Preserved Ginger Recipes

Steps:

• Rinse scrubbed and peeled roots and soak in cold water overnight. Drain.
• Place in kettle in cold water to cover. Bring to a boil. Drain and repeat process 3 or more times (depends on how old the ginger is).
• In a separate pan, boil sugar and 1-1/2 cups water together for 20 minutes to make the syrup. Stir in the drained ginger root and heat until syrup comes to a boil. Remove pan from heat and let stant overnight.
• Store in airtight glass jars in the refrigerator or process in a water bath in the usual way.

Steps:

• You will need a non-stick round cake tin measuring 8", at least 1"deep, and some silicone paper (parchment).
• Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 180C/350F/gas4.
• First, prepare the cake tin by greasing lightly and lining it with the silicone paper: press it into the tin, folding the corners in to make it fit neatly - the paper should come up 1 inch above the edge.
• To make the cake, in a large pan, gently melt the butter with the sugar, golden syrup & black treacle over a low to medium heat.
• Cool briefly & stir in the milk.
• Beat the eggs into the mixture & add the chopped stem ginger - mix well.
• Sift in the flour into a bowl and combine thoroughly, then add the ground ginger, baking powder & freshly grated ginger root. Combine thoroughly.
• Pour the cake mixture into the prepared cake tin & spread the cake mixture evenly in the cake tin.
• Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the cake is risen, springy and firm to touch in the centre.
• Take the cake out of the oven & prick all over with a skewer or a toothpick; pour the ginger syrup over the cake, making sure it all sinks down into the holes.
• Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 60 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack and make sure it is absolutely cold before you attempt to ice it.
• For the icing, sift the icing sugar into a bowl and mix with enough of the lemon juice to make a consistency of thick cream - you might not need all the lemon juice.
• Now spread the icing over the top of the cake, and do not worry if it dribbles down the sides in places, as this looks quite attractive.
• Cut the remaining ginger into 12 pieces & arrange around the edge of the cake so that when you cut it you will have 12 slices, each with a piece of ginger in the centre.
• If you would like one or two of these cakes tucked away for a rainy day, they freeze beautifully - simply defrost and put the icing on half an hour before serving.