Sunday, February 24, 2013

NATURAL FOOD COLOURS

NATURAL FOOD COLOURS -

What are Hopper Natural Food Colours?


Hopper natural colours are actually ‘colouring foodstuffs’ concentrates made from fruits and vegetables such as elderberries, pumpkins, carrots and red cabbage.
Because they are a colours extracted nature they are classified as food ingredients not ‘additives’ which are represented by a number or and E-number.
Hopper natural colours are derived using a water extraction process, solvents or chemicals are not used in the manufacturing process, and they do not contain any artificial functional additives.

Hopper Natural Colours are free from:

Synthetic Antioxidants
E-numbers
Artificial preservatives
Emulsifiers
Stabilisers
Solvent residues
Artificial ingredients


Blue
Spirulina, Invert Sugar, Sucrose, Citric Acid
Kiwi Green
Safflower, Spirulina, Invert Sugar, Sucrose, Citric Acid
Cherry Red
Carrot, Blackcurrant, Invert Sugar, Citric Acid
Lemon Yellow
Safflower, Lemon, Invert Sugar, Citric acid
Pink
Purple Sweet Potato, Radish, Cherry B, Apple, Citric Acid
Cloudy Orange
Carrot, Pumpkin, Invert Sugar, Citric Acid
Purple Grape
Purple Carrot, Hibiscus, Invert Sugar, Citric Acid.



How much do I use?


  • The colours are very concentrated and a typical dosage level is 1 or 2% of the finished product.
  • Add a drop at a time until the desired colours is achieved.

Storage


  • Products must be frozen or refrigerated to maintain integrity of the product. We recommend using your judgement in whether to use after the best before date.
  • Defrost to room temperature prior to use.
  • Can be frozen and defrosted repeatedly as required. Product remains a liquid even when stored in freezer

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Cranberry and Pistachio Nougat

 

Cranberry and Pistachio Nougat

3 sheets edible rice paper (see note)

1/4 cup glucose syrup

1/3 cup honey

2 cups caster sugar

1 eggwhite

pink food colouring

1/2 cup pistachio kernels, toasted

1 1/3 cups blanched almonds, toasted

3/4 cup dried cranberries
Step 1
Grease a 19cm (base) square cake pan. Line base and sides with baking paper, allowing a 2cm overhang on all sides. Line base with 1 1/2 sheets rice paper, trimming to fit.
Step 2
Place glucose syrup, honey, sugar and 1/3 cup hot water in a heavy-based saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 10 minutes or until sugar has dissolved, brushing down side of pan with water to remove sugar crystals. Place a candy thermometer in pan (don't let it touch base). Increase heat to medium. Bring to the boil. Boil, without stirring, for 12 to 15 minutes or until mixture reaches 150°C on thermometer (see tip). Remove pan from heat.
Step 3
Using an electric mixer, beat eggwhite in a large, heatproof bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add syrup in a steady stream, beating to combine. Tint pink with food colouring. Working quickly, fold through pistachios, almonds and cranberries. Spoon mixture into prepared pan. Using a wet spatula, smooth top, pressing down firmly. Top with remaining rice paper, trimming to fit. Press down firmly. Stand at room temperature until set. Lift from pan. Cut into squares
OPTION: Add 100g softened butter whipped in slowly after the sugar syrup.