Panforte

Ingredients

• 
butter or oil for the tin
• pistachios 100g
• blanched almonds 100g
• hazelnuts 100g
• soft dried figs 100g, chopped
• candied peel 150g
• plain flour 100g
• cocoa powder 1 tbsp
• ground cinnamon 1 tsp
• nutmeg a good grating
• ground cloves ¼ tsp
• whole black peppercorns ground to make ½ tsp
• runny honey 200g
• caster sugar 75g
• icing sugar 1-2 tbsp

Method

• STEP 1

  Heat the oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 2 and oil and line a 20cm springform baking tin. Put the pistachios, almonds and hazelnuts onto a baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes. Finely chop half of the nuts, then roughly chop the remainder and tip all of them into a large bowl. Add the chopped figs and candied peel along with the flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and black pepper, and a pinch of salt.

• STEP 2

  Pour the honey and sugar into a small pan and heat until it reaches 115C on a sugar thermometer. Alternatively, drop a ½ tsp into a glass of cold water. Leave for 30 seconds to cool, then squeeze between your fingers – it should be a soft ball. If the syrup dissipates in the water then it needs a little longer. If it goes into a hard ball then you have taken it too far. Pour the syrup into the bowl and mix really well until evenly combined.

• STEP 3

  Press the mixture into the tin, smooth over with a lightly oiled offset spatula and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely in the tin. Dust with icing sugar and cut into slices to serve.

• https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/baking-and-desserts/panforte/?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=paidsocial&utm_campaign=23849422317470413&utm_content=23849422789470413&fbclid=IwAR1TGCAV8CRnZLufJtqva0FnZkErHyt0yVqqeqwtRtImAOF6cJmeUoAntnA

• 
  

 

Honey and yoghurt set cheesecake

 

Yotam Ottolenghi’s honey and yoghurt set cheesecake: the yoghurt makes a world of difference. Photograph: Louise Hagger/The Guardian

Yoghurt really freshens up rich cheesecake, so this is the ideal pudding after this week’s lamb koftas and sides. The cake will keep for at least two days in the fridge, but the base will get softer over time.

Prep 15 min
Cook 2 hr
Serves 8

500g Greek-style yoghurt
200g Hobnobs
60g unsalted butter, melted
1½ tbsp thyme leaves
400g full-fat cream cheese
40g icing sugar, sieved
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon (1 tsp)
150g white chocolate, broken into 1-2cm pieces
60g honey

Line a 23cm springform cake tin with greaseproof paper.

Line a sieve with a clean tea towel and set it above a bowl. Spoon in the yoghurt, then draw up the sides of the towel and squeeze the yoghurt into a ball, pressing out as much liquid as you can: you should end up with about 350g thickened yoghurt.

Put the Hobnobs in a clean plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin until finely crushed. Mix with the butter and a tablespoon of thyme, then spoon into the base of the cake tin, pressing it down to form an even layer. Refrigerate while you make the cheesecake mixture.

Whisk the cream cheese, strained yoghurt, icing sugar and lemon zest until smooth (use a free-standing or handheld mixer).

Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, making sure the base of the bowl is well clear of the hot water. Stir for two to three minutes, until the chocolate melts; take care not to get any moisture into the chocolate or it will seize up (white chocolate is much more temperamental than milk or dark). Scrape the chocolate into the cream mix and whisk together.

Spread the cheesecake mix evenly on top of the biscuit base, then refrigerate for two hours, until set.

To serve, warm the honey in a small saucepan with the remaining half-tablespoon of thyme leaves, until runny, then drizzle over the top of the cheesecake. Release the cheesecake from its tin, cut into eight slices and serve.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/mar/03/yotam-ottolenghi-recipes-mothers-day-lamb-koftas-honey-yoghurt-cheescake

The History of Wales

Traditionally in the Western Church, the First Day of Christmas is Christmas Day, therefore 29th December is the Fifth Day of Christmas.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me - Five Gold Rings.

Welsh gold occurs naturally in two distinct areas.

* There is a band stretching from Barmouth, past Dolgellau and up towards Snowdonia, which was mined mainly at the Gwynfynydd Gold Mine, near Ganllwyd. It was discovered in 1860 and was active until 1998 when it was closed because of Health and Safety issues regarding the mine discharge into the River Mawddach. There is also the Clogau Gold Mine near Bontddu, which following the gold rush of 1862 developed into the largest and richest of its kind. It continued as a major operator until 1911 and still re opens occasionally for small extractions

* In addition there is a small area in the valley of the River Cothi at Dolaucothi, midway between Llandovery and Lampeter. It was the neolithic Britons of the late Bronze and Iron ages who originally opened Dolaucothi, perhaps as early as 600 BC. It was then further developed by the Romans in AD 75, under the military control of their fort near the present village of Pumsaint. The mine produced gold destined for the Imperial Mint in Lyon. Mining recommenced at the site on a small scale in the 17th century, but it was not until the 19th century, that there was expansion beyond the original open cast, culminating in a shaft to a depth of 140 metres. This shaft produced large amounts of ore during the 1930s. However, by 1938 the mine was no longer commercially viable and when it flooded, it was not re opened.

Christmas with the Newcomer

By Diane Niemeyer

Artist Maggie Vandewalle

'Twas the night after Christmas, the time to replay

The events of that most hectic annual day.

The stockings, once hung by the chimney with care,

Were chewed on and drooled on and torn past repair.

No one was nestled all snug in his bed;

There was spilt milk and Friskies to clean up instead.

And me in my 'kerchief, and Dad in his cap,

Wished we'd settled down for a much-needed nap,

When somewhere downstairs there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my chores to see what was the matter.

Away down the steps I flew like a flash,

Just as I heard one more thunderous crash.

The moon wasn't out, so I switched on the light,

Still hoping to see everything was all right,

When, what for my wondering eyes was in store,

But my family-room curtains a-heap on the floor.

I re-hung the drapes, but to end all this "fun,"

I knew in a moment more work must be done.

More rapid than eagles I rushed all around,

To make certain everything was safe and sound.

Out, tinsel! Out, ribbons! Out bright-colored bow!

Out, garland! Out, ivy! Out, all mistletoe!

From the poinsettia plant, to the yarn in the hall,

It's throw away! Throw away! Throw away all!

Next I turned my attention to the Christmas tree,

Making sure it was totally temptation-free.

I moved ornaments up, for three feet or so,

And no strand of lights was left dangling low.

When then, in a twinkling, I heard soft and sweet,

The prancing and pawing of four little feet.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

By the chimney this character came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And was covered all over with ashes and soot;

The ears stood straight up on this bold little elf,

And he looked overwhelmingly pleased with himself.

His eyes--how they twinkled! He purred like a glutton!

His tongue, pink and raspy; his nose, like a button!

His droll little tail was drawn up like a bow,

And those whiskers of his looked like yesterday's snow.

I had not a doubt that this bundle of gray

Was the cause of the chaos at our house today.

How proudly he strolled, with what grace and what style,

As he tracked soot and ashes all over the tile.

He was chubby and plump and out to impress,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of the mess.

I scooped up the imp, and I patted his head,

But he seemed to sense he had something to dread;

I spoke not a word, but went straight for the sink,

Where I washed him and dried him, as quick as a wink.

Then he darted away and stopped on a stair,

And giving a nod, he fell sound asleep there.

He dreamt and he kneaded and purred; all the while

I regarded him with half-frown and half-smile.

And you'd hear me exclaim, as I cleaned up our flat,

"I'll remember the Christmas that we got a cat."

What’s It Like To Be A Woman

“What’s it like to be a woman?”

A little bird whispered in my ear.

“Is it just like being human?”

Oh it is so much more, my dear.

We are the holders, we are the keepers,

Of the secrets and the truth.

We are the safe place in a storm,

The creator of all youth.

We are the place where life is softest,

We are the colour in the story.

We are the wisdom and the instinct,

Mother Nature in all her glory.

We are the taker of all worry,

We keep it deep within our hearts.

So that others may unburden,

So that great new lives may start.

We are the makers of the home,

Not just the walls but of the spirit.

Bringing everyone together,

Letting love and laughter fill it.

We are sisters, mothers, wives,

So many things in every day.

We are the start of every life,

We are the reason, we are the way.

We are fuelled by intuition,

Call it magic, if you like

We are truly so much more,

Than any words that I could write.

- Donna Ashworth,

To The Women: words to live by

Notes:

Donna Ashworth is a poet, writer and the woman behind such words by which to live as: Ladies Pass It On, To The Woman Who Is Slowly Fading Away, and The Right Words. Visit this talented author at: https://donnaashworth.com.

[Image: Middle Way by Autumn Skye. Visit this visionary artist, who truly sees the potential of humanity in this sacred world, at: https://autumnskyeart.com.]

The Smart Witch by Elizabeth

I Shall

 

Tales of the old forest faeries

I shall

Gather up

All the lost souls

That wander this earth

All the ones that are alone

All the ones that are broken

All the ones that never really fitted in

I shall gather them all up

And together we shall find our home

Poem written by Athey Thompson

Taken from A Little Book Of Poetry

By Athey Thompson

Tales of the old forest faeries

Art by Elicia Edijanto