Turkish Delight Biscotti Food

TURKISH DELIGHT

Steps:

• Oil a shallow square metal or silicone baking tray, about 18 x 18cm. Put the sugar in a pan with the cream of tartar and 500ml water and heat gently at first, stirring so that the sugar melts. Then, turn up the heat and boil for 10-15 mins until the mixture is a little more syrupy. If you have a sugar thermometer, it should reach 115-118C.
• Stir the cornflour into 150ml water, then, whisking all the time, pour it into the sugar syrup. Keep whisking, until everything combines to make a smooth, gloopy mix. Take out the whisk and start to stir with a spatula or spoon over a medium heat. Keep stirring until the mixture is thick enough to see a clear line drawn through it with the spoon and it starts to leave the sides of the pan. It will be very thick and make big bubbles that burst as it cooks, so be careful. This can take up to an hour. Test the mix by dropping a small amount into very cold water; it should form a ball that can be pressed gently when cold and that will feel a little springy.
• Stir in the rosewater or rose syrup and the food colouring, if using, then pour everything into the tray and level the top. Leave to cool and set completely. Sieve some cornflour and icing sugar together over a board and carefully turn out the Turkish delight. Cover it with more icing sugar and cornflour and cut it into cubes with a sharp knife. Dust with yet more of the icing sugar mixture and move the pieces apart so they can dry. Can be stored openly or in small cardboard boxes or bags for up to 1 week.

MICROWAVE SAFFRON TURKISH DELIGHT

Steps:

• Pour 2 1/2 cups water into a 4-quart glass bowl. Slowly whisk in 3/4 cup cornstarch until smooth. Transfer to the microwave and cook on high power for 2 minutes. Using oven mitts or potholders, carefully transfer to a countertop and stir with a heat-resistant spatula. Return to microwave and heat 1 minute at a time, stirring between heatings, until the mixture thickens, bubbles and becomes translucent, about 5 to 6 minutes. Then heat on half power for 3 minutes.
• Mix in the sugar, corn syrup and saffron. Heat on high power for 5 minutes. Stir and repeat, then stir and repeat again. After the last time, stir in the lemon juice. Slit the vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape all the seeds into the mixture and stir to combine. (Save the bean for another use.)
• Continue to heat on high power for 3-minute periods, stirring in between, until a little syrup scraped onto the edge of a cold plate quickly sets to a tacky solid, from 12 to 21 minutes.
• Grease an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with cooking oil and scrape and spread the mix into it. Allow to rest, uncovered, until it is firm enough to handle, several hours or overnight. Dust the top with cornstarch. Invert onto a small cutting board, using a spatula if needed, and dust the other side with cornstarch. Transfer the board to the freezer for 30 minutes. Cut into 3/4-inch squares with scissors or a knife.
• Combine the remaining 1/2 cup cornstarch and the powdered sugar, and toss the squares in it. Store the candy in this mixture in a wide, shallow container.

TURKISH DELIGHT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Beat together butter, sugar and almond paste until fluffy.
• Beat in eggs and vanilla.
• Add flour, baking powder and salt.
• Blend until smooth.
• Fold in nuts and fruit.
• Divide dough in half and shape each into a log about 3 inches wide and 3/4 inches high.
• Bake for 25 minutes in a preheated 350F oven.
• Let cool for 10 minutes, then slice diagonally into slices.
• Put slices back into the oven at 275F and toast each side for 10 minutes.

TURKISH DELIGHT

Steps:

• Soften gelatine in cold water.
• Add sugar to boiling water.
• Bring to boil.
• Stir in softened gelatine.
• Simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes.
• Add flavoring and coloring.
• Pour into ungreased, 8-inch square pan.
• Add nuts.
• Stir gently.
• Chill.
• When firm, invert onto cutting board.
• Cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes.
• Roll in confectioners' sugar.
• Store in a jar at room temperature.