There’s no place like home

A COUPLE of weeks ago my daughter-in-law Rachel’s new book shot to the top of the bestseller list. Can you imagine Bertie’s reaction when he was knocked off the number one spot by a book on home cooking! This is Rachel’s sixth book in just six years. Can’t imagine how she manages to keep all the balls in the air with three little dotes to look after and regular stints on Market Kitchen as well.

Up to recently little Scarlet Lily travelled backwards and forwards to London with Rachel and was a familiar face to the Aer Lingus hostesses on the Cork route. Fortunately she was born smiling and continues to be placid and cheerful while Rachel literally fitted in her filming between feeds.

This latest book is about the most important food of all, home cooking, the simple comforting food we prepare for family and friends and share around the kitchen table. Rachel feels that “the value of cooking at home goes beyond having control over your ingredients (although this is profoundly important for health, wellbeing and your wallet).

“It’s also about gathering your loved ones together to share and enjoy the most fundamental part of life. It’s about teaching your children how to appreciate a home-cooked meal and showing them how much fun cooking can be. It’s about slowing down the busy pace of life when you can, but also knowing that when there isn’t much time you can still put a loving meal on the table make by you.”

Home cooking is also about the joy of learning old skills and kitchen crafts such as making home-made sweets. It’s about feeling proud as a parent when making by hand your child’s very first foods. It’s about the wonderful kitchen smells and sounds and flavours that you just can’t get any other way.

You’ll not only find recipes for many occasions from breakfasts to dinners in her book, you’ll also find trusted kitchen tips, such as home freezing, which not only saves time, but money too. I hope you and your loved ones enjoy every meal together, that you eat well, that you take a moment to appreciate one another’s company around the table, and above all, have fun cooking together.”

Either way the book has lots of irresistible breakfast, lunch and supper dishes, a section or a whole chapter on baby purees and desserts, snacks, treats and sweets. The baby purees are brilliant for the growing number of mothers who want to have control over their baby food – carrot, butternut squash and red lentil puree, avocado and banana mash or apricot, prune and raisin compote all sound delicious but for this article I thought I’d concentrate on sweeties, toffee, lollipops, fudge and Turkish delight. These are such fun to make and are terrific Christmas pressies for adults and children alike.

- Rachel was recently awarded the Tatler Woman of the Year Entertainment award.

- Rachel Allen – Home Cooking is published by Harper Collins

Rachel Allen’s Turkish Delight

This recipe is the smooth rosewater version, but if you like Turkish delight with pistachios, feel free to chop up a handful and stir into the mixture. It keeps for ages and makes a particularly lovely gift – one batch will fill quite a few boxes.

Makes about 1.1kg (2lb 6oz) or 48 pieces

850g (1lb 14oz) caster sugar

3 x 7g sachets gelatine powder

125g (4Hoz) corn flour

1 tsp cream of tartar

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp sunflower oil

2 tsp rosewater

Few drops of red food colouring

75g (3oz) icing sugar

20cm (8in) square non-stick cake tin

Place the sugar and 500ml (18fl oz) water in a large, heavy-based saucepan on a medium heat and bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 25 minutes without stirring, until a sugar thermometer dipped into the mixture reads 125C (257F).

In the meantime, stir the gelatine, corn flour and cream of tartar together in another large pan. Measure out a further 500ml (18fl oz) water and gradually whisk it into the mixture, beating well after each addition, to form a smooth paste. Be sure to break up any lumps as the gelatine may cause the mixture to stick together a little.

Place the pan on a medium heat and simmer, whisking all the time, for 3–5 minutes or until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat. Stir the lemon juice into the sugar syrup as soon as it reaches the correct temperature (standing back as it will sizzle up a little). Working carefully, gradually pour the sugar syrup into the gelatine and corn flour mixture, whisking constantly.

Place the pan on a low heat and simmer the mixture gently for about 1 hour until it reaches 110C (230F) in temperature or the thread stage. Stir frequently to prevent the mixture sticking to the pan, particularly towards the end of cooking.

Grease the cake tin with the sunflower oil. As soon as the mixture reaches the correct temperature (it should be a deep golden colour), add the rosewater and food colouring and stir until well combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin, spreading out evenly. Set aside to cool to room temperature before placing in the fridge for four hours or overnight until firm.

Spoon the icing sugar into a fine sieve and dust half of it onto a clean work surface. Turn the Turkish delight out of the tin and use a lightly oiled knife to cut it into about 48 pieces. Dust with the remaining icing sugar and toss the pieces about to coat generously. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

Rachel Allen’s White Chocolate Fudge

I find it hard to resist anything that contains white chocolate – and when combined with fudge ... well! The white chocolate chips give texture to the traditional fudge mixture. Presented in a decorative box, it makes a wonderful present.

Makes about 900g (2lb) or 36 squares

1 tbsp sunflower oil

1 x 397g tin of condensed milk

100g (3½oz) butter

450g (1lb) caster or soft light brown sugar

50g (2oz) white chocolate chips

18cm (7in) square cake tin with 2.5cm (1in) sides

Grease the cake tin with a little of the sunflower oil, line with parchment paper and grease again.

Place the condensed milk, butter and sugar in a saucepan on medium heat, stir together and bring to the boil, stirring frequently to prevent the sugar from sticking and burning on the bottom.

Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring regularly, until a sugar thermometer dipped into the mixture reads 113C (235F).

The fudge will also have darkened in colour to a rich golden brown. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and sit the bottom of the saucepan in a bowl of cold water that comes a few centimetres up the sides of the pan.

Whisk the mixture vigorously for 7–10 minutes until it cools down and goes from being smooth, shiny and toffeeish to matt, thick and grainy in appearance (as well as becoming quite thick and difficult to stir). Whisking the mixture like this is important for ensuring that the fudge has a good crumbly texture.

Pour half the mixture into the prepared tin. Scatter with the white chocolate chips and then pour over the remaining mixture, spreading evenly. (A palette knife or spatula that has been dipped in boiling water is perfect for this.)

Allow to cool and then place in the fridge for 2–3 hours or overnight to set before cutting into about 36 squares.

Rachel Allen’s Toffee Brittle

This is divine as it is or covered in chocolate.

Makes 400g (14oz)

225g (8oz) butter, diced

225g (8oz) caster sugar

½ tsp salt

Place the butter, sugar, salt and 50ml (2fl oz) water in a heavy-based saucepan, place on a medium heat and bring slowly to the boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20–25 minutes without stirring until a sugar thermometer dipped into the mixture reads 150C (302F). Below this temperature and the toffee will not set; above and the toffees will taste burnt.

Immediately (and taking great care as it is very hot), pour the syrup onto a large, non-stick baking tray (or one lined with parchment paper) and swirl the tray around to spread evenly. It will begin to set almost straight away, so you do need to work quickly. Once completely hardened, after 5–10 minutes, slam the baking tray on the counter to break into small pieces. Place the toffee pieces in an airtight container and store somewhere cool and dry.

Rachel Allen’s Fruity Lollipops

Not the kind of thing you give your children every day, but when making your own sweets you at least know there are no preservatives in them. Lollipop sticks can be bought in any good craft or cookware shop. It is worth investing in a sugar thermometer if you’re planning on making sweets because a specific temperature is often called for.

Makes about 30–35 lollipops.

450g (1lb) caster sugar

1/3 tsp cream of tartar

4 tbsp undiluted fruit cordial, such as blackcurrant, orange or lime

Arrange 30–35 lollipop sticks (or wooden skewers which have been cut down to size) spaced apart on several large, non-stick baking sheets.

Place the sugar, cream of tartar and 150ml (5fl oz) water in a heavy-based saucepan on a medium heat and bring to a gentle boil while stirring all the time. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20–25 minutes without stirring, until the temperature on a sugar thermometer dipped into the mixture reads 143C (290F).

Stir in the cordial just before the syrup reaches this temperature (after 15–20 minutes). The mixture will bubble up, so be careful as it is very hot. Once the correct temperature has been reached, remove the pan from the heat and, working quickly, spoon small pools of the syrup onto one end of each lollipop stick and allow to set for about 5 minutes, until hardened. If you wish, wrap the lollipops in cellophane and tie with string as soon as they have cooled and hardened, to prevent them from absorbing moisture. Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to a week.

Mary Jo’s Stollen

Another delicious Christmas treat, a German cake to share with your friends.

Makes 2 x 700g (1½lb) cakes

Brandied Fruit:

150g (5oz) mixed sultanas and currants

75g (3oz) diced candied cherries and citrus peel

1½ tbsp brandy

20g (¾oz) fresh yeast (or 1 sachet dry yeast)

150ml (5fl oz) lukewarm milk

175g (6oz) strong white flour

75g (3oz) caster sugar

Grated rind ½ lemon

110g (4oz) softened butter

2 eggs

1 level teaspoon salt

275g (10oz) strong white flour

Marzipan:

75g (3oz) ground almonds

60g (2½oz) caster sugar

1 tbsp egg white

Drop of almond essence

Melted butter

Icing sugar

Mix fruits, stir in brandy, cover with cling film and macerate overnight.

To mix yeast sponge, crumble fresh yeast into warm milk in a pyrex bowl. Allow yeast to soften. Mix in 175g (6oz) flour and beat well with a wooden spoon. Cover with clingfilm and allow to rest for 30-45 minutes.

Place 75g (3oz) castor sugar in a mixer bowl, grate in lemon rind and rub into sugar with your fingertips. Add butter and beat until creamy. Add eggs one at a time; add the salt and scrape down the bowl to make a soft creamed mixture.

When sponge is light and well risen, add to creamed mixture along with 275g (10oz) flour. Scrape off beater and replace with dough hook. Knead on moderate speed for 10 minutes until is silky and soft. The dough should not stick to your fingers.

Remove hook, cover bowl with Clingfilm and allow dough to rise until doubled in size.

Knock back dough and scrape out onto a flour-dusted clean surface.

Flatten to 1cm (1/2 inch) and sprinkle brandied fruit on top. Roll up like a Swiss roll and knead fruit through dough. The dough may grow sticky, but avoid adding more flour. Scrape fruited dough into a bowl, cover with Clingfilm and refrigerate overnight.

Prepare the marzipan by mixing sugar, ground almonds and egg white. Flavour with almond essence if desired. Knead to a lump, divide in half and roll each into a log.

Next day, remove dough from the fridge. Scrape out of bowl onto a lightly floured surface and cut in half. Shape each half into an oval and roll out to 2cm (¾ inch) thickness.

Make an indentation lengthways along the centre and place in long sausage shape piece of marzipan. Fold the oval in half with long sides meeting. Press together and place on a baking tray lined with baking parchment.

Cover with a tea towel and allow to rise for 1-2 hours in a warm place until light.

Bake at 180C/350F/gas mark 4 for 30 minutes or until deeply golden and tests done.

While still hot, brush with melted butter and sift icing sugar thickly over the top.

Cool well before slicing. Will keep wrapped for 4-5 days and may be frozen.

hottip

- TEAGASC in Athenry is doing two online courses on poultry and egg production. Contact Nuala King on 091-845228.

- Order some seed catalogues so you can plan your vegetable plot for next year. Buy a bulb of garlic, separate the cloves and plant them pointed end up, two inches deep on December 21 – they will be ready to harvest on June 21, 2010.

- Slow Food Christmas Cooking Night Class at Ballymaloe Cookery School on Wednesday, December 2, 7pm to 9pm, Slow Food Members €50 non-members €60 per person. Contact 021-4646785.

- East Cork Slow Food celebrate international Terra Madre day at Ballymaloe House on Sunday, December 6, at 7pm. Slow Food members €50 and non-Slow Food members €60. Booking essential, contact Emer on 021-464 6785 or [e-mail]

- Darina Allen will be signing copies of her new book, Forgotten Skills, in Nash 19, Princes St, Cork, on Thursday, Dec 3, at 10.45am.