Lemon Ginger Zapper Food

LEMON-GINGER WAFERS

Steps:

• Finely grate the ginger into a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl. Press with the back of a spoon to squeeze out the juice (you'll need 1 tablespoon juice); set aside. Whisk the flour, cornstarch and salt in a medium bowl.
• Beat the butter and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in the lemon zest, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, the vanilla and ginger juice. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture and beat until just incorporated.
• Divide the dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap; form into two 1-by-9-inch logs. Wrap and freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Unwrap the logs and slice into 1/4-inch-thick rounds; arrange 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the edges are golden, about 13 minutes. Let cool5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Make the icing: Put the remaining 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar in a bowl; stir in 2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice, a little at a time, until the icing is spreadable. Spread on the cookies and top with crystallized ginger; let set 30 minutes.

LEMON-GINGER WATER

Steps:

• Combine lemon juice, filtered water, ginger, and honey in a blender; blend for 20 to 30 seconds.
• Strain the mixture evenly into 4 quart-sized mason jars or a 1-gallon pitcher. Top off with remaining water and stir. Place lids on jar or cover pitcher and store in the refrigerator.

LEMON & GINGER TEA

Steps:

• Cut the lemon in half. Squeeze the juice from one half and slice the rest. Divide the lemon juice and slices between 2 mugs, along with the sliced ginger.
• Fill the mugs with boiling water and leave to steep for 3 mins or until cool enough to sip. Sweeten with honey if you like.

LEMON GINGER TODDY

Steps:

• In a mug combine lemon juice, ginger, honey and boiling water. Let steep at least 3 minutes. Add rum to taste.

LEMON GINGER TEA

Steps:

• In a saucepan bring water to a boil. Add lemon juice, the squeezed lemon, and ginger. Let steep about 20 minutes. Stir in honey. Line a strainer with a thin wet cloth and strain tea into a pitcher. Chill thoroughly and serve on ice with thin slices of lemon and lime.

STICKY GINGER LEMON DRIZZLE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease and line a deep 20cm round cake tin with baking parchment. Put the flour, bicarb and all the spices in a food processor, add the butter and whizz until it has disappeared, then tip into a mixing bowl (or rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs).
• Put the sugar, treacle, golden syrup and milk in a saucepan and heat, stirring gently, until the sugar has dissolved. Turn up the heat and bring the mixture to just below boiling point.
• Pour the treacle mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring with a wooden spoon as you go. Beat in the egg until the mixture resembles a thick pancake batter. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 50 mins-1 hr, until a skewer poked in the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool completely in the tin.
• Split the cake through the middle. For the drizzle, stir the lemon zest and juice into the sugars, then immediately spoon all over the top half of the cake.
• For the filling, mix the lemon curd with the diced ginger. For the icing, beat together the ginger syrup, soft cheese, cream and icing sugar until thick enough to hold its shape. Spread the lemon curd filling all over the cut side of the bottom cake, dollop the creamy icing on top, then sandwich with the other half of the cake. The unfilled ginger cake will mature well for up to 3-4 days if wrapped well in baking parchment then foil.