Cranberry Studded Mincemeat By Nigella Lawson Food

CRANBERRY-STUDDED MINCEMEAT BY NIGELLA LAWSON

Steps:

• In a large pan, dissolve the sugar in the ruby port over a gentle heat.
• Add the cranberries and stir.
• Add the cinnamon, ginger and cloves, currants, raisins, dried cranberries and the zest and juice of the clementine.
• Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 20 minutes, or until the fruit has broken down and has absorbed most of the liquid in the pan. (You may need to squish the cranberries a little with the back of a wooden spoon to incorporate them fully.).
• Remove from the heat and allow to cool a little.
• Add the brandy, almond extract, vanilla extract and honey and stir well with a wooden spoon to mash the mixture down into a paste.
• Spoon the mincemeat into sterilised jars and, once cool, store in the fridge for up to two weeks.

GRASSHOPPER PIE - NIGELLA LAWSON

Steps:

• Take out and set aside 1 biscuit.
• Process the rest of the biscuits and chocolate in a food processor until they start to break down into a crumb mixture, then add the butter and carry on processing until it starts to clump together.
• Press into a loose-based, high-sided tart tin and make a smooth base and sides with your hands or the back of a spoon. Put into the fridge to chill and harden.
• Melt the marshmallows in a saucepan with the milk over a gentle heat, once the milk starts to foam (not boil) take off the heat and keep stirring until the marshmallows blend into the milk to make a smooth mixture.
• Pour the mixture out of the saucepan into a heatproof bowl, and then whisk in the crème de menthe and crème de cacao. Leave to cool.
• Whisk the cream until it starts to hold soft peaks then, still whisking, add the cooled marshmallow mix. This filling should be thick but still soft, not stiff or dry, so that it will eventually drop easily out of the bowl into the chilled pie crust. (NOTE - over whisking at this point can result in a 'separation' type effect and the mixture won't be so smooth - so if in doubt don't whisk too much.)
• Once the marshmallow mixture and cream are combined, add a few drops of food colouring (unless you prefer not to) and gently mix inches (remember earlier warning re over whisking!).
• Spread the filling into the chilled base tin, swirl it about with a palette knife or a spatula to fill evenly and put back in the fridge, covered, to chill overnight or for a minimum of 4 hours until firm.
• Crush the biscuit you put aside earlier and sprinkle over the top of the pie before slicing.
• The pie can be made 1-2 days ahead. When chilled and firm, tent with foil (try not to touch surface with foil as it will leave marks) and store in fridge. Decorate just before serving. The pie will keep 3-4 days total. Freeze Note The pie can be frozen for up to 3 months. Open-freeze undecorated pie just until solid, then wrap pie (still in its tart tin) in double layer of clingfilm and layer of foil. To defrost, unwrap pie and tent with foil (try not to touch surface with foil as it will leave marks), then defrost overnight in fridge. Decorate before serving.

BUTTERMILK FUDGE

Steps:

• Butter sides of a large heavy saucepan or Dutch oven.
• Combine first 5 ingredients in pan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until butter melts and sugar dissolves.
• Using a pastry brush dipped in hot water, wash down any sugar crystals on side of pan.
• attach candy thermometer to pan, making sure thermometer does not touch bottom of pan.
• Increase heat to medium and bring to a boil. Do not stir while syrup is boiling.
• Continue t cook until syrup reaches softball stage (Approximately 234 to 240 degrees).
• Test about ½-teaspoon syrup in ice water. Syrup should easily form a ball in ice water but flatten when held in your hand.
• Remove from heat: add vanilla. DO NOT STIR until syrup cools to approximately 200 degrees.
• Using a medium speed of an electric mixer, beat fudge until thickened and no longer glossy.
• Stir in nuts.
• Pour into a buttered 8- inch square pan. Cool completely.
• Cut into 1-inch squares.
• Store in an airtight container in refrigerator.

GRAVLAX BY NIGELLA LAWSON

Steps:

• Place the salmon fillet, skin-side down, into a wide, shallow dish that fits the salmon snugly. (I used a 9X13 baking dish).
• Place the salt, sugar, mustard and gin into a small bowl and mix well until combined and a smooth paste is formed.
• Spread the mixture over the salmon to cover completely.
• Sprinkle the dill over the mustard paste. Press onto the paste so that no salmon flesh is visible.
• Carefully turn the fish over so that the skin is now facing up.
• Cover the dish with cling film/plastic wrap and press it down onto the top and edges of the fish before wrapping it around the sides of the dish. Repeat the process with another layer of cling film.
• Apply weight to the top of the fish to press it down into the dish, using filled jars or cans or any other weights.
• Transfer the fish to the fridge and leave for 2-3 days. (I did mine for the full 3 days).
• At serving time, remove the fish to a cutting board, skin-side down. Brush off the dill from the salmon.
• Using a sharp knife, carefully cut very thin diagonal slices of the salmon.
• Place on a serving dish and enjoy.
• Any remaining can be wrapped in cling film and refrigerated.

CRANBERRY JEWELLED MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Tip the dried fruits and mixed peel into a large bowl. Pour over the brandy, zests and juices. Stir, then cover and leave to soak for 24 hrs.
• Tip the mixture into a large saucepan with the remaining ingredients and stir well. Set over a medium heat and, once the suet has melted, turn up the heat and bubble for a few mins. Pack while hot into sterilised jars (see tip, below). Leave in a cool, dark cupboard for at least a fortnight, or for up to 6 months.

NIGELLA LAWSON ALCOHOLIC HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Put the milk into a saucepan and break the chocolate into pieces and add to the milk along with a cinnamon stick, honey, and sugar and heat gently until the chocolate is melted.
• Add the vanilla and mix with a small hand whisk and still whisking, add a spoonful of the rum first and taste to see if you want more.
• Add more sugar if you want this sweeter, too.
• Take out the cinnamon stick and pour into 2 cappuccino or caffe latte cups.