Spanish orange cake

Longing to go to Spain! So this will have to do for now, it’s a Spanish orange cake made with fresh eggs, whole oranges and almonds so it is Gluten free and very delicious.

You will need

A 9inch spring form cake tin lined and greased

2 oranges scrubbed and chopped

5 eggs separated

200g caster sugar

225g ground almonds

Begin by placing the chopped oranges into a saucepan with a couple tablespoons of water simmer gently for about 30 minutes then set aside to cool.

Whisk the egg whites untill stiff peaks are formed then add in half the sugar and keep whisking.

Whisk the yolks and add the remaining sugar then add in the orange mixture then incorporate slowly the whites then fold in the almonds with a metal spoon then pour into your lined and greased tin.

Bake for 40 minutes in the centre of a pre heated oven untill golden brown and set in the middle.

When cooled sift a little icing sugar on top and serve.

Portuguese custard tarts

Also known as Pastèis de nata, these little tarts are simply divine!

They are very easy to make and won’t last very long, they don’t in my household anyway!

As with most pastry recipes, these are best eaten within a day or two of baking as the pastry looses it’s flakiness and crunch, one of the highlights of these little darlings.

INGREDIENTS

1 pack of ready rolled puff pastry

400ml full fat milk

110g icing or caster sugar

1 whole egg

3 egg yolks

2 tbsp cornflour

1tsp vanila extract

METHOD

Begin by rolling out the pastry to make it a little thinner. Then cut into rounds

Lightly spray the cake pans with frylight or rub a little butter over the tins to ensure the tarts don’t stick.

Now mix the eggs, cornflour & sugar together and gradually add the milk ensuring it is smooth.

After this, place the custard mixture on a medium heat and keep stirring. Make sure you don’t leave it for even a second or you will have a lumpy gloop on your hands.

When custard thickens and bubbles, take it off heat and keep stirring then add in the vanilla.

Place a dessert spoon of custard into the pastry rounds and get into the oven at 200c gas 6 for approx 20 mins bake untill they are golden with little brown spots on top.

Spanish chicken

FB_IMG_1505418460065.jpgFB_IMG_1505418455138.jpgFB_IMG_1505418448961.jpgWell this chicken dish is sure to brighten your mealtime with vibrant colours and punchy flavours try this easy recipe to take your chicken to another dimension.

You will need

1 large chicken

1 chorizo sausage 

1 tbsp oregano

1 tsp of thyme

2 tbsp olive oil

1 whole garlic bulb

1 lemon

Salt & pepper

method

Thickly slice the chorizo  and set aside.

Drizzle the olive oil and rub over all the chicken then massage in the oregano, thyme, salt & pepper.

Cut the garlic bulbs in half, place one bulb inside the chicken cavity and place one in the pan do the same with the lemon this will infuse the chicken as it cooks from the inside out permeating the skin and meat with Mediteranean flavours.

Cook for 45 minutes on 180d then tumble in the chorizo, after another 30 minutes of cooking baste the chicken so that the paprika leaves its beautiful red glow over the chicken skin to crisp up. Cook for another 15 minutes.

Check the chicken is cooked through by inserting a skewer into the centre and seeing the juices running clear.

Serve with pan fried potatoes, crisp salad and fresh bread!

Oh and maybe a glass of Rioja!

 

Mini meringues with summer berries & passionfruit

20170712_180653I love these easy little desserts as they are perfect for serving on a special occasion for that little sweet treat at the end of a meal they are light and easy to prepare Gluten free and full of seasonal fruit.

Ingredients

3 large egg whites

175g caster sugar

500ml double cream

Punnets of summer fruits of your choice

1 passionfruit

Method

Preheat your oven to 140degrees

Line a baking tray with baking paper

Make sure the eggs are fresh seperate the yolk from the white ensuring they are kept seperate and place the whites into a mixing bowl then whisk until soft peaks are formed then gradually add the sugar untill you have a stiff glossy meringue.

Take the bowl and tip upside down to ensure they are firm and combined.

Dollop six tablespoons of the glossy mixture onto the baking tray ensuring they are well spaced out.

Bake for about an hour then turn the oven off and leave to cool in the oven, overnight is fine.

Whip up the cream to soft peaks and spoon onto the meringues, smooth with the back of a spoon and place the fruits onto the cream then scrape out the pasion fruit and put a little on each meringue.

Garnish with a little mint

Orange and poppyseed cake

http://www.vintageteacompany.vpweb.co.uk

Orange & poppyseed cake

This is a light airy sponge, very nice on a Sunday afternoon with a cup of tea and a gathering of friends.

Ingredients

8oz self raising flour
8oz castor sugar
8oz stork soft margarine
4 eggs
2 tbls poppyseeds
1 orange,   zest and juice
500g icing sugar
100g butter
100g cream cheese

Method

Beat sugar and stork together adding eggs gradually, then add flour and poppyseeds half the juice and half the orange zest.
Pour into 2 8″ round tins and bake on 160d for approx 25 mins
Allow to cool.
Meanwhile mix the remaining orange juice with butter, cream cheese and icing sugar and mix together untill smooth and fluffy, sandwhich between cake and spread on top, sprinkle a tsp of poppyseeds and a little grated orange zest to finish off.

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Taste of summer

Well so far we have had all seasons thrown at us these last few months, however we have still experienced the joys of seasonal produce faithfully brought from the earth to our bellies!

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The berries have been particularly good this year and blackberries just beginning to turn into their lushious glossy black skins are going to be in abundance very soon.