I get asked quite often why I like to cook. The first reason I give is normally because I like to eat. I am Thai and food is a big factor in our culture. We greet each other with hello followed by 'have you eaten? When guests turn up at your house it's safe to assume that they will expect to be fed.

The second reason is that as I grew up in the Northeastern part of Thailand, the poorest region, food was always hard to come by. We weren't hungry as there was always rice, but it was difficult finding something to go with rice. Now I do have ingredients to go with rice, I want to cook!

Sunday 6 March 2016

Aladdin Magic Carpet Slice.



Aladdin Magic Carpet Slice.

The magic carpet is made from ground almonds and desiccated coconut to reflect the exotic, far away land. Plums, blueberries and raspberries are used to create the colours of the carpet.
The pistachio crumbs represent the desert. Hope you'll also like this creation.

Equipment:
30x22cm slice tin.

    For the plum filling.
In a large saucepan, put in
-50g butter,
-1.2kg chopped plums,
-180g brown sugar,
-2tsp vanilla bean paste,
-pinch of salt.
Cook, stirring on high heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring constantly, until the fruits have broken down.
Add 80g raisins, stir and leave aside

Oven 180c fan forced.

     For the shortcake  slice.
In a large bowl, put in
-250g plain flour,
-200g  ground almonds,
-200g desiccated coconut,
-200g caster sugar.
-pinch of salt.
Add,
-380g melted butter.
Stir well to combine.
Press 1/2 of the cake mixture into the prepared tin.

Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
Spoon on the plum sauce.
Top with the remaining cake mixture.
Arrange 300-350g blueberries to create a geometric pattern.
Around 80g raspberries for added colour.

Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the cake is golden brown.

Leave to cool in the cooking tin for around 2 hours.


    Pistachio Sand.
In a saucepan, add
-100g caster sugar, with
-50g chopped pistachios,
-1tbsp water,
Cook, stirring on low heat until the sugar is almost melted (I thought I would leave the sugar grainy to emulate sand)

Drizzle the pistachio sand over the carpet slice.

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