Angela Casley Valentine’s Day Recipe Collection: Passion & Poppyseed Cake; Strawberry Jelly; Chocolate Raspberry Bananas
Show the one you love how much you care with these homemade sweet treats.
Passion and Poppy Seed Cake
Serves 6
This cake can be served without icing, but if you want to make it a little special, decorate it with buttercream and petals, dried or fresh.
It will keep happily in the fridge for three or four days.
1 cup caster sugar
160g butter, softened
1 Tbsp poppy seeds
3 eggs, separated
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup whole milk
1 Tbsp lemon zest
½ cup passionfruit pulp
2 cups almond meal
¼ cup flour (or gluten-free)
To decorate
Icing
80g softened butter
1 cup icing sugar
1 Tbsp hot water
½ tsp vanilla
Dried petals
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 160 °C. Line a 22cm tin with baking paper.
2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add the poppy seeds, egg yolks and the vanilla.
3. Stir through the milk, zest and passionfruit pulp. It will curdle.
4. Fold through the almond meal and flour or gluten-free flour.
5. Whisk the egg white until stiff. Gently fold them through. Spoon the batter into your tin. Bake for 50 minutes. Check halfway and if getting too brown cover with tinfoil.
6. Remove and cool in the tin before tipping out on to your plate.
7. For the icing, beat the butter until light and creamy. Add the icing sugar and vanilla, beating for another few minutes. Pipe on to the cake and sprinkle with petals.
Fresh Strawberry Jelly
Serves 2-4
A little effort is required, but how good is a wobbly, nostalgic home-made jelly? Punched full of fresh fruit flavour, you can try this with other fruits, too. Whatever your sweetheart desires.
500g strawberries, roughly chopped
¼ cup sugar
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 leaves gelatin or 2 tsp powdered gelatin
2 Tbsp cold water
Garnish
1 cup lightly whipped cream
Strawberries
Method
1. Into a pot, place the strawberries plus 1 Tbsp of water. Cover and cook over very low heat until they are very mushy.
2. Over a bowl, place a piece of muslin in a sieve. Tip the strawberries into the muslin. Do not push or mash, just let the liquid drip for 1 hour or a bit longer.
3. Measure the liquid and add warm water until it measures 2 cups. Bring to the heat on an element, stirring in the sugar and lemon juice.
4. Sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let it sit for a few minutes. Then microwave for 30 seconds. Add to the strawberry mixture and stir until the sugar dissolves. Cool for 10 minutes.
5. Lightly grease a 2-cup mould with oil. Pour in the jelly and leave to set overnight in the fridge.
6. When ready to serve, dip into a little warm water for 20 seconds. Tip on to your plate. Decorate with cream and strawberries.
Chocolate Raspberries Bananas
Makes 4
These are absolutely delicious for adults on your romantic Valentine’s evening, or for children as a treat. A scoop of vanilla ice cream is also an option on the side.
4 bananas, peeled
1 cup raspberries
80g chocolate chunks
1 sheet pre-rolled puff pastry
1 egg, whisked
½ cup chocolate sauce
Icing sugar for dusting
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray.
2. Using a teaspoon, scoop a little from one side of the bananas. Dot in the raspberries and chocolate.
3. Cut the pastry into 2cm strips. Wrap them around the bananas and place them on to the baking tray.
4. Brush with egg. Bake for 20 minutes until puffed and golden.
5. Serve warm, sprinkle with icing sugar and a good drizzle of chocolate sauce.