NUTTY FUDGE BROWNIES


Ingredients

  • .5 c (80g) raw macadamia nuts
    ½ cup (60g) walnut pieces
    ½ cup (75g ) raw pistachio nut kernels
  • 1 cup (250g) unsalted butter, cubed or chopped
  • 250g good quality dark cooking chocolate, at least 62% – 70% cocoa solids, roughly chopped
    3 eggs
  • 1 cup (200g) brown sugar, packed
  • .125g tsp fine-grain sea salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    .75g (115g) plain flour
    .25g (40g) SR
  • (or  try 1.75 cups / 145g Almond meal, passed through a sieve)

    1.  Pre-heat oven to 170ºC FF. Lightly toast all nuts on a baking tray in oven about 8 mins. Cool.
    Lightly oil & line the bottom and sides of a 28 x 18 cm shallow tin with baking parchment, being sure to leave an overhang around each long side.

  • 2.  In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter & chocolate together on low heat until smooth. Cool slightly. (I don’t bother with a double boiler with these brownies; as long as the butter and the chocolate are melting together on a low flame, the chocolate won’t burn, but if you’re wary of burning your chocolate, feel free to use one). Cool 5- 10 mins. Will be granular.
  • 3.  Whisk or use electric beaters for the eggs, sugar & vanilla essence until pale & foamy. Add choc. mixture, beating briefly to combine. Fold in the flour, then the nuts.
  • 4.  Pour into prepared tin, bake for 35 mins, until the top looks light in color, and feels soft to the touch. (Kamran Note: Using a cake tester to judge doneness for these brownies will serve absolutely little to no use; the cake tester will come out wet, even if the brownies are done.)
  • 5.  Allow to cool in the tin. Use paper to lift it out and when completely cool on wire rack, place in freezer for 15 minutes for easy cutting. Cut into 16 or 25 squares.
  • Enjoy at room temperature with a glass of milk, or frozen with some ice cream! These brownies will keep in an airtight container in a cool place (fridge preferably) for up to 1 week.

STICKY APPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE (COLES – uses cakemix)

Looks wonderful. Serves 8

200g butter, split in halves
2 Granny Smith apples: peeled, cored & thinly sliced
1/3c each of walnut pieces and brown sugar
470g Green’s Golden Buttercake Mix (makes cake 476 mg sodium)
2 eggs
150 ml milk
grated rind 1 lemon (opt)
1 tsp each of Vanilla and ground Cinnamon
500 ml Vanilla Custard (pre-made)

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C (170 FF?). Grease & line 23 cm round cake tin.
In a medium saucepan melt 100g (ie half) the butter on low, stirring frequently.
Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar, walnuts and raw apples.
Gently mix until apples are well coated. Place into base of prepared tin.

Using electric beaters, beat cake mix, eggs, milk, lemon rind, cinnamon, vanilla
& remaining butter in a large bowl for 2-3 mins or until smooth and creamy.
Gently spoon batter over the apples. Tap the tin on the bench to remove any air bubbles.

Bake for 55-60 mins or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Allow to stand in tin before turning out onto a serving plate. Serve warm or cold with custard.