Cookbookmaniac
  • Mini Croquembouche – Not for the Faint-Hearted
    Mini Croquembouche – Not for the Faint-Hearted
    Baking Recipes

    Inspiration taken from Delicious Magazine Dec/Jan Issue Recipe for Pate a Choux adapted from Secrets of Baking by Sherry Yard Recipe for Caramel Sugar from Delicious Magazine Dec/Jan Issue Pate a choux 1 cup of bread flour or plain flour 1 teaspoon sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup of full-fat milk 85g unsalted butter 4 large eggs 1 large egg for egg wash Caramel Sugar 250g caster sugar 100ml water 2 tablespoons glucose syrup A tub of good-quality vanilla ice cream To make pate a choux 1/ Sift together the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Set aside. 2/ Bring the water, milk and butter to a boil in a large saucepan over medium heat. At the boil, remove the pan from the heat and add the flour mixture all at once. Using a sturdy spoon, stir vigorously to combine. 3/ Return the mixture to…

  • Fattouch with a twist
    Fattouch with a twist
    Cheap Eats Recipes

    In an attempt at being a little more healthy I converted one of my all-time favourite salads to include a wholegrain and less fat. I went on an accidental healthfood shopping spree with a friend and I picked up a packet of the ancient grain, quinoa, which seems to have suddenly taken the health-conscience western world by storm. It was simple to prepare and its addition did not seem to interfere with the true essence of the recipe. Instead of deep-fried flatbread, I used toasted, leftover sourdough bread. I must confess, the inclusion of these croutons was more out of frugality than mere health concerns. We had a remaining half a loaf from the previous nights delicious beef bourguignon. I couldn't bear to see it go to waste. It toasted up a treat and I added it in at the very moment I was ready to consume this superfood salad.…

  • Glorious Butter Cake
    Glorious Butter Cake
    American Recipes

    I was recently given a set of Jamie Oliver DVD's as a housewarming gift. It took me a while to get around to them but I finally watched the Ministry of Food the other day and was really surprised that someone could feed their toddler doner kebabs every night. It was also frustrating to see that almost an entire town of people were at risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity because they didn't know how to cook. Whatever happened to learning how to cook from your parents?! One of the tasks that Jamie set for himself and the group of people participating in the show was to pass on a recipe. It's so magical how a simple task like this can really change a community. I've made this cake for my family, friends and colleagues over the years and everyone has been enamoured by this glorious slice of heaven.…