Actifried Apples With Apricots And Almonds Food

APRICOT & ALMOND FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Mix the sultanas and sherry and set aside for 1 hr to soak.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease a deep, 23cm loose-bottomed cake tin, and line the base and sides with a double layer of baking parchment that comes about 2.5cm above the sides of the tin. In your largest mixing bowl, beat the butter, sugar and vanilla together until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one by one.
• Stir in the flour, baking powder, and the ground and flaked almonds. Next, add the soaked sultanas with any remaining sherry, the dried apricots, the mixed peel, and all the zest and juice. Scrape into the cake tin, smoothing out the surface.
• Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 1 hr 25 mins. Poke with a skewer in the centre to check it is cooked - if the skewer comes out with any uncooked mixture stuck to it, bake for 10 mins more before checking again. Cool in the tin. Decorated, or wrapped in greaseproof paper and foil, the cake will keep for up to a month.

BAKED APPLES STUFFED WITH CRANBERRIES AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut 1/2 inch off the top of the apples and reserve tops. Use a paring knife or spoon to hollow out the apples, leaving about a 1/2-inch thick wall and base. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add cranberries, honey, cardamom, dates and orange juice and zest and cook until the cranberries begin to collapse and liquid thickens, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in almonds.
• Spoon cranberry mixture into apples then replace the apple tops. Put into a small baking dish filled with 1/4 inch water, cover with foil and bake until tender, 15 to 30 minutes (depending on apples).
• Uncover, and carefully pour off the water and continue baking until very tender and golden, 10 to 15 minutes more.

ACTIFRIED APPLES WITH APRICOTS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Drain apricots and and cut them into 4. Peel the apples and cut them into 2-cm cubes.
• Mix apples with sugar and cinnamon.
• Put all ingredients into the ActiFry. Close the lid. Leave to cook for 12 minutes.
• Serve the candied flavoured fruit in attractive square dishes with mini appetizer forks.

BAKED APPLES WITH DRIED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix 1/4 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water in an 8-inch square baking dish. Peel tops of apples; core with melon baller (leave the bottom intact).
• In a bowl, toss dried apricots with remaining 1/4 cup sugar, ground ginger, and cinnamon.
• Fill apples; place in dish. Dot each with 1/4 tablespoon butter. Bake, basting occasionally, until tender, 40 to 50 minutes. Drizzle with pan syrup.

APRICOT, ALMOND & POLENTA CAKE

Steps:

• Butter a 20-23cm round cake tin. If it has a loose bottom, you will need to wrap the outside with foil to prevent any of the caramel from leaking. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. For the apricots, put the granulated sugar and 75ml water into a saucepan. Heat slowly until the sugar has dissolved. When the sugar has melted, bring to the boil and watch the syrup until it starts to turn to a deep amber colour. Remove from the heat and add the butter. Stir until it has melted. Pour into the tin, then lay the apricots in it, cut-side down.
• For the cake, beat together the butter and sugar until light with an electric whisk. Add the egg a little at a time, then the zest and almond extract. Mix all the dry ingredients together, then fold them gradually into the egg mixture, alternating with the milk. Spoon this over the apricots and bake for 50 mins. To test it's baked, push a skewer into the centre. It should come out clean.
• Leave the cake to cool for 15 mins, then run a knife in-between the cake and the inside of the tin and invert it onto a plate. If any of the apricot halves get left behind in the tin carefully scoop them up - trying to keep their shape intact and not squash them too much - and put them back, cut-side up, on the cake. Leave the cake to cool, or serve warm if you want.
• Heat the apricot jam with 2 tbsp of water. Once the jam has dissolved, push it through a sieve to remove the bits of apricot. Leave it to cool a little - otherwise it overcooks the apricots, which should be perfectly cooked and not collapsing - then paint the jam thickly on the top of the cake. Leave this to set a little, then serve with crème fraîche or cream, if you like.