Cook Up......Christmas 2016

Phew, this post has been a long time coming!!!

Back to Christmas 2016 saw my Son and I bottle some Dill Cucumbers the Latvijan way

All cut and ready to go

DS was keen to learn how to do this and quickly jammed the cucumbers into the jars

I thought I would start off a Sourdough batter for some Bread

Having learnt that if Dough is proved for a minimum of roughly 12 hours the Gluten in the process breaks right down......Perfect for Gluten Intolerants like me

More information over here 

It's all about slowing it right down like in the old days before mass baking where now bread can be made in an hour!!!

I'm all for Slow Food

I gave mine an 18 hour rise

Out of the oven

And tasted sooooo good......and no reaction!!!

From donna hay magazine Issue 90 Dec/Jan 2017 

I made an Apple Cider, Mustard and Sage Glaze for our Ham which DS had started outside

Recipe available here 

Glaze

The Ham over the Spit

Daughter and Grand Daughter by the Spit

Finally ready and oh so succulent

The meal

 

Whilst on a roll I made some Mixed Spice and Raspberry Loaves 

I used Gluten Free Flour so not as risen as using regular flour

Quite yummy too as I love Raspberries!!!

From donna hay Fresh & Light Issue 6

 Raw Choc-Hazelnut Raspberry Tart before Chocolate Mousse Topping



All done now

And for about 5 years I've been wanting to make a German Stollen using a Gluten Free recipe
A Gluten Free recipe over here 

and it was worth the wait!!! 

That did me in for a few weeks so it was all easy meals from then on!!!

Bon Appetie......Dzintra

~My Birthday Cake~

Even though my Birthday was quite a few weeks back now I feel like I have to blog  the delicious cake and recipe which I need to save here just in case it enters the World of Lost Recipes one day.

Introducing Flourless Almond Cake
Recipe given to me by Anne (no blog) some years ago now and it is well and truly used

I found this French Caster Sugar sourced from Champagne-Ardenne which was really sparkly (above and below) and whipped up beautifully. 

For information on French Caster Sugar go over here 

All stirred and whipped ready for the oven

And about ready to blow out the candles

Hip Hip Hooray

Note.....wearing Fat Quarter in hair by Anni Downs (range 'Kiss Under the Mistletoe')

I find fat 1/4's easier to wear than regular headbands as I usually have one to match

I just go to my stash lol!!!

**RECIPE**

Anne's Flourless Almond Cake

Mod oven 170c for 40 minutes

25cm Spring Tin

Vanilla

8 Egg Whites/Yolks

1 C Caster Sugar

Vanilla

200g Almond Meal or Ground Hazelnuts

Flaked Almonds

Icing Sugar for dusting

**METHOD **

Grease Tin

Whisk Egg Whites

Add Sugar and Vanilla

Gently fold in Yolks then Almond Meal

Sprinkle Flaked Almonds

Bake and then dust with Icing Sugar

Thanks so much Anne, I love this Recipe.......it is a real favourite!!!

Bon Appetit......Dzintra

~Cook Up with donna hay and Irina~

Cook Up with donna hay and Irina from donna hay magazine Issue 78 Dec/Jan 2015

Menu tonight was Sticky Chilli Ribs with Coconut and Cabbage Slaw

Sticky Date Meringue Cake

Free Range Pork in mixture of Ginger, Garlic, Chilli, Honey and Lime Juice

Out of the oven and looking crackling good too!!!!!!

Recipe for Sticky Chilli Ribs with Coconut and Cabbage Slaw here

Sticky Date Meringue Cake

and sliced.

It was such a hot night here that this meal was just perfect!!!!

Irina also participates in the cook up from time-to-time

To see what she has been making go over here

Bon Appetit......Dzintra xo