RED BLACKBERRY RECIPES

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Spray 1 half-sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper; spray paper. Sift flour and next 6 ingredients into medium bowl. Mix in crystallized ginger. Using an electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in brown sugar. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Gradually beat in molasses, followed by 1 cup boiling water. Mix in grated lemon peel. Gradually mix in dry ingredients. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the pan sides. Turn out onto a rack and peel off paper. Cool and cut into 1-inch cubes.
• To assemble:
• Using a trifle bowl, start with an even layer of gingerbread cubes, top with 1/3 of the lemon curd mixture, and 1/3 of the blackberry sauce. Repeat 2 more times. Top with remaining whipped cream. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.
• Place lemon curd in a large bowl. Fold in half of the whipped cream until combined. Refrigerate if not using immediately. Reserve remaining whipped cream for the top of the trifle.
• Place blackberries, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan and cook until the berries are soft and the sugar has melted. Transfer to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour through a strainer into a bowl. Stir in the framboise and lemon juice. Set aside until ready to use.

Steps:

• 1. Take the beef out of the fridge 1 hour before you want to cook it, to let it come up to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4.
  2. Drizzle the beef with 1½ tablespoons of oil, season with a pinch of sea salt and a good pinch of black pepper, then rub all over the meat.
  3. Place a 25cm x 35cm roasting tray on the hob over a high heat, drizzle in 1 tablespoon of oil, then sear the beef for a few minutes, until browned all over.
  4. For the trivet, roughly chop the celery and carrots into big chunks, peel and chop the onion into wedges and break up the garlic bulb into cloves.
  5. Throw the trivet of vegetables into the tray with the bay and rosemary, jiggling the tray to coat the veg in any juices, then roast for 1 hour and 15 minutes for medium and blushing, or cook to your liking. Baste the beef halfway through and if the veg looks dry, add a splash of water to the tray to stop them from burning.
  6. Remove the beef to a platter, cover with tin foil and leave to rest while you make the gravy.
  7. For the gravy, place the tray on the hob over a medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour, then mash everything with a potato masher, scraping up all the goodness from the base of the tray.
  8. Stir in the jam, then pour over the wine and let it bubble away for a minute or two, before pouring in the stock. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat down low and simmer for around 30 minutes, or until thickened and reduced, stirring occasionally.
  9. When the gravy is the consistency of your liking, pour it through a sieve into a pan, pushing all the goodness through with the back of a spoon. Keep warm over a low heat until ready to serve, skimming away any excess fat that comes to the surface, then pour into a gravy boat.
  10. Carve the beef into lovely thin slices, and serve with all the usual trimmings – delicious with Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, watercress and a dollop of horseradish.