Twisted Christmas Bread Wreath

Soak fruit overnight in sherry or brandy
Place soaked fruit, water, butter, golden syrup and sugar in a saucepan. Slowly bring to the boil then remove from heat and add bicarbonate of soda mixed with one tablespoon boiling water. Cool for 15 minutes.
Add lightly beaten eggs mixing thoroughly. Fold in sifted flours, spices and vanilla essence.
Place in a 20cm round or square cake tin. Decorate with almonds. Bake at 160°C for 75 to 90 minutes. Cool in tin.

Thermo cooker method:

Soak fruit overnight in sherry or brandy.
Place soaked fruit, water, butter, golden syrup and sugar into TM bowl and heat 7 min/100°C/Reverse/speed 1.
Add bicarb soda mixed with one tablespoon boiling water and gently stir through with the spatula – the mix will froth up but should not spill over.
Cool for 15 minutes in TM bowl.
Carefully add all remaining ingredients apart from the blanched almonds in the order listed and mix 10 sec/Reverse/speed 4.
Scrape down sides of the bowl and mix 5 sec/Reverse/speed 4.
Place in a lined 20cm round or square cake tin. Decorate with almonds. Bake at 160ºC for 1¼ to 1½ hours. Cool in tin.

Preheat oven to 150ºC (130ºC fan-forced). Line 12 x ⅓ cup capacity muffin pans with paper cases.
Place mixed fruit into a food processor with boiling water and blend to a fine paste. Transfer to a large saucepan with butter, chocolate, milk and brown sugar. Place over a medium heat and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes until the butter and chocolate has melted.
Transfer mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer (or you can transfer to a clean bowl and use a hand mixer) and whisk in the eggs. Add flour mixture, cocoa, mixed spice and a generous pinch of salt. Mix until the batter is thick and smooth.
Pour batter into the prepared cases and smooth the surface. Bake for 25 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool.
Heat cream until hot and pour over chocolate. Mix until smooth and desired consistency achieved. Spread over mud cakes.

Line the base and sides of 2, 10 x 20cm loaf pans, or 4, 6 x 12cm mini loaf pans.
For topping choice Rum ‘n Raisin, combine raisins, rum and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside until required.
Place chocolate in a glass bowl and heat in the microwave in 30 second increments until half chocolate is melted. Stir chocolate constantly until all the chocolate is melted.
Pour chocolate evenly between pans and whilst still in melted form, working quickly, decorate with preferred toppings. Allow to set at room temperature and store in an airtight container when set. Wrap and give away as gifts.

Grease and line base and sides of a 27cm x 17cm slice pan with baking paper, extending paper over sides.
Place chocolate and coconut oil in large heatproof bowl over a saucepan one-third filled with simmering water. Stir until melted and remove from heat.
Add sultanas, almonds, cherries, rice cakes and coconut. Stir to combine and spread into prepared pan. Press down firmly.
Set aside to cool for 1 hour or until set. Refrigerate if weather is hot. Cut into 18 pieces to serve.

Pre-heat oven to 170°C (150°C fan-forced). Combine nuts and seeds with coconut and sultanas.
Heat honey and pour over nut mix, combine well.
Drop spoonfuls onto oven tray and bake for 15 mins until golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool before removing from tray.

Place pasta into a large saucepan of boiling water and cook to pack directions, or until al dente. Drain.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large frying pan. Add walnuts and sunflower seeds, tossing regularly until toasted. Add garlic, chilli and lemon rind cooking a further minute.
Add cooked drained pasta to the fryingpan with the ricotta, rocket, vinegar, lemon juice and some additional oil. Season and toss well.

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