2015 Christmas Greetings from FeedYourInnerCook

Christmas is a time to reflect, think of others, show family and friends how grateful we are to have them in our lives, support those in need in our community and remember those no longer with us. It is not the money, it is time and true generosity of spirit. We celebrate the opportunity to gather together, share special moments and make special memories. Whether your loved ones can be at your table or within your heart - raise your glass and may we all wish for a more peaceful 2016 for everyone's loved ones.

Window display Hamley's ToyStore. London

This year the FeedYourInnerCooks really "seized the moment" and were very fortunate to travel far and wide - it feels like a dream -but we wore out our shoes exploring amazing places, tasting fresh incredible food and meeting wonderful people in places such as  Umbria, Oxford, Cambridge, Sweden, Croatia and the  magical Swedish island town of Visby - Hej Hej!!  

To all the kind, welcoming people who made our trips so special and memorable -                           we say "Thank you and Tack!"

                A truly Happy, safe Christmas and serene 2016 to all our wonderful readers. 

Beautiful Visby. Sweden

Window display. Stockholm

Exeter College Oxford

Carnaby Street London

View from Balcony. Umbria.

Cheers!  Colleen and Mama Marmalade

Panettone, Limoncello and Blueberry Trifle - It's Too DUANE Good!!!

Now, this is a SUPER BOWL - filled to the brim with luscious Limoncello soaked Panettone and berry trifle .. my thanks to Wilbur for fighting off the hordes of barefoot partygoers and taking this photo ... despite Duane reaching in with "his" spoon!!  The flavours are lemony light and summery and the panettone adds great texture and a perfect change from the usual sponge - yes it is laden with yummy calories but .... mmmmmm - and apparently it is even better the next morning .. for breakfast!

PS This is for you Duane - Cheers!

Time:  First prepare the jelly.
            Allow at least one hour to prepare all ingredients and layer into bowl. 

Best made the day before serving 

Ingredients - this is a general guide and will depend upon your dish size.  I made a BIG bowl.

Essentially you are creating layers of custard, cake, fruit with jelly then nuts and cream and repeating until bowl is full.  Extras can make a spare dessert for another day as it will keep refrigerated for a few days.  Good luck hiding it in the fridge.

Panettone - a large boxed cake is usually 800gram - 1 kg.  Lightly remove crust (can leave on if you forget, but remove the burnt bottom) and slice approx 2cm thick

Limoncello - avoid brands that have a rough aftertaste.  (I have used various including Villa Massa and Lemon Z.)  A little goes a long way

Custard - either make it yourself or fine to buy a good quality brand (approx 1 kg) 

Cream - the thick dollop type   - approx 600 ml

Peaches - 800/850 gram tin of quality Australian tinned peaches well drained

Nuts - I used a couple of handfuls of chopped macadamias.  Or use flaked almonds

Jelly - I made up 2 x 85gram packets of natural Lemon jelly with a little less water than suggested.  Or you could make your own from scratch to enhance the flavour.  Allow to set in fridge prior to using. 

Lemon Zest - I used very fine zest of 2 lemons

Blueberries - I used 2 x 125 gram punnets

Raspberries  - 1 x 125 gram punnet

Mint leaves -  a very small handful to decorate top just prior to serving.  This really adds a 'fresh zing'

Silver Cachous and Icing Sugar to decorate top just prior to serving

Method

Make the jelly and chill preferably for 4 hours minimum to set. When set cut into small chunks for easy layering

Drain the peaches, chop the nuts and clean the berries.

Have large glass bowl (you'll want to show off those layers!!) and ingredients to hand.

SO

Spoon a small amount of custard in base of bowl.

Remove crust from panettone and slice horizontally.  Place 1 slice on a large dinner plate and drizzle a small amount of Limoncello using a spoon.  You want it to be a little moist but not soaking. Do one slice at a time.

Place panettone slice over the custard.

Cover with a little more custard, then the peach slices, some of the jelly, blueberries, a scattering of nuts and zest and small dollops of cream.

Repeat the layers until bowl is almost full.

For the topping,  cover with cream. Dot with a few spoonfuls of custard.
Refrigerate overnight.
Just prior to serving
Decorate with raspberries, the remaining blueberries, a few nuts, lemon zest, small mint leaves and if desired, a few silver cachous and a final dusting of icing sugar.

Serve with bowls of the remaining custard and cream.

Serve ... then ....    Stand back !!!

I have also served this using strawberries and took a raspberry blueberry version to Diner en Blanc in small individual jars for easy transporting and serving - All are delicious!!

                                       









  Enjoy!  Colleen !  

Mango and chocolate tart

 

Curtis Stone was the creator of this stunning tart, what a winning combination chocolate pastry, mango jelly and chocolate mousse filling.

It looks impressive but don't tell the guests how easy it is to make.

Ingredients

Tart 
200g plain flour
55g icing sugar
35g Dutch cocoa
100g chilled butter, roughly chopped
3 egg yolks

Chocolate Filling
300ml thickened cream
400g milk chocolate (good quality) roughly chopped

Mango Jelly
3 x 5g leaves titanium strength gelatine
2 large ripe mangoes, flesh roughly chopped
60ml orange juice

Method

Use a 26cm loose bottom tart tin.

Process flour, sugar, cocoa, butter and a pinch of salt in a food processor until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add egg yolks and process until mixture just comes together. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and using the heel of your hand, bring pastry together. Shape into a round disc, wrap in a plastic wrap then refrigerate for an hour.

Roll out pastry between 2 sheets of baking paper until 4mm thick. Use pastry to line tart pan. Trim edge and using a folk to prick base. Rest the pastry in freezer for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, to make chocolate filling, place cream in a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring almost to the boil. Remove from the heat add chocolate then stir until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.

Preheat oven to 180C. Line tart shell with baking paper, filled with weights (dried beans /rice) then bake for 10 minutes. Remove the weight and bake for further 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.

Pour chocolate filling into tart shell then refrigerate for 30 minutes or until filling is just set.

To make jelly, place gelatine in a bowl of cold water for 3 minutes to soften, then squeeze out excess water. Meanwhile blend mango in a blender to a puree. Using the back of a spoon, push through a fine sieve into a bowl. (you need 300ml). Place orange juice in a saucepan over low medium heat and bring to a simmer. Add gelatine and whisk to combine.

Pour jelly over chocolate in tart shell. Spread evenly. Refrigerate for 1.5 hours or until set.

Remove tart from pan. Dip a large sharp knife in hot water, dry the blade, then cut tart into slices to serve.


Stunning!
Mamma Marmalade

marinated pork ribs with Asian flavours

This is the second recipe in our Family Favourites Series - marinated pork ribs with Asian flavours.  Just by using staples from the pantry you can make this quick go to family dinner packed with flavour.

Ingredients

600g free range pork spare ribs
1 dessertspoon Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoon Peanut or Olive Oil
1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
2 cloves crushed garlic
1 dessertspoon honey
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1 teaspoon freshly grated turmeric or 1/2 teaspoon dried turmeric
2 small chillies finely chopped
Sesame seeds and garlic flowers/chopped coriander for garnish

Method

Combine all the above ingredients in a glass/ceramic non reactive dish.
Add spare ribs in a single layer, using a fork, prick each rib and then turn over and repeat.
Marinate in the fridge for 3 hours if you have the time, turning every so often.  Even 30 minutes will do.

Preheat griddle pan and once hot place spare ribs in a single layer.
Cook for 5 minutes on one side, turn and cook for a further 5- 8 minutes or until cooked through.
(If you want to crunch up the skin just use tongs to hold the skin side directly on the pan)

Sprinkle with sesame seeds and garlic flowers or chopped coriander as garnish.

Serve with nutty brown rice for a delicious family favourite.

Hint: I store my sesame seeds in a small glass bottle in the freezer, no waste and always on hand.

Hope this becomes one of your family favourites.

Mamma Marmalade