chocolate and long pepper ice cream

I had some Malaysian long pepper (Piper longum), a spice with a similar peppery bite to black pepper but with more heat and a sweeter, earthier flavour. Inspired by a David Lebovitz recipe, I decided to combine my pepper with Jeni Britton Bauer’s dark milk chocolate ice cream from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home. The pairing…… Continue reading chocolate and long pepper ice cream

triple chocolate buckwheat cookies

Buckwheat lends a nuttiness to these very chocolatey cookies from the inimitable Nigella Lawson. Soft with a satisfying cake-like texture they’re also gluten free! Chill 150g (5½ oz) of dark chocolate chips in the fridge or freezer. Preheat your oven to 180ºC (350ºF) and line a couple of baking sheets with baking paper. Roughly chop…… Continue reading triple chocolate buckwheat cookies

hazelnut dacquoise cake

A dacquoise is a meringue which has ground nuts incorporated into it. I chose hazelnuts and added dark chocolate and sour cherries as well. Preheat your oven to 190ºC (375ºF) and line a springform cake tin. Bring 6 egg whites to room temperature. Meanwhile, toast 130g (4½ oz) of hazelnuts. Cool them and blitz them…… Continue reading hazelnut dacquoise cake

baci di dama

These crisp little Italian hazelnut biscuits (cookies), not too sweet and filled with dark chocolate, are perfect with a mid-morning coffee or afternoon tea. To make these biscuits you can toast, skin and grind the hazelnuts yourself. As I have an excellent supply of good quality nuts, I chose to use hazelnut meal. Combine 140g…… Continue reading baci di dama

leatherwood honeycomb

Leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida) is a species of tree endemic to Tasmania where this honey is produced. The dark amber honey has a distinctive aromatic flavour of spice with a floral afternote. I combined my organic leatherwood honey with vanilla in this honeycomb. Prepare a lined baking tray and have 3 teaspoons of sifted bi-carb soda…… Continue reading leatherwood honeycomb