Quick and Easy Macaroni Cheese & Easy Christmas Cake



As we approach the busy festive
season, some very quick recipes to try out


Quick and Easy Macaroni Cheese


Ingredients

250g macaroni
1 tsp Dijon mustard (or other preferred mustard)
180g grated cheddar cheese
200ml crème fraiche (light version also works)

Method

Preheat oven to 180c/160c fan/gas 4.

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add the macaroni and a pinch of salt and simmer for half of the cooking time instructed on the packet.

Scoop out a mugful of the cooking water before draining. Mix together crème fraiche, mustard and three quarters of the grated cheese in an ovenproof dish. Add the hot macaroni and 3 tbsp of the pasta cooking water. Stir until combined and season to taste. Sprinkle the remaining grated cheese on the top and bake for 15-20mins



Easy Christmas Cake


Ingredients

100g sultanas
150g self-raising flour
150g unsalted butter
225g mincemeat
2 eggs
120g caster sugar

Method

Preheat the oven to 180c/160c/gas 4.

Lightly grease springform cake tin and line with baking parchment.

Put the softened butter and caster sugar in a mixing bowl and mix to cream until pale and fluffy around 2-3 minutes. Beat in 2 eggs one at a time. Beat in the mincemeat. Fold in the flour and half tsp of salt.

Fold in the sultanas.

Transfer to the lined tin and bake for 55-60 mins until golden, risen and a skewer inserted at the centre comes out clean.

Leave in baking tin for 10mins, remove and cool on wire rack.