White Chocolate Festive Fudge

Here we go, a recipe direct from Pampered Chef, and as promised to many people at the Haddington Christmas Market today!

Ingredients:

1	orange
400g	white chocolate, chopped
200ml	sweetened condensed milk
100g	coarsely chopped toasted pecans, divided
75g	sweetened dried cranberries, divided
85g	coarsely chopped dried apricots, divided
1	tsp Vanilla Extract

Directions:

1. Line Small Sheet Pan with a piece of Parchment Paper, allowing about 1 in. (2.5 cm) to extend past sides. Zest orange with Microplane® Adjustable Fine Grater to measure 2 tsp. Place chocolate and condensed milk in Large Micro-Cooker®; microwave on HIGH 2-3 minutes or until chocolate is mostly melted, stirring every minute. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add 75g of the chopped pecans, and half each of the cranberries and apricots, all of the orange zest and vanilla; mix well.
2. Spoon chocolate mixture evenly over parchment; spread evenly using Large Spreader. Top fudge with remaining pecans, cranberries and apricots; press lightly. Refrigerate several hours or until firm.
3. Lift parchment and fudge from pan. Cut into squares. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator up to 3 weeks. (Do not freeze.)

Yield: 30 servings
Nutrients per serving: Calories 120, Total Fat 7 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Sodium 20 mg, Carbohydrate 14 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 2 g
Cook's Tips: For a perfect party favor or place setting, place fudge in a Simple Additions® Petite Square. Wrap with cellophane, tie with a ribbon and a gift tag.

Any combination of nuts and dried fruit would work well in this recipe

I left the nuts out for the one I made for the fair today and it was pretty fabulous.  I did add in a little more apricots and cranberries to make up for it.

Sticky Toffee Pudding (Vegan, Egg free and Dairy free)

I love a good sticky toffee pudding.  It is one of the staples of British menus and I quite often will choose it if it is on the menu in a restaurant.  I have had good and bad ones, and some truly awful ones!  For me it should not contain raisins, but should be heavy and toffee-like with the weight of the dates it contains. Although, it should also be light enough to make you want to eat more than two spoonfuls.

I found this recipe while searching for an egg and dairy free alternative for family Christmases, and then of course I had to tweak it! 

Ingredients

200g dates
250ml soya milk
100ml water
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
115g vegan margarine (I use Pure Spread)
115g soft brown sugar
200g self raising flour
A few scrapings of fresh nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Toffee Sauce
100g golden syrup
200g soft brown sugar
150g vegan margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
100ml soya cream

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 190°C

2. Chop the dates using a santoku knife on a cutting board and put them in a small saucepan.  Cover with the soya milk and water and simmer until the dates are soft.

3. Take the dates off the heat and stir in the bicarbonate of soda, which will froth as you add it to the date mixture. Leave to cool.

4. Beat together the margarine and sugar in a Classic Batter Bowl with a mix n scraper until pale.  Add the date mixture & stir in.

5. Measure the spices using an adjustable measuring spoon, and mix the spices into the flour. Sieve the flour and fold into the wet mixture.

6. Spoon the sponge mixture into a square baker (or a lined 20cm square tin).

7. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.  I usually listen to mine - is its still making little crackling noises give it a few more minutes!

8. To make the sauce, melt the syrup, margarine, sugar and vanilla extract in a small saucepan and simmer for 5 minutes without stirring. Leave to cool slightly and then stir in the soya cream with a mix n scraper.

9. Pour half the toffee sauce over the pudding. Serve with the rest of the sauce in a jug and add some dairy free ice cream. Fruit ice creams and sorbets work well too.

Based on the recipe from the Vegetarian Cookery School