Sticky Toffee Pudding

Yum! A very traditional English dessert which is great with or without the sauce.

-Rock Recipes

Pudding

8 ounces chopped pitted dried dates 

1 1/2 cups water 

1/3 cup butter 

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 

2 tsp vanilla extract 

2 extra large eggs 

3 tbsp molasses 

2 tbsp golden syrup, or substitute dark corn syrup 

1 2/3 cups all purpose flour 

1 1/2 tsp baking powder 

1 tsp baking soda

Toffee Sauce

1/2 cup whipping cream 

1/4 cup butter 

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 

1 tbsp molasses 

2 tbsp golden syrup 

2 tsp vanilla extract

Pudding Instructions:

1. Add the dates and water to a small saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for only a couple of minutes. Let stand for a few minutes while preparing the rest of the batter.
3. Cream together the butter brown sugar and vanilla.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5. Add the molasses and golden syrup and beat well.
6. Sift together the flour and baking powder.
7. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture in three equal portions mixing until smooth after each addition.
8. Puree the date mixture in a food processor or blender before mixing in the baking soda.
9. Add this hot mixture immediately to the batter and mix until smooth.
10. Pour batter into well greased and floured muffin tins and bake for about 18 – 20 minutes at 350 degrees F until the center is just firm.
11. Serve warm with Toffee Sauce.

Toffee Sauce Instructions:

1. Bring all of the ingredients to a slow rolling boil for about 2 min before serving over the baked puddings.

Fish and Chips

Brandon and the kids are not big fans of fish, but they like fish and chips!

-Tyler Florence

Vegetable oil, for deep frying

3 large russet potatoes

2 cups rice flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

3 teaspoons salt, plus more for seasoning

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning

1 (12-ounce) can soda water

1 large egg, lightly beaten

2 (8-ounce) cod or haddock fillets, cut in 1/2 on an angle

1/2 cup rice flour, for dredging

Malt vinegar, tartar sauce for serving

1.     Heat 3 inches of the oil in a deep fryer to 325 degrees F. Alternatively, use a deep heavy skillet.

2.     Peel the potatoes and cut them into chips (that is, fries) about the size of your index finger. Put the potatoes in a fryer basket and lower into the oil. Fry the chips for 2 to 3 minutes; they should not be crisp or fully cooked at this point. Remove the chips to a paper towel-lined platter to drain.

3.     Crank the oil temperature up to 375 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. Combine soda water and egg and pour into the flour mixture. Whisk to a smooth batter. Spread the rice flour on a plate. Dredge the fish pieces in the rice flour and then dip them into the batter, letting the excess drip off.

4.     Put the chips in the bottom of the fryer basket and carefully submerge in the hot oil. Carefully lower the battered fish into the bubbling oil on top of the chips. Fry the fish and chips for 4 to 5 minutes until crispy and brown. Remove the basket and drain the fish and chips on paper towels; season lightly with salt. Serve wrapped in a newspaper cone with malt vinegar and/or tartar sauce.

Hot Cross Buns

I've never made hot cross buns before, so this was a bit of a learning experience. I tried to different recipes and this was definitely the winner. I made my own mixed peel, but I think you could easily omit it and just use the zest.

-Paul Hollywood

300 ml/10fl oz. whole milk
500 g/1 lb. 2 oz. bread flour
75g/ 2 ½ oz. caster sugar
1 tsp. salt
7g fast-action yeast
50g/ 1 ¾ oz. butter
1 egg, beaten
150g/ 5oz sultanas/raisins
80g/ 3 oz. mixed peel
1 apple, cored and chopped
2 oranges, zest only
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
oil for greasing the bowl

For the cross:
75g / 2 ½ oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting

For the glaze:
3 Tbsp. apricot jam

Bring the milk to the boil and then remove from the heat and leave to cool until it reaches hand temperature.

Mix the flour, sugar, salt, yeast, butter and egg together in a bowl, then slowly add the warmed milk until it forms a soft, sticky dough.

Add the sultanas, mixed peel, chopped apple, orange zest and cinnamon, then tip out of the bowl onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough by holding the dough with one hand and stretching it with the heal of the other hand, then folding it back on itself. Repeat for five minutes, or until smooth and elastic.

Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with oiled cling film and leave to rise for approximately one hour, or until doubled in size.

Divide the dough into 12 even pieces, and roll each piece into a smooth ball on a lightly floured surface. Arrange the buns on a baking tray lined with parchment, leaving enough space so that the buns just touch when they rise and expand. Set aside to prove for another hour.

Heat oven to 420-4255 F.

For the cross, mis the flour with about 5 Tbsp water in a small bowl, adding the water one tablespoon at a time, so that you add just enough for a thick paste. Spoon into a piping bag with a small nozzle. Pipe a line along each row of buns, then repeat in the other direction to create crosses.

Bake for 20-25 minutes on the middle shelf in the oven, or until golden brown.

Gently heat the apricot jam to melt, then save to get rid of any chunks. While the jam is still warm, brush over the top of the warm buns and leave too cool. Gently rip the buns apart to serve, revealing temptingly soft edges.

Honey Garlic Meatballs

We like to eat these over brown rice with some sautéed sugar snap peas or steamed broccoli.

-Fresh Family Meals

¼ cup brown sugar

⅓ cup honey

½ cup ketchup

2 Tbsp. soy sauce

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 (28 oz) bag fully cooked, frozen meatballs.

In a large sauce pan, mix together sugar, honey, ketchup, soy sauce, and garlic. Add meatballs and stir to coat. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until meatballs are heated through.

Burger Buns

If you have the time, these buns are delicious and so much better than you can buy at the store. Light & delicious!

-King Arthur Flour

¾ cup lukewarm water
2 Tbsp. butter, room temperature
1 large egg
3 to 3 ½ cups flour
¼ cup sugar
1 ¼ tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. instant yeast

3 Tbsp melted butter

Mix and knead all of the dough ingredients - by hand, mixer, or bread machine - to make a soft, smooth dough.

Cover the dough, and let it rise for 1 to 2 hours, or until it's nearly doubled in bulk.

Gently deflate the dough, and divide it into 3 oz pieces. Shape each piece into a round ball and then flatten. Place the buns on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, cover, and let rise for about an hour, until noticeably puffy.

Brush the buns with about half of the melted butter.

Bake the buns in a preheated 375 degree oven for 15-18 minutes, until golden. Remove them from the oven, and brush with the remaining melted butter. This will give the buns a satiny, buttery crust.

Cool the buns on a rack.