Tag: home baking

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Odlums chocolate biscuit cake recipe


odlums_ireland
Who doesn’t love chocolate biscuit cake? This recipe is perfect to make a few days before Christmas Day to give you more time to enjoy the festivities.✨

You will need:
275g/10 oz Butter
150ml/¼pt Golden Syrup
225g/8oz Chocolate (good quality, at least 60% cocoa)
½ x 400g packet of Digestive Biscuits, roughly crushed
½ x 400g packet of Rich Tea Biscuits, roughly crushed
1 packet of Maltesers
125g/4oz Shamrock Walnuts, Brazil Nuts and/or Almonds (optional)
Add the biscuits, Maltesers and fruit and nuts, if used. Stir well.

Method:
✔️Line a 15cms/6″ round cake tin or a 2lb loaf tin with a double layer of greaseproof paper.
✔️Melt the butter, syrup and chocolate in a pan over a low heat. Stir to make sure all the ingredients are well mixed together.
✔️Add the biscuits, Maltesers, fruit and nuts, if used. Stir well.
✔️Transfer to the prepared tin. Level it on top and press down well to avoid air gaps. ✔️Allow to cool and harden. Wrap completely in greaseproof paper and store in a fridge.

#odlums #behindeverybake #chocolatebiscuitcake #christmasbaking
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Rachel Allen’s lavender sponge cake with rhubarb curd

lavender-sponge-cake-with-rhubarb-curd

A lovely lavender flavoured cake with a hint of rhubarb from Rachel’s TV series “All Things Sweet” proudly sponsored by Connacht Gold.

Ingredients

For the lavender sponge

  • 6 eggs
  • 175 g (6 oz) caster or granulated sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 150 g (5 oz) plain flour
  • 2 tsp lavender buds, finely chopped (off the stems)
  • 125 g (4½ oz) butter, melted, plus extra for greasing

For the rhubarb curd

  • 550 g (1 lb 3 oz) rhubarb, cut in to 1cm (½in) slices (weigh when sliced and trimmed)
  • 200 g (7 oz) caster or granulated sugar
  • 75g (3 oz) butter
  • 3 eggs, whisked
  • To decorate
  • icing sugar

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F), Gas mark 4. Line the base of three 18cm (7in) cake tins and butter the sides.
  2. To make the sponge, place the eggs, the sugar and the salt in the bowl and, using an electric whisk, beat for 5–8 minutes until tripled in volume, light and fluffy. Sift in the flour and fold into the light mousse-like mixture with the lavender and the melted butter, working quickly so that too much air does not escape.
  3. Divide the cake mixture into the three tins and place in the oven. Bake for 22–25 minutes until light golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Take out of the oven and let sit in the tin for a few minutes before taking out and cooling on a wire rack.
  4. Next, make the curd. Place the rhubarb and 50g (2oz) of the sugar in a saucepan on a medium heat, stirring every so often. Cook for about 5–6 minutes until the rhubarb has softened, broken up completely and the mixture has thickened to a pulp.
  5. Pour into a sieve sitting over a bowl and push the mixture through the sieve into the bowl, making sure to scrape the underside of the sieve to get every last bit.
  6. Next, place the butter in the cleaned saucepan on a low-medium heat and allow to melt. Take off the heat just while you add in the eggs, rest of the sugar and the rhubarb purée. Put back on a low heat and stir all the time for about 2–3 minutes until thickened. Take off the heat, tip into a bowl and allow to cool.
  7. When ready to assemble, place one cake (save the cake with the best-looking top for the top) upside down on a plate or cake stand. Place half of the curd on top and spread it out (I like to allow the curd to drip slightly over the edges). Put the next cake, right side up, on top, then cover with the second half of the curd, as before. Finally, top with the third (and best-looking) cake. Dust with icing sugar and decorate with some more lavender if you’d like.

http://www.connachtgold.ie/recipes/rachel-allen-lavenderspongecake/

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Strawberry tartlets for afternoon tea


legra_cookingandbaking
Gluten-free Strawberry Tartlets 🍓

Ingredients
For the tart crust – 
300g ground almonds
4 tbsp melted coconut 
4 tbsp maple syrup
Good pinch of sea salt

For the jam – 
300g strawberries
1.5 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp maple syrup

Fresh Strawberries, washed and sliced, for decoration

Method

Preheat the oven to 180deg celsius. Combine all tart crust ingredients in a bowl, they should resemble fine breadcrumbs but come together into a crumbly dough with a little pressure.

Line a muffin tin with paper cases. I used silicone reusable ones which can easily be purchased online or in a homeware dept, they are better for the environment too. Place a large dessert spoon of the mixture in each case, then use your fingers to push the mixture into the sides of the cases until they stick and resemble a crust. This is a little messy but well worth the effort.Place tartlet cases in the oven for 10-12 mins until they are golden brown. 

In the meantime, take 150g strawberries and place in a blender until they are smooth and frothy. Add the chia seeds and maple syrup and blitz for a further two minutes. Place to one side and allow the jam to thicken until you are ready to serve the tartlets. Prepare the remaining strawberries for decoration.

Remove tart crusts from oven and allow to cool fully before prepping to serve. When ready to serve, fill the cases with jam and place strawberry slices on top. 

Serve with whipped cream or ice cream and enjoy! x

@bordbia 🍓

#legrabakes #legracookingandbaking
#strawberries #irishstrawberries #tartlets #strawberrytarltets #glutenfree #afternoontea #wheatfree #homebaker #baker #baking #shoplocal #supportlocal #delicious #summer #july #celebratestrawberryseason9w
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Terrine of Vanilla Ice cream with Meringue & Blackberry Sauce @BordBia

terrine-of-vanilla-ice-cream-with-merringue-and-cranberry-sauce

This dessert is really timeless – meringue and ice cream have been part of country house cuisine for hundreds of years and it would not have been out of place at the finest tables in Ireland at any time since ice houses were introduced in the 17th century

Serves Makes two small terrines, each serving four.

Ingredients

  • 6 egg whites
  • 150g (6 oz) caster sugar
  • 150g (6 oz) icing sugar, sifted

Ice Cream

  • 500ml (scant pint) milk
  • 60g (2½ oz) granulated sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean
  • 6 egg yolks
  • 60g (2½ oz) caster sugar
  • Gelatine – 2g leaf (1 level teasp.) granulated -soaked in a little cold water

Marinated Blackberries

  • 450g (1 lb) blackberries
  • 250g (9 oz) sugar
  • 125ml (5 fl oz) water

To Cook

First make the meringues:

Preheat a very cool oven, Gas Mark ½, 125°C (250°F). Butter and flour a large baking sheet. Whisk the egg whites until stiff, add the caster sugar slowly, whisking until completely dissolved, then lightly fold in the icing sugar. Pipe the mixture into small circular shapes and bake in the low oven for about 1½ hours to dry out without colouring. Cool and store in an airtight container.

Next make ice cream:

Heat the milk with the granulated sugar and split vanilla pod (scrape seeds into the milk). When just boiling, remove from the heat, cover and leave 10 minutes to infuse. Meanwhile beat the egg yolks with the caster sugar until the sugar has completely dissolved and the mixture is creamy. Bring the milk infusion back to the boil, add to the yolk mixture, keep whisking and return to the rinsed saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking all the time, to thicken a little – be very careful not to overcook – then strain through a very fine sieve. Whisk softened gelatine into the mixture and allow to cool, whisking occasionally. When cold, churn the mixture in an ice cream maker until thick.

To marinate the blackberries:

Sort through the blackberries, removing any stems; wash and drain. Put sugar and water into a pan and heat to dissolve, then bring up to the boil. Allow to cool, then add the blackberries.

To assemble the terrine:

Line two small loaf tins, 18cm x 6.5cm (7″ x 2½”) with overlapping clingfilm. Break up the meringues and fill the bottom of each tin, add ice cream, then some of the marinated blackberries. Cover with another layer of ice cream, close with overlapping clingfilm and freeze.

Serving Suggestions

Liquidise the marinated blackberries and strain to make a sauce. Pour a little onto large dinner plates, slice the ice cream terrine and lay on top of the blackberry sauce.

http://www.bordbia.ie/consumer/recipes/fruit/pages/terrineoficecream.aspx