Spiced Currants Food

SPICED CURRANTS

Steps:

• Wash currants; stem and cook with the sugar and vinegar over low heat for an hour.
• Add spices and continue cooking for 30 minutes.
• Pour into sterilized jars and seal.

CURRANT AND SPICE OATMEAL COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk eggs and vanilla in small bowl to blend. Mix in dried currants; cover and let stand at room temperature 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 3 large baking sheets. Sift flour, baking soda, salt, and spices into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add sugar and beat until smooth. Add currant mixture and beat to blend. Stir in flour mixture. Mix in oats. Drop batter by level tablespoonfuls onto prepared sheets, spacing 1 1/2 inches apart. Using moistened fingertips, flatten cookies slightly. Bake 1 sheet at a time until cookies are golden brown, about 12 minutes. Cool on sheets.

REDCURRANT & RED ONION RELISH

Steps:

• Toss the onions with the red pepper and the oil, then fry in a frying pan for 5-8 mins over a high heat until lightly charred and softened. Remove from the pan and set aside.
• Put the chilli, garlic and ginger in the pan with half the vinegar. Bring to the boil then simmer for 2-3 mins. Add the onions and pepper plus the remaining vinegar, all the sugar, spice and 1 tsp salt.
• Bring to the boil then bubble away for about 5 mins until thickened. Add redcurrants and simmer for about 5 mins more, or until they have burst, but still have some shape and the liquid is syrupy.
• Remove and pour into a large heatproof jar. Cover and seal while hot. Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

SPICED CARROT SALAD

Steps:

• Trim carrot tops, keeping 1/2-inch of the green tops attached if they are bright green and fresh. Peel and thinly slice the carrots lengthwise. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and blanch the carrots for about 1 minute until they are slightly cooked but still a bit crunchy. Shock in an ice bath and drain when cool. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Place currants in a medium bowl and pour hot water over to submerge completely. Let soak 10 minutes until plump, drain and discard water.
• Place coriander, anise, cinnamon, honey, oil, lemon, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a blender and blend until slightly chunky but seeds are not intact.
• To serve, toss carrots, currants, pistachios and dressing together in a large bowl. Be sure to coat the carrots with the dressing. Add herbs and carefully toss to combine. Serve immediately.

INDIAN SPICED CASHEWS, PISTACHIOS AND CURRANTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 with rack in the middle.
• On rimmed baking sheet with silpat or parchment toast cashews 4 minutes, rotate and 4 more minutes.
• Add pistachios and toast 2 more minutes then move to wire rack.
• Mix the spice mix together in a bowl.
• Bring glze to a bowl over medium high heat, stirring constantly.
• Stir in nuts and stir until shiny and liquid is evaporated, about 1.5 minutes.
• Put nuts and currants in spice bowl and toss well to coat.
• Put back on baking sheet to cool.

SPICED COUSCOUS AND TURKEY PILAF

Steps:

• Cook onion in oil in a 4-quart heavy pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 10 minutes. Add couscous and spices and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add water, chickpeas, currants, and 1 teaspoon salt and simmer, covered, until couscous is just tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in turkey and let stand, covered, until heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in mint.

CURRANT JELLY

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine currants with 1/3 cup water. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until fruit has broken down and released its juices, about 8 minutes. Mash the fruit mixture with a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon. Strain through a fine sieve into a large measuring cup, pressing on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. You should have about 4 cups juice. Discard solids.
• Place a small plate in the freezer. Return juice to clean saucepan; add sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. When teaspoon of jelly placed on chilled plate ripples if pushed with your finger, it is ready.
• Remove jelly from heat, and skim off any foam from surface. Ladle jelly into sterilized canning jars; wipe rims with a dishtowel. Seal tightly.
• Meanwhile, bring a stockpot of water to a boil over high heat. Using tongs, carefully place filled jars in boiling water, letting them sit 10 minutes. Remove; let cool. If center of jar lids give when pushed with finger, jars have not sealed properly. Jelly in sealed jars will keep up to 1 year. After opening, jelly will keep up to 2 months in the refrigerator.

SPICED CURRANT JELLY

Steps:

• Wash currants; stem and add sugar and spices.
• Heat until sugar melts; boil, uncovered for 20 minutes or until thick enough to form jelly on a cold plate.
• Pour into sterilized jelly glasses and seal.