool and remove from the pan. Store in an airtight container, If you like your cake even richer, skewer the cake and pour a few capfuls of rum, brandy, marsala or whisky over the cake and allow to absorb. Dust with icing sugar and serve with mascarpone, or on its own. Pairs well with a cup of tea or coffee or a little nip of port
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Orange and Blueberry Trifle
This recipe is Gluten freeserves 16-20300g blueberry jam (no added sugar)500g frozen blueberries500g fresh blueberries500g natural yoghurt1x 400g can sweetened condensed milk500g mascarpone700ml cream, whipped1 tsp vanilla bean paste375g almond meal9 eggs200g caster sugar2 oranges finely zestedHeat the oven to 180C, and line 2x23cm cake pans. Whip the egg yolks with the sugar until light and fluffy. Add the zest and fold in the almond meal. Whip the egg whites and fold into the cake batter. Divide evenly into the prepared cake tins and bake for 20-25mins until golden and the centre of the cake springs back to the touch. Remove and allow to cool. Combine the mascarpone, yoghurt, vanilla and condensed milk then fold into the whipped cream. Combine the blueberry jam and the frozen blueberries together and set aside.To assembleIn a large trifle bowl place a thin layer of fresh blueberries in the base. Top with a layer of cake about 2½cm thick, then spoon over 1/3 of the jam berry mix. Spoon over a layer of cream mix, then a thin layer of jam and sprinkle over some fresh berries, another layer of cake, jam berry mix and top with a thick layer of cream.Garnish with fresh berries.
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Gingerbread houses
Makes 1 regular size house, 5 smaller houses, 3 mini houses and about 30 cookies 550g honey 125g caster sugar 125g unsalted butter but into cubes 3 eggs 25g mixed spice 1 kg plain flour 6g bicarb soda 10g baking powder 50ml Sugar syrup Royal icing to decorate Make a simple sugar syrup by boiling 100ml water and 100g sugar for 2 mins. Allow to cool, set aside or store in the fridge. Sift the flour, spice, bicarb and baking powder together. Warm the honey and caster sugar in a pan to 65 degrees.Transfer to a mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix on low and slowly add the butter. Add the eggs one at a time then gradually add the flour. Once it starts to form a ball remove and knead to a smooth ball. Line 3-4 baking trays and divide the mix into 4-5 pieces. Roll out to about 3-4mm thick the size of the baking trays. Brush with sugar syrup and prick with a fork or pasty docker and bake for 10-15 mins until golden. Allow to cool. Repeat for each tray or cut out cookie shapes and bake.To assemble. Cut out templates for the sizes of houses you would like to make. You will need 2 ends, 2 sides and 2 pieces for the roof for each house. For the royal icing – whip 3 egg whites until stiff peak with ½ tsp cream of tartar. Fold in 520g sifted pure icing sugar. Keep covered and place into a piping bag and enjoy decorating your houses.
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Jam Snow Drops
Makes 36 280g plain flour 80g almond meal 1 tsp vanilla paste 200g unsalted butter 60g pure icing sugar, sifted Raspberry or mixed berry jam Additional sifted icing sugar to roll Whip the butter, vanilla and icing sugar together. Fold in the flour and almond meal. With a dessert spoon take a spoon of dough and roll it into a ball. With your thumb press an indentation in the centre and while carefully turning create a hole in the centre, place a teaspoon of mix in the centre and close over the hole with dough, adding a small amount more dough if needed to seal the jam inside. Roll into balls and place on a baking tray leaving space in between. Bake at 160C for about 12 minutes. Allow to cool for a few minutes then roll in sifted icing sugar and allow to cool completely before storing.
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Easy Panettone Cream cake
Serves 12-14 ( 1 x 25cm cake ring) 6 egg yolks 120g caster sugar 140ml white wine 140ml Boronia Marsala plus a little extra to drizzle 600ml whipped cream 500g fresh or frozen cherries (pit removed) 1 round panettone, plain or fruit Line the springform pan with baking paper. Cut the Panettone through the diameter about 1 inch thick. Line the base of the springform. Line the sides to the same height as the base if it does not fit snug. Drizzle a little marsala over the panettone and then scatter the cherries over the base. In a large bowl whisk the egg yolks and sugar until light and fluffy. Carefully whisk in the wine and marsala. Place over a double boiler and whisk until the mixture starts to thicken and coats the back of a spoon. Allow to cool then fold in the soft whipped cream. Pour over the prepared base and place in the freezer to set. Cover and store in the freezer until ready to use. Place on a serving platter and place in the fridge to allow to soften to become mousse like before serving.
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Christmas Mince Meringues
Makes 36 150g egg whites 150g caster sugar 15g cornflour ½ tsp cream of tartar 5ml lemon juice 200g fruit mince Whipped cream to serve Heat the oven to 150C. Beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar. Once stiff peaks form, sprinkle in the caster sugar, lemon juice and cornflour. Gently fold in the fruit mince then place spoonful’s of mix onto lined baking trays. Place in the oven and reduce the temperature to 120 and bake for about 30minutes and turn off the oven and allow to cool. Serve with whipped cream. Perfect for a Christmas eton mess, or Christmas pavlova with fresh berries and cherriesFor The Fruit mince (best made 2 weeks before) 40g currants 40g raisins chopped 50g toasted slivered almonds 40g prunes chopped 40g dates chopped 40g sultanas chopped 40g dried apricots diced 1 green apple grated 80ml rum, brandy or port zest of 1 lemon 1 tsp ground cinnamon or mixed spice 1 orange zest & juice Combine all ingredients together and store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.
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