Belgium Loaf Recipes

BELGIUM LOAF

Steps:

• Put in large pan milk, sugar, fruit and butter. Melt all on stove top so that sugar dissolves. Cool.
• Add egg to mix.
• Add all other ingredients and mix.
• Bake in a greased fruit loaf tin and bake for 1-1 1/4 hrs in moderate hot oven or until skewer comes out clean. I put it at 160 degrees.
• Cool and enjoy. Great with butter.

CLASSIC BELGIAN WAFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat the waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions. In 1 medium bowl sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a second bowl use the wooden spoon to beat together the egg yolks and sugar until sugar is completely dissolved and eggs have turned a pale yellow. Add the vanilla extract, melted butter, and milk to the eggs and whisk to combine. Combine the egg-milk mixture with the flour mixture and whisk just until blended. Do not over mix. In third bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until soft peaks form, about 1 minute. Using the rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the waffle batter. Do not overmix! Coat the waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray and pour enough batter in iron to just cover waffle grid. Close and cook as per manufacturer's instructions until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Serve immediately.

BELGIAN MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F, & brush a meatloaf pan with 1 teaspoon melted butter.
• Soak bread crumbs in 3/4 cup milk.
• In medium skillet, melt the 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter, then add onion & saute 2 minutes.
• Add mushrooms & saute 5 minutes.
• Add garlic & saute 1 minute.
• In a mixing bowl, add ground beef & egg, then squeeze bread crumbs dry & add to bowl.
• Add onion mixture, parsley, sage, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, nutmeg, port & cognac, & mix well.
• Place meat mixture in prepared pan, & top with rosemary, then bake 30 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 400 degrees F & bake another 15 minutes.
• Remove from oven & let rest 10 minutes before serving.

BELGIAN BUNS

Steps:

• Mix the flour, yeast, caster sugar and 1 tsp sea salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and pour in the warm milk, beaten egg and melted butter. Mix well a soft dough forms. If it feels dry, add a bit of warm water, if it feels too sticky and wet, add 1 tbsp flour.
• Dust a work surface with flour and tip the mixture onto it. Knead the dough until it feels smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball and put in a large, lightly floured bowl. Cover and leave to rise in a warm place for 1 hr or until doubled in size. Or, leave to prove in the fridge overnight, removing 45 mins before continuing.
• Line a large baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Lightly dust a work surface and roll out the dough to 30 x 45cm. Evenly spread the lemon curd over the dough and sprinkle with the sultanas. Roll the dough up lengthways from the shortest side, like a Swiss roll, to form a log. Cut into 12 equal sized buns with a sharp knife, egg-washing the loose end of the pastry and pressing it down, so it doesn't unravel. Arrange, spread apart, on the prepared baking tray, cover, and leave to prove for 45 mins until doubled in size.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Brush the buns with a little egg wash. Bake for 10 mins, then reduce the temperature to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and cook for a further 10 mins. Leave to cool.
• Meanwhile, sieve the icing sugar and mix with 3 tbsp water until a thick, white icing forms. Spread the icing on top of the buns with the back of a spoon, then put a cherry in the middle of each one.