QUICK LEMON CHEESCAKE

This is a light and refreshing dessert that’s simplicity itself.  Don’t feel that you have to stick to these flavours though.  You could swap the digestives for Bourbons, Hob Nobs or Oreos and use limes or oranges instead of lemons.  For a more adult version slip in 1-2 tbsp of fruit liqueur like Quantro.

200g Digestive Biscuits, crushed

50g Butter

500g Mascarpone Cheese

80g Icing Sugar

Zest & Juice of 2 Lemons

Mini Chocolate Eggs to decorate

Start by making the biscuit base. In a pan melt the butter then add the crushed biscuits and mix well.  Press the mixture into the base of 7” loose bottomed cake tin.  Put this is the fridge to chill whilst you make the filling.

In a bowl beat together the mascarpone, icing sugar, zest and lemon juice.  spread this on top of your biscuit base and return to the fridge for 30 minutes to set.

Once set, remove the cheesecake from the tin and decorate.

CHRISTMAS MINCEMEAT WREATH

Ok, I'm really getting into christmas now and I love love love this recipe!  It's got it all - quick and easy to make, tastes delish and looks fabulous.  Apart from the final bake, there's no cooking, just assembling and all the ingredients you can just have in, brilliant if great aunt Beryl drops by unexpectedly.

2 Pkts Croissant Dough

1 Apple thinly sliced

1/2 Jar Mincemeat

200g Full Fat Cream Cheese

60g Icing Sugar

Icing Sugar & Cinnamon to dust

Mix together the cream cheese and icing sugar.

Arrange the dough on your baking sheet in a ring with the short sides joining together and the long sides pointing out like a sun.  Press the joining edges together slightly. 

Spread half the mincemeat on the dough topped with the sliced apple then the cream cheese mixture.  Finish it off with the remaining mincemeat.  Don't worry too much if you use a little more than half the jar, it will just be a little richer.

Now bring the points of your dough over the top of the filling into the centre tucking the ends under to form a wreath.  It sounds more complicated than it actually is.

Cook for 25 minutes at 180C.  Remove from the oven and dust with icing sugar and cinnamon.  

As it's christmas I also added a bit of edible glitter and some snowflake sprinkles.  You could also try it with some icing sugar mixed with a little lemon juice drizzled over the top.