SILICON SPATULA RECIPES

Steps:

• Lightly oil a large piece of cling film and press well into your tin or dish, leaving enough overlap on each side to fold over and cover the top of the Turkish delight once made.
• In a clean, heavy-based saucepan add the sugar, lemon juice and 250ml/9fl oz of water. The mixture should reach about halfway up the pot. Heat gently to dissolve the sugar, stirring occasionally with a clean, metal spoon. This will take about 15 minutes.
• Once dissolved, brush down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush (this prevents sugar crystals from forming). Turn the heat up, insert the thermometer and bring to a boil. Without stirring, cook until the temperature on the thermometer reaches 115C/239F. This will take around 10 minutes. Once it reaches that temperature, remove the syrup from the heat and let it cool slightly.
• In another heavy-based saucepan, whisk another 250ml/9fl oz of water with the cream of tartar and cornflour until smooth. Place on a low heat and cook, whisking frequently, until the mixture forms a thick paste and starts to blow hot bubbles. This will take about 10 minutes.
• Take off the heat and gradually add the hot sugar syrup, whisking thoroughly between each addition to prevent lumps forming. Once smooth, use a silicone spatula to scrape down and clean the sides of the pan.
• Place the pan on a medium heat and cook until the mixture just begins to bubble. Turn the heat down to low and cook for a further 45 minutes. You will need to stir every 5 minutes – I tend to use a silicon spatula, then scrape it down with a knife to keep all the mix in the pan.
• After 45 minutes, take the pan off the heat and stir through the food colouring and rose water. Pour into the lined tin and fold over the oiled cling film to cover. Using a spoon, carefully press down on the cling film to flatten the surface. Once smooth, fold back the cling film to leave the Turkish delight exposed. Leave out to cool for at least six hours or overnight to set.
• For dusting, when set, mix the icing sugar and cornflour in a large bowl. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of this mixture onto a board.
• Carefully turn out the Turkish delight and cut into 24 squares with a lightly-oiled knife. In batches, toss the squares in the icing sugar mixture until they are well coated.
• Store the Turkish delight in a loosely covered container (not in the fridge) with the remaining icing sugar. This will keep for about one week.

Steps:

• Select the high Sauté setting on the Instant Pot and heat the avocado oil. Add half of the onion and all of the garlic and sauté for about 3 minutes, until the onion is slightly softened. Add the ground beef and sauté for about 3 minutes more, using a spoon or spatula to break up the meat as it cooks. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, oregano, beef broth, and 1 teaspoon salt. It’s fine if some pink remains; the beef does not have to be fully cooked at this point.
• Secure the lid and set the Pressure Release to Sealing. Press the Cancel button to reset the cooking program, then select the Pressure Cook or Manual setting and set the cooking time for 10 minutes at high pressure. (The pot will take about 10 minutes to come up to pressure before the cooking program begins.)
• When the cooking program ends, you can either perform a quick pressure release by moving the Pressure Release to Venting, or you can let the pressure release naturally and leave the pot on the Keep Warm setting for up to 10 hours.
• Open the pot and give the meat a stir. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if needed.
• Using a slotted spoon, spoon the meat onto tortillas or into taco shells. Top with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, cilantro, and the remaining onion. Serve immediately.
• Combine the beef bones, celery, carrots, onion, salt, peppercorns, and bay leaf in the Instant Pot. Pour in the water, making sure the pot is no more than two-thirds full.
• Secure the lid and set the Pressure Release to Sealing. Select the Soup/Broth setting and set the cooking time for 120 minutes at high pressure. (The pot will take about 30 minutes to come up to pressure before the cooking program begins.)
• When the cooking program ends, let the pressure release naturally; this will take about 45 minutes.
• Place a wire-mesh strainer over a large heat-safe bowl or pitcher.
• Open the pot and, wearing heat-resistant mitts, lift out the inner pot and pour the broth into the strainer. Discard the bones and vegetables. You can pick the meat off the bones if you like, but it will have given up most of its flavor to the broth. Pour the broth into a fat separator to remove the fat, or chill the broth in the refrigerator until the fat solidifies on top, then scoop off the fat from the surface with a large spoon. Let the broth cool to room temperature. (To speed the cooling process, set the bowl in a larger bowl containing an ice bath.)
• The broth can be used right away, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or frozen for up to 6 months.