Been busy again...

Hi Guys!

Sorry for the lack of cooking recently.

Those of you that live in the East of England or who know me personally may know that I have been a little busy winning an award!



Last week I gained the title of East of England Young Businesswoman of the year. You can read all about it on my Apparition blog.

I am so proud that at 23 years old and seven months into my company to be recognized for such a fantastic award.

Thank you to all of you who have supported me through everything.

Duckey x

Duckeys Filo Mince Pies...

I promised a while back for my special Filo Mince Pie recipe so here it is! I swear by these Mince Pies not only are they lower fat than normal Mince Pies but sooooo easy to prepare and always a hit with your guests!

Heres how to make them!

RECIPE: Delectably light Filo Mince Pies sprinkled with flaked almonds and dusted with icing sugar.

You will need:

1 pack of filo pastry
1 Jar Mincemeat
1 pack of flaked almonds
Icing sugar to decorate
Melted butter for glazing

1. Defrost your Filo pastry



2. Cut into squares of 3




3. Take a muffin mold and while adding a slight glaze of melted butter to one square pile into the mold, do this with 3 squares in each muffin cup.





4. Once complete put the pastry in the over to harden and colour this should take about 5-10 minutes.

5. Allow to cool.



6. Add one tablespoon of mincemeat to each case.



7. Add flaked almonds and dust with icing sugar!



It's that easy!

Mince Pies will never be hard again!

Prawn Cocktail Cakes

Now a days when we think of a Prawn Cocktail something from the 80's is likely to pop into our heads... I always think of Prawn Cocktails as a Christmas starter (probably as this is what we used to have a Christmas when I was younger.

So I was watching Gary Rhodes Christmas special the other day and he did a great take on a Prawn Cocktail by turning it into a posh layered cake.

So I would like to share the recipe, which is good as a light lunch as well as a starter!

RECIPE: Festive Prawn Cocktail cakes, layered with a prawn and cucumber filling topped with roaster red pepper and king prawns.

You will need:

1 pack of king prawns
1 pack of lettuce or spinach
3 tablespoons of mayo
1 tablespoon of ketchup
seasoning
1 red pepper roasted and skinned
Cake ring to layer fillings
1/2 cucumber

1. Firstly roast a red pepper in the oven, when roasted remove the skin and allow to cool, using your cake ring molds now cut out the circular shape.


2. In a bowl mix 3 tablespoons of mayo with 1 tablespoon of ketchup and season to taste. (Put some aside if you would like to add extra)



3. Now mix in half the pack of king prawns and dice some cucumber to add in too!




4. Take your cake ring and put one of the red pepper circles at the base.

5. Next layer in some spinach then add the prawn and cucumber sauce filling.




6. Then repeat and layer some more spinach and finally the top being the red pepper circle.

7. On the red pepper decorate with the remaining prawns and decorate the plate.




8. You can swirl some ketchup and pepper over the top of the cake after removing the rings.




And its as simple as that a modern take on a traditional classic!

Duckeys Christmas Pudding Boozy Bon Bons!

The festive cooking has started! I spent some time yesterday in the kitchen after finishing in the Apparition office for the day. I am creating some little after dinner sweets for a party I am attended at the weekend and I thought they made beautiful foodie gifts!

I actually got this recipe out of the 'signed' Nigella Christmas book my lovely boyfriend bought me for Christmas last year!



These bon bons are designed to look like miniature Christmas Puddings so they are very festive and great for parties!

RECIPE: Wonderfully Festive Christmas Pudding Bon Bons, soaked in Sherry and topped with white chocolate and cherry.

You will need:

For the bon bons:

125g Dark Chocolate (I used Green and Blacks cooking chocolate)
350g of cooked or leftover Christmas Pud
60ml Sherry
1 spoon of golden syrup

To decorate

100g White Chocolate
Cherries red and green to decorate (I couldnt find the green so I used icing!)

To Make:

1. Cook the Christmas Pudding, I bought a ready made one from the supermarket and cooked it in the microwave leaving it to cool for a few hours before cooking.



2. Once cooled, break up the Christmas pudding into a bowl

3. Then add the sherry



4. Followed by some golden syrup




5. You will then need to melt your dark chocolate, this bind's the mixture!



6. Add the chocolate to the mixture and if you can get them use some disposable gloves for the next part... it can be messy!



7. Make small truffle sized balls out of the mixture

8. Line a baking tray with foil and once made put these in the fridge to cool

9. Once cooled for around half an hour to an hour melt some white chocolate




10. Add a small amount of white chocolate to decorate the top of you miniature puddings

11. Finally you can cut up the cherry and add icing in my case to create the holly on top of the puddings.



They taste great they are quite rich too which means you cant eat them all at once.

Whilst I promote 'health' I understand this might not be the healthiest of recipes but I believe that in moderation it is healthy to indulge otherwise I find you just binge which is much worse!

A new look for Duckeys Health Corner!

Well it's almost a New Year! So why not have a new look!

Any comments on the new look Duckeys Health Blog would be much appreciated!

Duckey x

Christmas is here!

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas!

Christmas is here which means finally I have some time off to get festive and start cooking again! I am so sorry for abandoning you lately.

But I am back in cooking action, and have some tasty Christmas treats to share with you this season!

THESE ARE RECIPES ALL COMING SOON...

How about my super healthy filo mince pies, I use reduced sugar mincemeat, filo (lighter option) pastry and topped with a dusting of icing sugar and almonds!


Or we could go the more traditional option with the cased mince pies...


These Christmas Rocky roads are always a favourite...



Plus I made up a recipe for gift wrapped, chocolate and mincemeat muffins (think of mince pies in a muffin!) and white chocolate and cranberry ones... very festive!


During the next few weeks I WILL be posting again.

At the weekend for a Christmas party we are having with our friends I am making a Yule Chocolate Log (Nigella Style) some Christmas pudding bons bons and my filo mince pies.

So Christmas lovers stay tuned for more recipes coming soon!

While i've not been cooking!

Hi Guys,

Well some of you may have noticed that Duckeys Health Kitchen has been a little pre-occupied lately... so firstly i'm very sorry for that! Usually I can multi-task but I feel like I am at a whole new level right now.

This is because I have been creating a new business of my very own. How exciting! My passion in websites started with this blog I guess, and because I enjoy blogging and creating so much, with all of the various skills and jobs I have had over the last five years have led me to where I am now.

So I thought well why not try it for myself. Which was when Apparition Marketing & Design Ltd was born!

I started the business back in April and I have to say its going very well. So far I have worked with over 60 clients and am now taking another big step and re-branding already. (New brand coming soon!)

So guys if you know anyone who may benefit from PR, Marketing, Websites or any Graphic Design then get in touch. I have a freelancer who works with a London agency so the quality of our work is great but with the costs to help you through the credit crunch!

Plus when things start to level themselves out I can get back in the kitchen and do what I do!

I would like to say a big thank you to the people who have helped me especially my folks, James my wonderful partner and my bro and friends.

On another positive note, health wise I am at my healthiest weight ever (still using my recipes) so have a scout below and see what you like!

Love Duckey x