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Celebrity Maltese Chefs and Recipe Enthusiasts

Irkotta and Lemon Pancakes

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, mix the Irkotta, milk, eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined; the batter should be slightly lumpy. Preheat a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat and lightly grease it with butter or oil. Pour 1/4 cup of batter onto the skillet for each pancake. Cook until bubbles form on the surface and the edges look set, about 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook until golden brown on the other side, about 1-2 minutes more. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Light Yogurt, Fig, and Walnut Summe...

Start by preparing the yogurt base. In a bowl, mix the Hanini Yogurt with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and a pinch of cinnamon, stirring well to combine. Take a glass or a parfait dish and add a spoonful of the yogurt mixture at the bottom. Layer with a few slices of fresh figs and sprinkle some chopped walnuts over the figs. Continue layering with yogurt, figs, and walnuts until the glass is filled, ending with a layer of yogurt on top. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of honey over the top layer for added sweetness. For garnish, top with a few extra fig slices, a sprinkle of chopped walnuts, and a fresh mint leaf if desired. Place the parfait in the refrigerator for about 10-15 minutes to let the flavors meld together. Serve the Light Yogurt, Fig, and Walnut Summer Parfait chilled, and enjoy it as a refreshing and healthy summer treat. For an extra crunch, you can toast the walnuts lightly in a pan before adding them to the parfait. If fresh figs are not available, dried figs can be used by rehydrating them in warm water for a few minutes before slicing. Additionally, you can add a layer of granola for extra texture and flavor.

Apple Cinnamon Yogurt Parfait

In a small saucepan, combine the diced apples, honey, and ground cinnamon. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender and caramelized, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. In serving glasses or bowls, layer the Apple & Cinnamon Yogurt, caramelized apple mixture, and granola, repeating until the glasses are filled. Optional: Add sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, or drizzle additional honey on top for extra flavor and crunch. Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Coconut Mango Pudding

In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add tapioca pearls and cook according to package instructions until they are translucent, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Once cooked, drain and set aside. In a blender, combine diced mangoes, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth. Set aside. In a separate saucepan, pour the creamy coconut milk and bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Stir in the mango puree and cooked tapioca pearls. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Let the mixture cool for a few minutes. Transfer the pudding mixture into serving bowls or glasses. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until the pudding is set and chilled. Once chilled, garnish with fresh mint leaves if desired. Serve cold and enjoy the creamy and tropical flavors of coconut and mango!

Sausage and Beans Bake

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onions and minced garlic. Sauté until onions are translucent and garlic is fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Add the sausages to the skillet and cook until they are browned on all sides, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. In a baking dish, combine the baked beans, diced cherry tomatoes (with their juice), brown sugar, Worcester Aged Seasoning Sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine. Arrange the browned sausages on top of the bean mixture in the baking dish. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the sausages are cooked through. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Once done, remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

Air Fryer Muffins

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Heat the air fryer on 160C for 2 mins. Mix the oil, Hanini yogurt, egg and milk in a large bowl, then fold in the sugar, flour and bicarbonate of soda and combine well. Fold in the blueberries, chocolate chips or dried fruit, if using. Spoon the mixture into silicone cases or an air fryer muffin tin filled with paper cases to three-quarters full. You should be able to make 6-8 muffins, but you may have to bake them in batches.

Place the cases or tin in the air fryer basket and cook for 12-15 mins until the muffins are golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Vegan Banana Bread

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Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mash 3 large black peeled bananas with a fork, then mix well with 75g vegetable or sunflower oil and 100g brown sugar.

Add 225g plain flour, 3 heaped tsp baking powder and 3 tsp cinnamon or mixed spice, and combine well. Add 50g dried fruit or nuts, if using.

Bake in an oiled, lined 2lb loaf tin for 20 minutes. Check and cover with foil if the cake is browning.

Bake for another 20 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.

Allow to cool a little before slicing. It’s delicious freshly baked, but develops a lovely gooey quality the day after.

Lamb Shanks

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Heat the oven at a temperature of 1900C or gass mark 5. Clean the meat and place in an oven proof dish. Add the rosemary. Cook in oven until the meat is light brown from the outside. In the meantime peal and chop the garlic and the carrots. In a pan, warm some olive oil and cook the garlic and Mayor onions for around 2 minutes. Lower heat and add the carrots and some rosemary. Add the Kunserva, the wine and some water. Season with salt and pepper and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the bay leaves. Place the lamb chops in a casserole which has a lid. Pour the sauce on the meat and cook in oven for around 90 minutes. If needed, you can add some warm water while dish is cooking. Serve with some rice or roasted potatoes. Recipe by Anton Dougall