Bourbon Fruit Layer Dessert

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Ingredients:

• 3 large oranges
• 8 ounces fresh strawberries about 10 strawberries
• 2 1/2 tablespoons Bourbon
• 2 ounces chocolate chilled milk or dark
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 1/2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• strawberry to decorate

Steps:

• Peel each orange and finely dice the flesh discarding the tough core and any seeds I find it easiest to quarter each orange then peel
• Hull and dice the strawberries
• Put both fruits in a bowl and add the bourbon Add 1/2 tablespoon of the sugar and stir Leave to soak for about 30 minutes in the fridge Gently stir as frequently as you can- every 5 minutes if possible- to evenly blend the flavours
• Finely grate the chocolate until you have the required 4 tablespoons grated chilling it beforehand stops it from melting in your hands as you grate it
• When the fruit has finished soaking whip the cream until it starts to stiffen
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar to the cream
• Drain the fruit through a sieve pouring the juices and bourbon into the whipped cream Stir gently to mix
• In four glasses put a layer of fruit then cream then chocolate flakes Repeat the layers of fruit cream and chocolate finishing with the chocolate If desired top with a fanned strawberry

Chai Tea Gift Mix

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Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 1/2 cup powdered vanilla coffee creamer dry
• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened instant tea dry
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Steps:

• Mix all together and place in pretty airtight container and attach these instructions For each serving place 3 to 4 heaping teaspoons mix in a cup
• Fill with 8 ounces very hot water
• For creamier chai use half milk and half water

Cheesy Stuffed Shells

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Ingredients:

• 16 ounces low fat cottage cheese
• 1 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach thawed well drained
• 1 cup shredded 2% mozzarella cheese divided
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
• 20 large pasta shells cooked drained
• 1 26 ounce jar spaghetti sauce
• 1 large tomatoes chopped

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F
• Mix cottage cheese spinach 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning until well blended
• Spoon 1 heaping tablespoons of the cheese mixture evenly into each pasta shell
• Combine spaghetti sauce and tomatoes; spoon half of the sauce mixture into 13x9-inch baking dish
• Place shells filled sides up in baking dish
• Spoon remaining sauce mixture over shells
• Cover with foil
• Bake 25 minute or until heated through
• Uncover; top with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
• Bake uncovered an additional 2 minute or until cheese is melted

Chocolate Torte - No Baking

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Ingredients:

• 157 ml double cream
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 225 g dark chocolate
• 57 g butter

Steps:

• Prepare a 7x7 dish by lining it with greaseproof paper for easy removal of the torte once cold
• Measure out the butter and chocolate and chop up ready for adding later
• Put the cream
• sugar and salt in a pan and bring slowly to near boiling stirring constantly You should see small bubbles at the edges of the pan
• Add the butter and chocolate and stir well until melted Then add any other flavourings if desired eg ginger etc optional
• Pour into prepared dish and chill in fridge overnight or until set at least 7 hours Id guess
• When set torte can be turned carefully onto serving dish where it will sit firm and not ooze You can then decorate with cream / fruit / drizzled white chocolate optional

Four Cheese Manicotti in Cream Sauce

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Ingredients:

• 1 large onion diced fine or shredded
• 1 lb mushroom sliced
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup flour
• 4 cups milk
• 1 1/2 cups parmesan cheese grated
• salt and pepper
• 1 lb ricotta cheese
• 4 ounces mozzarella cheese diced
• 1/2 cup romano cheese grated
• 1/4 cup walnuts finely chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
• 3 eggs
• 1 dash nutmeg

Steps:

• Saute onion and mushrooms if using in butter 5 minutes; stir in flour
• Gradually stir in milk; stir over low heat until sauce bubbles and thickens
• Stir in 1 cup Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste; set aside
• Cook manicotti shells according to package directions; drain and cover with cold water
• Mix together ricotta mozzarella Romano and remaining Parmesan cheese; add walnuts parsley and eggs
• Season to taste with salt pepper and nutmeg
• Drain manicotti shells; stuff with cheese mixture
• Place shells side by side in a greased shallow baking pan; spoon sauce over all
• Bake in preheated 400F oven 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly and golden

French Lavender and Vanilla Sugar for Elegant Cakes and Bakes

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Ingredients:

• 200 g white caster sugar
• 6 -10 heads dried lavender
• 3 vanilla pod

Steps:

• Place the lavender heads and about 2 tablespoons sugar into a food mixer or coffee/spice blender Pulse together for about 1 minute or until the lavender is ground the same consistency as ground spices
• Place the rest of the sugar into a large mixing bowl amp; add the ground lavender and sugar mix
• Mix well
• In tall jar Kilner jars are good pour half the lavender sugar; place the three vanilla pods in the jar towards the outside so they may be seen
• Carefully add the rest of the sugar so the vanilla pods are standing up in the sugar
• Seal and keep for about 2 weeks before using
• Store in a dark dry and cool place
• This lasts up to 1 year and the vanilla pods can be used numerous times again after the sugar has finished
• Use in cakes biscuits cookies jams cream desserts ice-cream pies and tarts crumbles trifles and junkets etc

Fruit Salad With Cannoli Cream

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Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
• 2 tablespoons whipping cream
• 1/3 cup whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon
• 2 1/2 cups fresh strawberries hulled and quartered
• 1 1/4 cups fresh raspberries
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 kiwi peeled cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons toasted pistachio nuts chopped
• 2 -3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips

Steps:

• Stir the ricotta and 2 tablespoons of cream in medium bowl to blend
• Using an electric mixer beat the remaining 1/3 cup of cream powdered sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl until semi-peaks form
• Fold the ricotta cream into whipped cream
• Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to stiffen and yield a creamier fillingCan be prepared 4 hours ahead Cover and refrigerate
• Toss the strawberries raspberries sugar and lemon juice in a medium bowl to combine Let stand until juices form tossing occasionally about 15 minutes Add the kiwi
• Spoon the fruit mixture into 4 dessert bowls Dollop the ricotta cream atop the fruit
• Sprinkle with the pistachios amp;/or chocolate chips if using

Hazelnut Brown Butter Sauce

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Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/3 cup hazelnuts lightly toasted and chopped
• 1/2 cup white wine

Steps:

• In a small saucepan brown the butter over medium heat until it is nutty-smelling and golden-brown
• Add the wine and hazelnuts and let reduce slightly
• Serve over pasta or other dish of your choice

Insanely Chocolatey - Chocolate Nemesis Cake

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Ingredients:

• 12 ounces dark chocolate broken into small pieces really good quality
• 5 eggs
• 1 cup superfine sugar
• 2 tablespoons superfine sugar
• 1 cup softened unsalted butter
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whipped cream to serve
• 1 cup fresh raspberry to serve
• chocolate curls

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300F; line an 8-inch diameter shallow cake pan 2 inches deep with nonstick baking paper
• then grease it with butter and sprinkle with flour
• Beat the eggs with one third of the sugar until the mixture quadruples in volume this operation will require beating for around 10 minutes with an electric beater Heat the rest of the sugar in a saucepan with 1 cup water until the sugar dissolves into a syrup
• Add the chocolate pieces and the butter Mix well When smooth
• remove from the heat and leave to cool Pour the mixture over the eggs while it is still slightly warm and continue to beat gently until it is smooth no more than 20 seconds
• Pour the mixture into the prepared cake pan and place the pan in a roasting pan of hot water The water must come right up to the top of the mold
• so that the cooking is uniform
• Bake it for 30 minutes in the oven until it has set Check for doneness by gently placing the palm of your hand on the surface If it is not set
• continue cooking
• Cool the cake in the pan before turning upside down to unmold onto a cake plate Serve with a spoonful of whipped cream some fresh raspberries or just inhale the cake straight off the plate If youre feeling really crazy for chocolate
• top the cake with chocolate curls too ;

Molten Flourless Chocolate Cake

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Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1/2 lb semisweet chocolate
• 2 ounces unsalted butter
• cooking spray
• powdered sugar for decorating

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425
• Place a saucepan of water on high heat Heat to a boil
• then reduce to simmer
• In a mixing bowl
• crack eggs and warm them over simmering water for 1 minute hold bowl directly over the water
• using a dish towel to protect your hands
• whisking constantly
• Remove eggs from heat
• and whisk for another minute until eggs are very fluffy
• Meanwhile
• put the chocolate and butter in a large
• heatproof
• stainless-steel or tempered-glass bowl; set it over the simmering water
• making sure the water doesnt touch the bowl
• Let the chocolate and butter melt; remove from heat
• Let mixture cool slightly by stirring occasionally
• about 5 minutes
• Once slightly cooled
• fold the chocolate and butter into the whipped eggs until no more streaks show Batter will deflate
• Spray 6 4-ounce ramekins or ovenproof dessert cups with nonstick cooking spray or use foil cups
• or muffin tins
• Fill them 3/4 of the way full and place on a baking sheet
• Bake for 10-12 minutes
• depending on how gooey youd like the centers
• Turn the cakes out onto dessert plates
• and serve immediately with a sprinkle of powdered sugar

Pate Reinagel Vegetarian Spread

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Ingredients:

• 4 ounces reduced-fat goat cheese unripened
• 2 ounces black mission figs finely chopped about 6
• 1 tablespoon argan oil
• 2 teaspoons mild honey
• 3/4 teaspoon black pepper coarsely cracked

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients mix until well combined and fluffy Chill Serve with apple slices crackers or flat-bread or Belgian endive leaves Makes about 3/4 cup

Sparkling Lime Christmas Punch

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Ingredients:

• 1 12 ounce can welch's frozen white grape juice
• 1 12 ounce can minute maid frozen limeade concentrate
• 1 2 liter bottle Sprite chilled
• ice cube
• frozen cranberries

Steps:

• Mix frozen juices according to directions on the can add 7 cans water
• Add Sprite to taste
• Serve in punch bowl -- adding ice cubes and frozen cranberries

Vegan Pasta Amatriciana

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Ingredients:

• 2 cups tomato sauce Prego basil and garlic is good
• 6 leaves basil
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• fresh ground black pepper to taste
• 1 dash salt to taste
• 3 slices vegetarian bacon I like smart bacon or tempeh strips
• 4 ounces pasta shells or any other pasta you prefer

Steps:

• In a small sauce pan over low heat add the tomato sauce basil garlic crushed red peppers and black pepper
• Let simmer 10-15 minute
• Fry the soy bacon for a few minutes in a small skillet
• Chop it into small pieces
• Add to sauce
• Leaving the sauce on low to get nice and thick cook the pasta according to directions
• Drain the pasta
• Taste-test the sauce and add salt or pepper to taste
• Toss pasta and sauce
• Enjoy

Vegan Rice Pudding With Coconut

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Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups rice milk
• 1/2 cup short-grain rice
• 1/4 cup sugar or 1/4 cup sugar substitute
• 1 cup coconut milk from can make sure you shake it
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• shredded coconut flakes if you like

Steps:

• Bring rice milk and cocnut milk to a boil
• Add rice let boil for about three minutes
• Reduce heat add sugar and let simmer for about 20-30 minutes
• Right before taking off heat add vanilla and sprinkle coconut flakes on top
• Enjoy

Very Raspberry Frappes

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Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups frozen raspberries or 1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries
• 3 tablespoons raspberry liqueur framboise or 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon seedless raspberry jam
• 2 cups other berry gelato or 2 cups ice cream
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/3 cup crushed shortbread cookies or 1/3 cup chopped chocolate wafer cookie
• shortbread cookies or chocolate wafer cookie

Steps:

• Thaw raspberries if frozen; place 1 cup berries in blender or food processor
• Cover and blend or process until smooth; press pured berries through fine-mesh sieve into bowl Discard seeds
• Add liqueur and jam to pureed berries; whisk until smooth
• FOR FRAPPE
• iin blender or processor combine berry mixture gelato and milk
• Cover and blend or process just until combined stopping blender to scrape down sides as needed
• Stir in chopped chocolate or crushed cookies
• Divide remaining berries and frapp between two chilled glasses
• Top with chocolate or cookies
• Serve with long-handled spoons