Preheat oven to 180c fan and line a 23cm x 23cm x 5cm square tin with baking parchment.
Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar and salt in a bowl. Rub in the butter using your hands to form a crumbly mixture. Press 2/3 of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, pressing down firmly.
Bake for 10 minutes then remove from the oven. Spread the jam to within a ½ cm of the edge and scatter over the fresh raspberries. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the top and bake for 35-40 minutes until lightly browned.
Once cooked, allow to cool before cutting into squares.
The name of this simple dessert comes from the Italian tirami su, meaning ‘pick me up’ (or ‘cheer me up’). Tiramisu has been subjected to many variations over the years, but this is the original recipe and – in my opinion – the best! This is a dessert that actually benefits from being made ahead, allowing the lovely flavours to mingle. As a result, it is perfect for a large gathering.
Serves 8–10
4 large eggs
100g caster sugar
250g mascarpone cheese 2
50ml cream
250ml freshly brewed strong espresso coffee (left to cool completely)
150ml Tia Maria or Kahlúa liqueur
40 sponge fingers
50g bar plain chocolate
2 tsp cocoa powder
Separate the eggs, putting the yolks in one bowl with 80g of the sugar, and the egg whites in another. Using an electric beater, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until pale and creamy, then mix in the mascarpone cheese until well combined. Whip the cream in a separate bowl until soft peaks form, then fold into the egg yolk and mascarpone mixture.
Using spotlessly clean beaters, whisk the egg whites with 20g of sugar until soft peaks form, then fold this into the mascarpone cream. Spoon a third of this mixture into a suitable dish that is at least 2cm deep. Pour the coffee into a shallow dish and stir in the Tia Maria or Kahlúa. Dip in enough of the sponge fingers to make an even layer on top of the mascarpone mixture. Only dip the sponge fingers in as you go along, so they don’t soak for too long and become difficult to handle.
Cover the layer of soaked sponge fingers with another third of the mascarpone mixture, then grate most of the chocolate bar on top using the coarse side of a grater. Add another layer with the rest of the soaked sponge fingers, then spoon over the remaining mascarpone mixture and spread evenly with a back of a spoon. Cover with cling film and chill overnight to allow the flavours to develop and the dessert to settle. To serve, give the tiramisu a good dusting of cocoa powder, then grate over the rest of the chocolate. Place in the middle of the table so that everyone can help themselves.
SERVE AFTER … A go-to dessert if you like spoiling your guests after a long Italian-inspired meal. Tiramisu is ideal for the warmer months since it can be made well in advance and kept in the fridge until needed.
Pavlova Wreath with Exotic Fruit
Cakes are always the sweet option of choice for birthdays and anniversaries. However, I would like to introduce to you the Pavlova Wreath – it is very pretty and easy to make, and it delivers an incredible flavour. As always, feel free to use your own favourite combination of flavours to personalise it. Be sure to produce it with a flourish for that ‘ta-da’ moment!
Serves 10–12
For the meringue
5 egg whites
250g caster sugar
50g icing sugar
2 tsp cornflour
For the raspberry sauce
200g raspberries
2 tbsp icing sugar
1 tbsp lime juice
2 tsp cornflour or arrowroot
For the crème Chantilly
200ml cream (well chilled)
1 tsp vanilla extract
40g icing sugar
To decorate
200g raspberries
400g tin lychees, well drained and cut in half
2 passion fruit, halved and seeds scooped out
Preheat the oven to 140°C (275°F/Gas Mark 1). Put the egg whites into the bowl of a stand mixer. Turn on to a medium speed and whisk until they begin to go frothy and hold their shape a little. Mix the caster and icing sugar together, then add about one third to the eggs in a steady stream, whisking all the time on medium to high. The mixture will now begin to thicken a little.
Make sure that all the sugar has dissolved before you add any more. Add the next third and repeat the process, whisking it all up well. Then add the final third of the sugar. Whisk on high now, since the egg mixture will be much more stable. Keep whisking until you reach the stiff-peak stage. Add the cornflour and fold in with a spoon. Draw a 25cm circle on a piece of parchment paper and use it to line a large baking sheet, then draw a 10cm circle in the middle. This is your stencil. Put dollops of the meringue mixture on to the wreath stencil, keeping it within the edges.
Bake for 55–60 minutes until the meringue has just a little colour. Remove it from the oven and leave to cool. Meanwhile, make the raspberry sauce. Blitz the raspberries in a food processor with the icing sugar and lime juice, then pass through a sieve into a small pan using a plastic spatula. Mix the cornflour or arrowroot with one tablespoon of water until smooth, then add this to the raspberries. Bring to the boil over medium to high heat, then simmer gently for a few minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally.
Set aside to cool. For the crème Chantilly, whisk up the cream, vanilla and sugar in a bowl until it is just beginning to hold soft peaks. Cover with cling film and chill until needed. Carefully slide your Pavlova wreath on to a large, flat serving plate. Place dollops of the crème Chantilly around the top of the wreath, then drizzle over some of the raspberry sauce; the rest can be served in a jug at the table. Decorate the wreath with the raspberries, lychees and passion fruit pulp. Serve straight away.
This morning on the homesteading course at Ballymaloe Organic Farm School 🐄🐓
Milking the Jersey cows, learning how to milk by hand, tasting the warm fresh milk and cream straight from the dairy, and spending the morning learning all about keeping hens.
We covered breeds, feeding, laying, raising chicks and keeping chickens for both eggs and the table. A good laying hen can produce around 250 eggs a year, and hens will often lay for several years with proper care.
Darina always says that if people can keep hens at home, they should. They turn kitchen scraps into eggs, provide excellent compost material for the garden, and are one of the best ways to connect with where food comes from. 🥚
I love absolutely love making Christmas cake, it’s one of those traditions that takes me right back to childhood, bringing the recipe to life with my mother making a wish as we stirred.
The whiskey gives it flavour and helps really preserves it, but the real magic comes from time. Time to rest, time to deepen, time to become something truly memorable.
Keep an eye out for an upcoming post where I’ll show you the dish this is for, it’s one I think you’ll love☺️
Easy meal idea: 2 eggs cooked in #kerrygold and topped with grated cheddar with avocado and blackberries on the side.
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Follow and dm me @keto_sarah_ if you want to get free keto recipes for 7 days ❤️
You need to make these Christmas Cheesy Potato Stacks from @babyledfeeding 🤤 They are so good and also perfectly safe and soft enough for little babies doing baby led weaning.
Makes 24 Mini Potato Stacks Prep 15 mins Cook time 30 mins
1 kg baby potatoes 2 cloves garlic 125ml (1/2 cup) fresh cream Small handful grated gruyere cheese (plus an extra 3 tbsp) Small handful grated mozzarella 3-4 sprigs thyme leaves finely chopped Small bunch parsley leaves finely chopped 1 tsp onion powder
To serve Extra finely chopped herbs Black pepper to season
Preheat oven to 180ºC.
Thinly slice the potatoes and set aside.
Add the remaining ingredients to a bowl, leaving aside 3 tbsp of the gruyere cheese. Stir well, then add in the sliced potatoes and stir until they are fully coated. You may have to use your hands to separate the slices.
Stack the potatoes into a mini muffin tin until they are packed to the top.
Bake in the oven for 25 minutes, then remove from the oven and, top with a little sprinkle of the extra cheese. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and leave to cool slightly as this keeps the potato slices together.
Serve with a extra herbs and a sprinkle of fresh pepper.
