MINI FOOD COOKING RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter a bundt tin or fluted cake ring (at least 2.5-litre capacity), then dust the tin with a little flour, shaking off the excess. Beat all the cake ingredients with a pinch of salt using an electric whisk until you have a smooth batter. Spoon into the prepared tin, smoothing the top with a palette knife, then bake for 35 mins until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out mostly clean with a few dry crumbs attached.
• For the drizzle, combine the sugar with the orange juice in a saucepan, then reduce over a medium heat to a loose syrupy consistency. Prick the base of the cake all over with a skewer, then pour over half the syrup, adding the rest once it has been absorbed, Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 15 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• While the cake is cooling, make the icing. Beat the butter with half the icing sugar and the vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy. Add the remaining icing sugar and the cream cheese and beat again until well combined – don’t overbeat or the icing will become runny.
• Spread a thin layer of the icing over the entire cake, taking care to get into all the crevices, then pop in the fridge for 20 mins to set. If you are short of time, you can always put it in the freezer. Spread the remaining icing onto the cake in an even layer. Once iced, the cake will keep in the fridge for three days. Bring to room temperature before decorating and serving.
• Sort the mini chocolate eggs into different colours and arrange all over the top of the cake.

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the beef dry with a paper towel and season all sides with salt and pepper. Quickly sear the beef on 2 sides only until deep golden brown, about 4 minutes total; do not overcook. Transfer to a plate to cool.
• Add the mushrooms and cook until beginning to brown and release liquid, about 5 minutes. Add the shallots and continue cooking until mushroom mixture dries out, is golden brown and shallots are soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.
• Preheat to the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• On a work surface, roll 1 sheet of puff pastry to a 10 by 14-inch rectangle. Put teaspoon-sized mounds of mushroom mixture on the pastry, evenly spacing them in 4 rows of 3. Top the mushroom mound with a piece of beef, seared side up. With a sharp knife, cut the pastry into even squares around the meat and mushrooms. Working 1 at a time, pull 2 opposite sides of pastry up over each beef piece, then fold the ends over the top to make a packet. Invert and arrange the packets seam side down on the baking sheet and press them lightly to seal the pastry. Repeat with the remaining beef, mushrooms, and pastry.
• Bake the Wellingtons until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven to a serving platter and let cool at least 10 minutes before serving.