Ginger Apples |
East Wood Ginger Apples, from Alastair’s aunt, Anna McColl and published by the National Trust for Scotland. |
|
1 kg Apples, firm fresh cooking variety 1 kg Sugar 750 ml Water Slightly salted water for temporary storage of the cut apples 125g Crystallized ginger, shredded or chopped Ground ginger (optional) Jars, seals and tops Labels |
Dissolve the sugar in the water and boil for 15 minutes to make a syrup. Peel, core and quarter the apples. Keep prepared apples in the salted water to stop browning. Rinse apples when ready to use. Add crystallized ginger and apples to the syrup and boil gently for 15 minutes, or until the apples are translucent. Add extra ground ginger if you prefer an extra ginger taste. |
|
Put in warm jars and seal . When the jars have cooled add a label and store
as for jam. Serve with ice cream as a dessert, or with pork and cold meats as a savoury. |
|
Gingerbread |
Julpepparkakor, Swedish style gingerbread. For shapes or house. |
|
150g butter 1/4 cup golden syrup 3/4 cup caster sugar 1 level teaspoon cinnamon 1 level teaspoon ginger 1 level teaspoon ground cloves 3 1/4 cups plain flour 1 level teaspoon carb soda 1 1/2 beaten eggs royal icing for piping, optional |
Put butter, golden syrup, sugar and spices into a saucepan, heat to dissolve
then allow to cool. Sift carb soda and flour into a mixing bowl. Make a well in the middle. Add the egg and cooled syrup and spice mixture. Mix thoroughly then turn out and knead very well. Roll out thinly on a well floured surface. Cut out with fancy cutters. Bake on greased trays lined with baking paper in the oven at 180 - 190C for 7 to 9 minutes. Watch carefully, they burn easily after this time. Remove from trays and cool. Store in air tight container. |
|
Decorate with royal icing to give people shapes eyes and other features.
Other shapes can have lines and spots. The same mixture can be used for a gingerbread house. Cut the mixture into the sections of the house and bake, as soon as it comes from the oven recut to size, (it spreads in the oven). Allow to cool over night to harden. Build the house using royal icing to stick the parts together around a box or brick to support the walls until the icing sets. Allow to walls to set before trying to fit the roof. Contact Alastair if you want a paper pattern or more detail. |
|
Greek Meal |
Pastito, from Tess Mallos' Greek Cookbook. |
|
Macaroni 500g long macaroni 4 tablespoons butter 3/4 cup grated kefalotiri or parmesan cheese 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg Salt and pepper 3 eggs, lightly beaten |
Cook macaroni in boiling salted
water until tender. Drain and return to pan. Melt butter until golden brown and pour over macaroni. Add 1/2 cup of the cheese, nutmeg. Add salt and pepper to taste and toss well. Leave until cool, add eggs and toss again. |
|
Meat Sauce 1 large Onion, chopped 1 clove Garlic, crushed (optional) 2 tablespoons butter 750g ground beef 3 tablespoons tomato paste 1/2 cup red or white wine 1/2 cup stock 2 tablespoons chopped parsley 1/2 teaspoon sugar Salt and Pepper |
Gently fry onion in
butter until soft. Increase heat and add meat. Stir well and cook until meat begins to brown. Add remaining meat sauce ingredients. Cover and simmer over gentle heat for 20 minutes. OR use your favourite meat sauce |
|
Cream Sauce 80g butter 1/2 cup flour 750ml milk 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg Salt and pepper 1 egg, lightly beaten |
Melt butter in a saucepan, stir in
flour and cook gently for 2 minutes. Add milk all at once and bring to boil, stirring constantly. Boil gently for 1 minute. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste. Cool a little before stirring in beaten egg. Add 1/2 cup of this sauce to the meat sauce. |
|
To Assemble Butter a 33cm x 23cm x 8cm oven proof dish. Spoon half the prepared macaroni evenly in the base of the dish. Add all the meat sauce. Cover with remaining macaroni, leveling top. Pour on the cream sauce and spread to completely cover the macaroni. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on the top. Cook in the oven at 180C for 50 minutes until golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes. Cut into squares to serve. |
|