Walnut & Mushroom Pate – for Christmas

This moreish appetiser is the perfect way to start any Christmas meal. Each time I serve this pate, I love watching my guests try to guess what’s in the pate to give it such a creamy taste and texture.
Serves 6-8


Ingredients

  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 celery stick, chopped
  • 2 Tab extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, chopped
  • 100g button mushrooms, finely sliced
  • 50g walnuts, chopped
  • 175g cashews, finely ground
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • A good pinch of paprika
  • A good pinch of dried thyme
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 4 wholemeal pita bread, cut into triangles

    Step 1.
    In a large frying pan add a little olive oil, onions, celery, garlic and mushroom, and cook for 5-10 minutes, until brown.

    Step 2.
    Remove from the heat and stir in the walnuts, ground cashews, egg, paprika and thyme. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spoon into a ramekin and allow to cool.

    Step 3.
    Preheat the oven to 200C. Place the pita on a baking tray and toast until brown.

    Step 4.
    Serve the walnut pate with the pita on the side.

 

SPELT CARROT & WALNUT CAKE (similarities to

Spelt flour has a sweeter flavour and lighter texture than wheat flour

Ingredients

1 cup wholemeal Spelt Flour
3/4 cup SR flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
1 tsp BP
1 tsp ground cinnamon
4 extra large eggs
1 cup sunflower oil
1 finely grated rind from orange
300g (approx. 2) carrots, finely grated

Cream Cheese Frosting
250g cream cheese, diced and softened
80g butter, diced and softened
3 cups icing sugar mixture
1/4 cup shredded coconut, toasted

1.  Pre-heat oven to 180 (160C fan-forced). Line a 20 x 20cm square cake pan with baking paper.

2.  Combine flours, sugar, walnuts, BP and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl.

3.  Whisk together – eggs, oil, orange rind.  Add to dry ingredients with carrot, mix well.
Bake  45 mins. Allow to cool 15 mins before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

4.  For cream cheese frosting: beat together cream cheese & butter until smooth. Gradually add icing sugar until all combined. Spread over cooled cake and sprinkle with shredded coconut.