Apple, Fig and bread pudding, served with Vanilla ice-cream and honey - An Anytime favourite

I love baking and even more, I like to try out something which I can make and serve without much ado. So today, I'm going to tell you how to bake a delicious, golden brown Apple, Fig and Bread pudding. 

Want even more 'deliciousness'? Serve it hot, topped with a scoop of Vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of honey.

So here it is, the recipe and the method. Do let me know what you think and it would be even better, if you actually try it and let me have your feedback.

Ingredients

Three slices of wholemeal/brown bread
1red apple, sliced
6 small figs
1 and a 1/2  cups  milk
1 egg
1 tsp   vanilla essence
Brown Sugar- 2  tablespoons

Method 

Pre heat oven to 150 degrees and set timer for 32 mins.

Set the three slices of bread cut evenly into squares on an oven proof glass dish which has been lined with oil/butter.

Add the figs which have been roughly chopped.

Slice apple finely and cover with the juice of one lemon to prevent dis colouration.

Soak the bread slices with the milk, egg, sugar  and the vanilla essence mix which should have been beaten with a fork to achieve a  smooth consistency.

Leave for 3-5 minutes to ensure that the slices are softened.

Decorate with the apple slices.

All set for popping into the  oven

Put into the pre-heated oven and wait till the timer pings on completion of 32 minutes.( You may want to leave it for an additional 2-3 mins if you want more of a golden brown look.)

Bake till top is golden brown

The Apple, fig and bread pudding is ready

To Serve

Cut into portions and serve in a bowl.

The best way I can recommend is to add one scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with a teaspoon of honey.

Even more delicious, topped with a scoop of Vanilla Ice cream and a drizzle of honey

Sit back and enjoy with a steaming  Cappuccino.

PS- This is a re run of an older post, but this is the festival season  and I'm sure that it could be an interesting possibility for any of you.

Why does the last piece always taste the best?

That last slice of pizza. That last piece of cake. That last sandwich. That last piece of chocolate. Or even that piece of 'not so interesting' banana bread. 

All these have one major thing in common.

They all taste so much better than that original 'whole' portion.

               The last slice

According to new research, our brains may be wired to remember the end of an experience more warmheartedly than the beginning. Actually, humans may be hardwired to view the “last” as “best,” according to a Huffington Post article about new research published in the journal Psychological Science. 

 Phoebe Ellsworth, PhD, and Ed O'Brien, two scientists from the University of Michigan, were interested in whether we remember the end of an experience more fondly than the beginning and middle parts. Why were those final nibbles savoured more than the others? 

Simply identifying the ‘last piece' of chocolate as the ‘last’ made eating it more positive, and this emotion coloured global judgments of enjoyment,explained Wray Herbert, Phd, on Huffington Post. 

 So there you have it, that key word, is "last." 

Effectively, it sets off alarm transmitters inside the brain and the human being reacts differently .ie convinces himself that the 'last" piece is definitely better than ( all) the previous ones. 

 Try it out for yourself and you will see that it really does work that way. As for me, I really don't need much thinking on this. You see, the reason that I decided to write this piece is that I'm totally convinced. That last piece certainly tastes much better!

Fig, Orange and Lemon Biscotti- An easy to make, anytime treat

Looking for that perfect anytime treat? Even better as its the festive season. Something that can be had with your tea, coffee or best of all, easily be served up as a dessert? Then, it has to be Biscotti- easy to make at home and can be made with just about any ingredient you may have lying in your kitchen cabinets. Biscotti also known as 'cantuccini' are twice baked cookies originating in the Italian city of Prato. The biscuits are oblong-shaped biscuits, made dry and crunchy through cutting the loaf of dough while still fresh from baking in the oven.

Today, biscotti are made using many different ingredients. Almonds, figs, pistachios, raisins, cranberries, and lemon & orange zest make for great flavors in this cookie and can be mixed and matched depending on their availability. I made these with wholewheat flour, figs, orange and lemon zest, creamed with butter and sugar . Ingredients 2 cups wholewheat flour 1 and a half cups sugar 350 gms butter 3 whole eggs Figs to taste Grated zest of one lemon and orange ( each) 1 tsp baking powder. Method Put all the dry ingredients together in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Combine all the wet ingredients and stir briskly. Combine the two and make into a clean oval shaped dough. Put cling film and pop into the frig for 1 hour. Bake in a pre heated oven art 125 C for 30-35 mins

Bake at 125 C for 30-35 mins Allow to rest on a wire rack. Then cut into pieces and bake for another 15 mins till golden brown. Cut into pieces and bake again for about 15 mins Dust with icing sugar and serve with tea, coffee or simply as dessert.

We tried it with whipped cream and berries- made for a delightfully decadent dessert. Try your own variations and let me know too. PS -I'm just repeating this post to re start my blog as Ive been off the grid for some time. I promise to be more regular from now on...