Mini Christmas No Bake Puddings

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These are perfect for a little bite size treat at Christmas and they look the part too. I first saw this recipe from Madaboutmacarons and just had to try.

I added a little orange liquor for a different flavour and they were delicious. (optional)

 

Makes about 12

50g raisins
40g dried apricots, finely chopped
40g dates, finely chopped
5 tbsps orange juice (or 2 tbsp orange liquor and 3 tbsp orange juice)
60g desiccated/shredded coconut
60g caster sugar
40g Scottish oats
40g candied orange peel, finely chopped
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

50g coconut oil – melted if solid

2 tsp Christmas Spice – See below for recipe mix.

(Spice Mix:- 2tbsp ground cinnamon, 2 tbsp ground ginger, 2 tbsp ground all spice, 1 tbsp nutmeg, 1/2 tbsp ground cloves, pinch black pepper) This can be stored in an airtight container.

50g White Chocolate – melted.

 

  1. Put all dried ingredients into a large mixing bowl, then add in the coconut oil and orange juice and mix to combine.
  2. Taking small amounts roll into a ball and place on greaseproof paper on a baking tray and refrigerate.
  3. Melt 50g of white chocolate in a microwave for about 1.5 mins and drizzle over the puddings. To decorate add a cranberry and edible holly decorations. (or you can cut some icing or marzipan for this)

Yummy!


Autumn Seasonal Foods

autumn-fruit

September marks the end of summer berries, but there’s lots of other fruit like apples, plums, grapes, figs and pears. Pumpkin, squash, kale and leeks make their debut, lamb makes a comeback and it’s the start of the mussels season.

Fruit
Apples (Bramley) (coming into season)
Apricots (end of season)
Blackberries
Blueberries (end of season)
Grapes (short season to October)
Figs (coming into season)
Melon
Nectarines
Peaches (end of season)
Pears (coming into season)
Plums (coming into season)
Raspberries (end of season)
Tomatoes

Vegetables
Artichokes (globe)
Aubergines
Beetroot
Broad beans (in season until early Sep)
Broccoli
Butternut squash (coming into season)
Carrots
Celery
Celeriac (coming into season)
Courgettes
Cucumber (end of season)
Fennel
Kale (coming into season)
Leeks (coming into season)
Pak choi (end of season)
Peas
Peppers
Potatoes (maincrop)
Pumpkin (coming into season)
Rocket
Sweetcorn
Watercress

Meat
Duck (coming into season)
Goose (coming into season)
Lamb
Rabbit
Venison (coming into season)

Fish and seafood
Crab
Haddock
Mackerel
Mussels (coming into season)
Pollock (pollack)
Salmon
Sardines
Scallops
Tuna (until end Sep)


My Boozy Summer Fruit Meringue

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O.K….so I cheated a bit and bought shop meringues (time saving), as you have probably read before I got some Edinburgh Gin’s Raspberry Liqueur…….so yes you guessed it, I used this instead of syrup……oh sooooooo yummy!

5 mini meringues

Handful of summer fruits, I used Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and redcurrants

1 tbsp Raspberry liqueur

Mix all in a bowl and devour!

A fab dessert at only 155 calories per bowl

ASSORTED MERINGUES – makes about 18.

4 Large Egg Whites

115g Caster Sugar

115g Icing Sugar