Alanna Moffitt from Blacklion Co. Cavan started at Neven Maguire’s Macnean House and Restaurant 😀 @rtetoday

Student chefs from TU Dublin joined Maura and Dáithí in the studio.

Ingredients

Sticky Toffee Pudding

· 200g butter, room temperature

· 185g self-raising flour

· 185g dates, roughly chopped

· 1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda

· 185g brown sugar

· 30g treacle

· 1 tsp nutmeg

· 1tsp mixed spice

· 2 medium eggs

· 1 tsp vanilla extract

· Pinch of salt

Butterscotch Sauce

· 70g butter

· 70g brown sugar

· 70g golden syrup

· 100ml double cream

· Pinch of sea salt

· ½ tsp vanilla extract

· A few drops of lemon juice

Student chefs from TU Dublin joined Maura and Dáithí in the studio.

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F / Gas Mark 4. Line a baking tin with parchment paper.

2. Dice the butter and place it in a saucepan over medium heat. Allow it to melt, then continue to cook until it foams and turns a light golden-brown colour. Remove from the heat immediately and set aside to cool.

3. Place the chopped dates in a saucepan with 300ml water. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, until the dates are soft.

4. Remove from the heat and stir in the bicarbonate of soda (the mixture will foam). Set aside to cool slightly.

5. Transfer the date mixture to a mixing bowl and add the brown sugar, treacle, vanilla extract, nutmeg, mixed spice and cooled brown butter. Mix well.

6. Beat eggs and add to the mixture until fully incorporated.

7. Sieve in the flour and salt, then gently fold until a smooth dropping consistency is achieved.

8. Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 35–40 minutes, until risen and firm to the touch.


Butterscotch Sauce

1. Place the butter, brown sugar, and golden syrup in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir and allow to simmer gently.

2. Remove from the heat, add a few drops of lemon juice, then whisk in the double cream.

3. Finish with sea salt and vanilla extract. Serve warm over the pudding.


Chef’s tips:

· When making brown butter, don’t use a high heat, as milk solids can burn easily

· Brown butter can be used in so many other dishes, such as madeleines and fish dishes, or even vegetables, with its rich nutty caramel flavour.

· Best served warm with some vanilla ice-cream.

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Porridge is the best way to start these cold Monday mornings! @flahavans


flahavans
No excuses… healthy and delicious porridge is the perfect way to start these cold Monday mornings! Warm and comforting, this quick and easy recipe takes just minutes to prepare, so whether you have breakfast at home or deskside, make sure it’s as tasty as it is pretty! Add some grated apple, pecan nuts, cinnamon and maple syrup to your morning porridge pot and take a minute to savour just how good it tastes! #BreakfastInspo #FlahavansOats

Serves 1|Takes 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 x Flahavan’s Quick Oats Pot
Whole Milk (as per instructions on pack)
1 Large Red Apple
Cinnamon Powder
Maple Syrup
5-10g Pecan Nuts

Method:

Prepare the porridge as per the instructions on the Flahavan’s Quick Oats pot

Topping:
Cut the apple into thin slices and then into matchsticks.
Prepare your porridge, and add the apple as topping long with a sprinkling of cinnamon and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Chop pecan nuts into thin pieces and sprinkle on top.
21h

Neven Maguire’s Brown Scones are full of roughage and great for breakfast

Brown scones are full of roughage and great for breakfast. And here is a good tip: you can make this mixture, shape the scones and freeze them. You can then cook the scones straight from the freezer to the oven – just give them an extra 5 minutes and make sure the scones are golden brown and well-risen.

Ingredients

  • Rapeseed or sunflower oil, for greasing
  • 225g (8oz) self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 225g (8oz) coarse wholemeal flour
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 50g (2oz) wheat bran
  • 25g (1oz) butter, diced and at room temperature
  • 1 tsp light muscovado sugar
  • 300ml (½ pint) buttermilk, plus a little extra if necessary

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F/gas mark 7). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and grease the paper with a little oil.
  2. Sift the flours, baking soda and salt into a bowl. Tip in the bran left in the sieve and stir it in with the wheat bran. Rub in the butter with your fingertips until it is evenly dispersed. Stir in the sugar.
  3. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the buttermilk and golden syrup. Using a large spoon, mix gently and quickly until you have achieved a smooth, not-too-sticky dough. Add a little more buttermilk if necessary, until the dough binds together without being sloppy.
  4. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 2.5cm (1in) thickness and cut into rounds with a 6cm (2½in) plain cutter. Arrange on the lined baking sheets and bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown and well-risen.
  5. Serve with butter or lightly whipped cream and strawberry jam.


By Neven Maguire

Celebrity Chef

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Neven Maguire: Home Chef