FRUIT DESSERTS FOR CHRISTMAS RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Chop up all the fruit, discarding any stones.
  2. Place the fruit in a pan. If using rhubarb, peel the ginger and finely grate it into the pan. Add the sugar – I usually add 3 heaped teaspoons to rhubarb and 2 heaped teaspoons to any other fruit, but just taste as you go along and add more if you think it needs it (please be careful when tasting as it gets really hot). Add 2 tablespoons of water and cook on a medium heat with the lid on.
  3. Once the fruit has softened, remove the lid and let the liquid reduce – you want to end up with a fairly thick consistency.
  4. Serve over cereal, yoghurt, pancakes, granola, muesli or even with roast pork!

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas 4. Grease the base and sides of a 23cm loose-bottomed cake tin.
  2. Thinly slice 2 of the oranges. Sprinkle the base of the cake tin with demerara sugar, then arrange the orange slices over the base in a slightly overlapping layer.
  3. Cream the butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy, then beat in 3 heaped tablespoons of marmalade, followed by the eggs.
  4. Fold in the flour, ground almonds and a pinch of sea salt. Finely grate in the zest from the remaining oranges, and squeeze in all the juice and fold through.
  5. Carefully pour the cake batter into the tin. Place in the oven and bake for about 50 minutes, or until golden and firm to touch.
  6. Remove from the oven and allow to stand for a few minutes. Very carefully, while it’s still slightly warm, turn out the cake onto a serving plate.
  7. Prick holes in the cake with a skewer. Make a glaze by warming the rest of the marmalade in a pan with a little water. Spoon this over the cake.
  8. Serve warm or at room temperature with yoghurt, cream or ice cream.