Tuesday 29 December 2015

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Happy New Year (week) everyone! Really I don’t get very excited about a new year, I don’t really do resolutions but the thing I always get excited about no matter what the holiday is the food! New Years Eve is all about party food and that includes every and any kind of dip. So of course I had to finally share my version of warm Spinach Artichoke Dip. This stuff is unbelievably delicious, you won’t know when to stop! It’s a good thing it’s rich because it makes it pretty filling so you won’t be able to eat the whole thing by yourself in one sitting :).
Spinach Artichoke Dip | Cooking Classy

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Yield: About 8 servingsIngredients

1 (14 oz) can artichoke hearts (in water)
8 oz baby spinach, roughly chopped
2 Tbsp butter
Coupons
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1/2 cup half and half, then more as desired
1/2 cup sour cream
8 oz cream cheese, diced into small cubes
1 cup (3 oz) finely shredded parmesan cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Red pepper flakes (optional)
Tortilla chips, crackers or baguette slices, for serving

Directions

Drain artichoke hearts then chopped into small pieces. Place on several layers of paper towels then squeeze some of the excess moisture from artichoke hearts.

Melt butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Add spinach, artichoke hearts and garlic and saute until spinach has just wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat, add in half and half, sour cream, cream cheese cubes and parmesan cheese and return pan to medium heat and cook, stirring constantly (reducing heat just slightly if needed) until cheese has melted and dip is hot. Season with salt and pepper to taste, thin with more half and half if desired and sprinkle in red pepper flakes if desired. Serve warm with tortilla chips, crackers or baguette slices.

Thursday 17 December 2015

Seed cake with clementine icing recipe



A crunchy, textured cake that will appeal to those who like their cakes not too sweet. Swap the beetroot for a second apple if you wish.

self-raising flour 225g
baking powder 1 scant tsp
ground cinnamon ½ tsp
sunflower oil 180ml
light muscovado sugar 125g
golden caster sugar 100g
eggs 3
raw beetroot 1, small, peeled (100g)
apples 150g, 1 medium
lemon juice 1 tbsp
sunflower seeds 25g
pumpkin seeds 15g
poppy seeds 10g

For the icing:
mascarpone 150g
cream cheese 150g
icing sugar 75g
clementines 2
crystalised oranges 2


Set the oven at 180C/gas mark 4. Line the base and sides of a loaf tin measuring about 20cm x 10cm x 8cm with baking parchment.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Put the sunflower oil and sugars into the bowl of a food mixer and beat for 3 or 4 minutes until thoroughly creamed. Break the eggs into a bowl, beat them lightly with a fork to combine whites and yolks then add them, a third at a time, to the mixture, beating continuously.

Grate the beetroot and the apple into a bowl using the coarse side of the grater, then add the seeds and the lemon juice.

Add the flour to the sugar and egg mixture, stop the mixer then gently fold the apple, beetroot and seeds into the mixture with a large metal spoon or rubber spatula, only stirring enough to evenly distribute the fruit and vegetables. (Too thorough a mixing will send the cake pink.) Transfer to the lined cake tin.

Smooth the surface of the cake then bake for 50-60 minutes until lightly firm. Test for doneness after 50 minutes. If it is not yet done, cover loosely with foil to prevent over-browning and continue cooking for 5-10 minutes. Remove it from the oven and leave to cool, in its tin, for 30 minutes before carefully removing and placing on a rack.

When the cake is completely cold, make the frosting. Cream the mascarpone and the cream cheese together then add the sugar. Finely grate the zest of the clementines and fold in to the frosting. Spread over the cake.

Slice the crystalised fruits in half then into thick segments. Decorate the cake with the segments.

Monday 7 December 2015

Easy Shrimp and Veggie Miso Ramen

It wasn’t until recently that I’ve actually started to like the taste and texture of shrimp. I never grew up eating it so it was one of those things I kind of had to learn to appreciate, at least somewhat. I actually I loved it in this ramen though and it’s not often that I would use the word “love” when it comes to shrimp. Apparently shrimp and ramen just go together. It was something new for me because I always prefer chicken or pork in my ramen.

Easy Miso Shrimp and Veggie Ramen | Cooking Classy

This is a recipe I would use again and again. This really is more of an idea than a recipe – it just shows how easy it is to jazz up a package of ramen. But not just any ramen, the Nissin RAOH are my new favorite kind of ramen and they don’t require adding in extra flavors and ingredients which I love. You can order them here:

Easy Miso Shrimp and Veggie Ramen

Ingredients

1 (3.77 oz) package Nissin Raoh Unami Miso Flavor Ramen
1/2 lb peeled and deveined cooked medium shrimp
1 1/3 cups frozen vegetable blend (the one with peas, carrots, corn and green beans)
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp peeled and minced ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
1 green onion, sliced
Sesame seeds
Sriracha

Directions

Prepare ramen according to directions on package. Meanwhile, heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add vegetable blend and ginger and saute 2 minutes, then add garlic and saute 1 minute longer.
Divide ramen among two bowls then top each with half the shrimp, half of the sauteed vegetable blend and green onions. Serve with sesame seeds and Sriracha.

Wednesday 25 November 2015

Butter Pecan Cake

This cake has a whopping 2 cups pecans swirled into the batter and 1/2 cup pecans garnishing the top. And I didn’t just use any nuts, I used Fisher Nuts because they are my nuts brand of choice. I chose to create this cake with Fisher Nuts because it is one of the only brands of recipe nuts entirely without preservatives, I also love that I can purchase them in larger bags so I get more for my money. Pecans are the highlight of this cake so you’ll want to make sure you are using the best quality and Fisher is a brand you can always count on!

Butter Pecan Cake | Cooking Classy

Butter Pecan Cake

Ingredients

Cake
2 cups (204g) Fishers Pecan Halves, chopped into small bits
3 Tbsp (42g) unsalted butter, diced into 3 pieces
3 cups (424g) all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
1 3/4 cup (375g) granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk (235 ml)
1/2 cup milk (120ml)
Cream Cheese Frosting
1 cup (226g) butter, nearly at room temperature (preferably 1/2 cup salted 1/2 cup unsalted)
12 oz cream cheese, nearly at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
5 cups (620g) powdered sugar
1/2 cup (56g) Fishers Pecan Halves, chopped, for topping

Directions

For the cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt 3 Tbsp butter in a skillet over medium heat. Once melted add pecans and cook until slightly browned and fragrant, tossing frequently, about 4 minutes. Pour and spread onto a sheet of parchment paper or a baking sheet. Set aside and allow to cool.

Butter and line 3 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper, butter parchment paper and lightly dust pans with flour shaking out excess. Set pans aside.

In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt for 20 seconds, set aside. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment whip together butter and sugar until very pale and fluffy (if your paddle attachment doesn't constantly scrape bowl then stop mixer and scrape down sides and bottom of bowl occasionally throughout entire mixing process).

Friday 20 November 2015

Salted peanut caramel shortbread recipes

This caramel shortbread, or millionaire’s shortbread, takes Snickers bars as its inspiration. I’ve never really craved Snickers bars themselves, but somehow this biscuit-based spinoff – reimagined with buttery shortbread and a fudgy filling – has been disappearing from my fridge in thick wedges all week long.

For the shortbread
110g butter, softened
50g soft light brown sugar
150g plain flour
50g roasted salted peanuts, roughly chopped

For the caramel
400g tin condensed milk
150g crunchy peanut butter
125g soft dark brown sugar
25g butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
A pinch of salt
100g dark chocolate
50g milk chocolate

1 Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4 and have a 20cm round spring-form cake tin to hand.

2 Beat the butter until very smooth and soft then stir in the sugar to combine. Add the plain flour and chopped peanuts, and work everything together by mashing it under the back of the spoon. When the ingredients begin to form clumps, finish the making the dough with your hands: press the clumps together to form a very buttery, crumbly dough, and press this into the base of the 20cm cake tin. Pack the crumbs down very firmly under the base of a glass then prick all over with a fork. Transfer to the fridge to chill for 15 minutes.

3 Bake the chilled shortbread in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until it’s a light golden brown all over. It’ll firm as it cools and sets, so don’t be tempted to bake it until it’s perfectlyhard.

4 While the shortbread base cools, prepare the caramel layer: combine the condensed milk, peanut butter and brown sugar in a pan over a medium-low heat. Stir constantly while the mixture heats, and once it reaches a very gentle simmer – with just a few bubbles breaking through the surface – cook and stir for a further 4-5 minutes, until the caramel is thick, smooth and has darkened a shade.

5 As soon as the caramel has cooked, beat in the butter, vanilla extract and salt, pour over the baked shortbread and leave to cool to room temperature.

6 Once the caramel has cooled, melt the chocolates together either in the microwave (in short bursts, stirring regularly) or in a large bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Once melted, pour on to the caramel, lightly ripple it under a knife or spoon and move to the fridge to chill for 10-15 minutes. You can also score the chocolate, marking out servings, before you chill it to prevent the chocolate splintering when you cut the shortbread.

Friday 6 November 2015

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

You know you want your pie to be the first to go this Thanksgiving, so here’s what you do – make this perfectly delectable, purely irresistible Vanilla Bean Cheesecake instead of pie. Yes you heard that right, take a break from the classic pie everyone makes at Thanksgiving and bring this over-the-top vanilla bean laced cheesecake instead. In my opinion it outdoes any pie, in fact it outdoes any cheesecake! This is my favorite cheesecake I’ve ever had and my
husband said the same thing!

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake (Cheesecake Factory Copycat) | Cooking Classy

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

Yield: About 14 - 16 servings

Ingredients

Crust

1 2/3 cup (216g) crushed graham cracker crumbs (about 13 full sheets)
2 Tbsp (30g) granulated sugar
6 Tbsp (3 oz) unsalted butter, melted

Cheesecake

3 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese, softened
1 cup (210g) granulated sugar
Seeds of 2 Cooking Classy Vanilla Beans
3 large eggs
3/4 cup (180g) sour cream
1/3 cup (80ml) heavy cream

Mousse

7 oz white chocolate, roughly chopped
1 1/2 cups (355ml) heavy cream
6 oz cream cheese, nearly at room temperature
1 1/2 Tbsp (22g) granulated sugar
Seeds of 1 Cooking Classy Vanilla Bean

Whipped cream topping

3/4 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 Tbsp (22g) granulated sugar
Seeds of 1/2 Cooking Classy Vanilla Bean (optional)

Directions

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For the crust:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the outside of a 9-inch springform pan with a sheet of 18 by 18 heavy duty aluminum foil (make sure the foil has no holes, you don't want any water to leak in). Add graham crackers and sugar to a mixing bowl and stir to combine, then pour in butter and mix with a fork until evenly moistened. Pour into prepared springform pan and press evenly into bottom. Bake in preheated oven 10 minutes, then remove and cool on a wire rack.

For the filling:

Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Have a large roasting pan ready and boil about 4 quarts of water (you may not need all of it). In a mixing bowl using an electric hand mixer blend together cream cheese, sugar and seeds of 2 vanilla beans just until smooth (scrape down side and bottom of bowl occasionally throughout entire mixing process). Mix in eggs one at a time, mixing just until combined after each addition. Add sour cream and heavy cream and mix just until combined. Tap bowl forcefully against countertop about 30 times to release any large air bubbles. Pour over cooled graham cracker crust and smooth into an even layer. Place cheesecake in roasting pan then place roasting pan in oven and carefully pour in enough boiling water to reach halfway up the side of the cheesecake pan. Bake in preheated oven until cheesecake is set but still jiggly in the center, about 65 minutes, then leave in oven and leaved door closed and let rest 10 minutes. Then remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Tent with foil and chill in refrigerator 8 hours or overnight.

Tuesday 20 October 2015

Sausage, red pepper and basil rolls

A spiced-up alternative to traditional sausage rolls. Makes about 35 bite-sized rolls, to serve eight.

170g cold unsalted butter, diced
150ml double cream
325g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
1 egg yolk, plus 1 egg whisked, to glaze
Salt
3 medium red peppers
2 red chillies
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp tomato paste
½ tsp ground cumin
1 clove garlic, crushed
⅛ tsp caster sugar
300g beef sausages, skin removed and meat crumbled
150g pitted Kalamata olives, roughly chopped
30g basil, shredded
½ tsp nigella seeds
2 tsp sesame seeds

Heat the oven to 240C/465F/gas mark 9. Put the butter, cream, flour, egg yolk and a quarter-teaspoon of salt in a food processor and pulse to the consistency of large breadcrumbs. Tip out on to a clean work surface, then bring together loosely with your hands – don’t overwork it. Press together into a rough rectangle about 10cm x 15cm, then wrap in clingfilm and refrigerate for at least an hour and up to four days.

Put the peppers on medium baking tray and roast for 20 minutes. Add the chillies to the tray and roast for another 10 minutes, until the skins are blackened all over. Transfer to a medium bowl, cover with clingfilm and set aside for 30 minutes. Once cool, peel the peppers and chillies, discarding the skins, seeds and juices. Put half the peppers in the small bowl of a food processor with all the chillies, oil, tomato paste, cumin, garlic, sugar and a quarter-teaspoon of salt. Blitz to combine, then add the remaining peppers. Pulse for a few seconds, to a coarse paste, then set aside.

Turn down the oven to 190C/375F/gas mark 5. Cut the pastry in half and return one half to the fridge. Immediately roll out the remaining half of the pastry on a well-floured work surface to a 2mm-thick, 30cm x 40cm rectangle. Keeping the longest side nearest you, cut this rectangle vertically into three equal strips, each measuring about 13cm x 30cm. Divide half the paste between the three strips and spread it out evenly over each piece of pastry, leaving a 0.5cm border along one of the long sides. Sprinkle the strips evenly with half the sausage meat, olives and basil, then, starting with the long side without the border, roll up each piece of pastry lengthways, so you end up with thin, roughly 4cm-wide roulades. Lay the pastries seam side down, so they stay sealed, then cut each roll into 4cm pieces.

Arrange the mini rolls, again sealed side down, on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper, brush with the beaten egg, then sprinkle over half the nigella and sesame seeds. Leave to rest in the fridge while you repeat with the other piece of pastry and the remaining paste and other ingredients.

When you put the second batch of rolls in the fridge, take out the first batch and bake in the hot oven for 25-30 minutes, until golden-brown all over and cooked through. Leave to cool while you bake the second batch, then serve warm or at room temperature.

Wednesday 14 October 2015

Lighter Sweet and Sour Chicken

I love Chinese take-out but isn’t it just that much better when you make it at home? I do love all the different kinds of fried Chinese chicken but I prefer not to eat fried foods very often so I’ve started making lighter versions of the classics that aren’t deep fried in oil. Instead they are sautéed in small amounts of oil and I also work to cut back on the sugars in the sauces. This Lighter Sweet and Sour Chicken is the perfect example that lighter versions of Chinese take-out can be just as good as the calorie heavy, high fat versions!



Lighter Sweet and Sour Chicken

Yield: 4 - 5 servings

Ingredients

Sauce

1/2 tsp extra light olive oil or vegetable oil
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp peeled, minced ginger
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp chicken broth, divided
1/4 cup rice vinegar
3 Tbsp honey
2 1/2 Tbsp packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 1/2 tsp oyster sauce
1 Tbsp cornstarch

Chicken

1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, diced into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 large egg whites
Salt and white or black pepper
2 Tbsp extra light olive oil or vegetable oil

Veggie mixture

2 tsp extra light olive oil or vegetable oil
1 1/2 bell peppers, diced into 3/4-inch pieces
1 small yellow onion, diced into 3/4-inch pieces

1 1/2 cups fresh or canned pineapple chunks (drain if using canned)

Sunday 27 September 2015

Baked rigatoni with squash, kale and ricotta

This delicious, melting and cheesy dish is also great with the addition of chorizo: just halve the ricotta and roast fat chunks of chorizo with the squash. Serves four to six.
600g butternut, acorn or onion squash, peeled, deseeded and cut into chunks
200g cherry tomatoes, halved
3 garlic cloves, bashed and peeled
1 pinch dried chilli
½ bunch sage, leaves picked
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tbsp olive oil
200g kale
400g rigatoni
250g ricotta
125g grated parmesan, plus extra to finish

Heat the oven to 220C/425F/gas mark 7. Put the squash, tomatoes, garlic, chilli and sage in a roasting tray, season generously, then drizzle over the oil and mix with your hands so that every chunk of squash is coated. Roast for 25-35 minutes, shaking the tray occasionally, until the squash is a little crisp and the tomatoes are falling apart.

Meanwhile, tear the kale leaves from their stems. Bring a big pan of salted water to a boil, blanch the kale leaves until tender – no more than a few minutes – then transfer to a colander with a slotted spoon and leave to cool. Bring the water back to a boil and cook the pasta for a couple of minutes less than the instructions on the packet: you want it to be still a little firm to the bite.

Squeeze any remnants of water from the kale, finely chop and put in a bowl. In another bowl, beat the ricotta and half the parmesan with a fork, season generously, then stir half this mixture through the kale.

Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of the cooking liquid, and return to the pan. Stir in the kale mix and enough of the reserved cooking water to make a wet sauce that coats the pasta. Tip into a big baking dish and scatter the roast squash, tomatoes and sage over the top.

Dollop the remaining ricotta mixture here and there, pushing some of it down into the pasta, sprinkle on the rest of the parmesan and drizzle with a little oil. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the parmesan has melted and the top is golden brown. I love this with a green salad.

Thursday 24 September 2015

How to master cooking with eggs

Is there any dish so particular in its seeming simplicity as a perfectly done, soft-boiled egg at the breakfast table, with a great heap of just-buttered fresh toast, still hot?

jeremy lee

Boiled eggs

A rare treat is an egg laid only that morning from a chicken that has cheerily pecked away with grass underfoot and skies above.

For a hot, soft-boiled egg, lay a medium- to large-sized egg carefully into a pan of boiling water, and it will cook beautifully in 5 minutes, the white having set and the yolk remaining runny. This, swiftly settled into a cup and taken to table just as slices of very good bread are toasted well, remains a peerless dish. Only the addition of a little sea salt and freshly milled pepper is needed. I enjoy those breakfast scenes in 1930s films where the toaster was on the table, ensuring the toast was always top-notch.

Scrambled eggs

Scrambled eggs comfort and delight equally. Two eggs per person, a spoonful of cream and a thoroughly enthusiastic whisking of the eggs makes for a fine repast.

Melt 1 tsp of butter in a heavy-based pot or a nonstick pan over a gentle heat. Add the eggs and stir with a spoon in a slow figure of eight manoeuvre, allowing large curds to form. Put slices of bread in a toaster as the eggs cook. Add another 1 tsp of butter to the eggs as they finish cooking, then remove the pan from the heat. Tip this on to a plate as the toaster pops out hot slices with which to eat your now scrambled eggs.

Fried eggs

Scenes in films set in American diners invariably feature a cook, pulled from Central Casting, (and how) cracking eggs into scone cutters on a great flat top seething with bacon, sausages and pancakes. This always seemed rather natty for feeding the many. At home, however, we use a modest little frying pan, individual if you must. There are lots in Quo Vadis and I have bought a few over the years for home.

Tuesday 15 September 2015

Corn Chowder Salad

This salad was a much bigger hit than I’d expected, from my husband “Bacon? corn? My new favorite!” before even trying it, to my son “This is the best salad you’ve ever made, mom,” to the babysitter and her daughter both. One note about the corn: My mega New York ears of corn yielded way more than I think was intended. The Beekman Boys created this salad as way to show off the five varieties of corn they grow (Silver Queen! Country Gentlemen!), all which sound smaller (7 to 8 inches) than what I had. Even with less corn, as I suggest below, do keep in mind that this salad is (deliciously) mostly corn and just a little potato. If you’d like to forego the bacon to make this vegetarian and vegan, you could start the recipe by frying the potatoes in 3 tablespoons of another fat. Finally, as I have a chive plant growing wild outside, I finished this with a handful.

warm corn chowder salad

Serves 8 as a side

4 thick slices of bacon (4 ounces), cut crosswise 1/2 inch thick
1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 red bell peppers, cut into 1/2-inch dice, although I made mine smaller
6 large or 8 medium ears of corn, kernels removed (I used 8 large and it was a massive salad)
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup cider vinegar
Salt and crushed red pepper to taste

Cook bacon: In a large frying pan, cook the bacon over moderately low heat, stirring a few times, until it is crisp, about 5 to 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to paper towels and let drain.

Fry potatoes, peppers and corn: Pour off all but 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the skillet. Add the potatoes and cook over moderately high heat until they start to brown, about about 3 to 6 minutes. Stir and cook for about 2 minutes longer, until almost tender; they’ll finish cooking with the other vegetables. Add the diced red peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes and peppers are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the corn kernels and cook, stirring, until heated through but still crisp, about 3 minutes.

Assemble and serve: Transfer the vegetables to a large bowl and stir in the onion, cider vinegar and bacon. Season with red pepper and salt to taste. Serve warm, or at room temperature.

Thursday 10 September 2015

Almond-rosewater and walnut-cardamom zebra cake

My luscious cake was inspired by the flavours of my mum’s Nowruz (Persian New Year) baked goods. The whole house filled with the aroma of rosewater and the cardamom seeds that she ground to flavour her bāghlavā (Persian almond baklavas) and other sweets. She made walnut cookies, tiny mulberry-shaped marzipans (tūt), saffron-almond lozenges (lōz) and lots more. I made my cake gluten-free so more people can enjoy it. The trick is to use a bit of rice flour to give body to the batter. The recipe makes a very large cake good for a party.
Maryam Sin’s almond-rosewater and walnut-cardamom zebra cake is inspired by the festive tastes of Persian new year. Photograph: Maryam Sin/Maryam Sin/GuardianWitness
For the almond-rosewater batter
200g ground almonds
30g rice flour
A large pinch of salt
¼ tsp baking powder
4 large eggs, separated
225g caster sugar
250ml olive oil
4 tbsp rosewater
A few drops of almond essence (optional)

For the walnut-cardamom batter

200g ground walnuts
½ tsp ground cardamom seeds
20g rice flour
¼ tsp baking powder
A large pinch of salt
4 large eggs, separated
225g caster sugar
250ml olive oil
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To serve
Icing sugar, to decorate
30g flaked almonds
1 tbsp caster sugar

1 Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Line a 30cm springform cake tin with baking paper and very lightly oil the sides.

2 To make the almond batter, mix the ground almonds with the rice flour, salt and baking powder, then beat the egg whites in a separate, grease-free dry bowl until stiff peaks form.

3 Beat the sugar with the olive oil in another bowl for two minutes. Add the yolks one by one, beating well after each addition (about a minute). Beat in the rosewater and almond essence (if using), then add the almond mixture by spoonfuls and beat after each addition to mix well. Add ⅓ of the batter to the whipped egg whites and gently fold to mix. Repeat until all the batter is mixed with the whites. Set aside.

4 To make the walnut batter, mix the ground walnuts, cardamom, rice flour, baking powder and salt, then mix the rest of the ingredients in the same ways as you did for the almond batter.

5 To make the zebra pattern in the cake tin, pour one cupful of the almond batter in the tin. Wait until it spreads a little. Pour a cupful of the walnut batter in the center of the almond batter and wait for a few seconds so it spreads a little, too. Continue alternating walnut and almond batters until all batter is used up, then bake the cake for 50 minutes in the centre of the oven or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Loosen the sides and remove the ring from the bottom of the tin. Invert the cake on a cooling rack and carefully remove the baking paper. Let the cake cool completely before transferring to a plate.

6 To decorate, put a paper doily on top of the cake and liberally sprinkle with icing sugar, then carefully lift off the doily. Put the flaked almonds in a small heavy frying pan, add the sugar and cook over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring all the time, until the sugar melts and the almond flakes are golden. Put mounds of the mix in the middle and around the edge of the cake. Enjoy with a cup of strong tea or coffee.

Wednesday 26 August 2015

Hunan Beef with Cumin

Georgia Glynn Smith
Ingredients

1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine or good medium-dry sherry
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon light soy sauce
1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon potato starch
12 ounces boneless short rib or other beef steak
1 ¾ cups peanut oil
2 teaspoons minced ginger
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
2 fresh red chilies, seeded and finely chopped
2 to 4 teaspoons dried chili flakes
2 teaspoons ground cumin Salt
2 scallions, green parts only, finely sliced
1 teaspoon sesame oil


Preparation

Step 1

In a bowl, mix the wine, salt, soy sauces, flour and one tablespoon water. Cut the beef across the grain into thin slices and add to marinade.

Step 2

In a wok, heat peanut oil to about 275 degrees. Add beef and stir gently for two to three minutes, then remove from oil with a slotted spoon and drain well.

Step 3

Pour off all but 3 tablespoons of oil in wok. Over a high flame, add the ginger, garlic, fresh chilies, chili flakes and cumin and stir-fry briefly, until they are fragrant. Return beef to the wok and stir well, seasoning with salt to taste.

Step 4

When beef is sizzling and fragrant,add scallion greens and toss briefly. Remove from heat and stir in sesame oil.

Source

Clean Eating PB&J Smoothie

I wanted to share with you guys a super simple but yummy smoothie recipe. I love smoothies because they are easy to drink while I'm taking care of the kiddos, they are packed with protein, they are an easy way to get in some flax and spinach, and they are cold and refreshing after a sweaty workout!

clean eating pb&j smoothie

Try this one out and let me know what you think!

Oh..I call this PB&J because in place of grape jelly in my house..we use organic strawberry preserves. It's so good and no one misses grape jelly!

Clean Eating PB&J Smoothie

1 cup unsweetened almond coconut milk
1 cup baby spinach
1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries
2 tbsp. Tru Nut powdered peanut butter (PB2 or 1 tbsp. all natural creamy Peanut butter will also work)
1 tbsp. flax seed meal
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I use MRM all natural Whey)
1 stevia packet (optional)

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy! Enjoy!

Sunday 9 August 2015

5 cooking mistakes you should avoid in the kitchen

              
You might think you are doing all right in the kitchen but you might be missing out few things that can degrade your dish and its nutrients.
Mistakes like burning, scorching, or boiling might be visible to the naked eyes but we will highlight those mistakes you may be making in the kitchen that those talented chefs do not.

Not Letting Your Meat Rest After You Are Done With Cooking
If you allow your meat to rest for a while after you cook, the juices get distributed evenly and the taste is enhanced during the rest period. Meat should be allowed to rest for at least 20 minutes before consuming.

Not Tasting Your Food
Even if you are making a well experimented recipe you should always taste while cooking. Not all the spices and salt have same intensity of flavour. You should always check whether the flavours are developing or not.

Overcrowding the Pan
If you overcrowd the pan with too much of things your food will not cook evenly as it lowers down the temperature. In case you need to cook a lot at once, try using two pans instead.

Over-mashing Potatoes
Nobody likes glue in place of potatoes. The more you mash your boiled potatoes the more starch will be released creating a gooey mess. For making the best mash, use boiled but firm potatoes and mix in your fat only to the point of perfect consistency.

Not Seasoning the Pasta Water

You might think that all the seasoning is required in the sauce but it's a huge mistake not to season your pasta water while boiling. While you add salt to pasta water you actually add flavour to your pasta.

Friday 24 July 2015

A Chef's Guide to Cooking at Home

HOME COOKING


There's nothing quite like a home-cooked meal. Childhood memories of mom's chicken noodle soup or nana's chocolate sheet cake - certain foods, their taste and smell evoke memories and take us back in time. There is something so satisfying about cooking and baking for the people I love, passing on good vibes and creating a treasure chest of food memories to have forever.

The benefits of home cooking are clear - a recent study suggests that people who cook at home frequently eat healthier and consume fewer calories than those who cook less and eat out regularly. For families, cooking at home can translate into time to both prepare and create meals together; an enjoyable experience to be shared with loved ones.

For busy parents, cooking can be a daily ritual that allows for quality bonding time, while also carrying out a task that needs to be completed - two birds, one stone. Furthermore, according to a Cornell article in their Parenting in Context series, children who participate in family mealtime are 12% less likely to be overweight and more likely to eat healthy foods, succeed academically, and have improved mental health. Despite the numerous health benefits of home cooking, many Americans struggle to take on the task.

Key Ingredient, a free online cookbook system with more than 1 million subscribers, was created to simplify and streamline the experience of preparing homemade meals. In 2014, a random sample of Key Ingredient users (2,287 responses), found that only 22% of participants actually cooked these recipes after saving them to their Key Ingredient Cookbooks. Why aren't more people cooking at home?

Safety First

Richard Ingraham, private chef for the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade, had some tips for cooks to keep all of their fingers as he taught a hands-on, jazzed up shrimp and grits class with his infectious positive energy. Our Common Threads kiddos swarm him every time he walks into the kitchen with total devotion and pay complete attention to him in class.
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1. Keep your knives sharpened, because dull knives can be dangerous. To those of you new to this classic kitchen caveat--this may seem like a contradiction, but, because dull knives can often resist our chopping and slicing efforts, their use can lead to knife slippage that could potentially catch some skin.

2. When using a cutting board, keep a wet towel underneath. This will keep the board in place and protect your beautifully chopped fruits, veggies, and lean meats from ornamenting the floor.

3. If a knife should fall, let it drop. Do not try to catch it. As the old saying wisely warns, "A falling knife has no handle."

4. Keep your knives separate from other pans and dishes in the sink. This easy tip can protect you from the misfortune of grabbing (a now perfectly sharpened) knife hidden beneath the dirty dishes.

5. When done washing do not dry your pots and pans manually. Letting them air dry prevents cross-contamination.

Monday 20 July 2015

Gooseberry trifle with cassis and elderflower recipes

Photograph: Jonathan Lovekin
I use cassis, the blackcurrant liqueur, to soak the sponge biscuit base of this trifle, but you could use something more traditional if that is what you have. A medium dry sherry perhaps, or sweet white wine or marsala.

Serves 4
amaretti or sponge fingers 100g
creme de cassis 125ml
dessert gooseberries 300g
water 75ml
double cream 230ml
elderflower cordial 1 tbsp

To finish
dessert gooseberries 150g
elderflower cordial 2 tbsp

Unwrap and crumble the amaretti into large, rough pieces, pushing them into the base of a deep 20cm dish. Spoon over the creme de cassis, pressing the amaretti down so they soak up as much as possible. If you are using sponge fingers then break them into short lengths and trickle the creme de cassis over.

Place a large mixing bowl in the fridge to chill. You will need it for whipping the cream later.

Top and tail the 300g of gooseberries and put them in a stainless steel saucepan with the water. You need no sugar. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and let them cook down to an opaque, pink-green slush.

Tip the gooseberries over the amaretti base and smooth over the surface with a spoon. Cool, then refrigerate.

Pour the cream into the chilled bowl and whisk until thick, stopping well before it can stand in peaks; the cream should barely hold its shape. Fold in the elderflower cordial and refrigerate.

To decorate, top and tail the remaining gooseberries and slice them in half. Put them in a small pan, add the elderflower cordial and warm over a moderate heat. As soon as the berries become opaque, and before they collapse, take them off the heat and allow to cool.

Spoon the elderflower cream over the gooseberry layer in the trifle bowl, smooth it flat then arrange the cooked gooseberries on top. Spoon over the elderflower cooking syrup from the gooseberries, and leave for a good hour in the fridge before serving.

Tuesday 7 July 2015

The secret to cooking with onions

 Some of our most common vegetables are persistently underestimated. If you ever find yourself longing to cook a “good” vegetable, but there isn’t much in sight, get a deep pot and dig 8 to 10 plain, big, boring, dusty onions from your pantry, or the cold, dark onion bin at your nearest store. Then caramelise them.
                 
                 
 Cut off their tops, then cut them in half through their roots, then lengthwise into slices about a 5mm thick. Warm 3 tbsp butter and 3 tbsp olive oil in a big pot. When the butter is melted, add the mountain of onions, a small pinch of sugar, a big pinch of salt and a branch of fresh thyme, and stir it well. Cook the onions over a medium-low heat, stirring them occasionally.

 Add occasional sprinkles of water if the onions begin to stick. If they start to sizzle, lower the heat and cover the pot, then uncover it when the cooking has slowed.

 The cooking process will take around 45-60 minutes, and the whole mass will look soggy and unconvincing until right before the onions are done, at which point they melt completely into a golden jam and all of their sugars come out to toast.

 Now you have a perfect vegetable base for a series of dishes. If it’s cold out, make soup. Our expectations of onion soup are as dingy as our expectations of onions themselves, but there is no better varnishing of either than the fine and heady humbleness of a good recipe.

 In Nice, and all around the Ligurian sea, the same onions are spread on very flat pizzas, then sprinkled with fresh thyme, criss-crossed with anchovies, and dotted with tiny niçoise olives. The onions and anchovies get gloriously sweet and golden when the pies are baked. Or make omelettes and fill their centres with a spoonful of sour cream, caramelised onions and some toasted caraway seeds.

Monday 6 July 2015

Yotam Ottolenghi's polenta recipes

Yotam Ottolenghi's grilled green polenta: One of the great quick store-cupboard standbys gets a tasty makeover. Photograph: Colin Campbell for the Guardia
Of all the dry store cupboard ingredients, quick-cook polenta makes the fastest meal. But remember that polenta needs plenty of enhancements – butter, cheese, olive oil – to turn on its soft and soothing charm.

Grilled green polenta (V)

This rich dish needs a simple, sharp salad. Later in the year, try diced tomatoes very lightly dressed with olive oil and red-wine vinegar instead of this rocket salad. Serves six.

40g basil
20g parsley
20g rocket
10g tarragon
1 clove garlic, crushed
70ml olive oil, plus extra for greasing
600ml water
150g quick-cook polenta
70g parmesan (or other mature hard cheese), grated
70g unsalted butter
Salt and black pepper
100g ricotta
For the salad
100g rocket
250g cherry tomatoes, halved
½ small red onion, thinly sliced
4 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice 

Put all the herbs, the crushed garlic and the olive oil in a food processor, blitz to a paste and set aside.

In a large pan, bring the water to a boil, pour in the polenta and stir continuously until cooked, three to four minutes. (You may need a touch more water to make it more spreadable.) Fold in the parmesan, butter, a teaspoon of salt, some black pepper and the herb paste. Now fold in the ricotta – swirl this through, rather than mixing in uniformly. Adjust the seasoning to taste.

With a palette knife, spread the polenta in a 22cm by 22cm baking tray lightly greased with olive oil. (Wet the knife with cold water to stop the polenta sticking.) Leave for 30 minutes to cool and set.

Heat the grill. Cut the polenta into six and space on a baking tray. Grill for eight minutes, until it takes on some colour. Mix the salad and season lightly. Serve a piece of polenta with some salad alongside.

Asparagus with polenta (V)

16 asparagus spears
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and black pepper
30g walnuts, roughly chopped
½ garlic clove, crushed
100g quick-cook polenta
20g unsalted butter
20g parmesan (or other mature hard cheese), grated
20g stilton (or other blue cheese), crumbled
Grated zest of 1 lemon plus 2 tsp lemon juice
40g soured cream
1 tbsp chopped parsley

Bring a large pan of water to a boil, blanch the asparagus for two minutes, drain and refresh in cold water. Pat dry, gently toss in olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat a heavy frying pan and chargrill the asparagus spears for two minutes, turning once, so they colour all over. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Mix the walnuts with the garlic and set aside.

Pour half a litre of water into a medium saucepan, bring to a boil, then pour in the polenta. Stir constantly on very low heat until cooked, about three minutes. Add the butter, parmesan, stilton and half the lemon zest, and stir until the cheese and butter melt in. (You may need to add a little water to bring the polenta to pouring consistency.) Stir in half a teaspoon of salt, or to taste, and some black pepper.
To serve, spoon a dollop of polenta on to each plate, followed by two teaspoons of soured cream. Lean four spears of asparagus on the polenta. Sprinkle over the garlic walnuts, followed by the remaining zest, a drizzle of lemon juice and the parsley. Serve straight away.

Yotam Ottolenghi is chef/patron of Ottolenghi and Nopi in London.

Wednesday 24 June 2015

A Guy’s Guide to Cooking: Start with a chicken

Starving musicians often sing for their supper, so the best way to get them to come over for a pickin’ party is to feed them.
                                                     

Our little band, Texas Switchgrass, had a date in a recording studio, and I got everybody to show up to practice by serving home-cooked meals for the boys. I’d make a salad, a simple chicken dish, mashed potatoes from scratch and steamed broccoli. They’d all show up. Such is the power of good friends, good music and good food.

A couple of them skipped the broccoli.

“Cooking doesn’t have to be hard, it can really be quite simple,” says Daniel Pittman, the executive chef at LUCK in Trinity Groves, West Dallas. “If you get overwhelmed, it’s not going to be any fun.”

Apparently, I’m not the only single man in Dallas who is learning how to cook, but I might be the oldest. Hipsters and millennials are cooking, too.

“Absolutely,” Pittman says. “I think younger people today are looking to enjoy local things, the better things in life. They want good coffee, good beer, good food. I think the males want to impress the young ladies, so they become foodies.” Bingo.

Pittman got his culinary training at El Centro College in Dallas and worked at Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas for 10 years before he and two partners opened LUCK. The restaurant features 40 locally brewed craft beers on tap.

“Our target audience would probably be craft-beer enthusiasts,” Pittman says, “people who like simple comfort food and people who are into things local.”

Working in the tiny kitchen at LUCK, he shows me how to make the most of a roast chicken.

“Simple roasting: You put it in the oven. You take it out when it’s done,” he says. “I oven-roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts and butternut squash all at the same time, right next to the chicken.”

Tuesday 9 June 2015

Single Man Cooking: Anybody can make this dinner for two

I didn’t want to be that guy, the one who opens up the refrigerator and sees nothing but a pizza box and a few beers. I wanted to cook for myself, minimize fast food and go out to fewer restaurants.

                                                         

My goals were simple: Eat fresh, healthy food, cut costs, and entertain my friends and family.

It all started during the Great Recession. Now not only has my cooking improved, I’ve also been able to maintain normal weight, cholesterol and blood pressure.

Socially, I’ve found that a single man cooking turns an evening into an adventure. I like to add Miles Davis to kick up the flavor profiles.

My editor suggested I get some tips on cooking for company from real chefs. I started with Richard Chamberlain, who has been a top Dallas chef for more than 20 years.

“It’s really a great idea, and it comes down to simple techniques,” says Chamberlain, owner of Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop House in Dallas and Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill in Addison.

In his home kitchen, he shows me how to cook an amazing meal for two for less than $30. The menu includes a bottle of pinot grigio and a simple ice cream pie, and there are leftovers.

“Food is about sharing, and sharing is what life’s about,” Chamberlain says, “whether it’s somebody showing me how to shoot a basketball better or me showing somebody how to make a vinaigrette real fast and real flavorful.”

Wednesday 6 May 2015

Ready, Steady, Cook: Healthy eating on the menu for Cleethorpes school pupils

Annie Claridge, pastoral officer at the Cleethorpes school, said some of the winning six recipes had been put into a new recipe book made by the school.

                           

"The aim is to learn about healthy eating and all the recipes they submitted have been modified and adapted by the Food For Fitness team to make them healthier," she said.

Seven-year-old Ava Bowles was proud to see her dish, Ava's Tasty Chicken, included in the book.

She said: "Every Sunday at home we have a Sunday dinner and spend time together, so I used the recipe from that.

"I have enjoyed learning about healthy eating. I have learnt you should not eat so many sugary foods.

"I'm going to try to do more cooking now."

Fellow pupils Keiran Harris, Lucy Lakin, Alfie Drake and Paisley Matherson also had their dish ideas included.

Sarah Harvey, community nutrition educator for Food For Fitness, part of the North East Lincolnshire Council Developing Healthier Communities team, said the youngsters were keen to learn more.

She added: "This is all part of the Grow it, Cook It, Eat It project. The children had to put together their favourite recipes and we've then adapted them to cut down on fat, sugar and salt.

"We have invited parents and siblings to come along to watch the children cook their recipes and then at the end everyone will taste them.

"The project encourages them to be eating more fruit and vegetables and to try new things, as well as to eat more home-made meals rather than mass produced supermarket meals.

Monday 13 April 2015

Our 10 best new potato recipes

Roasted salt and vinegar crushed new potatoes
A delicious take on the lip-smacking crisp/chip flavour. Serve alongside some succulent pork chops.
Serves 4
750g small red or brown new potatoes
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Black pepper
2 tbsp cider vinegar
1-2 tsp flaked sea salt, for sprinkling
2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/gas mark 7. Boil the potatoes in salted water until knife-tender. Drain. Put back in the pot to dry out a little. Tip on to a very large baking tray.
2 Using a tea towel gently crush each potato but leave them whole. Drizzle them with the olive oil and season with pepper. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are browned and crisp.
3 Remove from the oven and gently toss with the vinegar. When all of the vinegar has been absorbed, sprinkle with sea salt and parsley.
Jennifer Joyce, jenniferjoyce.co.uk
Baked new potatoes in browned lemon butter
New potatoes are most often steamed or boiled, but they bake wonderfully, too, and the browned lemon butter in this recipe transforms them into something special. Serve with a handful of watercress.
Serves 4
650g new potatoes, washed
125g unsalted butter, diced
Juice of ½ a lemon
Salt and black pepper
1 Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/gas mark 5. Add the potatoes to a pan, cover with water, bring to a boil then simmer for 8 minutes. Check them by piercing with a sharp knife: they need to be just firm, not soft or overcooked.
2 While the potatoes cook, add the butter to a saucepan and place over a medium heat. It will melt, then foam, and then settle down. At this stage the solids will start to brown and the butter will smell nutty. As soon as you see a golden colour in the pan, tip the butter into a bowl to prevent over-cooking – it is very easy to burn. Add the lemon juice, being careful of any hot splashes.
3 When the potatoes are cooked, drain them, then add back to the pan. Shake them around in the pan so that they break up a little, but don’t be too rough: you just want to expose the flesh.
4 Add the bashed potatoes to a roasting tray, spoon over the browned lemon butter, sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper then place them in the oven for 8-10 minutes so that they crisp a little and soak up the butter. Give a little stir half way through. Serve warm.
Andrew Dargue, Vanilla Black
Braised new potatoes
Brand-new spuds are bursting with flavour, which braising with a couple of simple, fresh ingredients only serves to highlight. These are perfect with roast chicken, and any leftovers can be served cold, dunked into mayo.
Serves 4
25g butter, plus a knob to finish
1 tbsp olive oil
12 baby onions, peeled
2 garlic cloves, sliced
400g baby new potatoes, halved
300ml vegetable stock
3 sprigs lemon thyme, leaves only
Zest and juice 1 lemon
2 tbsp chives, chopped
2 tbsp chervil or flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 Heat the butter and oil in a large frying pan over a medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook for about 8 minutes, or until they start to soften and take on some colour. Add the garlic and cook for a further minute.
2 Add the potatoes, cut-side down, then pour over the stock and scatter with the thyme leaves and lemon zest. Partially cover the pan and cook for 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender – you may have to add a splash more stock if the potatoes are drying out.
3 Once the potatoes are tender, pour in the lemon juice and a knob of butter and shake the pan well. Remove from the heat, sprinkle with herbs and plenty of seasoning and serve.
Rosie Reynolds, rosiereynolds.co.uk
Chorizo and new potato hash with poached eggs and salsa verde
Both the salsa verde and hash base can be made in advance so this makes for a very quick and easy dish if you have guests. Reserve a few leaves of the herbs to garnish the dish with at the end.
Serves 4
For the salsa verde
A large handful of basil, finely chopped
A large handful of mint, finely chopped
A large handful of parsley, finely chopped
2 tbsp capers, finely chopped
150ml rapeseed oil
Juice of ½ a lemon
1 tbsp dijon mustard
Salt and black pepper
For the hash base
500g new potatoes, washed
250g chorizo, deskinned and cut into 3mm slices
2 red peppers, roughly diced
2 green peppers, roughly diced
2 red onions, roughly chopped
A generous splash of rapeseed oil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
Salt and black pepper
For the poached eggs
8 eggs
A dash of white wine vinegar
1 First, make the salsa verde. Mix all the ingredients together. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and lemon if needed. Set aside.
2 To make the hash, put the new potatoes in a pan and cover with cold water. Add a little salt toin the pan and bring to the boil. Once cooked (poke with a sharp knife –when the potato slips off the knife they are done) refresh in cold water and drain in a colander.
3 Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Quarter the cooked new potatoes and place in a bowl with the chorizo, peppers and onion.
4 Put the rest of the ingredients in the bowl and rumble around until everything is nicely coated in the oil, spice and seasoning.
5 Place on a baking tray and roast for 20-25 minutes until the chorizo has released its oil and everything is nicely caramelised. (This can be made in advance and reheated in a frying pan or in the oven when ready to serve.)
6 Now poach the eggs: bring a large pot of water to the boil and add the dash of white wine vinegar. The larger the volume of water, the better formed the poached eggs will be, as they will set their shape to a teardrop before hitting the bottom of the pan.
7 Reduce the heat so that the pan is just at a simmer and crack your eggs in and poach for 3 minutes. Once done remove carefully with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
8 To assemble, place a good heap of the hash base on a plate, top with 2 poached eggs and a good dollop of salsa verde. Finish the plate with a good twist of black pepper and some picked herb leaves.
Alex Bluett, friskafood.com
New potatoes, Mont d’Or and cornichon salsa
An alpine classic. Vacherin Mont d’Or is a cheese truly made for baking and dipping, especially with a batch of the first of the season’s jersey royals and a side of crunchy salsa.
A baked Vacherin Mont d’Or, with new potato dippers, and a side of crunchy salsa.
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A baked Vacherin Mont d’Or, with new potato dippers, and a side of crunchy salsa. Photograph: Yuki Sugiura for the Guardian
Serves 4
400g new potatoes, washed
1 small Vacherin Mont d’Or cheese, at room temperature
1 garlic clove, peeled and sliced
1 sprig of rosemary, leaves picked
100ml dry white wine
For the salsa
50ml white balsamic vinegar
50ml extra virgin olive oil
½ tsp mustard
½ small bunch flat parsley, finely chopped
1 banana shallot, peeled and finely diced
75g cornichons, drained and finely chopped
Salt and black pepper
1 Put the potatoes in a medium saucepan with plenty of salt, cover with water, bring to the boil and simmer until just tender. Drain. Season again and drizzle with olive oil. Reserve and keep warm.
2 Heat your oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Remove the film from the cheese and wrap some foil around the sides and base of the box. Make a few incisions into the cheese and insert slices of garlic and rosemary leaves. Scoop out a small part of the centre and pour in the wine. Bake the cheese for about 12 minutes until soft and gooey.
3 Meanwhile make the salsa by whisking together the vinegar and olive oil with the mustard. Mix in the parsley, shallots and cornichons and season.
4 Remove the cheese from the oven, and the foil from the cheese. Serve with the potatoes for dipping and the salsa on the side.
Ben Tish, saltyard.co.uk
Pommes fondants
As every lover of springtime produce knows, the best new potatoes need only butter to sing.
Serves 4
500g new potatoes, as much the same size as possible, well scraped, washed and dried
45g butter
1 Choose a heavy pan with a lid – a frying pan, saucepan or saute pan will do provided it is of a size that will accommodate all the potatoes you are going to cook. Each potato should have space to lie on the bottom of the pan with very little room to spare, or the butter may burn. Melt the butter very gently in the pan, than put the potatoes in whole.
2 Cover the pan and cook over a low flame, shaking the pan from time to time to make sure they don’t stick. After 10 minutes have a look at them, and when they are getting brown turn them over very carefully and cover the pan again. Small potatoes will take 20-25 minutes, larger ones 10 minutes longer. They should be golden on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Adapted from Elizabeth David: On Vegetables (Quadrille)
Spanish tortilla
New potatoes fried until soft and savoury and seasoned with paprika combine in this classic tortilla. Serve as a generous lunch with a salad of peppery green leaves and a handful of the sweetest cherry tomatoes.
Serves 4
350g new potatoes, washed
A splash of olive oil
A pinch of sweet paprika
Salt and black pepper
2 onions, sliced
2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 Cut any large potatoes in half so all the pieces are roughly the same size. Bring to the boil in a saucepan of salted water, then reduce the heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes, until just soft. Check by pushing a knife into a potato – if it goes in without too much resistance, they are ready. Be careful not to let them get too soft, otherwise they will fall apart during frying.
2 Drain and cool, then dry, cut into cubes and fry in a good glug of the oil over a medium-high heat for 10 minutes. Keep turning to ensure a good all-round, golden, crisp skin. When ready, sprinkle with paprika and salt and set aside.
3 Slowly saute the onions for 15-20 minutes in light olive oil until they are very soft. Add the garlic and fry for another 2 minutes. Add the onions to the potatoes and allow the whole lot to cool. Now add the eggs and mix, crushing the potatoes a little as you do so. Season with salt and pepper. Now taste a little of the mixture and adjust the seasoning accordingly.
4 Heat a deep 15-20cm frying pan with a good splash of the oil. When it begins to smoke, pour in the egg mixture: be careful as it may spit. Shake the pan from side to side with the handle so it doesn’t stick.
5 Reduce the heat to its lowest and cook for 4-5 minutes. Put your finger in the middle and feel how far through the egg is cooked. When it is cooked halfway through, it is ready to turn. Have a large plate ready to tip the tortilla on to. Using a tea towel and being careful of your hands and arms with the hot oil – and working over the sink in case of any spills – flip on to the plate.
6 Return the pan to the heat. Scrape off any bits that may have stuck and add a little more oil. When it’s hot, slide the tortilla back into the pan, raw-side down. Shake from side to side again to make sure it isn’t stuck. Using a wooden spoon, tuck the rough edges underneath to make them rounded, then cook for a further 5 minutes. Slide on to a plate and allow to cool. Serve at room temperature.
Tom Hunt, The Natural Cook (Quadrille)
New potato, wild garlic and parsley soup
Paired with the fresh aroma of wild garlic, new potatoes make a wonderfully savoury soup here.
new potatoes make a wonderfully savoury soup in this fragrant dish.
New potatoes and wild garlic make a wonderfully savoury and fragrant soup. Photograph: Yuki Sugiura for the Guardian
Serves 2-4
70g butter
1 onion, chopped
A splash of dry white wine
250g new potatoes, sliced
1 litre vegetable stock
2 tsp salt
40g wild garlic, washed
150g flat-leaf parsley, picked and washed
A dash of cream
1 In a pot, melt the butter on a medium heat and add the chopped onions. Cook these until they are translucent.
2 Add the wine and let the alcohol evaporate. Add the potatoes, stock and salt and simmer for 30-45 minutes until the potatoes are completely soft.
3 Remove the pan from the heat and add the wild garlic, parsley and cream and blend the mixture in a food processor until smooth.
4 Adjust the seasoning to taste and serve with croutons and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Cesar Bartolini, head chef, Gordon Ramsay’s Plane Food
Italian braised peas, broad beans and new potatoes
This fritteda is an Italian celebration of spring, bringing together all the best vegetables this time of year has to offer. It also has the advantage of being vegetarian and very versatile – eat it with a chop, piece of fish, on toast or stirred through pasta.
Serves 6
4 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
500g asparagus, tips put to one side, stalks finely chopped
400g small Jersey Royal potatoes (or other new potatoes), scrubbed and halved
½ bunch parsley, leaves picked and finely chopped
½ bunch mint, leaves picked and finely chopped
A handful of marjoram leaves, finely chopped (optional)
400g freshly podded broad beans (frozen are fine)
400g freshly podded peas (frozen are fine)
A squeeze of lemon juice, to taste
Extra-virgin olive oil, to finish
Salt and black pepper
1 Place a large, wide pan over a medium-low heat and warm up the oil before adding the onion, garlic and asparagus stalks. Add a good pinch of salt and sweat gently for 10 minutes until soft, but not coloured.
2 Add the potatoes, half the herbs and a splash of water. Stir well, turn the heat down to low, cover with a lid and leave for 15 minutes.
3 Meanwhile, bring a small pan of salted water to the boil and blanch the broad beans for 1 minute before draining. Remove the lid from the wide pan and stir in the broad beans and peas. Season well with salt and pepper and add enough water to come halfway up the vegetables. Cover with a cartouche (a piece of parchment paper cut the size of the pan) and leave to bubble away for a further 15 minutes, lifting the cartouche and stirring occasionally.
4 Taste and check that the broad beans, peas and potatoes are completely soft and tender. Continue cooking if not. Remove the cartouche, stir in the asparagus tips and give them a minute or two to cook through. Stir in the remaining herbs, check the seasoning, then squeeze in a little lemon juice to taste. Finish with a generous glug of extra-virgin olive oil.
Georgia Levy and Ben Benton, thekitchencooperative.com
Slat and vinegar crispy crushed new potatoes
Royal potato salad
The ubiquitous potato-mayo-mess has nothing on this elegant, aromatic plateful.
Serves 4
15 quail eggs
800g jersey royals, washed but not scrubbed
20g basil leaves
20g parsley leaves, plus extra for garnishing
60g parmesan, grated
60g pine nuts
2 garlic cloves, crushed
200ml olive oil
150g petit pois (blanched for 30 seconds and refreshed)
½ tsp white-wine vinegar
1 bunch sorrel (or mint) leaves, finely shredded
Salt and black pepper
1 Put the eggs in a saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to a boil: simmer for 30 seconds (semi-soft) to two minutes (hard-boiled), according to taste. Refresh in cold water and peel.
2 Boil the potatoes for 15-20 minutes until soft but not so that they are falling apart. Meanwhile, put the basil, parsley, parmesan, pine nuts and garlic in a food processor and blitz to a paste. Add the oil and pulse until you have a runny pesto.
3 As soon as they are cool enough to handle, cut the potatoes in two (they will absorb more flavour when hot) and toss with the pesto, peas, vinegar and sorrel. Mix well – even crush the potatoes slightly so all the flavours mix. Taste and adjust the seasoning, being generous with the pepper. Cut the eggs in half and fold into the salad. Garnish with parsley.

Tuesday 10 March 2015

A pinch of pepper to wake up your cakes

Occasionally, I'll stumble upon some ingredient or technique that makes me completely re-evaluate my approach to baking. At one point it was sourdoughs; before that, coriander seeds – roasted or ground, and added to everything from cob loaves to chocolate cakes.
Black pepper is my most recent epiphany. Of course, I was well used to adding it to my savoury cooking – a few peppercorns in a milky sauce or the peppermill in its regular spot at the heart of the dinner table – but using it in sweets was a novel experience.
Although it's used predominantly in savoury cooking, there's a great deal to be said for using black pepper as an accent or to emphasise other flavours in cakes, puddings and biscuits. The sharpness and fiery heat of a fleck of coarsely ground black pepper is enough to jolt even the richest bakes into life – particularly against a mellow backdrop of vanilla or cream.
Black pepper is a good partner for more robust flavours, too, as in the lemon drizzle cake below. There's no point muddying a good cake with the grey tinge of the ready-ground stuff, though: always grind it fresh as you use it, and do so with a generous hand.

Lemon, buttermilk and black pepper cake (above)

It might not have the national treasure status of the Victoria sponge or engender the same gleeful lust as a chocolate fudge gateau, but a great lemon drizzle cake is, I think, as close as Great British teatimes come to culinary perfection. It's a finely tuned thing: the lemon should be bold enough to make you pause between forkfuls, without sharpening to an eye-watering sourness. My version isn't a traditional lemon drizzle, but it's my favourite. Buttermilk dulls the hit of lemon, while leaving the flavour fresh and bright; black pepper lends a gentle heat which lingers on the tongue after first the citrus, then the sweetness, have come and gone.
Serves 6-8
150g unsalted butter, softened
100g caster sugar
50g light brown soft sugar
Zest of 2 lemons
2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
2 large eggs
150g plain flour
1½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
A generous pinch of salt
50ml buttermilk or soured cream
For finishing
Juice of 2 lemons
50g caster sugar
150-200g lemon curd
Black pepper, coarsely ground
1-2 tsp lemon zest
1 Heat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Grease and line a 20cm-diameter spring-form or loose-bottomed tin.
2 Cream the butter with the sugars until light and fluffy, then stir in the lemon zest, pepper and eggs. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt. Add half of this to the butter and sugar, along with the buttermilk. Mix, then add the rest of the flour.
3 Spoon the batter into the tin and bake for 30-35 mins, until well-risen, golden brown and springy. A small knife inserted into the centre of the cake should emerge with no more than a crumb or two sticking to it.
4 Demould the cake and cool on a wire rack. Cut it in half horizontally to give two thinner cake layers. Prepare the syrup by heating the lemon juice and sugar in a small pan and simmering for a minute or two. Pour over the cake layers while the syrup is still hot.
5 To assemble, spread one half with the lemon curd and sandwich with the second half. You could pour on some zesty water icing to finish it off if you like, but I prefer to keep it simple with just an extra grind of pepper and a sprinkling of finely grated zest.

Black pepper and vanilla fig rolls

Ruby fig rolls
At their worst, fig rolls are soft, saccharin and dry. But things don't have to be this way. Made at home, with good-quality dried figs – which have a pleasingly toffee-like sweetness – humble fig rolls can outshine any showy, oversized cookie or chocolate-flooded biscuit. Fig rolls are back in vogue.
It's rare to find three ingredients that work together in pairs, but don't sit harmoniously as a trio. Black pepper, vanilla and fig only confirm the trend: vanilla gives fig a floral depth; black pepper and fig balance fruitiness with heat; black pepper sharpens the gentle tones of vanilla – all three together is a match made in heaven.
Makes 15-20 rolls
For the filling
150g dried figs, chopped
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tbsp light brown soft sugar
½ tsp coarsely ground black pepper
For the pastry
150g plain flour
50g wholemeal flour
125g unsalted butter, firm but not too cold
½ tsp baking powder
2 tbsp light brown soft sugar
1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
A pinch of salt
1-2 tbsp milk
1 First, toss the figs with the bicarbonate of soda and pour over just enough boiling water to cover. Leave to soak for 10 minutes, during which time the alkaline bicarbonate of soda will soften the figs, then drain thoroughly. Mash lightly under the back of a fork and leave to cool. When ready, stir in the vanilla extract, lemon juice, sugar and pepper then set aside.
2 Combine the flours in a bowl. Cut the butter into small chunks then rub into the flour using your fingertips, until no visible pieces remain. Add the baking powder, sugar, pepper and salt, plus 1 tbsp of milk, using a small knife to "cut" the liquid into the flour. Add the last of the milk a few drops at a time, until the flour has been very lightly moistened, and is beginning to come together in small clumps. Wrap the dough in clingfilm and refrigerate for 20 minutes or so, just to firm it up. Set the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4.
3 Remove the pastry from the fridge and roll it out, on a lightly floured work surface, to around 40cm x 15cm. Spoon the fig filling along the middle of the pastry's long axis, to give a roughly 4cm-wide, 40cm-long heap of filling. Fold one side of the pastry over this, followed by the other, and pat down slightly. Roll the log over so the join is underneath. Cut into 15-20 slices.
4 Arrange the slices of fig roll on a baking tray lined with baking parchment. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes – until the pastry is dry and sandy to the touch. Leave to cool on a wire rack before tucking in.

Thursday 5 February 2015

Jack Monroe’s bacon knuckle pie recipe

Jack Monroe's bacon knuckle pie
One of my first jobs as a teenager was on a supermarket rotisserie counter, and certain customers would come in once a week for a bacon knuckle. At £1.79 (10 years ago), they were half the price of the spit-roasted chickens, and one older gentleman regularly enthused that he would eat it all week. I thought of him recently, when researching new recipes for eating on a budget. I found a bacon knuckle in a butcher’s, took it home and made it into this.
(Makes 1 pie and 1 casserole)
1 bacon knuckle, about 600g
2 carrots, diced (peel reserved)
2 onions, diced (skins reserved)
Fistful of parsley, leaves picked and stalks reserved
Few black peppercorns
150g dried split peas
1 tbsp butter or oil
1 tbsp flour
for the pastry:
125g butter, diced
125g lard, diced
500g plain flour
Soak the bacon knuckle overnight, drain, and soak again, leaving for several hours. Put it in a pan, skin-side down.
Add the carrot peel, onion skins, parsley stalks and peppercorns. Cover with water and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer for 90 minutes, removing any scum from the surface.
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Bring a pan of unsalted water to the boil and add the split peas. Simmer for 45 minutes until very soft, adding the diced carrot and onion after 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, start the pastry. In a large mixing bowl, rub the butter and lard into the flour until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add a splash of cold water and mix to form a pliable but not sticky dough. Cover and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.
When your bacon joint is tender, remove from the heat and flake off the meat. Strain the stock and reserve (you need about 600ml).
Cook the butter and flour on low heat to make a roux, thin it to a smooth paste with a little of the stock, then gradually add the rest. Add the split peas, vegetables, meat and parsley leaves, and remove from the heat.
Roll out your pastry and use a plate to cut the lid for your pie. Roll out again and lay in the bottom of your pie dish, trimming to fit. Spoon half the filling into the pie, and half into a freezer bag for a future pie or casserole.
Carefully lay the lid on top, using a fork to seal the edges. Cook in the middle of the oven at 180C/350F/gas mark four for 30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden. Delicious hot or cold.

Saturday 10 January 2015

Divine cakes for cocoa lovers

Chocolate fudge cake by Michael Caines
Gooey fudge cake from Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines. Photograph: PR
Divine Chocolate asked five leading chefs to create their ultimate chocolate cakes to celebrate Chocolate Week(October 13–19) and the Fairtrade brand's 10th anniversary. Here are the recipes for you to try at home - just try not to eat more than one a day.

Chocolate fudge cake by Michael Caines

Ingredients
225g plain dark chocolate
225g unsalted butter
345g caster sugar
6 eggs, separated into yolks and whites
120g ground almonds
145g soft white breadcrumbs
30g plain flour
2tbsp vanilla essence

Icing
85g cocoa powder
255g icing sugar
130g butter
170g caster sugar
6tbsp water

Preheat the oven to 160°C/gas 3.
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler, or in a bowl placed over a pan of boiling water. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and the sugar until white and soft. Add the egg yolks gradually, one by one, then add the almonds and beat them in. Gently fold in the chocolate with a spoon, then add the bread crumbs, flour and vanilla essence and mix together.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites, along with a pinch of sugar, until stiff - but do not over-beat. Fold the egg whites into the cake mixture and then pour the mixture into a buttered 26cm cake tin (lined with paper). Place in the oven and cook for one hour.
During this time make the icing. Place the cocoa powder and the icing sugar in a mixing bowl. Warm together the butter, sugar and water until dissolved. Add the liquid into the dry mixture and mix together for a thick but 'pourable' consistency. Once the cake has cooked and cooled, pour over the cake.
Top tip
Always use dark chocolate, as opposed to milk, when cooking and baking because it provides the desired taste and texture for a recipe.

Chocolate cake with raspberry ganache by Alan Coxon

Divine chocolate cake Ingredients
200g dark 70% chocolate
200g unsalted butter cut in pieces
125ml strong espresso style coffee
85g self-raising flour
85g plain flour
0.25tsp baking powder
200g dark moist muscovado sugar
200g golden caster sugar
25g coco powder
3 medium free range eggs
1tsp natural yoghurt
4tbsp grated divine dark chocolate to decorate
plus butter for greasing

Raspberry ganache:
200g 70% dark chocolate
285ml double cream,
2tbsp golden caster sugar
150g fresh raspberries

Preheat the oven to 160°C/gas 3.
Butter a 20cm round cake tin (7.5cm deep) and line the base.
Break the chocolate into pieces and place into a heatproof bowl and sit on top of a pan half filled with hot water, ensuring that the water does not touch the base of the bowl. Add the butter, the warm coffee and heat everything together gently in the double boiler just until everything is melted taking care not to overheat. (Alternatively place everything in a bowl and melt in the microwave on medium for about four minutes, stirring after two minutes.)
While the chocolate is melting, mix the two flours, baking powder, sugars and cocoa in a big bowl, mixing together thoroughly or passing through a large sieve to evenly distribute the ingredients. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and stir in the natural yoghurt.
Pour the melted chocolate mixture and the egg mixture into the flour mixture, stirring just until everything is well blended and you have a smooth, quite runny consistency. Do not over-beat or over-handle. Pour this into the tin and tap the tin gently for an even surface and the removal of any air bubbles trapped in the mix.
Bake for one-and-a-half hours then check the cake by inserting a skewer in the centre. It should come out clean and the top should feel firm (don't worry if it cracks a little). Leave to cool in the tin (don't worry if it dips slightly), then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. When the cake is cold, cut it horizontally into three.
To make the ganache:
Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place into a bowl. Place the cream into a pan, add the sugar, heat until it is about to boil, then remove from the heat. Pour the cream over the chocolate and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Add the raspberries, breaking them up a little before leaving it to cool slightly.
Sandwich the layers together with just a little of the ganache. Pour the rest over the cake, letting it fall down the sides and smoothing to cover with a palette knife. Decorate with grated chocolate. (The cake keeps moist and gooey for three to four days).
Top tip
Whenever melting chocolate, always take care not to overheat as this can damage your recipe. Remember, chocolate melts in your mouth, so any hotter than body temperature is pointless.

Chestnut & chocolate cake by Arthur Potts-Dawson

Divine chocolate cake Ingredients
220ml milk
140g butter
3 medium eggs
150g chopped peeled chestnuts
70g chocolate 70%
220g plain flour
265g soft brown sugar
1 tbsp golden syrup
2 level tsp baking powder
1 vanilla pod, chopped finely
½ level tsp bicarbonate of soda
pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 190°C/gas 5.
Sift together all the dry ingredients. Place the chocolate and milk into a bowl over warm water and allow to melt. Mix the butter and sugar together until creamy. Beat the eggs and slowly pour in to the creamed butter and sugar, add 20g of the flour. Stir in the golden syrup and chopped chestnuts and vanilla, mixing well. Fold in the remaining flour. Gradually add the chocolate mixture to form a thick batter. Pour into a buttered, floured 10-inch cake tin. Bake for one hour.
Turn out on to a cake rack. Grate some more plain chocolate over the top of the warm cake - this will melt and create a lovely topping. Allow to cool, then serve with creme fraiche and a light dusting of cocoa powder.

Chocolate amaretti cake by Linda Collister

Divine chocolate cake Ingredients
100g dark chocolate
100g amaretti biscuits (crunchy not soft)
100g plain flour
225g unsalted soft butter
175g caster sugar
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon amaretto liqueur or lukewarm water
cocoa powder for dusting

23cm springclip tin, greased and lined
Heat oven 180°C/gas 4.
Break up the chocolate and put into the bowl of a food processor. Run the machine to make a fine powder. Add the amaretti biscuits and run the machine again until the mixture is fine. Add the flour then run the machine or pulse briefly just to combine the ingredients. Set aside until needed.
Put the soft butter and sugar into the bowl of a food mixer and beat with the whisk attachment until light and creamy. Beat in the yolks, one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in the chocolate mixture and the amaretto or warm water.
In another bowl, whisk the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Using a large metal spoon, fold the whites into the chocolate mixture in three batches. When thoroughly combined spoon the mixture into the prepared tin. Bake in the heated oven for about 40 minutes or until firm to the touch.
Remove the tin from the oven and run a round-bladed knife around the inside of the tin to loosen the cake. Carefully unclip the tin and leave the cake to cool on a wire rack. Dust with cocoa powder just before serving with whipped cream.
Store in an airtight container and eat within four days.

Chilli-chocolate orange cake by Sam Stern

Divine chocolate cake Putting this cake together has been a labour of love. It's been through a load of variations and I think this one is pretty much perfect. Customise the cake to suit you – add more chilli if you like more heat. Go for the fudge icing for a sweeter tooth or the bitter chocolate for a sophisticated taste and finish.
Ingredients
150g plain chocolate
½ tsp coffee granules
1tsp chilli flakes (or more if you like), crushed with pestle & mortar or bashed with a rolling pin
125g butter
125g caster sugar
5 eggs, separated
75g self raising flour
1 pinch bicarbonate of soda
1½tsp baking powder
2tbsp cocoa powder
1tbsp rum or orange juice or water
1tsp vanilla essence
1tbs water
Peel of half a medium orange, finely grated

Glaze:
2 tablespoons of good orange marmalade
Fudge icing:
300g icing sugar
25g divine cocoa powder
125g butter
4tbsp of water

Bitter chocolate icing:
180g dark chocolate
125g unsalted butter
1tbsp golden syrup

Preheat the oven to 160°C/gas 3.

Line and grease a 20-22cm tin (springform or loose-based).
Melt the chocolate by placing the pieces in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, not allowing the bowl to touch the water. Add the coffee granules and chilli. Let the mix melt then stir with a wooden spoon. Remove bowl and leave to cool.
Cream the softened butter with the caster sugar in a food mixer or the proper way, with a wooden spoon, until light and white. Gently stir in the cooled chocolate and four egg yolks. Sift the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder into the bowl and then add the grated orange rind. Fold the mix gently together with a metal spoon using big scooping movements. Add the rum, vanilla and water.
Whisk 5 egg whites until stiff (don't overwhisk). Add to the mixture by beating in the first tablespoon to loosen the consistency. Then fold the rest in very gently using a metal spoon. Don't worry if it's not perfect, as it can be hard to combine the two.
Pour the mix into the tin and put it in the oven for 45-50 minutes (check after 35 – ovens vary!). To test it, prick with a cocktail stick. It should come out clean. Don't worry if the top of the cake has cracked a bit – you'll be icing it up. Remove and place on a cooling rack. Take out of the tin after five minutes and leave to cool. Brush the glaze on while still a bit warm.
To make the glaze, put the marmalade into a saucepan and melt over a low heat until it's runny. Brush this onto the cooling cake base with a pastry brush.
To make the fudge icing: combine the sifted icing sugar and cocoa powder in a bowl. Melt the butter and water and pour into the icing sugar mix. Beat until combined. It should be easily spreadable but not runny, so you might not need all the liquid. Cover the top of the cake and sides generously with the icing, tip it then finish using a spatula. Go for a smooth or a rough finish. You can decorate with cherries, grated chocolate, crumbled flake or chocolate curls (peel from a bar of chocolate with a potato peeler).
For the bitter chocolate icing: melt chocolate pieces in a bain marie (as above) with butter and golden syrup. Pour it over the cake for a smooth finish. Let it set. Pipe messages on top or decorate with cherries. Eat and enjoy!