t: 01923 836 456
e: denise@jewishcookery.com
e: denise@jewishcookery.com
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Method
1) Combine the dried fruits, butter, sugar and ¾ cup of water in a large saucepan. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minutes.2) Add the bicarbonate of soda, roasted peanuts and calvados or brandy and mix well. Leave to stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
3) Pre-heat the oven to 350 F.
4) Line a 2 pound loaf approximately (5 inches x 9 inches) with non stick baking parchment paper.
5) Whisk the eggs and flours together and stir into the fruit batter.
6) Sprinkle the top with the raw peanuts and press lightly into the batter.
7) Bake for1 hour or until cooked when tested with a skewer.
To Serve the stylish Way: Invert on to a rectangular plate, slice and dust with confectioner's sugar.
cook: Spring
Peanut and Fruit Bread
This year Tu B'shvat falls on Friday 3 February and our synagogue is holding a Tu B'shvat seder. It was the Kabbalists of the sixteenth century in Tsfat who began the custom of holding a Tu B'Shvat Seder. Loosely based on the Pesach Seder it, the meal includes four cups of wine that represent the four seasons and the recitation of thirteen biblical verses that relate to the vegetation of Israel and many different foods are blessed and eaten. Over time, different communities have added their own customs and the Tu B'Shvat Seder has developed into a unique expression of appreciating the land.
We begin our Seder traditionally, by asking four questions designed to help us understand the significance of this day, for example:
Our other holidays honour events and people. Why does this holiday honour trees?
Ordinarily, we eat whatever fruit is in season. Why, today, do we specifically eat fruit that is grown in Israel?
We usually take the environment for granted. Why, today, do we focus on conservation?
It's winter. Why are we thinking about planting when spring is several months away?
The four cups of wine are symbolic of the seasons and their associated fruits:
1) White wine - represents winter where the fruits are covered by a shell - like the ground is covered by snow. Eg Most types of nuts like Coconut, hazelnuts, walnuts
2) Rose wine - red wine, mixed with a majority of white wine and represents spring. Fruits that come into this category - have hard in edible pips or stones like peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots etc
3) Rose wine -white wine, mixed with a majority of red wine. This represents summer and includes fruits which are completely edible like apples, grapes, pears, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries etc
4) Red wine - This is blood red wine which represents harvest time. In this section no fruit is eatenâ?¦. It is where we rely on the power of scent like the herbs and spices - rosemary, mint, herbal teas etc.
Among the foods served at the Seder are olives, dates, grapes, figs, pomegranates, apples, walnuts, carob fruit, pears, cherries, sunflower seeds and peanuts. So mark this occasion, I decided to write a recipe that would include several of the specified ingredients and would also be easy to serve at the seder ceremony.
Preparation Time: 20 minutes plus 1 hour soaking
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Serves: 8 - 10 people
We begin our Seder traditionally, by asking four questions designed to help us understand the significance of this day, for example:
Our other holidays honour events and people. Why does this holiday honour trees?
Ordinarily, we eat whatever fruit is in season. Why, today, do we specifically eat fruit that is grown in Israel?
We usually take the environment for granted. Why, today, do we focus on conservation?
It's winter. Why are we thinking about planting when spring is several months away?
The four cups of wine are symbolic of the seasons and their associated fruits:
1) White wine - represents winter where the fruits are covered by a shell - like the ground is covered by snow. Eg Most types of nuts like Coconut, hazelnuts, walnuts
2) Rose wine - red wine, mixed with a majority of white wine and represents spring. Fruits that come into this category - have hard in edible pips or stones like peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots etc
3) Rose wine -white wine, mixed with a majority of red wine. This represents summer and includes fruits which are completely edible like apples, grapes, pears, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries etc
4) Red wine - This is blood red wine which represents harvest time. In this section no fruit is eatenâ?¦. It is where we rely on the power of scent like the herbs and spices - rosemary, mint, herbal teas etc.
Among the foods served at the Seder are olives, dates, grapes, figs, pomegranates, apples, walnuts, carob fruit, pears, cherries, sunflower seeds and peanuts. So mark this occasion, I decided to write a recipe that would include several of the specified ingredients and would also be easy to serve at the seder ceremony.
Preparation Time: 20 minutes plus 1 hour soaking
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Serves: 8 - 10 people
Ingredients:
½ cup dried figs - coarsely chopped½ cup dried apricots, halved
½ cup raisins
½ cup roasted unsalted peanuts
½ cup unsalted butter or margarine
1 cup caster sugar
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 tablespoons brandy or calvados
2 eggs
½ cup wholemeal self- raising flour
½ cup wholemeal plain flour
½ cup raw peanuts
For more information about my cookery school, events for singles, Hen nights
please call Denise on 01923 836 456 or email denise@jewishcookery.com.
please call Denise on 01923 836 456 or email denise@jewishcookery.com.
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