Simple recipes Archives

Gluten Free Microwave Christmas pudding

December 11, 2015 by Nanny 4 Comments

Many years ago now, I attended a series of workshops on cooking with the microwave where we were given recipes from The Sharp Test Kitchen and this is one of them and over the years I have altered it to become my Gluten Free Microwave Christmas Pudding. This makes a large pudding and I have tried it both this way and as a smaller one so I will give you both versions.

The Tupperware ‘Crisp It’ container is perfect for making this pudding!

I use this container for the smaller one:

What you need:

Large (Small)

250g butter (125g)

250g brown sugar (125g)

4 eggs (2 eggs)

1kg mixed fruit (0.5kg dried fruit)

1 cup pie apple (1/2 cup pie apple)

1 cup plain Gluten Free flour (1/2 cup plain GF flour)

1.5 cups Gluten Free breadcrumbs (3/4 cup GF breadcrumbs)

1 teaspoon cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon cinnamon)

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (1/4 teaspoon nutmeg)

1/2 teaspoon ginger (1/4 teaspoon ginger)

1/2 teaspoon allspice (1/4 teaspoon allspice)

1 Tablespoon Golden Syrup (2 teaspoons Golden Syrup)

2 Tablespoons Parisienne Essence (1 Tablespoon Parisienne Essence)

!/2 cup Sweet Sherry (1/4 cup Sweet Sherry)

What you do:

Cream butter and sugar

Add eggs and beat

Gradually add fruit alternatively with flour, breadcrumbs and spices

Fold in Golden Syrup, Parisienne Essence and Sherry

Grease and flour a large pudding shaped heatproof container – 2litres (1.25l)

Pack the mixture into the container and microwave on MEDIUM LOW/DEFROST for 38mins (Small version cook on LOW( 30%) for about 35 minutes or until cooked

Cover the outside edges of pudding with foil about 1″ wide and continue cooking on MEDIUM LOW/DEFROST for another 15-20 minutes or until cooked (this step not needed for smaller version)

Stand for 10-15 minutes before turning out

Now isn’t that the easiest Gluten Free Microwave Christmas Pudding that you have ever seen!!!! I’ll cut it open:

Perfect – A lovely moist Gluten Free Microwave Christmas pudding!

Enjoy!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Nanny Edit: This was the first time making this in my new microwave and I had to keep playing with the time and power level so just keep an eye on it. It will be a little undercooked in the middle when it is done and this will continue to cook as it cools.

Nanny Edit 2: It is delicious!! What else were we to do – I had to cut a slice to show you!!!

Fruit Nut Balls

December 10, 2015 by Nanny Leave a Comment

Just to show that not everything in the Nanny household is made with condensed milk I thought I would share the Fruit Nut Balls that we make. These are a great activity (supervised) for children – fun to make and taste great too!

What you need:

1 cup dried fruit medley

3/4 cup raisins

1/2 cup chopped dates

1/2 cup boiling water

1 cup skim milk powder

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1/4 cup coconut

coconut extra for rolling

What you do:

Take a bowl and add the dried fruit medley,raisins and dates.

2. Add the boiling water and leave for about 15 minutes.

3. Add the skim milk powder, chopped nuts and coconut and mix well

4. Roll into small balls (about a large teaspoon) and roll in coconut

5. Chill before serving

This made 36 – if you make these Fruit Nut Balls, have supplies on hand because you will want to make more!!

I’m off to make a Christmas pudding – I’ll show you that tomorrow!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Easiest Chocolate Fudge

December 9, 2015 by Nanny Leave a Comment

This would have to be the easiest Chocolate Fudge ever!

What you need:

550g dark chocolate – I used chips because that’s what I had – choose a good quality chocolate

395g can condensed milk

1 cup chopped walnuts

vanilla to taste

What you do:

Line a lamington tray (or similar) with aluminium foil

2. Put the chocolate and condensed milk in a saucepan and melt over low heat.

3. Add the walnuts and vanilla

4. Spread in the tray and pop in the fridge till firm

5, Remove from fridge – turn out and remove foil

5. Cut into desired shape – I tried triangles (Xmas trees??)

How easy was that!!

I think we will try fruit balls next and then if you have never made your Christmas pudding in the microwave, you are going to love that one!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Gluten Free Chocolate Balls

December 8, 2015 by Nanny Leave a Comment

I thought I would share some of the treats we like to have at Christmas – these have been a part of our Christmas for so long I have no idea where the recipes came from originally but, as they are so basic, I am sure many folks will have made similar things in their homes . We have adapted them over the years so that Poppy, who is a Coeliac, can enjoy them too. So let’s start with our Gluten Free Chocolate Balls. These are so easy to make but you will have to be in charge of stopping eating them once you start!

What you need: