Ingredients:

• 300 ml (plus 1 tbs) all-purpose flour
• 60 ml (plus 2 tbs) sugar
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 120 g (stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 240 g raspberries
• 240 g fresh blackberries
• 1 tbs fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbs sugar

Method:

1. Make the dough: Combine 1 1/4 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Form a well in center of the dry ingredients and place the butter and 1 egg in the well. Using your hands, mix the ingredients into a soft, pliable dough. Form it into a 4-inch disk and place it on lightly floured parchment paper. Lightly dust the dough with flour and roll it into a 10-inch circle. Place dough with parchment on a baking sheet, cover the dough with plastic wrap, and chill for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Make the crostata: In a small bowl, mix remaining flour and sugar and set aside. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and evenly spread the flour and sugar mixture on the dough, leaving a 1-inch-wide border around the edge. Place berries on top of the mixture and sprinkle with lemon juice. Fold the 1-inch border over top of the berries to form a 9-inch crostata.
3. Bake the crostata: Lightly brush the top of the crostata dough with remaining beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar, if desired. Bake on the middle rack of the oven — about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and slide crostata with the parchment paper onto a wire rack. Cool for 1 hour. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Note: Crostata a free-form rustic tart is a quick fill-in for two-crust pie and can be made in under an hour. Perfect pastry is easy with Mixed-Berry Crostata and crostata isn’t limited to berries: take advantage of all of the seasonal fruits, like thin-sliced rhubarb or stone varieties. Equal amounts of peaches, plums, cherries, nectarines, or apricots can be substituted for some or all of the berries in this recipe, and you can create a different dessert each time. Vary repeat performances by adding a hint of flavor (grated orange zest, candied ginger, or cinnamon) to the crust. In the filling, toasted chopped nuts tossed along with the berries add a satisfying crunch.

Ingredients:

(serves 4-6)

1.5 kg pork loin roast or rib roast

1 teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon dried mustard

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 (454g) can whole berry cranberry sauce

or: 1 cup fresh cranberries, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup brown (I did add 1/4 cup brown sugar half-way through cooking after tasting the sauce, but 1/2 cup would be better. I learned from making my own cranberry sauce that you really do need a lot of sugar to balance out the cranberries.

⅓ cup golden raisins

1 clove garlic, chopped

⅓ cup cranberry juice

½ small lemon, thinly sliced

Method:

Use a 4 quart crockpot. In a plastic zipper bag, put dry spices and cornstarch and add meat. Shake to coat. Put contents into your slow cooker. Add cranberry sauce, or your fresh cranberries and sugar. Put in raisins and garlic. Pour in cranberry juice, and top with lemon slices. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or high for about 4. The longer you cook the meat, the more tender it will be.

Photography by Ben Dearnley

Ingredients:

(serves 10)

• 125g unsalted butter, softened
• 2 tsp finely grated lemon rind
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• ½  cup semolina
• 1 cup self-raising flour, sifted  OR plain flour with 1 tsp baking powder

Lemon syrup:

• ¼  cup icing sugar
• ½  cup lemon juice, strained
• ½  cup water

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Grease a 6cm-deep, 20cm round (base) spring form cake pan.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat butter, lemon rind and sugar on high speed until pale and creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating between each addition. Stir in semolina and flour.
3. Spread mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
4. Meanwhile, make lemon syrup: mix sugar, lemon juice and ½  cup cold water stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Pour the syrup over baked cake. Stand for 15 minutes. Turn out on to a plate. Serve with lemon or fruity yoghurt.

Notes: Semolina is the heart of the durum wheat kernel, separated during processing. Most good-quality pasta, gnocchi and couscous is made from semolina. It’s also popular for puddings, cakes, porridge, pancakes and desserts. This is Dairy Free recipe!

Ingredients:

400 g sweet short pastry

Filling:

½ custard powder

1 cup sugar

4 tsp grated lemon rind

1 cup lemon juice

1cup water

50 g butter

6 egg yolks

Meringue:

6egg whites

¾ cup sugar

Method:

Roll pastry on a lightly floured board to a 4mm thickness and line the base and sides of 24 cm pie dish. Bake blind at 190 degrees Celsius until slightly golden.

Mix custard powder, sugar, lemon rind in a saucepan. Add water and lemon juice, mix until smooth. Cook over medium heat until thick stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add in butter and egg yolks by constant stirring, then return to heat and cook foe additional minute until thickens.

Pour filling into pastry shell.

Beat egg whites and sugar together until glossy and thick.

Cover the pie with meringue and bake at 190 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes or until lightly golden.

Note: This is my favourite recipe that never fails and is often on the table during lemon season. And it is Dairy Free!

Ingredients:

1l Champagne (or Sparkling white wine)

1 1/2Tbsp powdered gelatine

1 cup sugar

4 strips lemon zest

4 strips orange zest

250g small strawberries

250g blueberries

Fresh cream and mint leaves for decoration (optional)

Method:

Pour 500ml Champagne (or Sparkling white wine) into a bowl and let the bubbles subside. Sprinkle 1 1/2Tbsp powdered gelatine over the Champagne in an even layer and leave, without stirring, until the gelatine is spongy. Place another 500ml Champagne in a large saucepan with 1C sugar, 4 strips lemon zest & 4 strips orange zest, and heat gently, stirring constantly for 3-4 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved.

Remove the pan from the heat, add the gelatine mixture and stir until dissolved. Leave to cool completely, then remove the lemon and orange zest. Divide 250g small strawberries, hulled and halved & 250g blueberries among eight 125ml stemmed wine glasses and gently pour the jelly over the top. Refigerate for 6 hours or overnight, or until the jelly has fully set. Remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before serving.

For a true Christmas look add on top a layer of fresh cream and mint leaves just before serving.

Photo copyright © Michael Jensen

Ingredients:

(Makes 8 servings)

1 pork loin center rib roast (2 kg), backbone loosened

1⁄8 teaspoon each salt and black pepper

For the stuffing:

1 cup pitted prunes

2⁄3 cup water

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 small yellow onion, chopped

2 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1⁄4 teaspoon ground cardamom

6 cups dried bread cubes

1 large tart apple, chopped

1⁄2 cup apple juice

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Place the roast rib side down. Cut pockets in the roast, cutting from the meaty side (tip, opposite). Sprinkle the roast with the salt and pepper.

2. To prepare the stuffing, in a small saucepan, combine the prunes and the water. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes or until prunes are tender. Drain. Coarsely chop prunes; set aside.

3. In the same saucepan, melt the butter over moderate heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat. Stir in the brown sugar, lemon rind, cinnamon, and cardamom.

4. Place the bread cubes in a large bowl. Stir in the onion mixture, prunes, and apple. Drizzle with the apple juice, tossing lightly until moistened. Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the stuffing into each pocket of roast (tip, below). Spoon the remaining stuffing into a 11⁄2-quart casserole; cover and refrigerate.

* Stuffing a Roast:

I. Using a sharp knife, cut deep slits between the rib bones of the roast. Cut through the thickest portion of the meat about halfway to the backbone and within 1⁄2 inch of the edges to make each pocket.

II. Holding a pocket open with one hand, use a small spoon to place stuffing in the slit. Lightly pack the stuffing down and keep adding stuffing until you’ve used about 3 tablespoons.

5. Place the roast, rib side down, in a roasting pan. Roast for 13⁄4 to 21⁄4 hours or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of roast (not stuffing) registers 70°c. (Cover the roast loosely with foil after 1 hour so the stuffing doesn’t overbrown.) Bake the covered casserole of stuffing alongside the roast during the last 30 to 40 minutes of roasting.

6. Let the roast stand for 15 minutes before carving. Serve the stuffing in the casserole with the roast.

Note: This apple-and-prune-stuffed roast is traditionally served at Christmas in Danish-American families. However, it makes a wonderful company dish any time of year.

Ingredients:

(makes 25 cakes; double the basic recipe if you are making white and dark version of decoration)

* 235g (1 1/2 cups) dried pitted dates, coarsely chopped

* 2 x 100g pkts red glace cherries, halved

* 95g (1/2 cup) raisins

* 90g (1/2 cup) sultanas

* 250ml (1 cup) brandy

* Melted butter, to grease

* 200g unsalted butter, at room temperature

* 160g (1 cup, lightly packed) brown sugar

* 3 eggs

* 150g (1 cup) plain flour

* 1 tsp baking powder

* 1 tbs ground cinnamon

* 200g dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

* 1 x 120g pkt dry-roasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped

White Decoration:

* 750g White Icing

* Ribbon, to decorate

* Silver cachous, to decorate

Dark Decoration:

* 1 cup butter

* 1 cup Dark cocoa

* 3 cups powdered sugar

* 1/2 cup milk

* Dash of rum

* Golden ribbon

* Golden dragees, edible paint or foil for decoration

Method:

1. Combine the dates, cherries, raisins and sultanas in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Stir in the brandy. Cover and set aside overnight to macerate.

2. Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush a 27cm (base measurement) square cake pan with melted butter to grease. Line base and sides with non-stick baking paper.

3. Use an electric beater to beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the flour, baking powder and cinnamon, and fold to combine. Stir in the chocolate and hazelnuts. Spoon into the prepared pan and smooth the surface (see tip 1). Tap the pan on the benchtop a few times to settle the mixture.

4. Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until lightly browned and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Set aside in the pan to cool completely.

5. Use a sharp knife to cut the cake into 4cm-square pieces.

6. Soften the White icing following packet directions, if necessary. Roll out half the icing on a sheet of non-stick baking paper until 3mm thick. Cut into 7cm-square pieces. Cover a piece of cake with a piece of icing and trim if necessary (see tip 2). Wrap ribbon around the sides and use pins to secure. Repeat with the remaining cake and icing.

7. Press cachous firmly into the top of each cake to decorate.

8. For dark icing melt the butter. Stir in cocoa. Add powdered sugar alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add rum at the end, it will help to stiffen the icing. Makes about 2 cups.

9. Cover cakes with chocolate icing, let it set. Wrap golden ribbon around the sides and use pins to secure. Press decorations firmly into the top of each cake to decorate.

Notes & tips:

* Make it ahead: Make this recipe up to 3 days ahead. Store in airtight container in a cool dry place.

* Freezer tip: At the end of step 4, wrap in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 of foil. Label, date and freeze for up to 6 months.

* Tip 1: To ensure the cake cooks evenly, it’s important you smooth the surface – use a flat-bladed knife or the back of a spoon.

* Tip 2: To easily cover the cakes with icing, use your hands to drape the icing over the cake and mould it to shape.

Ingredients:

(serves 4)

4 large center loin pork chops

1 clove minced garlic

Salt and pepper to season

2 cups fresh pitted cherries, quartered

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper to season

1 clove minced garlic

1 tsp chopped fresh thyme

Method:

Season the chops with crushed garlic, salt and pepper. Grill the chops until fully cooked then top with the balsamic cherries.

Simmer the balsamic vinegar over medium heat until it is reduced to a syrupy consistency. Set aside to cool or immerse bottom of the pan in cold water to cool down the reduction. Toss in the other ingredients and allow to stand for about an hour or more before serving.

Note: With the summer grilling season in full swing and southern hemisphere summery Xmas, this is simple, but elegant recipe for a sweet and savoury addition to grilled pork loin chops, especially since fresh cherries are now in season.

This dish is very nice served with a peppery red wine.

Rum Truffles

Preparation time 25 minutes

Standing time 10–20 minutes

Cooking time 5 minutes

Makes about 24 truffles

Ingredients:

200 g plain dark chocolate, broken into small pieces

2 tablespoons rum

60 g unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 teaspoons pouring cream

1/4 cup ground almonds

2 tablespoons icing sugar, sifted

1/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted, for coating

Method:

1 Melt the chocolate in the rum in a heatproof bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water. Do not allow the water to boil or the chocolate to become too hot. Remove the bowl from the heat and beat in the butter, a little at a time. Stir in the cream, ground almonds and icing sugar. Let the mixture cool, then chill for about 10 minutes, or until firm enough to handle.

2 With dampened fingertips, take teaspoons of the mixture and roll into small balls. Roll in the cocoa powder, spread on a baking tray lined with baking paper, and refrigerate until firm. Put the truffles in individual paper cases and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator – they will keep for up to 10 days. Serve after dinner with coffee.

Variations:

Orange Truffles: Add orange juice instead of rum and 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange rind.

Coffee Truffles: Use 1–2 tablespoons black coffee instead of the rum.

Hazelnut Truffles: Replace the ground almonds with 1/4 cup ground hazelnuts.

Marzipan-Filled Fruits

Preparation time 40 minutes

Makes about 48 filled fruits

Ingredients:

11/4 cups ground almonds

1/4 cup caster sugar

1/4 cup icing sugar, plus a little extra for rolling out

A few drops almond extract

1/2 egg white

125 g fresh dates, each slit along the top and stoned

125 g small, soft, ready-to-eat prunes, each slit and pitted

125 g each small, soft, ready-to eat dried apricots and figs, each fruit sliced in half horizontally

1/4 cup sugar

Method:

1 Put the ground almonds and sugars in a bowl. Add a few drops of almond extract and sufficient egg white to make a stiff paste.

2 Sprinkle a board or work surface with a little sifted icing sugar and roll the marzipan into a sausage shape, about 25 cm long. Cut the roll into about 48 equal pieces.

3 Shape each piece of marzipan into a neat oval and insert one piece into the centre of each fruit, gently moulding the fruit flesh around the marzipan. Roll lightly in sugar and put into individual paper cases.

These marzipan-filled fruits will keep, refrigerated, in an airtight container, for up to four weeks. Serve at room temperature.

(From Like Grandma Used to Make)

Ingredients:

(serves 12)

* 1-1/2 cups orange juice

* 2/3 cup sugar

* 200g dried apricots, chopped

* 1/2 cup dried cherries

* 1/2 cup golden raisins

* 2 teaspoons minced fresh gingerroot

* 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander

* 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin

* 1/4 teaspoon salt

* 1/4 teaspoon pepper

* 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

* 2 teaspoons lemon juice

* DUCK:

* 12 duck breasts with skin

* 1-1/2 teaspoons salt

* 1/4 teaspoon pepper

* 2 tablespoons  olive oil

* ORANGE SAUCE:

* 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic

* 1/2 cup marsala wine

* 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch

* 1/2 cup orange juice

* 1/3 cup chicken broth

* 2 tablespoons grated orange peel

* 3 tablespoons cold butter

* 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil

Method:

* For chutney, in a saucepan, combine orange juice and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat for 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Add the apricots, cherries, raisins, ginger, coriander, cumin, salt, pepper and cloves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook for 10 minutes or until apricots are tender. Transfer to a bowl; stir in lemon juice. Let stand at room temperature for at least 2 hours.

* Season both sides of duck with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, saute duck, skin side down, in oil until skin is browned; turn and cook for 1 minute. Set aside 1 tablespoon drippings.

* Place duck on a greased rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium, a meat thermometer should read 165°; well-done 180°).

* For orange sauce, saute garlic in reserved drippings for 1 minute. Add wine; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until reduced by half. In a bowl, combine the cornstarch, orange juice, broth and orange peel until blended. Stir into wine mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add butter and basil; whisk until smooth. Remove skin from duck if desired before slicing. Serve with orange sauce and chutney.

Note: It can be served as an entree, or as part of a buffet or as main with roasted seasonal vegetables.