Dulce de Leche Biscuits (Alfajores)

Tags

alfajore, alfajores, all spice, argentina, biscuits, caramel, colombia, condensed milk, cookies, dulce de leche, dulce de leche biscuits, fragrant, fudge, fun, homebaking, light, microwave, milk candy, peru, recipe, sandwich biscuits, south america, south american cuisine, sugar milk, toffee, treat

Ingredients

150g flour, sifted
125g butter, softened
50g caster sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking powder
397g (1 tin) condensed milk

Makes 16 biscuits.

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/fan 170°C/gas 5. Line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking parchment.

2. Put butter and sugars into a mixing bowl and beat until evenly blended. Slowly add beaten egg to butter and sugar mix beating well between each addition.

4. Mix in the flour, baking powder and spices.

5. Divide dough in half, then cut each half into 16 equal pieces (32 pieces in total)

6. Roll into a ball and flatten each piece onto the baking parchment, place in oven for 15 minutes.

7. Leave cookies to cool on the baking tray for a few minutes, then carefully lift onto a cooling rack with a palette knife.

8. To make the dulce de leche (translation: milk candy), empty contents of tin into a large glass bowl. Cover with cling film and make a couple of large slits in the top. Place in microwave for approximately 12 minutes (you must stir condensed milk every 2 minutes with a whisk), until it turns a light brown colour. Leave to cool.

9. When ready it should be pliable. Divide into 16 equal pieces then spread over half a biscuit then sandwich together with another half.

Gingerbread Men

Tags

bake, biscuits, childrens baking, christmas, christmas tree decorations, cutters, decorate, decoration, easy, fun, gingerbread, gingerbread men, gingerbread people, ground ginger, halloween, kids baking, men, new year, rainy day, recipe, shapes

Ingredients

110g butter
175g caster sugar
4tbsp golden syrup
350g wholemeal flour
1 egg
1tsp (level) bicarbonate of soda
2tsp ground ginger

Yields approximately 24 men.

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/fan 170°C/gas 5. Line 3 baking trays with non-stick baking parchment.

2. Measure the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ginger into a mixing bowl. Rub in the butter with your fingertips so the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

3. Add golden syrup and egg, mix until it forms a dough, then knead lightly at the end.

4. Divide the dough into two and roll out one half on lightly floured surface. When it is approximately half a centimetre (5mm) thick use your cutter to form the shape, then place on baking sheet.

5. Bake in oven for 10-12 minutes, when ready take out and place men on cooling rack.

Optional Decorations:

(Photo: Polka-Dot Zebra @ Flickr)

(Photo: dididumm @ Flickr)

New York City, USA – March 2013

Tags

america, american dream, bagel, big apple, fun, holiday, met, new york, new york cheesecake, new york city, nyc, transatlantic, Travel, us, usa, vacation, yankees, yellow cab

(Photo: Karate Kid Andy @ Flickr)

New York, New York – it’s only 204 days away!

Cucumber Jelly

Tags

agar, agar flakes, cucumber, cucumber jelly, dessert, diet, experimental, fun, gelatine, jello, jelly, low calorie, low fat, moulds, puree, recipe, treat, vegetarian gelatine, vegetarian jelly

Ingredients – Serves 4

1 whole cucumber
1 tbsp agar flakes
water

I used Kitchen Craft – Individual Plastic Jelly Moulds.

Method

1. Peel and chop cucumber, then place in food processor and blend until finely pureed.
2. Pour into measuring jug, then top up with water until it reaches 600ml.
3. Add agar flakes and stir until completely dissolved, transfer into pan and heat until boiled.
4. Optional: Transfer the hot mixture back into the measuring jug.
5. Pour jelly mixture into individual moulds, leave at room temperature until firmly set, then refridgerate.