Archive for category Food and Lifestyle
Easy moist fruit cake recipe
Posted by admin in Food and Lifestyle, Health, Recipes on November 24, 2014
Make this Christmas Cake which is quick and easy – start early to avoid the Christmas rush, make your cake whilst hanging Christmas decorations, adding some brandy or whiskey to keep it flavoursome.
Prepare this fruit cake in advance and feed it regularly with rum, brandy or whisky to build the flavour and keep it moist.
INGREDIENTS
- 1kg mixed dried fruits (use a mix of raisins, sultanas, currants, cherries, cranberries, prunes or figs)
- zest and juice 1 orange
- zest and juice 1 lemon
- 150ml brandy, Sherry, whisky or rum, plus extra for feeding
- 250g pack butter, softened
- 200g light soft brown sugar
- 175g plain flour
- 100g ground almonds
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp mixed spice
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- 100g flaked almonds
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Put the dried fruit, zests and juice, alcohol, butter and sugar in a large pan set over a medium heat. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 mins. Tip the fruit mixture into a large bowl and leave to cool for 30 mins.
- Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Line a deep 20cm cake tin with a double layer of baking parchment, then wrap a double layer of newspaper around the outside – tie with string to secure.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the fruit mixture and stir well, making sure there are no pockets of flour. Tip into your prepared tin, level the top with a spatula and bake in the centre of the oven for 2 hrs.
- Remove the cake from the oven, poke holes in it with a skewer and spoon over 2 tbsp of your chosen alcohol. Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin.
- To store, peel off the baking parchment, then wrap well in cling film. Feed the cake with 1-2 tbsp alcohol every fortnight, until you ice it. Don’t feed the cake for the final week to give the surface a chance to dry before icing.
Easy and delicious chicken soup recipe
Posted by admin in Food and Lifestyle, Health on October 26, 2014
Delicious chicken soup for the soul, there’s nothing quite like a bowl of homemade chicken soup if you are feeling unwell or simply feel like some wholesome food. I found this fabulous Chicken noodle soup recipe that is so quick and easy and yet has the most amazing flavours. Its not only quick, easy to prepare and delicious its also a cheap meal to make.
Serves: 6
Yields: 12 cups
Total Time: 43 min
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 28 min
Ingredients
- 2 carton(s) (26-ounce) reduced-sodium chicken stock or broth
- 2 cup(s) water
- 3 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
- 3 small parsnips, peeled and thinly sliced
- 3 stalk(s) celery, thinly sliced
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 1/2 cup(s) cooked, shredded chicken
- 1/2 pound(s) extra-wide egg noodles
- 2 tablespoon(s) minced parsley
- 2 teaspoon(s) kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon(s) freshly ground black pepper
Directions
- In a 5- to 6-quart soup pot, bring stock, water, carrots, parsnips, celery, and onion to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 15 minutes.
- Stir in chicken and noodles; cover pot and continue to simmer 7 minutes, or until noodles are just tender. Stir in parsley, salt, and pepper. Ladle into bowls.
Click here for other exciting recipes, hints and tips and interesting articles.