Fruit & Nut Chocolate Nests
Preparation 20 mins + refrigeration
Cook
Serves 12
Method
Aiden and Bailey definitely approve!!Ingredients
250 grams melted chocolate
1/2 cup Sunbeam slivered almonds
1/2 cup Sunbeam mixed fruit
2 cups rice puffs
Recipe Collection
Nut Crusted Cheese Log
Let the cheeses soften on your bench while you dice nuts and herbs. Whip the cheeses with liquor to combine until smooth.
Mix chilli with herbs and nuts, then sprinkle onto a 30cm piece of plastic wrap, leaving a 2cm border.
Spoon cheese along one end of herbs. Lift wrap and roll cheese away from you into a log, pressing gently to coat well in herbs, shape the mixture into a log, then wrap and refrigerate for about an hour, until the mixture is firm. (NOTE: Can be made up to 2 days ahead of time)
Serve with your favourite crackers.
Honey Roast Chicken with Nutty Stuffing
Preheat the oven to 220c on fan-forced.
Combine stuffing ingredients in a food processor until roughly chopped.
Remove stems from rosemary and combine with honey, olive oil in a small bowl.
Fill chicken with nutty stuffing and roast chicken for 20 mins.
Remove chicken after 20 mins and cover outside with honey glaze, season with salt.
Cook for a further 25 mins on 180c until golden
Festive Fruit Cake
Preheat the oven to 150°C. Line the base and sides of a 20cm springform cake pan.
Mix nuts, dried fruits, glace cherries, peel in a bowl. Sift in flour, baking powder then stir in sugar. Lightly whisk eggs with vanilla, then stir into the cake mixture until well combined. Pour into pan. Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Cool cake in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a rack over a plate and remove baking paper. Pierce all over with a skewer. Drizzle with brandy, then wrap tightly in foil and leave in a cool, dry place for 2-3 days to mature.
For the topping: Soak fruit in Maple syrup, add boiling water to cover and let soften. Closer to serving, warm jam in a pan over low heat or in the microwave until runny. Arrange the maple-soaked fruits over the top of the cake in a decorative pattern, then brush with warm jam to set in place.
Plum Clafoutis
- Pre-heat oven to 190°C (170°C fan-forced). Cut plums in half and remove stone. Cut each half into thirds and toss with the sugar and juice. Arrange in the base of a shallow baking dish.
- Combine icing sugar and almond meal in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl whisk the egg whites until frothy. Add to the almond mix with the butter and vanilla, Mix until well combined and pour over the plums. Bake for 35 minutes, until mixture is golden and cooked.
Spiced Chicken Pilaf
- Toss chicken with spices and a small drizzle of the oil. Heat half the remaining oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes each side until golden and just cooked through. Allow to cool slightly, then break into pieces. Set aside.
- Add remaining oil to pan and cook onion and garlic for several minutes until tender. Stir in rice with stock and bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 15 minutes, partially covered.
- Add chicken pieces, zucchini and currants to pan, cooking a further 3-4 minutes. Serve sprinkled with almonds and coriander. Accompany with yoghurt and lemon wedges.
Burnt Honey and Macadamia Semifreddo
- Line a 2L freezer-safe container with baking paper.
- In a small saucepan melt butter. Add honey and cook for a further 2 mins until foamy and golden. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Combine all eggs, vanilla, sugar and salt in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan of water to a simmer, place bowl over the top and constantly beat for 6-8 mins (using an electric beater) or until the mixture is thick and pale. Remove from heat, beat in the burnt honey mixture then allow to cool for 5 mins.
- Beat thickened cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold the burnt honey custard, fruit and macadamias through the whipped cream, then spoon into the prepared container and freezer overnight.
- Serve generous scoops in waffle cones.
