Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Chocolate Salted Peanut Butter Fudge

Ingredient
3 cups chocolate chips (milk or dark)
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup salted peanuts, chopped

Method
Line a 8 x 8 inch square baking pan with baking paper. Set aside.
Place the chocolate chips and peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl and beat in 30 second increments, stir after each one, until melted and smooth.
Stir in the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and peanuts until combined. The mixture will be thick.
Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth out the top.
Sprinkle with remaining peanuts.
Refrigerate for 2 - 4 hours or overnight until completely set.

Storage
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week.
You can make ahead of time and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in fridge before serving.

Larb Chicken

Ingredients
500g chicken mince

Salad
5 x spring onions, thinly sliced
1 carrot, grated
1 red onion, thinly sliced
12 x baby cos lettuce leaves

Sauce
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1/2 cup lime juice
1 pinch red chilli flakes

Topping
1/2 bunch of parsley, chopped
10 x mint leaves, sliced thin
sesame seeds

Method
Cook chicken mince. Set aside.
Combine shallots, carrot, red onion and 2 tablespoons of sauce and mix to combine.
Add the chicken mince and rest of the sauce.
Add the parsley and mint leaves.
Serve 4 baby cos lettuce leaves on each plate and spoon the chicken larb mix on top. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

Enjoy!

Variations
Use pork mince instead.

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Meringues (Paleo)

Ingredients
2 egg whites (use the egg yolks in a recipe like lemon curd)
½ cup maple syrup
1 pinch salt
1¼ tsp ground cinnamon
ground cinnamon or nutmeg (for dusting)

Method
In a medium pot, bring a couple of inches of water to a low simmer.
In a large heatproof bowl, add the egg whites, maple syrup and salt. Place bowl over the simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water.
Whisk the egg whites over the simmering water until the mixture is warm to the touch. This may take about 3 - 5 minutes, depending on how low your simmer is. Remove from heat.
Right away, start beating the egg whites on high speed using a whisk in a stand mixer.
Beat until the egg whites have turned thick and shiny with stiff peaks.  This takes about 3 minutes.
Gently fold in the cinnamon with a spatula to combine evenly.
Line a oven tray with baking paper and preheat oven to 95°C. [200°F]
Transfer meringue to a piping bag fitted with a large open star tip and pipe meringue stars onto the baking paper lined tray. My meringue stars are about the size of a 20c coin.
Sprinkle with nutmeg or cinnamon on top of each meringue. 
Bake in the preheated oven for about 1½ to 2 hours, or until dry to the touch. Turn off the oven, crack the door with a wooden spoon and leave the meringues in for 1 more hour to finish drying them out.

When to make
Keep in mind that humidity affects meringues. These are best made on low humidity days.

Storing
Meringues are destroyed by humid environments. Store in an airtight container at room temperature they should last for weeks.

Ingredients:  700g watermelon, rind removed and discarded, roughly chopped 600ml pure (thin) cream 1/2 cup (125ml) milk 1/2 cup (110g) caste...