Cardoman Caramel Oranges

Like a giant sweetie

Although I'm no pudding fiend, a little taste of something sweet at the end of a meal always goes down well. When there may not be room for a big old bowl of desert, there is always room for this dish which is less like a pudding and more like a jewelled twinkly offering pulled out from the fridge just before serving. It can be made in advance making it great for when you are entertaining, and just looks so damn pretty! It's based on Nigella's recipe, which I came across by accident, when dreaming of the orange cardoman pud the Boyfriend's mum makes. It turns out orange and cardoman are a very happy marriage.

Suitably bashed pods

Serves four. Remove the skin and pith from four sweet oranges, and slice into rounds approx half a cm thick. Arrange in a shallow bowl/dish so they all lie flat and in a single layer. Bash 6 cardoman pods and add to a saucepan with 400g caster sugar and 200ml water, bring to the boil, swirling (don't stir) to dissolve and let it simmer until the mixture turns a lovely amber colour. Cue a bit of impatience and 'is it amber yet??' and my friend Hannah asking 'Do you ever just want to stick your finger in the pan to see how much it will hurt?'. No Hannah. No. Once it has changed colour, quickly (but carefully) pour over the oranges and stick in the fridge until needed. The oranges become encased in the cardoman scented, now hard barley sugar-like caramel. Nigella serves it with Greek yoghurt but I like it on it's own.

Probably a good idea to keep people like Hannah out of the kitchen when you make this.

Bus Stop Tart



Sounds a bit naughty but it's actually very nice in an 'I'll just cut off another tiny piece and eat it' kind of way. This is a Spanish recipe for Seville Orange Tart or if you prefer Tarta de naranjas sevillanas. Yeah that sounds good. As a previous post confirms, I do not make sweet pastry any more. No point when the supermarket does it so well, so all this is really, is a recipe for a delicious tart filling.





Tart waiting for the bus



Pre-heat the oven to 240. Mix together, in a saucepan, the following ingedients: 140g caster sugar, 170ml Seville orange juice (it does make a difference using Seville oranges as they are very sour and it stops the tart being too sweet, but normal will do if you can't get them), 170g cubed unsalted butter, 4 egg yolks, 2 eggs, grated zest of half an orange. All you have to do is stir gently over a gentle heat. This may sound simple but the temptation to wack the heat up to hurry up the custardizing (yes, a real word, in my world) process is great. RESIST! If you fail to follow these simple instructions it will curdle. No-one wants scrambled eggs in their orange tart now, do they? After about 20 mins it will suddenly thicken and it is ready. Pour into the shop bought pastry case and bake for 10 minutes but check it doesn't burn. It wants to go brown on the edges (and looks more home-made that way, bonus). Cool before serving. Great with a blob of creme fraiche.

Then run to the bus stop with it wrapped in foil, nearly losing it a few times. Whatever you do, don't leave it at the bus stop.



You say French Toast, I say Eggy Bread

Looks a bit like marmite toast, but its not.

Sunday morning, the cupboards aren't exactly bare but neither of us fancy lentils and marmite for breakfast. Eggy bread it is, whoop! The thrifty side of me rejoiced as it meant I was using up the stale end of the loaf of bread I bought last week and the eggs that needed using.

I think everyone in the world knows how to make the deliciously indulgent yet simple treat that is French toast. But just in case:

Whisk a couple of eggs in a shallow bowl/dish and season. Soak your bread in it for a minute or two then turn it over. In a frying pan with nice hot oil, fry each piece on both sides until the egg has cooked and gone crispy round the edges. Drain on kitchen paper if you're that way inclined.

The big debate is savoury or sweet. The boyfriend decided on the usual, a medly of brown sauce and ketchup, I went a bit crazy and chose honey (accompanied by groans and looks of disgust by the boy).