At the launch party for Cafe Secrets last Sunday.  Julie Le Clerc visits a number of cafes in NZ and cooks with the owners and other locals.  She will be using Orchard Gold berries in some of the episodes.  Be watching TV3 at 5.00pm on Sundays.

 

This is a traditional Scottish recipe.  It looks wonderful layered in stemmed glasses and tastes even better.  Adjust the amount of whisky and honey to suit your taste.  For all our Scots friends ...

Cranachan (Raspberries with toasted oats, cream, yoghurt, whisky and honey)

Ingredients: 1 pack of Orchard Gold Raspberries 1 tablespoon castor sugar (if desired) 1 cup scotch or rolled oats 2 tablespoons honey 300ml cream 300ml Greek yoghurt 2 tablespoons whisky 1 teaspoon vanilla Method: Preheat oven to 180°C. Put the honey in a glass bowl and microwave on high for about 10 seconds until runny.  Remove from the microwave and stir in the scotch oats. Place a sheet of baking paper on an oven tray and tip the oats/honey mix onto this, spreading out to a single layer.  Toast the mix in the oven until nicely browned, stirring frequently to toast all sides.  We suggest you watch this carefully as it can burn very quickly.  When toasted remove from the oven and cool. Meantime thaw the Orchard Gold raspberries in the microwave by heating on high for 2 minutes.  Stir, then heat again for another two minutes.  Mix in the castor sugar (or use extra honey) to sweeten if desired.  Put aside to cool. Place the cream in a clean bowl, add the whisky and vanilla and beat until thick.  Stir in the Greek yoghurt and mix again.  Put aside 4 tablespoons of the toasted oats for the topping, and stir the remainder into the cream/yoghurt mix. Layer the Cranachan in stemmed glasses – putting a layer of creamy oats, then a layer of raspberries.  Continue layering, depending on the size of your glasses, then finish with a layer of creamy oats.  Chill in the refrigerator until required. To serve, sprinkle on some of the reserved crunchy oats.

And if you're Irish you can use whiskey instead!

Did you know:  In fact raspberries aren’t really berries at all – they’re from the same plant family as roses, and are an aggregate fruit, made up of druplets, each with its own seed. 
 

Raspberries are the only bramble berry picked without the calyx (the white central core found in blackberries and boysenberries).  Frozen raspberries are the most delicate of berries and should be very gently handled as they break into pieces easily.

A Berry Smoothie a great way to get part of your daily dose of berries.  We keep hearing how berries are very good for us – they’re full of antioxidants and Vitamin C.  We’re told they help prevent signs of aging, assist brain function, prevent heart disease and boost your immune system.  They’re a great after-exercise boost.  All this packed into delicious berries … you can’t help but feel great after having a Smoothie packed full of berries. 

Best of all, for those of us with busy lives, they’re quick and easy to make.  All you need is a blender, some berries and some liquid.  There’s a Smoothie for everyone in the family or workplace. 

We all have our favourite Berry Smoothie.  Here are some of ours:

Blair has two young sons who enjoy Dad’s Velvet Smoothie:  Place 2-3 ice cubes, 1 cup Orchard Gold Blueberries*, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1-2 tablespoons liquid honey, ⅓ of a standard size banana and 2 cups of milk** into a blender.  Blend for 60 seconds until smooth.  Pour into glasses and serve.   Serves 2.  Mmmmm.  Enjoy. *  Use Orchard Gold Smoothie Berries in place of Blueberries. ** Use lactose free milk or soy milk in place of regular milk                                                                             Carolyn found making and sharing Blueberry Smoothies with her teenage son was a great way to ensure he got something healthy in his day, and an enjoyable way to connect.  For Carolyn’s Blueberry Yoghurt Smoothie blend a banana, 4 tablespoons Greek Yoghurt, 2 cups Apple Juice, and 1 cup Orchard Gold Blueberries until smooth. Serves 3.    Scott’s after-gym replacement Smoothie:  Blend ½ a banana, 2 heaped tablespoons vanilla protein powder, ½ cup of Orchard Gold Super Berries, and 1½ cups water.     Trisha’s Anytime Anywhere Berry Smoothie:  Place 1 cup fruit juice, 1 cup water, and 2 cups Orchard Gold Smoothie Berries in a blender.  Blend until smooth then strain into glasses.  Alternatively, let the Smoothie sit in the blender for 2 minutes so that the seeds drop to the bottom of the blender then pour the Smoothie into tall glasses, leaving the seeds behind.

Look on the packs of Orchard Gold Berry Smoothie for more ideas for berry smoothies, and get your “daily dose” every day.

What’s your favourite Berry Smoothie?   Why are strawberries so popular in smoothies?  Banana or no Banana?  Dairy or non-dairy?