APPLE CROSTATA

This recipe is taken from Ina Garten cooking show the Barefoot Contessa which is seen on the Lifestyle Channel. This recipe is made with apples but I have also made this using nectarines without the topping. Other fruits like peaches or plums would taste delicious as well. You can use any nuts you like for this apple crostata as well. Great as a dessert with a large spoon of cream on top.



APPLE CROSTATA

Pastry

1 cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
125g cold butter chopped
3 tablespoon cold water

FILLING

4-5 medium apples
¼ teaspoon grated lemon rind

TOPPING

¼ cup all purpose flour
¼ cup sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
4 tablespoons cold butter
¼ cup of walnuts

For the pastry:

Place all ingredients into a food processor except water. Pulse until combine, then add water with motor running, until the dough forms into a soft ball.

Turn dough onto a floured board and form into a disc shape. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for a least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

Roll pastry into a 28cm circle and transfer to baking tray.

For the filling: Peel, core and cup apples into quarters. Cut each quarter into 3 chunks.

Toss with lemon rind. Cover dough with apples leaving a 1 1/2cm border.

For the Topping:

Combine all ingredients into a food processor and pulse until mixture is crumbly and started to hold together.

Sprinkle evenly over the apples.

Gently fold the border over the apples to enclose the apples, pleating it to make a circle.

Bake for 30-35 minutes until the crust if golden and the apples tender.

Allow to cool.

Serve at room temperature with ice cream or cream.

CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE WITH RED WINE

How do you make a birthday cake from one of your favourite cake recipes? Here is what I have done for my grand nephew Jacob. I have baked his favourite – a chocolate cake – and added M & M’s, candles and of course Happy Birthday Jacob.

Everyone was pleased… Jacob and his brother Kye… grandparents and mum and dad. There weren’t even any crumbs left.


CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE WITH RED WINE

serves 10-12
preparation 15 minutes
cooking 1¼ hours

185g butter, chopped, at room temperature
1½ cups caster sugar
3 eggs
1½ cups self-raising flour
¾ cup plain flour
½ cup cocoa powder
1 cup red wine
½ cup water
whipped cream, to serve

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

200g dark eating chocolate, chopped
½ cup thickened cream

1. Preheat oven to moderate, 180°C. Lightly grease a 22cm round cake pan. Line base and sides with baking paper.
2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light
and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Sift flours and cocoa together. Lightly fold into creamed mixture alternately
with combined wine and water.
4. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 1~1h/4 hours until cooked when tested.
Cool in pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
5. CHOCOLATE GANACHE. Combine chocolate and cream in a medium pan.
Stir over low heat until smooth. Cool until mixture thickens slightly and is of
a spreadable consistency (about 30 minutes).
6. Spread ganache over top and sides of cake.

Serve in wedges with whipped cream.

ALMOND BREAD

ALMOND BREAD (makes 2 loaves)

6 Egg whites l6Omls of whites
230 grms Caster sugar 1 1/3 cups
200 grms Plain flour 1 1/2 cups
200 grms Unbleached almonds
pinch Cream of tartar

Whisk egg whites & cream of tartar until soft peaks form.
Add sugar & beat until firm & glossy.
Fold in plain flour. Add nuts.

Put into greased loaf tins.
Bake 30 mins approx at 170* cent.
Turn out of tins, wrap in tea towel.
Store in plastic bag in freezer 24 hours for best cutting.
Slice finely/lay on back of patty pan tin.

Cook about 10 mins at 160* cent
Store in airtight container



CHOCOLATE CARROT CAKE

Most people like Carrot Cake but this has a bit of a twist. I have added pineapple and cocoa powder to give it a bit more flavour.

Great for afternoon tea with friends


CHOCOLATE CARROT CAKE

INGREDIENTS

2 ½ cups plain flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon bi-carb soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup sugar
pinch salt
1 x 450g crushed pineapple
4 eggs
1½ cups chopped walnuts
2 cups grated carrots
1 cup vegetable oil



Sift dry ingredients together. Drain pineapple. Make well in centre of the flour mixture and add all other ingredients. Mix well. Pour into 23cm square baking tin and bake ¾ hour in 180 deg oven

Icing

250g Cream cheese
1 ½ cups of Icing sugar
3 to 4 tablespoons lemon juice
Walnuts – to decorate

Beat cream cheese, icing sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Spread on top of cake and decorate with walnuts.