Tea Soaked Figs

Ingredients

125g sugar

½ a lemon
2 whole cloves
½ a cinnamon stick
2 vanilla pods, split and scraped
10 figs cut in half
500ml water
3 sachets of earl grey tea
150ml strega liquor (Italian digestive liquor)

Method

Mix the sugar, lemon, cloves, cinnamon and vanilla into the water and bring to the boil.  Remove from the heat and infuse the tea for 30 minutes.  Pour the strega liquor onto the figs, remove the tea bags from the syrup and pour onto the figs. Soak the figs for 3 days in the liquid, and store them in the fridge. These can be served with either a sweet or savoury dish, but I personally recommend serving these delights with something sweet. Maybe even something as simple as clotted cream, or a vanilla bean ice cream.

For those who have never come across strega liquor before, here are some interesting facts about it. The recipe is a mix of 70 herbs and spices which include Samnite mint, Ceylon cinnamon, Florentine iris, Italian Apennine juniper, fennel, and saffron. The saffron is the key to Strega's signature yellow color and the mint and juniper are two of the most pronounced flavors within the herbal mixture. It is aged in ash barrels which allow the flavors and aromas to develop.

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Apple and frangipane Tart

Ingredients

8 large apples, cored, peeled and halved
250g unsalted butter
400g sugar
400-500g puff pastry
Flour for dusting
Frangipane

375g soft butter

375g icing sugar
370g ground almonds
37.5g flour

7 eggs

Method

Cut the puff pastry into discs that are the size you desire, I usually use a coffee cup as an indicator for the disc size. Line a flat baking tray with grease proof paper, and pace the disc onto the tray. Place the tray into the fridge to let the puff pastry rest until you need it again.

Pre-heat the oven to 180°c full fan (gas mark 6). 

Meanwhile melt the butter and sugar in a pan and cook on a low heat until they turn an amber colour and caramelise (if the heat is too high the butter will spilt out of the sugar). Add the apples to the pan, continue to simmer on a low heat for about 10 minutes until the apples are lightly coloured.

Remove the apples and caramel from the heat, and with a slotted spoon arrange the apples onto the puff pastry discs, but try not to get too much liquid onto the puff pastry disc while doing this. You want to try and create a ‘fan’ effect with the apples.

Prepare the frangipane but creaming together the butter and sugar, and then adding all the other ingredients until it is combine. Press a layer of frangipane on top of the apples

Bake for about 30-40 minutes until the pastry is golden and cooked through and the frangipane starts turning a nice golden brown colour.

Serve this with vanilla bean ice cream, maple syrup and come apple puree.

Bon Appétit

Chocolate Fondant Recipe

 

 

This is one of my favourite desserts to prepare, and I serve in a variety of ways. The vanilla bean ice cream is on a bed of honeycomb dust, and the fresh raspberries were soaked in a sugar syrup that was also used when I served the dessert.

Ingredients

Melted butter, for greasing
cocoa powder, for dusting
275g (9.5oz) dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids)
225g (8oz) unsalted butter
400g (14oz) caster sugar
0.5tsp vanilla extract
5 large free-range eggs, beaten
200g (7oz) plain flour, sifted
you will need
8 metal pudding bowls or ramekins

Preparation

Heat the oven to 180 C, 160 C fan, 350 F, gas 4. Brush the pudding moulds sparingly with melted butter, dust with cocoa powder and shake out the excess. Set aside. Melt the chocolate and butter gently in a saucepan. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar and vanilla extract. Leave to cool slightly.

Whisk the eggs into the mixture a little at a time, then fold in the sifted flour and a little salt until you have a smooth mixture.

Divide between the moulds – each one two thirds full. Place on the middle shelf of the oven and cook for 12 minutes exactly. Remove from the oven, run a knife round the edges, invert and tip out on to serving plates. Serve immediately with vanilla ice cream and fresh seasonal berries.

Roasted Butternut Squash and Feta Cheese Salad Recipe

 

Ingredients

1 Medium Butternut squash
100g Greek style feta cheese
80g toasted pine nuts
80g washed watercress
Olive oil
2 cloves of garlic
Seasoning
Edible flowers or fresh herbs for garnishes

Method

Heat the oven to 160 degrees. Line a baking tray with foil and set aside. Skin and seed the butternut and cut it into medium sized/bite sized cubes. Place the cubes onto the baking tray. Finely chop the garlic and put it onto the butternut. Drizzle olive oil over the butternut, enough to coat it all lightly, and season. Place the tray into the pre heated oven and roast the butternut for 15 minutes.

Cut the feta cheese into small cubes and set aside. Wash the watercress and place it on the bottom of the dish you will be serving the salad in. Once the butternut is cooked, remove it from the oven, check the seasoning. Let the butternut cool slightly before putting it onto the watercress. Once it’s cooled, place the butternut, feta and roasted pine nuts onto the watercress, arranging it so that there is an even mix of all the ingredients everywhere on the plate

Garnish the plate with edible flowers or fresh herbs.

Bon Appétit

Courgette cake recipe

Ingredients:

1 large zucchini, grated

1 large egg
1 cup bread crumbs
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp mixed spices
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Method

Remove excess liquid from freshly grated zucchini by placing them between paper towels and squeezing. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Heat a large pan on medium, and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Shape spoonfuls of the zucchini batter into 2-in. (diameter) patties, and drop onto the sizzling pan. Cook each side for about a minute and a half, or until the outside is golden brown. Finish the cakes off in the oven. Stick them on a baking pan and broil them for 1-2
minutes. Serve hot, alone or with yoghurt and mint dressing.

Each scrumptious morsel is totally satisfying and packed with vitamin-rich zucchini, yet strikingly low in calories, carbohydrates and fat.

Makes about 12 cakes.

Bon Appétit

Roast Pork Belly Recipe

Serves: 4
Preparation: 60 minutes
Cooking: 2 hours 20 minutes

Roast pork belly

600g pork belly, skin on
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
2 tablespoons salt flakes
1 teaspoon black peppercorns

Apple puree

2 granny smith apples, cored, peeled and chopped
Juice of half a lime
1 teaspoon sugar

Honey cider vinegar glaze

¼ cup honey
½ cup cider vinegar
 

Cider vinaigrette

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon sugar
Pinch salt
2 tablespoons water
1 ½ teaspoon cider vinegar
100ml grapeseed oil
Watercress and baby mache, to serve

Method:

Preheat oven to 230°C.  For roast pork belly, trim pork of excess fat and score the skin. In a dry pan roast the fennel seeds, one tablespoon of salt and the peppercorns until fragrant. Cool, and then grind finely in a pestle and mortar. Rub all over the flesh side of the pork, massaging it in well. Sprinkle the skin with about one tablespoon salt and rub in. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Remove from the fridge, wipe of all salt and moisture. Lightly salt. Place the pork on a roasting rack with a tray of water underneath to help keep the pork moist. Roast for 2 hours or until skin is crisp and flesh is tender. Check after 45 minutes to ensure the pork crackling doesn’t burn. If it’s looking a little too brown cover the pork with foil, or reduce oven temperature to 200°C. Rest for 20 minutes and cut into rectangular serving portions.

For apple puree, place apples in a saucepan with lime juice, sugar and 1-2 tablespoons of water. Cover and simmer until tender. Blend in a thermomix or blender until smooth. Check the seasoning.

For the glaze bring both the honey and cider vinegar to a boil over medium heat, simmer until the syrup thickens. For the vinaigrette mix all ingredients and whisk well until emulsified.

To serve, place pork on a serving plate and drizzle with glaze. Add a tablespoon of apple puree next to pork. Add watercress, top with baby mache and lightly dress with vinaigrette.

 

Bon Appétit

Strawberry and Goats Cheese Salad Recipe

Ingredients

DRESSING
60 ml olive oil
45 ml balsamic vinegar
5g poppy seeds
salt and ground pepper

SALAD
250 g fresh strawberries W
Watercress, washed
Fresh rocket leaves, washed
150 g goat's cheese or feta (look out for reduced-fat feta)

Method

Mix the dressing ingredients together. Wash, hull and halve the strawberries. Toss the strawberries in the salad dressing and macerate for at least 15 minutes. Arrange the salad leaves and cheese on a shallow plate, add the strawberry mixture and serve with crusty bread.

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