RASPBERRY CHIA POTS

Ingredients.......125 gm of fresh raspberries, extras to serve, 1 orange, peeled and pith removed, roughly chopped, 375 ml of almond milk, 40 gm of white chia seeds, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, 2 kiwi fruit, peeled and diced, 2 tbs of maple syrup, fresh mint. Use a food processor on high to process the raspberries, orange and half the almond milk until smooth. Divide the mixture between two small serving jars or glasses,then pour the remaining almond milk, chia seeds and vanilla extract into each jar. cover and transfer to your refrigerator for 1 hour. Stir each jar and then return to the refrigerator overnight. To serve, pile the kiwi fruit and extra fresh raspberries on top of each pot, drizzle over the maple syrup and garnish with fresh mint.

SULTANA CAKE

Ingredients....250 gm of butter/ marg, 1 cup of castor sugar, 2 and 1/2 cups of plain flour, 1/4 cup of self raising flour, 5 eggs, lightly beaten, 750 gm of sultanas, 125 gm of granulated nuts, 1/4 c up of Apera ( cream sherry ), pinch of salt, 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Cover the sultanas with warm water, soak for 2 hours. Drain and let dry for at least 24 hours. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Grease and line a 20 cm square cake pan / 23 cm round cake pan. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add a little of the beaten eggs along with a tbs of the plain flour, to prevent curdling, beating well after each addition. Mix the flours together with the salt. Then mix in the sultanas and the nuts. Fold in the Apera and vanilla. Spoon the mixture in the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 90 minutes or until until tested with a skewer and it comes out clean.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ?

Answers to July challenge........ 1.Junket. 4. Ganache 2. Blanch. 5. Zucchini. 3. Scold 6. Sweat. Here is my August challenge for you? 1. Which ingredient is included if a dish is cooked Florentine? 2. Which common salad is named after a famous New York city hotel? 3. What is quinoa a type of? 4. which spices make up Chinese five spice powder? 5. What family does the pineapple belong to? 6. Which vegetable can be cooked parimentier style?

CHOCOLATE CAKE.

A recipe for all dietary requirements..... Ingredients....185 gm of a plain flour that is compatable with your dietary requirements, 220 gm of castor sugar, 30 gm of cocoa, 1 tsp of baking soda, 1/2 tsp of salt, 80 ml of canola / rice bran oil, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, 1 tsp of white vinegar, 250 ml of water, mixed berries to serve. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Lightly grease and line a 23 cm x 13 cm ( 9" x 5" ) cake pan. Mix together the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Mix together the water, oil, vanilla and vinegar and then add to the flour mixture, mix together till smooth. Pour into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Serve with mixed berries.

CHIVE AND ONION TWISTS.

Ingredients.....15 gm butter/ marg, 1 medium onion, finely chopped, 1/2 cup of chopped fresh chives, 2 sheets of ready rolled puff pastry, 1 tbs of milk, 1/2 cup of tasty grated cheese. An oldie but a goodie. Preheat your oven to 200 deg C. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Melt the butter/ marg in a small saucepan, add the onion and cook until softena. Drain on absorbent paper and set aside to cool. Then mix the onion and chives in a medium bowl. Spread the onion mixture over one sheet of puff pastry. Place the remaining sheet of pastry on top. Brush withn milk and sprinkle with cheese. Slice the pastry sheet into 2 cm wide strips. Twist the strips, place on the prepared tray and brush lightly with the milk. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until the twists are golden brown. Cool on wire racks.

BAKED OMELETTE WITH WHEAT GERM TOPPING.

Ingredients......30 gm of butter/ marg, 2 medium zucchini, thinly sliced, 2 spring onions, chopped, 150 gm of sliced mushrooms, 1 dsp of fresh thyme / 1 tsp of dried thyme, 6 eggs, lightly beaten, 2 tbs of minced garlic, 180 ml of cream. Wheat Germ Topping..... 60 gm of wheat germ, 4 tbs of finely grated parmesan cheese, 6 cherry tomatoes, quartered, 1 firm tomato, sliced to serve. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Lightly grease an ovenproof dish, about 4 cup capacity. Wheat germ topping, combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix well. Baked omelette....heat the butter/ marg in a medium pan, add zucchini, spring onions and mushrooms, cook, stirring until the vegetables are tender. Add the thyme. In a separate bowl mix together the eggs, garlic and cream until combined. Spread the vegetable mixture over the base of the prepared dish. Pour over the egg mixture and top with the wheat germ topping. Place the dish in a roasting pan with enough boiling water to come half way up the side of the dish. Bake uncovered, in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until set. Top with tomato slices to serve.

GARLIC.

Garlic is one of the most famous and popular herbs. Garlic,( Allumium sativum) was most likely used in china, India and Egypt before recorded history. Bulbs of garlic were found in the tomb of Tutankhamon, dating from 1300 BC. Raw garlic was used as a field dressing in World War 1 because of its antiseptic qualities. The peeled, chopped and minced bulbs complement nearly all savoury foods to some degree, especially the cuisines of Asia and the Mediterranean.