Boiled Fruit Cake

 

We all love a piece of Fruit Cake and sometimes the thought of making it can put you off especially the 'creaming the butter & sugar together'.
This has to be one of my easiest to make yet, and to be honest I get a good result each time with this recipe.

Ingredients:

900g ( 2lb ) dried mixed fruit

250ml (8 fl oz) water

225g ( 8oz ) caster sugar

170g ( 6oz ) butter

230g ( 8oz ) plain flour

2 medium eggs (beaten)

1 tsp bicarbonate of soad

1 tsp of mixed spice

1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Preparation & method:

Preheat oven to 150 C / Gas 2

Grease cake 8inch** cake tin and line with greaseproof paper.

Combine he water, dried fruit, butter and sugar  in large saucepan over medium heat.

                       

 Bring to the boil stirring occasionally, then simmer gently for 10 minutes.

When this is done leave to cool approximately 6/10minutes**

Sift flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices into a large mixing bowl and blend in.

Pour in the cooled cake mixture, and stir well until blended making sure there are no pockets of flour at the bottom.

Mix in the eggs.

 

At this stage the mixture will look sloppy and pale, that is normal.

                                                        

Pour into lined cake tin.

Bake for approximately 90 minutes in pre-heated oven.

Test after 80 minutes with a skewer inserted into the top of the cake, it should come out clean.

Cool cake in tin for at least 10 minutes before removing and placing on wire rack to continue cooling.

 Tips***

I use a 9inch cake tin, sometimes a deeper 7 inch both work perfectly well.

If you don't let your cake cool enough before adding to flour mixture, it could cause lumps.

Last Christmas I used this recipe but instead of all mixed fruit I added chopped cherries, mixed peal and some chopped walnuts.

Just make sure when adding other ingredients, you take out the equivalent in dried fruit and it still comes to 2lb's.

Happy cooking.

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Lemon Garlic Hummus

 

Hummus gets some kick with lemon and garlic! The sweet, pungent flavor of lemon combined with garlic makes for a hummus you won't be able to tear yourself away from! Pair it with pita and you have a quick and easy appetizer or snack.
Ingredients:
1 15oz can of Chickpeas
2 cloves of garlic crushed
3tbls lemon juice
3tbls olive oil
1 1/2 tsps tahini 

Preparation:
Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can.
Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor.
Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas.
Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth.
Place in serving bowl, and create a shallow well in the center of the hummus.
Add a small amount (1-2 tablespoons) of olive oil in the well.
Serve immediately with Dutch crisp bread or a cracker of your choice.

You can adapt this recipe using dried chickpeas as follows.
Soak the beans the night before. Turns out great!
Some guidelines: ***
15 oz canned chickpeas is approx. 1.5 cups cooked chickpeas,
and approx. 0.5 cups dry (before soaking)
*** reserve the boiling water from the cooking process to use in place of the canning liquid in the last step of the recipe.

Easy Hummus Recipe:

Happy cooking Glo

Cheese, Onion and Potato Pasties

Another nice quick snack suitable for vegetarians, this rich shortcrust pastry melts in your mouth.  Doesn't take long to prepare and cook the only problem is they are very very scrummy.
                    

Pastry:                                  

6oz (170g) plain flour

11/2oz (42g) lard

11/2oz (42g) butter or marg

Cold water for mixing                           

Filling:

2oz (57g) butter

8oz (227g) onions thinly sliced

2 medium sized potatoes - thinly sliced and chopped ***

2oz (57g) cheddar cheese - grated***

2tsp sandwich seasoning***

1/2 tsp dill or mixed herbs

1/4 tsp paprika

beaten egg for glazing

Preheat the oven to 400'F; 200'C; Gas Mark 6

For the pastry - sieve the flour and seasoning into a bowl,

Add lard and butter and rub into the flour until it resembles fine bread crumbs,

Stir in enough water to form a soft dough (not too wet)

Roll out the pastry onto a floured surface cut into rounds the size of a saucer.

Make the Filling:  

                              

Melt the butter in a pan, add onions and fry until soft.

Leave to cool.

In a bowl add the chopped potato, grated cheese, onions dill and paprika. 

Mix well the ingredients well.

Divide the filling between your pastry rounds, brush the edges with egg and shape to form the pasty.

 
                          

Brush with beaten egg.

Place onto a greased baking sheet and cook in th eoven for approximately  20 minutes.

Serve hot or cold, either way they are both delicious.

*** If you can't get sandwich seasoning use pepper & salt sparingly.

***  I used two types of cheese just for extra flavour.

*** Don't want potatoes then do this:

Hard boil three eggs when cool mash into bowl and add the other ingredients, tastes just as good not quite so moist.

Happy eating glo.