Darjeeling Cranberry Ginger And Orange Tea Loaf Fat Free Food

DARJEELING CRANBERRY, GINGER AND ORANGE TEA LOAF (FAT-FREE)

Steps:

• NIGHT BEFORE BAKING:.
• Place all of the dried fruit, including the orange zest and ginger, with the sugar into a large mixing bowl, and pour over the hot tea, give it a good stir - cover with a clean tea towel and leave to steep overnight.
• BAKING THE TEA LOAF:.
• Pre-heat oven to 160C/325F/Gas Mark 3 and grease and line a 2 lb (1 kg) loaf tin.
• Add the beaten egg to the fruit mixture and mix well, then add the ground ginger.
• Gradually add the flour and stir the mixture well, ensuring there are no lumps of flour remaining.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and bake for 1 and 1/2 to 1 and 3/4 hours, or until the loaf is firm and a skewer comes out clean when testing.
• If the loaf appears to be browning too quickly, place on the bottom shelf and cover with a sheet of baking paper.
• Allow the loaf to cool slightly, and gently remove to a wire cooling rack.
• Store in an airtight tin for up to 1 week, or freeze slices of the tea loaf with greaseproof paper in between each slice.
• This is wonderful when buttered or toasted!
• NB: You must use HOT tea!

CRANBERRY-GINGER ICED TEA

Steps:

• Peel gingerroot and cut into thin slices. Boil water, sugar and gingerroot until the sugar dissolves. Let cool. Brew the 10 teabags in 5 cups water and let it cool. For each serving, place 2 orange wheels, 1-ounce ginger syrup, 4 ounces brewed tea and 3 ounces cranberry juice in an ice-filled mixing glass. Shake and strain into ice-filled wine glass or tumbler. Garnish with additional orange wheels.

TEA LOAF

Steps:

• Mix the sultanas, raisins and orange zest in a large mixing bowl. Pour over the tea and cover the bowl. Leave to sit for a minimum of 6 hours or ideally overnight to allow the dried fruit to soak up all the liquid.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160 fan/gas 4. Grease and line a 900g loaf tin. Add the eggs, flour and sugar to the soaked fruit, ensuring everything is well combined. Spoon the mixture into the tin and place in the centre of the oven for 1 hour 30 mins or until firm to the touch. Leave to cool in the tin for 15 mins before transferring to a wire rack.
• Cut into thick slices and serve with butter. To store, wrap tightly and keep in an airtight container for up to five days. The loaf will taste even better after a few days.

UNCOOKED CRANBERRY, ORANGE, AND GINGER RELISH

Steps:

• In a food processor chop fine the gingerroot and the orange, add the cranberries, and pulse the motor until the berries are chopped fine. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the sugar. Chill the relish, covered, for at least 30 minutes. The relish keeps, covered and chilled, for 2 weeks.

CARDAMOM TEA LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease and flour a loaf pan.
• Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
• Beat eggs and sugar together until creamy. Add dry ingredients and mix until combined. Mix in sour cream and melted butter.
• Pour batter into prepared pan, baking until done, about an hour.
• Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto rack and finish cooling.
• Dust with powdered sugar.

CRANBERRY PECAN & GINGER LOAF

Steps:

• Heat oven to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2. Butter and double line the base and sides of a 20cm square deep cake tin with baking parchment. Grind 100g of the pecans in a food processor.
• Chop up the butter and put in a large heavy-based pan with the sugar, cranberries, apricots, orange zest and juice and brandy. Bring slowly to the boil, stirring until the butter is melted, then simmer for 10 mins until the fruits are plump and glossy. Remove from the heat and cool for 30 mins.
• Beat the eggs lightly. Sift together the flour, baking powder, ground ginger and cinnamon. Stir the eggs, ground pecans, remaining pecan halves, flour mixture and crystallised ginger into the pan, stirring until well mixed.
• Spoon into the prepared tin and smooth the top. Bake for 1 hr, then reduce the temperature to 140C/fan 120C/gas 1 and cook for a further 1½-2 hrs, until the cake feels firm and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 10 mins, turn out, then remove the paper and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
• Warm the jam with 1 tbsp water, then press through a sieve into a bowl. Put the cake on a board and brush the top with a thin layer of jam, reserving some for later. Lightly dust a surface with icing sugar, then roll out the marzipan to slightly larger than the top of the cake. Lift onto the cake, press on lightly, then trim to meet the edges. Cut in half.
• Brush the remaining jam over the marzipan, then decorate the tops with dried fruits, nuts and other ingredients of your choice. Wrap each cake first in baking parchment, then in foil. Store in the tin for up to 3 weeks. Can be frozen for up to 2 months.