Snowflake Cookies

Traditional Christmas Cake

I am giving this as a gift, this festive season,

Start by making a traditional fruit cake:

1 kg mixed fruit
1 cup glace cherries
1/2 cup brandy
250g butter
1 cup brown sugar
5 eggs
2 cups plain flour
1 tsp mixed spice
extra brandy for brushing

Soak fruit in brandy
Meanwhile, cream butter and sugar until just combined.
Beat in eggs, one at a time.
Stir in fruit mix, flour, spice.

Spread mixture into deep round tin, which has been greased & lined with 2 layers of paper
Cook in slow oven for about 2.5 hours.

Remove from oven, brush with extra brandy, tightly cover with foil, cool in tin overnight.

To ice I used 1/2 kg of white fondant, some red fondant, and, cake decorating gold paint.
 Roll out white fondant to 0.3cm thick, flip cake over (so you are icing the bottom), carefully lay icing over the top. Cut off excess icing (use this to make white stars to be painted gold)
A ribbon is a nice touch to place around the rim.

Decorate with red & gold stars.

lv L

Kathy's Fattoush

Chicken in a bag!

Bake a chicken in a baking bag - makes it super juicy!

Try a lemon and garlic stuffing & serve with roast veggies

lv L

A little Spanish? Paella!

Edible Chrissy Gifts

Anyone can make these & they're sure to impress family and friends!

Beat 125g butter, 1/2c caster sugar until creamy, add it 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla - beat until combined.
Add in plain flour (about 1 1/2 c) stir/ knead until a firm dough is formed. (you may need more or less flour)

Roll out to 1/2 cm thick - cut out shapes (I used stars and hearts) - put on baking tray.
Cut a hole in the middle of every 2nd shape.

Bake in moderate oven for 10-15 mins until just staring to go golden.

Cool slightly, spread jam onto solid biscuit, mostly in centre and place it's pair (the one with the hole) on top! (I used strawberry jam)

I wrapped them in cello with a bit of curling ribbon, and, I am going to give them as gifts to my girlfriends tonight!


lv L

Chocolate Mountain Cake

 

This is an easy one, and, is sure to get the wow factor!

Cook your favourite  chocolate cake (usually I just use a chocolate butter cake recipe) & ice the cake with chocolate butter icing.

 Next, roughly chop 3/4 packet of Tim Tams, pour on top of the cake.

Drizzle with 60g of melted white chocolate.

Enjoy 

lv L

Cheesey eggplant fritters - perfect aperitif for the festive season!

 

These could be baked, however I shallow fried them in canola oil for extra crisp!

Roast 1 kg eggplant, cool, peel, and chop finely. Add to a bowl with 1 cup grated mozzerella, 1 cup chopped parsley, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup flour & two eggs

Quinoa, roast veg and borlotti bean salad... Lunch?

 

You can pretty much add anything to this salad, get creative!

But...here is my suggestions:

1/2 c quinoa

1 carrot

1 zucchini

1/2 red capsicum 

1 lebanese eggplant

1 can borlotti beans (you could use kidney beans or chick peas if you prefer) - drained & rinsed

250g cherry tomatoes (I used yellow ones - thats what happened to be growning in the garden at the time)

A few handfuls of rocket

balsamic vinegar

Boil quinoa in 3 cups of water until cooked (usually about 30 mins)

Meanwhile, cube carrot, zucchin, capsicum and eggplant - roast in moderatee oven for approx 30 mins

Drain quinoa when tender

Add borlotti beans, roasted veg, havled cherry tomatoes, rocket and quinoa to a large bowl - mix to combine.

Finally - drizzle with balsamic. Ta DA!

lv L

Salad - Party Platter

A cupcake gift for a friend

Chocolate Oreo Cheescake - for when friends get together

 

This is disgustingly decadent - rich, creamy and delicious!

If you can't handle the original, try the lighter version (with suggestions in brackets).

For eitrher recipe, you need to begin a day ahead to allow it to set

Oreo Cheesecake Recipe -

350g Oreo biscuits

150 melted butter

2 tsp gelatine powder

400g cream cheese (200g light cream cheese, 200g light ricotta)

300mL thickened cream (300mL light thickened cream)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 c caster sugar

200g white chocolate (melted and cooled slightly)

Melted dark chocolate to drizzle - just before serving

Line (18 x 25 x 4cm) lamington pan with plastic wrap.

Process 250g of the Oreos to form fine crumbs, add the butter, process to combine. Press into pan to cover base. Chill 30 mins.

Sprinkle gelatine over 1/4 c cold water in heatproof cup, place cup in pan of gently simmering water & stir the gelatine to dissolve.

Add cream cheese, cream, vanilla and sugar to bowl of electric mixer, beat until smooth. Stir in gelatine mixture and melted white chocolate.

Roughly chop remaining biscuits and stir through - pour mixture over base and chill over night.

drizzle with melted chocolate just before serving!

Enjoy - I know you will

lv L

nibbles and things - hommus, antipasto, oily toasted sourdough-YUM