I was fascinated to learn that the water from chick peas (aquafaba), or in fact any legumes, behaves a lot like eggs in various recipes, including meringues. As you probably know by now, I’m not a vegan but I found these meringues amazing. They have a more interesting, nutty flavour than egg meringues and the mixture is…… Continue reading vegan meringues
Category: sweet bites
ricotta doughnuts
Who doesn’t love a fresh hot doughnut? Here the taste of ricotta shines through and a drizzle of tangy lemon syrup is just perfect. Make the lemon syrup by heating ½ a cup each of lemon juice and sugar until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup thickens a little. Depending on your lemons you may need…… Continue reading ricotta doughnuts
pepita cookies
Crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside and deliciously nutty. Preheat your oven to 180ºC (350ºF) and line one or two baking trays with non-stick baking paper. In a food processor, combine 1 cup of pepita (pumpkin) seeds, ½ a cup of coconut sugar, 1 tablespoon of ground ginger and 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon. Process until the…… Continue reading pepita cookies
apple and ricotta tarts
These pretty little tarts look like flowers and make a delicious dessert or afternoon tea. Preheat your oven to 180ºC (350ºF). Apply a generous amount of butter to 6 large muffin tins. Peel and core 4 firm apples and slice them very thinly – a mandolin slicer is ideal for this. Arrange the slices of apple around the muffin tins. You…… Continue reading apple and ricotta tarts
dark chocolate coated cherries
Cherries and chocolate are famously well suited. Try this simple combination of fresh ripe cherries in a dark chocolate shell with a hint of coconut. Wash and chill 30 ripe cherries. In a microwave melt 40g (1½ oz) of 70% dark chocolate with 2 teaspoons of unrefined coconut oil until you can stir them together into a smooth…… Continue reading dark chocolate coated cherries
oat and ginger snaps
Chock full of ginger and deliciously crunchy. Combine 170g (6 oz) of butter, 175g (6 oz) of Demerara sugar and 100g (3½ oz) of golden syrup in a large bowl or saucepan and heat until the butter has melted. Stir in 85g (3 oz) of flour, ½ a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda, 250g (9 oz) of…… Continue reading oat and ginger snaps
pistachio and almond biscuits
These simple biscuits (cookies) are a little crisp on the outside and wonderfully chewy in the centre. Combine ⅔ of a cup of almond meal, ½ a cup of pistachio butter (if you can’t find this you can make it by grinding shelled pistachios in a food processor until the oils comes out), ⅓ of…… Continue reading pistachio and almond biscuits
ma’amoul
These small shortbread pastries are very popular in Palestine and the Gulf States. Filled with dates, pistachios, walnuts and occasionally almonds or figs, Muslims eat them at night during Ramadan and during the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha holidays and Arabic-speaking Christians eat them at Easter. They are also popular among Syrian, Lebanese and Egyptian Jewish communities, who eat them with nut fillings on Purim, and with date fillings on Rosh Hashanah and Hanukkah. The subject of ma’amoul arose in conversation with my friend Caroline who was not only…… Continue reading ma’amoul
cannelés
Yvie (a committed Francophile) made these Bordeaux specialities. Although made with a simple batter the result is chewy or almost crunchy on the outside and custard-like in the centre. Of course you need cannelés moulds to make the real thing. Traditionally baked in copper there are also silicone versions available. Make a batter of 3 cups of milk, 1¼…… Continue reading cannelés
chocolate and almond biscotti
These biscotti are only slightly sweet and have a lovely dark chocolate flavour. To make them you will need 1¾ cups of plain flour, 1½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ a cup of cocoa powder, 250 grams marzipan, 150 grams cold salted butter, 3 eggs, 1½ cups blanched and toasted whole almonds and 1 tablespoon of almond-flavoured liqueur (or similar).…… Continue reading chocolate and almond biscotti
michelle picker cooks 