How to make Dark Treacle

Source of the recipes are from http://steves-kitchen.com/dark-treacle/
Prep Time: 10 minutesCook Time: 35-40 minutes

Ingredients

• 200g / 7 oz of Sugar
• 60ml / 1/4 cup of Water
• 500g of Sugar
• 250ml / 1 cup of Boiling Water
• 1/4 of a Lemon
• Instructions
  1. Place the 200g of sugar into a saucepan and add 1/4 cup of water. Turn on the heat and allow to sugars to dissolve. Continue to heat the sugar without stirring until the sugars turn a really dark brown / black colour.
     If you are using a Candy Thermometer the temperature should be in excess of 200C / 400F. You will see the sugars go from clear to light brown to dark brown to almost black. The aroma of the sugars will change also at each stage, the final  smell is a rich burnt caramel.
  2. Turn off the heat once you have the dark colour or reached over 200C and allow the sugars to cool just slightly. Just enough to let the bubbles stop bubbling.
     Add in the 500g of sugar and very carefully add in the cup of boiling water. Be aware that the sugars may fizz and bubble at this point. The dark sugars will tend to solidify at this stage but this is normal so don’t worry.
  3. Turn the heat back on and gently stir and heat the sugars until they are all dissolved and liquid again. Gently simmer the sugars for 35-40 minutes.
     Now you will need to test the treacle to see if you have the right consistency. Drop a small amount of the treacle onto the back of a pan lid and allow it to cool. Once it is cool if the consistency is right you should have a thick sticky treacle.
     If your treacle sets too hard you will have to add between 5-10% more water to your treacle and stir through. This works out at about 1/4 – 1/2 cup of boiling water (add 1/4 cup at a time and test your consistency).
     If your treacle is to thin just continue to simmer for a while longer.
  4. When you are happy with the consistency of your treacle pour it into a clean sterilised jar and allow to cool before popping on the lid.
     Happy cooking with your homemade dark treacle.

My Fruit Cake

Ingredient:

350g Siifted all purpose/plain /Top flour and 1 tsp of baking powder 1/2 tsp salt
spices
a. 1/2 tsp ground ginger
b. 1/2 tsp cinnamon
c. 1/2 tsp nutmeg
d. 1/2 tsp all spice(cinnamon, nutmeg & clove)

200-250ml /1 cup alcohol (Sherry or Rum, gin, Brandy & XO)/fresh orange juice (no alcohol version)
350g /2+1/3 cup dried fruit( raisin, golden raisin, date, cranberry & apricot)
Zest of one citrus fruit ( lemon, lime or orange)
375g of mixed Nut( Almond 200g, Walnut 100 & 50g Cashew Nut)
180g brown sugar 300g Butter
2 tablespoons black treacle( homemade)
4 medium size eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla


Method:
Soaked dried fruit with rum for one week or heat dried fruits and alcohol in a low heat until the dried fruit are soften (I use Rum) then allow to cool. Add in the chopped nut and 1/4 of the flour mixture and set aside.
Preheat Oven to 170°C . Line the base and the side of 9 inch square tin with baking paper.
1. Using a electric beaters, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg gradually, beating thoroughly after each addition. 
2. Add treacle and vanilla and beat until combine. 3. Add in orange zest and mix well. Fold in the flour and mix well.
4. Combine all the dried fruits and nut with the batter until well mixed.
5. Transfer mixture to the prepared tins, smooth surface.
6. Bake at 170°C for 30 minutes then 160°C for 30 minutes or until skewer comes out clean when inserted in the centre of the cake.  
7. To prevent browning too quickly on top. Cover the cake very loosely with foil in the middle of your oven.
8. Let it cool a little then brush with Rum. 'Feed' (brush) the cake with alcohol over several weeks. This gives the Fruit Cake a subtle alcohol flavor and a moist texture, plus it also acts as a preservative so the cake can be stored for ages and ages. Of course, the step of repeatedly brushing the cake with alcohol means we have to make it well in advance of Christmas.