White Wine Roasted Summer Fruit with White Chocolate Sauce and Brown Sugar Meringue Shards

Inspiration for a lunchtime BBQ dessert came from the most recent Cuisine magazine. As usually when we have guests I look for a dish that can be prepared as much as possible before the guests arrive. This one had components that I made days in advance...I like that!

The meringue needed to be thinner than I made it...perhaps I should have followed the recipe properly?

The preparation of the fruit did take a while and did need to be down on the day it was being served. Maybe I can get my guests in on the job next time?

I used a variety of summer stone fruit and baked for longer than the recipe said.
I have to admit it didn't look as god as the picture in the magazine but it tasted good.

White Wine Roasted Summer Fruit with White Chocolate Sauce and Brown Sugar Meringue Shards
Meringues

2 egg whites
50g caster sugar
50g soft brown sugar

Preheat the oven to 100°C. Whisk the egg whites to soft peaks, add the caster sugar in a slow, steady stream and beat until glossy, thick and dry. Fold through the brown sugar. On a baking-paper-lined tray, use a spatula or palette knife to spread out the meringue to a thickness of 3mm-4mm.
Put the tray in the oven and bake the meringues for 3-4 hours until very crisp. Leave to cool in the oven with the door slightly ajar. When the meringues are cold, break them up into coarse shards. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Roasted plums

16 large plums (or 20 smaller), halved, stone removed
3 tablespoons brown sugar 
grated zest and juice of 2 oranges
2 tablespoons orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Place the plums cut side up in a roasting dish. Sprinkle with the sugar, orange zest and juice and the liqueur. Bake for 30 minutes or until the plums soften (this can vary depending on ripeness).

White chocolate sauce

100ml cream
40g butter
100g white chocolate, coarsely chopped

Heat the butter and cream in a saucepan or in the microwave until heated to just below boiling. Put the chocolate in a bowl, pour in the cream and stir until the chocolate melts, then set aside to cool and thicken.
To assemble, put the plums on a platter, top with the meringue shards and drizzle with the chocolate sauce. Eat immediately. 

Italian Lemon Tarte - Crosata di Limone

Someone who is very thoughtful gave me an Italian recipe book for Christmas...I'm not sure who, but thank you!
This recipe is the first the book opened to and it was amazing - like lemon curd in a tart. Not surprising really as the ingredients are similar to lemon curd apart from there being cream in this and butter in lemon curd.

We had it warm, but I also ate lots of left overs cold from the fridge.
The pastry shell is beautifully short and has a subtle lemon flavour. I loved making the pastry on the bench rather than in a bowl - it felt like 'traditional Italian cooking'.

I used baking beans to keep the tart shell in shape and chilled it again once I had it in the tin.
The mixture came right up to the top of the baked tart shell before it was cooked but shrunk back during cooking which didn't look quite as I imagined but it was still one I will make again.
My tart was very yellow compared to the book...that might have been because the eggs came from our chickens and the yolks are very yellow.

Italian Lemon Tarte - Crosata di Limone

Ingredients
200g plain flour
250g caster sugar,
    plus 2 tbsp
5 egg yolks
grated peel and juice of 2 lemons
1 pinch of salt
100g chilled butter
3 eggs
150 ml double cream
2 tbsp icing sugar
oil for greasing

Method
Sift the flour onto a work surface, blend in 7 tablespoons of caster sugar, and make a well in the centre. Add 4 egg yolks, half the lemon peel, the salt and the butter cut into small pieces. kneed everything together into a smooth, supple dough. From the dough into a ball, cover in cling film and chill in the fridge for an hour.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C and grease a 25cm springform tart tin. Roll out the pastry very thinly on a floured work surface and use to line the base and sides of the tin. Use a fork to prick several holes in the pastry, then lay a sheet of baking paper over it. Chill in fridge again for 30 minutes. Fill with baking beans and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the beasn and baking paper and leave the pastry to cool.
Reduce the oven temp to 160 degrees C.
Beat the remaining egg yolk, whole eggs and the rest of the sugar and lemon peel into a thick pale cream. Stir in the lemon juice. Whip the cream and fold into the egg mixture.
Pour in into the case and spread evenly, then bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. I added about another 5-10 minutes.
Dust the surface with icing sugar, then return to oven until golden brown.

Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken

I love my slow cooker dishes and this is another that is really simple to prepare and quick to cook either in the slow cooker or oven.
I have added capsicum, broccoli and other vegetables (whatever is in the fridge) and added cashews to serve to make it a more complete meal.
Serve with rice.


Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken

Ingredients

• 3-4 Chicken Breasts (about 2 lbs)
• 1 can of pineapple in juice (tidbits, chucks, rings, it doesn’t matter)
• 1 medium onion
• 2 TBSP soy sauce
• ½ cup chicken broth

Instructions

1. Chop onion and place in crock pot.
2. Place Chicken Breast on top of onion.
3. Dump the can of pineapple (juice and all) over the chicken.
4. Dump the soy sauce and the chicken broth on top of everything.
5. Cover and cook on HIGH in the crockpot for 4-5 hours or on low for 6-8
6. hours.
7. Serve over rice and with a steamed veggie

Heart Shaped Birthday Cake

It's been a bit of a crazy time for us with John away in South Sudan since August. I was determined this year to not put huge pressure on myself to create the perfect birthday part and cake for Isabella. Memories of previous year's efforts and the dramas in creating them still inter for us all!

I'd used the idea of surrounding the cake with white chocolate covered biscuit fingers last
year and it worked really well...and meant the icing around the cake didn't have to be perfect. I also replicated the paper cut out number (for birthday years) with sprinkles around it...although this didn't stand out as well as last year.

I had found the instructions for making the heart on Pintrest. It just seemed too good to be true - simple and very effective - and it was. The key was finding a square and round tin that were the right size. To figure this out I held the round tin up to the edge of various square tins until I got the right fit.


Isabella asked for a chocolate cake. I used an easy recipe from Sophie Gray's 'Enjoy'. See below
I tried making the cakes the same height by putting the same level of mixture in them...this didn't work but it was easy enough to slice a layer off the higher one.

I made Butter Cream Icing - I like this because it is easy to use and can be whipped up in the food processor. See below

I used pink tubular wafers to put around the outside and added a ribbon to make sure they stayed put.
A good end result, minimal fuss and no stress!



DANA'S CHOCOLATE CAKE 
from Destitute Gourmet by Sophie Gray
Very moist cake, freezes well, either process in food processor or put all in
bowl and beat together.
1 & 2/3 c flour
1 & 1/2 t baking soda
1 & 1/2 c sugar
2/3 c cocoa powder
1 t salt
1 & 1/2 c milk
100g butter, melted
2 eggs
1 t vanilla essence
Oven at 180 C, grease a 20cm loose-bottom cake tin and line bottom - it is a very liquid mix and you don't want it to leak!! Put all ingredients into
processor and mix until smooth. Pour into tin, bake 50 min to 1 hour, check if done with skewer.

Butter Cream Icing
125 g softened butter
1 tbsp warm milk
flavouring of your choice
colouring of your choice
375 g icing sugar


Put the butter, milk and any flavour or colour in a mixing blow. Sift in the icing sugar a little at a time and beat well between each addition until it has all been incorporated and the mixture is light and creamy.

Lemon and Gin Cake

I'm not sure how this cake has not been included on my blog previously. It's a real favourite and is one that is requested for special occasions and birthday cakes.

Gin and tonics with lemon or lime are a favourite of mine so I was thrilled (several years ago now) to find a cake recipe that includes some of these ingredients.

It is definitely best served with plain yoghurt to balance the sweet syrup that is poured over the top. I usually double the syrup recipe to ensure there is lots to cover the cake.




Lemon and Gin Cake

SERVES: 12This gorgeous sponge-like lemon cake is soaked in a lemon and gin mixture immediately after removing from the oven.

200g butter
1@1/2 cups sugar
zest of 2 lemons
4 x size 6 (medium) eggs 
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk (at room temperature)

Preheat the oven to 160ºC (fan-bake). Prepare a 24cm loose-bottomedcake tin by lining the base with baking paper, brushing the sides with butter and dredging lightly with flour.

To make the cake, cream the butter, sugar and lemon zest until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time.

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together, and fold carefully into the egg mixture. Add the milk and stir in gently. Pile the mixture into the preparedcake tin. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the cake shrinks from the sides of the tin. This can also be made in 6 small loaf tins which would be baked for about 25 minutes.

For the topping
1/2 cup caster sugar
juice of 2 lemons
4 tablespoons gin

While the cake is cooking, prepare the topping and the decoration. To make the topping, stir the caster sugar, lemon juice and gin together. 

For the decoration
1 small lemon
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water 

To make the decoration, slice the lemon finely. Melt the sugar in the water, bring to a simmer and gently poach the lemon slices for 10 minutes. Remove slices to drain. When the cake is removed from the oven, pour topping mixture over the hot cake. Add the lemon slices around the edge of the top of the cake and allow to cool. 

Salmon Terrine with Apple, Cucumber and Caper Salad

I was lucky to be invited to join a group that gets together for 'degustation' type dinners where each couple contribute a course. This dinner had a '5 Nations' theme based on the Rugby tournament.
Lynn (my partner for the night) and I selected 'France' as our theme country and were given 'starters' as a course.

We did a trial of the terrine which was very successful. The 'relish' is supposed to be a small amount on the side but we really liked it so increased it to a salad!

This really is a super super easy dish and one that can be be made in advance. My trustee mandoline ensured the salad was very uniform in size and quick to prepare. The hardest part (seriously) is cutting it thinly and keeping it in shape. We did this by having it very cold and using a very sharp wet knife.

We served it with french bread crisped in the oven and the 'salad/relish.

Themed berets, preparing to serve the terrine. 

It is very rich so each serving only needs to be small.

While not an inexpensive dish, due to the fact that it was so easy to make and could be made in advance I will be making this again for a special meal or occasion.

The recipe comes from NZ Cuisine online - my never fail go to when hunting for special recipes.


Salmon Terrine with Apple, Cucumber and Caper Salad
SERVES: 8-10This recipe is best started a day before serving to allow the creme fraiche and salmon time to set

I used smoked salmon pieces in the mousse – they’re the fatty bits from the belly and tail, which have more flavour.

450g smoked salmon pieces (I used Southern Ocean)
100g full-fat cream cheese
2 tablespoons chopped dill fronds, plus extra sprigs to serve
300g creme fraiche or quark
juice of 1 lemon
pinch of hot cayenne pepper
400g smoked salmon slices

Place the salmon pieces, cream cheese and dill in a food processor and process until just combined. Transfer to a bowl and stir through the creme fraiche or quark. Add the lemon juice and cayenne pepper to the mix then gently fold them through.

Line the base and sides of a terrine dish or loaf tin with cling film (a little water sprinkled inside helps the film adhere), leaving enough overhang to wrap over the terrine later. Arrange the salmon slices over the base and sides of the dish (save some for the top). Spoon in the mousse filling then cover with the remaining salmon. Cover with the overhanging cling film then chill overnight or for at least 8 hours. Lift out of the dish then invert on to a serving plate. Top with dill sprigs then serve with the relish (recipe follows).

Apple, cucumber & caper relish2 green apples, peeled and cored
4 tablespoons white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons capers, drained
1⁄3 cucumber (or 2 Lebanese cucumbers), peeled, deseeded and diced into 5mm pieces
1 tablespoon finely chopped chives
2 tablespoons grated horseradish (I used a sauce and it worked well)

Slice the apples very thinly then cut into fine matchsticks. Sprinkle with the vinegar (this prevents browning). Chop the capers to form a fine paste. Mix the apple, capers, cucumber, chives and horseradish together then season with freshly ground black pepper.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Vegetable Curry

I love the ease of preparing a meal and just leaving it to cook for several hours. I also love a good curry. I have not been able to make to many I have been happy with in the slow cooker but this one is great.
I cooked it for only about 5 hours on slow but my slow cooker is reasonably fast.
I also thickened the sauce a little bit near the end of cooking.
I used potato, kumera, cauliflower, beans, onion and red pepper.

I substituted cayenne pepper with chilli flakes and served it with a dollop of plain yoghurt to take the spicy edge off for my little person.

This one is a make again for sure.



Slow Cooker Chicken and Vegetable Curry

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lb. (~700 g) boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into chunks
• 6 cups of veggies, chopped (I used one cup each of onion, carrots, green beans, broccoli, tomatoes and red bell pepper. Use what you like or have on hand.)
• 1-14 oz can (~400 ml) of full fat coconut milk
• 1 cup crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce)
• 1 cup water
• 1 Tablespoon cumin
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional (I used chilli flakes)

Directions:

1. Cut the chicken and veggie into medium-large chunks. Put everything into the crock pot.
2. Stir in the coconut milk, crushed tomatoes and water. Then add the spices: cumin, ground coriander, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, salt and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine everything.
3. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. [I cooked mine for 8 hours overnight since my current crock pot does not have an automatic shut off function, though, at it came out perfect nonetheless.]
4. Serve. Would be great over cauliflower rice, but it’s tasty on its own, too.