Neep (Turnip) Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

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Neep Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

My lovely neighbour handed over some more Neeps (Turnips) the other day, this time instead of the normal Haggis, Neeps ‘n’ Tatties, I decided to make a cake! Well after all you get carrot cake & courgette cakes so why not a Neep cake? This is one of those recipes that doesn’t sound inviting but once you try it, it’s delicious and not what you were expecting. The little bit of Nutmeg through gives a lovely soft spice and the brown butter frosting giving that nutty sweetness. You have to give this a try if you have leftover Neeps (Turnips).

Makes 12 Cakes

250g Plain Flour

150g Grated Raw Neep (Turnip)

3 Eggs

175g Light Brown Sugar

2 Tsp Vanilla Extract

100 ml Milk

2 Tsp Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

2 Tsp Ground Nutmeg

1/2 Tsp Salt

For the Brown Butter Frosting

400g Icing Sugar

2 Tsp Vanilla Extract

3 Tbsp Milk

115g Unsalted Butter at room temperature

Handful of chopped walnuts or hazelnuts to top

  1. Preheat oven to 180 deg & line a 9 x 9 inch Baking tin with paper and grease.
  2. In a bowl beat the eggs, sugar, extract & milk until combined.
  3. Sift in the flour and add the baking powder & baking soda with salt & the nutmeg, stir to combine and pour into the lined tin, bake for about 25-30 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Remove and allow to cool in the tin for 10 mins then remove the paper and place on a wire rack to completely cool.
  4. Meanwhile to make the frosting, place icing sugar, extract & milk into a bowl and set aside.
  5. In a pan on low heat add the butter and gently melt, once melted turn up heat slightly to a medium heat (do not boil) then stir until the butter becomes brown in colour & smells nutty (this will take about 8-10 mins). Remove from heat immediately, allow to cool slightly and add to the icing sugar mix, whip up until you have a smooth thick frosting.
  6. Slice your cake into 12 squares and place frosting into a piping bag, pipe frosting on top of each slice and sprinkle with some walnuts or hazelnuts. Serve with a lovely cuppa! Enjoy.
Brown Butter
Neep Cake with Brown Butter Frosting
Neep Cake with Brown Butter Frosting
Neep Cake with Brown Butter Frosting
Neep Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

Braised Scottish Steak with Root Veg Mash

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Braised Scottish Steak with Root Veg Mash

I am always looking for healthier options but without compromise on flavour and enjoy sourcing locally. I started growing my own vegetables last year too and plan to grow more next year, so this recipe uses up homegrown tatties, onions and carrots from my garden (my swede are not quite ready yet).

My local butcher Forbes Raeburn in Huntly provided me with some delicious diced beef this weekend, my initial plan was to make a steak pie for Sundays dinner but having vegetables to use up, this little recipe was the outcome and definitely one I will make over and over again. End of summer is fast approaching and the colder days to set in soon, this recipe is a sure winner for all the family to warm you up from the inside. Very nutritional too as it’s high in protein, low in saturated fat and packs in your vegetable count.

Serves 4

For the Stew

1 Medium Potato, diced small

2 Celery Sticks, chopped small

2 Garlic Cloves, crushed

750g Diced Beef

1 Beef Stock Cube

1 Large Onion (or 2 medium)

1 Carrott, diced small

1 Tsp Dried Thyme

1 Tbsp Tomato Puree

2 Tsps Brown Sauce

2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

Salt & Black Pepper to taste

For the Mash

1 Large Potato, chopped & peeled

1 Small Swede, chopped and peeled

3 Large Carrotts, chopped & peeled

Pepper to taste

  1. Preheat your oven to Fan 160 deg.
  2. Spray a casserole pan with low calorie oil on medium heat, add the celery, garlic and 3/4 onions and fry for about 10 minutes or until slightly caramelised. Meanwhile in a fry pan heat spray oil on medium heat, season the beef cubes and fry until browned.
  3. Remove the casserole pan with the veg and add in thyme, tomato puree, brown sauce, Worcestershire sauce, beef stock cube with 700ml boiling water. Puree using a stick blender then add to the casserole pan the beef, potato chunks, chopped carrot and rest of the onion, bring to the boil then cover and transfer to the oven to cook for about 1.5-2 hrs until tender, stirring occasionally.
  4. Meanwhile make the mash, put the potato, swede & carrot into a pan of water and bring to the boil, reduce to simmer and cook for about 45 minutes until tender. Drain and mash then season with pepper.
  5. Serve on the side with the beef stew mix. Enjoy.
Braised Steak with Root Veg Mash

Vegetable Tagine

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In a bid to get more vegetables into our diet, this little Tagine was simply super tasty and super healthy. One pot cooking too so nice & easy. I do love Moroccan flavours. Idea came from a recipe from PON and as usual I added and took out bits to suit my own tastes. Delicious!!!

 

Serves 4

Low calorie spray

1 Large carrot, cut into chunks

200g Turnip (swede), peeled and cut into chunks

2 large parsnips, peeled and cut into chunks

6 shallots – peeled and cut into wedges

1 red pepper, cut into wedges

200g peeled and deseeded butternut squash, cut into chunks

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tbsp Moroccan Spice Mix (1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp coriander, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp white pepper, 1/2 tsp mixed spice, 1/2 tsp ground turmeric)

1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes

250ml vegetable stock

1 x 400g tin chickpeas, drained.

200g Baby Spinach

handful chopped fresh coriander

 

  1. Spray a Casserole dish with low cal spray and place over medium heat, add the vegetables and cook for about 5-10 minutes until lightly browned.
  2. Add the garlic and cook for a few more minutes, then add the spice mix and season ensuring all vegetables are covered.
  3. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and stock, bring to a simmer, cover and turn down low. Cook for about 1- 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  4. Stir in the chickpeas and spinach and cook for about 5 minutes more.
  5. Sprinkle with fresh coriander and serve.

 

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