Lemon Almond Slice Food

LEMON & ALMOND SLICES

Steps:

• Place the cashews in a bowl of boiling water and leave to rest for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 170C/340°F.
• Place the ground almonds and coconut sugar in a large bowl and mix well. Add in the maple syrup and melted coconut oil and stir until a dough is formed. You should be able to roll the mixture into a ball, if you find the mixture too dry or crumbly add a little bit more coconut oil.
• Line a baking tray with parchment paper and place the dough inside it, pressing it firmly until you have an even layer spread across the bottom of the tray (We used a small glass to roll it out evenly).
• Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until it starts to brown, then remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly.
• Drain the water from the cashews and place in a blender with the coconut cream (the hardened cream from the top of a can of coconut milk), honey, lemon zest, lemon juice and arrowroot starch. Pulse until fully combined. Taste the mixture, it should taste really creamy and with a tangy lemon flavour. If you need to add more lemon juice, add it now.
• Place the mixture on top of the almond base and put back in the oven for a further 15 minutes.
• Leave out to cool for 15 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
• Top with lemon slices, chopped nuts, pumpkin seeds and lemon zest to serve.

GREEN BEANS WITH LEMON AND TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a medium pan, toast almonds over medium heat. Remove from pan and add 1/2 inch water. Bring water to a boil, add beans and cover pan. Reduce heat. Cook beans 4 or 5 minutes until just tender yet still green. Drain beans and return pan to stovetop. Melt butter over moderate heat. Add lemon juice to butter (juice lemon half right side up to keep seeds with lemon, rather than in your beans). Add beans to lemon butter and coat evenly. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer green beans to dinner plates or serving plate and top with almonds.

LEMON ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• Make the bottom layer: in a bowl cream together the butter, sugar, and salt until fluffy; stir in flour until well mixed.
• Press mixture into an ungreased 13x9 baking pan.
• Bake at 325°F for about 35 minutes or until golden.
• Make the topping: in a separate bowl whisk together the eggs, sugar, flour, lemon rind, and juice until smooth; pour over the baked bottom layer.
• Sprinkle with the sliced almonds and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until set.
• Let cool on rack, then cut into bars.

COCONUT AND ALMOND SLICE

Steps:

• Combine biscuit crumbs,almonds, coconut, lemon zest, juice and essence in a bowl.
• Place butter and condensed milk in a small saucepan, Stir over a low heat until the butter melts.
• Pour over biscuit mixture and mix well.
• Press mix into a 20x25 shallow tin.
• Refrigerate 1 hour until firm.
• ---------Icing---------.
• Combine all ingredients in a bowl, adding sufficient boiling water to mix to a stiff paste.
• Spread over slice.
• Refrigerate for 1 hour or until set.
• Sprinkle extra coconut over and keep stored in refrigerator.